Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

Barns stumbles out of the challenge chamber, still breathing heavy from the excitement.

As he does, he notices that he has a system notification - his battle against himself has gained him yet another level:

[Name: Barnacles

Species: Human (Irregular)

Level: 11 (0/1600)

Strength: 18

Vitality: 17

Agility: 18

Intellect: 15

Control: 11

Charisma: 19

Luck: 20]

'Looks like my strength is up another point,' he thinks to himself. At a value of 18, he's now 80% stronger than an average human - not counting the extra strength he already has from his weapons and abilities.

"BARNACLES VICTORY!" Clancy shouts, raising his claws into the air high.

"SHEEMSHE HOUMSHIN SSHHUCKSHESSFUL. PRESHENT CURSHED MEDALLION."

Barns takes the broken pieces of coin and throws them at the sage's feet, adding them to the existing pile of doubloons that surround the sage.

HOUMSHIN BREAKSH CURSHED GOLD… INTERESHTING… MAYBE HOUMSHIN MORE CRAB THAN REALIZE…"

It's an unnerving thought - his reflection was all about him 'becoming crab' too - but Barns pushes it out of his mind. He's still very human - for now, anyway.

"How about that super crazy crab power now, eh?"

The sage raises his claws as well, mirroring Clancy.

"FINAL SHTEP. PRESHENT SAGE WITH ULTIMATE CRAB DANSH."

Barns turns to Clancy, raising an eyebrow.

"PERFORM BARNACLES DANCE. JUST LIKE SCUTTLE ISLAND DAYS."

Barns blushes. "Wait, you want me to do one of those stup-"

He takes a deep breath. As a kid, before he regained his memories, he used to love the crab dancing. It was only after coming back into possession of his adult mind that he started to feel ashamed by it.

'But this is part of my culture', Barns realizes. 'I was raised by Clancy, the Emperor of the lands above! And I can dance as good as any of them.'

Barns takes one more breath, steeling himself. He spreads his legs in a wide stance and brings up both of his hands like tiny claws.

"Some music, my King?"

Clancy opens his mouth wide in a freakish smile, and then begans to emit his odd-toned song. Barns sways his hips and starts to get in the mood to dance.

"BARNACLES DANCE ON SCUTTLE BAY~

ACTING LIKE CRAB ALL GOD DAMN DAY~

CATCHING SOME FISH NOW THAT'S SO NICE~

WISH EVERY DAY WOULD HAVE SOME VICE~

WANT HUMAN WOMEN, ALCOHOL~

EAT SOME KOBOLD AND HAVE IT ALL~

SOMEDAY BARNACLES BIG AND STRONG~

BIG LIKE A CRAB SAVE EVERYONE!"

Barns ends his dance with a flourish, after scuttling and clicking around like a buffoon for the entirety of Clancy's song. He looks expectantly at the sage. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The big green crab shimmies back and forth. "BEAUTIFUL DANSHING, RIVALSH EVEN MOSH TALENTED CRUSHTAYSHUNS. CLANSHE SHONG DEEP MEANING, BIG LYRICSH. DUO LIKE DYNAMITE IN OSHEN, UNBLASHTABLE. SAGE CRAB HEREBY BESHTOWSH UPON BARNACLES ESH-RANK CRAB AFFINITY!"

[Your Crab Affinity is now S-Rank!

Ability Gained: Crab Release

Description: For a limited time, grant any crab of your choosing the ability to exceed their natural limits, inducing them into 'Kaiju State'. While in Kaiju State, both the user of this ability and the crab have heightened power.]

"Whoa," Barns says, looking at the System pop-up in front of him.

"ALSHO, GIFT!"

The sage scuttles toward the back of his treasure trove and pulls out a large hook-shaped weapon that's lazily lodged into a treasure chest. He tosses it to Barns, who has no problem catching it - things don't fall very fast in the water.

As he holds the cane up, another system message appears

[Divine Hook of the Crab Sage: SSS Rank

The power of the crab sage dwells within this hook. While it has no special abilities, all crabs will recognize the owner of this hook as their leader. This weapon also possesses incredible strength, and can block any attack.]

Barns takes up the hook in his left hand, while his right remains fitted with his battle gauntlet, Silver Rake. He's all decked out, now.

As he grips the hook, a strange feeling stirs in his chest. Not just power - but responsibility. The leader of all crabs. Whatever that means.

"Great Sage, thank you for everything," Barns bows. "It is an honor to receive your blessings."

"MASHTER CRAB RELEASH, AND RETURN TO ME SHUMDAY. YOU MAY BECOME FIRST HOUMSHIN TO FACE CRAB GOD TRIALSH."

"BARNACLES ULTIMATE HUMAN! RAISED RIGHT. RAISED BY CRAB."

"Yeah, yeah," Barns smiles, feeling lighter on his feet. "So, what do you say, big guy? Ready to head back home to Dimartino?"

"IMPOSHABLE!" the sage interrupts, waving his claws in the water defiantly. "RETURN TOMORROW! TONIGHT, CRABSH HOLD BIG FEASHT! BARNACLES NEW HERO MEETS EMPEROR CRABS! MAYBE SHAMPLESH SOME OF THE FINESH CRAB LADIESH?"

"I think I'm fine without the crab ladies, but I suppose I could 'crab' a bite."

Barns looks from Clancy to the sage, hoping one of them would react to his joke.

"I SHALL INDULGE IN CRAB WOMEN!" Clancy announces.

"Of course you will, buddy. Just…don't get any of them pregnant? Do crabs get pregnant?"

"CRABSPAWN ARMY. WOULD HELP DIMARTINO."

Barns ponders. An army of little Clancies would be quite a big help…

"We'll see how the night goes," Barns acquiesces. "Let's feast!"

As the boy and his crab head off to celebrate their good fortune, the citizens of Dimartino are observing a new kind of world - one helmed by Nazakiel of the Sentinels.

He sits in the throne room, legs crossed and eyes hollow. He drums his powerful fingers on the armrest of Clancy's throne, waiting.

Maria stands at his side, her head down. She's doing what she can to prevent Nazakiel from killing everyone - and at least for now, his murderous intent is focused solely on Barns and Clancy.

Dimartino waits with baited breath for their heroes - though doubt and unease hang heavy in the air. It's no secret that Maria and Osmond were defeated by Nazakiel without him lifting a finger, and news of the horror done to Roscoe - both of the boy's arms, shattered - has had a chilling effect on the kingdom's morale.

Can Barns and Clancy defeat Nazakiel, everyone wonders?

Only time would tell.