From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

The words hit JJ like a punch to the chest. She blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. The room seemed to darken, and her breath grew shallow.

"W-what? No... there's no way..."

Rui's eyes bore into her, his expression calm but intent. He had an aura about him that was hard to read—something between aloofness and focus. JJ looked him up and down, trying to make sense of the situation. She couldn't recall ever seeing him before.

"I don't think I have ever seen you before. Who even are you?"

Rui smiled slightly, his lips curling up as he regarded her with a sense of amusement. "I hail from the same continent as Alexander the Great," he said, almost as if testing the weight of his own words. "And I keep my appearance changing so my identity stays hidden. Tell me, Jedo, was it? What are your skills anyway?"

The abrupt shift in conversation caught her off guard. JJ furrowed her brows, feeling a mix of confusion and unease. "I'm not sure what you're getting at," she replied, her voice edged with hesitation.

"I was reading your files, doing some research. There's just nothing there," Rui continued, his voice taking on a sharper note, like an interrogator. "Why is that?"

Before she could even think of an answer, Rui moved. His body blurred, and suddenly he was standing right before her, holding Blue in his closed fist. JJ's breath caught in her throat. The action was so swift, she could barely track it. She saw Blue struggle, her tiny limbs flailing against Rui's gloved hand.

"I am most curious about you, creature," Rui murmured, examining Blue like she was some rare artifact.

"Hey! Let go! Your grimy gloves make me sick!" Blue protested, her wings buzzing with a frantic energy.

With a smile that seemed to border on genuine, Rui released the fairy, leaving a faint streak of blue on his glove. Blue instantly darted back to JJ, her glow dimming slightly as she clung to JJ's shoulder.@@novelbin@@

JJ took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her ears. "I… I never discovered what my skills were," she admitted, her voice almost a whisper. "I was always really good at paperwork, processing information—just stuff that made me useful to my family. But in terms of skills..." She paused, raising her hands as if she'd conjure something just to prove herself wrong. Nothing happened, only a faint ripple of air. "The closest I've ever gotten is… this."

Rui watched her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A rare situation for sure," he mused. "You know, me and you—we're both rare, but for different reasons." Slowly, he removed his glove, revealing his hand. Silver threads of energy crackled across his palm, a mesmerizing yet eerie light.

JJ's eyes widened. "And what… what is that?"

Rui didn't look up as he answered, his eyes fixed on the silvery currents. "You are rare for being in your twenties without knowing your skill. And I am unique for being one of a handful to unlock a third skill. I even had an audience with the goddess a few years back." He looked at her, his gaze heavy with meaning. "I think your situation is unique, but something that I can help fix."

"I… It's okay. I came to terms with it," JJ replied, trying to steady herself.

Rui tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping into a more dangerous tone. "Would you turn down your chance to save Ty again?"

JJ's heart skipped a beat, confusion flashing across her face. "Wh-what do you mean—again?"

A knowing smile tugged at the edge of Rui's lips. "I've been watching and studying you for a while now." Before she could react, his hand moved forward, his bare finger brushing against her forehead.

A sudden jolt of silver electricity shot through her. Pain. Blinding pain that made her cry out, her body jerking backward. The energy rippled across her skin, like she was being torn apart from the inside.

She fell to her knees, gasping. Blue immediately flew at Rui, her tiny hands pounding against his shoulder with all her strength. Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice cracking.

"Don't kill her! Please! Ty would never forgive me!" Blue cried.

Rui looked at her calmly, unaffected by the fairy's frantic strikes. "Dear, I am not going to kill her," he said, his tone almost soothing. "I was merely giving her something for later." He turned his gaze back to JJ, who was still trembling on the ground, her breath ragged.

Rui crouched down, his eyes meeting hers. "Continue your mission, Jedo. Convince Ty that we aren't the evil nightmare the kingdom paints us to be. I promise you, I will ensure both you and Ty survive the madness that's to come."

JJ could barely focus, the pain still radiating through her body, but she caught the sincerity—or at least what seemed like sincerity—in his voice.

"There are things… things beyond this world that are destined to happen. Events that the king has tried desperately to hide," Rui continued, his voice lowering, almost as if he were sharing a secret meant only for her. "Trust in us. We're running out of time. When you wake up, check your right hip. If you wipe it off, we will cease communication. But if you keep it… then you agree to work with us."

JJ's vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. The last thing she saw was Rui standing up, his form blurring away just as quickly as he'd come. The ground beneath her seemed to dissolve, and she felt herself falling, her consciousness slipping away. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

Blue's frantic voice echoed in JJ's mind as everything faded into black. "JJ! Stay with me! JJ, please—"

And then, nothing. Only silence and darkness.

When JJ opened her eyes, the dim light of the infirmary filtered back into focus. She blinked, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle on her bones. Blue was perched on her chest, her tiny wings shimmering with a soft glow. Her small form was trembling, and tears were streaming down her cheeks.