From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 37  Burning Escape

The intense ball of fire which enveloped Ty and his allies left a rugged crater in the ground as it blazed through the atmosphere. Ty urgently shouted for everyone to hang on and try to find a solution as cracks began to form around the protective barrier. Drawing on the memories of the now-deceased Masaru, Ty continued to reinforce the barrier by wrapping more layers one on top of the other as numerous fragments intermittently broke off. Eventually, they broke through the atmosphere, jetting through space at an accelerated speed. Time seemed to have slowed down, leaving a trail of black energy that trailed on the barrier's edge.

Amidst the stars and numerous particles filling the space, Ty's vision began to blur and fade and he acknowledged, "I'm at my limit. I've been that way for a while now." Although his skeletal body's stamina had been gradually improving, with everything that was happening, it was quite challenging for him to maintain it much longer. Buckling to a knee, Ty clutched the crystal given by Elithira in his skeletal hands. As he tumbled over, he felt as if he was listlessly floating in the air before feeling a pair of hands support him, keeping him upright and steady.

"Don't worry, Ty, I got you," Todd reassured, blood trickling from the corner of his lips, down his shoulder, and began to slowly freeze due to the coldness of space.

 "Don't push yourself; you could die, you idiot!" Ty spat, but Todd's green hands forced Ty to a full stand as he retorted, "Nonsense!"

Abruptly, the sphere came to a halt, throwing Ty and his allies forward, causing their bodies to tumble in weightlessness. Though the sudden stop startled them, as Ty regained stability, his skeletal eyes widened at the extraordinary sight that lay before him. The colossal castle, perched atop a continent-size rock, seemed to defy the very reality. Its black and red structures stretched as far as his eyes could see, even stretching across the horizon while a blue supernova blazed brilliantly behind it, yet mysteriously, it didn't scorch anything in its vicinity.

The castle was a majestic, yet ominous sight.

Its towering spires and colossal walls stood as a stark contrast against the cosmic backdrop, casting long shadows across the rocky surface. The architectural brilliance and the sheer scale of it were nothing short of mesmerizing.

"Why did we stop?" Todd's voice pulled Ty back from his trance. However, before Ty could answer, his attention was once again drawn back to the castle. It was not just because of the castle's size but the aura of ancient majesty that seemed to emanate from it that held Ty in silent awe.

Beside him, he could hear Kaiko's sharp inhalation of breath along with a soft "incredible" which escaped her lips. Todd, too, was staring at the castle with a mix of awe and trepidation. Their faces reflected off the glassy surface of the orb encasing them, every face revealing a blend of fear and fascination.

Todd simply lets out a brief "wow," but before he could elaborate, the sphere starts to descend at an alarming rate, cutting Ty off and igniting in flames once again. The barrier encasing them slammed through the top of the castle walls with tremendous force before shattering into thousands of pieces. The impact was fierce, a vivid manifestation of energy as it penetrated the ancient structure. A mix of familiar and foreign feelings surged through his bones, making Ty feel a jolt run through his bones; it was accompanied by the resounding echoes of breaking glass and crumbling stones through the vast halls of the castle as they made their ungraceful entrance.

The entire group was thrown in all directions, with Kaiko gripping Nana tightly, who, despite having most of her wounds frozen, still remained in a critical condition. As she slammed into the wall, Nana couldn't help but let out cries of pain.

The screeching halt was a brutal welcome, yet amidst the chaos, a flood of memories flooded back to Ty – the cold stone walls and the eerie silence that followed the crash.

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Ty observed as his bones, guided by a light blue aura, began to reassemble themselves back to their rightful places. A peculiar sensation accompanied this peculiar—a tingling coolness that was tracing along the paths where bones were getting connected and the light clinking sound as they found their mates, a visual dance of skeletal choreography.

He could feel each bone slotting into its perfect place, sending slight shivers to run through him with each connection. Meanwhile, the scent of ozone filled the air, mingling with the metallic ring that would always accompany his healing process. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Once his skeletal structure was intact, Ty carefully reached into an opening in his chest, his fingers wrapping around a foreign metal object that was lodged within. With a firm tug, he pulled it free from himself. His bones swiftly healed around the area, the light blue aura sealing the space where the object had once resided. Now in his hand, Ty noticed that the small object was cold to the touch, and as he examined it, the air around him seemed to hum with energy.

Despite exhaustion taking a toll and his tolerance to pain dwindling rapidly, Ty managed to rise to his feet, his bones slightly trembling while the black flames surrounding him flickered weakly.

A cry of pain echoed through the hollow spaces of his face where flesh and lips once resided, as he gripped his shoulders tightly, trying to steady himself amidst the discomfort.

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Elithira sprinted over, her eyes widening as she witnessed the chaotic scene. The corner where Sogetsu lay was a somber sight, while his body was marked with dozens of burn marks, a painful testament to the ordeal they had to face while coming here. Her gaze then darted to Ty, who looked like he had just pieced himself back together – quite literally, while his bones still quivered slightly due to their recent reassembly, and the palpable exhaustion that could be seen in his hollow eyes.

"Ty, what the hell happened to you? And how the hell did you even manage to get everyone here?" she blurted out, her voice trembling slightly with a mix of relief yet at the same time filled with worry. As she glanced around the room, the reality of the situation of others began to sink in, as everyone who was there had their expressions filled with intense pain.

"I can use... other people's... abilities... save the girl, though..." Ty managed to muster the strength to say those final words before exhaustion finally overtook him. His vision blurred, and the last thing he was able to sense before fading out of consciousness was the comforting voice of his love, Jade. Accompanied by the thought of her warm smile, he drifted into a deep, replenishing sleep.