The skeleton, with its imposing figure still standing tall and its sword raised, slowly began to turn. The protagonists watched cautiously as it headed towards the portal through which they had arrived in the Realm of the Dead. The Four Horsemen, always vigilant, eyed it warily. They knew that a being as powerful and volatile as the skeleton could not be easily controlled. The danger it represented was far beyond anything any other creature in that realm had ever shown.

Anubis, who until that moment had maintained his composure, now seemed surprised, almost astonished by what was happening.

—"He is... guiding the protagonist," —Anubis said, his words filled with disbelief—. "This has never happened before."

The protagonists exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of it. The connection they had felt between the skeleton and the main protagonist remained a mystery, but now it seemed clear that it was no mere coincidence. The skeleton, which had attempted to escape the realm countless times, was now acting as their guide. With its sword still raised, it began walking toward the edge of the realm, toward the portal.

Intrigued and captivated by the strength of that connection, the protagonists followed it without hesitation. There was something in its demeanor that called to them, as if the skeleton knew something they could not yet comprehend. The Four Horsemen, though uneasy, did not intervene. They knew that any rash attack could unleash even greater chaos than they were trying to avoid.

As they approached the portal, the protagonists glanced at the moon, which had been split apart by the immense power of the skeleton. The moon was slowly beginning to mend itself, as if the cut had never happened. But, even though the moon might heal, the impact of what had occurred would not be so easily erased. The power the skeleton had displayed, though temporary, would leave a permanent mark on all who had witnessed it.

Silence enveloped the group as they walked, until Pestilence, always analytical and concerned with the realm's balance, broke the stillness.

—"We cannot allow him to cross," —he warned, his voice serious, reflecting the gravity of the situation. He knew that letting a being like the skeleton leave the Realm of the Dead could have disastrous consequences.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

But before he could act, Death stopped him with a firm gesture of his hand.

—"Not yet," —Death said, his voice calm but authoritative—. "There is something we must understand first."

Always calculating, Death observed the skeleton with a mix of curiosity and caution. He knew that something deeper was at play, something they couldn’t yet fully grasp. The connection between the skeleton and the protagonist was too significant to ignore, and acting without fully understanding the implications of their bond could be an irreparable mistake.

The skeleton stopped in front of the portal, turning once more to face the protagonist. Its clock-like eyes, always marking time, now shone with a different intensity, as if they were trying to communicate something crucial—something that transcended the rules of the Realm of the Dead. It was as if, in that moment of silence, the skeleton was attempting to convey a truth, a message that the protagonist needed to understand, but which was still veiled by the mystery of its existence.

The group halted, waiting. The skeleton did not attack, nor did it advance. It seemed to be at a crossroads, a decision that needed to be made.

Finally, the skeleton took a step back, allowing the protagonists to advance toward the portal. However, before they crossed, its eyes met the protagonist’s one last time. In that moment, something profound passed between them. No words were necessary, but the intensity of the skeleton’s gaze said it all: there was a hidden truth that connected their destinies, a truth that was yet to be discovered.

The protagonists, still shaken by the experience, crossed the threshold of the portal. The air of the living world began to surround them once again, a familiar sensation that reminded them of how fragile the line between life and death truly was. But even though they were returning to the living world, they knew that something had changed forever.

Meanwhile, the skeleton faded into the shadows, its imposing figure returning to the deep silence of the Realm of the Dead. It had not attacked, nor had it fled, but it had made it clear that its story with the protagonist was far from over.

When the last of the protagonists crossed the portal, the threshold closed behind them, sealing the Realm of the Dead once more. The journey had only just begun, and their venture into the underworld had come to an end. But the questions the skeleton had left behind still echoed in their minds.

What did that connection mean? What power did the skeleton and the protagonist share? And most importantly: what implications would that connection have for the future?

Though they were back in the living world, they knew that the answers to those questions would not take long to arrive. And when they did, they would change everything they knew, not only about the Realm of the Dead, but about the balance between life, death, and what lay beyond both worlds.