Skyler sat cross-legged beneath the vast, inky sky. His eyes were closed in focus. The faint crackle of lightning, emanating from the orb floating before him, filled the air around him with a subtle, electric hum.
He was trying to break through.
To become a 10-star Light.
And unlock his lightning element.
He had somewhat already figured out a consistent pattern for unlocking his locked element and gaining affinity with another. It occurred whenever his potential increased, or when he'd successfully reached the end of a tier in any of his existing elements.
His space element had already reached 6-star, but his lightning affinity was still locked. It was clear that to unlock it, Skyler needed to reach the end of his current potential.
Therefore, he was doing just that.
A faint wisp of dark Evol swirled around his body as he concentrated on his darkness elemental crystal, which trembled slightly.
Skyler had consumed a dark Evol treasure he discovered in a different structure after exiting the first structure. But it was clearly not enough. His darkness element crystal was too greedy and needed more Evol.
So, he was now trying to absorb dark Evol from the atmosphere. Luckily, in the tomb, darkness Evol was the most prevalent.
He inhaled deeply, his focus narrowing on the tiny specks of dark particles mixed with the golden and gray ones around him.
His unique constitution allowed his body to naturally absorb Evol from the surroundings to replenish his crystals. As a result, when he concentrated, the process accelerated.
Then, it finally happened.
His trembling dark elemental crystal stabilized and expanded in size a bit.
Simultaneously, he felt a surge of Evol rushing into his body, strengthening it.
As he opened his eyes, which glowed, the wisp of dark Evol enveloping him spread out and dissipated in all directions.
Skyler's lips curved into a smile. He didn't even bother checking his status. He could feel it. He was a 10-star Light now!
An 18-year-old 10-star Light!
He clenched and unclenched his fists.
"This feels amazing."
Then, without hesitation, he formed his lightning element crystal. But instead of absorbing the white Evol particles that he could now see with the golden, gray, and dark ones in his vicinity, he absorbed the bright silver particles emanating from the lightning treasure floating before him.
He hissed as the tiny particles of current entering his veins clashed with his blood.
Yet, the rush of adrenaline he was feeling negated the faint prickling pain as he slowly gathered the tiny silver particles in a part of his heart and easily completed the process of forming his fourth elemental crystal.
"Done!"
He chuckled. Nevertheless, even after forming his lightning crystal, the treasure before him remained mostly intact.
He had only absorbed a fraction of it.
Now, if he were Austin, his body would already be tired from forming a new crystal, and he would need time to solidify it before absorbing more Evol. But he wasn't Austin.
Skyler's unique constitution allowed him to consume as many treasures as he desired without jeopardizing his foundation. That's why, he absorbed the entire treasure before him, experiencing only a tingling sensation in his body and heart. Even after absorbing the entire treasure, he didn't feel full.
Stretching, he jumped to his feet. A faint crackle of silver electricity danced around his fingertips, illuminating the dark space. Finally, he checked his status, very curious about what new element he had gotten.
_______
Status:
Name: Skyler Ironhart
Elemental Affinity with:
1) Light: 9-star (Initial stage)
2) Darkness: 10-star (Initial stage)
3) Space: 6-star (Initial stage)
4) Lightning 4-star: (Final stage)
5) Water: (Locked)
6) ???
Overall Strength:
10-star Adept (Initial stage)
Potential: 15-star Epic
(Currently locked due to 'Special Spirit Constitution'. No further information.)
Class: None
Skills/Spells: (11)
System 505 Functions:
- System store: (Closed)
- System points: 21,450
Imagine pressing the words to:
- Enter 2nd level of Battle Royal (Available)
- Exit Battle Royal (Not available)
_______
Skyler tilted his head, a thoughtful hum escaping his lips as he realized the new element he had acquired was water.
"That was unexpected... I was actually hoping for fire, but water is good too."
With a satisfied expression and a wide smirk, he set off at a run again, his next destination already clear in his mind.
His gaze sparkled with anticipation.
Who could believe he would become so powerful in such a short time? No one!
"I'm even faster than the protagonist!"
He muttered smugly, a surge of confidence coursing through him as he took a turn.
"Just you all wait! By the time you return from the first level of Battle Royal, I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with you all! It will be fun seeing Max and his teammates' expressions, haha. Charles' face too!"
However, his smile vanished when all of a sudden he lost his footing. He was caught off guard when a glowing shadow dropped from above and crashed before him.
Skyler's vision tilted. One moment he was confidently striding forward while laughing, the next, his back slammed into the sand.
The sand kicked in a blinding cloud as he fell, his head ringing with the impact.
"Ugh...!"
He groaned, clutching his head.
It had somehow slammed against a rock when he fell backward, thrown off balance by the sudden crash in front of him.
Immediately, warm blood seeped from the wound, but he had no time to worry about the bloody injury. His reddened gaze locked onto the golden shadow standing amidst the swirling sand, obscuring his vision.
Then, a deep, hollow voice echoed.
"Who...?"
Skyler's heart sank as he heard the voice. The air around him shuddered so violently that it was breaking. The mere presence of the shadow caused the earth to tremble.
His instincts screamed at him to run far away as the shadow advanced toward him. He scrambled to his feet in panic and then ran with every bit of power he possessed, inwardly cursing his misfortune.
The calamity had awakened!
The same calamity that had claimed the lives of everyone in the tomb, except for the protagonist and his teammates, who had miraculously survived against all odds!
But how? He hadn't even gone close to its location. Why had the calamity awakened?
'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!'
A pair of glowing eyes locked onto his fleeting figure, appearing confused rather than angry for being disturbed suddenly.
Skyler's heart nearly stopped as walls of sand rose, trapping him in a square prison. Then the hollow voice echoed again, this time more human but still hoarse as if the owner hadn't spoken for a long, long time.
"Who are you?"
Calming his racing heart, Skyler raised his eyes to look at the direction of the voice.
A nervous smile stretched across his face, but it vanished as he finally saw the figure standing atop the walls imprisoning him.
Golden and blue scales, shimmering like a thousand suns, covered the person's entire face. Dressed in a silver attire that seemed to hum with power, it stood there, four pairs of massive golden wings unfurling behind it like divine beings. The towering figure sheer size dwarfed him, making him feel like an ant gazing up at a colossal mountain.
Skyler gulped as he eyed the figure. His mind racing to find a way to escape.
He had reached the 10-star but he didn't know how to float using his Evol yet! That's why, floating out of the prison trapping him was impossible. He had to destroy a part of it to flee! Secretly, he scooted closer to the wall of sand behind him and answered the figure staring at him tentatively.
"I am just a kid... I got lost!"
He swallowed when those indifferent blue eyes peeking out of the scales covering the figure's whole face narrowed dangerously.
"I swear! I didn't mean to disturb you!"
He had already channeled all his Evol into his fists and legs. The moment the towering figure looked away, seemingly focused on a distant place, Skyler seized the opportunity.
With a sudden surge of strength, he turned around and hurriedly punched the sand wall behind him, obliterating a part of it. Then, he rushed out of the prison and ran again.
The figure standing atop the walls tilted its head, confusion filling its blue eyes, which glowed faintly with a deep golden hue.
It disappeared, and in the next moment, Skyler gasped as his neck was grasped. He was sure it would have snapped if the figure exerted even a bit more strength than it had! He clawed at the fingers grabbing his neck, not daring to look at the figure before him.
Again, a similar question echoed in the air.
"I asked who are you?"
Skyler frantically called out to the figures residing rent-free in his subconscious.
This was the time for them to show up!
They had to save him!
He definitely couldn't fight the calamity that was described in the book to have the power to destroy Eldoria with a flick of its finger!
However, no matter how much Skyler called out to them, they didn't show up, making his already palpitating heart tremble even more. Cursing the two inwardly, he stuttered.
"I am Sky...! Ugh!"
His vision tilted when he was thrown away into the distance. The figure stared at him.
"Impossible!"