From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

, his voice low but filled with raw emotion. His flames flared again, this time darker and more intense, as he slammed his fists together. "Not with everything I have on the line!"

He drew in a deep breath, his flames condensing into a single point between his hands. The energy pulsed, dark and seething, as the ground beneath him began to crack under the sheer force. "Take this!" he roared, his voice echoing with fury and desperation. "Black Flame Obliteration!"

The black fire exploded outward in a massive wave, consuming everything in its path as it surged toward Omina. The heat was suffocating, the flames roaring like a living beast as they tore through the arena. For a moment, it seemed as though nothing could withstand the attack.

But then Omina laughed.

"Yes," she said, her voice filled with exhilaration as her aura flared brighter than ever. "Let's let loose and go all out!"

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She raised her hands, her golden-green energy swirling into a massive construct above her. The air around her crackled with power as the construct solidified, a colossal, serpentine dragon made of water and wind. It roared as it charged forward, meeting Ty's flames head-on. The resulting clash sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, the force so intense that the ground beneath them shattered completely.

The two forces struggled against each other, the arena filled with blinding light and deafening sound. Ty pushed harder, his flames growing darker and more chaotic as he poured everything he had into the attack. But Omina's dragon didn't waver. It surged forward, its jaws snapping as it tore through the black fire.

Ty's body trembled as the flames around him began to flicker. His breathing grew ragged, his vision blurring as exhaustion set in. The tingling sensation in his wrist returned, stronger than ever, as he felt his strength slipping away.

JJ's hands trembled as she finally undid the last of Rui's bindings. The chains clattered to the ground, but Rui didn't move at first. His body convulsed, his breathing erratic, as if the rage boiling within him had nowhere to go. His bloodshot eyes stared blankly at the floor before they locked onto Omina in the distance. Something broke inside him—a floodgate of suppressed emotion and fury unleashed all at once.

"Rui, stop!" JJ pleaded, her voice shaking as she reached out for him, but he shoved her hand aside, his body trembling with barely contained rage.

"This is for Lt. Daemon," he growled, his voice guttural, almost unrecognizable. "And for everyone else… You all chose your side." Rui's words came through gritted teeth as energy began crackling around him, unstable and wild.

JJ felt the panic claw at her chest. She turned her gaze toward Ty, her eyes widening at the horrifying sight of him. Blood dripped from his chest, his body trembling as Omina's towering elemental construct loomed over him. He was barely holding himself up, his black flames sputtering weakly as he seemed to fold under the relentless assault. JJ's vision blurred with tears as she clenched her fists, her fear giving way to desperation.

"I know there's no way you can lose!" she screamed, her voice cracking as she pulled her head down, fighting the sob that threatened to escape her. Her pink strand glowed fiercely, pulsing with a light so intense it illuminated the battlefield like a second sun. With a deep breath, JJ sprinted toward Omina, the glow intensifying until it became blinding. Omina faltered, shielding her eyes momentarily as the light engulfed the battlefield.

Ty's vision blurred further, the sounds of the fight fading into the background as the world around him dimmed. He collapsed to his knees, his body trembling as blood pooled beneath him. The sensation of failure and weakness coursed through him, sharper than any physical pain. His head slumped forward, his consciousness slipping away.

And then he saw it.

Inside his mind, a cold, dark space stretched endlessly around him. Ty lay on the ground, gasping for air, the warmth of his black flames nowhere to be found. His own blood trickled down his chest, pooling around him in the surreal emptiness. Across from him, a figure emerged—his own twisted reflection, the creature that had been siphoning his strength.

It walked toward him with leisurely confidence, holding a glowing blue orb in one hand. Its features mirrored his, but its eyes burned with malice, and its grin was razor-sharp. It crouched down, peering at him with mock sympathy.

"You gave it a good run," the creature said, rolling the orb lazily between its fingers. "But I have to admit, it was fun siphoning off your energy to make you lose faster. Not gonna lie, though—it took much longer than I expected." It laughed coldly, tossing the orb lightly in the air before catching it again. "Of course, that little piece they jammed into your wrist? That made my job a hell of a lot easier."

Ty's eyes widened as the memory of the shock in his wrist surged through his mind. He growled, trying to rise to his feet, but his body refused to move. "You… bastard," he rasped, his voice weak but filled with venom.

Before the creature could respond, the void around them erupted in light—a soft, pink hue that seemed almost out of place in the cold darkness. The light coalesced into a figure, her presence both radiant and otherworldly. A woman half-covered in flames and bone stepped into view, her movements hesitant but deliberate. Her eyes scanned the void, confusion etched across her face.

"Wh-what is going on?" she murmured, her voice trembling with equal parts wonder and fear. She turned, her gaze falling on Ty. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and the air seemed to still.

The creature snarled, lunging toward her with claws outstretched. But she moved with fluid grace, parrying the strike with ease and slamming her fist into its jaw. The impact sent it staggering back, its grin faltering as she spun around, her movements fierce and precise. Her hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of Ty's bloodied hair, and she leaned down, her voice shaking with urgency.