From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 242: Furthered Eye Strain

Rosa's question, filled with curiosity and a hint of teasing, cut through the tension of their situation. "And who exactly is your competition?" she inquired, hands on her hips and a playful smile on her face.

Oscar, clearly annoyed by the question as the atmosphere around them grew charged with electricity, answered with a seriousness that contrasted sharply with Rosa's lighter mood. "I have told you enough times that anyone who wields a sword is my competition. Specifically, my goal is to go to Japan one day. I'm sure they have masters there worthy to test my steel against."

Rosa's laughter lightened the mood. "Again, are you even the best swordsman in the New York division?" she challenged, seeking to provoke him further.

Oscar, without altering his expression, confidently replied, "Well, no one has beaten me in sword to sword combat, so—"

"But you have lost some fights, right?" Rosa interjected, her joke landing at the same moment the center of the construction zone began to swirl with a single blue dot of energy.

Oscar, choosing to focus on the task at hand rather than engage in further banter with Rosa, took out a pocket watch. "Looks like it's coming through a bit ahead of schedule," he noted, his voice carrying a mix of anticipation and resolve. "Same ploy as always, as soon as it's fully crossed, I will speed blitz it."

At that moment, a significant change overtook Jade. Her eyes suddenly flared, turning white at the center, with small embers dancing within her pupils—a visible sign of her unique abilities manifesting. The sensation of severe dryness covered her eyes, hinting at the depth and potential strain of her powers. Hosted by m_vl_em_p_yr

Rosa, immediately perceptive of Jade's distress, rushed to her side with concern. "Hey, hey, what's going on with you?" she asked, her earlier playfulness replaced with genuine worry.

Jade, struggling to articulate the complexity of her situation, managed a brief explanation. "It's a long story, but in short, my gift—or curse—of being unlocked from the crystal, allows me to see people's energy reserves, though I'm not sure what else it can do at the moment."

Rosa, trying to grasp the concept, expressed her confusion just as the blue dot at the center of the construction zone began its transformation, expanding outward with trails of light radiating from it, a sign that the event they were preparing for was imminent.

Jade, meanwhile, was dealing with the immediate discomfort in her eyes. As the pain and dryness subsided, she focused her unique sight on Rosa, offering a practical demonstration of her abilities. "So, for example, right now, you have an energy reserve of 450/500," she explained, noting the precise figures that only she could perceive.

Turning her attention to Oscar, she continued, "And Oscar has an energy reserve of 455/500." This level of detail, visible only to Jade, underscored the uniqueness of her gift.

Rosa, her confusion reaching new heights, half-jokingly questioned Jade's state of mind. "You sure you didn't hit your head? I can't see anything.."

Jade, with a light chuckle, responded, "I suppose I'm the only one who can see it. Master Gojaro wanted me to see if I could sort of develop it further and find anything new about these creatures that hasn't been found out yet."

Rosa's excitement about Jade's ability to see energy levels was evident. "That's amazing, Jade. We should look into how our actions impact our energy. It could really help us out," she said, recognizing the strategic advantage Jade's gift could offer.

Oscar, however, brought their attention back to the immediate situation. "Let's focus on the present. The portal's starting to open wider now. It's almost time," he stated, pointing to the urgency of their mission.

Jade, turning her attention to the portal, noticed its deep purple color intensifying. Her eyes, glowing from her unique sight, seemed to pull insights from the portal itself.

"There's something about the structure of this portal," she started, her voice a mix of wonder and concentration. "It's not random at all. There's a pattern, almost as if it's following a complex recipe."

With her background in chemistry, Jade began to see the portal in terms of molecular structures and bonds. "These patterns... they're deliberate. It's like they're using a specific chemical formula to stabilize the portal's opening."

As she delved deeper into her observations, a hand began to emerge from the portal, accompanied by a burst of blue energy. This sudden appearance snapped Jade back to the reality of their situation.

"Thanks, book nerd," Rosa quipped with a smirk, prompting a rare smile from Oscar. It was a light moment that briefly cut through the tension. His smile, however, wasn't just an acknowledgment of the jest but a prelude to action. Oscar readied himself, the flame engulfing his blade and casting a glow that reflected off his determined expression.

Oscar, with a fleeting smile, shifted his weight back and lifted his sword high. Flames caressed the blade, swirling into a thin veil of fire that mirrored his intensity. Embers flickered from his lips, silently declaring his readiness for the confrontation ahead.

The air shifted abruptly as the creature made its entrance, a second hand emerging to join the first.

The ground shook as its foot made contact, and an enigmatic black box appeared above its head, displaying "???/???" alongside a water icon.

Its blue skin shimmered, and when its eyes opened, the thin red slits scanned the surroundings, taking in the scene with a cold calculation.

Just as the creature oriented itself, Oscar made his move, the anticipation in the air palpable. Jade, her eyes wide with realization, yelled out a crucial piece of information, "Oscar! This is a water creature!" Her warning was clear, but Oscar was already in motion, his commitment unwavering.

Oscar cursed under his breath, "Shit," as the realization hit him—a fraction of a second spent acknowledging Jade's warning that the creature before them was of water. Yet, in the next moment, his resolve solidified, his thoughts a steel trap of determination. "Regardless, this monster still has to die here!" he thought, his grip tightening around the hilt of his blade.