Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

Barns rushes forward to the edge of the platform and dives - plummeting to a walkway on the lower level. He lands on his feet, rising from the ground like a predator. His prey - Adon, the Master Vampire.

Adon flicks his cape theatrically, beckoning Barns closer. He sprints to the vampire - if he can finish this quickly, that would be best.

The hero reaches Adon and throws a flying kick first, activating his ’Flame Thrash’ ability. His feet light aflame as he kicks Adon once and lands on his hands. He twists his body abruptly and kicks the vampire again.

Adon reacts in time for the first kick but not the second. Barns kicks the vampire right in the ribs, his flaming foot giving off an extra burst of strength and igniting the vampire’s cloak.

Adon withdraws with a shadowy step and rips the burning cloak off of him, throwing it to the lower levels. He and Barns eye each other with menace as Skado and Osmond finally catch up. The men stop at either side of Barns, each ready to battle - Skado with his long thin dagger, Osmond with his purple-orbed staff.

"Yes, yes, little boy - bring as many friends as you’d like! It makes no difference - I cannot be killed." As he speaks, his eyes focus on Osmond. He recognizes the demon.

"Ah-ha! So we meet again at last, Ozzie. Tell me, is your human whore well?"

Every muscle and vein in Osmond’s arm pops as the demon fantasizes about ripping Adon’s throat out. He’s too angry to respond to Adon’s taunts verbally.

Barns puts his arm out in front of Osmond, keeping the demon back. "Don’t let him goad you," Barns warns. "Let me handle him for now."

Barns steps forward, a swagger in his step. He’s so confident he can kill Adon that he can’t help himself but try and act cool. After all, he wants to taunt Adon, too - it’s vengeance for Yunie."

"So what’s all this bullshit you keep spouting about not being killable?" Barns says, smirking. "Seems like we had no problems obliterating your bitch sister."

He wants to sound ignorant - it’s all part of Barns’ plan to lure Adon into a false sense of security. It works, too - the malice in Adon’s eyes twists into something playfully mad. He thinks he’s going to have fun with Barns.

In a flash, Adon is upon him - so fast it surprises everyone. Barns steps back and jabs with the Silver Rake. Adon’s imposing body isn’t as fast as Barns’ lithe figure, and the young hero is able to sink his blades into Adon.

The vampire’s eyes widen as he feels the Silver Rake’s blades cut through him. Adon rushes off his blade in a frantic panic, practically oozing through the air as he flits away.

The vampire pauses, perched atop one of the walkway railings. His breath is haggard and shallow, and he clutches the burning wound.

"That weapon…I recognize it! Where did you acquire such a thing, you delinquent human!" Adon hadn’t noticed it before - or at least he figured Barns just had some ordinary claw weapon. But that is the Silver Rake, though the last time he saw it, it was wielded by one of his family members and they were trying to kill him.

"Oh, this old thing?" Barns smirks. "Some dumb, dead vampire, I think."

Adon breathes heavily. If Barns had such a thing, he must know where it came from. Did Barns know something about how to kill a Master Vampire? Adon killed his last living relative - buried the man alive while he was still wearing the Silver Rake. So how is it here?

"No, no, no…" Adon mutters to himself, clutching his head. "This cannot be…who could have done such a thing…" Adon suddenly jerks his whole body toward Osmond. He points and screams at the demon.

"You! It was Francois, wasn’t it? WASN’T IT!? WHAT DID THAT HIDEOUS TRASH TELL YOU!?"

Adon grabs his head - his skull is searing with pain. Usually he can keep his emotions better in check than this…is this Adea coming through?

’I knew I shouldn’t have eaten her,’ Adon winces, his head throbbing in agony. ’My dear, sweet, stupid fucking sister. Must your volatility curse me even now?’

Adon leans into his sister’s power, allowing two wings to burst from his back. His clothing lay on his flesh like rags at this point, his pale and muscular chest visible from underneath. His muscles bulge out even further as he ascends into the air, suspended on his sister’s wings.

’They know how to kill me,’ Adon panics, eyeing them each in turn. ’They have something. I know they do. What is it!?’

He beats his wings several times as the three stare up at him and strategize quietly. He can’t hear what they’re saying. ’Damn it!’ he gnashes his teeth together. If only he could hear them.

His eyes turn to the entrance to the Hidden City, where he entered. He may have to flee, he realizes. They’re planning something. It would be better to forsake this entire place - find a new country to live in, forsake this one and never come back. They weren’t here by coincidence, no - they’re hunting him.

Adon leans further into the psychosis, his sister’s rampant emotions taking root in his mind. It’s like his head is splitting in two as his sister’s blood and mind attempt to wrest control of his body.

Then, he decides - he’s fleeing. But just as he starts to fly away, two electric hooks find their way into his wings and yank him back down to the platform. Osmond, holding the reins of the hooks, rips them out with thin magical strands, stripping the vampire’s wings clean off of him in a bloody explosion.

Adon screams in frightened agony, hurrying to his feet and stepping backward quickly.

"Skado, now!" Barns commands. The lanky poisoner sprints ahead, his long thin dagger primed to strike.

Adon swings at Skado to intercept his attack, but Skado stops short. He doesn’t need to get in all the way to land a hit with his special dagger. He slams his palm on the hilt of the dagger, and a needle shoots out of the blade.

The needle flies through the air and hits Adon’s muscled chest. Skado falls back, landing on his butt, his eyes frantically scanning to make sure his needle found its mark.

Adon pulls the small blade out of his chest and flicks it to the side. "This was your big gambit?" he laughs. He feels almost silly for ever being afraid.

"What, was this thing poisoned? I’m immune, you know."

Before he has time to gloat to Skado, Barns rushes in for another attack. He knows what he has to do, and it was now or never.

"Take this!" Barns yells, punching at Adon with his Silver Rake. He knows Silver Rake will have all of Adon’s attention, and the vampire reflexively begins to dodge on his left side. However, that’s exactly what Barns wants.

Barns forms the shape of a claw with his left hand, and swings with all his might.

"CLAW OF DEATH!"