From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

"And so what? What does that have to do with anything?" the man inquired, trying to find the connection between Ty's story and their current predicament.

"Well, it's just a guess, but I believe at some point the Titanis Goddess will appear far into the skies to observe to some degree what's going on… that's my hope at least. And that might be a moment to catch her and get back home," Ty speculated, his eyes carrying a mix of determination and a flicker of hope.

The man seemed skeptical, grounded in a harsh reality. "Seems like a long shot. To be honest, I've almost given up on ever getting back home. I just want to get my freedom back and maybe settle down somewhere. I doubt there's much to go back to, or at the very least, they think I'm dead."

Ty, understanding but not deterred, encouraged him, "Well, we have to try our best. I'm sure someone misses you and would love to see you again, so don't give up just yet. I'll do whatever I can to help you out also, though I won't be throwing my life away for you or anything stupid like that, of course."

Standing up, Ty extended his hand in a gesture of solidarity and introduction. "The name's Ty, though you'll just see everyone call me the Demon boy or other things like that. What's your name?"

The man's introduction, marked by a hint of humor, broke the tension between them. "Ty, huh? Sounds familiar. My name's Waddle. I hope I live long enough to see you at least fail at finding this goddess," he said, offering a smirk as they shook hands. It was a strange sort of camaraderie, one forged in the unlikely confines of their current predicament.

With their brief exchange concluded, Ty walked away, returning to his empty section of the room. "Hey, what was it that you wanted to talk about?" he asked the fairy, curious about the earlier interruption.

Finding her curled up and asleep in his pocket, Ty chuckled softly. "Fairy? I guess she did have a pretty busy day for a lazy fairy." He couldn't help but feel a bit of affection for the tiny companion who'd been through so much with him.

Yawning, Ty laid his head back, slowly drifting off to sleep amidst the uncertainty and tension of their situation.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, startling him awake. But this wasn't the confines he'd fallen asleep in; instead, he found himself on an expansive beach surrounded by black liquid. "Huh, is this the same place where that old man always shows up?" Ty wondered aloud, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

"No, your angel is not here right now!" a voice echoed, disembodied and cryptic.

Ty spun around, searching for the source of the voice, only to find no one. Looking down at himself, he noticed he was back to his pre-adventure self. "Who is that? I can't be dealing with anyone else in my body, okay?!" he called out, his confusion mounting.

Ty watched, a mixture of fear and intrigue taking hold as the water before him began to bubble, standing on a small patch of sand at the center of it all. "What the hell are you? And what do you mean by the angel isn't here?" he demanded, seeking clarity in the midst of confusion.

"At the end of time, I will be all that remains. You have been selected to join me; you only need sacrifice your life and body to achieve greatness," the mysterious voice announced, its tone grave and otherworldly.

"No thanks, I'm not just going to give up my life. Who the hell are you anyways, and why are you in my body?" Ty countered, his confusion giving way to defiance. He was not ready to accept such a cryptic proposition without understanding its source or its intent.

The black liquid bubbled again. "To select the new 12 of my empire, I am not yet ready to surface. But when that time comes, I will call upon you, and you will answer. This is not a threat or a warning, but a vision," the voice proclaimed, its message clear yet unfathomable.

"Take care and protect the other 11 until then," the voice echoed as the black liquid began to dissipate, revealing a surprising sight. Ty saw the old man at the bottom of the lake, seemingly in a state of sleep before slowly stirring awake.

Before Ty could reach out to the old man in his vision, reality snapped back with a sharp pain on his cheek. "Hey, will you just wake up already?!" the familiar voice of the fairy pierced through his grogginess.

Ty, rubbing his eyes, protested mildly, "Wh-what are you talking about? I was only asleep for a little bit?"

"Actually, you've been asleep for at least 12 hours," the fairy corrected him, her tone a mix of concern and annoyance. "I woke up and watched you sleep for a while, and I heard some commotion spinning. I think they are getting ready to start moving people."

"Oh, I see. Well, it's still like 2 days or something until we're supposed to get to the continent, right? Hard to keep track of time without a clock or phone on me," Ty responded, trying to orient himself to their situation amidst the confusion of waking up.

"I'm not sure, but I won't be going with you to the place, regardless," the fairy declared, adding another layer of mystery to their already complicated situation.

"Oh, and why is that?" Ty asked, his curiosity piqued.

The Fairy, arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips, seemed to relish the importance of her mission. "I spoke with JJ, and she wants me to help her with further Fairy Recon work."

"Oh, and what exactly is that?" Ty inquired, his curiosity piqued despite the growing concern.

"After the first Arena finishes, she said the King would have a ritual and then give words from the Goddess or something like that. She wants me to figure out how he is doing it, as it's super top secret," the Fairy explained, her tone suggesting both the significance and the danger of the task ahead.

Ty's expression turned to one of worry. "That sounds a bit dangerous, Fairy. I'm not sure if I'm okay with you risking yourself like that."

"Well, it can't be as dangerous as going into a huge death battle with 100 people," the Fairy retorted, downplaying the risks of her own mission compared to the peril Ty faced in the Arena.

"Even so, I would like you to reconsider if possible. I don't think Nana would be too pleased if she heard you died; she's quite fond of you,"

"I will try my best to be safe. But I do agree that dying would be less than ideal," the Fairy assured Ty, her voice laced with a mix of seriousness and her usual playfulness.

Ty nodded, accepting her words but still burdened with concern. "Also, I will try to find the Titanis Goddess, but it's a long shot, to be honest."

"But in the meantime, just be safe and look after JJ, okay?" he requested, emphasizing the importance of the Fairy's mission and the safety of their friend.

"Sure, should I mention you and the pink-haired girl kissed again, though?" the Fairy teased, giving a slight giggle, enjoying the opportunity to stir a bit of mischief.

Ty shrugged, indifferent to the potential gossip but cautious about its implications. "If you want to, though I'd rather not have her mad. Also, I didn't kiss her back. While I appreciate her feelings, I can't give them back right now until I meet with Jade again."

The Fairy conceded, "I guess, but you definitely didn't push her off." Their conversation hinted at the complex web of relationships and feelings developing within their group, a human element that persisted even in the face of their dire circumstances.

Moments later, the doors swung open as two guards walked in and commanded, "Numbers, give us 10 of you right now. Line up and get ready to exit."