From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty's breath was steady as he crouched in the thick underbrush, keeping an ear tuned to the surrounding woods. The sun had dipped low over the horizon, casting a soft orange glow that was quickly swallowed by the dense canopy overhead. Hours had passed since they took out the three opponents assigned in their earlier mission. Despite the completion, Ty knew it wasn't time to celebrate.
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The real challenge lay ahead: surviving the next stretch while keeping the darkness in him at bay.

The team had made camp for a short break, hidden within a dense cluster of trees, where they could patch up their gear and recharge. Their bodies were bruised, their minds weary from the constant pressure, and the sound of distant skirmishes kept everyone on edge.

"We've got thirty-five hours left, give or take," Kern murmured, running a hand through his messy brown hair as he leaned back against a rock. His eyes flicked to the horizon as though expecting enemies to come pouring from the trees at any moment.

Rosana sat nearby, sharpening the edge of her dagger. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and Ty could feel her anxiety pulsing in the air between them. "We need to move soon," she said, breaking the tension. "But not without a plan."

Ty, quiet until now, looked at the slowly smoldering fire they'd lit for warmth. It was barely visible under a crude stone covering, but the glow reflected in his dark eyes, highlighting the shadows underneath them. He ran a hand over his face, considering their options. He could feel it again—the darkness gnawing at the edges of his mind.

Each victory in the tournament brought him closer to something darker, something he wasn't sure he could control for long.

"Let's get a sense of the landscape first," Ty said, voice low but commanding. "We need to know what's between us and the enemy's stronghold. Rushing in blind will get us killed."

Kern sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We're low on supplies. The rations won't last much longer, especially if we run into trouble again. Food, water, rest—those need to be a priority."

"Rest comes later," Ty said sharply, though the exhaustion tugged at him too. "But we'll need more water. We can ration food for now."

Rosana nodded, but there was a flicker of worry in her eyes. "There's a stream about a quarter-mile east. I'll scout it out, see if it's safe."

Ty gave a quick nod. "Kern, go with her. Stay low and quiet—don't engage unless you have to. We can't afford to lose anyone. I'll stay here and secure the camp."

Without hesitation, Kern stood, grabbing his spear, and followed Rosana into the forest. Ty watched them go before turning back to the camp. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, letting his senses stretch out. His hand drifted to the hilt of his weapon, an unconscious gesture born of battle-hardened reflexes.

The air around him was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or distant calls of the nocturnal creatures moving through the woods.

The spear in Kern's hand had been a lucky find—something scavenged during one of their earlier skirmishes. A fallen enemy had carried it, and Kern had claimed it after realizing it was in better condition than most of their gear. Ty had initially wondered how practical it would be in close combat, but Kern had a natural feel for it, keeping opponents at bay with practiced thrusts.

They'd take whatever advantages they could find, given the dwindling resources.

Ty's mind was pulled back from those thoughts as he heard the familiar sound of boots on gravel approaching. His hand instinctively tightened on the hilt of his blade, but the tension eased when he recognized the figures moving through the underbrush.

"Did you get what we needed?" Ty asked, his voice low, as Kern and Rosana re-entered the small camp.

Kern nodded, lifting a flask filled with water. "Stream's clean. Enough water for now."

Rosana, who had been silent, glanced toward the darkened path leading out of the camp. "It's quiet out there, too quiet. If there are other teams in the area, they're waiting for the right moment. We'll need to stay alert."

Ty crouched down next to the fire, which had reduced to nothing more than embers. He adjusted the stones around it, keeping the glow hidden but allowing just enough warmth to keep them comfortable. His thoughts were racing—there wasn't much time left, and they needed to cover more ground.

Before he could share his thoughts, the sound of branches snapping nearby drew all their attention. Ty's head snapped up, and in a second, his hand was on his blade, ready to defend their camp.

Out of the trees emerged Waddle.

The sight of him caught Ty off-guard for only a moment. He remembered the boat, their interactions there—the hard stare Waddle had given him, the cool professionalism that Ty had learned to respect.

The sight of him caught Ty off-guard for only a moment. He remembered the boat, their interactions there—the hard stare Waddle had given him, the cool professionalism that Ty had learned to respect. Waddle was always guarded, vague about his past, but there had been a mutual understanding between them.

They had both avoided the worst of the traps on that boat, and in the time since, Ty had come to trust Waddle's instincts, though he never stopped wondering about the secrets Waddle kept close.

Waddle approached slowly, his blond hair catching the dim light filtering through the trees. His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the small camp before landing on Ty. Two others followed close behind, but it was clear that Waddle was the one calling the shots.

"You're a hard guy to track down, Ty," Waddle said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of someone who had seen too much. He took a step closer, his gear rustling softly in the quiet of the forest. "Thought you could use some backup."

Kern tensed at the arrival, his fingers tightening around his spear. Rosana shot a quick glance at Ty, her instincts screaming caution. Ty remained calm but on guard, his hand still resting on the hilt of his blade.

"What are you doing out here?" Ty asked, not hostile but cautious. The Arena of Life wasn't a place to trust anyone blindly, no matter their shared history.

Waddle's eyes flicked briefly to Kern and Rosana, then back to Ty. "I'm after the same thing you are—survival. I figured with thirty hours left on the clock, we could use each other to get a little further."

"And what do you get out of this?" Rosana cut in, her voice sharp. "Seems like a convenient time to show up."

Waddle smiled faintly but didn't flinch at the suspicion. "You don't have to trust me, but I've been watching your progress. You've taken out some strong opponents, but the next phase? The closer you get to the enemy's King, the more traps you're walking into. I know the lay of the land ahead. If we work together, you'll have a better shot at getting out of this alive."

Ty studied him for a moment, weighing the offer. He remembered the boat, the way Waddle had handled himself, the calm way he'd talked about things that didn't quite add up. There was always something Waddle wasn't saying, and Ty had a nagging feeling that Waddle knew more about the tournament than he let on.

But right now, Ty wasn't in a position to turn down help, especially from someone like Waddle.

"We'll work together," Ty said finally, his voice firm. "But we move on my terms."

Waddle nodded, the faintest smile crossing his lips. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

-

The camp had fallen quiet again as Ty,Gisorn, Kern, Rosana, and Waddle huddled around the rough map Rosana had sketched into the dirt. Ty pointed toward the enemy stronghold, his finger tracing a line through the dense forest that stood between them and their target.

"We can't rush this," Ty said, his voice steady but tense. "The traps Waddle mentioned will slow us down. If we hit them head-on, we won't make it to the King in time."

Waddle crouched beside Ty, studying the map with practiced ease. "There's a path that runs parallel to their main defenses. It's narrow, but if we time it right, we can bypass most of their traps."