Global Survival: I Have Endless Skeletons-Chapter 93: A Basement Full of Regrets

Minerva paced back and forth across the narrow basement floor, her boots scraping softly against the damp stone. She bit down on the edge of her lower lip, her brows knitted tightly together.

Nervousness was written plainly across her face, impossible to hide no matter how hard she tried.

Standing a few feet away from her was Rowena.

Compared to Minerva, Rowena appeared far more composed.

Her posture was steady, her breathing measured.

Yet the occasional glance she cast toward the small wooden door leading into the basement betrayed her true emotions. Beneath the calm exterior, unease simmered quietly.

The basement itself felt oppressive.

It was dark and humid, the air thick and stale, clinging to the skin.

The only source of light came from a lone lantern hanging crookedly on the wall, its flame flickering weakly.

Shadows stretched and warped across the stone walls, dancing like restless specters.

"Do you think they’ll come?" Rowena finally asked, creasing her brow as she watched her anxious friend.

Minerva halted mid-step.

She stared at the wooden door for a long moment, as though expecting it to burst open at any second. Her fingers curled into fists before she answered.

"...I—I don’t know," she replied quietly, her voice trembling despite her efforts to steady it.

Only now did she truly realize how vulnerable she was.

She had spent so long chasing what she believed to be justice that she had neglected her own training. Ideals had guided her steps, but ideals alone could not protect her in the abyss.

She might hold the title of Vice Captain, but the position meant very little in reality. There were countless awakeners within the Federation Police Force who were stronger than she was...far stronger.

Elric himself wasn’t even among the strongest.

In fact, he was far from it.

How could a mere Level 13 Vanguard hold the rank of Captain?

The answer was obvious.

Nepotism.

One of the most influential figures among the Federation’s upper leadership had personally nominated Elric for the position.

That backing was his shield, protecting him from scrutiny, criticism, and replacement.

That was the power he wielded.

And Minerva?

She had nothing.

The influence of her late mother meant nothing here, not in the abyss where strength and survival ruled above all else.

Memories and legacies carried no weight.

Connections rotted quickly when exposed to fear.

Now, with a terrifying Necromancer hunting them, she could only pray that the few fragile connections she still had within the Federation Police Force would be enough to matter.

Rowena observed Minerva’s pale face in silence. She did not try to comfort her. She did not offer hollow reassurances or meaningless words like

"Don’t worry, everything will be fine."

Because nothing would be fine.

They needed help.

And they needed it fast.

Rowena had already lost too much to this cause.

Too many lives had been swallowed by the abyss, and she was not ready to add her own name to that list.

Though she tried not to blame herself for the deaths of her former party members, the thought crept into her mind more often than she cared to admit.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw them.

Their faces.

Their smiles.

Their laughter.

Their pain.

The promises they had shared under the abyss skies.

The love that had begun to bloom between couples who had believed they would have time.

Hope.

All of it...

Gone.

She exhaled slowly through her nose, her breath trembling. All of this had happened because she had chosen to fight a battle that was never truly hers.

Did she regret it?

Of course she did.

If she were given another chance, she would have slowed down. She would have gathered information, studied her enemy, and questioned her assumptions instead of charging ahead blindly.

Her legs finally gave out beneath her.

Rowena lowered herself to the floor, curling inward as she wrapped her arms tightly around her knees. Her shoulders trembled faintly.

Minerva watched her best friend crumble, and her heart shattered into countless pieces.

They had both avoided speaking about the destruction of the Glorious Path Party. They pretended that silence would dull the pain, that time alone would heal the wound. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

But grief did not fade when ignored.

It festered.

The longer they pretended everything was fine, the deeper the pain cut into them.

Minerva opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her body shuddered slightly.

What could she possibly say?

That she would avenge them?

That their deaths had meaning?

That they had fought for the right cause?

The words felt empty even before leaving her lips.

She swallowed hard, tasting bitterness on her tongue. Regret twisted around her lungs, tightening with every breath. Guilt carved into her heart like a cold, serrated dagger.

Her shoulders felt unbearably heavy, as though the weight of countless innocent souls pressed down on her. The burden threatened to crush her.

Will I ever be able to forgive myself?

The thought froze her in place.

All the tension and restless urgency drained from her body, vanishing like smoke. Even if Elric and the others were brought to justice, would it change anything?

Would it bring the dead back?

What did it even matter anymore?

Besides, those they had lost were now undead servants under Thoren’s control. Even in death, they were denied peace.

The thought made her sniff softly, her vision blurring.

Her heart pounded heavily in her chest.

The atmosphere within the basement grew suffocating.

Sorrow wrapped around the two girls like a second skin, clinging to them, pressing in from all sides. Each of them dealt with their grief in the only way they knew how.

Suddenly, the basement door creaked open.

Two figures descended the steps, their footsteps echoing faintly in the enclosed space. They paused when they saw the two girls, their expressions shifting subtly as they sensed the heavy mood.

Something was clearly wrong.

Still, they chose not to dwell on it.

"Why did you summon us?" Alma asked, her voice flat and composed.

If Thoren had been present, he would have immediately recognized her as the girl who had welcomed him when he first arrived in the abyss.

Minerva cleared her throat.

She hadn’t expected both of them to arrive at the same time. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to straighten and explain everything.

Her recent discoveries, Elric’s involvement, and the danger now looming over them all.

She spoke carefully, choosing her words with precision.

Since Elric was compromised, she didn’t know who else she could trust. More importantly, a powerful Necromancer was actively targeting them.

They could not reveal themselves, not until the situation was fully under control.

Alma and her teammate listened without interrupting. T

heir expressions shifted repeatedly as Minerva spoke, shock giving way to disbelief, disbelief turning into deep frowns.

When Minerva finally finished, Alma sucked in a sharp breath.

"Are you certain about this?" Green asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

"Why would I lie to you?" Minerva replied, frowning. "My friend is a Level 11 Paladin. She can sense undead energy from miles away. Without her, I would have already fallen into his hands."

An evil Necromancer within the Federation Police Force.

It sounded impossible.

Yet.

Alma and Green exchanged glances.

They did not doubt Minerva.

Everyone within the force knew her character. Her sense of justice was unwavering, even to her own detriment. If she said this much, then the truth could not be far behind.

"Before we take any action," Alma said after a long pause, "we need to verify this information ourselves."

"No problem," Minerva nodded. She had expected nothing less. "You can trust Ursula."

"Alright..."

With that, Alma and Green turned and left the basement.

Their hearts raced as they ascended the steps.

When they had arrived, they never imagined the situation was this dire.

And if Minerva’s information proved true.

They couldn’t begin to imagine what would happen next.