From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals-Chapter 581: Blood boil

John frowned, his gaze sharpening as he looked at the map. "And the timer?"

"Thirty minutes left," Ty replied, his voice steady. "We need to figure out what to do before time runs out."

John studied the map for a moment longer before looking up at Ty and Rosana, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Alright. Let’s think this through. If JJ sent it, then she’s got a plan. We just need to see it the way she does."

Ty nodded, appreciating John’s level-headedness. They needed that right now. He handed the compass over to John, watching as John examined it, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"What do you make of it?" Ty asked.

John turned the compass in his hands, watching as the needle remained fixed in place. He frowned, glancing back at the map. "It’s pointing somewhere specific... but not north." He looked at Ty, his eyes questioning. "You think it’s leading us to something?"

"Maybe," Ty replied. "But it could also be leading us away from something. We haven’t figured that part out yet."

John hummed thoughtfully, setting the compass down and turning his attention to the smoke grenades. He picked one up, turning it over in his hands. "These are marked," he noted. "Burning Suns. They’re not just for cover, are they?"

Rosana shook her head. "No. We think it’s part of a bigger plan—maybe to create a distraction or signal someone."

John’s gaze grew distant, his mind clearly working through possibilities. "It’s got to be layered. JJ’s plans are always layered," he said, more to himself than to them. He looked at Ty, a hint of a smile on his lips. "She likes to keep everyone guessing."

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Ty smirked, nodding. "That she does."

The sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway drew their attention. Ty’s eyes narrowed, his hand instinctively moving toward the dagger at his side. The door opened slowly, and Fernando stepped into the room, his expression guarded. Behind him, Yagrid Suisin followed, his eyes sharp as they took in the scene.

Fernando’s gaze moved from Ty to the items on the floor, his brow arching slightly. "Looks like a strategy meeting," he said, his voice dripping with his usual sarcasm. "And here I thought you were just playing with toys."

Rosana rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement there. "If you want to call trying to stay alive ’playing,’ then sure."

Fernando snorted, folding his arms over his chest. "Just wanted to see if you lot were still kicking." He nodded toward Yagrid. "We’ve got some movement from the other side. Gears thought you should know."

Yagrid stepped forward, his gaze meeting Ty’s. "There are scouts. They’re getting closer. They’re spreading out—trying to find our positions."

Ty exchanged a glance with John and Rosana before turning back to Yagrid. "We figured as much. We’ve got about thirty minutes before they make their move."

Yagrid nodded, his expression serious. "Then we need to be ready. They’re not going to wait for us to figure this out."

Ty looked down at the map, then at the items scattered around them. The weight of what was coming pressed down on him, but he knew they couldn’t afford to hesitate. He looked up at Fernando, Yagrid, and John, his gaze steady.

"We’ve got a plan to figure out," he said, his voice calm but firm. "And not a lot of time to do it. Let’s get to work."

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The room fell into a focused silence as they gathered around, each of them taking a piece of the puzzle in front of them. Ty could feel the tension in the air, the urgency of the situation pushing them all forward. They had thirty minutes to figure out JJ’s plan, to prepare for what was coming. And they would need every second of it.

The seconds ticked by slowly, the sound of their breathing the only thing breaking the silence. Ty glanced at the compass again, his mind racing. They needed to understand why it was pointing the way it was—what JJ was trying to tell them.

Rosana traced the lines on the map once more, her brow furrowed. "This route... it avoids their main paths. But it’s risky."

John nodded, his eyes on the timer. "We need to move, but we can’t afford mistakes. If we get caught out there..."

Ty clenched his jaw, the frustration building. They were close—he could feel it. But there was something they were missing, something they weren’t seeing. He looked at Fernando, who was leaning against the wall, watching them with a thoughtful expression.

"Fernando," Ty called, drawing the man’s attention. "What do you think? You’ve got a sharp eye for this kind of thing."

Fernando pushed off the wall, a smirk playing at his lips as he approached the group. He eyed the items on the floor with a casual interest before settling his gaze on the compass. "You know, it’s kind of funny," he began, his voice dripping with mockery, "thinking about what JJ would do. I mean, she’s always been so clever, hasn’t she? Always got some plan up her sleeve. But then again, I guess having your parents killed makes you real resourceful."

Rosana shot him a glare, but Fernando continued, unabated. He picked up the compass, tilting it in his hand. The soft blue glow that emanated from it seemed almost alive, pulsing faintly in the dim light. "See this? This is her telling you where the attack will come from first." He paused, his tone growing more sarcastic. "The best route, right? She probably wants to make sure you don’t trip over your own feet while you run."

Ty frowned, ignoring Fernando’s jabs. "The glow... what’s causing that?"

Fernando shrugged, the smirk never leaving his face. "Some gimmick, probably. The spider bot put some kind of energy into it. A little something to guide you right into the action, straight to where they’re planning to hit. It’s clever, I’ll give her that."

Rosana looked at Ty, her expression skeptical. "So, it’s guiding us... directly to the attack?"