From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals
Chapter 128 - 128: Blood Stained Armond

Their high-speed chase, however, soon caught the attention of two guards. Startled by the sudden appearance of the giant green figure, the guards, identified by their badges as "Rear Guard," reacted instinctively.

They brandished their spears and attempted to strike at Todd, who responded with remarkable agility. Sliding to a knee, Todd evaded both spear thrusts, his movement fluid and controlled.

"Sorry for scaring y'all, but I'm with the kingdom," Todd quickly explained, trying to defuse the situation. The guards paused, their confusion evident as they noticed the emblems of kingdom affiliation on Todd's attire, indicating his alignment with their own forces.

Just as the guards were processing this information, Ty rounded the corner, his skeletal frame coming into view a few seconds later.

The guards turned their attention to him, their eyes widening at the sight of the black skeleton.

Unlike Todd, Ty wore no attire indicating any kingdom affiliation, appearing simply as a naked black skeleton.

The guards exchanged a quick, uncertain glance. "We attack this one, right?" one of them asked the other, unsure how to react to this second unusual figure. The moment was tense, with Ty having to quickly assess the situation and determine how best to address the guards' confusion and potential hostility without slowing down his pursuit of Todd.

The second guard nodded in agreement with his companion, a silent strategy forming between them. "You go high, I go low," he suggested, both guards readying themselves for a coordinated attack.

Ty, in response to the impending action, offered what could only be described as a warm smile from a skeletal face. As the first guard lunged with a low sweeping strike, aiming to cut off Ty's path and mirror the maneuver Todd had executed, Ty quickly assessed his options. The second guard targeted Ty's chest, coordinating with his partner to trap him.

In that split second, Ty's smirk became more pronounced. He executed a slight hop on the tan slabbed concrete, placing one skeletal foot on the spearhead of the low strike.

He felt a tinge of heat from the contact but didn't falter. Using the spear as a pivot, he quickly launched himself upwards, catching the second guard's high strike with his other foot.

This acrobatic feat allowed him to vault himself into the air, evading the coordinated assault with grace and agility.

As he soared over the guards, Ty kept his focus laser-sharp on Todd, who was already making his way across the bridge further ahead.

Realizing he needed an extra boost, Ty ignited his flames further, propelling himself through the air with even greater force.

Each burst of flame sent him leaping forward, steadily closing the distance between himself and Todd.

However, in his intense pursuit, Ty miscalculated his own speed. Before he fully realized it, he was upon Todd, crashing into the green giant with considerable force. The impact sent both of them skidding along the ground, an unexpected and somewhat comical tandem tumble that ended as they reached the other side of the bridge.

As they came to a stop, two guards stationed at the end of the bridge looked on in utter confusion. The sight of a black skeleton and a giant green creature, entangled and skidding to a halt, was certainly not something they encountered every day.

"What is going on here?" one of the guards asked, his voice a mix of bewilderment and concern. The question hung in the air, echoing the perplexity of the moment.

Todd groaned slightly as he and Ty scrambled back to their feet, brushing off the dust from their unexpected crash. The second guard, still in awe, remarked, "This is that guy that looks like an Ogre. I've heard rumors about him, but it's shocking to see him in person."

Both Todd and Ty, now standing upright, chose to bypass the guards' questions and their evident astonishment. Their minds were focused on something else entirely – the outcome of their spirited race. In perfect unison, as though their thoughts were perfectly aligned after their shared adventure, they turned to the guards and asked the same question simultaneously.

"Who crossed the line first?"

The guards, still reeling from the unexpected events, were further perplexed by the question of who won the race. The first guard, who had initially spoken, tried to recall the frenetic finish. "Well, if my eyes served me right, I think it was the green guy," he said, pointing towards Todd.

Todd immediately perked up, his voice booming with triumph. "Yes! I knew it!" he exclaimed, reveling in his apparent victory.

However, the second guard interjected, adding to the confusion. "No, it was definitely the skeleton, but it was hard to see since the Ogre is taller than him."

Ty, hearing the conflicting opinions, placed his skeletal hand over where his face would be in a gesture of mild frustration. "Great," he muttered, "They can't even decide." He then spoke up, looking at Todd with a hint of amusement in his voice, "How about we just go halfies on the beer, and we find a way to break the tie at a later time?"

Todd, with a contemplative look, stroked his thick chin thoughtfully. After a brief pause, he gave a slight nod in agreement. "I suppose that's fair, considering I did get a bit of a head start," he admitted, his tone reflecting a mix of concession and sportsmanship. "Alright then, we'll have a rematch later. But for now, let's focus on getting today's tasks done."

With that, they shook hands, their camaraderie evident in the firm grip. This agreement to share the beer and postpone the tiebreaker reflected the strong bond between them, forged through numerous adventures and challenges.

As they were turning to resume their mission, a figure in golden armor approached. The armor glistened in the sunlight, drawing the immediate attention of Ty, Todd, and the guards.

Ty's skeletal face, incapable of traditional expressions, still managed to convey a smirk as he recognized the newcomer. "Oh, it's him, the Armond guy, I believe," he said, a hint of recognition in his voice.

The man in golden armor, hearing Ty's words, lifted his visor, revealing his face. "You're a bit early, but you won't hear me complaining," he remarked with a tone of mild surprise and approval.

Ty's attention was quickly drawn to the stains on Armond's armor. The marks were unmistakably blood, dried and darkened