From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Sanguina interjected, "Well, it's sort of like a pet I used to have. Of course, this thing's a little uglier, but that doesn't matter much. Regardless, what's the issue, Puggles?"

Puggles hesitated before answering, "I don't actually know where this purple door is… it's always moving and can be hard to find sometimes. I believe if you work your way out and work inwards, you should be able to find it in about three to four hours."

"Three to four hours?! Ugh…" Sanguina groaned. "This is going to be a pain."

"Well, let's get looking, I suppose," Vick said with a sigh, adjusting his makeshift arm sling.

They set off, the dense forest presenting its own challenges. The path was uneven, the ground covered in roots and underbrush that made each step a careful calculation. The sounds of nocturnal creatures echoed around them, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

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x

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Meanwhile, Nanako and Todd were awakening from their slumber.

Loud clangs echoed around the room they lay in. Nanako lifted her head, feeling a soft burning sensation on her shoulder. "Ouch, ouch, ouch." Bringing her hand up slightly above her shoulder, she found the curse mark glowing a hot red, spinning slightly.

"What the hell is going on with this?" Her mind became bombarded with thoughts and images from her dream state, where she saw her parents die and the sight of Erebos. "What the hell was he doing, and were those visions even correct?" she wondered, lifting her head and looking around.

She saw King Griswald glowing with a blue aura, blue diamonds encrusting his entire body. He looked like a young man with a decent-looking beard as the chains around him slowly crumbled and faded away.

Walking over to Nanako, he stated, "I hope you got some good sleep, Lady Nanako. It's a pleasure to know you were able to get through your challenge, and all alone at that."

"Wh-what's going on? How are you so young?" Nanako coughed, her voice shaky. "And why are you looking so young right now?"

King Griswald smiled gently. "This is a rather rare form for me, but I am consuming crystals to bring my power back to its peak for a short time and decomposing these chains in the process."

He held up one of the chains, showing Nanako as he ripped it off, the metal disintegrating into blue smoke around them. "You see, all energy in this world has a blue energy core that flows through it."

"It takes a while to ingest this amount of crystals and compose it into something I can use. I have only used this a few times, but it should last us a few hours at least. I will be able to kill the Dragoon after it's released."

As King Griswald spoke, Todd stirred awake, looking around groggily. King Griswald put a hand on him, ripping the chains off as they broke down and faded away. "Hey big guy, take this," he said, holding out a crystal.

Todd, confused, put his hand out and asked, "Who are you exactly? Oh wait, you're the king, but you've gotten more handsome?"

The king chuckled, placing the crystal in Todd's hand. It glowed, sinking into his flesh. "I believe this will help you out later," he said.

Nanako watched in amazement as Todd's expression shifted from confusion to awe. "What does it do?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

"It will enhance your strength and speed temporarily," King Griswald explained. "We're going to need every advantage we can get."

Todd flexed his fingers, feeling the power coursing through him. "This feels incredible," he said, a hint of wonder in his voice.

King Griswald nodded. "Good. Now, we need to move quickly.

"Right, let's get everyone up and ready to go," Sanguina said, scanning the faces of her companions. "How is everyone doing? Besides, where do we even go from here right now?"

King Griswald looked around, his eyes sharp and focused. "I should be able to create our own door now with this form before that red-armored asshole comes back." He walked over to the wall, placing his hand on its cold surface. "Armond and Dagon, please see to the young ones. I don't want to see any more death if possible."

Master Dagon stood up, giving a good stretch with a smile. "Of course, I will look after Pegasus and the others as best I can from here."

"But where are we even going now?" someone asked, the uncertainty evident in their voice.

King Griswald paused, his gaze distant. "I believe whoever the gatekeeper is, he's some sort of spiritual entity who locks places down. He might have lived during the time when this world was in turmoil. For now, we should focus on grabbing the Dragoon's book and escaping. I don't think we will actively need to fight him."

As King Griswald's hand glowed against the wall, a giant blue crystal left his hand. A black portal emerged with a blue outline edging along the walls.

"Wh-what is this?" Pegasus asked, standing up fully and looking on in awe.

"This is our way out," King Griswald replied, his voice steady. "Everyone, stay close and be ready for anything. We don't know what lies on the other side."

As they all went through the portal, they dropped from a high level onto a cold, damp, rocky ground with no light. The sudden impact knocked the breath out of them, and they scrambled to their feet, disoriented in the darkness.

King Griswald gave a slight cough and stated, "It's a bit too dark. Lyra, dear, can you do something about this?"

"Y-yes," Lyra responded, pulling her staff off her shoulder. She hummed a soft, melodic tune, and her staff began to glow with a warm blue aura, casting a gentle light around them. "This should last for a while. Do you think this is enough?"

"Yes, dear, thank you very much," King Griswald replied, his expression softening. "Looks like we have a straight path to move forward for now."

"You are doing this all with one hand and the trauma you faced, So I thank you regardless; please stay close to me from here on out so I can ensure you are protected." King Griswald stated with a heavy smileNôv(el)B\\jnn

The blue light illuminated the rocky tunnel ahead, revealing the rough, uneven walls and the glistening moisture that clung to the surfaces. The atmosphere was cold and clammy, the air thick with the scent of damp earth.

"Everyone, please make sure to stay close in the meantime," King Griswald instructed, his voice steady but urgent. "We don't know how long until he realizes I broke the chains. I still don't know why he didn't kill us himself or try to at least, but don't take that as a sign he won't given the chance. We have already lost two people, after all."

The group nodded, their faces tense but resolute. They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing softly in the confined space. The light from Lyra's staff cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the tunnel feel even more oppressive.

As they walked, the sound of dripping water echoed through the tunnel, adding to the sense of unease. King Griswald led the way, his senses on high alert. Behind him, the others followed closely, their eyes darting nervously around the dimly lit tunnel.