From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

-Meanwhile, Erebos Castle-

Kegaku knelt in the dark room, the red neon lights casting an eerie glow around him. He kept his head bowed, but there was no resentment in his heart—only deep respect and admiration for his Master. Erebos knows best, he thought, the weight of his loyalty pressing down on him. Every decision, every command, it's all part of his greater plan.

He dared to lift his gaze, just enough to see Erebos at his workstation, meticulously mixing chemicals and adjusting vials. There was a calm precision in his movements, a mastery that Kegaku could only hope to emulate one day. The sight filled him with a sense of purpose, reminding him why he followed Erebos so unwaveringly.

"Master… future King Erebos," Kegaku began, his voice heavy with the burden of his failure. "I have failed to garner the Angelic girl you requested."

Erebos didn't immediately respond, his focus still on the vials before him. When he finally spoke, his tone was measured, almost amused. "Good," he said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who always knew more than he let on. "You weren't meant to take her yet. It was just convenient she showed up on Earth. Did you finish the actual task I requested of you?"

Kegaku's chest tightened, but he nodded, the tension easing slightly. "Yes, Master. I feared I wouldn't complete it because she appeared so late. Her energy... it was unlike anything I've encountered, invisible and masked.

And then there was a moment—when she almost died—where time seemed to skip." He reached into his pocket and carefully pulled out three strands of pink hair, holding them with reverence. "I don't know what she is, but she's a unique one."

Erebos finally turned to face him, his gaze briefly settling on the strands of hair before meeting Kegaku's eyes. There was a quiet intensity in that gaze, one that made Kegaku's heart swell with pride despite his earlier failure. He had gathered what his Master needed, and that meant everything.

But the frustration still lingered, and Kegaku couldn't help but voice it. "I could have killed them all if you hadn't placed this restriction on my body."

Erebos's lips curled into a faint smile, one that spoke of knowledge and power far beyond Kegaku's understanding. "Of course," he replied, his tone holding a hint of indulgence. "But sometimes, to grow stronger, you must learn to do more with less. You were sloppy, Kegaku—too reliant on brute strength. Even the most powerful need to master their fundamentals."

Kegaku lowered his head again, his heart pounding with a mix of shame and determination. He's right, as always. Every word from Erebos was a lesson, a gift meant to mold him into something greater. I must become better, for him, for his future reign.

Erebos's eyes flickered with a rare warmth as he spoke, his tone holding an unusual softness. "I hold you in high regard, Kegaku, and I respect your abilities. Ever since I rescued you from execution on Planet Sadle, I've enjoyed watching you grow stronger." Erebos's gaze shifted to Kegaku's neck, where a faint, glowing mark pulsed with a light that seemed to burn.

"We will work on lifting that curse on your neck as well, to draw out your true power."

Kegaku brought his hand to his neck, his palm hovering over the cursed mark. The light intensified, sending a sharp, burning sensation through his skin. He winced slightly, but the pain was familiar, something he had endured for so long it had become a part of him. Despite the discomfort, a chuckle escaped his lips. "Maybe then, I'll finally grow a bit and stop being viewed as a child.

Wishful thinking, Master?"

Erebos didn't answer directly, his focus seemingly elsewhere. "Now, tell me," he said, his voice returning to its usual authoritative tone, "did you encounter any Red-eyed crows? And how did the Vale Monsters perform? I know they all died—rather disappointing, if you ask me."

Kegaku lowered his head, his mind sifting through the details of his mission. The crows… he thought, the memory surfacing slowly. "I do recall seeing a Red-eyed crow when I was summoning and planting the undead beneath the ground. It soared high in the sky, but I didn't pay it much attention. It disappeared, along with its energy signature, right around the time the Angelics arrived."

He paused, feeling the weight of the report he had to give. "As for the Vale Monsters, I spoke with one… a disgusting bug-like creature. It mentioned that they were underlings, trying to prove their strength. It's likely it died at the hands of the Vice Captain of the Angelics."

Kegaku hesitated, then added, "It also mentioned other Earths, worlds that are fighting back against the Vale Monsters with just machinery, no magic. They're putting up a better fight than expected. I'd like to face them one day."

Erebos chuckled, a sound that sent a shiver down Kegaku's spine—not out of fear, but out of a deep-seated desire to please his Master. "You aren't ready for a fight like that yet," Erebos said, his tone almost teasing. "But that would be a battle that leans heavily on brute strength. I imagine when that world unlocks the ability to use and disperse energy, they'll become a real problem.

But for now, we'll leave them be."

Kegaku nodded, absorbing every word. He's always thinking ahead, always planning. The admiration he felt for Erebos swelled in his chest, a feeling he couldn't quite put into words.

"Thank you, Kegaku," Erebos continued. "Please go train, relax, or wait until I need you again. And bring in my newly appointed 7th Captain, Griswald. He'll be needed for my next mission and plan."

Kegaku didn't move, his head still bowed. A determination burned in his chest, stronger than the mark on his neck. "Master," he said, his voice steady, "please send me once more. I wish to atone for my failures."

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