The skeleton lowered its sword after the impressive slash that had split the moon in two. However, it showed no signs of fatigue or aggression. Instead, its clock-like eyes, always marking time with precision, began to glow with a different light, as if something deeper, something hidden, was about to be revealed. The protagonists, especially the leader of the group, felt that energy surround them, filling the air with a tension that was impossible to ignore.
The skeleton, rather than attacking, turned its gaze towards the main protagonist. It was a gaze filled with a kind of recognition, as if it knew him from a previous life, or as if there was something within him that resonated with the skeleton’s own existence. Its eyes glowed intensely, the hands of the clocks inside them moving at a pace that seemed to measure much more than just the passage of time.
War, always straightforward, took a step forward, his sword still blazing, and asked with a mixture of astonishment and frustration:
—Why is it defending him? —his voice echoed with incredulity—. What connection does it have with him?
It was a question shared by everyone present. None of them, not even the powerful Four Horsemen, could understand the reason behind the skeleton’s unexpected defense. The bond being forged between the skeleton and the protagonist was unprecedented.
Anubis, who until that moment had maintained an imposing and controlled stance, slowly approached, observing both the skeleton and the protagonist with meticulous attention. His eyes shone with a mixture of curiosity and caution, as if trying to unravel the mystery unfolding before him.
—I don’t know —admitted Anubis with a rare honesty—. But this is different. Something is awakening in the skeleton, something that is linked to the protagonist. It’s as if part of his soul is calling to him, as if there is a connection beyond what we, even here in the Realm of the Dead, can understand.
The tension among the group grew. The skeleton stood firm, maintaining its protective stance in front of the protagonist. But the most perplexing thing was that it did not attack. Its energy didn’t seem to become more chaotic or destructive. Instead, it seemed to be waiting, as if there were something only the protagonist could trigger, as if it were waiting for him to take the next step.
Pestilence, ever pragmatic and with a gaze that seemed to pierce through any illusion, stepped forward slightly, his voice filled with concern.
—This is unprecedented. This skeleton has tried to escape countless times, but it has never shown this kind of control before. It’s too close to the protagonist, and that worries me. Its soul is unstable. What will happen if they strengthen each other?
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Anubis, nodding at Pestilence’s words, looked at the skeleton and then at the protagonist with an expression of uncertainty. Something deeper was at play, something that even the guardians of the realm were beginning to fear.
Death, who had always been the most firm in maintaining the balance of the Realm of the Dead, spoke with a tone more severe than ever before.
—This cannot continue. If we don’t stop this connection, the balance of the Realm of the Dead itself could collapse. Its soul is unstable, and if it manages to escape, it won’t just endanger this realm, but everything we have protected. We cannot allow this to go on.
Death’s words fell like a blow in the air, their weight evident to all. The risk was clear, and the Four Horsemen couldn’t afford to lose control over such a powerful and unstable entity as the skeleton. The Realm of the Dead depended on its balance, and any disruption could unleash immeasurable chaos.
The Horsemen, their minds made up, began to prepare to act. The energy in the atmosphere grew even more tense as the guardians’ weapons were raised, ready to stop the skeleton before the situation could worsen. War raised his sword, engulfed in flames, and Famine gripped his broken scales tightly, while Pestilence and Death circled the skeleton, their eyes fixed on it.
But before they could make a move, the skeleton raised its sword once again. However, this time, it was not a gesture of threat. Its movements were not aggressive but almost ceremonial. The sword, made of dense shadows, rose into the air, not to strike, but as if it were offering something—protection. The skeleton once again placed itself in front of the protagonist, standing firm.
—Wait —said Anubis, stopping the Horsemen with a gesture of his hand—. It’s not attacking. It’s... protecting him.
The skeleton remained motionless, its clock-like eyes glowing with a new intensity, as if about to reveal something crucial. There was a truth, a deep bond, that was taking shape. The skeleton’s sword was not a threat to the protagonists; it was a defense, a protection against anything that might try to break that connection.
The Horsemen, confused, slightly lowered their weapons, but their eyes stayed locked on the skeleton, unsure of what to do next.
—This has never happened before —murmured Famine, still trying to understand the situation—. Never.
The main protagonist, still not fully understanding what was happening, felt a strange pull toward the skeleton, as if the answer to the entire mystery was right in front of him. What did this connection mean? Why was the skeleton defending him? What hidden truth was being revealed at that moment?
The skeleton, without uttering a single word, continued to protect him. The raised sword was a silent declaration that something deeper was at stake, something that went beyond the balance between life and death.
There was much more to uncover, but at that moment, one thing was clear: the connection between the protagonist and the skeleton was real and dangerous, and the next steps would define not only the fate of the Realm of the Dead, but of both worlds.
The enigma of the skeleton, the power of its unstable soul, and the reason for its defense remained a mystery, but now the protagonists knew they were facing a far greater challenge than they had ever imagined.