From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Rosana's attention turned back to the package. "Wait—this one's for me," she said, her eyes lighting up as Ty pulled out a folded bundle of heat-resistant clothing. She reached for it, feeling the material between her fingers.

"This will help with your flames, won't it?" Ty asked, watching her inspect the fabric.

"Yeah, it's heat-resistant," Rosana said, her voice softening. "I can push my powers further without worrying about burning through my clothes. It's perfect."

Ty nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Good. You won't have to hold back as much."

Next, Ty pulled out several metal capsules and handed them to John. "What are these?" he asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"Refined ammo for John's brass knuckles," Rosana answered before John could. "It'll add more power or shock capabilities. John will be able to punch harder, and it might give him an edge in close combat."

John, who had been watching silently from the back, stepped forward and took the capsules, giving a nod of thanks. "I'll put these to good use."

Finally, Ty pulled out a small vial of liquid and held it up, frowning slightly. "What's this?"

"Restoration serum," Rosana replied, taking the vial from him and inspecting it closely. "It's not a full heal, but it'll speed up recovery—cuts, burns, fractures. It'll keep us moving faster without needing too much downtime."

Ty took a breath, setting the vial down gently. "JJ's giving us exactly what we need. But we have to use it wisely."

Rosana glanced over at the items spread across the floor, her gaze lingering on the clothing she held. "We will. Nothing gets wasted."

John pocketed the ammo and moved back to his post by the door, his movements deliberate. "We should stay alert. This might've bought us some time, but the tournament won't wait for us to be ready."

Ty nodded, his eyes hardening with determination. "We move soon. No matter what happens."

The group finished packing their supplies, the quiet of the room heavy with the weight of what was to come. Rosana sealed the last of the ration cubes into her pouch while John adjusted his brass knuckles, ensuring the refined ammo was properly slotted in. The low hum of the medical drones faded into the background as they retreated into standby mode, their work done for now.

"JJ sure knows how to provide," Rosana muttered, glancing at Ty as she tightened the strap on her gear. She flicked a strand of dark hair out of her eyes, her fox ears twitching with the movement. "Your sponsor isn't like most of the others. She's got connections… and tech that's way beyond what we usually see here."

Ty stood by the window, his gaze scanning the treeline outside. He still felt the strange, almost unsettling sensation from the ointment she had sent—it had worked faster and more effectively than anything he'd experienced before. It was like his body had absorbed the healing in an instant, the pain disappearing almost too quickly.

He flexed his fingers, watching the light catch on his skin. "Yeah," he said quietly. "JJ's different. I don't fully understand her, but she's always looking out for me. This tech... it's almost like magic to me."

Rosana nodded, a faint smile crossing her lips. "She believes in you. That much is clear."

Ty remained silent for a moment, feeling the weight of those words. He knew that JJ had placed a lot on him, more than he sometimes felt capable of handling. But there wasn't time to dwell on that now.

Suddenly, a familiar voice slithered into his thoughts, cold and mocking. "You really should stop holding back," it hissed. "It would be so much more fun to see what that sword can do. You know you'd like to. I saw the way the puppet nerd died at your hands—you enjoyed making him pay."

Ty's jaw clenched, his breath catching in his throat as the memory of his last kill flickered across his mind. The satisfaction. The thrill. He shook his head quickly, forcing the thought away, the grip on his sword tightening. No. He couldn't let that voice control him.

Not now.

"We need to move," Ty said, louder this time, shaking the voice out of his head. "If we leave now, we can take a back route to the kingdom grounds where the Joker King and the King are."

Rosana pulled her pack over her shoulder, her fox ears perked, alert. "Good. The sooner we find them, the better."

John, who had been silent up until now, adjusted his gear and nodded. "Let's go."

They moved swiftly, stepping into the cool night air. The woods around them were quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot. The path Ty led them down was narrow, winding through thick underbrush and between ancient trees that towered above them, their branches casting long shadows across the ground.

They traveled for nearly an hour, the tension thick in the air, every step calculated. The moonlight flickered between the treetops, giving just enough visibility for them to move without drawing too much attention.

Then, without warning, Rosana's ears twitched. She came to an abrupt stop, her eyes narrowing. "Something's close."

Ty slowed, his senses sharpening. Ahead, a figure stepped into view—a man, alone, but towering at nearly seven feet tall. His broad, muscular frame filled the narrow path, and his bowl-cut hair cast strange shadows across his brutish face. He grinned as he saw them, his teeth glinting in the pale moonlight.

"Stay behind me," Ty said quickly, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. He glanced at Rosana and John, his voice low but firm. "John, if it comes to it, set up some choke points. We'll need them if this gets messy."

John stepped forward, placing a hand on Ty's shoulder. "I can help with this fight if it's needed. Just let me know."

Ty nodded. "Yeah, you do that. They usually travel in packs of five. Stay behind me until we know where the others are."
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Rosana nodded silently, her fox ears standing tall, flames licking at her fingertips as she prepared herself for whatever was coming.

The man ahead of them let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "You fools," he growled, his voice booming through the forest. "I, Tui Lang, am all there is and all there will ever be!"