Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

Osmond shuts the door behind them, leaving he and Barns separated from the outside world. They sent Skado on a coffee run to buy a few minutes for this conversation in absolute secrecy and silence.

"Barns, what I am about to tell you must never be repeated in front of anyone, especially Maria. Do you understand?"

Barns squints his eyes at the demon. They’re standing in a dark and abandoned house off the main street that has not yet been renovated or fixed up. It reminds him of the ghostly mansion he visited with Haima a couple nights ago.

"There are things about our world that you must know," Osmond says ominously. "Things that I fear keeping to myself. If I die, this information must not be lost, or the kingdom of Dimartino will surely fall. And so I have decided to entrust it all to you."

Barns nods stoicly. "We might need more than a coffee run’s worth of distraction, then," he smiles weakly.

Osmond shakes his head. "We can get into great detail some other time, but you must know the full truth…something even I had not realized until viewing the Memory Stone."

Osmond wastes no time, and he rips his own shirt off, revealing his muscular body.

"Eh, I’m actually into girls myself," Barns laughs nervously as Osmond strips.

"Shut up," the demon snaps. "Look."

Osmond gestures to a tattoo on the left side of his stomach, just above his thigh. It’s a stylized symbol of a monster’s mouth, each fang connected in a single line and embellished in excruciating detail. The overall silhouette of the mark resembles a bat, somewhat.

"This is the embodiment of Gluttony, and it’s time you understand what that means. But to do that, we have to go back, to a time before I was created. You see, Barns, there was once a man named Lauren, and what Maria can never know is that Francois and I were created from him."

"Created…from?" Barns asks, clearly confused. "Do you mean…"

"Lauren was an extremely powerful man, born from another world. He had powers that made others envious…and he was a threat to the Lord of the Apocalypse. Although, back then, the ’Lord’ was just an ordinary man with a dark wish to see the world burn."

Osmond pauses, adjusting himself and putting his shirt back on.

"I do not know the full details, but Lauren’s mind and body were split into seven parts. Francois was created from his memories of lustful desire - and given his heart. Me, on the other hand…I was born of his obsessions and hunger, and…"

Osmond places his hand on his stomach. "These were once Lauren’s guts, now living inside me."

"Whoa, whoa," Barns says quickly. "You’re some guy’s intestines?"

Osmond scowls. "No. I have his intestines. This is the embodiment of Lauren’s gluttony, made manifest in my mark. And…I have his memories, too. I remember the things he obsessed over. It is what makes me who I am, Barns…"

"Lauren and Maria knew each other, didn’t they?" Barns speaks quietly, realization forming.

"Lauren desired to protect Maria more than anything else," Osmond admits. "From the moment I was born, she was my guiding light. But…she must never know about this, Barns. It would break her heart, to learn of Lauren’s fate…and it would likely cause her to hate and reject me for what I am."

Barns pats Osmond on the back, pulling him in for a bro hug.

"Maria loves you, my man," he says, trying to cheer up his demon friend. "Doesn’t matter who’s guts you have. You’re still Ozzie to us."

"Thank you, Barnie," he says, smiling and resting his head on the hero’s shoulder for a moment. Barns felt so warm to him - unlike Maria, whose skin always feels somewhat cool to the touch. Osmond had never been this close to another human other than Maria. He’s pleasantly surprised at how much the warmth dispels his inner doubt. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Osmond pulls away from the hug, still slightly transfixed - Barns’ high Charisma is putting in a lot of work.

"There is one other thing I need to tell you, Barns," Osmond says quietly. "It concerns my mark. Judging by what I’ve learned from Francois’ Memory Stone…"

Osmond pauses for effect. The tension is palpable as he readies himself to speak the most significant words he’s ever uttered. Barns watches him with curious intent.

"It would appear that I have the power to end the Monster Apocalypse."

Barns is taken aback by the profound statement, eager to learn more.

Osmond’s purple eyes shine in the darkness, locked with Barns’. "If only I knew more about this power. In truth, I only know it’s possible because of Francois’ Memory Stone - you see, Francois also holds the power to end the Vampire Apocalypse."

Barns is stunned as bombshell after bombshell is hurled at him. "Tell me more," the hero demands.

The dark house settles around them as Osmond speaks once more.

"Each Apocalypse is defined by what created it, Barns. In the case of the Vampire Apocalypse, it all began with the birth of the First Vampire - I learned this from Francois’ memories. But killing the First Vampire is only one step. To truly end an Apocalypse, the embodiment of its corresponding sin must be brought to bear against the Keeper of the Apocalypse. Otherwise, the cycle would just begin again. A new First Vampire would be created."

"Keeper of the Apocalypse?"

"Yes. They are known as ’Sentinels’ - humans who operate directly under the Lord of the Apocalypse."

Barns thinks it through in his head. To achieve a true ’Apocalypse Reset’, it seems defeating these ’Sentinels’ and cleansing the source of the apocalypse was essential. What’s more - Osmond and Francois had a definitive role to play.

"So you can end the Monster Apocalypse, and Francois can end the Vampire Apocalypse. What about the others?"

Osmond shakes his head. "I vow to use my power - you and I will end the Monster Apocalypse together. But without seeing the other Memory Stones, I cannot say what we will do for the others. It goes to reason that there are others out there like Francois and I - parts of Lauren. Although I am loathe to admit they are unlikely to become allies."

"So what do we do?"

Osmond’s hand glides to his stomach just as the door knocks - Skado is back with their coffee.

"These powers are transferable, Barns. If the other embodiments refuse to join our cause, we must simply kill them and steal their powers. But this means nothing if we do not have the strength to defeat the Sentinels. From what I understand, they are the most powerful beings that live. I’ve never actually seen one myself."

As Skado steps into the house, Barns nods. "Then our end goal is in sight. First things first, though. We’ll get Skado home, and finish off Adon once and for all…er…once I say hi to Maria, of course."