From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Rosa darted toward the boy with the flute, her eyes blazing with determination. He took a step back and chuckled, "You actually think you stand a chance? Well, then, by all means!"

Suddenly, his skin shifted to a deep red hue, small eyes appearing around his forearms in a dark crimson pattern. The eerie echo of the flute began to play on its own, filling the air with a haunting melody.

Rosa, undeterred, kept pushing forward. "Don't let him touch you! That's how he got Kieran, I believe!" Jade shouted, her voice filled with urgency. "Don't do anything brash!"

Jade struggled to her feet, her eyes wide as she watched a small streak of black fire descending toward them. "What now?!"

Meanwhile, Rosa clapped her hands together before ripping them apart at blinding speed. A perfect hexagon of webs shot from her hands, each strand glowing with blue fire. The webs fanned out, creating a barrier that crackled with energy, lighting up the dark street.

The boy's expression turned to one of annoyance. He gripped the side of his neck and muttered, "If it wasn't for this, I could have killed the entire planet by now. It's against Master's wishes, but breaking down some repugnant fox girl who's out of place will do just fine!"

With a swift motion, he began twirling his flute, its movements a blur. The webs burst into flames and disintegrated as he destroyed Rosa's attack effortlessly. He then lunged at her, the flute now a weapon in his hands, striking her with brutal force. Rosa staggered, barely able to defend herself as the boy's assault continued.

Suddenly, a small, dark creature swooped in from above. It was V, transformed slightly with dark wings and an ugly, yet determined, visage. V dove between Rosa and the boy, taking the hit meant for her. The impact sent V reeling, but it managed to stay standing.

"V?!" Jade exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock. "What are you doing here?"

V, panting, managed to croak out, "The Director let me go due to the unique situation."

Seizing the moment, Rosa lunged forward, her hand outstretched. With a fierce cry, she knocked the flute from the boy's grasp, sending it clattering to the ground. The eerie melody ceased, and the boy's eyes widened in shock.

"You little—" he started, but Rosa didn't give him a chance to recover. She unleashed a burst of blue flames, engulfing him in a blazing inferno.

"Yes! I got him!" Rosa exclaimed, clenching her fist as the flames around her surged.

But in an instant, the boy with the flute seized control of the fire. The flames shifted and coalesced into his hand, forming a blazing orb. With a sinister grin, he darted forward, slamming the fiery attack into Rosa's chest. "You are mine now," he declared, his voice cold and possessive.

One of the eyes on his arm snapped shut as the force of the impact sent Rosa hurtling hundreds of feet in the other direction, her body crashing through debris and coming to a painful stop.

"Nooo!" Jade screamed, her white eyes flaring with desperate energy. But her body betrayed her; the exhaustion was too much. She fell to one knee, gasping for breath. Discover more content at empire

Jade's vision blurred as she looked over her shoulder. Her energy points had dwindled to just ten. Panic gripped her heart as she glanced at the boy. His energy bar was still full, displaying only "???" – the same ominous symbols as the others. Despair threatened to overwhelm her.

Oscar and Vincent noticed the shift in the battle and rushed towards Rosa, who lay motionless amidst the wreckage. "Rosa!" Oscar shouted, his voice cracking with worry.

Vincent's face hardened with determination. "We need to get her out of there!"

Jade struggled to her feet, fighting the encroaching darkness at the edges of her vision. "Stay... away from her..." she managed to whisper, forcing herself to stand. She had to protect her friends, no matter the cost.

"You are no fun to me right now, so begone, you feeble child," the boy sneered, raising his hand. As he moved his hand, Jade's body was pulled violently in the same direction, like a puppet on strings.

Jade's eyes widened in terror as red arrows flashed in her vision. She felt her weight shift uncontrollably, and she went tumbling across the rooftops of several buildings, crashing through debris until she finally came to a jarring stop.

She lay beneath the rubble, trying to move but finding her leg trapped under sharp, jagged rocks. Blood seeped slowly from the wound, pooling around her.

Jade's breathing grew heavier, her vision blurring with each passing second. "Master... where are you... Ty... I... I'm so sorry," she whispered, the words barely audible.

The cries and screams of her friends echoed in her ears, a haunting soundtrack to her fading consciousness. She stared up at the sky, her vision darkening, blood pooling from her leg and side. She noticed a metal bar sticking out of her side and chuckled weakly. "Heh, that shouldn't be there."

As her vision began to fade, she heard a sound – faint but growing closer. Footsteps, heavy and determined. She tried to focus, but her strength was waning.

As Jade's vision cleared, she saw the boy with the flute standing over her, his skin back to its normal hue—whatever passed for normal, Jade thought bitterly.

"You sure look pathetic, you know that, right?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain.

"You know, I was instructed to only take the Kieran girl once she showed herself, but my master also mentioned he had a lot of desire for you. But you have been nothing but disappointing. You're a one-trick pony with no bite."

He sneered down at her, his words cutting like a knife. "My master would never want his time wasted like that, so just do us all a favor and be killed. Maybe your soul will make a good meal for him."

Jade huffed slightly, trying to catch her breath, her mind racing. "Who could he be talking about?" she wondered internally, her thoughts clouded by pain and exhaustion.

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