From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty wiped a trail of water from his face, glaring up at Milo. Every muscle in his body ached, his clothes were soaked through, and exhaustion weighed him down like a boulder. "I don't need your trust," he muttered, his voice sharp but low. "Don't act like you did me a favor."

"Oh, you're welcome, sunshine," Milo shot back, a lopsided grin pulling at his mouth. "Real gratitude in those words. If Rui were here, I'm sure he'd be moved to tears."
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Before Ty could answer, a sudden commotion pulled his attention. Across the spa, two Black Bulls dragged a man—barely conscious and filthy—up the cracked tiled steps. Ty's heart lurched as he recognized him. It was the same man Ty had fought in the frozen tundra, the man whose hands he had severed.

"What the hell are you doing with him?" Ty asked, his voice hard.

One of the Bulls, a burly fighter with a scar running across his nose, tossed the man to the ground. He groaned as he hit the tiles, curled up like a discarded rag.

"What's it look like?" the scarred man replied, cracking his knuckles. "Cleaning up loose ends."

Ty pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the pain burning through his side. "Loose ends?"

"Yeah." Another Black Bull, a lanky woman with dirt-streaked skin, kicked at the man's shoulder with her boot. "This bastard got sucked into the portal with us. He doesn't deserve to breathe after what he tried to pull."

The man groaned again, his face pale and smeared with blood. Ty's fingers twitched at his sides. Without thinking, he stepped between the man and the others, his back straightening.

"Back off," Ty said.

"Back off?" Scar-Nose sneered, stepping forward. "Move out of the way, kid. You think he's defenseless just because he's got no hands? This bastard tried to kill you. Or did the ice freeze your damn brain?"

"I said back off!" Ty's voice rose, his fists clenching. The room went still for half a breath. The Black Bulls stared at him, their faces a mix of irritation and disbelief.

"Are you kidding me right now?" Lanky Woman scoffed, looking to Milo for backup. "This guy's got a death wish."

Milo tilted his head, his smirk fading slightly. "You're really defending him? Didn't he try to set you up to die?"

Ty's teeth ground together. "He was attacking me under different circumstances. I'm not saying he's innocent, but killing someone who can't fight back? That's not happening. Not while I'm standing here."

The tension thickened, the room silent but for the faint sound of dripping water. Scar-Nose let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, you're full of it. You think we're gonna feel sorry for this guy? You're clueless, demon. You just got here. You don't know anything about us."

"Exactly," Ty snapped, his glare cutting into the man. "I have no idea who you assholes even are. All I know is that you're the same group that killed Lt. Daemon, my mentor, since the moment I landed on this miserable planet. So tell me—why the hell would I help you?"

"Because Rui said to."

The voice came from the doorway. Ty turned sharply as footsteps echoed against the cracked tile. A man entered the room, his dark coat trailing behind him. Osalf. His hair hung loose around his shoulders, streaked with gray though his face looked no older than thirty. There was something unnervingly calm about him, his expression unreadable.

Osalf stopped a few paces from Ty and crossed his arms. "You're here because Rui trusted you, whether you understand that or not."

"Trusted me?" Ty said, his voice laced with disbelief. "I don't even know him."

Osalf shrugged. "Doesn't matter. He believes you're Vishu. The demon who promised to return. He said you would look exactly as you do now—down to the smallest detail."

Ty blinked, his shoulders tensing. "What are you talking about? I'm not Vishu. I don't even know what that means."

Osalf tilted his head slightly, watching him. "You might not believe it, but you fit the prophecy. Rui knew you would come, and he's staked everything on that belief. That's why you're alive right now."

Ty clenched his fists, his exhaustion fighting against the anger welling up inside him. "I don't care about prophecies or whatever bullshit you're talking about. That doesn't give you the right to kill someone who can't defend himself."

Scar-Nose snorted. "Kill him? Did you forget what he tried to pull back in the tundra? He was literally trying to murder you."

"Yeah, well, I'm choosing to save him," Ty shot back. His gaze hardened as he glanced down at the broken man on the floor. "I choose what happens to him. Not you."

For a moment, no one spoke. Ty felt the weight of every stare in the room, the Black Bulls sizing him up, their expressions unreadable.

Then, slowly, Scar-Nose stepped back. "Suit yourself," he muttered. "But don't cry to us when he stabs you in the back."

Ty didn't respond. His chest rose and fell with controlled breaths as the tension in the room ebbed slightly.

"We don't have time for this," Osalf said suddenly, stepping forward again. His calm demeanor hardened into something sharper, more urgent. "Things are progressing exactly as Rui predicted. The King is desperate. He's begged for support from whatever force is giving him that additional power. It means we're close."

Ty's brow furrowed. "Close to what?"

"To breaking him," Osalf replied. "To fixing this damned world."

"Fixing it?" Ty scoffed. "You've killed so many people along your path. How does that make you any better?"

Osalf's gaze didn't waver. "I won't waste time trying to convince you. Rui trusted you. He said you would be here when it mattered most. All I need to know is this—will you help us?"

"Will I help you?" Ty repeated, his voice bitter. "I don't even know if I have the energy to fight any—"

Before he could finish, the sound of a door creaking open cut through the room. The Black Bulls turned, their focus shifting as someone entered. Ty turned too, and his breath caught in his throat.

A woman stepped into the spa, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers interlocked. Her long black hair framed her face, though a single strand of lighter color stood out, laced at the crown of her head. Her eyes were closed, as though she couldn't bear to look up.

Ty's chest tightened. "J… JJ?"

Her eyes opened slowly, filled with something Ty couldn't name—shame, worry, regret.

"What are you doing here?"

JJ didn't answer at first. Her gaze shifted past Ty, toward Milo, Osalf, and the others gathered around the crumpled man Ty had just saved. She let out a slow breath, then spoke softly, her voice quieter than he remembered.

"We need to talk."

"Talk?" Ty echoed, still stunned. He staggered a step forward, confusion and frustration bubbling inside him. "About what? What could you possibly have to say after all this?"

JJ's brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't respond to his hostility. Instead, she looked at Osalf. "Give us a moment."

Osalf's expression flickered with reluctance, but after a beat, he nodded. "You heard her. Out."

Milo threw up his hands in exasperation. "Oh, sure. She waltzes in and we're just supposed to clear out?"

Osalf gave him a single sharp glance. Milo grumbled under his breath, but he turned to leave, pulling the others with him.

The room emptied until it was just Ty and JJ. The distant echoes of footsteps faded, leaving only the faint drip of water from the cracked spa pipes.

Ty stood there, unmoving, staring at her. His fists were clenched at his sides, shaking with anger he couldn't suppress.

"What do you want?" he said finally, his voice low and dangerous.

JJ opened her mouth, hesitated, then took a step toward him. Her hands dropped to her sides, but she avoided his glare. "You don't understand what's happening here, Ty. You don't know what's at stake."

"Then why don't you explain it to me?" he shot back, his voice rising. "Because all I've seen so far is death. People dying left and right. People like Rui throwing themselves in front of the King just to give you maniacs a chance to escape."

JJ flinched at his words but held her ground. "It's not that simple."

"It's not simple?" Ty scoffed, shaking his head. "Then make it simple! What the hell is going on? Who are you people? Why do you care about me? Why are you trying to kill everyone who stands in your way?"