From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 216: Splitting Minotaurs

As their hands met the handle, it glowed intensely. Nana watched in awe as the door, initially red, began to shift to blue. A sudden, blinding flash of light enveloped them, and when it faded, Nana found herself in a starkly different setting. She was in a dark room, illuminated only by a faintly flickering light above, creating an atmosphere of eerie suspense and uncertainty about what lay ahead.

Moments later, Todd and Pegasus found themselves engulfed in a brilliant, all-consuming light. As the light receded, they landed in an expansive, shadowy room. Suddenly, blue torches flared to life around them, casting eerie, dancing shadows on the walls. In the center of this spectral ambiance, a massive hexagonal circle ignited with fire, crackling and hissing as if alive.

From the fiery outline of the hexagon, something otherworldly began to materialize. Ethereal hooves formed first, coalescing from the air itself, followed by fur-clad legs that stretched upward with an unnatural grace. Gradually, a formidable body emerged, assembling piece by spectral piece until it stood imposingly tall.

A shattering burst of light heralded the final phase of this apparition, as a haunting enemy roared into existence, brandishing two menacing black obsidian axes.

In the midst of this surreal and daunting scene, Pegasus, his eyes scanning the room frantically, exclaimed, "Where is Nana?!" His voice echoed against the stone walls, tinged with urgency and concern, as he realized that Nana was not with them in this strange and ominous place.

Todd, with a determined look, took a step back and unsheathed his staff, assuming a low, ready stance. "Just try to stay back," he instructed firmly, focusing on the looming threat ahead. "Let me see if I can handle this creature.

The last thing I want is for Nana to rejoin us and find you dead. She's already lost enough people in her lifetime," he added, his voice laced with a mix of resolve and concern for his companions.

Pegasus, understanding the gravity of the situation, nodded in agreement. Gripping his katana tightly, he cautiously took a step back, preparing to observe the creature's movements. "I'll maintain my distance and try to identify any weaknesses," he said thoughtfully.

"I think it's a minotaur or something similar, but likely much stronger. From our studies of monsters, these creatures excel in flexibility and strength, but they generally lack follow-up speed." His analysis was sharp, reflecting his knowledge of their adversary and the tactical approach they needed to adopt.

Todd's response to the impending threat was swift and precise. He gave a slight nod, acknowledging Pegasus's strategy, just as the creature let out another thunderous roar.

Its hooves pounded the ground with such force that it seemed to shake the very foundations of the room.

With astonishing agility, the creature launched itself towards Todd, who reacted with equal swiftness, propelling himself into the air with a powerful thrust of his foot against the ground.

The minotaur, in a display of its own agility, came to a sliding halt and attempted a vicious upward slice at Todd. In a breathtaking maneuver, Todd released his grip on his staff and delivered a quick, precise punch towards the beast.

The obsidian axes, deadly and swift, came within mere inches of him.

However, at the critical moment, Todd let the axes strike his hands, which shimmered with an ethereal light. The axes rebounded off his palms with doubled speed, creating a moment of stunning counterattack.

As the staff descended like a bolt from above, it struck the minotaur squarely on the forehead.

The creature's arms were flung to the ground by the force of the impact, immobilizing it momentarily. Seizing this opportunity, Todd completed his aerial maneuver by pushing off against the ceiling with his feet and hurtling forward.

He delivered a resounding punch to his staff, which resonated with a crackling blue shockwave. The sheer power of the shockwave split the formidable minotaur in half, showcasing Todd's extraordinary strength and combat prowess.

As the Minotaur's blood sprayed across the room, its two halves collapsed to the ground. The creature's glowing red eyes, once burning with ferocity, began to flicker and shake, signaling its imminent demise. They dimmed slowly, surrendering to the darkness of defeat.

Todd, landing gracefully on his feet moments later, wiped his brow and remarked with a hint of anticlimax, "Well, that was a bit uneventful."

He started walking back towards Pegasus, a sense of relief beginning to settle in. However, Todd's sense of ease was abruptly shattered. Pegasus's expression rapidly shifted from relief to utter shock. "Watch out!" he shouted, his voice slicing through the air with urgency.

In a split-second response, Pegasus planted his foot firmly into the ground and leaped towards Todd's backside. With remarkable reflexes, he intercepted the obsidian blade of the Minotaur, which, against all odds, had swung towards Todd in a last-ditch effort to strike. Pegasus's katana clashed against the Minotaur's blade, emitting a cascade of sparks as he grunted with the exertion.

Straining under the force of the obsidian blade, Pegasus attempted to absorb the blow. In a swift motion, Todd reached out, pulling him back by the collar to safety. Without missing a beat, Todd then delivered a powerful closed fist to the Minotaur's blade, showcasing his quick thinking and strength.

As Pegasus slid behind him, out of immediate danger, he remarked with a hint of disbelief, "I suppose this guy can regenerate a bit?" His question hung in the air, almost rhetorical, as they both stared at the fallen Minotaur.

Suddenly, the room was filled with an unexpected and shocking development. An explosion of black liquid erupted from both halves of the Minotaur. The liquid swirled and churned, coalescing into a form that was both eerie and mesmerizing. Before their astonished eyes, the Minotaur began to reform, coming back to life in an ominous display of its regenerative powers.

As the creature reassembled itself, two distinct symbols materialized - one of Anger and the other of Madness - each marking one of the now slightly smaller Minotaurs. Each Minotaur wielded its own black obsidian blade, doubling the threat that Todd and Pegasus now faced.

Without a moment's hesitation, the Minotaur marked with Anger charged headfirst towards Todd, its movements wild and unrestrained, swinging its blade with a reckless abandon. Todd, relying on his agility and quick reflexes, deftly ducked and weaved through the barrage of attacks, each move a calculated dance of survival.

Simultaneously, the second Minotaur, its eyes glowing a menacing red and marked with the symbol of Madness, bypassed Todd in a swift maneuver, setting its sights on Pegasus. "Be careful!" Todd called out, his warning echoing in the tense air. Pegasus, undeterred, adopted an offensive stance, meeting the challenge head-on.

With a swift and precise strike, he managed to slice both hands of the Minotaur in half, showcasing his skill and determination.

However, the Minotaur's relentless nature was unfazed by the injury. It continued its assault, crashing into Pegasus with formidable force. The impact sent them both tumbling to the ground in a chaotic roll.

In the midst of this melee, the Minotaur's hands began to regenerate rapidly, the black liquid morphing and reshaping into new limbs, adding an eerie and relentless aspect to the creature's already daunting presence.

(Meanwhile with Nana)