Johnson scoffed but did not stop Skyler from massaging his shoulder. It felt nice as he kneaded his muscles. It seemed his son, who always did this to evade scolding, had become quite skilled at it.
"Stop trying to butter me up."
Skyler smirked inwardly. It worked!
Riya noticed his crinkling eyes and sighed softly. She hoped he wouldn’t do anything similar again in the future.
"Just tell us how you spent your days during the preliminary test and..."
She paused for a moment.
"How did you increase your potential? Did you discover a treasure?"
Skyler nodded and recounted the days he had spent in the preliminary test.
His parents grew more astonished with each detail he shared, as he intentionally omitted the moments when he was injured or chased by monsters.
He also didn’t mention that in the test he was abandoned twice, the first time being by none other than his older sister.
They could hardly believe their son possessed such remarkable survival skills and fighting powers, and this was when he hadn’t even joined any academy or received any formal training in combat! What would happen when he joined an academy and received specialized coaching?
Skyler paused for a moment when it was time for him to explain why his potential had increased. He didn’t want to lie, but he also didn’t want to reveal the truth.
"As for my potential... it just suddenly increased on its own. I didn’t absorb any treasures since I didn’t find one."
Riya and Johnson could tell he wasn’t sharing the full details, but they didn’t press further. Anyway, they would learn about his current potential tomorrow when they got the old artifact, which would tell them if he had used a treasure, as treasures could only increase potential to a certain limit.
When he finished, they brought up the matter of Starlight Academy.
Riya looked at him seriously.
"After witnessing your performance, Vice Principal Doris granted you a special pass to join the academy without taking any type of tests. But Doris set two conditions: first, you must return alive from the preliminary test, and second, you must clear it. You are back alive, but did you pass the test?"
Johnson also became serious. This was important. If their son had passed the test, it meant his life had completely changed.
Skyler didn’t hide his ambition.
"I did, and I’m going to enter the Battle Royal again. I want to walk on this path."
His parents stayed silent for a moment before Riya inhaled and nodded.
"Okay, we will support you."
Johnson held her hand. He knew it took a lot for Riya to say what she did. If possible, they didn’t want their children to go through the Battle Royal—both Skyler and Jenny.
However, in Eldoria, the strong ruled while the weak were preyed upon. They didn’t stop Jenny when she left for the academy, and if Skyler wanted to enter the Battle Royal again, they wouldn’t stop him either.
This was their life and their battles. As parents, they would worry, but they couldn’t stop them from chasing their dreams. They knew Skyler wanted to become a powerful Light, but he had to abandon that dream when he awakened a 1-star potential.
So, how could they stop him now that he had finally gotten a chance to pursue that dream again? The only thing they could do was support him like they did with Jenny, providing him with the best resources they could and hoping their son would always come back safe and sound.
Suddenly, Skyler moved and stored the gems and sparkling crystals in his storage ring before his parents confiscated them.
Johnson’s eyebrow twitched at his actions, but he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, he asked him if he would join the Academy.
Skyler thought carefully. Knowing that his potential was still locked, he knew that no other academy would easily accept him as a student, even if he passed their tests, if they checked his current potential.
Moreover, the academies had already closed their admissions for this year, so why would they create tests solely for him just because he performed well and cleared the preliminary test when there are others who outperformed him in that test?
He needed to enroll in the best available institute where he could learn and access information about the lower levels of Battle Royal that had already been cleared. After all, even though his parents can share that knowledge with him, they can’t provide the details that the academies possess.
So, his decision was clear.
"Starlight is the number one academy on the human continent, known for having the best resources. It’s the best option for me, and I don’t even have to take any tests. So, I will join it. But first, I will go back to college and settle everything. Once I am done, I will leave for the academy."
His parents granted him the freedom to choose. After they finished dinner, Skyler helped his mother wash the dishes, and his father settled down on the sofa with a cup of coffee and watched the news on TV.
Many anchors were discussing how even the best fighters from the Beast continent, who entered the 51st level of Battle Royal a month ago, had returned with the solemn news of defeat in their first attempt, just like those from the human continent.
Johnson shook his head.
"The more levels we climb in the Battle Royal, the more difficult it’s getting."
Even he and Riya had only cleared the first eight levels of that place and stopped at the ninth level since it was getting dangerous.
Hearing him, Skyler peered out from behind the kitchen counter into the living room. His gaze shifted to the LED TV set in the wall.
"They can’t clear that level. It seems I need to work hard and clear it for them. Tsk."
He said it jokingly, and Johnson rolled his eyes. Skyler had just passed the preliminary test, yet he was already daydreaming about clearing the 51st level of Battle Royal that even the strongest Lights couldn’t.