Two years later, at 4th Nowan High, the top college in all of Nowan City; a pair of blue eyes, shimmering like the ocean under the sun, fluttered closed tightly as their owner leaned back casually against the white wall that separated him from the group of girls mocking him on the other side.
Among the girls stood a silver-haired beauty, radiating an air of arrogance; her once-sweet demeanor now broken.
"I told you I don't like Skyler. He's good-looking, but he has no future as a Light with his 1-star potential. We all have low potential, but his is the worst of all! The reason I stick around him is that his face looks like it belongs on a magazine cover! Which girl wouldn't want a handsome top student running errands for her?"
Everyone around her giggled, thoroughly enjoying themselves, as one of them, a bit shorter in height, leaned in to whisper.
"But he seems to like you. What if he confesses to you in front of the class? What are you going to do, Ava?"
The silver-haired beauty scoffed with pure disdain and toyed with the tips of her hair that cascaded down her shoulders.
"Tsk, so what? I am going to reject him in front of everyone if he does. Kai from next class likes me and has a much brighter future than he does. Why would I want to waste my life with someone like him?"
Skyler chuckled. He didn't like this girl, but he was thoroughly amused by this group. Two years ago, after his affinity test, he worked hard and got into the top college.
He still hadn't decided which career he wants to pursue; that's why he selected all courses available for the students.
He stopped playing games. Instead, he started exercising in his father's guild gym every day to strengthen his body and learn hand-to-hand combat from the Lights. This way, he would at least be strong enough to protect himself in danger, even though he has no future as a Light.
His parents did not change even after he was declared a waste in front of so many, and his tragic testing day became the top search in all of Nowan City. They were able to use their influence in the city to remove the videos people took of him that day, but they couldn't erase them completely.
Those videos kept resurfacing on various online platforms, with people laughing in the comments about how someone had awakened a 1-star potential—the lowest ever seen on the entire continent.
That's why his face is well-known throughout the city, even more than the actors. Even the old aunt selling soup and noodles outside the college gate knew about the shit that went down in his life.
All his old friends severed ties with him. Many of them passed the exams and got accepted into prestigious academies, while some cut ties because their parents didn't want them associating with someone with no future. Others simply believed he was beneath them to engage with.
If someone had asked him 2 years ago, he would have said he was an extrovert with a massive circle of friends. However, now he had no friends and wouldn't talk to anyone unless necessary—a typical example of an extreme introvert. But he knew he wasn't. He just thought it was a waste of time.
Upon entering college, he noticed that everyone avoided him like the plague. This explains why he spoke to the silver-haired girl when she offered to be his friend. No, the true reason was her long silver hair. He still liked shiny and beautiful things, especially those that sparkled.
Skyler suddenly cleared his throat loudly to get the attention of the girls snickering on the college terrace and revealed himself.
"Don't misunderstand. I don't like anyone, and from now on, don't talk to me."
Immediately, the group of girls shut their mouths, startled to hear his voice.
Ava, the girl he supposedly liked, had her face turn ugly upon seeing him.
She wanted to salvage the situation, knowing that his family was quite rich and his parents were powerful Lights who held significant influence in Nowan City. But he left without even glancing at her, making her grit her teeth and shout.
"Who wants to talk to a loser anyway!"
Skyler didn't look back and ignored her completely. He descended the stairs to the lower floor and walked through the corridor lined with classrooms, where students in similar white button-down shirts and blue pants uniforms as his were walking.
The students avoided him, but many of them couldn't help but peek at him. That was to be expected. Although Skyler was somewhat shorter than the other boys his age, he was undeniably handsome, with a lean yet well-defined physique. He was already finished with his classes for the day, so he left and took a ride home.
As he entered the apartment and sat down to take off his sneakers, he heard the noise coming from the TV in the background.
Multiple news anchors were addressing a critical issue affecting the continent.
"So, even Argon and his large team, the strongest Lights on the human continent, have failed to clear the 51st level of 'Battle Royal'. Will another calamity descend if no one can clear that level?"
Another grim voice echoed.
"The last calamity descended on Eldoria ninety years ago. It was a massive wave of flying monsters that surged from a crack. They killed many and destroyed a lot of cities... What will happen this time?"
Her voice was followed by another.
"Why so pessimistic? The powerful Lights from the other continents haven't tried yet. We still have many years ahead. The Battle Royal isn't physically present. Young Lights who are forcefully summoned to participate in the preliminary test at the age of 20 and pass the test are the only individuals who can enter it anytime through the link."
"They are the ones clearing its next levels like every other planet in the Universe, and if a level isn't cleared for 30 years, a calamity will descend on the planet. We, the people of Eldoria, still have 28 long years to clear 51st level of the Battle Royal."