From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty nodded, engaging further. "So, you think you can beat him? What about the cross-link blade, would you need that as well?"

The creature shifted, its interest piqued. "Ah yes, that weapon the Demon King mentioned. I recall it vaguely—the entire reason you went to that strange planet. All of that seemed very convoluted, but having it would indeed make it easier to deal with Erebos."

He elaborated on the larger context, "You see, the Vampires are the smallest Realm/universe of all the 12 standing now, but they also have some of the strongest abilities to boot. They just have little talent in cultivating worlds and space like the other kings do."

Ty pondered aloud, "You mean like how the Demon King was talking about the crystals that power the worlds and such?"

"Yes, exactly that, among a few other things. But that's the primary role of the Kings of the universes. Though some might differ in their methods, the rationale and ultimate goal generally remain the same—to cultivate warriors worthy of their service."

The creature shared its admiration, "I was particularly fond of the Demon King's and the Fionaasas's Queen's methods of cultivation. They have created millions of planets, each imbued with unique characteristics through the crystals they generated."

Intrigued, Ty nodded, "The Fionaasas's Queen? Which realm does she oversee? And you mentioned that you killed the body the Demon King gave me. Why? If you respected him so much?"

Reflecting on combat prowess, the creature reminisced, "In terms of combat, she was always acclaimed as 'the bladed one,' but her creativity in world-building was truly unmatched. I wonder if she's still alive. I would relish the chance to fight her one day. But, setting that aside, I killed him because I am designed to kill. I have no other purpose but to—"

Abruptly, the marks began to burn across his body. He screamed out in agony as his form started to melt, then just as suddenly, the process halted.

"So many painful memories," he gasped, recovering from the episode. "Regardless, I think you need to focus on your current situation from here on out and stop getting tricked into eating sleep-inducing food."

"Oh, that's right," Ty recalled, a hint of realization in his voice. "They had given us some really good food, and then I got tired next to Gears."

"Yeah, I don't fully grasp the concept of food either," the creature mused. "But before I help you wake up, remember two things: the sword Erebos gave you likely serves his interests in some way, and try to recall what you can of those days. They might hold clues that could prove useful in the future, assuming you survive.

And don't forget, you are NOTHING without me." With a snap of his fingers, everything changed.

Before Ty could formulate another question, everything turned pitch black. When his eyes next opened, he found himself amidst everyone else, who were also passed out, except for a figure sitting in the shadows at the edge of the confinement under the boat.

Standing up, albeit a bit dizzily, Ty voiced his realization aloud, "Wow, that whole thing about giving us a good meal was just a stupid ploy to put us to sleep? Why?"

Suddenly, Ty felt an unexpected shift in his body weight, signaling that he was being tackled to the ground. In the brief moment before he could let out a startled cry of "What the—", a hand clamped over his mouth, and a hushed voice cut him off, "Shhh, shut up, you'll get us in trouble."

Looking up, Ty saw Waddle covering both of them, and, bewildered, he whispered back, "What are you talking about?"

"I didn't know you were smart enough to not eat the food either. Like hell I'd ever trust anything someone working for the kingdom says..." Waddle responded with a hint of admiration and skepticism.

Swallowing, Ty replied with a hint of pride mixed with secrecy, "Yeah, of course, I managed to eat it, but the effects didn't work on me. It's a long story."

"How long has everyone been asleep?" Ty inquired, trying to assess their situation.

"For about an hour, maybe two," Waddle estimated, his voice still low.

"Okay, and why are we being quiet? There's no one around right now, is there?" Ty questioned, looking around their dimly lit surroundings for any sign of threat or company.

Waddle's voice dropped to a whisper, "I overheard they're sending someone down to do some work on us or conduct some sort of examination. I'm not entirely sure, but I didn't want you drawing any attention. Just come over here and lean against the wall with me."

Ty nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. He walked over and leaned his back against the wall, adopting a posture that suggested he was asleep, albeit slightly.

Before Ty could probe any further into Waddle's suspicions, the door above them creaked open, letting in a sliver of light and a murmur of voices. Among them, one voice pierced the relative silence more clearly. Enjoy new stories from empire

"You sure they're all asleep?" the light voice questioned, tinged with uncertainty.

The sound of footsteps descending the steps reached Ty's ears. He subtly shifted, cracking his eyes open just enough to catch a glimpse from the corner of his eye without drawing attention.

Another voice, this one deeper and carrying the weight of age, responded confidently, "Of course, young man. Just do your job. Besides, they can't do anything even if they woke up. But it's better they have no idea. It will make for good ratings and help shave a top off the highest bidders, so we can ensure funding for the king's plans goes off without a hitch."

As the conversation unfolded, Ty caught sight of two figures: an old man with gray hair, hunched over, and a tall boy with blond hair. The younger's light voice directed the older with a clear task.

"Just go in and place these tags inside their wrists, on numbers 2, 3, 15, 35, and place this green one on 93," instructed the blond-haired youth. His tone took on a sinister edge, "They will probably react with an itch or something when they wake up, but it won't matter much. They'd have to claw their hand off to get it out anyway, haha. By the time they'd even notice, it'd be too late."