From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

With a swift motion, he brought the sword down in a powerful arc toward the creature. It responded with a mere flick of its hand, its gaze locked on Oscar with a chilling indifference. Suddenly, from the seemingly tranquil air, a water bullet materialized, striking Oscar with such force that it sent him flying into the side of construction equipment.

Rosa's voice pierced the air with a sharp cry of concern, "Oscar!" But her alarm was short-lived as the construction equipment, where Oscar had been sent crashing, began to shake violently. Moments later, it erupted into flames, a dramatic backdrop to Oscar's reemergence.

Brushing off the debris and smoke, he coolly retorted, "Cheap shot answered with a cheap shot." His tone was laced with defiance, even as he wiped blood from his cheek and assessed a severe bruise on his side—a testament to the creature's power.

The creature observed Oscar with an expression that mingled curiosity with disdain. "Weird, I was told you humans were supposed to be fleshy beings. How did you not die from that?" Its voice carried an unnatural quality, as if speaking was an unfamiliar exercise.

Rosa, caught off guard by the creature's ability to articulate thoughts, momentarily shifted her stance.

"You creatures can talk?!" she exclaimed, her surprise overtaking her initial shock. "Well, color me shocked. I thought you were all just mindless monsters?!"

The creature's gaze shifted towards Rosa, capturing Jade's attention as it seemed to focus on her with a hint of confusion. Its alien eyes widened slightly, betraying a sense of bewilderment.

"Did you humans come here to corner me?" it asked, its voice carrying a blend of curiosity and caution. As it spoke, Jade observed it scanning the surroundings, seemingly taking stock of its environment for the first time.

With a casual flick of its wrist, the creature sent a barrage of water droplets in a random direction, only for them to collide with the invisible barrier encasing them, dissipating upon contact.

"This might explain why none of the dogs ever returned or responded to recalls," it mused, piecing together the puzzle of its confinement. The revelation seemed to bring it a grim sort of understanding.

"Well, I guess killing you lot will drop whatever barrier you managed to surface," the creature continued, its tone resigning to the situation at hand. Yet, it couldn't hide its surprise at the humans' abilities. "But I do have to say, I am shocked to see you humans having elemental powers. The King stated the human realm were all restricted creatures."

In the midst of their conversation, the situation escalated rapidly. Rosa's quick reflexes saved Jade from a sudden attack, shoving her aside as a stream of water shot past where Jade had been standing moments before. Oscar, ever vigilant, found himself fending off a concealed assault, his blade slicing through the air to parry streams of blue water aimed with lethal intent.

Rosa's voice cut through the chaos, a stern reminder to maintain focus. "Don't let your guard down, these creatures will do anything to make you an easy target to pick down," she warned, her hands clapping together in preparation for her own counterattack.

"Water or grass, it doesn't matter. Take its head off, and it dies!" she declared, underscoring the simplicity of their ultimate goal despite the complexity of the battle.

Jade, her attention snapped back to the immediate threat, watched as the creature's laughter was cut short by its own offensive maneuver. Slamming its tendril-webbed hands into the ground, it summoned water to rise around them, a tactical move to shift the battlefield to its advantage. As the water began to pool at their feet, Jade noticed words forming above the surface: "Paralysis."

Reacting with urgency, Jade called out, "This will paralyze us!" and leaped away from the encroaching water.

Oscar, acknowledging Jade's warning with a swift nod, attempted to leap to safety. However, in that critical moment, the creature exploited the distraction, gliding over the water with terrifying speed. It closed the gap between itself and Oscar, launching an attack aimed directly at his head,

Oscar's determination flared as visibly as the flames trailing from his lips, facing the imminent threat with a defiance born of both skill and sheer will. "Like hell I'd let an ugly fuck like you come into contact with me! 'Swirling vortex!'" he declared, channeling his focus and power into his blade.

With a calculated movement, he slammed his palm against the hilt of his sword, causing it to spin rapidly. This action created a vortex of flame, a whirlwind of fire poised to counter the creature's watery assault.

Rosa, seizing the moment, leaped onto Oscar's back, adding an element of surprise to their defense. Her presence underscored the teamwork that was their true strength. "Don't think you were just fighting one of us," she shouted, a reminder of their unity in the face of danger.

As the creature's fist made contact with the vortex of flames, Rosa unfurled her hands, previously clasped together in anticipation. For a brief second, a web of fire enveloped the creature, a dazzling display of their combined powers. This web of flames, though fleeting, marked the creature's body with its fiery embrace, causing steam to rise where fire met water.

The dense steam billowed from the creature's watery skin as its advance halted abruptly. Rosa, her expression contorted in effort, yelled, "He's already breaking the rope, hurry up with your attack!"

Oscar, momentarily irked by the interjection, shot back, "I didn't even ask for your help, you know! And get off my back!" Despite his words, he seamlessly shifted his stance, the blade in his hand igniting into a swirling vortex of flames. With a determined thrust, he pierced the creature's watery appendage, the fiery web ensnaring it beginning to snap as it recoiled.

From the shadows, Jade made her move, her voice cool, "Your weakness isn't as well-hidden as you think." Her eyes locked onto the creature's lower back, a critical vulnerability exposed under her gaze. The creature's red eyes widened in alarm, a silent acknowledgment of the impending strike.

With a desperate effort, the creature shattered the fiery constraints binding it. Jade lunged, the director's blade in hand, aiming for a decisive blow. But in a blink, the creature vanished, reappearing at the edge barrier above a puddle of water as water dripped from its form as it gasped for air. Jade, Oscar, and Rosa watched intently, ready for the next move in this unexpected confrontation.