From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty stared at the crystal, his thoughts racing. Memories of his arrival on this world flooded back, the disorienting sensation of inhabiting a body that didn't feel entirely his own.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked, his voice tight.

"Because I wasn't sure if you'd want to know," JJ replied. "And because I've got my own reasons. Fernando… he's the reason my family is gone. He's tied to the King, and I'm going to make him pay. But I need your help to do it."

Ty exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting back to the map. "Fine," he said. "But we focus on Rui first. After that, we'll deal with Fernando."

Osalf's voice interrupted their quiet conversation. "Tressa, how's the portal looking?" Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

"Unstable," Tressa replied, her liquid pooling around her feet as she worked to stabilize the teleportation system. "Without Gears, this thing's a nightmare to manage. But I think I can get us through."

"Think?" Xuán Wěi echoed, his spectral wraiths swirling nervously. "We can't afford to 'think.' We need certainty."

"Then you're welcome to try it yourself," Tressa snapped, sweat beading on her forehead. "This isn't exactly easy, you know."

Osalf raised a hand to calm them. "Enough. We've got one shot at this. Tressa, do what you can."

The group gathered around the portal as Tressa's liquid formed a shimmering circle on the ground. The air around it rippled, the faint hum of energy growing louder.

"This better work," Ty muttered, stepping closer to the edge of the portal.

"It will," Tressa said, though her tone carried a hint of doubt. "Just don't look down."

One by one, the Black Bulls stepped into the portal. The sensation was disorienting, a sudden lurch as if the ground had been pulled out from under them. Ty and JJ exchanged a glance before following.

They emerged in the ruins of an ancient courtyard, the cracked stone overgrown with moss and vines. The air was damp and cool, the faint scent of decay lingering in the stillness.

"Where are we?" Xuán Wěi asked, his wraiths flitting nervously around him.

Osalf studied the surroundings, his expression grim. "Close enough. The palace dungeons are just beyond that ridge." He pointed to a craggy outcrop in the distance, shrouded in mist.

"We split up here," JJ said, her voice firm. "Smaller teams, less chance of being spotted."

Osalf hesitated, his gaze narrowing. "You're sure about this?"

"Positive," JJ replied. "We'll cover more ground this way."

Reluctantly, Osalf nodded. "Fine. But stay in contact. If anything goes wrong…"

"We'll manage," Ty said, cutting him off. He adjusted the straps on his gear and turned to JJ. "Let's move."

The two slipped away into the shadows, leaving the rest of the group to their mission. As they navigated the winding paths of the ruined courtyard, JJ glanced at Ty.

"You trust them to pull this off?" she asked.

"Not really," Ty admitted. "But right now, we don't have a choice."

JJ nodded, her hand brushing against the crystal in her pocket. "Then let's make sure we do our part. No mistakes."

As they moved further from the main group, the courtyard's architecture became more intricate, with faint traces of carvings in the moss-covered stone. JJ stopped, her eyes narrowing as she studied the symbols.

"These look like markings from the Old Order," she said, tracing a finger over the faint etchings. "The King's forces might not even know about these."

"How does that help us?" Ty asked, his tone impatient.

"Hidden passages," JJ replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "If we find the right one, it might take us directly under the dungeons. We'd avoid most of the patrols."

Ty glanced around, scanning for anything resembling an entrance. "Then let's find it. Fast."

The two searched the courtyard, their movements silent but deliberate. Ty's thoughts raced as he considered the risks. The King's forces had proven relentless, and now they were venturing into territory that could be just as dangerous as the enemies hunting them.

JJ stopped abruptly, her hand pressed against a section of the wall. "Here," she said, her voice urgent. "Feel that? The air's cooler."

Ty placed his hand beside hers, nodding as he felt the faint draft seeping through the cracks. Together, they pushed against the stone, the section shifting with a low groan. A narrow passageway was revealed, its darkness beckoning.

"After you," Ty said, his tone wry.

"You're such a gentleman," JJ replied, a hint of a smile on her lips as she stepped inside. The air grew colder as they descended, the faint sound of dripping water echoing around them. The passage was tight, forcing them to move single file.

"This better not be a dead end," Ty muttered.

"Have a little faith," JJ shot back. "Besides, we're out of sight. That's already a win."

The faint light from the passage's entrance began to fade as they moved deeper into the narrow corridor. The rough-hewn walls glistened with moisture, and the occasional sound of dripping water echoed around them, adding to the uneasy stillness. JJ stopped abruptly, her hand brushing against the wall.

"Wait," she said. Her voice was low, cautious.

Ty halted just behind her, his hand instinctively moving toward his blade. "What is it?"

JJ gestured toward the faint carvings etched into the stone wall. "These markings. They're Old Order symbols. They're meant to mark hidden paths. Give me a second to see if this passage branches off."

Ty crossed his arms, watching as JJ carefully traced the grooves with her fingers. Her focus was intense, her lips moving slightly as if she were reciting something under her breath. He shifted his weight, his nerves prickling with unease. The oppressive silence of the corridor felt unnatural, as though the air itself was waiting for something to happen.

"Got it," JJ said, her voice breaking the silence. She pushed against a section of the wall, and with a grating sound, a panel shifted inward to reveal a dark stairway leading downward.

"You're full of surprises," Ty muttered.

"It's not all looks," she quipped, glancing back at him with a smirk before descending the stairs.

The air grew colder with every step, and the faint smell of mildew became more pronounced. The stairs opened into a large chamber with high ceilings, its floor covered in uneven stone tiles. The walls were adorned with faded murals depicting battles and celestial figures, their features eroded by time. JJ's gaze swept across the room, her expression a mixture of curiosity and caution.

"This must have been some kind of sanctuary," she said. "Look at the symbols. They're tied to…"

Her words were cut off by a low rumble that shook the chamber. The floor beneath their feet trembled, and faint, glowing lines began to trace along the edges of the murals. Ty drew his weapon, his body tense as he scanned the room for threats.

"JJ, tell me this isn't your doing," he said.

"It's not," she snapped, pulling out a small blade of her own. "But we've definitely triggered something."

Before Ty could respond, the ground split open at the far end of the room. From the fissure emerged a figure shrouded in dark mist, its eyes glowing an eerie blue. Its movements were slow but deliberate, as if it were testing its strength.

"Great," Ty muttered, tightening his grip on his blade. "You've got a knack for finding trouble."

"It's not like I planned this," JJ shot back. She stepped beside him, her stance ready. "Let's just focus on staying alive."

The creature lunged toward them with startling speed, its clawed hands slashing through the air. Ty parried the first strike, the force of the impact sending a jolt up his arm. JJ moved swiftly, slashing at the creature's side and leaving a faint, glowing gash that seemed to slow its movements.

"It's not invincible," JJ said, dodging another attack. "Keep it distracted. I'll find a way to disable it."

Ty gritted his teeth, blocking another powerful swing. "Yeah, no pressure," he muttered.

As they fought, JJ's eyes darted around the room, searching for anything that might give them an advantage. Her gaze fell on a pedestal near the back of the chamber, where a faintly glowing orb rested. She sprinted toward it, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the creature as Ty kept it occupied.

"Hurry up!" Ty shouted, barely dodging a blow that shattered the stone tile beneath him.

"Almost there," JJ called back. She reached the pedestal and grabbed the orb. The moment her hand touched it, the room filled with a blinding light. The creature let out a guttural roar before collapsing into a heap of ash. The glowing lines on the walls faded, leaving the chamber silent once more.

JJ turned to Ty, holding up the orb. "Looks like this was the key," she said.