From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

She thought to herself further, "Thank you, for everything, Ty. I hope I get to see you at the end of all of this." Her thoughts were a mixture of hope and doubt, a silent prayer that she knew might never reach his ears.

Sighing deeply, Yun-Jin turned back to General Omina. "So, what is our next step? It's clear they've infiltrated on some level, and we know they have JJ in their grasp. What they did to Lt Daemon… there's no telling how deep their power goes or what fighters and skills they have. We have a general list of members, but one who uses black liquid to create portals? That's new, and it's dangerous. Continuing the tournament might be too risky."

General Omina was quiet for a moment, the slight twitch of her lips betraying her thoughts. "It is risky," she said. "But, I've got a fun idea—one that nips all of this in the bud." She gave a small smirk, her eyes hardening. "This way, we get our revenge for Daemon and bring down the old man in one strike."

Yun-Jin blinked, her eyebrows furrowing. "Wh-what exactly is that going to be?"

Omina shook her head, glancing around the room as if checking for unseen listeners. "I can't say yet, not even here. It's possible even this spot isn't as secure as we think. Just know, I plan to avenge Lt Daemon fully. I failed to be his shield, and I won't let that happen again."

Yun-Jin felt a pang of sadness, but also determination. She respected Omina's resolve. "I see… So, what do we do right now, General?"

Omina's expression shifted back to her composed demeanor. "For now, schedule a patrol team with full live-feed body cams. We'll have the king's elite guard ready to mobilize at a moment's notice. We'll catch them if they make a move."

Yun-Jin nodded, bowing slightly. "Right." She turned on her heel and began to leave, her footsteps echoing in the tense silence of the command room. She was halfway to the door when Omina spoke again.

"Yun-Jin," she called out, her voice lower. "I heard you injured the traitor during the last fight. Did you unlock your third skill in that fight?"

Yun-Jin froze, her back still to Omina. She swallowed hard. "I… I don't know. Everything just went red. But I remembered what Lt Daemon told me—about not losing my battle sense, even in chaos."

"Have you trained or fought since then?" Omina asked, her eyes narrowing.

Yun-Jin shook her head, her shoulders tensing. "No. Just picking up a weapon right now makes me feel sick."

Omina sighed, her gaze softening, though her tone remained firm. "Well, while you wait, it might be good to link up with Ty and get some training in. The next stage's focus will be on stripping everything down to the basics. Make sure Ty's in the right mindset. We can't afford any weaknesses."

Yun-Jin nodded again, her hand resting on the door handle. "Understood, General." She left the room, her thoughts swirling. As she stepped outside, the brightness of the twin suns greeted her, casting long shadows across the compound. She paused for a moment, taking in the symmetry of the two suns. It was almost peaceful, if not for everything weighing on her.

She walked towards her car, her footsteps crunching on the gravel road that led to the parked hovercar. Yun-Jin placed her hand on the side of the vehicle, her fingers brushing against the cool metal. "Lt Daemon really loved this hovering thing," she muttered to herself. It felt surreal, sitting in the driver's seat without him there.

"They'll pay for what they did," she whispered, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. With a deep breath, she started the car, the hum of the engine breaking the silence as she drove down the road, green fields stretching on either side of her.

The drive felt longer than it was, her mind replaying the conversation she just had. She couldn't afford mistakes, not now. Not when the stakes were higher than ever. Soon, she reached the familiar square structure of the compound—a utilitarian building that seemed more fortress than anything else, with reinforced walls and sharp angles that spoke of its true purpose.

Parking a few meters away, she got out of the vehicle. Her eyes scanned the exterior of the building, taking in the security measures—the cameras, the guards patrolling with practiced vigilance. She walked up to the entrance, where a scanner opened up, bathing her face in green light as it verified her identity. The door slid open, and she stepped inside, greeted by a single circular platform in the center of the room.

Yun-Jin moved with purpose down the west wing, her steps echoing in the stone-walled hallway as she approached Prison Holdings 1-3. Across from her, Constant Waiting Rooms 4-6 stood eerily silent. Two guards were stationed at each end, their eyes snapping to attention as she neared. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Both sets of guards gave her a crisp salute, and the guard on the far left spoke up, his voice respectful. "Good day, Ms. Yun-Jin, how may we be of help to you?"

"A few things," Yun-Jin began, her gaze sweeping over the area. "First, grab me your patrol leader. Secondly, how is everyone holding up with the remaining contestants?"

The guard nodded. "I believe they are doing well, ma'am. Some are still tending to their wounds as they prepare for Stage 2. The volunteers are enjoying their last meal requests right now."

"Thank you, I see," Yun-Jin acknowledged, her mind already shifting to the next step.

The guard offered her a nod before he turned and strode away to fetch the patrol leader. Moments later, he returned, accompanied by a tall man towering at about seven feet, clad in silver armor that bore the kingdom's emblem.

The man stood before her, his presence commanding respect. "What can I do for you, Yun-Jin?"

"Orders from General Omina," she began, her tone firm. "For the next forty-eight hours, or until the second stage begins, everyone is to be on double patrols. We need full eyes on all activities."