From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

He had never wanted to lose her.

But life had other plans. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

Daemon took a deep breath, the familiar ache settling into his chest as he slowly opened his eyes. The picture book remained in his hands, the edges now creased from how tightly he'd been holding it. He glanced down at her face again, feeling the guilt rise like bile in his throat.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the wind. "I should've been there. I should've saved you."

The grief wasn't new—it had never really left. But here, in this place, it felt raw again, like the wound had been torn open, and all the pain and regret came rushing out. It had been his fault. He should have been there for her, should have done more. But he hadn't. And now, she was gone, and all that was left was this tiny book and the weight of his failure.

Daemon closed the book with a trembling hand, his chest heaving as he tried to force the memories back down. This wasn't the time. He couldn't afford to let his emotions take control now. Not when he was so close to confronting the man who had betrayed him. The man who had taken everything from him.

General Osalf.

The name was like poison on his tongue. A man he had once trusted, a man who had been like a mentor to him. And now, he was almost certain that Osalf had been responsible for the death of one of his closest friends—Realdo. The realization had been like a knife to the heart, twisting and burning with every piece of evidence he uncovered.

Realdo had been more than a friend. He had been a brother in arms, someone who had stood by Daemon through thick and thin, always ready with a joke or a smile, no matter how dire the situation. He had been the light in the dark, the one person Daemon could always count on. And now, he was gone.

Daemon's grip on the picture book tightened as his thoughts turned to Realdo. The grief was fresh, the loss still cutting deep. It was the kind of pain that made it hard to breathe, that made every day feel like a struggle just to keep moving forward.

Why him? Daemon thought bitterly. Why did it have to be Realdo?

He could still remember the day he'd learned about Realdo's death. It had been a normal day, just like any other, until the news had hit him like a hammer. He had stood there, frozen, unable to process what he was hearing. It didn't make sense. Realdo couldn't be dead. Not him.

Not the man who had always seemed untouchable, invincible.

But the truth had been undeniable. And as the days passed, as the pieces of the puzzle started to come together, Daemon had been forced to confront the horrifying possibility that someone he trusted—someone he had looked up to—had been responsible for Realdo's death.

General Osalf.

The thought of that man made Daemon's blood boil, made the rage burn hot in his chest. How could someone he had respected, someone he had considered a friend, betray them like that? How could Osalf have been the one to take Realdo's life?

Daemon clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to keep his emotions in check. He had to stay focused. He had to keep his head clear. But the anger was always there, simmering just beneath the surface, threatening to consume him.

"Sorry, Yun-Jin," Daemon muttered under his breath, guilt gnawing at him. He could feel her presence like a shadow, always at the edge of his thoughts. "For going in alone."

He knew Yun-Jin would have wanted to come with him, would have insisted on standing by his side. But he couldn't let that happen. She was too important to him, and he couldn't risk her life like that. Not after everything they had already lost. If she had been there when things went south, he would never have forgiven himself.

No, this was something he had to do alone.

Flashback: The Confrontation with General Omhina

The flashback hit him hard, the memory surfacing like a wave crashing over him, drowning him in a sea of emotions. He was standing in General Omhina's office, his hands clasped behind his back, his heart pounding in his chest. He had made up his mind—he was going to confront Osalf. But first, he had to get Omhina's approval.

The room was cold, the air thick with the tension of what he was about to ask. Omhina sat behind her desk, her sharp eyes locked on him, assessing him with the precision of someone who had seen it all. She had always been tough, unflinching in her decisions. And Daemon had always respected her for that.

"You know this is dangerous," Omhina had said, her voice sharp, cutting through the silence like a knife. "Osalf isn't someone you just walk up to and deal with on your own. If he's truly responsible for this betrayal, you'll need more than just your anger."

"I know," Daemon had replied, his voice steady, though his heart was racing. "But this is personal. Realdo was my friend. I need to do this. I need to know the truth."

Omhina had leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable as she studied him. For a moment, there was silence, the weight of his words hanging in the air between them. Then, with a heavy sigh, she had leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk.

"I understand your anger," she had said quietly, her eyes softening for a moment. "But Osalf is strong, Daemon. Stronger than you know. He's been hiding things for years. If you confront him, there's no guarantee you'll walk away from it."

Daemon had clenched his fists at his sides, the anger bubbling up inside him. "I don't care," he had said, his voice low but firm. "I need to do this. For Realdo."

For a long moment, Omhina had been silent, her eyes locked on his. Then, with a resigned sigh, she had nodded. "Alright," she had said finally. "But you're on your own. I can't officially sanction this. If things go wrong, you won't have any backup.

Are you prepared for that?"

Daemon had nodded without hesitation. "I am."