Skyler finally snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Zack and Yuris Yu cursing him. He blinked, turning toward them.
"Hiss, you two, why so worked up? Focus! I'm not going to save you if the monsters surround you and take a bite out of you."
Their faces were truly a sight, and he chuckled. Then he muttered a spell.
"Light Spear Shower!"
In the next second, countless spears of pure, condensed Light Evol surged from behind him at incredible speed, rushing forward and killing numerous monsters, decimating all that surrounded the four.
Everyone froze in shock.
They couldn't help but glare at the flying, ash-brown-haired young man. If he could kill so many monsters with just a single spell, why had this jerk waited so long?!
Did he really want them to die?? Sensing their unspoken question, Skyler replied.
"It's because I want you to get used to it—and to grow mentally and physically. This will continue for as long as we're here."
Everyone drilled holes with their glares. If looks could kill, Skyler would have been six feet under by now. But thick-skinned as he was, he ignored them. Just then, suddenly, a flicker of white light emerged in his eyes.
"Hmm?"
He was taken aback when he sensed the two figures in his subconscious reacting.
This time, however, they didn't take control of his body; instead, they just consumed a part of the Evol within him and guided him in a specific direction through his thoughts.
"Oh?"
Skyler's eyebrow rose, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Finally, the figures in his subconscious were somewhat useful! He laughed and dashed in the given direction, certain it led to the gate to the next level.
After all, the same figures had guided his body in the first level. Although he couldn't recall exactly what they did, they had found the gate there! He called out as he floated.
"Guys, stop fighting and follow me! Full speed, or I'm leaving you all behind!"
Isaac was momentarily distracted by him but soon sighed and returned to his work. The little space pocket had been very, very expensive—he had to make the most of it!
Zack and the others quickly shoved aside the beasts they were fighting and ran after him. They were utterly tired, but at least the potions were working. They could still keep up with him while dodging the monsters.
Charles was attacked by a tall monster far stronger and faster than him, but just as he thought he was done for, Skyler appeared.
With a single punch, he sent the monster flying, grabbed him by the collar, vanished, and then left him far ahead of the others.
Skyler glanced at his pale figure.
"Oh, congratulations, you are just about to have a minor breakthrough. Keep running."
Seeing him smirk, Charles actually wanted to cast a spell at him to wipe it off, but he could only grit his teeth and keep running.
Still, even though they were surrounded by countless monsters, Skyler always ensured their safety whenever they were in danger. It was as if this guy had eyes everywhere.
If only they knew he was simply making poor 505 do the grueling work of keeping track of both the monsters and them.
Whenever a strong monster they couldn't handle appeared, the system alerted him, and he would quickly redirect it using the monster-attracting liquid. If any of them were at a disadvantage, he helped in time.
Regardless, his help didn't stop everyone from wanting to beat him up. He was the one who drew the beasts in the first place!
Time dragged on as four people struggled to keep up with Skyler, muscles screaming and breaths ragged, while Isaac tirelessly brewed numerous potions without pause.
Just before the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, they all found themselves lying amidst countless slain monsters, the ground soaked in blood, before a tall door etched with intricate, though dulled, runes.
Yuris laughed, then winced in pain as he stared at the sky, where light began to spill.
"H-hah… I-I'm going h-home! I-I'm going h-home once I step through that door…!"
He couldn't even stand up.
"I swear…! I am going home!"
Next to him, Austin's fingers twitched.
"M-me too."
Zack and Charles couldn't even speak as Isaac sat beside the two, tending to their injuries and pouring healing potions over their wounds with a weary expression.
Watching them, he felt relieved that he could make potions and survive the day.
Isaac also internally decided to go back home. His dear father had been right—this world was cruel, and he wouldn't be able to survive it. He was still a child; he needed to return home. He would sincerely apologize to his dad and never follow anyone again!
Since the old rules for leaving the Battle Royale had recently changed, people could now only leave after clearing a level. Thus, instead of questioning how Skyler knew the gate's location, the five of them were simply glad to have finally found it and to be able to go home once they stepped through.
505 looked at them with sympathy.
("Host, I can understand them. If only they knew they were already trapped, how sad.")
Skyler, the only one still standing, raised a brow at the message flickering before him.
"Who's going to tell them?"
505 shivered at his words.
("H-how evil!!")
One system felt bad for five humans as it watched its host hurriedly push open the towering door before him. Behind him, the five crawled forward, their faces glowing with joy and the hope of returning home.
At that moment, 505 realized that its system life was actually much better.
Just as the five people crossed the gate, Yuris was the first to summon his status and click on the words, 'Exit Battle Royal.'
But his face lost color when a strange message flashed before his eager eyes.
("Sorry, Host. This function is currently unavailable due to system maintenance. Please try again in a month.")
Yuris shouted, horrified.
"What??? What maintenance?? This is bullshit! I want to file a complaint!"
He wanted to call out to the others, but seeing their lifeless faces as if their souls had left, he knew they were all doomed.
505: Rest in peace.
It hurriedly praised the systems under its command for a job well done and relayed the news to its mean host, only to brighten with joy when Skyler genuinely praised it.
"Good job. Excellent."
505's earlier sympathy for the five humans had already faded deep into its data. It just went to the system group chat to talk about how its host always praised it, even though it had never spoken to him, not even once.
Skyler glanced at the five people sprawled on the ground, as if they had nothing left to live for, and quickly closed the tall door they had stepped through. He kicked it ten times and summoned a familiar ghost guardian—only to have it change the gate's location.
The ghost bared its teeth at him.
"You again—!! My brethren and I all share memories because of our link to the gates! Ahh! Next time, I am going to beat you up if I see you again, you human-like creature!"
With that, the ghost quickly vanished along with the gate. Skyler chuckled. He wasn't scared. They were all bound by rules and were not allowed to harm the participants.
"Tak, tsk."
He hummed, but as he finally looked back, he noticed that his companions' faces had paled even further after seeing the ghost.
He lightly kicked Austin's leg.
"Stand up!! What are you guys crying for? We have a long, long way to go. Hurry up."
Glaring at them all, he started walking.
Austin glanced at the system notification flashing before him, telling him he couldn't leave this place, and let out a bitter smile.
"I feel like we're being played."
Instantly, the four around him agreed.
"Me too."