Skyler wiped his sweaty forehead as Alfanzo's gaze bored into the back of his head. Yet, he refused to acknowledge the man trailing behind him through the air, as if taunting him that he couldn't float.
He walked on the sandy ground, his feet sinking with each struggling step he took. The air shimmered with heat, making the towering red rock formations around him appear to ripple like mirages.
Outside the realm he had entered, it was dead of night, but within the crystal, a half-sun shone brightly, lighting the space. This was because there were times when time in a crystal differed from outside, although it flowed at the same pace in both places.
'Damn it! I didn't sign up for this!'
He cursed inwardly and rubbed his cheek against Riruru's cold body, trying to soothe the prickling heat stinging his skin. She was enjoying the warm atmosphere. It was only he who was on edge. And it had only been an hour since they entered the crystal.
Skyler squinted his eyes, scanning the surroundings. However, no matter how far he looked, he couldn't spot a single beast. Well, this crystal had already been cleared many times by other students, so he had anticipated this outcome already.
He groaned, trapped. He wanted to head left; his knowledge of the previous timeline indicated that Max discovered the treasure he wanted to steal in a rock formation in that direction. But he couldn't just rush off. Not when an annoying fly was trailing him.
Taking a deep breath, Skyler once again began moving, this time shifting directions every other minute. He always knew he was an impatient person, and today his patience was being stretched thin. Yet, he controlled himself because he had too many secrets.
He wanted to change the original story, but not in a way that would get him into trouble. It was crucial that he steer clear of attracting too much attention from the government for the time being, since he was weak.
What if they discovered that he could use more elements than he had awakened?
He would end up in a lab for experiments instead of becoming the protagonist!
Anyway, once he was stronger, he would easily be able to handle those who posed a threat to him. For now, all he had to do was stay patient and wait for that brighter future.
He jolted out of his daydreaming when Alfanzo hummed faintly behind him.
"Go straight. I can sense the presence of a monster in that direction. It's just a two-star, but it could be your first kill. Or are you just going to wander around and go back?"
These words were enough to snap the tiny amount of patience Skyler possessed.
He seriously didn't care!
He would do whatever he wanted! Let the world find out how awesome he was! He would leave the honor of dealing with the consequences to the other 'him' who are living in his subconscious without rent!
With those thoughts, Skyler sprang into action. Alfanzo was taken aback when his pace suddenly increased tenfold. The man watched, stunned, as the ash-brown haired youth sprinted away from him in a random direction, leaving behind a gust of wind.
"Ha..."
He stifled a chuckle and vanished behind him. It seemed Skyler was trying to hide his true strength from him. He was proven right when he saw the kid suddenly use his Light element power to summon a rain of spears from behind to kill a 1-star lizard. It was an overkill, but Skyler didn't seem to care.
The brown-gold lizard, lounging on a rock, sunbathing, didn't even have the chance to fight, let alone catch a glimpse of its attacker, before it was wiped out of existence. Even the rock it sat on turned to dust.
Alfanzo watched everything in amusement. Yet it was just the beginning. Under his gaze, Skyler turned to his left and sprinted away.
He found two more weak sand lizards. One was tortured by a seemingly harmless spell called 'Glimmering Spark', which created a burst of light every time Skyler uttered the incantation, until it went blind and died.
The other was captured for experiments. Skyler cut off its tail multiple times to use 'Rejuvenating Touch' on it, healing it again and again before it died from the trauma of being injured and healed so many times.
Alfanzo closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose with a silent groan. He couldn't believe that healing could also be used as a method of such cruel torture.
"Those spells were so weak. But I am sure no one would ever want to go through the same as what the lizards experienced."
Skyler didn't even flinch when he heard the floating man's words. He had come here for two reasons: to test his spells and to steal a treasure meant for the protagonist, a title he had already claimed in his mind.
His first objective was somewhat achieved, but the second remained unfulfilled. Skyler started running again with a hidden smirk, his mind already plotting his next move. It was time to put his acting skills to the test.
He deliberately started using his skills haphazardly, as if testing their range and destructive power. A gasp escaped his lips as he 'accidentally' destroyed a huge rock formation, sending it rolling away to reveal an underground tunnel buried in the sand.
Instantly, Alfanzo's attention was drawn to the dark tunnel. His gaze narrowed, but he relaxed when he didn't sense any monsters inside. Still, he was surprised to sense an influx of Evol coming from the tunnel.
Skyler feigned curiosity as he checked the tunnel, although he was laughing inwardly, fully aware he was in the right place. Then he cautiously entered the tunnel, muttering the spell 'Glimmering Spark' to light his way.
The path was uneven, and in stark contrast to the heat outside, the air in the tunnel was frigid, almost icy. Riruru shifted on his body before quickly burying her head in the crook of his neck, clearly disliking the icy air.
Skyler stopped in his tracks, retrieving a jacket from his storage ring. He slipped it on over his uniform, leaving the front open, and glanced at the snake clinging to him.
"Come in."
Riruru's eyes lit up. After the snake slipped into his jacket, he continued his descent. He could feel Alfanzo trailing behind him quitely, using his Evol to inspect the place.
After a while, he stepped out from the dark tunnel into a breathtaking clearing, bathed in the dim glow of a vast, crystalline ice field.
The ceiling was filled with protruding icicles, the floor a sheet of glistening ice. In the heart of the space, a small, round artifact, shaped like a marble, floated, its presence radiating an intense chill that froze the very air.
That small marble-like artifact was the source of the frigid temperature.
Skyler rubbed his hands together, a wisp of smoke curling from his lips as he turned to look at Alfanzo, who arrived beside him.
"That's mine."
Alfanzo raised an eyebrow at him.
"What? Worried I will take something a student found? I am not that desperate."
Skyler blinked with feigned innocence. His words, however, were anything but innocent.
"I am weaker. It's not like I can stop you, Sir, if you wanted to take that marble from me."
Alfanzo rolled his eyes, speechless.
"I don't want it. I don't have affinity with the water element. Anyway, you are very lucky. It's rare to find such a powerful artifact in a novice tier crystal, let alone one that had already been checked by many others."
Skyler's face twisted into a grimace at the mention of 'luck'. If only his luck was good, he wouldn't have to resort to stealing Max's opportunities. He would have found his own!
Alfanzo suddenly smiled. He could sense the two elemental crystals in Skyler's heart. This kid didn't have an affinity with water.
"I can sense that marble is an equipment that can increase the wearer's Evol, but it's only useful for those who have affinity with water since ice is a sub-element of water. Do you have an affinity with the water element?"
Skyler shook his head.
"I don't have affinity with water, but..."
He pointed at Riruru.
"She does. I want that artifact for her."
Alfanzo was at a loss for words as he eyed the snake peeking from Skyler's jacket. He couldn't believe this young man wanted to give such a powerful ice artifact to a beast who wouldn't even know how to use it.
Was it the right choice? After all, just from looking at the artifact, he could tell it was a tier higher than Epic. The man sighed. Well, it's not like he could stop him. It would feel like he wanted the artifact for himself.
"Do whatever you want."
Skyler's lips curled upward into a grin as he walked toward the floating marble, his eyes sparkling. Soon he stood before the artifact and turned his attention down to Riruru.
"It's yours. Can you touch it? I don't think I can touch, I don't have the water element."