Skyler shot to his feet, his mind racing.
He couldn't just lie there, his predicament wouldn't solve itself. He had to figure out a way to take everything from this chamber.
He had to act, but what could he do?
He had only two storage rings: one a gift from his father, the other from Professor Moore. Both were already full.
He had multiple sets of clothes, shoes, food, and other essential belongings inside the storage rings. But even if he discarded them, he couldn't possibly fit everything from this chamber within them.
How could he take it all with him?
Skyler's eyes crinkled as he surveyed the chamber. A good idea formed in his head. Right, he was in a treasure trove! Wouldn't this place have space element treasures as well? What about some old storage rings?
The only problem was that if he started looking for them, it would take days.
A sly smile spread across Skyler's lips, and 505 shuddered as he glanced in a random direction, seemingly looking directly at it, with a harmless, innocent expression.
"505. Scan this chamber."
("What??")
Skyler's smile widened, and a very bad premonition dawned on the system.
"You can scan everything visible to you from my point of view. That's what I have understood so far. I can't use my Evol here, or it would disturb the dragon. I can't waste any more time either. That means you have to do the job. Scan this chamber and find me something that can store things."
("The main system will erase me if it ever caught wind of it?!! Host, do you not care about your dear 505 existence?? QAQ.")
Skyler tilted his head.
"And who will tell the main system about this? You or me? We are the only ones here, right? So, 505, if you want your 1889th host to leave this chamber alive and breathing, you will have to break a few rules."
The system was in a state of panic. It had already crossed the line multiple times.
It was true that many systems aided their hosts from time to time. After all, systems could develop an affection for their hosts if they spent a significant time together. 505 had heard stories about it in the chat group. But these interventions were usually minor, such as alerting them to nearby threats.
The main system usually didn't care about these small mistakes, because they weren't a big deal. But that didn't mean the systems could just break the rules! If what 505 had done ever came to light, it was done for!
Skyler noticed the system's hesitation. It seemed there was still a long way to go before he made 505 fully compliant.
"Don't you want to be the best system?"
With these words, he sealed the deal.
How could the system not want to be the best? It had already come so far! So, what was the harm in breaking another rule?
Trembling, 505 scanned the chamber.
A few seconds later, it wiped away its imaginary sweat, steadied its core, and gave its host the answer he wanted.
("On your left, you'll find a pile of storage rings amongst the weapons. I can detect a mythic tier storage ring there. It should be large enough to store everything here.")
Skyler's eyes sparkled. He was not aware that storage rings were also ranked in tiers.
"Good job! I knew I could count on you! Believe me, you will definitely become the best system in Battle Royal one day."
It was as if spring was in his steps as he rushed toward the direction 505 pointed.
He ignored the sleeping dragon.
It was only the system that would get panic attacks whenever he made a noise as he ran around, tumbling a few times.
After a few hours of grueling work, Skyler stood in the same chamber, directly facing the platform where the dragon slept. His fingers were laden with storage rings.
Yet, the once glowing chamber was now bare, devoid of even a single gold coin.
"Hehe..."
A silent, evil laugh escaped his lips as he caressed the storage rings on his fingers. 505's core trembled hearing the laugh.
("Host... plz, plz let's leave now. QAQ.")
Skyler shook his head, sending a shiver of dread down 505's spine. His blue eyes fixed on the sleeping dragon, or more specifically, the red jewels placed around its body.
"There's still a few big jewels left in this place. I'm sure Riruru will like those."
("Host!! You absolutely can't!! Those jewels are what keeping the dragon asleep! They have potent, warm elemental power!")
505's composure cracked. It couldn't even say anything more, and Skyler was already above the massive marble platform.
The system finally shut down due to the stress of witnessing its host storing all the jewels on the platform in his storage ring.
That freaking jerk didn't even leave behind the one underneath the dragon's paw.
Skyler gulped nervously as the dragon let out an irritated huff when it lost the solid jewel beneath its paw. Its brows furrowed.
Now that there was nothing shiny around Skyler, his senses were finally returning. So, did he regret what he did? No, he didn't. Not even in the least. That was the difference between him and a sane, normal person.
He tiptoed back, his gaze never leaving the massive creature. The dragon snarled in its sleep and shifted its paw, likely looking for the warm jewel, as he left the platform.
The instant Skyler was down the platform, he broke into a run, heading straight for the gate. The chamber, once ablaze with light, was now empty, its former brilliance gone.
He reached the golden gate and slipped through, but as he turned to close it, his gaze met the enormous azure slit pupils that had finally snapped open.
'Shit!'
Skyler slammed the gate shut, the heavy metal groaning in protest. Without looking back, he sprinted toward the passageway he came from, his voice echoing through the cavernous space as he bellowed.
"505!!!"
Unfortunately, the system had shut down momentarily, overwhelmed by what it had gone through in a single day.
A deafening, primal roar erupted behind Skyler, a sound that seemed to tear through everything. The air vibrated from the sound, weakening the walls of the passageway he was in, raining down a cascade of debris.
He shuddered. His legs nearly gave out from the sheer force of the sound.
Just then, his light Evol surged out of his elemental crystal as he channeled it with every fiber of his being, pouring it into his legs, propelling him forward with a speed that defied his normal limits.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
A string of curses flowed from his lips as he sensed everything behind him crumbling, a massive presence rushing towards him.
The instant he burst from the passage, his eyes met a familiar pair of silver eyes that had emerged from the passage next to his.
"Oh, hey...!"
Skyler wanted to say more. Like, why are you still here? But he didn't have time. He flashed his signature smile at Zack, who stood rooted in his place, and left.
A piercing, horrified shout erupted behind him, echoing like a siren through the air.
"What the hell did you do?? You bastard!"
Skyler's ears buzzed. He didn't need to look back to know who was screaming at him. It was Zack, who had started running behind him. His entire focus was on the cave exit.
"Who told you to stay here, huh? Not my fault if you get swallowed by the dragon—"
His words were cut short as the dragon let out another deafening roar. This time it was followed by a torrent of flames that surged through the whole cave with the speed of lightning, turning the air into a furnace.
"Not fire please!"
Skyler instinctively wanted to cover his body with golden Evol. But his dark Evol erupted, a swirling vortex of dark shadows that enveloped his running figure. The fire cracked the darkness clinging to his body, but it didn't shatter it completely. Behind him, Zack let out another curse. Then, the sound of someone falling echoed, a heavy thud that reverberated through the air.
He shouldn't have laughed, given his own dire situation. However, the absurdity of the situation, the sheer ridiculousness of it all, had him doubled over in mirth.
"Pfff, I guess he tripped."
Skyler knew Zack wouldn't die. There was a reason why the higher being named Keeper of Time was sticking around him. A reason why the higher being interfered with his and Charles' fate just because Zack asked. So, how could such a person die so easily?
He was correct, because the next second, Zack's furious voice echoed behind him.
"Stop right there!! Return what you stole!!"
Skyler rushed out of the cave entrance, an amused sneer playing on his lips. So, they could take anything they wanted from the dragon chamber, and he had to return the 'very few things' he took? Was that fair?
"In your dreams!"