From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 201: Faint Hopes

Nana approached Todd, her steps cautious as she moved closer to where he lay on the ground, still recovering from his brutal encounter with Erebos. The remnants of the battle were evident in his reopened wounds, with blood seeping through the hastily applied bandages.

The green pill he had swallowed was working its magic, slowly knitting the flesh back together, but the process was evidently painful.

She sat down beside him, her posture one of concern mixed with a kind of weary resilience. Looking at Todd, she asked with a mix of worry and a faint hope, "So how are you holding up? You aren't going to go and die on me like everyone else has in my life, are you?"

Todd, despite his obvious discomfort, managed a slight groan and a weak smile. "Of course not, kid. I'm just more frustrated than in pain at this point," he reassured her, his voice reflecting a mix of annoyance at his situation and determination to overcome it.

Nana, her gaze drifting upwards towards the vast expanse of the sky, seemed to find some comfort in the endless blue. She nodded slowly, her voice soft yet resolute, "Yeah, me too, buddy. Me too."

Nana, overwhelmed by a sense of frustration and loss, expressed her feelings openly to Todd. "Every time I feel like I've made some progress, life slaps me in the face and reminds me how far I am from any meaningful progress," she lamented, her voice tinged with a mixture of sadness and exasperation.

Todd, lying beside her, remained silent, simply staring up at the sun, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

Nana's outpouring of emotions continued unabated. "Everyone I've ever cared about has been taken from me. The slave traders, the Yami King, the Angelic people who destroyed our planet, and now this vampire... He stole someone who's always on my mind," she confessed, the raw emotion evident in her voice.

She concluded with a statement of her own fragility and determination. "I feel like I'm going to pop, Todd. Honestly, I'm not sure how much more loss I can take before I just lose it." Her words conveyed the depth of her despair, yet also hinted at an underlying resolve to persevere despite the odds.

Todd, resonating with Nana's feelings of loss and frustration, took a deep breath and sat up, resting his arms on his thighs. "I feel the same way," he began, his voice carrying a note of shared experience and understanding. "All I have left are my kids and Keiko, I suppose. But what I really want is to settle down somewhere once this is all over. A place where the fighting can end, once and for all."

He then slowly stood to his feet, his resolve becoming evident in his stance and the tone of his voice. "However, for something like that to happen, we have to become much stronger. Strong enough to do the kind of damage Erebos did. I don't care about these soul rankings or structures. We'll find our own way, starting with this world."

Determined to move forward, Todd suggested, "Let's clean up everything here and trust Ty will be able to find his way back, or we find him and drag him back." He extended a hand down to Nana, who, wiping away a tear, accepted his help and stood up, acknowledging his steadying presence. "You're always right, you know," she said, taking his hand and rising to her feet.

Once they were ready, Nana and Todd began walking back towards the main path. As they moved, Nana shared with Todd everything she had learned from the Vampire lady, ensuring they were both informed and aligned in their understanding of the situation.

Approaching the site of the ongoing battle, the sounds of steel clashing and fire raging filled the air around them. They returned to find a massive battle still unfolding, with the same formation bravely holding off the monsters that were surfacing from the ground.

Todd, feeling rejuvenated from the effects of the pills, commented, "Those pills worked really good. I feel like I haven't fought in a few days, and all my soreness is gone!" His renewed energy and lack of pain were testament to the healing power of the pills provided by the Vampire lady, giving both him and Nana a much-needed boost as they prepared to rejoin the fight.

Nana, with a small smile reflecting her gratitude, remarked, "Same here. I'll definitely need to give Lady Amaris a thank you when she shows up again."

As they approached King Griswald, who was perched atop his horse discussing battle plans with six other mounted figures, Todd's laughter added a brief moment of lightness to the tense atmosphere.

King Griswald, noticing Nana and Todd's approach, addressed them directly. "Nana, we are ready to go. What's the plan moving forward, now that Ty is gone and injuries and fatalities are mounting due to the sudden change in the situation?"

Setting down his map to give them his full attention, King Griswald continued, "I'm glad to have you two back. I'm not sure what the best course of action is at this point. Part of me thinks we should regroup to tend to the injured. I'm concerned we won't be able to establish a strong foothold without incurring heavy losses."

His words conveyed the dilemma they faced – the need to balance the urgency of their mission against the reality of their dwindling forces and growing casualties. The situation demanded a strategic reassessment, and the input from Nana and Todd, now back from their encounter with the Vampire lady, would be crucial in determining their next steps.

The return of these two key figures offered a glimmer of hope and added strength to the beleaguered group.

Todd, stepping forward with a strategic suggestion, said, "Well, why don't we send everyone back to work as a defensive front? In the meantime, we can build a small, specialized attack force. We can speed blitz these creatures and make a beeline for the cave."

He outlined a tactical approach that involved a two-pronged strategy. "The majority of the monsters that do slip past us will be handled by the defense force. We get to the cave, make our way to the center, and find out why it emerged, and maybe even stop these monsters from spawning."

Todd then paused, a hint of curiosity in his voice as he considered the nature of their enemy. "If I recall correctly, this isn't a normal spawning habit for these monsters, is it?" His observation suggested that there might be an unusual force or event behind the sudden and aggressive appearance of the monsters, which could be crucial to understanding and stopping them.

King Griswald, acknowledging Todd's strategic insight, offered a crucial piece of information. "No, this isn't normal. But part of the process to lift the Dragoon seals – which is essential to stop these monsters from spawning – is indeed expected to be in that cave. I believe the final seal on the Dragoon might be there," he explained, shedding light on the significance of their mission.

Todd, understanding the gravity of the task, replied, "So, we just have to get that seal, and these monsters will stop spawning?" His voice carried a mix of hope and determination.

"It could work," King Griswald admitted, though his tone hinted at caution. "We've sent a few teams into the cave, and none have returned. We must be prepared for the worst, but I do like your plan."

King Griswald's orders were met with immediate action. The Royal Guards swiftly moved to execute his command, their movements precise and coordinated. "Once the shield is established, we will spearhead toward the cave and go from there," the King continued, emphasizing the importance of preserving life above all. "The highest priority is ensuring that no more lives are lost."

The Royal Guards, along with Todd, Nana, and others, nodded in understanding and determination. They sprang into action, galloping towards the heart of the battle. Their mission was clear: assist the fighters, help the injured, and guide the less combat-oriented members safely away from the frontline.

Nana, with a thoughtful look on her face, turned to Todd. "You think this is the best way to go about this?" she asked, seeking his perspective on their strategy.

Todd, nodding affirmatively, shared his view on the urgency of their situation. "I imagine time isn't in our favor. We can't predict when Erebos will spring another trap or what he might do next. So, we have to move faster than before," he said, emphasizing the need for haste. As he spoke, he swung his staff, striking a monster that had broken away from the battle, saving a soldier in the process.

In response to their efforts, the injured and less combat-ready fighters were gradually escorted to safety. King Griswald, observing the effective execution of his orders, approached Nana and Todd. "We have our teams reassigned for our push," he announced, indicating that their next phase of action was ready to commence.

"Let's gather around real quick while the monsters take a bit to respawn," King Griswald suggested, understanding the brief lull in the battle was a crucial opportunity to regroup and strategize. The team, now reassembled, prepared to discuss their next move in their continued fight against the monstrous invasion and their quest to confront Erebos's machinations.,