Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

It's chaos on the beach - Haima should never be allowed to use such a powerful weapon. She sprints around, practically on all fours as she trips over herself, ripping the gigantic shrimp apart like she's a dog digging holes in the backyard, clawing at them even with her non-gloved hand. She tackles one and rips its face clean off before screaming at the top of her lungs in unhinged pleasure.

Barns bites his lip as she screams. 'How's she even hotter now that I know she's insane?' he questions. He himself has barely killed any of the six-foot, towering Mantis Shrimp. He's too busy watching Haima prey upon them like a starved wolf.

On the other side of the beach, Clancy is making shrimp skewers. The large crab even has a bonfire going where he's heating up the monsters for an even tastier treat.

Barns neatly cleaves a Mantis Shrimp in half just as it raises its rattling claws at him. As he does, a pop-up appears.

"Finally!" Barns cheers, looking at the System message. He'd leveled up. He looks at his stats, trying to see what has changed.

[Name: Barnacles

Species: Human (Irregular)

Level: 4 (32/500)

Strength: 16

Vitality: 15

Agility: 17

Intellect: 14

Control: 4

Charisma: 18

Luck: 20]

'Looks like my Control went up again,' he sees. So far, his Control and his Level have been the same number. He wonders if that will continue to be the case.

'And my Charisma went up one point, too.'

No new abilities, but he hasn't used 'Flame Thrash' much since acquiring it. He figures now would be a good time to try it out.

"Hey, Haima!" he shouts, getting her attention. She's currently straddling what's left of a Mantis Shrimp, her arms and legs twitching in joy. "Check out this new ability I got!"

Barns doesn't bother using his sword - it's less flashy. He simply throws a kick at a nearby shrimp, activating Flame Thrash as he does. The tip of his foot roars into flame, and as he makes contact with the shrimp, the monster screeches like a tea kettle and combusts.

Haima watches for just a second, clearly amused. But her lust for killing is far stronger, and she gives Barns a quick thumbs-up with her shrimp-covered hand before barreling into the next one.

"So hard to please," Barn gripes.

The trio continue their slaughter until everything on the beach is thoroughly destroyed, and Clancy's gluttonous belly is full. As they pack up, they see another Mantis Shrimp heading in from the water, but they decide to leave it be - the folks next Saturday would deal with it.

"My LORD that felt good," Haima exhales, talking to herself.

As they begin the trek back to Dimartino, Haima hands him back the glove, 'Silver Rake'. Despite all the viciousness of battle, it's still perfect and clean, as if it has never been worn.

One of the perks of an S Rank weapon, Barns supposes.

"That was SO much fun, thank you Barns!" she says gleefully. "Ah! I need an S Rank weapon, too. Who needs Secret Arts when you have a thing like that?"

Barns puts the glove back on his hand. It's a little tighter than before, but it quickly adjusts to the size of his hand. The magic within makes it a one-size-fits-all weapon.

"It is great," Barns professes, "Though I still need to keep up with the vampires to use it."

"Still upset about getting beat by Eldrie?" Haima pokes. She's in a much better mood than she was earlier. "Don't you worry about that, Barns! You're really strong. Maybe he was just a bad match-up for you."

It was his lack of focus, he recalls. Eldrie's attack should have never hit him - he could have used Harden Body. But he was stuck in his own head at the time. Thinking about his own weakness.

"Say, is it just me, or is something a little different about you today?" Haima looks him over.

"I'm...a little more charismatic, I suppose," he winks.

She blushes, but this time, she doesn't look away. There's a moment of silence as they walk, the only sound that can be heard is the clicking of Clancy's legs against the stony path.

"It's been a week since our date, huh?" she says suddenly to herself. "Sorry I've been...busy. But after everything, I figured you probably wouldn't have wanted to see me again."

"Oh, that's not true at all!" Barns replies enthusiastically. "I've been wanting to spend more time with you, actually. Like...date number two!"

"Oh yeah?" Haima says flirtaciously. "Well, I'm a nice girl, you should know. If this is just about getting your rocks off, I'm afraid you'll be in for another disappointing date."

"I don't mind at all. I just want to get to know you better, Haima."

She stops walking, stunned by his words.

"SMOOTH!" Clancy clicks in solidarity.

"In fact," Barns concludes, "I regret bringing it up last time. Sorry, Haima. I've never really dated before, and the people around me gave me the impression that...well, that's what happens on dates."

Barns gives Clancy a sour look, sticking his tongue out as he talks. Clancy covers himself with pincer claws in shame.

Haima glances to Clancy. There's something she wants to say, but she's not fully comfortable divulging in front of the crab.

"Then if a no-expectations date is on the table...I would be delighted," she decides. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, Clancy recommended we go dancing," Barns starts. Haima waves the idea off with a flick of the wrist.

"I'm not much for dancing," she confesses. "How about I take you someplace haunted?"

"H-haunted?" Barns gasps. "But, ghosts aren't real, are they?"

"Oh, they're real." Haima's face erupts into a devilish smirk. "How about you meet me tonight at 11PM in town square? We're going to find some ghosts."

Clancy scuttles closely behind them. "I WANT GHOSTS TOO! CLANCY JOINS?"

Haima giggles. "Your Majesty, I would love to show you to the ghosts, but we'll have to wait until next time - maybe all three of us can go together next week. Deal?"

"DEAL!"

The banter is light-hearted, silly, and warm all the way back to Dimartino. Little did any of them know, the twin vampires of Ordella had already begun to put their offensive plans in motion...

Somewhere in Dimartino, Adon lurks - and he's eager to find his first plaything. But for Adon, not just anyone would do - he has a very specific type...