Another screen flashed before Skyler.
("Would you like to continue fighting or admit defeat to leave the stage?")
What happened in the next second was something no one expected, not even the system, which was celebrating that its host had grown stronger and had a little bit more chance of passing the preliminary test.
With the weapon, he can just continue to fight on the stage for a long time!
Skyler jumped off the stage. He channeled all the Evol he had just recovered thanks to the essence into his legs to enhance his speed before vanishing into the trees.
The crowd was dumbfounded, and by the time everyone comprehended what had just happened, he had already disappeared.
Then, a massive fight erupted in the area for the stage. Ultimately, Elena climbed the stage thanks to her quick reaction.
Zack stared at the cluster of tall maple trees where Skyler's figure had just faded away, unsure of what to feel anymore.
"He left... just like that?"
He muttered, glancing at the three stages occupied by the protagonist and two of his teammates before scratching his head.
"Just hoping that Skyler's presence won't interfere with the storyline any further."
#Keeper of Time: He is an additional variable you introduced in the real timeline. Would you like me to monitor him to ensure everything stays on track?
Zack shook his head.
"No, his potential is only 5 stars. You've already expended a lot of energy on him, so don't waste any more. As long as he doesn't interfere with Max and his team during the preliminary test, I'm sure his presence will vanish from the story on its own. He's just a side character anyway..."
He paused at the end. Zack knew he had changed a lot since arriving here. He was viewing everyone around him as fictional characters, even though they were real. He couldn't help but wonder: was another life always so insignificant to him?
"Just remind me when he turns 20... As compensation for what we did to him, I will save his life when he is supposed to die."
The Keeper of Time remained silent.
There was no clear reason why he had chosen Zack to stop Max from reversing time again to save his world.
This man just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time and discovered the book 'Fate of Eldoria' before anyone else.
However, he wasn't a wrong choice.
Zack was cold, yet from the brief time the Keeper of Time had observed him, he could see that he wasn't a bad person.
He exaggerated his fake emotions and concealed the real ones. But it was only because he had gone through so much in his first life. Betrayal was the most painful experience one could face, and Zack had suffered just that at the hands of none other than the only person he loved.
So, the Keeper of Time wondered what impact his presence would have on this world. He was tasked with stopping Max from reversing time again; that was it. The rest was up to him.
Would he allow the world to crumble as it was destined to before Max interfered? Or would Zack try to save it after forming an attachment to it? The Keeper of Time could no longer see the future, leaving even him uncertain about what lay ahead.
Regardless, they didn't see Skyler again throughout the remaining duration of the preliminary test. Even Max and his team were unable to locate him again during the rest of the days they spent in the test.
It was as if the youth had vanished.
***
On the other hand, after leaving the battle stage, Skyler ran amid the trees, breathing heavily. He was going in the same direction the red-eyed beauty had taken. He ran and ran but couldn't find her again.
"505, help me track down the owner of the spear! I want to thank her and, if possible, get her number. That way, I can find her again if we are from the same planet!"
As usual, the system, which had no such authority, quickly went missing in action.
Skyler stopped in his tracks after a while and wiped his sweaty forehead.
"Does she not want her weapon back?"
"Why did she leave so abruptly?"
He stared at the spear in his hand and sighed dejectedly. He didn't even know if the beauty was from his planet because he had never seen a race with such stunning pair of wings... Could it be that he would never meet her again? Was his first crush going to disappear just like that?
"What a beautiful yet terrible... No, it was just a beautiful encounter."
He changed his words at the end when he recalled her face. He would remember this encounter in his life as beautiful.
In matters of the heart, Skyler was a straightforward person, just like his father. If he liked someone, he liked them and he would never hesitate to show his feelings.
He smiled and pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head before sitting down to rest for a while with the spear in his arms.
For some reason, Skyler was certain they would meet again in the future. So, he would patiently wait for that time.
"505, show me the progress of the mission. Now, I have one more big reason not to fail. I should also increase my stash of gems."
The system happily displayed his current progress. After all, that was its job.
("Kill monsters: 300/32
Time remaining: 24 days.
Host, you are still far behind!")
Skyler changed into a new outfit: a dark grey shirt and dark trousers. The previous ones had been torn in battle. Now, he had to be careful with his clothes.
"Don't worry, I'm going to work extra hard. Let's clear this test together. But before that, I need to find a hidden place to sleep a bit. Otherwise, I won't be able to function well."
505 cheered inwardly. Its host was getting serious again! Even if it was because of a girl after gems, it was still an improvement!