Riya blinked at her son's retreating back. She wanted to ask him, 'Aren't you going to watch?' but held back and sighed.
"I don't want my children to grow distant because of their different paths. I need to speak with Jenny and ask that brat to come back home after the test and spend some quality time with her brother."
She was watching TV when Johnson Ironhart returned home. He held a small wooden box in his hand, and his face was a mask of exhaustion, as if it had taken him a great deal of effort to acquire it.
Sensing the item inside, Riya's eyes widened, and she sat up straight.
"Tri-color flower of brilliance? How did you get this thing...?"
Johnson chuckled. He had been trying to pull some strings with the help of the guild for a year when he learned that a Light in the city had gotten their hands on it.
It was a rare herb valued at a fortune, capable of enhancing someone's potential by 1-star, but it only worked for those with potential lower than 3-stars. That's how he acquired it; otherwise, who wouldn't want such a powerful treasure?
"It's for Sky. It's been two years. You think I can't see that he's hiding his feelings?"
Riya's eyes softened and she let out a smile as she rushed toward her son's room.
"I will call him!"
In her haste, she flung open the door of his room, which she hadn't done in two years, and stepped inside with an excited look.
"Sky—"
Her words trailed off when she noticed the vacant room, and the off lights.
"Skyler? Sky?"
With a frown, Riya checked the bathroom. Only then did she notice the empty bed that still felt warm to the touch.
Her loud shout echoed throughout the apartment as she called for her husband, startling the entire building.
"Honey!!! Sky isn't in his room!"
***
Not long ago, Skyler settled onto his bed, facing the computer table that had gone unused for the past two years.
Normally, at this time of year, he would go to his father's guild to train. But today, for some reason, he felt too tired. It was 3:00 PM, so he decided to take a short nap before heading to the guild to train.
With that thought, he put his phone away, turned off the lights, and fell asleep under the comfort of his blanket. Today had truly been an exhausting day.
Just as he fell asleep, a faint gray light illuminated above his bed. A transparent, blinking square screen emerged from the light, displaying many blaring red warning signs on its surface. But since it didn't make noise, he didn't hear anything.
Well, even if it had made noise, he would not have woken up. He was a heavy sleeper; that was the main reason why he had set more than three alarms on his phone.
A minute later, the transparent screen calmed down, and white text began to appear on its gray surface.
(Loading...
Name: Skyler Ironhart...
Age: 18 Error... Normal requirements: 20 years not fulfilled... Forcefully fullfiled by the 'Keeper of Time.'
Checking potential... (Exceeds required limits 15-star) Currently locked... Error... Requirements not fulfilled... Forcefully fulfilled by the 'Keeper of Time.'
Congratulations, participant! You are eligible to participate in the preliminary test to qualify for the true Battle Royale: 3,000 Thrones and one Supreme seat above them all! Fight and complete the trials, or face calamities that could destroy your world!
Please prepare yourself. Your personal system will guide you with further details in the testing ground. You will be transported to the preliminary test area in 1 minute...
30 seconds... 10 seconds... 2 seconds...
Teleportation process completed.)