From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals-Chapter 583: Steeled Bones

That was the moment Marcus knew Alexander wasn’t just another leader barking orders from the back. He was someone who would put himself on the line, someone who wouldn’t abandon his team, no matter what.

Another time was during a training exercise—one meant to simulate the worst-case scenario of being overrun. It was supposed to be just a test, but it quickly spiraled out of control. The trainees panicked, broke formation, and chaos erupted. Marcus had been trying to hold the line, trying to keep everyone together, but it was falling apart. Then Alexander stepped in, his voice cutting through the noise, sharp and commanding. He didn’t yell; he didn’t need to. He spoke with a kind of authority that demanded attention, demanded respect. He took control, reorganized the squad, and led them through, turning what could have been a complete disaster into a victory.

That was Alexander—always in control, always a step ahead. He didn’t just talk about strategy; he lived it, breathed it. He was the reason Marcus was still alive, the reason he was still standing here, ready to fight. Alexander had proven himself time and again, not through empty promises or flashy speeches, but through action. He led from the front, and that was why Marcus followed him.

As Marcus stood in the tent, watching Alexander trace the route on the map, he caught Alexander glancing at him. Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly, the hint of a question there.

"Something on your mind, Marcus?" Alexander asked, his voice calm, almost bored, like he already knew the answer.

Marcus shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. "Just wondering if this plan is going to be as crazy as the last one. You know, the one where we almost got ourselves killed."

Alexander didn’t look up from the map, but there was a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. "That plan kept us alive, didn’t it?"

"Yeah, barely." Marcus rolled his eyes. "I still have a piece of shrapnel in my side from that one. Thanks for that, by the way."

Alexander finally looked up, meeting Marcus’s gaze. His expression was as composed as ever, but there was a hint of something else—amusement, maybe. "Scars build character. Besides, you’re still here."

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "You always know how to spin it, don’t you?" He studied Alexander for a moment before stepping closer to the map, his rough and rugged form a stark contrast to Alexander’s composed presence.

Marcus was a brute of a man—tall and broad-shouldered, his physique forged from raw power and countless hours of battle training. His dark blond hair was cropped short but always seemed slightly unruly, and his square jaw was perpetually shadowed with stubble. A jagged scar ran from his cheekbone down to his jawline, a souvenir from one of the countless skirmishes he’d fought in. His armor was well-worn—leather plates scuffed and dented, marked by clashes that left no room for polish or pretension. Marcus carried himself like a man who had been through it all, his eyes a dark brown, always watching, always assessing, but with a warmth that showed he wasn’t completely hardened by battle.

"You know," Alexander said, drawing Marcus out of his thoughts, "this isn’t a war. It’s not some endless, brutal battlefield." He gestured to the map spread in front of them. "This is the Arena of Life. While we’re allies now, in the later stages, we could easily end up fighting each other."

Marcus leaned back, crossing his muscular arms, a grin tugging at his lips. "When that happens, I’m gonna give that Titanis blood of yours a run for its money before I surrender." He laughed, the sound rich and full, easing the tension. "I already know you’re going to win all of this, but it’ll be fun to get a front-row seat to see it happen."

Alexander’s lips twitched slightly, his eyes narrowing on the map. He moved a marker along one of the routes, his focus unbroken. Marcus shifted his stance, the leather of his armor creaking softly as he did.

"But still," Marcus continued, his voice more serious now, "we’re outnumbered. We’ve lost a lot of good people already."

Alexander nodded, his gaze never leaving the map. "This isn’t a battlefield where I care about the lives of others, Marcus," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "While death is unfortunate, everyone here chose to be a part of this..." He paused, the words hanging between them for a moment. "Well, most of them."

Marcus frowned, his brow furrowing at Alexander’s words. "Most of them?" he echoed, his tone questioning.

Alexander didn’t elaborate. Instead, he changed the subject, his voice sharp as he pointed to a different marker. "If we focus on a direct push towards their stronghold, we could end this quickly. Kill both of their Kings, and we move on to the next round."

Marcus whistled low, shaking his head. "You make it sound so damn simple. We haven’t even pushed far enough to know where it is exactly located. We have a good idea based on the groups we’ve killed, but other than that, we’re still making a rough guess."

Alexander looked up, locking eyes with Marcus, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "When am I ever wrong?"

Marcus laughed, the sound rumbling in the quiet of the tent. "Alright, fair enough," he said, shaking his head. "But you know, one of these days, that streak of yours might run out."

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Alexander’s expression didn’t shift, the confidence unyielding. "Not today."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded sheet of paper and laying it flat on the table between them. The image of Ty, the Demon, stared back at them. Ty’s face was fierce, dark flames curling around him, captured mid-action in the sketch. The detail in the drawing was striking, showing not just Ty’s power but the raw intensity that defined him.

Marcus leaned over, examining the sketch, his brow furrowing. "Ty the Demon, huh?" he said, a note of admiration in his voice. "You’ve got a kill target on him?"