Skyler’s eyes curved into crescents, mirth dancing within them, as he leaned in for a kiss almost instinctively, captivated by the dazed look of the princess in his arms.
But just as their lips were about to touch, she raised her knee and mercilessly struck him between the legs, making his face go pale as he hissed and staggered backward.
Skyler pursed his lips tightly, staring at her with a mixture of disbelief and indignation.
"Damn... what was that for?"
The princess straightened her clothes, the flush on her face deepening as she took in his deeply wronged and pitiful expression.
"We only met for the first time today. When I threw my spear at you, we were miles apart. So, what exactly do you think you’re doing?"
Skyler blinked, his gaze oddly innocent.
"Ah, right... but it just felt kinda natural?"
A slap—that was what 505 and everyone watching awaited to land on his cheek, but to their disappointment, it never came. The princess just glared at him and tossed the gems he had given her back toward him.
Skyler dodged the gems before hurrying after the woman who had already begun walking away. He didn’t even stop to pick the fallen gems up—once again greatly shocking 505 and those who knew him.
His clear blue eyes flashed with panic.
"Wait—I am sorry! We can talk about it, okay? How about that? It’s my fault! Let’s get to know each other first! What’s your name? At least tell me that. I’m Skyler!"
As the two figures disappeared from the scene—one chasing the other to explain himself—Yuris stepped toward the fallen gems, casting a glance back at Austin.
"Do you think... Skyler got possessed?"
He bent down and picked up the gems.
"Because otherwise, how do you explain him abandoning all these gems to chase after a beautiful woman?"
The people of the spirit race still around frowned at their conversation. Like Nate, they were also frustrated with Skyler for making advances toward their princess.
But after witnessing his power, none of them dared to make an enemy of him.
They had come secretly with the princess, without any official backing. If something happened, even the Queen of Spirits would not be able to find out, let alone help them.
Ultimately, they followed the direction the princess had taken—only for their eyes to go blank when, after leaving the boundary of the devastated village, they saw Skyler casually chatting with Nate, who had been dragged away earlier to prevent him from doing something reckless, as if they were old friends. The princess stood opposite them, watching with a look of disbelief.
Skyler had been chasing her, and she had planned to snatch the chain from his wrist the moment he got close. But... when she looked back, there was no one behind her.
She hurriedly scanned the area in a panic, only to find the familiar man standing next to Nate under a tree at a distance, patting his shoulder slightly with a brilliant smile.
Naturally, Nate had thrown a punch at his face the instant he noticed him, but Skyler effortlessly dodged it, laughter in his eyes.
"You’re still too weak. Train harder, then come fight me—how about that?"
Nate glared at him but didn’t attack again.
He had already calmed down after leaving the wrecked village and steadying his mind—but that didn’t mean he was letting Skyler go. He would chew him alive and break all his bones the moment he got the chance!
But to his surprise, the human was being far too friendly with him, checking his body and giving him pointers on how he should condition himself—not just focus on filling his elemental crystals to advance without consolidating his strength, as that would, over time, weaken his natural foundation.
Slowly, the arrogance in Nate’s eyes gave way to confusion—what was going on?
In the end, he found himself nodding at Skyler and even began taking notes.
Suddenly, a familiar system screen materialized before Skyler’s eyes.
("H-Host... did you—hypnotize him??")
Skyler ignored 505. Deep down, he had a hunch that he and Nate would get along—and he was certain he wasn’t wrong. After all, a fragment of an old memory he didn’t recognize had surfaced in his mind when he saw Nate again. A memory long buried by time, far different from the scene where he had sat upon a majestic throne as the King of Spirits—a moment from long ago when he had been at his very lowest. And out of everyone passing by back then, this arrogant man had been the only one who halted and extended a hand toward him.
When the duo’s conversation ended, Nate held a slightly better impression of Skyler. Still, though he didn’t want to strangle him like before, he scoffed disdainfully, turned, and walked away—leaving Skyler behind.
505 instantly bristled at his rude behavior. Although Skyler always made it cry digital tears, the system still couldn’t stand seeing him at a disadvantage. Skyler was its host, after all, so it was angry on his behalf!
("Gosh, host, this person is so ungrateful! You gave him so much useful advice and he didn’t even say a simple thank you! How about you go beat him up? I support you!")
Skyler let out a helpless smile.
"Never mind that. Just hack his assigned system for me—I want to see his status."
505 agreed without protest this time. It even forgot to fear the main system.
("Don’t worry, Host! I’ll do it—and steal all his system points to teach him a lesson!")
To the system’s shock, Skyler stopped it and instead asked a strange question.
"If you were a living being... just imagine it. A person who’s rich, powerful, and holds the highest position among everyone your age. And then you see a dirty beggar dying on the side of the road... what would you do? Walk away like everyone else passing by?"
Although confused, the system seriously analyzed the question and answered.
("Tell that person to enter the Battle Royal and change his destiny! He’s dying anyway, so he might as well stake his final breath!")