From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 536 Herald

The camp was quiet as Ty sat cross-legged at the edge, his dark eyes scanning the surrounding woods. The setting sun cast a soft orange glow over the canopy, but the shadows beneath the trees were growing deeper by the minute. Hours had passed since they took down the three targets in their earlier mission, but Ty knew better than to relax.@@@@

The real challenge still lay ahead, and there was no room for complacency. Worse yet, the darkness inside him stirred, growing stronger with each victory.

Kern leaned against a nearby rock, his messy brown hair sticking to his forehead as he ran a hand through it. "We've got thirty-five hours left, give or take," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the horizon as though he expected an enemy to come barreling out of the trees at any moment.

Rosana sat nearby, sharpening her claw blade with a steady, methodical rhythm. The long, vicious claws glinted in the fading light as she worked, and though her expression was calm, Ty could feel the tension radiating off her. "We need to move soon," she said finally, breaking the silence. "But not without a plan."

Ty nodded. His mind was racing, trying to map out the best course of action. "Let's get a sense of the landscape first," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Rushing in blind is a death sentence. We need to know what's between us and the enemy's stronghold."

Kern sighed, sitting up straight. "Supplies are low. Rations won't last much longer, especially if we hit another fight like the last one. Water's running thin too."

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Ty glanced at the fire, barely more than embers now. He let out a long breath. "We'll need to ration what food we have. Water's the priority. Rest will have to come later."

Rosana set the claw blade down for a moment, looking up at Ty. "There's a stream about a quarter-mile east. I'll scout it out, see if it's safe."

Ty gave a quick nod. "Kern, go with her. Stay low and don't engage unless you have to. We can't afford to lose anyone this close to the end."

Waddle shrugged. "Same thing you're after—survival. I got my own mission to worry about, though. Infiltrate the castle, retrieve a certain item, and if I do, I get granted an extra life. The clock's ticking, and I figured it's better if we cover more ground together for now."

Rosana raised an eyebrow, the tip of her claw blade tapping the dirt. "And if you fail?"

Waddle smiled faintly. "Then I don't get that extra life, and we'll see if I live long enough to regret it." His gaze turned serious. "I'll meet back up with my squad soon and start pushing toward the enemy's stronghold. We're not the only ones making moves; the death count's rising fast."

The air was thick with the unspoken tension, but Ty weighed his options carefully. He trusted Waddle's instincts, though there was always something the man wasn't saying. Still, now wasn't the time to turn down help.

"Go meet up with your team," Ty said finally. "We'll work together when we can, but keep us posted."

Waddle nodded. "I hope to see you all on the other side."

With that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Ty's group alone once again. Kern was the first to speak, his tone sharp. "He better not be leading us into a trap."

Ty ignored the remark, instead focusing on their weapons and gear. "We need to check our equipment and be ready for anything. Let's go over what we've got."

Kern dropped down next to the fire and pulled out his scimitars, their blades gleaming in the low light. "These are still sharp. Good for close combat, but I could use some heavier armor."

Rosana looked at her claw blade, flexing her hand to test its movement. The sharp, metal claws extended from her knuckles, each one glinting wickedly in the firelight.