As the elf departed, Yuris summarized.
"So... in this level, instead of monsters, we have to fight an old general—either in a life or death battle or in an archery match?"
He continued with a blank face.
"But the catch is that the old general is already dead, so killing him is impossible. In archery, anyone who challenges him is killed immediately and declared the loser. Only people far stronger than the general can defeat him and leave the level. That’s why, even without any other threats, most people can’t advance and get stuck on this level unless a powerful team or someone stronger willingly brings them along."
The air fell silent as Yuris finished, slowly wiping the sweat from his forehead. Isaac, who had been abruptly dragged out of the pocket space still holding the glass bottle he had been using to mix ingredients for a potion, glanced at Charles’ numb face and knew that whatever nonsense Yuris had just said was absolutely, undeniably true.
Isaac wasn’t even surprised anymore.
He raised his index finger, as if adjusting non-existent glasses, and said to Skyler.
"I am busy making potions. Please, don’t bother me with these time-wasting talks."
With that, he asked Skyler to throw him back into the pocket space, leaving the others staring in dumbfounded silence.
Finally, Austin let out a sharp chuckle.
"Well, well, well, it seems someone has learned to take advantage of his privilege."
Yuris clicked his tongue. However, like the others, he had no way to drag Isaac out of the space pocket to let him go through the immense suffering under Skyler like them.
Charles patted his shoulder.
"We’re five people. How strong can the general be? Together, we might stand a chance. And if we fail, I believe that after everything we have been through, we can easily make a run for it and survive."
Unfortunately, Charles’ words weren’t reassuring at all. Instead, they just made those around him even more uneasy.
Ultimately, Austin, Yuris Yu, Charles, and Zack followed Skyler, rushing toward the nearest worn-out gate—leading to the old general’s secluded domain. Many similar gates existed throughout the 15th level, all leading to the exact same place. The only difference was the timing—no two teams entering the gates at the same time ever met the old general at the same moment.
In no time, they found the gate, and, as always, Skyler kicked it open without fear.
This time, even Zack felt anxious.
After all, he had read the novel and knew how formidable and ruthless the general they were about to battle was. Even Max—the protagonist—had been defeated many times before finally clearing this level. The old general was one of the two beings in the lower levels of Battle Royal who could truly challenge Max before the 20th level.
Of course, at the 20th level, an evil boss awaited—one even Max couldn’t defeat.
If he remembered correctly, it was an extremely ugly, human-like pig creature.
The guardian of the ancient realm, which Skyler had declared they would remain in until reaching the powerful mythic tier.
As the group stepped into the worn-out gate together, they entered a hall thick with dust, littered with broken modern furniture, rusted weapons, and scattered skeletons.
The air carried a very old metallic tang of blood. Skyler led the way, with Zack close beside him, brushing aside the cobwebs as they ventured deeper—only to come across a short old man sitting cross-legged at the very center of the hall, which had no visible exits. Thick gray hair and a beard framed his indifferent face. His eyes were closed, his only visible hand, marked with many battle scars, propping up his tilted head.
As if sensing their presence, the old man spoke up. His voice was flat and devoid of any type of emotion, as if he had repeated these words thousands of times before.
"What do you choose, climbers?"
"A death battle or a match of archery?"
Silence greeted his question.
Everyone turned to Skyler, the de facto leader in this situation. But he remained frozen, staring at the old man in a daze.
The old man didn’t repeat himself; he waited patiently with his eyes closed.
After all, he was in no rush.
Once anyone stepped into this hall, they couldn’t leave without his permission.
Their only choice was to face one of his challenges: to die trying, to win and move forward, or to simply admit defeat and be kicked out like many others before them.
He waited—waited and waited.
Yet even after several minutes, no sound reached him except the anxious rhythm of breathing. One of the breaths radiated a dragon’s aura, which took him by surprise.
Finally unable to hold back, Zack poked Skyler to understand what had frozen the person meant to take the lead like a stiff statue—only to be met by a sharp pair of cold blue eyes staring straight into his.
Zack was so startled that he jumped back.
Skyler stared at him intently for a moment, as if seeing through him, before turning his gaze away. Everyone was waiting for him to take the lead and challenge the old general—he knew that. But the moment he saw the old man, as if a dam had burst, some vivid memories from several of his past lives rushed back. That was why he had frozen.
In those lives, he had been a formidable individual with immense potential, quietly following Max and his team. This was the level where he had fallen countless times, repeatedly trailing behind them. The cause of his death wasn’t something grand, just something as simple as Max and his team wanting to bring justice to this devastated planet after discovering how it had come to be the way it was. They wanted to free the enslaved young individuals of this planet who were trapped in another realm. But... overestimating their capabilities—thanks to this talent, they always ended up captured.
In the end, some sacrifices were inevitable.
Taking a long, deep breath, a note of nostalgia in his voice, he finally spoke:
"General Ki... it’s been a while."
The old man’s eyes finally snapped open, his deep gray gaze locking onto Skyler.
For the first time in ages, he spoke more than just the initial dull question he had repeated countless times to outsiders.
"You know me?"