Ultimately, no one present was able to say that they had thought Skyler had gone crazy and developed some kind of strange fetish when he first told them Riruru was his wife.
They simply watched as Skyler lowered himself and held out his hand toward the snake with an apologetic smile. Riruru let out a complaining sound, still upset with him for hurting himself, but nevertheless climbed onto his hand, coiling around his arm before eventually resting her head on his shoulder. Her gaze shifted toward the mermaid, who, upon seeing her actions, grabbed Skyler’s other arm. Interest and curiosity flickered in her eyes, but seeing her scars, she didn’t dare stare too much.
Riruru closed her eyes. It seemed that, unlike her, who had lived an easy life, the other parts of her hadn’t been so lucky.
They seemed to have suffered greatly.
Skyler glanced at the sky, then pointed toward the gate leading to the 21st level.
"Let’s continue our journey!"
He walked toward the gate and, without hesitation, kicked it open. The heavy gate creaked as it opened, releasing a wave of damp, cool air along with a rusty scent.
Behind him, Zack, Austin, Yuris, Charles, and Isaac could only stare for a moment before clicking their tongues in disbelief.
Yuris threw an arm over Austin’s shoulder as he questioned quietly under his breath.
"So... we are just going to ignore the fact that Skyler has two ladies clinging to him, and neither of the two seems to have any problem with the other’s presence?"
His eyes flickered with astonishment.
"And that’s not even including the pretty spirit princess Skyler flirted with. On the other hand, we don’t even have one..."
Austin’s eyebrow twitched, but before he could respond, Zack responded to him. A look of realization appeared on his face.
"If we overlook their differences..."
He said slowly, his gaze fixed on Skyler’s disappearing figure as he entered the gate.
"Haven’t you guys noticed something strange about all of this?"
The others turned toward him.
"Every girl Skyler has gotten close to..."
Zack continued, his voice becoming quieter.
"They all have dangerous crimson eyes... The same kind of eyes. Almost identical."
"As if..."
He paused and didn’t finish his sentence, his expression interested. With a chuckle, Zack followed Skyler and entered the gate, leaving the others behind to contemplate.
Everyone except Yuris understood what he was implying. Their expressions changed as the same thought crossed their minds.
’As if they were the same person.’
But that was impossible...
Right?
***
Beyond the gate, the cool air of the 21st level greeted everyone. The first thing that caught their eyes was the sight of wooden walls stretching around them, along with a floor made of weathered wooden planks. A weird sensation spread beneath their feet.
The ground was moving.
Everyone felt the subtle sway, followed by the distant sound of crashing waves and the scent of salt lingering in the damp air.
Charles narrowed his eyes, carefully observing their unfamiliar surroundings.
"What is this place?"
Skyler’s voice came from ahead.
"A massive wooden ship. We have just appeared inside a room of a ship in the middle of an ocean, meaning we have successfully reached the 21st level."
Zack stepped forward and glanced at Skyler, who stood calmly at the center of the room. He looked around at the ship before turning his gaze back to Skyler.
"What do we need to do on this level to move forward? Just tell us. We’ve already accepted that you know far, far more than you’re letting on. There’s no point wasting time searching around for the challenge of this level when we don’t have much time."
His smirked when Skyler’s eyes narrowed dangerously at him at the implication that Zack himself knew nothing about this level, as if Zack hadn’t read the novel. The look in Skyler’s smiling eyes made it crystal clear that he had caught onto Zack’s subtle jab.
Skyler tilted his head.
"Don’t you know it too?"
Zack simply shrugged.
"I don’t."
A chuckle escaped Skyler’s lips.
"Then, don’t you want to know how I know all of this... I mean, much more than you?"
Zack blinked.
"Honestly, I know you would never answer me, so I’m not going to waste time asking."
Yuris’ voice came from behind.
"Guys, what are you two talking about? We can’t hear anything because of this strange field around you both. What’s so secretive?"
Skyler turned his head back, not surprised by the sight of the electric field surrounding them. Zack clicked his tongue with a sigh.
"You already knew."
"Obviously."
Skyler patted his shoulder.
"We might all be at the peak of Mythic tier right now, but I’m far stronger. You all need to reach the 52nd level of Battle Royal and obtain the divine power to ascend to the Divine Rank. I can do it whenever I want."
Zack laughed as Skyler turned and easily passed through the field. The moment his body touched the field, the crackling Evol flickered before completely fading away.
The group gathered together and left the room. The moment they stepped outside, the old room behind them disappeared, as if it had never existed in the first place.
They found themselves standing on the main deck of an enormous wooden ship.
The vessel was like a big city in itself, far larger than any ordinary ship, its massive frame stretching across the murky ocean like a floating fortress. Tall masts towered above them, with enormous sails swaying in the wind, while many levels of the ship extended into the distance. Cargo crates, cannons, and various structures filled the deck. Scattered across the deck, people from different races stood in small and large groups, busy with their own tasks.
Some were inspecting equipment, others were preparing supplies, while many just watched the endless ocean around them.
The moment Skyler, Zack, and the others appeared, nearby conversations came to a halt. One by one, many eyes turned toward the group. Some were filled with curiosity and interest, others with indifference, while a few carried caution as they observed the newcomers. But what shocked everyone was the sight of the group’s young faces.
They all looked barely twenty! The crowd couldn’t help but think—when had Eldoria begun producing so many young talents?!
Wasn’t it common that reaching the 21st level meant one had already surpassed the prime of youth? Yet, standing before them was a group of youths who had somehow reached this level. Also, judging by the fact that no one among the crowd could sense their power, the conclusion was undeniable—the group of youths before them was far stronger than anyone else aboard the ship.