From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals-Chapter 520 Portal openings

Gojaro nodded, adjusting his grip on the gem. "Right behind you, sir."

- Meanwhile -

Jade sat at a table, her fingers curled loosely around a glass of water, watching her phone screen intently. The footage of the Director splitting the Kaiju in half played again, the vivid image etched into her mind. The white flames flickered in her eyes, tracing faint paths down her arms as she reflected.

Explore new worlds at novelbuddy.com

So, he's made a pact with the Demon King, like I did with the Skeleton, she thought. I wonder what his price was... mine was Ty. If he had to pay something, he never talks about it. Maybe his burden is heavier than mine.

She took a slow sip of the water, feeling how it grounded her. Whenever she was in this strange state of seeing through someone else's eyes, it was always this—something as simple as holding water—that anchored her. She could see the fine details of the world through this vision, down to the molecular bonds that held objects together. It made her uneasy.

Borrowed power, she reminded herself, but if it gets me back to Ty, then I'll use it. Still, the Director's right. I need to develop my own strength.

A sharp beep from her watch snapped her out of her reverie. Jade tapped the screen, silencing the alert. "Time to meet this Marine the Director mentioned," she muttered to herself as she stood, stretching her arms above her head. She walked toward the door, the faint chaos of downtown San Diego greeting her.

Most of the city was intact, though the invasion had left scars—cracked buildings, shattered glass, and the quiet aftermath of riots.

It must have been nice to avoid the worst of it, she thought as she stepped out onto the sidewalk.

Moments later, a man in uniform approached her. He was tall, with sharp eyes and a commanding presence. "Are you the one the Director mentioned sending?"

Jade turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"The logo on your back," he said with a nod toward her shirt. "UNDF. We just got briefed. Our screening area is ahead. The Director said you'd be helping with spotting people showing abilities."

"And you are?"

"SSGT Ruiz," he replied, his voice steady and professional. "Come on, I'll get you set up."

As Jade followed Ruiz, they passed by rows of civilians, all lined up in front of a large military tent. The scene was organized, but there was an air of nervous anticipation. Hundreds of people were waiting, their faces a mix of fear, hope, and confusion. Soldiers moved among the crowd, directing them toward different stations where they would be screened.

New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on ƒгeewebnovёl.com.

Ruiz led Jade to a separate area of the tent, where a table was set up specifically for her. On it, she saw a laptop, a few handheld scanners, and wristbands similar to the one the Director had used earlier. The equipment was sleek, streamlined for efficiency, but the weight of what they were doing settled heavily on her shoulders.

"These are for you," Ruiz said, pointing to the wristbands. "We've had a few people show signs already. Nothing too extreme yet. Your ability will help us pinpoint anyone trying to hide what they've got. Once you identify them, slap a wristband on, and we'll quarantine them for testing."

Jade took a seat in the metal chair, glancing at the growing line of people, most dressed in casual civilian clothing—jeans, t-shirts, jackets. The weight of the day ahead settled over her. She sighed, leaning back as her mind briefly wandered to Ty. This will be a long day, she thought, watching as more civilians slowly trickled in.

Her fingers absently traced the edge of the wristband on the table. Until I see you again, Ty. Wish me luck.

With that, she straightened herself in the chair, ready to take on whatever came next.

End of Volume 13

Thank you all for reading this far into the book, Finding a good spot to end volume 13 and pick back up with Ty was hard but I decided it would be best for a moment of downtime and not a wild cliff hanger like usual. Thank you as always.

- Volume 14 Begin -

Ty and his group emerged from the portal into an expansive open field, the lush green grass stretching out in all directions as far as they could see. The air was crisp, and the wind brushed gently across their faces, carrying with it the distant sound of birds and rustling leaves. For a moment, the scene was serene, almost tranquil, as if the danger they faced was a distant memory.

Rosana, standing tall with her pack slung over her shoulder, let out a soft sigh. "This is a bit peaceful, you know," she remarked, her fur lightly swaying in the breeze.

John, ever the pragmatist, glanced around, his expression grim. "Yeah, peaceful until all this grass is replaced with blood."

Ty took in a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "Right," he said, his voice steady. His eyes scanned the vast plain. "Where are the other 45 contestants?"

He squinted toward the sky and noticed a large floating screen that read, "Start time: 10 minutes." The countdown had begun, and soon the peaceful field would be anything but.

Ty shrugged, his voice tinged with irritation. "I suppose that makes sense. It's all part of the show for the fanatics." In the distance, a loud commotion echoed across the plains, the sounds of shouts and activity growing louder.

He turned to the group. "Let's head in that direction, see what's going on. Could be the others gathering," Ty said, nodding toward the noise.

Rosana stretched, her muscles tensing beneath her pack as she adjusted its weight. "Let's do our best to stay alive and get out of this event with our heads still attached," she muttered, her voice betraying a mix of optimism and dread.

Kern, ever the jokester, chimed in. "It would be a real disappointment to die because of something out of my control. I'd rather go down fighting, so I agree with Rosana—let's not lose our heads." His grin was wide, but the tension in his voice was clear.

As they began moving toward the commotion, Ty's mind raced.