From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

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Nana watched, shielding her eyes with her hand as cracks spread across the barrier, radiating a red and black glow from the top.

The energy pulsated, casting eerie shadows on the ground. The intense light and force made her eyes water and her skin tingle.

"I wonder if that's HIM," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the crackling energy.

Todd, still feeling the sting on his cheek from the earlier cut, asked, "What do you mean by him?" His voice was strained, a mix of confusion and pain.

Nana's hair fluttered in the swirling winds generated by the barrier's unstable energy. "The Demon King updated me on what was going on and mentioned he would be sending one of his Twelve as backup to assist with retrieving the curses for whatever reason he needs them," she explained, her voice steady despite the chaos.

As she finished speaking, a loud snap echoed around them, making them all flinch. Shards of pure energy shot into the sky, disappearing into the stratosphere. The red and black glow descended like a predatory beast, and the barrier began to knit itself back together, the fractures healing with alarming speed.

"Shit, we need to get in now!" Nana shouted, urgency clear in her voice as she braced herself against the ground.

Sanguina nodded, her eyes narrowing as she observed the barrier. "But this might be a good chance to inspect his barrier and run a sample on how it broke."

Todd, rubbing his cheek and feeling the sting of the cut, looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You heard what I said a few moments ago," Sanguina replied, her voice measured and calm despite the situation.

"This barrier isn't a simple power barrier. Punching it hard won't get us through. Whoever the Demon King sent must have a specific method to deal with it."

The air was thick with the scent of ozone and a hint of sulfur. The ground beneath their feet vibrated with residual energy, making Todd's skin prickle. He glanced at the coliseum, its imposing structure casting long, ominous shadows over them.

Nana looked at the barrier, then back at Sanguina. "What's that putrid smell though?"

Sanguina took a moment, inhaling deeply. "Blood, dirt, and sulfur kicked into the air from the blast… If I had to guess, this barrier probably operates off a combination of these elements. I can't imagine anyone ever breaking the barrier or even getting in without help."

Todd, still feeling the sting on his cheek and the tingling of the barrier's residual energy, asked, "Can't you just teleport us in? I saw Erebos teleporting a lot."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sanguina shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "No, unless I have something from someone inside, I would have no way of getting through. Teleporting isn't simple; it's about the correct wavelength or energy field to connect inside."

Todd frowned, thinking quickly. "Well, isn't Elithira inside? Can't you use something of hers to get us in?"

"Possibly," Sanguina replied, her tone contemplative. "But like I said, I have nothing of her belongings on me."

Nana suddenly brightened and pulled a key from her pocket. "Well, what about this? Elithira threw it to me before she left and said it might come in handy."

Sanguina's eyes widened slightly as she took the key from Nana. It felt warm to the touch, and a faint, familiar energy pulsed through it. "This... this might work," she said, her voice tinged with hope.

{scene Break}

Inside, Erebos looked upward, his hand gripped around Elithira's chin as blood trickled down her neck, a sword from King Griswald still impaled in her back. Cracks began to spiderweb across the barrier, heralding its imminent collapse.

"Well, what do we have here? I haven't seen my barrier broken in a long time," Erebos mused, his voice dripping with curiosity and annoyance.

Moments later, the top of the barrier shattered, and shards were sent flying into space. A red and black inferno crashed into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the area. Black smoke enveloped the surroundings, obscuring vision and filling the air with a choking haze.

As the smoke began to clear, a figure emerged, stumbling and coughing. A boy landed unceremoniously on the ground, his human form appearing quite disheveled. His glasses sat askew on his nose, and he clutched a notebook tightly to his chest. His appearance was almost pathetic.

The boy adjusted his glasses, his eyes wide with concern as he spotted Elithira. "Oh dear, oh dear! What's happened here? Elithira, are you alright?" he exclaimed, rushing forward in a panicked flurry of movement. His questions were nonsensical, a jumble of worry and confusion.

Erebos blinked, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected interruption. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, his grip on Elithira tightening.

Jalen ignored Erebos, and his focus was entirely on Elithira. "Elithira, can you hear me? Does it hurt a lot? Oh no, there's so much blood. Should I get a bandage? Wait, I don't have a bandage!" he fretted, his hands shaking as he fumbled with his notebook.

Erebos's confusion turned to irritation. "Are you seriously ignoring me? Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"

King Griswald, observing the scene, snapped his fingers. The barrier closed around them, sealing them inside. "Dragoon, please rid us of this nuisance so we can finish up with our plans," he commanded.

The Dragoon, with red energy trailing around it, swiftly rushed at the newcomer, attempting to bring its blade down on him in a powerful swing.

The seemingly frail young man sidestepped with surprising agility.

The Dragoon's blade cleaved the air where he had stood moments before. In one fluid motion, he grabbed the Dragoon's blade, wrenching it from the creature's grasp. With the stolen sword held high over his head, he brought it down with lethal precision, slicing the Dragoon in half.

"Oh, I believe someone wanted you," he said, his voice taking on a more confident tone. "So I find Elithira and the 1st curse with no issues."

"Well, isn't that just grand," he added, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

With a swift swipe of the blade, he sliced the creature one more time, its body collapsing to the ground in filleted pieces. A black orb remained, pulsating with dark energy.

His eyes glowed gold as he turned his focus on Erebos, his demeanor shifting from anxious to resolute. The aura around him intensified, the air crackling with latent power.