Skybound Throne

("Host!! Run!!")

505 panicked as the 9-star troll lunged toward their location. But when it looked back at the spot where Skyler was hiding, it found that its host had already fled.

("....")

Skyler winced as his hand scraped against a rough stone when he jumped down from the tree. His ash-brown hair shimmered as he sprinted away without looking back.

Behind him, the troll roared, a sound that shook the very earth beneath its feet. Its eyes, burning with a furious red light, fixed on the ant that had dared to wound it. With a bellow of rage, it surged forward after the ant, its massive form a blur of green and brown, the other trolls close behind.

Skyler's eyes widened as he saw the numerous, massive monsters with hulking bodies of muscle and bone, gaping maws filled with razor-sharp teeth, huge clawed hands, and feet rushing towards him.

"That's not what I signed up for!"

He cried out as he swiftly channeled his Light Evol toward his legs. The monsters behind him increased in numbers as those sleeping in the vicinity joined the fray after being disturbed by the noise, their guttural roars echoing through the air.

Skyler panted, his heart hammering in his chest. His legs screamed in protest as he dodged one attack after another, thanks to 505, who was panicking but still directing him left and right to keep him alive.

While running, he retaliated a few times with his handgun, but it was clear that the number of monsters following him wasn't decreasing, but instead increasing, even after he managed to take down a few.

Skyler gasped as a fire attack narrowly missed his sparkling ash-brown hair.

"505! Aren't we the bestest friends? Do something! I wanted to kill beasts for points, but I didn't ask for this many!"

The system couldn't believe that its host only considered them friends when he was in danger. Was this what people called fake friendship? It wanted to sulk, but saving its host's life was more important now.

("Move to the left! Try to stay alive! I am trying my best to find a way out!")

"Will you hurry up then?! Just find a safe hidden area in the vicinity!"

Suddenly, he noticed a group of innocent bystanders standing in his path, cleaning their bloodied blades near multiple dead bodies of several monsters. He shouted.

"Move!"

The group of humans, clad in armor over their attire, jolted. Their first action was to quickly reach for their weapons. However, when they sensed the numerous monsters behind the ash-brown haired man running towards them, their faces paled. One of them cursed and broke into a run. The others followed suit.

As they ran, the tallest man among them, clearly the leader of the group, shouted.

"What in the hell is going on here?"

The man running beside him sputtered.

"Run first, boss! Everyone, scatter!"

Skyler was too slow to reach them, let alone slip past the group. Sweat dripped down his chin, soaking his entire body.

He was about to veer left, but a flash of something shiny caught his attention. A beautiful metallic golden flower, securely tied to the armor of one of the women. His pace quickened instinctively, leaving 505, who was sure he was about to collapse, shocked as he reached her side.

"Hello, miss. Your golden brooch is beautiful. How about you sell it to me? Would 1,000 star coins work?"

The short-haired woman was horrified. Before she could react, an arrow whizzed toward Skyler, who leaped to dodge it.

The leader of the group roared.

"Stay away from my wife, you maniac!"

Skyler blinked. What had he even done? He was just asking to buy a brooch! Not asking for her number! Moreover, he already had someone he liked! The red-eyed beauty!

He scoffed, veering to the left.

"Whatever... I'm sure the brooch isn't even made of real gold. Just a counterfeit!"

Half the monsters followed the group, but the other half continued to pursue Skyler as he raced through the dense trees, gasping for breath. His lungs burned as he pushed himself to his limits, pressing onward.

("Host, go straight! There's a water body ahead! I see a mountain behind it!")

Skyler looked ahead and spotted the clear water body 505 had informed him about in the distance, nestled amongst the trees.

He saw a group of people standing by the water's edge, their skin shimmering with an unnatural sheen. He didn't look at them twice, his focus entirely on the water.

With a single, fluid motion, he pinched his nose and launched himself into the water. A resounding plop echoed in the air, sending a shower of droplets in all directions as his figure disappeared beneath the surface.

The group of individuals nearby were stunned by his sudden plunge. But before they could react, their hair stood on end as multiple monsters burst from the trees.

One of them let out a startled gasp.

"Oh My Gosh...!"

They had only stopped here to bathe and stay in the water for a while because their skin was getting dry from being under the sunlight for too long. As sea people, they couldn't stay on land for long. But never in their wildest dreams did they think that suddenly a human would find this place, bringing a horde of monsters with him!

Clutching their weapons, some of them threw powerful spells upon the monsters. But it was clear they couldn't possibly fight so many at once. Seizing an opportunity, they fled in the opposite direction.

The monsters roared angrily. Their eyes blazed with fury as they followed suit.

Just as silence returned to the space, a head abruptly emerged from the water.

Skyler coughed. Holding his breath for so long underwater had been a struggle. His eyes watered as he looked around.

"Did they leave?"

("Yes, host. You survived!")

His eyebrow twitched. Speechless, he exhaled sharply and shook his head.

The water droplets clinging to his hair scattered due to the action.

A sharp pain shot through his leg as something bit him underwater. He hissed and scrambled out of the water. There, on his calf, was a small fish with sharp teeth, its jaws clamped down on his flesh.

He hurriedly shook the creature off, collapsing to the ground with a groan.

"Nothing is safe here!"

("This is the Battle Royal, after all!")

"Yeah, yeah..."

Skyler stared at the empty space. He was still in the middle of a forest, with towering trees all around him. But the bright space had visibly darkened. The fractured sun in the sky was setting on the horizon.

A soft sigh escaped his lips.

"At least we found a mountain from all this. Now, I can go up and check the map."

With effort, Skyler pushed his body to sit down. His muscles ached, his legs were in bad shape. His elemental crystals were dry.

"The day is going to end soon."

He massaged his legs to elevate the pain.

"I can't believe I experienced so much in such a short time. It's almost unbelievable knowing just about two months ago, I was an ordinary person with no power."

("That's the power of the Battle Royal!")

"Battle Royal this, Battle Royal that. Go make yourself busy somewhere. You have been pretty useless today."

505: "..." Weren't we bestest friends?

The system wanted to protest but held back its grievance. But it was writing everything down. One day, when it became the best system, it would take revenge for sure!

Skyler rubbed his chin.

"Anyway, tell me how many points did we earn? I believe there will be a lot. After all, I practically put my life on the line."

("Host, you have 1980 points currently.")

"That's it??"

He clicked his tongue. Still, at least he had regained the points he had lost after buying that healing potion. With a grunt, he hauled himself to his feet. After a few stretches, he could move, albeit very slowly. As soon as he had some Evol in his Light crystal, his body began to heal automatically.

Skyler felt his body had strengthened.

It seemed running around all day had not been entirely useless, especially since he had consumed a lot of Evol in the process, which his body replenished repeatedly.

"Show me my status."

_______

Status:

Name: Skyler Ironhart

Elemental Affinity with:

1) Light: 5-star (First stage)

2) Darkness: 5-star (Final stage)

3) Space: 0-star (Final stage)

4) Lightning: (Locked)

5) ???

Overall Strength:

5-star Novice (Final stage)

Potential: 10-star Adept

(Currently locked due to 'Special Spirit Constitution'. No further information.)

Class: None

Skills/Spells: (6)

System 505 Functions:

- System store: (Opened)

- System points: 1980

Imagine pressing the words to:

- Enter 1st level of Battle Royal (In Use)

- Exit Battle Royal (Not available)

_______

"My Light element has also reached 5-star. It's good. 505, can you find a concealed place nearby? I want to rest for a while."

The system was silent for a while. It was actually not allowed to do this. But it could scan the immediate vicinity, right? It had done this before, to help its host.

("There is a weird cave up ahead. 505 is not sure if it's safe, but you can check it out.")

Skyler nodded and followed the system's directions. But who would have thought he would finally see a familiar face? Before the entrance of the cave stood Zack, his dear classmate who had abandoned him once.