From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 475: Kieran vs Jade

Jade glanced at Kieran, whose eyes appeared lifeless, devoid of color. Instinctively, she began assessing the situation, her senses heightened as dozens of red flags appeared in her mind.

Without hesitation, she turned and started to run, narrowly avoiding the Kieran’s attacks as slash after slash came inches away from her hands and legs.

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"I’m going to end up burning all of my energy just dodging these strikes," Jade thought, glancing back at Kieran, who had stopped moving, her arms trembling. "Maybe she’s trying to fight the control?" Jade wondered, her heart pounding as she searched for an opening.

Suddenly, an orange indicator lit up in her mind, highlighting a piece of rubble. Jade threw her head back, narrowly dodging another slice before rolling towards the glowing rubble. Her movements were fluid, instinctual, as if driven by an unseen force guiding her steps.

As soon as she landed on it, a sharp pain shot through her stomach. She gasped, the wind knocked out of her. Looking down, Jade saw Kieran in a low stance, delivering a fierce strike that sent her flying into a collapsing wall. The impact rattled her bones, and dust filled her lungs, making her cough violently.

Groaning, Jade pushed herself up, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene. Rocks tumbled around her, and she could feel the ground shifting beneath her feet. "I need to stop relying on these eyes and do it myself," she muttered, frustration bubbling up inside her. She wiped the sweat and grime from her forehead, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Just then, a blue indicator flashed in her mind. Without hesitation, she sprang towards it, rolling smoothly to the designated spot. As she hit the ground, the building above her crumbled, sending debris crashing down. She covered her head with her arms, feeling the impact of stones and wooden beams as they shattered around her.

The cloud of ash and broken pieces engulfed her, masking her position. The acrid smell of dust filled her nostrils, and she could feel the grit on her skin.

Gripping her eye, Jade glanced at her energy reserves. They were slightly below half. She gritted her teeth. "What can I do other than play this game as the mouse right now?"

As the dust began to settle, she thought, "Well, no time like the present. I will have to trust these eyes for now. Sorry, director."

Taking a deep breath, she straightened up. "Let’s get a little risky here!"

Jade dropped into a low stance and dashed out of the smoke, emerging onto the chaotic New York street. The familiar cityscape was now a war zone. Two Humvees rolled down the street, their engines roaring. Dozens of zombies chased after them, their guttural growls mixing with the sound of gunfire.

The Humvees’ mounted M240 machine guns roared, bullets spraying in all directions. The air was thick with the stench of gunpowder and decay. Jade squinted against the harsh sunlight reflecting off the glass and metal of abandoned cars and shattered storefronts.

She scanned her surroundings, noting the strategic positions of the zombies and the soldiers in the Humvees. Her eyes flickered with indicators, but she pushed through the distraction, focusing on her instincts.

Rushing along the broken sidewalk, Jade’s boots pounded against the concrete, each step sending small fragments scattering. She vaulted over a crumbling curb, her eyes fixed on the boy ahead, who continued to play his flute, its eerie melody slicing through the chaos. Behind her, Kieran pursued with relentless determination, her eyes locked on Jade like a predator stalking its prey.

Jade glanced over her shoulder, trying to understand why Kieran had stopped rushing in. The answer came swiftly as the boy’s flute hit a high-pitched note. Jade’s vision warped, the world around her twisting into a nauseating swirl of colors. She fell to one knee, struggling to breathe as a wave of dizziness overtook her. Gagging, she vomited, the acrid taste burning her throat.

She looked up, just in time to see Kieran’s blade descending toward her. Desperation fueled her next move. Jade threw her body to the right, trying to dodge the lethal strike. Pain exploded in her arm as the blade sliced down, leaving a deep gash. Blood poured from the wound, staining her sleeve crimson.

The force of her roll sent her crashing into a steel post. The impact rattled her bones, and for a moment, the world faded into a blur of pain and confusion. She gasped for breath, the metallic taste of blood mingling with the dirt in her mouth. She forced herself to focus, to push past the agony.

Kieran approached, her expression cold and unyielding. Jade knew she had to move, had to get back on her feet despite the searing pain in her arm. Gritting her teeth, she used the steel post to pull herself up, her legs trembling under the strain. Her eyes darted around, searching for anything she could use as a weapon or a means of escape.

Jade staggered back to her feet, her vision swimming but her resolve firm. She drew her blade, watching as white flames licked down its edge. The indicators in her vision flared, red after red, with bits of orange flickering around them. She narrowed her eyes, trying to decipher their meaning.

"Okay, I think I better understand the orange now," she thought, feeling a mix of apprehension and determination. "Pain will follow from orange but possibly open up something."

Jade drew her gun in her other hand, the weight of it grounding her. She fixed her gaze on Kieran and lunged forward, a fierce determination driving her movements. Kieran sidestepped the bullet and knife strike with ease, her counterattack swift and brutal. Jade barely registered the strict blow to her chin before she was lifted into the air, her body reacting instinctively to the impact.

As she fell, Kieran moved to drive her sword through Jade. But a sudden gust of dust kicked up, obscuring their view. A steel blade collided with Kieran’s sword, the force of the clash sending shockwaves through the air. Jade, seizing the moment, brought her gun to Kieran’s face and pulled the trigger. The blast, enhanced by Jade’s energy, roared through the air.

Jade hit the ground hard, her body aching from the exertion. She looked up to see Kieran skidding back, her hand gripping her face as blood trickled down. A short syringe of blue was embedded in Kieran’s neck, the contents unknown but clearly significant.