From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals-Chapter 588: Staples

Fernando coughed, the metallic tang of blood filling his mouth. He looked up, his lips twitching into a grin. "Glad... everything worked out nicely, ya know?" he rasped, his voice weak but mocking.

Before Alexander could react, he felt the ground beneath them shift, turning soft, almost fluid. The crater transformed into loose mud, and Fernando’s body began to sink. Alexander’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching as Fernando’s form disappeared into the muck.

Back at the castle, Fernando dropped to the ground, his body a mixture of blood and mud. He landed heavily near his throne chair, rolling over onto his back, gasping for breath as he clenched his stomach, the pain of his broken ribs and previous wounds making his vision blur.

Fi-Rend ran up to him, her eyes wide with worry. She knelt beside him, her hands immediately glowing with her skill’s energy, a soft, golden light that began to weave around his wounds. "You look like shit," she said, her tone sharp but laced with concern.

Fernando laughed, a harsh, wheezing sound that ended in a wince. "Damn, Fi, always know how to make a man feel better, don’t you?" He coughed, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. "Sure was risky... but now those bright orange assholes are screwed for sure."

Fi-Rend gave him a wry smile, shaking her head as she continued her work, her hands moving over his chest, sealing the gashes, her energy focusing on his cracked ribs. "You’re lucky you made it back at all," she muttered. "You think Ty and the others can handle them?"

Fernando winced as her skill sent a pulse of warmth through his chest, his ribs beginning to set. He let out a breath, his eyes closing for a moment before he looked up at her. "Ty’s a tough bastard. They can handle it. And if they can’t, well..." He smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I have faith they’ll at least make a mess of things before they go down."

Fi-Rend’s gaze flickered with something between exasperation and worry, her hands never stopping their work. "You always did have a way of betting on the long shot, Fernando." She glanced over her shoulder. "Gears! You finished setting up your fancy toys yet?"

Gears, covered in grime and oil stains, with his muscular frame filling the space behind a workbench piled high with gadgets, threw them a thumbs-up without looking back. His dark hair was ruffled, his expression focused, the mechanical devices around him spread out like an organized mess. "Yup, everything’s good to go," he replied, his voice carrying a calm confidence that matched his brawny appearance.

He moved with a precision that seemed at odds with his size, deftly adjusting a small cylindrical device that hummed with energy. "Got the pressure traps at the main entrances," he continued, his fingers quickly tightening a screw. "Electrical barrier is up along the outer walls, and there are a few surprises waiting under the floorboards—proximity-triggered, so anyone tries to sneak in, they’re in for a shock." He grinned to himself, clearly pleased.

Fernando, lying back on the ground, gave a pained but amused smirk, his breathing still labored. "Good... good. We’ll let those bright orange idiots sweat it out for a bit. Lay back, see what they can handle without our help." He winced as Fi-Rend’s hands moved to his ribs, her energy flowing through the damaged bones, the warmth pulsing through his chest.

Fi-Rend shot a glare his way. "You better not be planning to get into another scrap soon, Fernando. You’re barely holding together as it is."

Fernando chuckled weakly, wincing again as the movement aggravated his ribs. "When have I ever been one to let a little pain stop me, Fi?" He paused, sucking in a breath. "Just keep that barrier up... try to be useful."

Fi-Rend narrowed her eyes, her hands pressing down with just a bit more pressure, making Fernando grimace. "I am being useful, idiot. You just focus on not dying."

Gears glanced up from his work, a knowing grin on his face. "You two always gotta be like this, huh?" He adjusted the goggles on his forehead, his hands moving to pick up another device—a small metallic sphere covered in etchings, with wires protruding from its sides.

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Fernando’s eyes flicked toward Gears, his expression darkening. "Focus on your damn gadgets, Gears," he snapped, his tone dismissive, filled with irritation. "Did I ask for your commentary?"

Fi-Rend’s hands didn’t falter, though her gaze flickered up, sharp with frustration. "You know, Fernando, a little gratitude wouldn’t kill you." She kept her hands moving over his chest, her energy flowing into his wounds. "If you think treating everyone like dirt is how you get through this, you’re mistaken."

Fernando scoffed, an annoyed smile twisting his lips. "Oh, I don’t need your lectures, Fi. You’re useful, that’s why you’re here. But don’t get any ideas—I don’t owe you anything."

Fi-Rend’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t stop her work, her tone biting. "People like you are why I never trust the self-proclaimed ’leaders’ of these tournaments." Her voice dropped to a mutter, "You’d use anyone if it meant getting what you want."

Fernando’s grin grew colder. "You make it sound like I’m unique. Every single person here has an agenda, Fi. I’m just more honest about mine."

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Gears grunted from across the room, rolling the metallic sphere in his hand before carefully setting it beside several similar devices. "Yeah, yeah. You love reminding us how you’re just here for yourself." He adjusted his goggles, his hands moving to a different contraption, a metallic beetle with legs folded in. "Just try not to get yourself killed before we finish this round."

Fernando’s laughter was a harsh bark, followed by a wince as Fi-Rend pressed harder against his ribs. "Please, Gears, you think any of those fools out there have what it takes to kill me?" He shook his head, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "I’ve made it this far because I do whatever’s necessary. Not because I play nice."

Fi-Rend let out a sigh, her eyes fixed on her work. "That attitude’s going to bite you one day. You know that, right?" She paused, her gaze lifting to meet his, her expression unyielding. "One day, you’re going to find out that you can’t do it all alone."

Fernando met her gaze, his eyes hard as stone. "Then let that day come. Until then, I’m still breathing, and I’ll do whatever it takes to stay that way."

Gears shook his head, muttering as he adjusted the beetle’s wiring. "You talk like you’re untouchable, Fernando. Everyone has a breaking point."

Fernando’s eyes flicked toward him, his grin unfaltering. "Maybe. But today isn’t mine." He paused, his tone dripping with contempt. "You lot just keep yourselves useful. I’m not interested in dead weight."

Fi-Rend clenched her jaw, her energy surging as she continued her healing. "You’d do well to remember, Fernando, that everyone here is just as capable of walking away and letting you fend for yourself."

Fernando gave her a lazy smile, his voice softening to something almost mocking. "Maybe, but we both know that’s not going to happen, don’t we, Fi?" He closed his eyes, letting out a sigh as the warmth of her energy dulled the pain in his ribs. "You love playing the martyr too much."

Fi-Rend’s hands faltered for just a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. She took a slow breath, then resumed her work, her eyes fixed firmly on her hands. "You’re a bastard, you know that?"

Fernando’s grin widened. "And yet here you are, healing me anyway."

Gears looked over at Fi-Rend, giving her a quick nod before turning back to his work, his expression unreadable. "He’s right, though. We’re all here, aren’t we?" He picked up another gadget, a small, triangular device that emitted a faint hum. "And as much as I hate it, we’re in this together. At least until we make it through the next round."

Fi-Rend shook her head, her expression softening into one of resignation. "Yeah, well... maybe once this is over, we won’t have to deal with each other anymore."

Fi-Rend shook her head, her expression softening into one of resignation. "Yeah, well... maybe once this is over, we won’t have to deal with each other anymore."

Fernando’s grin turned colder, a hint of something darker creeping into his eyes. "Oh, Fi, you misunderstand me. When this is all over, I will be the lone one standing, and you will all be dead bodies beneath my feet." His voice was calm, almost casual, but the malice in his words was unmistakable. "But for now, we need to get through the first stage. Let’s see if Ty and the others can hold up their end of the bargain. They better, or all of this is for nothing."

Fi-Rend’s lips pressed into a tight line, the hatred she felt momentarily masked by her resignation. She turned away, muttering under her breath. "One day, you’ll slip, Fernando. One day."