Within the eighth level of the Battle Royal, a pair of crimson eyes snapped open. Their owner frowned as she sat up on the blanket she had been resting on, surrounded by big pink petals that enclosed her like walls.
Her snow-white face bore a touch of icy coldness, framed by soft pink lips. Long, flowing white hair cascaded over both of her shoulders, while a pair of iridescent wings shimmered gracefully behind her.
She frowned slightly, brushing away the damp hair clinging to her forehead. Her face was flushed, her breathing ragged.
The vivid, heated dream she had just experienced clung to her mind like smoke, flickering through her thoughts stubbornly as her frown melted into embarrassment.
"That was a dream. Just a dream."
She told herself repeatedly, slapping her flushed cheeks to calm down. Yes, it was merely a dream—that was the only reason she had acted so boldly. So shamelessly.
It wasn't the first time. She had seen a similar dream before, though it was very fleeting—Skyler's hand gripping her neck, his lips brushing against hers as they lay sprawled on the floor. A woman watched them from a vast, unfamiliar room, which she simply believed was her chamber because of its opulence and grandeur.
Her face flushed even deeper.
"Sky… Skyler. Is that really his name? We only met once in the preliminary test... It wasn't even a proper meeting—just a brief encounter. Also, I have come so far already. Still, since I unconsciously marked him as my mate, I can't seem to forget his face."
She had resolved to forget him—because she couldn't bear the thought of him dying because of her, suffering because of her.
After all, she wasn't even complete.
And who would want to be with someone destined to die soon? Sure, she was pretty, but that was it. But what was she supposed to do if this kept happening? If that face—if Skyler—kept slipping into her dreams?
Her swirling thoughts were interrupted by a gentle voice calling to her from outside the large, blossoming flower she had slept in.
"Princess, are you awake...? Should we prepare to leave? The last scout team has returned with no clues again. But we can't afford to remain on this level any longer—they've spotted the Spirit Queen's people."
Riruru's eyes narrowed at the mention of the Spirit Queen—her mother. She sprang up from the blanket, her hands moving to smooth the wrinkles from her clothes.
In the end, she decided to change into a fresh set—her current outfit was too damp and soaked with sweat to be presentable.
A blue spear materialized in her hand as she touched one of the petals around her. Instantly, the petal shifted aside, opening a path for her to exit the enclosed space. Her beautiful iridescent wings fluttered as she soared out, only to find a floating woman and some others already waiting outside.
A tall, familiar man hovered among them, exuding confidence and an air of arrogance. In a short time, he had risen to become the most formidable member of their group.
He was the same one who had looked somber when she handed a good weapon to another—worse, to a weak human. Now, he floated forward, intending to greet her.
"Princess..."
Yet she moved back, her face cold.
She disliked physical contact—not even with her own mother. Perhaps only the Skyler in her dreams was an exception.
"Distance."
He paused and retreated immediately.
"I forgot…"
She waved her hand dismissively, her eyes drifting over the sprawling landscape they had been staying in—a field bursting with towering flowers rooted deep in the earth.
"Let's leave this level. We have stayed here long enough... That's why the Queen must have uncovered our whereabouts."
She pursed her lips into thin lines.
Instantly, the group set off to find the gate leading to the next level of the Battle Royal, hoping to uncover a clue to the fragments of her scattered soul—no matter how small.
***
Meanwhile, within the Starlight Academy, Skyler strolled into a familiar classroom with unhurried confidence, humming quietly.
Charles walked beside him, both of them dressed in the academy's purple uniforms.
Skyler's gaze instantly landed on the four figures seated in the front row: first Jenny, then Austin, followed by Elena—the short woman with curly red hair—seated beside him. Finally, his eyes settled on Max. The protagonist's intense golden eyes silently scanned his body before Max broke into a smile that prompted Skyler to let out a tsk.
Jenny's eyes strangely scanned his arms and shoulders, searching for the familiar snake. However, Riruru wasn't with him.
He had left her in his room because, after waking, Riruru refused to get out of bed.
Still, it was a relief that she enjoyed his cooking enough to come out and eat in the morning—only to slip back under the covers afterward. She was likely still embarrassed by what had happened the day before.
Skyler's lips curled with amusement as he recalled Riruru's flushed face that morning when she had transformed into a human to eat with him. Seeing his grin, Charles lightly kicked the back of his foot with a frown.
"Move. Why the hell are you standing in the middle of the class, grinning like an idiot?"
Skyler rolled his eyes and moved forward, scanning the classroom for empty seats. He wanted to sit in the front row, even if it meant somehow kicking Max and his friends to the back row again—just like last time, when he had lied about having poor eyesight.
However, before he could stir up trouble, Charles grabbed his arm and dragged him away. He definitely didn't want to become the class's source of amusement and feel embarrassed because of his friend who clearly lacked any sense of shame.
From the back of the classroom, Zack watched the duo approach. He slid over to the empty chair beside him, expecting they both might choose to sit next to him.
After all, despite their troubled past, he was certain they had grown closer—maybe not Skyler, but at least Charles. They could be considered acquaintances, if nothing more.
However, his expression fell flat as Skyler glanced his way—then deliberately turned and headed to the center row, choosing a seat as far from Zack as possible.
His lips curled into a satisfied smirk that was as clear as day to Zack, who rolled his eyes.
"Childish."
Professor Sinclair finally entered the class, her presence alone silencing the chatter.
Even the most distracted students, like the girls who were sneaking glances at Skyler and Max, fell into respectful silence.
She strode to the front, her eyes softening as they swept over the room full of faces.
"Good morning, class."
Everyone responded in unison. Sinclair smiled—a rare sight that made many male students blush. The professor was truly beautiful, and her smile was captivating.
Though she was clearly older than the students, no one knew her true age.
She brought the class to attention.
"I'm really glad to see everyone who left for the Battle Royal return safely. When you all left, there was a fear that some of you might not make it back. But thanks to Student Max and the efforts of his friends, not a single student of Starlight Academy was lost."
She looked at Max and those seated with him, her gaze flickering with a hint of pride.
"Their courage in that perilous place truly made all the difference. Let's give them a well-deserved round of applause to honor their remarkable accomplishments."
She began clapping, and the entire class followed, the sound resonating throughout the room. Only one person didn't join in or even bother to pretend to raise his hand—Skyler. He leaned back, his gaze narrowed.
'What about me? I warned those I saw while being chased by the dragon to run. Doesn't that count as a good deed too? My warning saved many of your students' lives as well!'
Unaware of his grievance, the professor continued, her earlier smile fading into her usual calm expression. She was genuinely relieved to see her students safe. Everyone at the academy had feared casualties after how recklessly Moore had sent them into the Battle Royal, but thanks to Max quick thinking, there had been none.
"I've heard about what happened in the Battle Royal—how someone fearless in the face of death woke up a dragon many times his size, only to flee immediately afterward."
Her calm eyes drifted toward the ash-brown-haired youth at the back. Skyler flinched, his gaze snapping toward Max and his friends.
'What the hell! What lies has they been feeding the professor behind my back?'
He clenched his jaw, wondering what Max, Jenny, and the others had told the academy. Had they put all the blame on him for waking the dragon—when they were the ones who had stolen from the sleeping dragon first?
The professor moved on, unaware of the storm she had unintentionally stirred within Skyler. Without realizing it, she had made Max and his group his targets once again—just when he had finally decided to leave the protagonist and his team alone for a while.