Moore chuckled at Skyler's request. His gaze shifted to the white snake clinging to his arm. She was a powerful 9-star beast.
Even if Skyler was a genius beast tamer, it was unusual to see such a strong creature paired with someone weaker than itself.
Maybe she had taken a liking to him and chosen to become his companion?
Anyway, taking care of a beast was no challenge for him. Also, he was searching for a powerful beast to accompany him to the underground beast tamer battle arena. This snake could be the ideal partner.
So, Moore was more than willing to take care of the snake in Skyler's absence. With that in mind, he reached out to take Riruru.
"Then leave her to me, I'll take care—
His words were cut short by Skyler.
"Wait, on second thought, I'll just call my mom and ask her to pick up Riruru. I don't think I can leave my precious Riruru with anyone in the academy, especially since I just joined this place yesterday."
Moore's eyebrow twitched as he watched Skyler pull out his phone to call his mother. He couldn't believe the kid didn't trust him!
"Tsk..."
He glanced at Charles and, with a wave of his hand, gave him a storage ring and map. Charles noticed his annoyed expression.
"Professor, Skyler is very approachable but doesn't trust others easily. Riruru is close to him. So, don't take his words to heart."
Moore patted his shoulder.
"You know him very well?"
"No, just enough."
They were talking when Skyler returned.
"Mom will be here in a while. Until then, I hope you take care of Riruru, Professor."
Moore wrinkled his nose in distaste but nodded and handed him a storage ring and a scrolled map. A twinkle of amusement lit up his eyes as he saw how the storage ring that Skyler had received was the weakest among the ones he ordered last night.
"You have terrible luck. Are you sure you want to do what I said? With your current strength, I fear you might accidentally get crushed under a sleeping troll."
It was at that moment that Jenny showed up. Her eyes darkened as she stared at the storage ring and map in her brother's hand.
"No! Sky won't! Professor, he's not strong enough. It's dangerous for him. Please take back the map and storage ring from him."
Moore was taken aback by her sudden interruption. More than that, every student fell silent when Jenny, the one who always stayed quiet, suddenly raised her voice.
Max agreed with her.
"Yes, Professor. I believe Sky still needs time to grow stronger before he is ready to face that unsafe place again."
The remaining students of Class A whispered among themselves, agreeing that Max and Jenny were right. Considering Skyler's current strength, he would just die in the Battle Royal. The look of disdain and amusement in their eyes was clear.
A chill ran down Skyler's spine. What was this? Who gave Jenny and Max the right to interfere and make decisions on his behalf?
He didn't remember he did it!
Then why were they treating him like a fragile being that needed their protection? Like someone incapable of doing anything, facing danger and surviving on their own? This wasn't mere worry anymore, they were patronizing him!
Charles noticed how Skyler's expression chilled as he stared at Jenny. He wanted to step in, knowing that their relationship was already strained, but Skyler spoke up.
"This is my freaking life! I will decide what is good for me, and what is not! No other person gets to tell me!"
His voice, though calm, held an underlying tremor of defiance and simmering rage. His emotions were spiraling out of control.
Again and again, these people acted as if they were the greatest saints in Eldoria, and he, Skyler, was a pathetic fool who needed their condescending assistance!
Why? How dare they?
How dare these mere—
The darkness creeping into his eyes vanished when he saw a pair of worried red eyes staring at him. A faint voice inside him chuckled, and he couldn't understand why. The snake blinked and touched his head.
Charles gripped his shoulder.
"Skyler?"
Calmness returned to his expression, accompanied by a smile as he glanced at Jenny, who stared at him in shock. Not just her, everyone around her looked shocked. They were stunned by his outburst.
Skyler cleared his throat and pointed his finger at his sister and the tall, handsome golden-eyed man standing beside her.
"Don't ever call me 'Sky' again. 'Sky' is reserved for only my friends and family."
He glanced at Moore.
"Professor, I apologize for raising my voice. But I said I would enter the Battle Royal, and I will. No need to listen to anyone else for it."
Moore nodded, his brow furrowed. Earlier, when Skyler shouted, he had felt a surge of powerful dark aura coming from him. It was unsettling. But how was this possible?
Skyler was only a 4-star!
Also, from the students' expressions, he could tell that only he had sensed it.
Behind him, Jenny's face flushed with embarrassment. Skyler had rejected her goodwill? What was wrong with him?
Didn't he realize his potential was limited? Even if he returned to the Battle Royal, he wouldn't be able to increase his strength! Why was he putting himself in danger?
She clenched her fists as she heard many students snickering at her and Max's failed attempt to put on a show of concern.
"Sky...!"
She shouted at Skyler, but he ignored her.
"Alright! Do whatever you want!"
Max tried to calm her down.
However, she muttered, 'Status'.
In the next second, a brilliant gray light flashed around her, and she vanished in front of everyone. It was clear she had entered the 1st level of Battle Royal.
Max let out a sigh. He glanced at Skyler, unsure what they had said was so wrong for the latter to react so negatively.
"Why are you both fighting instead of working things out? She is your sister."
He wanted to say more, even stepping toward him, but Elena stopped him.
"It's their family matter."
Max's brow creased, but he nodded.
"Let's follow Jenny. Also, find each other through the tracking artifacts the academy gave us previously. It's better that way."
He vanished after that. Elena followed suit. Austin smirked at Skyler and vanished from the dome as well. After the main cast, one by one, all the students who had agreed to Professor Moore's words began to vanish.
Zack watched Skyler and Charles.
'I don't know what will happen. But let's hope they both don't interfere with the story more than they already have. Or else I have to change my original plan.'
With that thought, he vanished too.
In the end, only the students who had declined Moore's offer remained in the dome, along with the two new students.
Charles watched in amusement as Skyler gently pulled the clinging snake from his body and placed her on the ground.
Skyler bent down to her level as Riruru stared at him with aggrieved eyes.
"Don't be angry, okay? I'll be back in no time. I don't want to leave either, but I have to."
She understood his words, and that made her even more distraught, sad, and angry.
Riruru wanted to rush toward him to wrap herself around his body but couldn't when he shook his head with a sigh, almost as if he understood her intentions.
"Mom will be here soon. Go with her, okay?"
She blinked at the familiar word 'Mom'. It was the person Skyler considered family. But why did he want her to stay with her? She wanted to stay with him!
Her thoughts dissipated, and she froze as he suddenly lowered his head and kissed the top of her head with a smile.
"Just wait for me, I will bring you a lot of gems and beautiful crystals to play with. I heard there are many sleeping Dragons in the first level of Battle Royal."
Professor Moore and the students who were watching the scene couldn't help but think something was extremely wrong with Skyler's behavior. However, they couldn't pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
Unlike them, Charles had a different crisis. Skyler's last words to Riruru were downright bone-chilling! Knowing this bastard, he will actually go and steal from a dragon!
Skyler stood up, and the dazed snake just stared at him. She was still trying to grasp what she felt when he kissed her head.
He looked at Charles.
"We are the last ones left. Let's leave."
But he was met with a different question.
"You were joking, right?"
Skyler glanced at Charles with confusion, and the latter knew he wasn't joking at all when he said he would bring a lot of gems and crystals for Riruru. Damnit, she didn't even like those things! This bastard just needs a reason to justify his craziness!
Charles' jaw tightened.
"Don't you dare to look for me there! I don't want to die young because of you!"
With that, he vanished. Skyler's eyebrow twitched. What wrong had he done now?
"At least tell me what happened?"
He clicked his tongue with a smirk. A gray light enveloped him and he vanished as well. He was sure to find Charles in there.
After all, his motto was, friends should suffer together, even if one of them was innocent.