From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Waddle sighed, leaning back, his eyes focused somewhere far away. "Yeah, you and me both, man. I've lost a few close people since coming here. It's been tough. Other than one person, I don't have much reason to go back to Earth—maybe just some closure, and a rematch against Erebos."

Ty's brow furrowed in surprise, his gaze snapping to Waddle. "Wait, you haven't seen him again since he took your soul?"

Waddle shook his head. "Nope. Haven't heard anyone even mention his name since I got here."

"Then why did you assume I'd know who he was when we first met?" Ty asked, genuinely curious.

Waddle chuckled, though it was humorless. "Just the way you talked, I suppose. You had that look—someone who's been through hell, same as me."

Before Ty could respond, the truck came to a sudden, jarring halt. Both men instinctively fell silent, their senses heightened. The air grew thick with anticipation as the murmurs from the other contestants hushed. Ty felt his pulse quicken, his eyes glancing toward the back of the truck.

After a beat, Waddle turned his head, giving Ty a nod. "Well, I guess I'll trust that, one day, you'll tell me your story. We can exchange everything in private."

Ty managed a small smile. "Sounds fair," he replied, his mind still buzzing with questions and uncertainty.

The metal door of the truck slid open, and the bright green light from a portal of energy glowed in front of them, catching Ty off guard. He blinked against the harsh glow, his eyes widening at the shimmering green vortex that swirled just outside the truck.

"What the—" Ty started, but Waddle stood up, shrugging nonchalantly, as if the bizarre sight before them was nothing out of the ordinary.

The guards began gesturing for everyone to move, their stern faces showing no hint of emotion. Waddle stepped down from the truck, his figure momentarily swallowed by the portal's glow. Ty hesitated for a moment before Rosana—groggy and still half-asleep—nudged him forward, her own gaze trying to make sense of the portal ahead.

y glanced at Rosana, who rubbed her eyes and grumbled something about not getting enough sleep, then followed Waddle out of the truck. The energy of the portal seemed to pulse around them, a low hum filling the air, and Ty could feel the strange static prickle against his skin, like a thousand tiny needles pressing into him. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering from the glowing green energy to the rest of the contestants who moved ahead without fear.

Rosana nudged him from behind. "You scared or something? It's just a portal, come on," she teased.@@novelbin@@

"I know, I know." Ty forced a grin, stepping forward as the energy enveloped him. A brief sense of vertigo followed, the green light seeming to spin around him, then suddenly he was through. His feet hit solid ground, the air cooler and sterile, carrying the scent of metal and something almost chemical.

He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the new space. It was a vast, cavernous room—black walls extending high above, with lights suspended far up that shone down in narrow beams. The blackness swallowed everything, save for the neatly arranged, glowing circles on the floor that acted as indicators, each with a name written above it in bright letters. The effect was almost eerie, an organized stillness in an otherwise intimidating void.

Ty stepped forward, his eyes scanning the names until he found his spot—the first row, fourth from the left. He stood on it, and as soon as his feet settled, the glowing letters shifted and faded into a simple circle. He glanced around, noting Rosana moving towards her own marked position a few places to his right.

To his left stood Alexander, his arms crossed, an air of haughtiness radiating from him as usual. Ty could almost feel the tension in the air around Alexander, the guy always acted like he was ready to attack or fend off an enemy at any moment. Just beyond Alexander was Yagrid, whose presence alone put Ty on edge. Something about Yagrid's grin, the way his eyes never quite seemed to hold sincerity, made Ty feel like a dagger could come his way at any moment.

"First row, huh?" Alexander muttered, giving Ty a sidelong glance. "Try not to embarrass us."

Ty rolled his eyes but said nothing, instead observing the rest of the contestants as they found their spots. The names illuminated in different colors, blinking off once each person stood where they belonged. The precision of the arrangement was impressive—everyone was exactly one arm's length away from the next, each standing in their own marked circle like chess pieces lined up for an opening move.

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Rosana, positioned towards the end of the row, caught Ty's eye and gave him a thumbs-up. He nodded back, though he could still feel the unease hanging around him. All these people, fighters he had both fought against and fought beside, now stood with nothing but their own thoughts to keep them company.

A heavy silence settled over the room, punctuated only by the occasional shuffle of feet. Ty found himself looking around, observing the various expressions. Some seemed determined, others nervous. A few—like Alexander—wore nothing but the cold mask of confidence.

Ty breathed deeply, trying to push away his thoughts of Earth and focus on the present moment. Whatever came next, he had to be ready.

Meanwhile, across the kingdom, Xuán Wĕi leaned back in his seat, his eyes flicking between the various members of the Black Bulls gathered around the round table. There was an air of seriousness among them, a gravity that made the usual banter and laughter absent.

"I would like to think this is the best chance we'll ever get to take down the King and prove the worth of our fight against the kingdom," Xuán Wĕi said, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. His eyes flickered up, sharp and intense.