From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

The King's blade materialized, molten and searing against the frost. With a swift upward slash, it parried the lance, shattering the frost coating it. The Cavalier stumbled, but its icy aura persisted, reforming the lance as it circled back for another strike.

Aldric's next command came swift. "Gilded Sentinel, Imperial Slam!"

The Sentinel surged forward, its massive stone fists raised high. It brought them crashing down, sending shockwaves through the Frost terrain. Ty's King staggered, its radiant aura flickering as cracks formed in the Scorched ground beneath it.

Ty roared, "King, Flameburst Riposte!"

The King's blade erupted in flame as it countered the Sentinel's assault. A wave of fire rippled outward, engulfing the Frost terrain and forcing the Cavalier and Enchantress to retreat slightly. The Sentinel, caught in the inferno, staggered back, golden cracks spreading along its form.

"Still standing, Overlord?" Aldric's voice carried a hint of irritation. "Then let's see how you handle this. Sapphire Enchantress, Arctic Binding!"

The Enchantress raised her staff, and chains of frost coiled around Ty's King. The radiant aura flickered, dimming as the chains tightened. The Frost terrain beneath the King turned to solid ice, locking its movements.

Ty clenched his fists, his breath coming in sharp gasps. "King, Molten Resolve!"

The King's blade flared once more, its heat melting the chains. With a powerful swing, the King broke free, sending shards of ice scattering across the board. The molten aura surrounding it reignited, pushing back the Frost terrain for a brief moment.

The Cavalier charged again, its lance poised for a finishing blow. Ty snarled, "King, Infernal Counterstrike!"

The King twisted, dodging the lance by a hair's breadth before bringing its blade down in a fiery arc. The Cavalier let out a ghostly neigh as the strike hit home, shattering its spectral form into a thousand shards of ice. Aldric's face twitched, the first sign of strain cracking through his calm facade.

Phillis's voice cut through the chaos. "Sapphire Cavalier defeated. Aldric, zero pieces remaining with active Life Coins. Board status updated."

Aldric's jaw tightened, but his expression quickly reset. "You've only delayed the inevitable, Overlord," he said coldly. "Sapphire Enchantress, Arctic Nova!"

The Enchantress's staff glowed with blinding light as she unleashed a storm of icy energy. Frost surged toward Ty's King in an all-encompassing wave, aiming to freeze it entirely.@@novelbin@@

Ty gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he pushed his King forward. "King, Blazing Resolve! Charge!" Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

The King's molten blade flared brighter than ever, cutting through the icy wave as it advanced. Ty's soul burned with the effort, every step of the King feeling like he was tearing his own body apart. With a final thrust, the King's blade pierced the Enchantress, shattering her staff and silencing the storm.

The Enchantress crumbled into frost, her form dissolving as the battlefield trembled. Ty fell to his knees, gasping for air, his shirt clinging to his sweat-soaked body. The board was quiet, save for the faint hiss of melting frost.

Phillis's monotone voice echoed again. "Sapphire Enchantress defeated. Aldric, zero active Life Coins. Board status updated."

Ty looked up, his vision blurred. Only the Gilded Sentinel remained, its golden aura dimmed but still imposing. Aldric's lips curled into a smile, though it lacked the usual confidence. "You've fought well, Ty. But this ends now. Gilded Sentinel, Last Bastion!"

The Sentinel's form glowed with renewed intensity as it raised its fists for a final strike. Ty's King stood alone, its aura flickering as it braced for the assault. Ty clenched his fists, his connection to the King surging with one final burst of energy.

But before the Sentinel could strike, a loud crack echoed through the air. The battlefield trembled, and a fissure split the icy ground above the board. Both Ty and Aldric froze, their eyes snapping upward as the sound reverberated like a shattering mirror.

A giant hole tore through the sky, revealing the outside world, its edges rippling like shattered glass. A black light shot down from the break, slamming into the ground. Dust and debris scattered, the impact muffled by the oppressive atmosphere. The figure stood, draped in military gear, an aged face shadowed by grime. Ty squinted, his breathing labored, each gasp echoing in his chest. His first thought wormed through his dazed mind: Is that... Gears?

Memories struck him like blows to the head, flashes of chaos before the tournament's first stage—the Black Bulls, a merciless force, eliminating any threats in their path. Gears among them, standing over a pile of bodies, the lifeless eyes of fallen fighters staring blankly up at the uncaring sky. The image of Gears, someone thought to be dead, here and now, jarred Ty from his exhaustion.

What the hell is going on? Ty thought. The tension between him and Aldric hung in the air like a suspended blade, the two of them locked in place, unsure of what move to make next. Aldric, however, was not one for silence.

"Why is another lowlife interfering with our match?!" Aldric's voice snapped, his irritation raw and unfiltered. His hand clenched the air, trembling with restrained fury. "Can't you see I'm about to claim my hard-earned win?!"

Gears straightened, a crooked smile tugging at his lips, and cracked his neck with a tilt of his head. His eyes flickered over Ty, then settled on Aldric—a gaze that seemed to see through the young academic. He lifted a hand to his ear, fingers pressing against a device hidden beneath his military headgear. He spoke, his voice calm despite the swirling tension.

"Come in, Sabrina. Can you hear me?" Gears' voice was casual, almost dismissive of the two combatants standing before him. His eyes were alert, wary of the odd surroundings. "Not sure if our devices work in this weird space."

A crackle of static cut through the silence, and then the soft, young voice of a woman came through, distant but clear enough to understand. "Yes, but it's choppy," she responded. "Have you located the Demon and Aldric?"

Gears' gaze slid between Ty and Aldric, his smile widening. "Yeah, it's just as she said it would be," he replied, his eyes locking briefly on Aldric before moving back to Ty. "He's locked in combat with some preppy academic kid. How's the rest of the intervention going?"

"It's going perfectly," Sabrina answered, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "The second stage split everyone up, making this coordinated attack all the better for eliminating every contestant. Block 6 and Block 10 have already been eliminated, and the rest are in progress. As expected, the biggest challenge was dealing with the big dog."

Gears nodded, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Yeah, that makes sense. As soon as they're done, have them activate the dolls and get out. I doubt the King will be thrilled seeing this go down." He cast a glance toward Aldric, his eyes narrowing in calculation.

The woman on the other end paused before her voice returned, colder now, the command clear. "Good. But take out Aldric and recover the Demon. He's the key to finishing everything after this is over."

Gears' smile vanished, replaced by a look of hardened resolve. He turned his full attention to Ty and Aldric. The weight of his stare was palpable, as if the air itself had grown heavier.

"Well, you heard the lady," Gears said, rolling his shoulders back as he took a step forward. The ground beneath him cracked slightly, the pressure of his presence growing. He focused on Aldric, who looked back, eyes narrowed, teeth gritted in frustration.

Aldric shouted back, raising his sword, confusion darkening his expression. "Heard what? I can't hear what's in your ears or whoever you're talking about! Spout it out, who are you?!"

Gears stretched fully, his body loose and ready for the fight, as he tossed two black metal orbs to the ground with an audible clank. "Sorry, sometimes I talk to myself," he said with a grin that carried an edge. "But if you are to hear anything, it'll be your own death. Nothing personal." He turned his attention to Ty, who was still catching his breath. "You sit tight, demon boy, and I'll handle this."

Ty felt a shiver crawl up his spine as Gears' words sunk in. He took a step back, his legs buckling, and dropped to one knee. There was something about the man's casual demeanor that made the threat feel real.