From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty looked at him for a moment, the weariness evident in his eyes. He sighed, shaking his head. "I wish I had some noble reason for saving you," he said, his voice quiet. "Honestly, it was just a pathetic, last-second moment where I couldn't stand the idea of someone dying right in front of me." He glanced down at his own burns, the blackened skin that threatened to crack with every movement. He grimaced, then let the flames dance softly across his skin, the searing heat merging into a steady warmth.

Ty gritted his teeth as the heat worked its way through his body. It wasn't just the pain—it was more like reshaping himself. Each flicker of fire sealed a burn, the flames not just mending the surface, but going deeper, strengthening his resolve, forcing his cells to heal. The way the skin knit back together under the pressure of the warmth was like forging armor, but this time, it was his own flesh being forged. His breath steadied, his senses sharper now.

The man watched him, his face a mask of disbelief mixed with confusion. "Does this mean I passed the second stage, though?" Ty finally asked, his gaze moving to meet the man's.

The man shrugged, wincing as he did so. "I... I don't really know," he admitted, looking down at his charred leg. "I was just supposed to ensure you didn't make it out. Whether by timer or by dropping you into the acid pool. I was scared of the acid myself, so I lessened its potency. Figured it wouldn't matter much once you fell in."

Ty nodded, his expression neutral. "I see. And who exactly designated you to do that? Was it just the kingdom, or someone else?"

The man's face twisted slightly. "It was Heissman," he said, almost spitting the name out. "He was instructed to carry out your second stage. But the king... he wanted to make sure you didn't make it out of here. Not alive, at least."

Ty took a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly at the mention of Heissman. "I see," he muttered. "And how does your skill work, exactly? Those tendrils, the acid—it looked like you had complete control."

"Well, yes and no," the man responded, his voice weary. "There was a barrier holding the acid up before you broke through it. My skill lets me warm the space around an object, redirect it—like water, steel, or acid—but I can only manage so much. After losing my hands, though, I don't know where to even begin again." He paused, glancing down at his stumps, his face blank. "My inward skill is super-hearing. That's how I kept attacking you from below. It... it helped, but, yeah."

Huh, that is pretty unique but I suppose it makes as much sense as anything else I've dealt with.

"Well, I'm moving on. Don't want to sit around forever," Ty said, starting to walk. "You can stay or come with me if you want. You look like you need a lot of medical treatment anyway with the... no hands thing and all those burns."

The man sighed, looking down at the stumps where his hands used to be. "I suppose. You aren't worried I'm going to try and kill you?"

Ty shrugged, glancing back with a faint grin. "You can try, and then I'll just kill you myself. I'm not too worried."

The man gave Ty a tired look, shaking his head slightly. "You're pretty weird for a demon." He stumbled to his feet, looking at the mangled state of his wrists, raising his arms as if testing whether he could still manipulate the space around the steel walls. Nothing happened.

"Maybe I'm just too tired... or I need my hands to use my skill..."

He noticed Ty had already begun to walk forward, leaving him behind. Quickly, he moved to catch up, keeping pace as they ventured deeper into the labyrinthine structure.

They arrived at another room—an enormous hall with a giant checkered board covering the entire floor. Massive chess pieces, each over ten feet tall, stood in neat rows along the board, towering like ancient statues. The room stretched around 400 feet in each direction, a vast chess set come to life.

Ty looked around, raising an eyebrow. Each piece of black and white was big enough that he could jump around on the spaces. He stared at the surreal scene. "What the hell... I didn't know they knew what chess was. Though, I guess being locked in a prison setting for a while will leave some details about their day-to-day life out."

He stepped cautiously onto the edge of the board, looking at the colossal pieces, studying their intricate carvings. They were made of what looked like polished stone, glistening faintly under the dim light of the room.

The man behind him reluctantly followed, his footsteps unsteady. Ty glanced back at him, pausing. "Hey, what's your name anyway?"

The man grimaced, clearly still pained, but he muttered in response, "It's Tui-Lan... I was an underclassman working in Heissman's unit."

"I see," Ty nodded, filing away the information. He motioned to the enormous chessboard. "Any idea what these pieces and the board are for? If I was meant to not make it out, why is there another room set up?"

Tui-Lan gave a shrug, his eyes still wary. "Like I told you, I don't know. They kept me in the dark about most things." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Ty scanned the room, his eyes narrowing at the giant chess board stretching out before them. Each square was large enough for a person to stand on, and the towering pieces stood like silent guardians of the game, both intimidating and intriguing. Ty's muscles tensed as he took a step forward, unsure of what awaited them.

Before they could proceed, a door across the room opened, and another figure stepped in, his confident stride contrasting sharply with the cautious steps Ty and Tui-Lan had taken. The newcomer had a relaxed smile on his face, a sense of entitlement emanating from him. He looked like someone who belonged here—someone who was used to getting his way.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the newcomer said, his voice smooth as he approached the center of the chessboard. He eyed Ty and Tui-Lan, a smirk playing on his lips. "Name's Sir Aldric. Just finished my stage, and now I'm here for the real fun. What about you two?"

Ty studied the man before responding. He had short, meticulously styled blond hair and wore clothes that, despite the roughness of the tournament, still screamed nobility. Aldric's eyes had a glint of arrogance in them, like he already believed himself to be above everyone else.

"Ty," he said simply, not offering much more information. He wasn't in the mood to entertain the noble's cocky demeanor.

"Tui-Lan," Tui-Lan said, his voice low, his eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Ty and Tui-Lan, huh? You guys look a bit rough around the edges," Aldric commented with a chuckle. "I take it your stages weren't exactly a walk in the park. Mine was a bit of a test, but nothing I couldn't handle. Being a noble has its advantages, you know. Trained my whole life for moments like this."

"Ty and Tui-Lan, huh? You guys look a bit rough around the edges," Aldric commented with a chuckle, his eyes flickering between Ty and Tui-Lan. He took a closer look at Tui-Lan's tattered uniform and the bloody stumps where his hands used to be. "Hold up, how are there two of you? I thought these were solo stages."

Ty and Tui-Lan exchanged glances. Tui-Lan's face showed a mix of exhaustion and uncertainty. Ty just shrugged, clearly not interested in giving too much away.

Aldric's gaze lingered on Tui-Lan's injuries, his expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity and concern. "And what happened to you, man? You look like you got run over by a damn truck." He paused, then his eyes narrowed as he looked at Ty. "Wait... are you the demon everyone's talking about?"

Ty raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "The demon, huh? I guess that's what they're calling me now."

Aldric's lips twisted into a faint smirk, though there was a hint of unease behind it. He took in Tui-Lan's tattered uniform, noting the blood-soaked fabric and the absence of hands. "And you, you're with the kingdom. I can see your frayed uniform! Did this demon somehow take you hostage?!"