From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Jade was visibly perplexed as she looked over at Rosa, who lay there, too exhausted to utter a single word.

"What do you mean, Sir? I've only just begun going out on these missions. Why would you pull me off? I'm aware the facility is already short-staffed as it is."

The director interjected, "We're not so depleted that we would crumble without you, Jade. While your contribution has certainly been beneficial, we managed before you arrived, and we will continue to manage after you. Don't overestimate your importance here. This request came directly from Ash after I debriefed her on your recent progress."

Jade's confusion only deepened. "Why would she want me pulled off the front lines?"

The director maintained a firm tone. "We will discuss this in a more private setting. For now, your task is to ensure Rosa gets to the infirmary to rest."

He then shifted the topic slightly. "Tell me, that shard—did you extract it from the creature during your encounter?"

Jade, a bit confused as Rosa lay exhausted, unable to speak up either, questioned the director's decision. "What do you mean, Sir? I just started going out on these missions. Why would you pull me off? I know the facility is already short-staffed as it is."

The director, cutting in, stated, "We're not so depleted that we would fall apart without you, Jade. While your presence has definitely been of assistance, before you, we managed, and after you, we will manage. Don't misplace your value here. This request came from Ash herself after I debriefed her today on your current progress."

Jade, further confused, wondered why Ash would want her pulled off the front lines. The director stated they would discuss this in a more private setting but tasked her for now with getting Rosa to the infirmary to rest up. He then inquired about the shard she had encountered during her mission.

"Did you rip it out of the creature in your fight?" he asked.

"Yes, why do you ask?" Jade responded, trying to understand the relevance.

"I see, that's good at least. We will talk further this evening," he responded, not clarifying his question.

Before Jade could respond, he walked out of the room with a hurried pace, his face painted with deep thought and stress, Jade observed. Picking up Rosa, she mused aloud, "I wonder what's up with him?"

Deciding to focus on what she could control, Jade clutched the bloodied shard in her hand. The day passed by quickly, marked by the occasional blare of the red alarm, which never called for her. She spent the time in deep thought about why she might be pulled from her duties, eventually turning her attention to the calendar.

"She should be back in a month, so then I can go ahead and ask her what's going on. We will meet at the normal coffee spot by my old place," she planned.

Sighing as she rubbed the top of her head, she lamented, "Too many questions and never enough time with these people."

After the better half of the day resting up, she then moved on to the lab again, finding everything in perfect condition as she emptied her pockets out on the table with the cleaned-up shard. The blood from the shard was loosely put in a vial with the crystal the crow gave her as she sighed, lots of testing to do and so much free time now.

Jade activated her white eyes by closing them for a brief moment, focusing on the center of her eyes as they seemingly activated.

She felt a warmth for the first time; it didn't feel like her eyes were drying out.

Jade stated to herself, "Well, at least it doesn't hurt as bad to turn these on," as she grasped the crystal, trying to see if these eyes would unlock anything useful about it. "Come on, eyes, show me some molecules or something that can explain why it would have so many of these all over its body."

As Jade focused intently on the crystal, her unique eyes began to reveal its hidden features.

Floating indicators, visible only to her, started to orbit around the crystal, displaying symbols and numbers reminiscent of the periodic table elements and simple chemical bonds.

These indicators highlighted the presence of silicon dioxide (SiO2), commonly found in quartz, along with traces of rare elements that seemed to enhance its structural integrity and possibly its magical properties.

Jade, her curiosity piqued, sifted through drawer after drawer in search of aluminum. As she did so, the lab door swung open, revealing the Director.

He entered, loosening his tie, his face etched with fatigue. Observing Jade's focused search, he silently approached and pulled up a chair.

"Exactly what I needed," Jade exclaimed softly, triumphantly holding up a piece of aluminum. She returned to the table swiftly, the metal clutched in her grasp.

Concentrating deeply, she manipulated the aluminum, channeling her energy into it.

It began to dissolve between her fingers. With her eyes closed and a steady hand, she held the disintegrating aluminum above the shard.

Remarkably, instead of merely covering it, the aluminum was absorbed by the shard, melding with it in a display of unexpected compatibility.

Moments later, the shard expelled the aluminum as sharp, jagged thin spikes that disintegrated after a few seconds.

Jade, with a finger under her chin, mused, "This is really interesting."

Turning her focus to the Director, she apologized, "Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. I just wanted to finish this experiment." Stay connected through m-v l|e'm,p| y- r

"No, it's fine. You're doing what I meant to ask you to do," he responded, a hint of confusion appearing on his face as he noticed the crystal sitting next to the vial of blood.

"Uh, what is that, and where did you get it from?" he inquired.

"Oh, this?" Jade replied. "When I went on the solo mission with V, we ran into Erebos for a short fight, along with the wolf creatures, and this crow saved me and gave me this before leaving."

The Director's expression shifted, an eye twitch betraying his previously tired demeanor, "And you never thought to tell me the guy we can't detect showed up and tried to kill you, Jade?!"