Yuris raised his brow at Isaac.
"You’re inviting just the two of us?"
Isaac clicked his tongue as he glanced at Austin, Max, and the others, his gaze deep.
"I know we were friends during the Trial. And nothing truly bad happened between us. But for some reason, I just can’t bring myself to feel any goodwill toward them."
He looked at Yuris and Charles.
"You two want a free ride or not?"
Yuris raised his hands.
"Definitely!"
Then he whispered.
"Although I could simply fly back home."
Isaac’s eyebrow twitched. With a crisp sound, he smacked Yuris on the head.
Just at that moment, the Queen appeared before everyone, her presence immediately commanding their attention. Her cold voice rang out across the garden, loud yet calm.
"I am relieved to see everyone back. Congratulations on returning safely."
Everyone immediately straightened. But for some reason, unlike before, this time under her aura, no one felt fear. That was strange.
Very, very strange.
Riya finally wiped away her tears and, like everyone else, straightened up. Only when she slightly bowed her upper body to greet the Queen did the others follow her lead.
Elizabeth waved her hand.
"No need for formalities. Rise. This is a joyful occasion that calls for celebration."
Everyone straightened up again. But once again, silence returned to the royal garden.
Elizabeth’s eyes swept over everyone who had returned from the 100th level of Battle Royal. They all looked exactly as they had two years ago, as though they hadn’t aged or changed in the slightest. Their features and even their physiques were all the same.
The only noticeable difference was in their eyes. They seemed far more mature now compared to before, no longer carrying the innocence and childishness they once had.
Elizabeth wanted to ask them whether any of them knew the reason why the people in the lower levels of the Battle Royal, not only from their planet, Eldoria, but from all other planets as well, had been suddenly kicked out a while ago, why no one could enter the Battle Royal anymore, and why they could no longer summon their status windows.
But she suppressed all her questions for the time being. There was something far more important she needed to do first.
Forcing herself to smile, Elizabeth acknowledged the youths opposite her.
"All of you have made Eldoria proud, and each of you will be properly rewarded for your achievements. But after everything you’ve endured, I’m sure you’re all tired."
She called for her most trusted servant, a middle-aged man with a wrinkled face, who silently appeared behind her and bowed.
"For now, just tell the Royal Butler all that happened after you entered the trial. Then, you may rest here at the Castle. Of course, if any of you wishes to return home and meet your families, you are free to do so."
Before anyone could cheer, thank the Queen, or say a word, Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze suddenly shifting toward the back of the group.
"Except for the individual standing at the very back. Everyone else may follow the Butler to do what was asked and leave."
Only after Elizabeth pointed him out did everyone turn their heads toward the thin figure they had completely overlooked.
His presence was very faint.
So nonexistent—that it was easy to overlook him entirely. If they hadn’t seen him standing there now, they might have believed he had never been there at all.
Riya, the Royal Butler, and the surrounding guards remained fine when they saw him.
They didn’t even recognize him.
But the moment the participants laid eyes on the weak figure, their bodies stiffened.
For just an instant, a flicker of dread and immense fear surfaced in their hearts.
It was faint. Almost imperceptible.
And just as quickly, it vanished.
None of them understood why they had reacted that way. All of them exchanged uncertain glances among themselves.
Was it their imagination?
The weak person before them was clearly Skyler—the weakest among their group, an ordinary human who had been dragged into the trial alongside them. He had followed them during the early years, struggling to keep up as they gradually grew stronger.
But Skyler ended up dying in a monster wave. Only now had they seen him again.
After all, the trial had promised to send everyone back if they won in the end. So, what was this sudden terrifying feeling?
Skyler slowly raised his gaze to meet the Queen’s sharp eyes. Unlike everyone else, his consciousness had only just appeared in the empty shell, and she had singled him out just as he was about to check himself.
How annoying.
Reaching up, he slowly brushed back the ash-brown strands of hair covering his forehead, revealing his smooth forehead and a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes—eyes that seemed far too mature for his youthful face, as though they concealed secrets that no one could comprehend.
A childish voice suddenly echoed in his mind, sounding indignant. Yet the words that followed were anything but childish.
’Host, this old woman is still just as terrible in reality! Who even made her the Queen?’
’Should I kill her for you?’
Skyler mercilessly flicked the little dark dragon, which no one else around could see, away from his shoulder, muttering.
"Quiet."
Just one single word. But due to the silence, it was heard by everyone.
Riya’s eyes flashed with anger. She had already recognized him after seeing his face. It was her good-for-nothing son.
But was he speaking to the Queen?
How audacious!
Even the guards felt a surge of fury.
Yet unlike them, Max, Jenny, Yuris, Isaac, Austin, Zack, and everyone else who had just returned from the Battle Royal swiftly sealed their lips after hearing that word.
They even instinctively held their breath.
Almost as if their lives depended on it.
Before Riya or the angry guards could say anything, Skyler stepped toward the Queen.
Everyone before him instinctively moved aside, creating a clear path for him. Skyler walked straight toward Elizabeth without hesitation, stopping directly in front of her.
He met her gaze.
Then, smiled.
It was just a simple smile, yet something about it sent a chill down Elizabeth’s spine.
Hearing the sound of commotion outside the Royal Castle, Skyler opened his mouth.
"Alright. I’ll stay."