Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

"No way…"

Francois flutters her eyelashes. "I am also quite surprised. The horde is far northwest and has not moved for years. And yet, today, they began marching south."

"They're coming…"

"Retaliation," Francois smiles. "The First Undead - he controls all the Undead Lords - Zombies, Skeletons, Ghouls - whatever. A being as terrifying as the First Vampire. Just count your blessings that he does not march from the Capital with a horde of several hundred thousand."

"But if we fight off the incoming horde, what's stopping that from happening?"

Francois grins wickedly. "I never told you that your plans for reviving humanity were free from risk."

She glides to the window, looking out at the moonlit courtyard. The pale light reflects on the quiet surface of the pool.

"You are learning to breathe underwater, is that right, little hero?"

The way she says the word 'little' is both condescending and demeaning, but it only adds to her charm. A deadly woman indeed.

"You're pretty well-informed."

Francois flashes her teeth - large, bloodsucking fangs. "It is one of many perks of my power. I can read the mind of any who lust after me. I always know what you are up to, hehe…"

Barns shifts uncomfortably in his bed. "E-everything?"

Francois flares her nostrils. "Everything."

They stare at each other in uncomfortable silence. Were she not so intimidating, Barns would have gone for it - but he didn't need Osmond nagging in his ear to know that was a risky gambit.

"You must make your way to the Underwater Kingdom. The Horde will be at your doorstep in just one week."

"I'm trying, Francois," he says quickly. "I can't figure out Bubble Breath."

"Perhaps I can help."

"You? You know how to breathe underwater?"

"I know how to push a man beyond his limits."

His breath caught in his throat. She points her hand out the open window.

"With me, little hero."

On that note, she manifests a shadowy hand from her back and wraps it around Barns, who's still laying in bed. She, yanks him upright and throws herself out from the window, disappearing into a jet of blackness, still carrying him. They fly down to the pool in one clean motion, and as they arrive Francois transitions back into her original form and sets a gasping, confused Barns on the ground.

Barns looks around, still in disbelief.

'Is that Francois' vampire power? Some kind of teleportation?'

"Yes," she answers with a sneaky smile. "Some kind of teleportation, indeed."

She covers her mouth to snicker.

"Now, little hero. Get in the pool."

"You didn't even give me time to change," he protests. He was wearing a comfy pair of pajamas - not exactly what he'd want to swim in.

"I don't care. Get in the pool."

Her voice is commanding, authoritative. And the aura of lust she exudes makes it near-impossible for Barns to refuse. He wades into the cool water, fully clothed, until he's about waist deep.

"Now what?"

Francois steps toward him, walking along the surface of the water. He had no idea vampires could do that.

"Now you will breathe underwater," she says, calmly. Confidently.

"I already told you, I don't know how."

"I will make you an offer," she smirks. "One that you simply could never refuse. For upon it will hinge the entire fate of your kingdom."

She stood over him, a specter of malevolent beauty in the moonlight. Their eyes lock, and he quivers from her endless gaze. Osmond had warned him so many times not to look into her eyes, and yet here he is - spellbound.

"This lustful power of mine can be transferred," she hums, her every word winding its way through Barns' brain. "It can be yours. Think of what you could do with such a power."

"You're…going to give it to me?"

"I will give it to you, yes. But you will have to take it from my body," she says, moving sensually on the surface of the water. "To you, and only to you. But only if you survive ten minutes under the water."

"Ten minutes!?" Barns exclaims in disbelief. "I can barely do two on a good attempt!"

"And now you will do ten."

She places her foot on Barns head and before he can react, she pushes him under the water. He flails, trying to free himself, but the vampiress is immutable.

She waits above him, keeping him submerged in the water. He's gasping and fighting under the water, but to no avail - the vampiress is simply too powerful.

He's only seconds in, already choking on the water. There's nothing he can do - her power is too great for him. Even if he tries to squirm away from her, it's like the entire surface of the water is frozen solid - inescapable. He feels the air, no - the life escaping from his lungs in a dying gasp.

He's going to die. If she keeps him under, this will be the end. He can't do it - can't use Bubble Breathing.

…But he has to.

'I can't die here, not like this,' Barns says to himself, starting to gather up his conviction. 'I'm the legendary hero!'

He stops struggling against Francois. He thinks only about his lungs.

Lungs of steel.

He feels like he's about to pass out from lack of oxygen, but somehow he's able to keep the water out of his lungs - for now.

Harden your insides.

Easier said than done. He uses 'Harden Body' reflexively. It doesn't help with the breathing, but it does help him to focus. He's bought himself at least five seconds with it.

Imagine air bubbles.

He does. It's all he could think about. The desire to breathe - to thrive underwater. He needs to.

He just needs to take a single breath. That's all it will take. His periphery grows dark. He feels himself slipping.

Just…one…breath.

He imagines the air bubbles. How sweet it would feel in his lungs to take one more breath, even if it was his last. He craves it so desperately - even more than the innate craving in his flesh for Francois.

More than he craves to see Haima again.

More than he craves to save the world.

Just a breath.

He gasps. Suddenly, bubbles flow out of his lungs. And he inhales. No water. Air.

The foot continues holding him down.

'That's right,' Barns thinks. 'She said ten minutes.'

He floats under the water, completely calm. He breathes in and out, lungs finally adapted to his technique. And finally, after all of his training, a window pops up.

[New Skill Acquired: Bubble Breath.]