Reading the description, Skyler’s mood finally improved slightly. He purchased the item. However, there was still one problem.
"The blood..."
Where could he find the blood of someone who had already reached the 52nd level?
Certainly not on this level.
Skyler sighed as he thought about it. Then, a figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
Argon Steel. That guy who had recklessly consumed the divine treasure despite knowing he could not handle its power.
"I can get his blood..."
Skyler paused.
"But getting it from him won’t be easy."
Then, another thought flashed through his mind.
"Wait... I don’t need his blood specifically. His teammates also cleared the 51st level alongside him. Getting the blood of one of them would be much easier."
He thought for another moment before decisively calling 505 and asking it to show his status, planning to exit the Battle Royal.
Skyler asked Riruru to enter the space pocket where the mermaid was for a while.
After that, he looked at the others.
"Guys, I will be leaving for a while to take care of something important. You can rest until I return, or roam around in this level."
With that, Skyler vanished, not even giving the others a chance to ask any questions.
Charles let out a sigh.
"Where did he go this time?"
Isaac stared at the spot where Skyler had vanished, his expression thoughtful.
"I think he just left the Battle Royal."
Yuris immediately jumped up, his expression filled with disbelief.
"That’s so unfair. He can leave whenever he wants, but we can’t! I wanted to go see my big bro! He should have taken me with him!"
As he continued complaining, a familiar voice suddenly came from ahead of them.
"Then stop following him."
The moment the voice sounded, everyone stood up and turned toward its source.
Austin was the first to call out to the man standing opposite them, who was casually leaning against a dry tree. Austin’s voice was filled with a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Max?"
He could understand how he, Zack, and the others had come so far in the Battle Royal. It was all because of Skyler, that anomaly.
But seeing Max here shocked him. Was climbing the Battle Royal really that easy?
The distant, emotionless golden eyes turned toward Austin. A flicker of surprise appeared deep within them, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by a knowing glint.
"Well, your views were always different from ours. Better than ours. It’s obvious why he chose to bring you along."
A faint sneer appeared on his face.
"But considering how powerful you have become in such a short amount of time, it seems he has treated you well so far. That guy still hasn’t revealed his true purpose."
Austin’s expression changed.
"What are you talking about?"
Max did not elaborate. Instead, he simply stared at the group standing opposite him.
"Stop following him."
His voice was calm, but there was an unusual seriousness behind it.
"This isn’t an order. This is my last warning to all of you. Because in the end, you won’t even have the time to regret your choices."
His golden eyes lowered slightly.
"This is the last chance. But just as he wants, everyone has forgotten their true purpose."
A faint bitterness flashed through Max’s eyes.
"Even I... I forgot it all for so long."
His gaze shifted toward Zack.
"You... don’t you want to know why you’re different from the rest of us? Why you were given a different set of duties to fulfill?"
The next moment, Max’s voice directly echoed inside Zack’s mind, sending a chill through his entire body.
’A transmigrator... how ironic.’
Suddenly, Yuris snapped.
"Why are you speaking in riddles? Get to the point, damn it! Your presence here makes me feel like you are up to something bad!"
Max’s lips curled upward.
He was up to something bad?
No.
It wasn’t him who was doing something wrong.
It was that guy.
Skyler.
His gaze swept across Austin and the others standing before him.
"Tell me... what is your answer?"
Charles stopped Yuris from speaking and looked back at Max.
"I don’t understand. You suddenly appear and tell us to stop following Skyler. Shouldn’t you explain the reason if you want to convince us?"
His expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened.
"Your words are vague, but they imply that Skyler is hiding something—something that will eventually make us regret our choices. But we already know he has many secrets."
Charles paused for a moment.
"So why should we do what you ask?"
Max’s smile deepened. But there was not even a hint of joy in it; instead, it was filled with agony.
"This is really difficult. I can tell the truth in front of what is fake. But if I do the same in front of what is real... it will disappear."
He turned and began walking away.
"I get it. Following that guy brings more benefits—benefits you can clearly see."
"So, I won’t say anything more."
"The decision is up to you."
"Just remember my words."
Everyone watched as Max’s figure faded into thin air. Charles followed him until he disappeared before falling into thought.
"Strange..."
Yuris muttered beside him.
"So... we are real? Then what is fake?"
His emerald eyes were filled with confusion as he sat back down.
Zack’s eyes trembled as he heard his mutter. A sudden question flashed through his mind.
’Am I fake?’
But he immediately shook his head.
’Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!’
He came to this world because of a higher being’s will—to stop Max from reaching the Wheel of Time. That was the only reason.
Indeed, Skyler was powerful. He was an anomaly, someone unlike anyone else.
But how could Skyler possibly possess the ability to interfere with the plans of a higher being? That was completely impossible.
Right?
Zack staggered back as a dark voice questioned him deep within his mind.
’Then how does Max know you are a transmigrator?’
’He wasn’t supposed to know.’