From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

The Lord of the Vale staggered back, reeling slightly from the unexpected strike. Pain flashed across his face, a rare show of vulnerability from the otherwise composed creature. Despite the injury, the gleam in his remaining eye suggested that the battle was far from over.

The Lord of the Vale, clutching his injured eye, sneered through the pain. "I suppose you 'foodlings' have discovered some unique talents," he hissed.

As Ashaiki readied for a follow-up attack, the creature acted with terrifying speed. He raised his hand, and a barrage of red bands shot out, striking Ashaiki squarely in the chest. The force was immense, sending her hurtling through the dense brush of the woods. The sound of her body breaking branches echoed through the air, a chilling reminder of the creature's power.

Kieran, horror-stricken, screamed, "Ashaiki, no!" Anger and fear mingled in her voice as she gritted her teeth. In a swift motion, she unclipped her whip, lashing out at the Lord of the Vale. But he was quicker, leaping back with astonishing agility.

With a few powerful bounds, he ascended into the air, perching atop the highest tree, gaining a strategic vantage point over the moss and vine-covered castle.

From his lofty position, he surveyed the scene below with a mix of amusement and disdain. "These 'foodlings' really have managed something special," he mused aloud, a twisted smile playing on his lips. "I do enjoy it when my prey can fight back." He licked his lips in anticipation, his gaze flickering with malevolence.

As Kieran stood alone in the clearing, her determination surged like a tidal wave. She was acutely aware of the grave threat the Lord of the Vale posed, not just to her and Ashaiki, but to their entire world.

The creature, seemingly lost in his own twisted reverie, mused, "I haven't had this much fun since we ravaged and consumed Planet X." His words were a chilling reminder of the destruction he was capable of.

Kieran, fueled by a righteous fury, moved with a speed and precision honed by her angelic training. She darted through the trees, her movements a blur, and launched herself at the Lord of the Vale, tackling him further into the air. With a forceful slam of her whip, now pulsating with blue energy, she struck his chest, eliciting a grunt of pain.

"But I have no interest in tangling with annoying Angels," he snarled, attempting to repel her with a blast of red rings, similar to the attack that had struck Ashaiki.

Kieran, undeterred, responded with a powerful swing of her whip, the blue energy surrounding it repelling the rings with a resounding clash. In that moment, her whip transformed, taking the shape of a short bladed sword adorned with a dragon head at the hilt. With a swift, decisive movement, she slashed off both his hands, proclaiming, "I will not allow a vile creature like you to live!"

Blood trailed from his severed wrists as he cursed in pain and shock. Kieran, seizing the moment, dove towards him, aiming for his neck. But the Lord of the Vale, realizing his precarious situation, hastily declared, "I will ensure our next encounter is in my true form."

A black portal swirled into existence around him, revealing a bleak landscape of endless sand dunes in the background. Kieran's blade sliced through the air, missing him by mere inches as he fell back into the portal with a triumphant grin. The portal snapped shut behind him, leaving behind his severed hands, which thudded lifelessly to the ground.

Kieran hovered in the air, her form radiating with intense blue energy. She was momentarily disoriented by the abrupt end of the battle. "Cowardly bastard," she cursed under her breath. story-source-MvLeMpYr

Kieran, still hovering in the air with the blue energy enveloping her, marveled at her newfound ability. "I wasn't aware this energy allowed me to float," she mused to herself, her thoughts introspective. "It makes sense, though. If it can absorb impacts with such force, supporting my weight should be feasible."

Gently, she descended back to the ground, the blue energy slowly dissipating as she touched down. Her gaze immediately sought Amanda, who was on the ground, recovering from the earlier chaos. "I'm okay," Amanda reassured her, a hint of admiration in her voice. "Good job dealing with that guy."

Amanda's words held a note of relief, "I have a feeling things could have gotten much worse if you hadn't been here."

Just then, Ashaiki emerged from the woods, her expression serious yet relieved to see them safe. "Let's go ahead and get inside," she suggested with a sense of urgency. "We need to prepare to move the device to a new base."

Kieran, still processing the recent events and the revelation of her own powers, nodded in agreement. "That is fine by me," she replied, her voice steady but her mind racing with questions and concerns about what lay ahead.

As they entered the building, Ashaiki's voice cut through the silence, tinged with a mix of suspicion and reluctant acceptance. "I still don't trust you," she admitted candidly to Kieran. "But for now, I'll entertain whatever reason you have for being here. To be honest, it's nothing short of a miracle that we've managed to hold our ground this long without any external help."

Her words hung in the air, reflecting a grudging respect for Kieran's abilities, even though trust was yet to be established. They walked through a rustic metal door, which Ashaiki carefully closed behind them, sealing off the outside world and its imminent dangers.

Meanwhile, far off in the woods, where the intense battle had just concluded, a different scene unfolded. The two severed hands of the Lord of the Vale lay lifeless on the forest floor. The eerie stillness was broken by the curious approach of a fox, drawn by the scent of fresh blood. The animal, cautious yet intrigued, reached out to pick up one of the hands.

Suddenly, in a horrifying twist, one of the hands sprung to life, launching a vicious attack on the unsuspecting fox.