From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals
Chapter 147: Recollecting with Nana

Ty's skeletal form, bathed in the soft luminescence of the moon, moved away from King Griswald. His gait, a silent dance with the night, carried him under a tapestry of stars. As Griswald's voice, tinged with a mix of awe and unease, called him a 'grim reaper,' Ty paused, looking upwards. The heavens above were a celestial canvas, twinkling stars dotting the vast, dark expanse.

"And where did you hear such a tale, Griswald?" Ty's voice, though lacking flesh and warmth, carried a human touch, a blend of amusement and sadness. "I am a human, through and through. This curse has merely stripped me of my skin, nothing more." His words floated upward, mingling with the night air, as if seeking solace from the stars themselves.

King Griswald, a figure of regal stature and seasoned wisdom, replied with a voice that resonated with the depth of years. "I suppose," he mused thoughtfully, "but with age, I've learned that clinging too tightly to who we once were can blind us to who we've become." His words, like a gentle breeze, stirred the night air. "I won't keep you.

In my youth, we had tales of a skeleton cloaked in a dark robe, a spectral figure guiding souls to the beyond."

Ty, his bony hands cradling his skull, gazed at the king. His eye sockets, aglow with a supernatural green fire, seemed to reflect the stories of old. "I guess I've heard similar tales where I come from.

Childhood stories often hold fragments of truth, but rest assured, I am not that mythical being." His voice, echoing a sense of both resignation and determination, seemed to blend with the whispers of the night.

As Ty began to fully immerse himself in his departure, King Griswald's voice echoed through the cool night air, its jovial yet commanding tone breaking the serene silence. "Have a good night," he called out, his voice carrying a blend of authority and warmth. "Remember, we have a briefing an hour after dawn.

Try to rest up and, uh, get that finger healed!" His words were tinged with humor, noting the absent skeletal finger that Ty had momentarily forgotten, now hidden away at the Clover's hideout.

"R-right, I'll get on that," Ty replied, his voice a mixture of amusement and resignation. He turned, his skeletal form moving with an eerie grace along the path. The night around him was alive with the sounds of the encampment settling down, the rustling of leaves, and the distant hoot of a night owl.

As Ty approached the cluster of recently constructed tents, his foot brushed against something unexpected. It was a small, blue crystal, glinting faintly in the moonlight, a remnant from the day's slain creatures. Bending down, he picked it up, a flicker of surprise crossing his skull-like features at its diminutive size.

The crystal bore a striking resemblance to the one bestowed upon him by the Demon King, albeit much smaller.

Slipping the crystal into his pocket, where it joined the armor dice he hadn't needed to use, Ty continued his walk. His arrival at the tents painted a somber picture. Men and women lay scattered around, their bodies marred with wounds and injuries – a stark reminder of the day's brutalities. A group of healers, predominantly women, moved among them with a calm urgency.

They wielded staffs and a few wands, their hands skillfully wrapping wounds. The green energy emanating from their staffs seemed to dance in the air, casting a surreal glow as they worked to heal or mercifully amputate severed limbs.

Amidst the somber tableau of the wounded and the healing, Ty's thoughts swirled in a grim reflection: "War really is hell." His internal musings were abruptly interrupted as Todd, his familiar presence a contrast in the chaos, approached from behind. "There you are," Todd's voice rang out, a blend of relief and curiosity.

Ty turned to face his companion, noting the additional bandages that wrapped Todd's figure, a testament to the day's ferocity. In Todd's grasp was a giant wooden cup, its size almost comical, yet fitting in the surreal environment they found themselves in.

"What did the King want with you?" Todd asked, his gaze inquisitive as he observed Ty's skeletal form.

Ty, his bony fingers idly moving as if they missed the sensation of touch, answered, "Well, he was expressing concerns about our alliance. It seems he has some connection with Erebos, although I'm not entirely sure of the nature." Ty's voice, hollow yet expressive, carried a note of contemplation. "But, at the end of the day, I believe he has good intentions. We can trust him, for now. experience-NovelFire-content

He's pieced together that these monsters are somehow linked to the sealed three creatures, remnants of their essence. If he can replace a way to permanently destroy them, he believes we can achieve a lasting peace."

Todd, raising the giant mug to his lips for a hearty swig, nodded thoughtfully. "I see," he said, the mug momentarily obscuring his face. "Normally, we'd stay out of such entanglements. But with Erebos's involvement, it's clear he might be using the King for his own ends, ends that likely won't bode well for him."

Ty, with a nod that sent an eerie clatter through his bony frame, leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "There's more. Erebos, it seems, has been plotting this for about four years. In a video file I saw, he even mentioned me to the King."

Todd's eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of incredulity crossing his face. "How is that even possible?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You've been a skeleton for what, six months?"

"Exactly," Ty agreed, his skull tilting in thought. "That's why we need to understand the King's plans. We might be able to prevent another catastrophe like the last planet. But first, we need to unseal the Cross Link Blade." Ty's voice trailed off, a hint of weariness seeping through. "I should have discussed this with the King, but today has just drained me."

Todd, now contemplative, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, the timing of the blade being sealed... it's too convenient. Maybe Erebos is behind that too. What if all of this somehow revolves around you?" His gaze was intense, piecing together the puzzle in his mind.

"We'll have to be cautious with every step we take," Todd continued, his voice firm yet supportive. "But know this, Ty: you have my unwavering support, whatever path you choose." His smile, broad and reassuring, cut through the weight of their conversation.

With that, Todd lifted his giant mug again, taking another hearty swig. The two stood there, amidst the backdrop of the healing camp

As the conversation wound down, Ty, feeling the weight of the day's events, mentioned his need for rest. "Well, I'm going to replace a place to sleep," he said, his voice carrying a note of finality.

Todd, his laughter ringing clear in the night, responded with a hint of amusement. "Oh, our tent is just five tents down from here, near the camp entrance where the guards are stationed. They figured it'd be best to have the strongest fighters near the front, in case of an attack."

Ty, replaceing humor in the situation, replied with a tone that rattled eerily from his skeletal frame. "I guess they don't know I'm a deep sleeper," he said, his laughter akin to the clattering of bones. Todd, joining in the mirth, playfully slapped Ty on the back. "I'll catch up with you after I finish checking on some of the guards' equipment.

Oh, and you have someone waiting for you in the tent, so don't keep them waiting too long."

Ty, a hint of confusion flickering in his glowing eye sockets, nodded and stretched his bony arms. He left the tent, his mind already racing with thoughts of what he would do if Erebos showed himself again and when to head out after the Clovers.

As he made his way towards the tent, his thoughts meandered, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet of the camp. "For an undead skeleton, my time sure doesn't feel unlimited," he mused to himself, a sense of irony coloring his words.

The night around him was a silent witness to his solitary musings, the stars above seemingly twinkling in response to his unique predicament.

As Ty approached the tent Todd had mentioned, he pulled back the flap and stepped inside, his mind still tangled in strategic thoughts. The tent, surprisingly spacious, stretched back far enough to comfortably accommodate six beds, each spaced about twenty feet apart. The ample room allowed for a sense of privacy and relaxation amidst the chaos of the camp.

As he ventured further into the tent, the sound of running water caught his attention. From the back, where a makeshift shower had been set up, Nana emerged, draped in a light white robe. Her presence was unexpected, a startling contrast to the ruggedness of the campsite. Ty's eye sockets widened in surprise, a reaction as close to a human expression of shock as his skeletal form could muster.

Nana's focus shifted to Ty, her gaze direct and unflinching. "Took you long enough to get here," she said, her voice carrying a mix of reproach and relief. The words, simple as they were, conveyed a depth of emotion, hinting at her concern for Ty and her own resilience despite her supposed time for recovery.

Ty, taken aback by Nana's sudden appearance and her casual attire, stood momentarily speechless. The tent's interior, with its soft lighting and the distant sound of the camp outside, created an intimate atmosphere, a stark contrast to the harsh realities just beyond its canvas walls.

In this unexpected encounter, a myriad of questions and emotions played across Ty's mind, his thoughts momentarily shifting from strategic planning to the personal and immediate presence of Nana.