From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Threxian didn't flinch. His arm rose, absorbing the blow effortlessly. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he twisted his wrist, deflecting the strike. Gears recovered instantly, pivoting to deliver a hook aimed at the King's ribs. Sparks flew as metal met flesh, but once again, Threxian stood unscathed.

"Faster," Threxian said, the mocking lilt in his tone grating.@@novelbin@@

Gears gritted his teeth, stepping back to create distance before launching into a barrage of punches. The gauntlets hissed and clanged, bursts of kinetic energy amplifying each blow. The chamber filled with the grinding of metal and the sharp echoes of impact. A direct hit to Threxian's side sent ripples of force outward, shattering a nearby column. For a moment, it looked as though Gears had managed to move the King, his body shifting slightly from the force.

Threxian's smirk widened. "Good."

Before Gears could step back, Threxian caught his wrist mid-swing. The sudden halt jolted through Gears' body, and he felt the gauntlet's mechanisms strain under the King's grip. Threxian tilted his head, studying the reinforced metal with detached curiosity before crushing it in his palm. The sound of snapping gears and hissing steam filled the air as pieces of the gauntlet clattered to the ground.

"Let's see what you can do without your toys," Threxian said, his voice a low growl.

Gears twisted sharply, wrenching his arm free. He staggered back, his breathing heavy. Blood trickled down his forearm where the crushed metal had dug into his skin. With his remaining gauntlet sparking erratically, he surged forward again, this time aiming a desperate uppercut at the King's chin.

The blow landed clean, snapping Threxian's head back slightly. For a heartbeat, silence filled the room. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

Then Threxian laughed.

"Not bad," he said, rubbing his jaw. "But not enough."

Before Gears could retreat, Threxian's hand shot out, grabbing him by the throat. The King lifted him effortlessly, his fingers tightening as Gears struggled against the unrelenting grip. Threxian's other hand slammed into Gears' chest with a brutal force, sending him crashing into the ground. The floor buckled under the impact, cracks splintering outward from the point of collision.

"This is disappointing," Threxian said, crouching over Gears' prone form. "I expected a challenge."

Gears coughed, blood splattering against the cracked stone. His vision blurred, but he forced his body to move, his fingers clawing at the ground as he tried to push himself up. Threxian stood, his gaze cold and unamused. He raised a foot and brought it down on Gears' remaining gauntlet, shattering it completely.

The sound of the gauntlet's destruction echoed, and Gears let out a strangled cry. He rolled onto his side, clutching his mangled arm, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

"Stay down," Threxian commanded, his tone icy.

Gears' response was a defiant glare, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He spat at the King's feet, his voice hoarse but steady. "Go to hell."

Threxian's expression darkened, and he grabbed Gears by the front of his shirt, lifting him once more. With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he hurled Gears across the chamber. The mechanic's body slammed into the far wall, leaving a crater in the stone before crumpling to the ground.

"One," Threxian said, standing up and brushing dust from his sleeves.

The Second Challenger: The Woman with the Dolls

She stepped forward, her movements deliberate and steady. Her eyes locked onto Threxian, filled with determination but underlined by a glimmer of dread. In her hand, she clutched a single ragged doll, its fabric frayed yet pulsating faintly with a golden glow.

"You look tired," Threxian said, tilting his head slightly. "Let's see if you can entertain me better than the last one."

She didn't respond. Instead, with a flick of her wrist, the doll flew into the air, splitting into a swarm of identical replicas. The fabric constructs swirled around her in an orbit before darting toward Threxian with alarming speed. Each doll hummed with a building energy, their tiny limbs vibrating as they neared their target.

The first explosion rocked the chamber. Then the next. The dolls detonated in rapid succession, each blast sending shockwaves through the air and leaving scorch marks across the stone floor. The smoke billowed outward, shrouding Threxian in an impenetrable haze. She didn't stop. With another incantation, more dolls sprang forth, their glowing forms streaking into the cloud of smoke to continue their assault.

When the dust finally began to settle, she paused, her breathing heavy as her gaze searched for any sign of success.

Threxian emerged, his armor gleaming, unmarred by the carnage. A faint burn marked his cheek, but he brushed it absently as though it were nothing more than an inconvenience. His smirk widened. "Impressive," he said, his voice carrying over the crackling remnants of her attack. "But not enough."

Her jaw tightened. With a sharp motion, she summoned another wave of dolls. This time, they formed a protective ring around her, glowing brighter and brighter as their energy built to a crescendo. She whispered another incantation, and the dolls spun outward, converging into a single spiraling vortex of fire that raced toward the King.

The heat was intense, warping the air as it consumed everything in its path. The vortex engulfed Threxian completely, the roaring flames drowning out every other sound. She steadied herself, sweat dripping from her brow as she maintained the spell, pouring everything she had into the attack.

The flames dissipated. Threxian stepped forward, unscathed save for a faint singe on the edge of his cape. "Better," he remarked, brushing a speck of soot from his shoulder.

Her hands trembled, but she forced herself to summon more dolls. These ones were larger, more unstable, their glowing forms pulsing erratically as they hovered between her and the King. She sent them hurtling forward, each carrying a piece of her remaining energy.

Threxian moved. In a blur, he closed the distance, his hand snatching one of the dolls mid-flight. He examined it briefly before crushing it in his grip. The explosion sent a shockwave through the chamber, but he didn't flinch. His other hand darted forward, snatching the artifact from her grasp.

She gasped, her connection to the dolls severed instantly. The glowing constructs faltered and collapsed, their energy fizzling out as they hit the ground. Threxian held the artifact up, his smirk turning into a sneer. With a slow, deliberate motion, he crushed it in his palm, the shards falling like glass to the floor.

She stumbled back, panic etched across her face. "Stay away," she muttered, her voice barely audible. Summoning the last of her strength, she conjured a single, desperate attack. A lone doll appeared in her trembling hands, its glow erratic and unstable.

The doll streaked toward Threxian, its energy vibrating violently as if it would tear itself apart before reaching him. He caught it mid-air, holding it for a moment as it writhed in his grip. Then, with a crushing motion, he extinguished it. The resulting explosion sent her sprawling to the ground, her body skidding across the floor.

She lay still, her chest barely rising. Blood pooled beneath her, her lifeless eyes fixed on the ceiling above.

"Two," he said, turning away.

The Third Challenger: The Death Sentry

The Death Sentry adjusted his grip on his harpoon, its polished shaft glinting under the chamber's harsh lights. The weapon's tip pulsed with raw, crimson energy, humming faintly as if hungry for destruction. His eyes locked onto Threxian, unwavering, cold. Without a word, he stepped forward, each footfall echoing ominously in the tense silence. The gathered crowd held their breath.

Threxian's smirk faltered, replaced by a faint look of curiosity. "You look like you know what you're doing," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "But so did the others."

The Death Sentry didn't respond. With a swift, practiced motion, he hurled the harpoon. It tore through the air with a piercing whistle, its trajectory a blur of crimson light. The force of its throw sent a shockwave rippling outward, shaking the chamber and scattering loose debris. The weapon struck Threxian square in the chest, driving him back a step. Sparks erupted from the impact, and the room seemed to hold its collective breath.

The harpoon's glow intensified, its energy resisting the King's attempts to pry it free. Threxian's face darkened, his fingers wrapping around the weapon. "Stubborn," he muttered, twisting sharply. The harpoon came loose with a metallic screech, its energy pulsing defiantly in his grasp. X x