From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty felt his body collapsing into itself, plunging into an abyssal darkness, landing on a grim floor carpeted with bones of various sizes. These bones accumulated into a vast mound of skulls, a grotesque testament to death's omnipresence.

"Where the hell am I now?" Ty mused, his gaze wandering as he inspected his hands in disbelief. To his shock, his flesh had been replaced by bone; he was a skeleton once more. He flexed his fingers, familiarizing himself with the sensation, the blue webbed energy pulsing, holding his osseous form together.

"What is this place? Could this be the creature's mind, from when I yielded control for five minutes?" He pondered the anomaly, puzzled by the difference in experiences. "Weird that this didn't occur in the arena... What exactly happened when it took over?"

With a contemplative hand over his skull, his green flame danced softly in reflection. "It all happened in a flash. I was there, somehow an observer through my own eyes, feeling as though I could reclaim control at any moment."

Yet now, adrift in uncertainty, he acknowledged the strangeness of his surroundings. "This doesn't feel like any dream I've known."

Lost in thought, Ty wandered among the skeletal remains,

As Ty meandered, a gleaming blade caught his eye, lodged at the zenith of the bone pile, its presence commanding despite the grim surroundings.

He navigated the skeletal heap, his ascent revealing the summit to be unexpectedly solid, as though suspended in time itself.

The blade radiated an ethereal glow, its allure undeniable. Approaching with a mixture of reverence and curiosity, Ty felt an invisible pressure building.

With a decisive movement, he wrapped his skeletal fingers around the hilt, only for an eye to materialize on it, glaring accusingly at him. "Who are you? You think you worthy of wielding me?" it bellowed, its voice echoing through the macabre chamber.

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Before Ty could muster a response, a force expelled him backwards, scattering his bones in a chaotic spray. Yet, his grip on the sword's hilt remained unyielding. A surge of indignation washed over him, fueled by the sword's defiance and his own unresolved turmoil.

Reflecting on his tumultuous journey, Ty's resolve hardened. "I don't care who the hell you are, I am worthy if I say I am!" he declared, his voice a mixture of defiance and conviction, challenging the sword's judgment and asserting his own worth.

Moments later, Ty found himself confronted by his own flesh-and-blood form, an imposing figure who loomed over him with a disapproving gaze. "Who said you can bully my weapons?" the figure demanded, his presence unsettling.

Confused, Ty could only mutter, "Weapons?"

With a dismissive 'tsk,' the creature snapped his fingers. Ty's attention was caught by the red glow of his eyes before the strange, bone-laden place dissolved away. Suddenly, Ty was back in his own body, standing amidst a crimson sea, the scent of iron heavy in the air.

Looking down, he realized he was atop the enormous body of the serpent, its cries of agony piercing as purple blood spilled into the ocean.

Ty's hands were stained, not just with the serpent's purple blood, but also dotted with red. As he looked ahead, he saw Rusuf, weakened, down on one knee.

Concerned, Ty rushed over, only to halt as his instincts screamed a warning. Rusuf, in a desperate attempt, swung at him, panting, "Stay back, you damned demon."

"R-Rusuf, it's me, back as myself. I have no idea what happened," Ty stammered, searching for understanding in Rusuf's weary eyes.

Above them, a chuckle broke the tension. Ty looked up to see Erebos, battered and with an arm torn off, cradling it with his remaining hand.

"Weird that you surrender control to him when I've done everything to enhance your strength. I hope you discover your true power as we unlock your potential, Ty Hockenson," Erebos remarked, his smirk betraying a blend of frustration and anticipation. "I didn't endure all these trials for you to falter, my master."

"I expect more from you when we unlock the next barrier. As it stands, you're merely a hindrance. Among all my charges, you're the most lagging, though it's true you face the greatest adversities. Still, I anticipate your rise."

Confusion and frustration welled up in Ty. "I-I don't understand what you're talking about. If you want me to get stronger, why orchestrate the chaos back on Planet Sycle? Why all the destruction?"

Erebos clicked his tongue in mild irritation. "Isn't it evident? Your most formidable skill is your fire. I exerted considerable effort to secure that gauntlet the Demon King discarded. And now, I bestow upon you the Sumerian sword of control, only for you to neglect it for... what?

Black-flamed arrows? That trivial creature's weapon of choice?"

Acknowledging the critique, Ty realized the core of his struggle lay in the dynamics of their relationship. "I see where my errors lie now. And it's clear you favor a more direct, confrontational approach." Continue reading at empire

Rusuf, having observed the exchange between Ty and Erebos with growing bewilderment, finally interjected, "What the hell is going on?"

Ty, still grappling with his mixed feelings, replied, "Like I would trust a weapon from you. I'm sure it has some nefarious purpose behind it."

Erebos, unfazed by the skepticism, closed his eye and proceeded to reattach his severed hand. With a seamless motion, the hand reconnected, the skin knitting itself back together. Then, extending his hand skyward, he summoned a gravitational pulse. From the distance, a sword responded to his call, flying straight into his grasp.

Rusuf, witnessing the impossible feat, couldn't hide his astonishment. "What the hell, how did he know it was locked away?"

Ty's jaw clenched, the muscles in his face taut with a blend of anger and bewilderment. "Nothing surprises me anymore with this bastard," he muttered under his breath, the words laced with a potent mix of confusion and disdain. "But still, it's all a maze without an exit to me."

Erebos, with the descending blade in hand, took a moment to gather the energies around him, his breath drawing in the latent power of the surroundings.

The sword responded, its metal glowing from within, as if alive with a fiery will of its own.

It transformed, liquefying into a glowing orb of molten metal that hung in the air with an ominous presence. Then, with an authoritative tone that brooked no refusal, Erebos challenged Ty, "Ignite your black flames!"