Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

When Barns returns to the castle the next morning, someone is already waiting for him.

"Mr. Barnacles, sir! Good morning!"

Barns waves as Roscoe, Yunie’s younger brother, comes racing toward him.

"Mr. Hero, have you seen Yunie?" Roscoe asks, frantic. "She didn’t come home last night."

Barns is stumped. "I haven’t," he admits. "But I went to town late last night. I hardly saw anyone."

"Big sis went to town to run some errands for the guild," Roscoe says, his words as frenetic as his body. His worry is palpable. "She was talking to that bodyguard guy, the one who used to be a vampire. El…something."

"Eldrie?" Barns asks.

"Yeah! I saw them walk to town together!" Roscoe wails. "But she never came back!"

Barns pats Roscoe on the head. "Don’t worry, little man. We’ll find her."

’Yunie and Eldrie, huh? Are they hooking up or something?’ Barns wonders. As he considers the possibility, another dark thought crosses his mind.

’Eldrie’s one of us…right? He wouldn’t…’

Barns shakes his head, snapping out of the dark thoughts. "Roscoe, you go on and get things set up at the guild like Yunie taught you, okay? I’ll find your sister."

Roscoe throws his arms in despair. "Can’t I come with you?" he frets. "I’m scared!"

"If Yunie got caught up with something, she’d want you to take care of the guild, wouldn’t she?" Barns smiles. He hadn’t gotten any notifications, so it’s not like Yunie is dead. She’s just…not here, currently.

"But without big sis, we don’t even have any quests…"

"All the more reason for you to head over there, and explain the situation to any Adventurers who stop by. I’m the legendary hero, right?" Barns flexes for the young and distraught boy. "If I can’t figure it out, nobody can!"

Roscoe sniffles. "O-okay," he says, defeated. "But when you find her, come right back, okay!"

"It’s a deal," Barns and Roscoe shake on it.

"Speaking of, kid," Barns says before stepping away. "I asked Yunie if I could teach you some combat moves, and she reluctantly agreed. When I come back with Yunie, maybe we can get some training in?"

"No way!" Roscoe shouts, pumping up excitedly. It’s enough to diffuse some of the young man’s worries. "You mean it! I’ll be a student of THE legendary hero!?"

"That’s right," Barns grins. "You’re going to be my first official protege!"

He pats Roscoe on the head one more time and sends the boy on his way back to the Adventurer Guild.

"Alright," Barns says to himself. "If Eldrie was the last one to see Yunie, he’s as good a starting point as any."

Eldrie was Maria’s personal bodyguard for now, and she hardly ever let him out of her sight.

’Guess I’m going to see Maria.’

Barns heads off, uncertain of what the future would reveal to him.

…

Meanwhile, in Ordella…

Adon reaches his long pale fingers down, wrapping them around his captive’s neck and forcing her to look up at him. He’s used to fear, and terror in the eyes of his victims. This one is so delectably new - she looks at him not with horror but with burning determination and anger.

"Do what you will with me, your days are numbered!" she growls. Her face is bruised, her hair matted and hanging over her eyes. She didn’t go down without a fight.

Adon taps her on the chin. "Do you know how long it’s been since someone had the audacity to fight back?" he sneers. "Oh, Adea - how long?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Oh, Adon. It’s been years. She won’t keep up her little act for long, hehe. Once she realizes how much trouble she’s really in."

Adon and his sister exchange a loving smile. As soon as he turns back to his captive, the smile turns to a grimace.

"We won’t be killing you, not yet," Adon informs her. "You are a very special prize, after all. Our first Dimartino human in…oh, how long, my sweet sister?"

"Dear brother, not since before that rat Osmond moved in and took it over."

"Yes, that’s right, my sweet Adea. Not since Osmond."

"Barnacles will destroy you!" she shrieks, struggling against her restraints to no avail. She’s bound at the wrists and ankles in a sharp, rusted iron chair in the back of the slaughterhouse. Bodies hang around her and the scent of blood overwhelms her senses. The floor is scattered with bone and rot - and yet none of the horror she sees breaks her. She knows Barns. She knows he will win against these vampires.

"Ah, yes. Adea, my sweet sister - Barnacles is the name of the boy hero, isn’t that right? I’m sure once he realizes you’re missing, he’ll come running right to us. You’re important to him, aren’t you?"

She clenches her jaw and refuses to answer.

"Come on, now," Adon snarls, baring his fangs at her. "If you won’t play nicely, I’ll just turn you into a vampire and make you kill him yourself. Won’t you at least tell me your name?"

She rattles the chair and howls in protest.

Adon grabs her head. With the strength he possesses, he could pop her skull with no effort at all. She realizes this as he slowly squeezes harder and harder. "Your name, bitch."

"Yunie. And you’d better remember it because I’m going to be the last thing you think about when you’re dying and thinking about where it all went wrong, you prick."

"Yunie," Adon repeats, vile energy emanating from his soul. "Yunie. The bait that brought us the ’legendary hero’. Isn’t that just wonderful, my dear sister?"

"Oh, Adon," she cackles. "You’re one for theatrics, aren’t you?"

"My sister, it’s almost time for you to head out as well. I believe our friend Francois has some explaining to do."

"Hehehe."

Adea lurches up from the ground, her cleaver already in hand. "Adon, Adon. I think you’re quite right. My, we’re going to have a busy day ahead of us, you and me. Save me a piece of that legendary hero, won’t you? I want to know what that misguided hope tastes like."