Standing atop the white stage, Skyler chuckled menacingly. The two 5-star elves who had climbed the other stages with him had long since been defeated by monsters and had jumped down from the stages before they could be gravely wounded.
Yet, he didn't.
Sweat glistened down his jawline as he savored the moment. A breakthrough. The feeling was addictive! The curses and angry shouts of those around him faded into the background as he ignored the crowd.
"505, show me my status."
The system, which was even more excited than he was, didn't waste any time, and a gray screen flashed before his blue eyes.
_______
Status:
Name: Skyler Ironhart
Elemental Affinity with:
1) Light: 2-star (Initial stage)
2) Darkness: 0-star (Final stage)
3) Space: (Locked)
4) ???
Overall Strength: 2-star Novice (Initial stage)
Potential: 5-star Novice
(Currently locked due to 'Special Spirit Constitution'. No further information.)
Class: None
Skills/Spells:
1) Physical Augmentation: (Novice-tier)
This is a self-taught skill. The host has learned to manipulate the Evol within his elemental crystal to enhance his agility and the power of his physical attacks.
_______
Skyler twirled the cracked dagger between his fingers, a surge of excitement coursing through him as he examined his status.
He knew... deep down in his heart, he had been somewhat skeptical about the idea of the 'Special Spirit Constitution' and the fact that his potential would continue to grow.
And why wouldn't he feel doubtful after spending two years of his life branded as a waste with no future as a Light? Yet, that lingering doubt vanished completely the instant he broke through to 2-star! He truly has a unique body structure, which had been the reason for his low potential!
Spotting his first skill added to his status, his joy doubled. If he remembered correctly, like potential, skills and spells in Eldoria are categorized into five tiers: Novice, Adept, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic.
Novice is the weakest, while Mythic is the rarest and most powerful. It was said that only Lights who had cleared the Mythic tier crystals leading to other dimensions and ascended beyond the 40th floor of Battle Royale possessed Mythic tier skills.
One can also purchase all kinds of skills and spells from their system shop in Battle Royale using points, but it is expensive, and the shop is something he can't access yet.
Still, to think he had acquired his first skill.
"Hehe, what a great harvest!"
He paused and turned to the system.
"Wait... I learned to manipulate the Evol in my body much earlier. 505, why didn't you add this skill to my status before?"
("Because the host's manipulation and knowledge at that time were crude. The act was only recognized as a skill once you had performed it accurately many times.")
Skyler nodded and a familiar notification flashed before him, asking if he wanted to continue fighting beasts or admit defeat.
Of course, he said yes!
Why would he go down?
To get beaten up? Nope, no thank you!
He would spend days on this stage! All he needed to do was kill the monsters, and the essence would handle his hunger, thirst, fatigue, and also boost his strength!
Skyler's smile finally fell as his next opponent materialized in front of him. It was a 3-star Lizard with spiraled horns and a massive, scaly body. Three orbs floated in the center of its horns—one made of fire, one of lightning, and one of darkness.
"505, don't you think the difficulty just shot up too much all of a sudden? I just fucking reached 2-star!?"
He shouted, but the system had vanished as usual. Suddenly, the lizard narrowed its eyes and swung its long tail.
"Shit."
Skyler rolled in another direction, scrambling to evade the tail. That attack, which shook the air, wasn't enough for the lizard because, in the next second, a rain of thunderbolts began pouring down on the stage, trying to turn him into charcoal!
As he ran across the stage, evading the thunderbolts, a fireball struck him in the back, causing him to grimace. A familiar voice called out from down the stage.
"How about you come down now?"
Austin asked him with a smirk. His team was relieved to see Sky alive and fine, but the kid was beginning to get on his nerves. It had been more than half a day since he arrived here with the others, yet this youth showed no inclination to leave the stage.
The night had faded, and the morning sun was shining. Just how long did he plan to stay up there and hoard all the essence?
Getting stronger was something everyone desired, so he wanted Skyler to come down now that he had broken through to 2-star.
Max had already taken one of the other two stages when the elf above rushed down. As the strongest on their team, he easily dealt with those who tried to obstruct him.
Jenny had claimed the other stage, and Austin wanted to climb up Sky's stage. His smirk faltered when Sky treated him like he was invisible, not even sparing a glance.
"You... Let's see just how long you can stay up there! If you think my team will protect you now that you're making enemies with so many people here, then dream on!"
He huffed and retreated to sit with Elena, who was absorbing Evol beneath a nearby tree. She shook her head and ignored him.
Like Austin, everyone around him was also seething and completely ready to pounce on Skyler the moment he came down.
However, the person who was most frustrated was Zack. He didn't show his face and was pacing behind the row of trees, with Mila and Oreon seated by his side, but he was watching everything.
If it were possible, his glares would have already put a few holes in Skyler's body!
"Hold on, what if Skyler occupying one of the stages meant for the protagonist and his team creates a butterfly effect? If the story shifts, I could lose my advantage!"
#Keeper of Time: And whose fault is that?