Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

The next day, Barns is hard at work again in the pool practicing his breathing exercises. The moment he wakes up, he sprints from the top of his tower wearing nothing but skimpy briefs, and cannonballs into the pool.

It seems like everyone in the kingdom of Dimartino knows that this is Barns’ life now, and so he rarely gets an opportunity to be alone.

"And like, maybe I’m just projecting," Eldrie says as Barns surfaces from the water. He’d been monologing, but Barns has hardly heard any of it.

"You don’t say," Barns says, slicking his drenched hair out of his face.

Eldrie adjusts himself. He’s sitting on a beach chair at the side of the pool, pouring his soul out. Even if Barns isn’t listening, it feels good for him to get some things off his chest - maybe even better since Barns isn’t an active listener. He can say anything without fear of being judged, as long as Barns is underwater.

"What do you think I should do?"

Eldrie is lounging shirtless, but even still has a scarf wrapped around his neck. Come to think of it, Barns hasn’t seen Eldrie’s neck a single time.

’He was branded by Adon and Adea, wasn’t he? I guess that explains it.’

Barns had seen a few others from Ordella - the hideous ’X’ shaped brands on their neck were how the vampire twins ’marked’ their property. Certainly a memory that Eldrie would rather forget, even if his red eye is a constant reminder of them.

"Do about…?" Barns asks, his voice a little raspy. He figures he could take a couple minutes away from his training. His lungs are feeling a little tired.

Eldrie peeks over to Barns as if he’s only just noticing the hero might not be paying full attention. "Jordan. What should I do about Jordan?"

"Uh…" Barns scratches his head. "I think that’s the one I didn’t get acquainted with yesterday."

"What do you mean?" Experience tales with Freewebnovel

"Nothing," Barns says quickly. "Jordan. You like her? You think she’s attractive?"

"Oh, incredibly so," Eldrie beams, thinking about her supple skin and her delectable curves. "But…I’m worried that it’s only because she reminds me of Incantra. That’s a terrible reason to pursue someone romantically, isn’t it? Because they look like your dead girlfriend?"

Eldrie’s gaze falters as he speaks.

"That’s why she caught your eye, but it’s not going to be what starts a relationship," Barns says, sounding wise. "So, I think you’re okay. Ask her to dinner - something low-key. If she’s anything like her friends, should be an easy clap."

"Easy…what!?" Eldrie blushes. "Barns, that’s NOT what I’m after, here!"

The hero sinks a bit, blowing bubbles into the water while his eyes are still above the surface. Eldrie facepalms.

"How does someone with so little tact as you have so much charm for the ladies?"

Barns resurfaces. "It’s all about the confidence, my man. I might be the legendary hero, but you’re like…the legendary hero’s left-hand man! That’s gotta score you some confidence points, no?"

Eldrie frets, pulling at his scarf and pointing at his covered left eye. "Does this look scream confidence to you?"

Barns laughs. Over their last several interactions, he and Eldrie have grown quite close. The former vampire once beat him in a fight - Barns has respect for him over that. But more than respect, they were developing a friendship built on mutual trust.

In many ways, Eldrie is similar to Barns. Not just the similar build or the brown hair - they are pragmatists, through and through. But where Barns is a bit more hotheaded and cocksure, Eldrie airs on the side of reserved caution and prefers to stay out of the limelight.

Eldrie is also quickly becoming Clancy’s most devout follower.

"Maybe…go without the scarf, if your girl Jordan comes by today? You’ve got a great body, a nice smile - er, I mean that in a ’bro’ way. What isn’t there to like?"

Barns blushes a bit when he speaks, embarrassed. It’s not like him to throw out comments, but he’s speaking honestly. In fact, he’s a little jealous at just how perfect Eldrie’s abs are.

’Eh, I have nicer arms, though,’ Barns notes before diving underwater.

His record yesterday was seventy-seven seconds underwater - nowhere near good enough. He isn’t even sure if the bubbles are working, or if that’s just his natural stamina at work.

"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, Barns. I think, when I see her again, I’ll take your advice and ask her on a date."

Barns, of course, can’t hear a thing Eldrie says, but the former vampire doesn’t seem too bothered. He throws his shirt and shoes back on and strolls away from the pool, deep in thought.

When Barns resurfaces, he sees Eldrie’s already sauntering off.

"I think that was two minutes that time," he thinks to himself. "I’m getting better." Eager to test his theory, he dives again.

Another two minutes. Barns struggles for air at the bottom of the pool but pushes himself to his absolute limit before finally erupting to the surface.

He gasps for air. He’d been too close to the ’drowning’ sensation for comfort - but he knows if he doesn’t push his limits, he’ll never master this technique.

Not only that, but unlike with ’Claw of Death’, Barns won’t be able to rely on a life-or-death battle to push his learning and body to the limit. ’Bubble Breath’ was more of a utility ability than anything.

He turns around, sensing a presence behind him. As he does, he sees Osmond and Maria reach the edge of the pool. The Dimartino duo both tilt their head at him in unison.

"Yes, yes, how can I assist you?" Barns says with a silly smile. It’s like he’s taking office hours at the pool.

"Sorry, Barns, I know you’d much rather have two scantily clad women show up to splash around with you," Maria snips.

He face turns bright red. "You, uh…saw that, huh?"

"Nothing happens in this castle without my knowledge, you should know that by now. Oz, tell him what you told me."

"Of course, my dove. Barnie - our scouts have finished surveying the land around Ordella, up to the border of the Red Country. Our suspicions were correct - there are human monsters in the Ordella province, far on the northern reaches."

"Okay, that sounds promising, no? So what’s the idea, we send me and Clancy out to convert them?"

"I’m afraid it won’t be quite so simple," Osmond grits his teeth. "You see, it’s a horde of zombies…and there’s at least two thousand of them."