From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

JJ didn't respond, her focus already shifting to the live feed. Her fingers drummed on the edge of the console as the camera zoomed in on Ty and his squad. The streets were silent around them, no movement.

Back in the field, Ty pressed a hand against his shoulder, blood still leaking through his fingers. His black flames flickered weakly, and his expression was tight with pain, but he stood tall, eyes scanning the empty streets. Rosana was against the wall, her body trembling, her burnt hands barely holding onto the strength she had left.

John shifted his weight, his leg injured but his brass knuckles still poised and ready, his eyes flicking from Ty to the door.

Ty took a deep breath, steadying himself as he crouched down to sort through the items they already had—energy bars, bandages, ointment creams, and some spare clothes. It wasn't enough to completely restore them, but it would keep them going for now. He glanced at John's injured leg, still twisted awkwardly from the earlier attack.

"Let me see your ankle," Ty said, gesturing for John to sit. "We'll get this wrapped up while we can."

John shifted and sat down with a grunt, lifting his leg. Ty worked in silence, wrapping the bandage tightly around the swollen ankle, securing it with practiced precision.
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As Ty tied off the bandage, a faint buzzing noise caught his attention. He turned his head slightly toward the window, noticing a subtle movement. His instincts kicked in, and his eyes narrowed.

"What's up?" John asked, noticing the shift in Ty's posture.

"Nothing," Ty muttered, though his gut told him otherwise. "I just feel like we're always being watched."

John sighed. "Probably because of those damn drones."

Ty nodded, his gaze still fixed on the faint outline outside. "We've got time to recover, though," he said, pulling his focus back. "Let's regain our strength before we even think about that mission to take down Corn. We can afford to take the penalty if we fail, but we need to stay alive first."

Once the bandage was secure, John glanced at Ty and asked, "Where'd you learn to do that?"

"My girlfriend," Ty replied, his voice softening slightly. "She's pretty smart and hands-on. I was her test subject when she worked on medical stuff. She taught me how to bandage wounds, treat bone fractures, apply ointments and gauze—basic stuff, really."

John nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Gotta say, I appreciate you saving us back there. I didn't expect you to go all out, especially, well... being what you are."

Ty shrugged. "People will call me a demon or worse. But I'll fight for what I believe in."

He handed an energy bar to John. "Eat up, regain some strength. I'll get Rosana sorted out."

John took the bar, watching as Ty walked over to Rosana. She was sitting quietly, her burnt hands barely able to move, her body exhausted from rage mode. Ty knelt down beside her, opening the ointment and preparing to tend to her burns.

"Where did you get that medicine?" Ty asked. "It's more advanced than I expected."

John shrugged. "I noticed it's more like some sort of gelatin. Heals faster than normal stuff."

Ty shook his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "We'll figure it out later. Right now, let's get you patched up," he said, turning back to Rosana. She watched him silently as he applied the ointment to her wounds, her shirt already pulled to the side to give him better access to the burned skin.

"What about your shoulder?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Ty waved her off. "Already cauterized it with some heat. I'll be fine after a few hours of sleep."

He continued working, his hands careful as he tended to her, and the air between them thickened as he patched her burns. Rosana shifted slightly, and as Ty leaned in to check the deeper burn on her side.

Ty finished wrapping the last of Rosana's burns, his fingers moving with deliberate care as he tightened the bandage. He stepped back, glancing at her to make sure she was comfortable before standing and moving to the pack. He pulled out the mission flyer, unfolding it carefully, the crisp paper rustling in the quiet. His eyes scanned the text, lingering on the time remaining and the objective.

"We've got just under 32 hours to find Alexander and take him out," Ty began, his voice low, though the weight of the situation was clear. He folded the flyer in half, his thoughts drifting as he spoke. "Without Gisorn and Kern, it's going to be a hell of a lot harder.

Failing to kill him will definitely push us back… but—" He paused, brow furrowing as if considering something that had been nagging at him. "Actually, how about we let it fail?"

Rosana's head snapped up, her amber eyes narrowing in confusion. "What do you mean, let it fail?" Her voice had an edge to it, sharp, frustrated.

Ty leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, the black flames at his fingertips dimming to embers. "Look, if we run down the clock and fail to kill him, the penalty's clear. The leader—me—gets a bounty slapped on their head, and the first team to take me out advances. But think about it," he said, eyes flicking between Rosana and John. "You two will be fully healed by then.

I can get you back to the starting grounds—let's just call it our castle. I could hide out, while the other teams tear each other apart. You and John could rejoin another unit when things settle, strengthen their numbers."

Rosana's lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tightening. "That's not a good solution," she spat. "We just need a night's rest, and we'll be fully healed! We don't need to abandon the mission. We can still do this!"

Ty's eyes darkened slightly. "This isn't about pride, Rosana. It's about surviving."