Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

He spots Eldrie on the outskirts of town, getting in some practice with his bow. With his new visual acuity, he hits the bullseye with every single shot.

"Hey, Barns," Eldrie says quickly, lowering his bow. "Wasn't expecting to see you around this morning!"

"Eldrie, I just saw Jordan," he says teasingly. The former vampire blushes.

"Yeah? I…haven't hung out with her in a bit, actually," he says nervously. "I mean…it's not like I'm avoiding her or anything, I just -"

"You're not sure how to take it to the next level?" Barns wonders.

"Something like that," Eldrie agrees. "I dated Incantra for so long it's like I forgot how to date."

Barns chuckles. He knows something about that feeling. His first date with Haima had been a complete disaster, he realized - and though his second date went better, it wasn't exactly traditional. They went to go talk to ghosts, after all.

"This new world we've built is uncharted territory," Barns says, offering his advice. "I say tell her how you feel. How you really feel. I doubt she's got many suitors who are best buds with the legendary hero, eh?"

Barns punches Eldrie's arm playfully. The sharpshooter's demeanor changes in an instant - no longer serious, but aglow with warmth.

"It's good to see you feeling better, Barns."

The hero blinks quickly. He hadn't realized it, but he is in a bit of a better mood. It's not that Clancy's loss is weighing any less on him. It's more that he knows, deep down, that Clancy would want Barns to be happy. To keep going at 100%, no matter what.

For all the self-indulgence Clancy was guilty for, the King Crab looked out for Barns like no other.

"Yeah," Barns replies after a while, his eyes still starry and drifting.

"So, what's on your agenda today?"

"I need to see the edge of the barrier," he says. "I know the police force is setting up a perimeter. Our scouts are doing their best as well…but I want to see it for myself. I'll never know how to deal with this horde until I know what we're looking at. Thirty thousand undead is hard for me to even imagine."

Eldrie nods. "Makes sense. Absalom didn't show you the horde in his vision-thing?"

"Not the horde. Just its commander."

"The Zombie Lord in a spacesuit," Eldrie shudders. "Corpsie. Should be easy enough to spot - in theory. Can't imagine many other zombies wearing something like that."

"No…me neither. What do you say, Eldrie? Want to go check it out with me? Sounds like the horde is mostly gathered north - I imagine they're just past the Pale Court."

It feels weird to mention the Pale Court without addressing the elephant in the room - Francois.

She appeared during the battle with Nazakiel, and though she got a few good attacks in on him, she was ultimately defeated - burst into dust…

"Sure. I'd be glad to go. I want to see, myself."

They agree and share a snack before heading out on the road, cutting through the Dimartino jungle northwest until arriving at the main gate of Dimartino just north of the castle. They begin their descent north, into the foglands of the Pale Court.

"I thought this fog might dissipate once Francois was dead," Eldrie quivers. The pendant she gave him to help manage his vampiric powers hung around his neck, an eternal reminder of Francois - and also of Adon and Adea.

When they arrive at the Pale Court, they look around. Supposedly, there were a hundred humans still left here in Francois' thrall, but as they peer through the vampire's base of operations, they see no signs of anyone.

Even so, there's a lingering presence in the Pale Court that's hard to discern. It feels as if they're being watched.

"Completely abandoned, and this place is still a nightmare," Eldrie winces as he looks around another corner. "I can almost feel her presence, still. Can't you?"

Barns looks into the sky. "I can," he replies. That seductive, otherworldly pull yet lingers in every corner of the Pale Court.

A Master Vampire is only able to be killed by a blood relative, and yet he saw Nazakiel vaporize her right before his very eyes. Barns believes that Nazakiel must be so strong he can defy the very laws of existence.

"Let's just keep going," Barns suggests. "I don't think there's anything left here."

They proceed further north, getting closer to the edge of the barrier with every step.

At last, they arrive, a few hours into their journey.

The shimmering perimeter of Clancy's divine barrier stands like a curtain of light - quiet, alive, humming gently in the morning stillness. This is where the horde should be. Where thousands upon thousands of undead were gathered to build a blockade and potentially find a way to break through. And yet, as they arrive…

Nothing.

Barns stops. He steps closer.

No scratching. No groaning. No movement. Not a single soul in sight - or lack thereof, in the form of a shambling corpse.

His heartbeat quickens. He scans the treeline. The hills. The ruins. Nothing. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Maybe the horde is a bit further out?" Eldrie wonders, inches from the barrier. "How's this work, anyway? I'm not going to be struck down by Clancy if I try to pass through, will I?"

Barns glances at Eldrie - specifically at his prominent red eyeball.

"No," Barns says. Somehow, he can tell. Clancy's barrier is possessed of more intelligent magic than any of them could possibly articulate, but Barns knows the truth. Eldrie - even Osmond - would be free to come and go through the barrier as they please. The true power of the barrier is that it is infused with Clancy's Crab Intuition, and will only block those who seek harm to Dimartino or its people.

As they ponder the situation, they are alerted by a rustling sound from the nearby trees on the far side of the barrier.

And then-

A figure appears.

White. Reflective. A space suit?

It limps toward him with a twitching gait, a marionette held too loosely.

It raises a hand.

And waves.

Barns doesn't move.

His instincts scream. His Crab Intuition lights up like a flare. It's like the whole world goes red, with how intense the malevolence is.

Something is terribly wrong.