Author: Ryan Rimmel
Date: 2022-11-08 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy
Description: It was just another sunny day at the coast when a life was changed forever... What started as a prank for a young girl resulted in the elevation of a crabs existence. Now, wrenched from it's happy life at the beach, the crab..... HAS AWAKENED. Sir Crabby finds himself thrust into sapience. Into a world filled with creatures both mundane and magical, a world where Evil lurks beneath the waves. Join Sir Crabby as he travels beneath the ocean; discovering power, adventuring forth and searching for his young friend as he's thrust into the Eternal Conflict of Arthos.

DEEPWATER DUNGEON

©2022 BOE HAGEN/RYAN RIMMEL

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CONTENTS

ALSO IN SERIES

Prologue – Day at the Beach

1. Feeling Crabby

2. Blue Crab Blues

3. Smite Button

4. Can you hear me now?

5. Hearken

6. Night at the Beach

7. Interlude: The Triumvirate

8. Back to Arthos

9. Skillfully Entitled

10. Evolution

11. Time to Explore

12. Deepwater [Dungeon]

13. After Crabby Review

14. Double the Fun

15. Dark Night of the Crab

16. Interlude: The Emperor

17. Eye of the Crab

18. Crabby’s Theme

19. Crab Battle

20. Getting the Shaft

21. The Choice

22. Choices

23. Interlude: The Folder

24. Like a Boss

25. What’s a [Ninja]?

26. Not so [Safe Zone]

27. The Hollow

28. MoonCrab

29. Interlude: Dreams of the Beach

30. The Maze

31. Maze-Like

32. Something’s Wrong

33. The Reef

34. Crabcusations

35. [Ninja]Star!

36. Lucky Crab

37. It’s a TILE!

38. Ruin & Sorrow

39. Recover & Plan

40. Lavatorium

41. Dao of TODD

42. Crabby’s Role

43. Smith

44. Through Blood and Fire

45. Once Bitten, Twice Crabby

46. Call Me

47. The Jug Problem

48. The Gauntlet

49. The Creature

50. Aethir Ex Crabbina

51. The Escape

Epilogue

Thank you for reading Deepwater Dungeon

Appendix 1: Full Class/Skill/Titles

Groups

LitRPG

Appendix 2: Definitions/Glossary of Terms

ALSO IN SERIES

Deepwater Dungeon

Incursion City

Book three, coming soon!

PROLOGUE – DAY AT THE BEACH

For the young girl, it was just another day at the beach. She skipped alone, trying to entertain herself. The breeze turned into a gust and caught the lip of her sun hat, ripping it off her head.

“Oh no! My hat!” she cried, beginning a short-lived sprint to catch it.

Erica, running as fast as her small legs could carry, stopped. Her minder, a tall guard clad in iron, leaned forward, her hat in hand.

“Here you are, miss. Be careful now.”

Erica sniffed, tears welling at the thought of losing her prized hat. It was a gift from her uncle, given just the day before. He said it might be the last present she got from him for a while. She took it gingerly, brushing the light sand off the rim. Ensuring it wasn’t damaged, she plopped it back on her head. This time, she tied the drawstring under her chin to prevent its escape.

“When will the meeting be done? I’m tired of waiting around!” she whined.

Farther up the coast, about 200 meters, was her father’s hastily constructed pavilion. The sea folk had decided to change the meeting location at the last minute. The site was a concession to the humans though. This coast was in a shallow inlet as far from the sea folk’s ocean as the humans could manage. Wooden poles pierced into the sand, the structure draped in fabric. The coastal breeze rippled the sides, causing light reflections of the afternoon sun.

“Daddy is meeting with the sea folk. Shouldn’t I be there?” Erica pouted. She was only six, but even she knew this was odd. Her father usually brought her to all of his meetings because she was the kingdom’s good luck charm. Everyone always said that, so it must be true.

A critical tone entered the guard’s voice. “You know they renew the agreements every decade, right? This is purely routine. Your father will be lucky enough without you.”

Erica sighed and turned away. Waves pounded the shoreline, cresting high to crash upon the rocky coast. There was no place to play even if she wanted to. She didn’t like being watched, and there were far too many guards here. sea folk and humans alike. She crossed her arms, pouting as only a young child could do.

“Could I at least practice?”

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the guard warily glancing at her. Scanning the surrounding area, her gaze settled on the pavilion in the distance.

The guard said, “Not with so many people about, you might damage something.”

Erica kicked her foot back and forth, digging holes into the white sand. After the tower incident, they had been getting more cautious with her practices. She didn’t care what they said. It looked flimsy and she’d said as much. The fact it had collapsed proved her right.

With nothing but a beach to entertain her, she decided to plop down and build a sand castle.

“If you’re going to be playing with dirt, you could practice your [Earth Manipulation]…” her guard said, considering her earlier statement. “But only your [Earth Manipulation].”

“Or… I could just do it by hand. It’s funner that way anyhow,” Erica rebutted, sticking her tongue out.

Her minder, eyes constantly scanning for danger, turned those hard eyes on the petulant girl. His harsh rebuke was quickly cut off. After all, she was only six years old. There’d be plenty of time to train when she was less likely to accidentally destroy a newly built and quite structurally sound tower.

“As you say, miss.”

“I do say. Also, I was wondering—Ah! What is THAT!”

Erica yelled, scrambling back as fast as she could. Her guard snapped to attention, adrenaline surging as she attempted to put herself between the princess and the assailant. She had her sword halfway from its sheath and her hand raised, [Fireball] forming, when she stopped.

The guard relaxed and chuckled, dismissing her fireball and returning her blade. Amusement was evident in her tone as the little girl scurried away from her half-finished castle.

“That’s a ghost crab, miss. Mundane creature and utterly harmless.”

The crab was motionless, its light yellow carapace serving as camouflage. The crab’s black eyes stood on stalks, fixated on the princess and guard. The young miss had accidently dug up the crab while scrounging for sand. It was tiny, a mere two inches wide, and was no threat to anyone.

“A-a g-ghost crab? Is it undead? I don’t want to be a zombie!” The girl’s voice quavered, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

The guard tried to hold in her laughter, bending down to comfort the six-year-old.

“No, no, silly. It’s called a ghost crab because it blends into the sand. Ghost crabs are not a magical creature at all. Look at how tiny he is. He couldn’t hurt anyone.”

The girl shook, trying to stop the tears.

“The emperor doesn’t yield.” Getting hold of herself, she straightened from her sprawled position. Her little eyes furrowed in concentration as a wisp of light blue mana congealed in her hand.

“[Friends],” she intoned, casting the spell. The blue light streaked from her hand, hitting the tiny crab. To the guard’s mage-sight, a link was formed between the girl and the crab.

“Good job, Erica. See? [Friends] wouldn’t work if either wanted to harm the other. Here, let me give him some help so he can understand you, and you two can play together.”

Hand twisting into esoteric shapes, the guard quietly whispered [Wisdom’s Prudence]. A gentle glow covered the crab, then faded away. The guard noted a spark of intelligence in the crab’s beady black eyes. Enough for it to listen to the young princess.

“Okay! We’ll play monsters and castles. You’re the monster and have to attack the castle. I’ll make some guys for you to fight.”

The princess concentrated, her hand forming a simple sign before casting [Create Golem]. Tiny figures arose from the sand; crude, and without detail. Erica slumped, exhausted from the minor casting.

“Great job, miss! I didn’t know you had that one down.”

“Uncle showed me right before he left,” beamed Erica.

“Since you’re good here, I’ll be a little bit farther out on patrol. If you need anything just call, I’ll hear.”

“Okay!” Erica replied, clearly excited with her new playmate. She leaned forward to whisper to him, “Alright, Mr. Crab, here’s what you’re going to do…”

The guard smiled gently and [Blink]’ed away. She had a patrol to finish.

* * *

Day turned to afternoon, and the summit between the Lenorian Empire and the sea folk reached its end. The guard approached the girl, ready to take her back to the emperor.

“Miss, everything is signed and done. Your father is waiting for you.”

Erica frowned, upset at having her fun curtailed. She was almost completely covered in sand and her hat lay off to the side weighed down by rocks. The guard quirked an eye in amusement at the tiny crab in the center of the sand castle, each pincer grasping a golem. It scuttled back and forth, arms waving in apparent victory.

The golems were already considerably more refined than when she’d seen them this morning. It would have taken an average caster weeks to make that much progress.

“Okaayy,” the princess groused, wiping off her hands. The little girl stood, her pout slowly turning into a sly grin.

“What are you…” the guard started, recognizing trouble when she saw it.

The girl rattled off the memorized words, not wanting the guard to spoil her fun.

“I, Erica, as the First Princess of the Lenorian Empire, and due to your faithful service, name thee Sir Crabby McCrabbington the first, Lord of the Coast and High Crab of the Realm.”

A wave of magic rushed from all directions, engulfing the crab in a sea of blue. For a split second the crab shone brighter than the sun. A terse blink restored the guard’s vision and she tensed, looking between the princess and the crab. The crab was utterly motionless, appearing to be just as shocked as everyone else. Suddenly, its pincers opened, dropping the miniature golems.

“Lord of the Coast?” asked the guard, trying to figure out if she was offended or not. The beaming girl did wonders to soothe her injured pride.

“I think they’re the coolest class.”

“Flattery?” smiled the guard, unable to remain upset at her ward. After all, how could she be offended at another Lord of the Coast? Especially when one was such a cute little crab. Erica beamed and her resplendent smile almost distracted the guard.

Almost.

“Well, I guess that didn’t do any—”

“ATTACK!” her squadmate yelled.

The guard whirled, drawing her sword one handed. The rush of magic revealed a creature, its stealth broken. A giant snake rose from the sand, its hood flaring in anger. The snake appeared to be rotting, flesh sloughing off the bone as it slithered forward.

“CORRUPTED! RETREAT!” her teammate called, sprinting to delay the enemy.

For a bare instant, the guard wondered if the sea folk betrayed them somehow. Might they have lured them here to strike? A last-minute change of location was suspicious. She scanned the ocean, sensing rushing bodies underneath the waves. Blades rang in the shallows and lines of defense were already being drawn. Sea folk leadership was here as well, and the corrupted were the enemy of all. A betrayal was unlikely and she banished the thought. The sea folk were fighting fiercely enough, and she had her own job to do.

The wind caught the creature’s stench and blew it in her face. Her stomach clenched in protest, nearly bowling her over. She gritted her teeth. Her words echoed around her as she said, “[Heart of Lenoria].” The skill activated and a wave of mana washed clear the debilitating effect, enabling her to stand tall once more.

The half-serpent charged, launching toward her and the princess. The guard looked at the sand beneath her feet, the waves crashing upon the shore. Moist wind brushed across her face, bearing water from the sea. She eyed the monster, gaging the creature’s strength, and said, “[Place of Power].” Underneath her uniform, muscles subtly bulged, the buff enhancing her speed and strength.

The guard raised her sword. Bits of water and sand sprang from the shore and surrounded her blade. “[Elemental Edge].”

A shimmer abruptly condensed along her sword and water condensed into an ultra-thin line. The guard stepped forward, diving past the serpent’s initial strike and slashing onto the creature’s body. The line of water erupted from her strike, forming a blade that split the foe in two. The corrupted fell upon the sands, both halves wriggling, not realizing it was dead. Perhaps it wasn’t.

She was about to tell Erica to teleport away. Even now the girl’s magic was potent enough to take her to the safety of the palace. But then she remembered how the princess had spent her last six hours. Erica still clutched the little crab protectively to her.

Her skill deactivated, [Heart of Lenoria] reaching the end of its duration. The wind kicked the smell of the rotting serpent into her nose and she retched. Gagging, she reached for her belt, grabbing the teleport scroll. Rushing over, Erica clung to her side, well-trained on what to do.

“Miss, I’m going to activate a portal. It’s very dangerous. You must go straight through the gate. Any energy that hits the sides will be absorbed, and that includes you. Portal in 3… 2… 1…” Her hand clenched down, breaking the fragile scroll.

The one time use scroll erupted in a maze of light. Next to the guard, a yellow portal split open onto the beach, and she gestured for Erica to run through it. The portal was keyed to the princess and would collapse moments after their passing. Enough time for her bodyguard to follow, if she was lucky. In truth, she would have preferred to stay and fight alongside the emperor, but that was not her mission.

Erica ran for the portal, still clutching her crab. Then the ground quivered. The princess cast the most powerful [Shield] she could manage, but it wasn’t quite enough. The ground steadied, then burst. Erica instinctively shielded her new friend, while the guard was hurled from her feet. Erica’s vision momentarily faded to black before she managed to get her bearings and see who had arrived.

“Uncle,” said Erica, staggering toward the familiar face. The man looked like the emperor’s brother, a former general and her favorite family member. But only just a bit. His face was coated in black lines, and his eyes were like shining portals into a void.

“That’s not your uncle.”

Erica looked between her uncle and her guard, momentarily confused.

“Run,” whispered the guard, trying to catch Erica’s attention.

Erica, caught between her two favorite people, said, “But I…”

Her uncle took a ponderous step forward, earth cracking in radiating lines from the impact.

“RUN!” yelled the guard, gathering up her spellblade and charging.

Her struggle would be in vain. While the most powerful person in the Kingdom was the emperor, his brother was a close second. The general had insisted on personally training any of the guards assigned to his favorite niece, and his instruction was incredibly thorough. Which was unfortunate in this circumstance, because the guard knew exactly how outclassed she was.

Though she didn’t need to defeat him. No. She only had to buy a few seconds… Only a few seconds.

Erica’s head spun as she twisted from guard to uncle, her frenzied thoughts unable to decide which represented safety. It was Crabby trying to move away from her uncle that solidified her decision. She ran for the portal, just as her guard launched an overwhelming strike.

The attack was parried with casual disdain.

Even as Erica ran, stumbling on the soft sands, her guard, her tutor, her friend, entered sword range. A blinding series of flashes rang on the beach, abruptly cut off by her uncle’s fist hanging in the air. In his grip, clenched tightly, was her tutor’s throat. She struggled weakly against her uncle’s overwhelming power. Thick strands of corruption radiated from his arm, coursing through her tutor’s body. The guard started to change. Twisting to become one of them.

Pulling her attention from the scene, Erica ignored the tears streaking down her face. She was almost there, almost to the portal.

“None of that,” smiled her uncle, a stream of black energy erupting toward her.

Erica wiped her tears. She was not helpless. She shielded Sir Crabby as her [Earth Manipulation] brought up a barrier of sand against the spell. The barrier buckled. In response, she curved the surface on the fly, deflecting the energy into the portal. The portal’s gentle yellow color started to blacken, drinking deeply of the offered power. Tendrils began to emerge from the smooth edges, and its placid surface rippled. Shifting as though rifled by an unseen wind.

Not that it mattered to Erica. She leapt into the portal, hopefully to safety.

CHAPTER 1

FEELING CRABBY

“It has long been theorized that monsters, both mundane and magical, have access to the System. The true question arises when one considers its applicability. Do the creatures grow stronger as a function of increasing class levels? Or perhaps, their use of it is simply instinctual; focusing purely on evolutionary paths.

Regardless of the reason, there is an obvious factor which is commonly missed. By path or class, their power must surely exist for a reason.”

— Theodore Cherzak, Archmage. Musings on Monsters, AC 1743

“Sapient, please respond.”

I wave my claw, brushing aside a blinking light buzzing in my eyes.

Oh gods, everything hurts.

“Sapient, I am Construct designation D-616B626172. I have been assigned as your local interpreter for your ascension. Note that there appear to be several irregularities which you will need to address. As you have limited means of communication, please wave a claw to acknowledge.”

Awake and confused, I wave my claw and the light mercifully fades into the background.

This isn’t the coast. Where is my [Friend]? Where is Erica? We went into the portal together and waves of light crashed. I think back, recollecting the feel of her arms holding my shell. We were journeying together, and I think… we got pulled through something filthy. We were torn away from each other… Where is she? Is she safe? I need to figure out where I am and how to get home. I—

Wait, am I… thinking?

Confusion doubles as I peruse through memory. Concepts and meaning leap to the front of my thoughts through examining my recent history. There is a clear break between then and now.

That’s… That’s TIME. Ha! I figured out time. Look at me!

Anywho. Before was easy: eat, poop, hide, sleep. Generally in that order. The hardest I had to think was in which order to do it. Now? Now, there’s options. Things to consider. Lifting my claws, I wave them back and forth.

Look out world! Crab on the loose!

A wave of pain brings me back to the present and I notice fine cracks throughout my shell.

Maybe less moving until I feel better. Now, what happened?

I was sleeping in the sand, waiting for night when my hidey hole was dug up. A giant demon—no… Creature—no… Human, appeared. I wiggle my eye stalks back and forth trying to get my thoughts straight. All of these concepts keep flooding into my mind when I try to figure something out. Putting that aside for the moment, I go back to my musings.

Fear consumed me, waiting for a good time to run away, when a gentle blue light let me know that the human was a [Friend]. Then another human gave me a light which let me kind of figure out what my friend wanted. We played games, and as it got dark, my friend gave me my biggest gift yet. A ton of pretty lights flooded into me, and right after that the [̷A̸B̶O̴M̴I̶N̶A̵T̵I̶O̸N̴] appeared.

Snapped out of my reverie, anger rips through my awareness. Red fury ripples across my carapace and I clack my claws in preparation for battle, pincers raising to strike my foe.

Whoa. What was that?

Lowering my claws, the ferocity of the emotion surprises me. I was just a regular beach crab before. I don’t think I had the mental capacity to be angry. Yet just the memory of the [[̸̦͊́́C̷̰̃Ȍ̷̗̻Ŗ̴̱̭̈̑̅R̷̠͛̑U̵͕͐͑P̷̟̘̓̏Ṯ̷͔͂I̶̳̯̊͠͝O̸̟̾N̷̡͙̉͋]̵̽͊f infuriated me.

I’m… I’m just going to leave that be for the moment, try not to think about the [̷̪̙̾̍Ḩ̶͇̟͉̙̜̜̀̐̈́̏̈́̀͜Ē̸̛̞̥̩̭̰̜͋̆̍͒͗̓͜Ṙ̸̯̊͐̌̈́̔͐E̸͖̜͑̓T̸̪̦̏̊̈́̿͐͆͝͝Í̸̤͕̲͚̀̆̋͝͠Ç̶̨̜̠̘̺̯͑]̷̱̟̼͔͚͕̿̈́̓̌͆̈.̷̡̛̲̫̥̥͚͉̅̒̿̄ ̸̯̹̩̙̞͎͔̥̌͐́͋͠

Completely motionless, I take a deep breath in… and out. Think of the waves, Crabby. Think of a cool hole in the sand. Fresh seaweed upon the floor.

Yeah, going to have to work on that. So, when the… thing… appeared, my friend had to run away. There was a huge wind that caught me and flung me into the air. The bright lights captured me and then I woke up here.

I close and open my claws

Hmm, what now?

I’m so caught up in my thoughts, the consideration of “now” jerks me back to the present. Am I safe, wherever this is? Ignoring the pain and cracks in my body, I burrow into the soft sand of the floor. My shell changes colors, hiding me from sight. Under the ground, fully hidden, I extend my eye stalks, rotating them to assess the situation. It appears to be clear.

I’m pretty sure the ocean is nearby. The air tastes of salt, and I can hear gentle waves lapping at the shore. It’s dark, but there’s a source of light a few feet away. A small pool of water moves with the sound of the tide, light refracting from the surface. Surrounding me, volcanic rock comprises the entirety of the little cave. There’s enough room for just about two or three Sir Crabby’s. Safety assured, I wriggle out of the sand, the grains agitating my wounds. Time for a check to ensure I’m able to flee if needed.

Okay, cave… Check.

Claws? Snip, snip. Check.

Scuttle? A quick scamper left and right is enough. Check.

Blinking light at the corner of my vision? Check—wait, why is that back? Maybe I can push it away.

Ding!

Welcome, Sir Crabby, to the World of Arthos!

Through time, power, or luck, you’ve achieved Sapience!

You now have access to the [System]

Say (or think) “Status” to get started!

This… seems familiar. Not the reading or thinking portion of it, but the feel of the blue box hanging in front of my eyes. Mentally shrugging, I think “Status.”

Character Screen

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Age: 8 Months | Level: 1 | Class: – | Race: – | Title: –

Health: 50/20 | H-Regen: 0.02/sec

Mana: 110/10 | M-Regen: 0.12/sec

Stamina: 67/90 | S-Regen: 0.04/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 2

Wisdom: 2 (̴+̶1̶0̶)̶

Vitality: 5 (-3)

Intelligence: 1 (+̶1̷0̸)̷

Dexterity: 7

Charisma: 2 (̸+̶1̷0̸)̶

More…

This is all about me! The crab who figured out time through diligence and hard work! The crab who will now tirelessly work to get back to Erica! Nothing will distract this crab from his quest to—Hey, what’s that “More” button do?

Current Effects

Cracked Shell

Effect: (-2 VIT) | Removal Time: [25 min]

E̴r̸i̵c̸a̶'̶s̵ ̷F̵r̵i̵e̵n̷d̶:̸ ̵

Effect: +̶1̷0̸ ̴C̵H̷A̷)̷ | Removal Time: [̸∞̷]̴

W̶i̵s̴d̶o̵m̷'̵s̴ ̴P̸r̵u̶d̴e̴n̶c̷e̷:̶

Effect: (̶+̶1̷0̸ ̸W̷I̸S̵,̵ ̷+̶1̷0̸I̸N̸T̵)̷ | Removal Time: [̶∞̶]̷

More…

Okay, now no more distractions!

Ooh, another Screen!

Skills

Scuttle I: Lvl 5

Pinch I: Lvl 1

Natural Camouflage I: Lvl 7

As I quickly browse the windows, a final message appears:

Think ‘Next’ for Class Selection!

* * *

Going through the information, trying to figure everything out, I thankfully get a vague sense of all the unclear definitions and relationships. Faint whispers of meaning in the back of my mind. Maximum health is equal to 10 times VIT—check. Maximum mana is the base INT times 10—okay. Stamina is… unclear. Maybe, DEX plus current VIT times 10? How do the regenerations work?

My brain revs into overtime crunching numbers. Okay, health regen is current VIT times .01… Mana regen is current WIS times .01. Stamina regen is… Maybe current VIT plus STR times .01? Sure, I’ll go with that. I have health regeneration, so time remaining on my cracked shell is equal to my health returning to full.

My current effects are—well… That doesn’t seem right. Why is the text all messed up? Shrugging, I think ‘Next.’

The blinking light began blinking faster. Faster and faster, it flashed through various shades and hues, as the light strobed, that voice returned.

“Construct designation D-616B626172, attempting to error correct. Errors found, attempting local resolution. Required files not found. Attempting escalation to local authority. Local authority not found. Escalating [Bug] to intermediate authority. Message dropped. Deferring error correction to larger [System].”

I didn’t really understand whatever the light was trying to say. The critter rattled off tons of unfamiliar words and phrases. I should be okay though, right? A larger [System] seems like it would be better suited to handle problems anyway. I brace myself for some new windows, eager to see how the problems would be fixed.

I was not ready.

Critical Error

Critical Error Found: 10

Error: Sapience – *Age* Invalid Value

Error: Sapience – *Level* Invalid Value

Error: Sapience – *Null* Class

Error: Sapience – *Null* Title

Error: Sapience – *Mundane* Race Classification

Error: Sapience – *Corruption* WIS – Invalid Value

Error: Sapience – *Corruption* INT – Invalid Value

Error: Sapience – *Corruption* CHA exceeds *Crab: Mundane* Race Limit

Error: Effects – *Corruption* Erica’s Friend

Error: Effects – *Corruption* Wisdom’s Prudence

Critical Error Threshold Met: Activating Purge Protocol

Error: Purge Protocol – *Mundane* Race Classification – Invalid Target

Critical Error Found: 11 – Unable to resolve

Standby for Error Escalation Procedures

I managed to think “Oh shi—” before a blinding light fell from the heavens.

* * *

Aethir [Thought-Stream] #2,738^35, took in his new form. He had a body and a desk with a seashell keyboard. On top of it, a floating [System] screen awaited his input. He tapped a shell to update the screen.

“Seems I was promoted from the subconscious all the way to musing.” He chuckled, happy at his new found independence. As the head of crustacean development on Arthos, he normally wouldn’t even have a body or independence… Or an office, for that matter. His role was such a tiny one. On an unimportant planet Aethir Prime had decided a subconscious thought was sufficient enough to manage it.

Aethir Prime was the god of intelligence, the singular personification that represented intelligence for all of Creation. Which was all well and good for the first few instants after Creation, but then there was more to manage. Things got a little… busy. Aethir Prime decided a [System] and [Thought-Streams] would be the way to go. What’s the point of nigh-infinite power and control if you actually have to pay attention to all of it at once? Nigh-infinity divided into portions was still mostly infinity. And “mostly” got along pretty well these days.

And so, a hierarchy was formed, with Aethir Prime attending the most important things, while additional thoughts murmured, collaborated, and managed creation in the background. Head of Arthos crustacean development was normally barely even a subconscious thought.

He roused himself from his own musings.

“Heh, I have those now.”

And got to work.

CHAPTER 2

BLUE CRAB BLUES

“With your arms we are strengthened

Guarding our health you stay

With your eye we are wary

Against the horrors that flay

With your Wisdom that guides

Building the [System] which binds

We find love in each other

To fight [CORRUPTION] divine.”

— Unattributed, “Prayer to the Statistical Divines,” AC 1642

I try to clear my eyes, using my tiny claws to chase the glare away. Furious rubbing gradually freshens my vision as I gaze upon rolling banks of fog.

Where am I now?

An ambient light, without source, suffuses the area, and neither sight nor sound provides any clues. A matte gray stone supports my weight. The stone is attached to… nothing. There’s nothing there. I’m just standing on a rock, floating in vacuous space. The edges of the stone just cut off into empty void. I still my nervous twitching, not wanting to [Scuttle] into oblivion.

Hello? Is anyone there?

My thoughts echo in silence. The cold blankness of my surroundings return my query unanswered. The [System] can sense my thoughts, right? Maybe just intent? I lower my claws and play a gentle tap, tap on the floor.

The [System] decides to start the seashell rolling.

Error Escalation Procedures Start

Entity: [Sir Crabby Crabbington I] referred to [System Administrator]

[System Administrator] engaged. Referral Criteria Analyzed. Macro [Auto-Trial] Start

Assigning Entity: [Sir Crabby Crabbington I] as [Defendant]

Assigning Entity: [Construct D-616B626172] as [Counselor]: Analyzing [Defendant] cognitive, behavioral, social history.

[Auto-Trial] assigns [Defendant] as a [Natural], [Sapient], [Physical] lifeform

[Auto-Trial] activates [Physical Reality] Subroutine.

[Auto-Trial] activates [Mortal-Divine interface]

[Auto-Trial] initiates

The messages fly by, and I hardly understand their meaning, when my surroundings completely shift. The fog disappears, rushing into the distance as a large cave is revealed. It’s eerily similar to the one I just left, but ten, no, twenty times as large. The temperature instantly rises to a comfortable level. There was no gradual increase. Just a lightning adjustment from cool to comfy.

I hardly notice the messages, attention arrested by a giant crab in front of me. A soothing turquoise blue shines from his perfect metal skin. His back is to me, mammoth claws tapping away at a table in front of him. Both eyes are focused on a floating screen, lines of text zooming by with ludicrous speed.

I try to determine what the crab’s hitting, but can make no sense of it. There are simply rows upon rows of seashells, which gently recess into the table with every movement. A way to interact with the screen, perhaps? I lift a single leg up, stepping forward.

The gentle tapping instantly stops. Without turning around, he reaches far to the left, slamming his claw on a giant red seashell. Depressing it, he returns to his screen.

[Auto-Trial] Starts

[Defendant], you are charged with five counts of fraudulent manipulation of the [System], five counts of malicious [CORRUPTION] of the [System], and one count of [Attempt to Avert your Fate]. The penalty for conviction is [Annihilation]. How do you plead?

It’s definitely time to [Scuttle]. My eye stalks rotate, furiously trying to find a way out of here. There’s no holes, no doors, no entrance in or out.

[Defendant], you must enter a plea of guilty or not-guilty. Verbal confirmation is required.

Verbal confirmation? I didn’t even have thoughts a couple of hours ago!

I gotta leave—gotta go. The [System] is crazy and going to kill me, and a giant blue, metal crab is tapping on seashells.

[Defendant], you are in non-compliance. [Analysis] and [Remediation] subroutines activated. [Scan]ning.

Critical Error found

Attempting [Debug]

Oh no! It’s happening again!

[Defendant] is classified as [Natural], [Sapient], [Physical] lifeform.

[Defendant] has knowledge of [Speech], [Communication]: [Auto-Trial] initiated [Physical Reality].

[Physical Reality] requires [Speech], [Communication] interface.

[Defendant]’s [Age] and [Physiology] preclude [Speech]

Critical Error

Error Escalation Procedures Start

I’m shaking in my shell. I’m only comprehending a quarter of these messages, and I understand one very important thing.

I’m too young to be [Annihilated]!

Thoughts race in an attempt to figure out a course of action. There’s nothing I can do. Since I can’t talk, there’s no way out. Faster and faster, I’m thrown between running around aimlessly and maybe hiding under the table. The [System] would find me there though. And I don’t know who the blue crab is, but he would hardly miss me.

There has to be a way—any way—to let the stupid messages know I’m not guilty. It’s only as panic begins to cede to despair that I realize something.

The giant blue crab turned around.

He looks annoyed.

* * *

“You have to be kidding me.”

The blue crab snatches the little light out of the air and it shifts through a rainbow of colors. He groans and releases the light before pressing the red button again. Nothing happens. He pushes the button a third time.

I stare at the giant, smart looking blue crab. The crab stares at me. Slowly, ever so slowly, I reach my pincer to the sky. Channeling every inch of my will, I pray he understands me. Calling out in my mind, I sync my thoughts to action. With fervor born of desperation, I make my play.

In the depths of my mind, I scream “HI!” and wave my arm back and forth. A look of consternation crosses his face. He gruffly hmphs and, without turning his eyes, his shell sags a bit as he puts a claw to his forehead. He reaches behind him, grabbing the table and swings it to the front. He keeps a stalk on me, the other eye to the screen.

I thought he was tapping the shells fast before, but now I can’t even see what he’s doing. There’s just a blur of blue while his arms fly across the table. Something is happening. Maybe I won’t be [Annihilated]!

Oh! My arm is getting tired…

No! Gotta keep waving. Giant blue Crab will help!

As fatigue builds, my waving slows. My arm jerks to a halt when his frenzied tapping stops. The eye on the screen shifts to me, followed by the words of a grumpy old crab.

“WHAT in the nine hells!”

Though I don’t know what the nine hells are, I’m sure this is a good sign. Better than [Annihilation] at least.

I’m keeping my pincers crossed!

CHAPTER 3

SMITE BUTTON

“I know them there [Clergy]men say there ain’t no difference ’tween the old’uns and the new gods. They’s just a change ’twixt their eternal aspects or what have you. And I say, if that there’s the case, then it don’t rightly matter who I’m prayin’ to. If’n I’m tryin’ to move a cart and strength is what I need, well the new’un’s will do just fine. I’ll be angry either or, and I don’t need no olden God o’ War making it worse.”

— Conversation with a Layman, On the Aspects of the Divines. AC 1321

“How is the automated system failing?” the blue crab thundered.

There isn’t a way for me to freeze in place any more than I am. Slowly, I retract my eye stalks, drawing my legs closer together. It was instinct to make the smallest profile possible. A second passed in silence. Then a minute. Maybe he’s not that angry? My arm’s still raised… I did a little twitch. A mini wave, if you will.

“Put your bloody pincer down!” Mr. Blue crab rubbed his eyes.

I lowered my pincer. It didn’t appear bloody to me, but it was likely best not to question the angry crab. He mumbled under his breath as he lowered himself, opening drawers under the table.

“Mundane corrupted crab breaking my system… Ridiculous. Can’t even talk… Where’s my [Smite] button?”

[Smite] button? That doesn’t sound good. On second thought, I’d like a [Smite] button.

No! Focus, Crabby! You’re in a bad spot here. There’s no way out. Go along with the huge grumpy crab and maybe he’ll let you go.

Plan finalized, I tried to settle in. My nerves were on edge.

“Ah, here it is. I forgot I put this in my credenza with the other important stuff after the demon insurrection.”

He lifted a tiny golden shell from a drawer, placing it before him. Whatever the shell was, it glowed with a gentle light, filling me with a sense of awe.

“Alright, I guess we do this old school style.”

He cleared his throat and raised his right claw into the sky.

“I, [Aethir], in my aspect of [Intelligence] and [System Architect], call upon [Lira] and [Toriana] in their aspects of [Wisdom] and [Charisma]. Come forth so the mortal may be judged.”

Another blinding flash occurs. These guys really need to tone it down with the lights and the glare. Anyway, where before it was just the big guy and I, now two more crabs have joined the fray. The one on the right possesses stark angles, sharp silver carapace splitting the air. Her sage eyes seem to pierce through my shell. Cool disregard freezing my ichor. Her presence practically screams wisdom, exuding an indefinable weight to the gathering. She wisely looms there, commensurate in size and stature to Aethir.

The one on the left is… Frankly, she’s the prettiest crab I’ve ever seen. Now, mind you, I haven’t seen many crabs. But she’s my size and absolutely perfect in every way. Pretty sure I’m in love. She possesses pink and smooth curves, dainty features that are ever so refined. Delicate pincers move as if in a gentle breeze, starlight glimmering within her jeweled shell. I try to turn away, except every time she moves, an elegant claw draws my attention. I struggle to gain a semblance of calm as she quickly [Scuttle]’s over to me.

“Oh! He’s so cute. Look at him. Just a baby!”

She lunges and grabs my claws. Suddenly I’m swinging around as she spins me and rattles on.

“Look at his ’lil claws! Is he blushing? No? It’s [Natural Camouflage] to match me? Ah! We’re matching! So exciting.”

Really starting to get dizzy here while she prattles. I don’t care though, enraptured by her arthropodic perfection.

We swing to a stop, and the other newcomer intones, “Toriana, if you would please put the [Defendant] down? I have matters to attend to.”

Toriana sniffles, obviously miffed by the cold voice of her co-worker. My eyes never leave her as she rejoins the other two, her dainty legs swaying through her [Scuttle].

Aethir waves a claw and a stack of paper materializes. Another wave, and duplicates appear before the other gods. Lira snaps her pincers, and out of nowhere, a small pair of spectacles appear. The glasses are suspended by a thin rod she holds in her claw. She leans over the table, reading the papers. Toriana frowns at her papers. With a dainty claw, she lifts up a corner and lets it drop.

Her expression is twisted into disdain and my heart clenches, wanting to make her feel better. With a careful glance at the others, Toriana twinkles her eyes a little bit and waves her claw back and forth. Her papers instantly poof into a different shape, now pink and covered with glitter. I can’t see all the way over the desk, but I notice happy unicorn stickers have replaced the markers for bullet points. Toriana grins at the improved format.

Aethir ruefully shakes his head. “Please review the logs so that we may all get back to more important matters.”

“Oh, let her have her fun. I mean, I thought we weren’t going to be doing auto-trials any more after someone developed a perfect subroutine,” said Lira.

“There are limits,” growled Aethir, glaring at the glowing light. He would have to fiddle with that later.

“Don’t care, I’m just happy to be here,” grinned Toriana, moving between the two crabbypusses. Neither was willing to fight with her in the middle, so they dropped it.

A few minutes pass, the silence only broken by the sound of turning pages. I wait patiently, hoping for the best. Lira speaks up first.

“This is ridiculous.”

“Hilarious, you mean!” Toriana replies cutely.

“No, not hilarious. This crab has to be the…” her mouth twists in disdain. “Luckiest crab in the history of existence.”

“I told you we should have made Luck a stat!” said Toriana.

“No Luck!” the other gods roar.

Toriana slouches, obviously disappointed. “You guys never have any fun,” she mumbled.

Aethir awkwardly pats her on her back. “Sorry, Tori. [Fate] and [Future-Sight] is hard enough as it is without luck getting in the way.”

“I know, I know…” Toriana sadly replies. She eventually straightens up. “I just want to make sure I got all this right. Sir Crabby was entitled by a princess before being struck by corruption and falling through an over-charged portal into a warp eddy, and somehow that granted him [Sapience]?”

“Yes,” said Aethir.

“And that makes sense to you two?” she continued. Toriana was the Charismatic one, the cute one, the funny one. The one you wanted to be friends with. She was not the ‘[System Architect] that understands all this nonsense’ one. She had people for that.

“Um…” said Aethir.

“Er…” said Lira.

“Any ideas on how this happened?” continued Toriana.

“Yes,” said Aethir. “Basically, [Wisdom’s Prudence] and [Erica’s Friend] were temporary buffs which let him exceed the threshold. The [System] shouldn’t have initiated, recognizing that a mundane creature doesn’t have the knowledge or memories to support cognizant thought.

“However, he was THEN appointed as [Lord of the Coast], which as a class, includes the skill [Knowledge: Noble]. This class shouldn’t have been applied, the [System] ought to have recognized that a conferred class can’t be given to a creature without the [Sapience] needed to acknowledge it.

“THEN of course a corrupted monster appeared, its aura infecting the crab and delaying the error correction. The buffs duration changed to infinite, which is both impossible and a drain on the [System] to support. This should have all been a moot point, [Error Escalation] compensating for the problem.

“But THEN he was sucked into the wake of a portal displacement. He was protected from spatial shearing by the mana coursing through his form and was deposited in the planetary quadrant closest to the anomaly. As you know, that quadrant is separated from the larger [System]. Without the error logs, the isolated [System] tried to initialize with invalid and null values, triggering colossal cascading failures.”

Every time Aethir said “THEN” his voice grew louder and more strained. By the end of his rambling, spittle flew with every word and he was out of breath.

Lira coughed politely, and Toriana cutely retracted each of her eye stalks into her carapace.

“So, no idea?” asked Toriana, casting a smile my way.

“Not really,” said Aethir, deflated. “I mean, when you say all of it out loud, the situation just sounds like made up nonsense.”

I didn’t really understand what he was talking about, but whatever his complaints, this doesn’t seem like it’s my fault, right? The wise lady, Lira, said I was lucky.

That seems good!

CHAPTER 4

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

“All these new-fangled constructs really chafe my scales, you know that? Back in my day, you want to talk to someone, you took a bowl of water and threw mana at it until it worked. Now I have so called, Arch-Mages talking about Aetheric Conveyances and the polarity of the Mana-Sphere. Then they have the gall to ask my opinion. Right nonsense, the lot of it. The mere thought makes me hungry.”

“But, sir, maybe they came up with better ways because they don’t have the mana reserves of an immortal dragon?”

— Vincenzo Canterbury’s last words, ArchMage Obituaries Vol XVI. AC 1168

Aethir calmed down, taking a deep breath.

“Alright, the reason I asked everyone here is because the auto-trial system failed and I need some help. We ratified mortal to deity interactions in the last age, and it requires them to be able to speak in their defense.”

He glared at me.

“The problem is that I can’t figure out how to make that happen in a quick and efficient manner.”

Lira, the Goddess of Wisdom, chimed in: “What about a [Soul-Gestalt]? We can communicate directly.”

“Nope, he’s too young. His soul will collapse.”

“[Telepathy Bridge]?”

“Nope, ego collapse.”

“[Skill Impart: Speech] with [Polymorph]?”

“I said quick and efficient! He’d still need to figure out how to use his transformed mouth and lung structure.”

“What about that dead language? With the tapping. What was it… [Skill: Morse Code]?”

“I’m not breaking open the transmigrator vaults for single copies of skills. We keep those locked for a reason.”

Aethir and Lira continued talking and were tossed them to the back of my mind as Toriana [Scuttle]’d closer.

“They’re a bunch of silly-worts sometimes. They get caught up in their skills and systems and such.”

I nodded dumbly, awestruck that she was talking to me.

“Sometimes, the old ways are best.” She tapped my claw with her own, causing heat to rush through my veins.

“Here, sit down with me and we’ll get you talking in no time.” She gently lowered herself, and I mirrored her action, facing her iridescent smile.

“Take my claws and let your sight drift. Follow the sound of my voice.”

I comply, flowing in the rhythm of her words.

“Find your center. Look within your mind. Deep beneath your shell is a ball of blue light.”

All of that sounded like nonsense, of course. Except, when she looked at me with that happy, confident expression, I wanted to try. Heck, I’d scuttle to the moon if that made her happy. She said it was possible, so by Crab I was going to try for her!

My surroundings fade away, sight dimming as I find myself situated within a boundless void. I sail forth, chitinous legs silent in the dark. I journey far, time meaningless, venturing into the depths of my soul. Eventually, the darkness begins to recede, and I could make out a faint glimmer. As I scurry faster, a gentle voice echoes from a distant land.

“There. You see it? That’s your mana. You need to take a pinch and return, never letting your mana go.”

Now that I’d found the elusive, slippery slime, she wants me to do more with it! This has been incredibly hard so far… I remember her delicate, smiling face. Her gentle voice reaches me even here and suddenly I knew. I knew I could do this.

A tiny shining ball floats in the nothingness. My pincer lightly grasps, and I tug, holding a smidge close to my body. With a weary mind, I begin my journey home. Once returned to consciousness, I see that only a moment has passed. My mind struggles, holding mana through will alone.

Toriana blesses me with a radiant smile and says, “Great job, Crabby. Now bring the mana to your eyes and bear your will upon it. With every ounce of your being, you have to want to tell me your thoughts.”

I follow her instructions, threading mana through unseen channels. I’m shaking, quivering in exhaustion and pain as the power courses through me. An eternity passes. Every second bringing me closer to despair until finally—I break through.

Congratulations!

Skill Gained: Mana Sense I: Lvl 1

Skill Gained: Mana Manipulation I: Lvl 1

Skill Gained: Eyes of Intent I: Lvl 1

“You’re very pretty.”

Toriana’s pink shell lightened in a blush at hearing my first words. She giggled and slapped my claws.

My claws clench and I gather the courage to tell her my next thoughts. For some reason, it’s hard to say, but I manage to follow up with, “I think I love you as well.”

Toriana turns an even deeper shade of pink, lifting her claw to cover her giggles as she cutely says, “Of course you do…”

She leaned in as if to tell me a secret. I follow her motion and dip my head. Her scent is like beautiful clam meat melting in the sun. She whispers to me, and I hang onto her every word.

“I’m very pretty after all!”

* * *

I rest, content to just recover for a while. Toriana and I are in our own little bubble, ignoring the bickering between the other gods. I focus on my skills page, wanting to find out more about my abilities. There’s more detail than ever before! Though my happiness plummets when I see the active effects.

Scuttle I: Lvl 5

Effects: Increase movement speed, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 1% faster movement

Cost: 1 Stamina per second

Lore: “Time to [Scuttle]!” – Thief Saying

Pinch I: Lvl 1

Effects: Increase effect of STR on claws, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: .2% greater claw damage

Cost: 1 Stamina per attack

Lore: “Don’t worry about seeing your grandma. We’ll call the healers later.”

Natural Camouflage I: Lvl 7

Effects: Shift your color to match surroundings. Speed/Accuracy improves with skill level.

Current Bonus: 1.4% faster shift/accuracy

Cost: 1 Stamina per second

Lore: “Hide like a cuttlefish, blend like an octopus. Their claws can’t hit and their face is a sourpuss.”

I-I’m so weak! My old skills are almost useless! What about my new ones?

Mana Sense I: Lvl 1

Effects: Feel the mana around you.

Current Bonus: .4% greater clarity

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Begin your path to power.” – Mage Guild

Mana Manipulation I: Lvl 5

Effects: Move mana, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 2% faster/accurate shaping

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Wield the might Arcane.” – Archmage Vendros

These seem to be a bit better. I don’t have any point of reference though. The lore part sounds more exciting at least, nothing there about thieves or grandmas. Looking at Natural Camouflage, I’m a little uneasy. I’m not exactly sure what an octopus is, but the word sends chills up my shell. I move on, paying attention to the skill Toriana wanted me to get.

Eyes of Intent I: Lvl 1

Effects: Manifest your will.

Current Bonus: Undefined

Cost: Variable

Lore: “My sight will end this age.” – {REDACTED}

That’s both ominous and opaque. And what is {REDACTED}? I’ve never seen that before. Toriana said this would be useful for talking, so I take a whack at it. Everything is a little bit strange now that I can sense mana. [Eyes of Intent] isn’t using any at all.

Now I’m pushing my thoughts physically into the world. Unfortunately, I’m a small crab and the world is very big. Vainly I struggle, feeling as though I’m pushing a boulder up a hill.

My frustration must have been evident because Toriana tells me, “Mental imagery is very important with skills like these. It may help to imagine a narrow link, focusing your will on a tiny rope between us.”

Not wanting to disappoint her, I focus once more on every word she said. She’s trying so hard to be helpful, I’d feel terrible if I screwed this up. I keep trying until I’m able to picture her perfectly. After an interminable period, I’m eventually able to express myself.

“Um, hi! I’m Sir Crabby!”

She giggled and extended a claw.

“It’s nice to formally meet you, Sir Crabby.”

YES! Going to start a new plan. Standing by and hoping for the best is for chumps. Begin operation: [Get the Goddess on my side].

CHAPTER 5

HEARKEN

“Oh bright eye spring forth

Thy aspiration spreads eternal

Shelter me ’mongst the vagaries of fate

Thy knowledge guards

Thy arts provide

Provide shelter ere the fires arrive

Giveth strength from past folly.”

— Unknown Author, Fragments of Ages Past, AC 1092

After I shake Toriana’s hand, I struggle to come up with conversation topics. My interests primarily include: beaches, finding my friend Erica, and not getting [Annihilated]. I’m just about to ask what she thinks about ocean fronts when Aethir’s booming voice breaks in.

“Alright, so we’re agreed? A [Polymorph]’ed [Simulacrum] of a brain devourer should interface directly with his neural system. We load the construct into a [Lightning Golem] then encase that into a [Flesh Effigy]. That should transmit the crab’s thoughts from the brain devourer to the golem to the meat construct. The akashic feedback from the [Flesh Effigy] should translate anthropoid thought processes into language, and the interface won’t harm the crab’s body, mind, heart or soul.”

“It’s all so simple,” grinned Lira.

Aethir scoffed. “If this works, afterward we’ll have to [Erase] the result. It’s going to be an abomination.”

“I concur, but we’ll write down the method. We’ll be able to get through the trial and it may come in handy in the future,” Lira continued.

They turn to me as I squeak, “Uhm… Thanks for the hard work, guys, but Toriana helped me figure it out!”

* * *

Aethir huffed and puffed as he searched his table.

“Bloody Charisma Goddess… Undermining efforts. Is validation too much to ask…”

I try to ignore that he keeps opening and closing the same drawer over and over again. From what I can see, the contents change each time, and the entire situation makes my brain hurt.

“Ah! Found it. Here we are. Now that the communication issue is solved, let’s proceed with judgment.”

He turned to the other gods. “Before I called you here, I already ran a ten thousand sample probabilistic analysis of the crab’s next five years using [That-tends-to-Happen] and [I-told-you-so].”

To Toriana he said, “You weren’t around when we ratified its use at Gods of Arthos versus Fae Oracles. I know they’re the layman’s [Future-Sight] but they get the job done. Nine times out of ten, it’s ninety five percent accurate and with such a large sample size,” he chuckles, “I doubt there’s any question.”

Aethir passed out the papers, and even handed a copy to me. There’s charts and graphs and figures and lines. He’s kindly made it easy to summarize. At the very top of the form, a table is circled in bright red ink. The chart reads:

[Time Frame: Event – Occurrence Probability]

Year 1: Death – 87%

Year 1-3: Gruesome Death – 93%

Year 1-5: Ignoble Death – 95%

My heart falls out of my carapace. I lift my head, tears filling my vision as my claw gently shakes the papers.

Aethir quietly asks, “Verdict?”

I turn to Lira, Goddess of Wisdom. Her face impassive, I sense no empathy from her.

“[Annihilation].”

I pivot to Toriana, Goddess of Charisma. She smiles sadly.

“[Fate] is not written. It can always change. I vote to give him a chance.”

Now Aethir, God of Intelligence. My doom is plain to see.

“I’m sorry, Crabby. I can’t justify the divine expenditure needed to fix the problems you’ve presented. Especially with your survival chances. I vote [Annihilation]. Majority rules, the motion is passed.”

* * *

They gave me a minute to gather myself. Their gentle murmurs fade into the background as I reflect on my day of life. I think I’ve only been alive for a day. The time before, when I was just an animal, that wasn’t living. Nothing wrong with it of course, but the essence of me, of Sir Crabby, started with that girl on the beach.

Erica.

She was so full of life… Her happy smile. My first friend. I remember her little pout as I conquered the sand castle for the last time, claws raised high in victory. Her cute grin and the sly wink as she gave me a class, naming me High Crab of the Realm.

I hope she’s doing well.

I hope she doesn’t miss me too much.

The gentle tap, tap of chitin on stone breaks me from my memories. Toriana approaches and places a tender claw on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Crabby. There are reasons for all this. Reasons which I’m sure don’t matter to you right now. Just know that your sacrifice is not in vain. I [Promise] to handle your reincarnation myself. You won’t remember anything, but I’ll place you next to Erica. What would you like to be?”

I try to contain my sniffles.

“A bird maybe? Flying seems like it’d be nice.” She gave my shoulder another pat. “Flying is nice. I’ll see about a dove or a swan. No one eats those and they are very pretty.”

I nod, not really acknowledging her platitudes. Moments later, Aethir clears his voice.

“Any last words?”

I try to collect my thoughts. Try to reason, to figure out something meaningful to say. Something that would impact these gods who are stealing my life. Confusion and fear turn to anger, and meaningful or not… I’m going to let them have a piece of my mind.

“Aethir! I hope you’re proud of yourself! Killing an innocent crab based on probabilities. Sure, the odds aren’t good, but look at how I got here. Luck might not be a stat, but if it was, I’d have a good chance at living.”

I swivel to Lira.

“This may seem like a wise choice on paper, but it’s cold-blooded murder, plain and simple.”

Then to Toriana, “Thank you, for everything.”

My words go unremarked and Aethir quietly asks, “Anything else?”

My brain scrambles for hope. For anything that would save my life.

“Aethir, I thought the gods were for every crab? You’re condemning me based on sub-par fortune telling. How’d you get so angry and bitter?”

A sudden thought crosses my mind. Maybe I could get a fourth opinion?

“I wish I could speak to a kinder, gentler intelligence, someone like me… Still young and full of hope.”

The silence was deafening.

It was broken by Toriana wildly waving her arms—no, full body shaking in terror.

Aethir… HOWLS. His voice, that of an old man, fluctuates wildly in pitch and yaw. The chaotic yo-yo of his tone mirrors the surrounding space that warps and cracks. The figures of the three gods oscillate in disorder. I throw myself to the ground, trying to anchor against the deconstructing reality. In the shrieking void, I manage to understand him.

“Wish to… speak… young… kinder intelligence?”

I yell, “What’s happening?” and receive nothing in response. My mind scurries, searching for someone or something that can help. I remember the construct, the one who was assigned as [Counselor]. I yell, “Construct! What’s going on?”

A tiny swirl of light appears and a monotone voice pierces the howling wind.

“You’ve requested to speak to an earlier version of the intelligence before you. [Physical Reality] is breaking due to your request.”

The air rapidly disappears, receding into vacuum. I don’t know what to do, what to say. His voice calls again.

“Yes or no?”

I open my mind, about to respond with [Eyes of Intent], when Lira suddenly speaks with a voice creased by age.

“NO.”

In an unusual development, the construct seems almost quiet, as if muted.

He says, “Previously, you were dealing with minor [Thought-Stream]’s of the gods. Your request to speak with an older, different version escalated their manifestations from mere whim to almost their full attention. You are now about to speak to Lira Prime, in her Aspect of Wisdom. Brace yourself.”

* * *

The cave snaps into being. Reality reconstructing before I could process the change. Toriana and Aethir are golden blobs. Mere light shining from translucent bubbles. I have to tear my sight away, their wild gesticulations plunge toward madness.

Lira.

Lira is something more.

She is a picture of crabby elegance, her demeanor poised and regal. And yet, there’s an indefinable other to her presence. A sense incongruous with her physical shell. I can’t focus on her too closely, the unconscious attempt revealing a shape comprised of infinite fractals. Her aura presses against me and something splinters. Not my flesh, nor my mind or heart, something esoteric.

She raises her arms as she turns to the misshapen gods and declares: “KNOW that I exercise my right as WISDOM of this age. Return to the present so that I may fulfill my FUNCTION.”

Just as reality shuddered into stability, so too did their misbegotten forms. Flesh and chitin assembled into familiar profiles. They stood there as once before, as if nothing had ever changed.

Lira lowered her claws, her presence diminishing slightly. She faced me, her eyes glaring in wroth. She intones each word with an air of antiquity, her cadence and speech resonating in time.

“HEARKEN unto me mortal. KNOW ye have in ignorance spoken of ancient COVENANT and deep truth. You have forced me to act in a manner unbecoming of this era. Supplicate thyself to receive my counsel.”

I stare, slack mandibled, at what is happening.

The construct whispers, “Your request for a version and Aspect change is pending. Lira Prime is angry at you for drawing her full attention to this. You should kneel so she can explain the gravity of your request.”

I swallow then step forward, back legs bending low to maintain eye contact.

“Supplicant. KNOW what ye have asked.”

“KNOW that WE are DIVINE.”

“KNOW that WE are ASPECTS OF ETERNITY.”

“KNOW that WE are parts of a whole.”

“As one changes, thus do all change. Balance maintained amidst chaos.”

“When you gaze upon our form, it is but a sliver of a fragment of a touch of our power. A tenth of our attention would reduce your world to ash.”

The construct whispers, “She’s saying that requesting to deal with past Aspects is an inherently attention escalating function. And you don’t want to draw their attention. Their attention is literally planet destroying. Also, they’re all connected. By requesting one to change, it draws the others to change as well.”

Lira continues. “KNOW of the COVENANT between mortal and DIVINE.”

“That as ETERNITY guards the AETHERIC GATES, mortals guard the MATERIAL PLANE.”

“FOR this SERVICE, you are granted the BOON of FREE WILL and may interact with ETERNITY as you wish.”

“I grant ye the counsel of WISDOM. Look upon the shadows of ages past. PONDER the WISDOM of bringing young INTELLIGENCE to the fore.”

The construct whispers even quieter now. “Their full attention is spent guarding reality. Mortals are allowed to have free will and can interact with the gods as they wish, so long as they defend the material plane. She’s going to show you what you unknowingly asked for. She’s going to show you early Aspects of the attribute divines.”

For the first time, the construct appeared nervous, and with a hesitant tone of voice said, “Good Luck.”

Lira waved her claw, drawing my attention to Toriana. I take only a second to see what she asks of me. Endless shadows writhe behind her. In them are flashes of bygone days. Backward in time, the ideas become raw. More primal. From Charisma to Love, to Lust to Yearning, to Passion to Fire. It recedes into the distance, becoming more abstract as it goes. I see tender lovers and drunken fools. Men chased and torn limb from limb as revelers cry in ecstasy. I see SUMMER, BLOOD, CHAOS.

A glacial claw grips my chin and tears my gaze away. I was unable to do it myself.

“You have SEEN.”

I nod my head, dumbstruck.

“There is more. Gaze into my umbra.”

Lira’s shadow offers the same vista, yet in reverse polarity. From Wisdom to Knowledge to Experience to Ice. WINTER, DEATH, ENTROPY. A million faces, a million worlds. Three old hags cackle in the night, sharing an eye. A Jackal headed man weighs a heart on a scale. A star dies and collapses, tearing a hole into the void.

My eyes are bleeding, pain crushing my feeble protests. Again, she jerks my head away bringing me closer eye to eye.

“KNOW that this is the last you’ll see. Should you find the ASPECT you seek, remember ETERNITY’s connection. Even should we take no action, our attention will still be felt.”

I manage to nod before she turns me toward Aethir.

Before me is a one-eyed man with two ravens on his shoulders. A feathered serpent flies in the jungle. From that Intelligence, it recedes into the past, and I’m barely standing as I try to comprehend the vision. Far, far, in the back is wind, SPRING, MAGIC, HOPE, and right after, there’s a kinder, gentler intelligence. This Intelligence is young and naïve. It hasn’t been hurt by the vicissitudes of time.

I could bring this aspect forth and ask for mercy. I’d be pardoned almost certainly. But this is too far gone. This Intelligence existed in days of old when the world was young. Though I might be saved, calling him into the present risks letting the full attention of Innocence, Passion and Disdain fall upon the planet that Intelligence, Charisma and Wisdom have managed.

Ichor pours from my eyes and is joined by a flow from my mouth and ears. Lira, Goddess of Wisdom, holds me upright. Her support is the only reason I’m still standing.

“You have received my WISDOM.”

“What is your choice?”

CHAPTER 6

NIGHT AT THE BEACH

“I’m not sayin’ the gods are infallible. I mean, look at the calendar. AC stands fer ‘After Cataclysm.’ Ain’t no one knows what happened, but it must have been real bad. Cataclysm ain’t a word you use every day. Now, I know what you must be thinkin’.

‘But, Larry, the dragons would know.’

Sure they would, buddy. They was from the BC times. Go ask one, I’ll pray fer ya.

Look, you know how they say, ‘with the benefit of [Hindsight]?’ It’s easy to have faith in the gods when their [Hindsight] goes back to the beginning of forever.”

— Larry the Clergy Guy, Gods of the Working Man. AC 1238

Pain wracks my body. My thoughts still. I’ve been struck blind having SEEN too much. My body is starting to fail, and pain turns to a cold numbness. The goddess’ final words continue to echo in the dark.

“What is your choice?”

I’m just a simple crab. If you asked me yesterday what was more important: my life or the fate of the world, it would have been a simple answer.

Now?

Now, I can consider things.

It makes my decision both easier and harder in a way I’ve never known. For the first time in my new life, I regret being [Sapient].

With [Eyes of Intent], I manifest my will and let it be known.

“I rescind my request. I choose to speak with this era’s Intelligence.”

Silence answers my call as I descend into the dark.

* * *

I wake up to a familiar shore with waves crashing on the coast. Moonlight shines from above and the agony of my body fades.

Pincers? Check.

Legs? After a quick scuttle, they’re okay.

Body? Good.

All my injuries have gone away. Maybe I’ve died and this is where I go at the end. For an afterlife, my coastline is a good choice. It’s where I met Erica after all. I enjoy the resounding woosh of the waves. The taste of salt in the air. Not a bad choice at all.

My musings are cut short as a new sound enters my awareness. I bring my attention to bear and see Toriana. She’s as beautiful as ever, yet I hardly notice. My admiration is crushed by a wave of fear at her presence.

She gingerly sits beside me and sighs.

“Don’t be afraid, Crabby. I’m not going to hurt you. What you see here, Charisma, this is what I am.”

“And… what you were before?”

“That is also who I am. Before is an illusion. Different faces, different names. All are ASPECTS OF ETERNITY. You looked into the shadows and struggled to see a mere fraction of the entirety. All are me as I was, as I am, as I will be again. Compared to what you saw, I am so much more… To you, to others, to the Universe. But here and now? It’s just me, Toriana. Do you understand?”

I struggle to respond. This is all a little difficult to grasp. “Could you… I don’t know, draw a picture or something? I don’t really get it.”

She giggles, and my heart clenches at the elegant motion of her shell. She places her claws together, then separates them. A shining line of mana extends from one to the other. Toriana twinkles her eyes and the line breaks away from her claws… floating in front of us.

“Let’s say this line represented all of time. And you? You’re right here.” She points a claw on the far end. A glowing dot grows and I can clearly delineate that point. “You, at this point, are the sum of everything you’ve done and experienced. Your past shapes you as you exist here.” She jabs a claw at the glowing light. “And only here, at the present. Do you follow me so far?”

I’m starting to get a bit of a headache, but I nod in acknowledgement.

She continues, “The other gods and I are the same way.” She waves a claw and another dot joins the line, right above mine. “Right now, we’re the sum of our past selves as well.” She grabs the dot of light and pulls it to the far left. “But whereas you only exist right now, the gods are unbound by linear time, existing at all points simultaneously. Which means, in this moment, you could speak to me as I was at the beginning of creation.”

She points to the far left of the line. “I would answer you in the language of exploding stars and gamma ray bursts, neutron waves and cascading light. I would speak to you in the language of primal fire.” She laughed. “That certainly wouldn’t be good for your health.”

I try to wrap my head around all this, and eventually realize one thing. “So… that’s why all of that stuff before happened? Because even though you currently embody this entire line, I tried to speak to only a single point right here?”

“Precisely. I think you got it, Crabby. There’s more to temporal existence than that of course, but those are the basics.” She cutely lifts a claw to her chin. “I thought I explained all that earlier?”

I hurry to reassure her. “No! No! I’m sure you did! I just… I, erm… don’t think I have the Intelligence to figure it out.”

She froze, momentarily shocked, then giggles, claw covering her mouth. “Was that a pun? Oh, that’s a good one. I’m going to tell Wisdom later. She’ll absolutely hate it.”

I relax a bit. This isn’t so bad. She still seems nice. Not at all like the PASSION, RAPTURE, MADNESS.

Pain shatters my mind and I recoil inward, instinctively trying to protect my core.

“Shh, shh, Crabby. It’s okay. Sleep now, I’ll return soon.”

* * *

Her next visit goes better. We talk of simple things. I tell her stories of my life before. The memories are hazy before I became sapient, but I manage to entertain with few embellishments. She’s a good listener.

Finally, I voice my fears.

“Why am I here?”

She gently pats my shoulder. “You are here to rest, Sir Crabby. You’ve undergone a great trial and were injured. To think, a crab is the first mortal in an age to witness the triumvirate unveiled. How silly this world is.”

I nod, thoughts shying away from the agony of those memories. Considering her words, something I’d been wondering returns.

“The triumvirate, Wisdom, Intelligence and yourself… But what of Strength? Vitality? Dexterity?”

With a hesitant voice, she says, “The trinity… they… they are not involved in the [Administration] of the [System]. They fulfill a vital role, but are closer to what you saw in the shadows.”

A twinge of pain flares at the mention of shadows.

“Do not speak of them. At least not here, lest you draw their attention.”

That brings me to my second concern.

“And where is here? It’s a good copy, but this isn’t my home. I don’t think the sun has risen in two days.”

“Here is what I say it is. You’re in-between. A safe place. Don’t worry about your real home for the moment and focus on healing.”

* * *

Days pass and I grow stronger. In one of the interminable periods when Toriana isn’t here, I call up the construct to talk to. He doesn’t have much of a personality, but at least he can answer a few simple questions.

“Hey, construct, why don’t the gods simply wave a hand and fix me up?”

“As you have seen, their power is limited depending on both the aspects and the level of attention they bring to bear on the situation. You’re not important enough to justify the divine expenditure needed for soul healing.”

I look down at my claws. Then turn to the dot of light. “Soul healing? Is that what was hurt?”

The construct continues. “Yes. You’re primarily here in soul form. If that is all?”

I wave a claw and he dims to nothingness.

I no longer collapse at the thought of shadows and can remember without pain. The goddess and I talk of nothing of import, not wanting to jeopardize my recovery. Interest in leaving intensifies with the peace and tranquility beginning to wear thin.

One day, as I’m frowning at my status screen, Toriana asks me what’s wrong.

“Look at my skills! A 2% increase in movement for [Scuttle]? That’s useless.”

She laughs at me. Laughs!

My frustration rises as she says, “You’re a level one crab, with a rank one skill. The maximum is rank ten, you know? With ten levels in a rank, and ten total ranks, that maxes out at 40%.”

Oh…

“That’s not too shabby.”

“Not too shabby indeed. Plus, you can train up to rank five without combat.”

“Wait… I’ve been doing a lot of training! I’ve [Scuttle]’d quite a bit here and there, and when I met the gods.”

She shook her head. “It’s a physical skill. You can’t train a skill without a body.”

“I can’t train a—”

I look down at me, to her, and back at me again.

She giggles. “You’re here in soul form, silly.”

I knew from talking with the construct that my soul was injured, but I thought this was my body. I lift a claw and cautiously poke at my other claw. Hmm, I seem solid. Maybe wherever we are is a place where soul bodies are actual bodies? I take in the sky above and note the clouds stationary and still. Looking farther down the beach, I spot a seagull hanging silent and frozen in the air, its wings outstretched. Wherever I am is certainly not a normal place.

* * *

The day has come, and I must say I am both scared and excited. Toriana takes my claw in hers and wishes me luck. I summon my courage and throw my other claw in the air.

“Let’s go! Get ready, wings and feathers! This crab is going to FLY!”

An awkward silence ensues.

Toriana is quietly shaking, and fear grips my shell. What’s happening? Did I offend her somehow? Is she going to blow up?

Stillness returns as she gains control of herself, responding in a perfectly neutral tone. “There will be some changes and an adjustment period. You’ll have to figure it out. Have faith.”

I wave my claw nervously in acknowledgement.

“I guess this is goodbye then.” I swallow, then, gathering my courage, speak all of my feelings at once. “Thank-you-so-much, Toriana. You-were-first-nice-then-scary-then-nice-again. But-it’s-not-you-it’s-me! And-thank-you-for-letting-me-be-a-bird. I-consider-you-a-friend.”

Pant. Pant.

She leans forward and kisses my forehead. An incredible heat washes over my body. My everything is completely dumbstruck. I hardly hear the next thing she says.

“You’ll always be my friend, Sir Crabby. Goodbye for now.”

My consciousness dims and I struggle to form anything resembling thought.

Before she completely disappears, I hear a light giggle. I can barely make out her last words as I fade to black.

“Oh, and by the way… You’re not dead yet.”

CHAPTER 7

INTERLUDE: THE TRIUMVIRATE

EARLIER…

Wisdom Prime held the young crab in her arms. His shell was cracked, blood dripping onto the artificial reality of this construct. Her foremost thought processes paid attention to this defining moment. She ran parallel [Thought-Stream]s to extrapolate second and third tier effects from this planet’s imminent destruction.

They’ll need to abandon this sector to the encroaching dark. It had only been a few thousand years since [System] inception, and the local [Akasha] wouldn’t be able to handle the impending aspect deviation. The mortals’ collective unconscious would collapse and their primary defense against [CORRUPTION] would fall.

It was a shame.

She’d almost started to like this world.

Seconds slipped away. An eternity of thought compressed into a single moment while she prepared for the aspect shift. She waited patiently, expecting the fool to try and save itself from death. It was to be expected really. In the end, they all tried to escape her grasp.

[Thought-Stream] #9,763 prepared to shuttle the crabs soul to the afterlife. The manifestation of Innocence, Passion and Disdain would shatter his ego and sever his connection to mortality.

What would be a fitting punishment for the death of his world, she mused. One of the burning hells perhaps.

When the crab summoned his meager will and channeled it through [Eyes of Intent], she prepared herself.

She wasn’t ready.

“I rescind my request. I choose to speak with the present Intelligence.”

Her [Thought-Stream]’s ceased. For a long moment, the multiverse shuddered. Reclusive sages lost their stream of thought, enlightenment curtailed. Ice cracked on a billion worlds, its coherence shattered. As the dead lay dying, the cold touch of her hand was stilled.

She was surprised.

It was a novel experience.

She looked at her fellow aspects and saw that shock mirrored on their faces. The crab’s response was outside of all expectations. Spirit and self-sacrifice were qualities gained by time, tempered by the knowledge that a single death can alter [Fate] itself. As the crab fell into unconsciousness, she spoke.

“He has learned from the past, and chose to remain grounded in the present. By doing so he has shown WISDOM.”

Toriana Prime nodded. “He has chosen death over dishonor. By doing so he has shown CHARISMA.”

Aethir Prime added, “He has considered the impact his choices would make to himself and to others. By doing so he has shown INTELLIGENCE.”

They regarded each other.

“Isn’t that interesting? What a lucky little crab.”

Aethir Prime considered it for a divine moment, and then pinned a fragment of his attention to the crab.

* * *

A LITTLE BIT LATER…

Toriana Prime gently placed the snow globe on her nightstand. She leaned down to peer inside of it. In her view, a tiny crab stood on a beach, coast pounding the shore. Her murmured words mirrored the [Thought-Stream] inside.

“Shh, shh, Crabby. It’s okay. Sleep now, I’ll return soon.”

As the crab faded to sleep, she straightened up. Sir Crabby would need time to recover. She [Scuttle]’d out of her bedroom and into the divine realm. With a twist of will, the surroundings shifted, depositing her elsewhere. The Hall of Aspects lay before her. Massive on a scale that defied perception. Marble stone comprised the structure, with gold veins threaded throughout. Layers of beauty and elegance embedded in rock.

She scampered into the hall and ventured to her section. Countless plinths stood before her, receding beyond sight into a distant fog. She continued, idle thoughts tickling her awareness as she looked at some of her favorites: Astarte, Bastet, Aphrodite, Eos; she passed form after form before finally reaching an empty space. A new plinth rose from the ground as she hopped on top. She removed her consciousness from the body she inhabited and looked at the frozen crab she left behind. Critically eyeing the pink shell and gentle curves, she remembered the crabs first words and laughed in delight.

“I am very pretty!”

Turning away from the plinth, she stepped into the material plane. Thinking for a moment, she made a mental note and sent the [Message] to Aethir Prime. She had a proposal for the next time all the aspects met. A planet full of [Sapient] crabs seemed like a good idea.

She faded into immateriality, seeking a prospective world.

* * *

A BIT AFTER THAT…

Aethir Prime dismissed [Physical Reality] and the [Mortal-Divine Interface]. As the skill ended, the construct faded into motes of magic. He took a second, then returned to his domain in the divine realm. Ethereal lines traced the void, endless calculations glimmering in the black of space. Shining winds caused them to glimmer, waves of magic caressing the endless permutations of existence. He returned to his work, countless [Thought-Stream]’s bent into considering and discarding threads of [Fate].

He received a [Message] from Charisma and scoffed.

“An entire planet of nothing but crabs? Ridiculous. I’m not going to appear to be typing on a keyboard made of seashells anytime I need to interact with an entire planet.”

As he returned to his work, a sudden thought struck him.

“Speaking of planets…”

Aethir Prime materialized a screen in front of him. The window showed Arthos, the planet shining gently in the black of space. He considered, and then a full third of his [Thought-Stream]’s bent to the task of determining [Fate]’s trajectories. Nothing seemed amiss, everything appearing to be within standard ranges.

Nodding, he turned his attention back to the universe. As he was about to start working, a niggling doubt surfaced. He re-ran the analysis for Arthos. This time, he focused on one of the idle filters he’d developed. A short laugh sounded across the void as Aethir chuckled.

After a moment of intent, a filing cabinet materialized. He thumbed through the files, looking for Arthos. Finding the folder, he flipped to the very back where he kept one of his favorite lists. He erased the last line, and wrote in the new information. The list read:

Pg 4/4

Planet: Arthos

Category: Top 1000 Most Unlikely Things to Happen

Sub-category: Planetary Destruction

1000. Kaiju Crabby

For Divine Use Only

Aethir Prime attached a copy of the possible outcomes to a [Message] and sent it to Toriana.

Error: [Message] dropped

Aethir Prime frowned, annoyed at the [System]. He sent the [Message] again and received a confirmation. He dismissed the issue from his mind, certain Charisma would find anything related to Crabby funny. Placing idle musings aside, he was about to return to his work when he decided a basic inventory of his [Thought-Stream]’s were called for. Most of their functions were automated, but it had been an era or so since he last checked.

He started with his subconscious and worked his way upward, cataloging anything of import which may affect reality. As he reached [Thought-Stream] #2,738^35, the head of crustacean development on Arthos, he paused. The lesser part of himself was working diligently, ensuring the [System] was properly implemented for crustaceans throughout the planet. Normally, an elevation from the subconscious would be a temporary thing. The [Thought-Stream]’s processing ability escalated and then regressed as needed to facilitate proper functionality.

But in this case? Considering even the minor possibility of the [Message] he just sent and a young crab almost annihilating a planet, Aethir Prime decided to try an experiment. He would leave the piece of himself operating at a higher function, with greater management abilities. Essentially, as a monitoring and coordination tool with the other gods.

Him and the others were enmeshed subconsciously at all levels, but a few thousand years for higher resources to be assigned to something unimportant like crustacean development for a single planet wasn’t too much to ask. This situation might serve as a model for future cooperative endeavors.

He sent a follow up [Message] to Toriana and Lira for them to do the same. Aethir Prime settled in, focusing on the strands of [Fate] in the divine realm, not caring what his act of whimsy meant for a newly elevated [Thought-Stream].

CHAPTER 8

BACK TO ARTHOS

“You gotta believe me, [Doc]. The end is nigh! It’ll rise above the waves, its head higher than the sky. Its chitin will block out the sun. A single claw will shatter the land. All the races of Arthos will flee from its wrath. But it ain’t gonna work! Each step will break continents, and as it moves, death is gonna follow in its wake. Dragons will fight against it, but they’ll all be torn asunder.”

“And you said you saw this in a dream? You’re going to have to be more specific if we’re going to get to the source of your delusions. What exactly is the nature of this creature?”

“[Doc]! I already told you! You gotta let me out of here. We have to stop it. The giant crab will destroy us all!”

— Interview with Patient #24, Lenoria’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane. AC 1747

Yet again, a brilliant light fell from the sky as I, Sir Crabby McCrabbington, Lord of Coasts and High Crab of the Realm, return to Arthos. The light was indeed brilliant, because as soon as I tried to wake up, its glaring radiance seared into my retinas. Blasted lack of eyelids!

“Oww…” I clutch my claws to my head where pain racks my brain. “Really, [System]? Is your sole method of transport headache-inducing bright lights?”

[System]: Invalid inquiry parameters. Please rephrase or direct inquiry to Divine interlocutors.

“No, no. I think I’m done with anything Divine for the moment. In fact, maybe ever. No Divine for me, thank you very much!”

[System]: Are you identifying as [Agnostic]? Please note that formally pledging to a religious affiliation may disable certain class options.

“Just… just disregard everything I’ve said since I woke up.”

[System]: Acknowledged

Gather myself, my headache slowly fading, I’m about to start investigating my surroundings when I remember what the [System] said.

“Wait a minute, why is [Agnostic] even an option? Aethir said he’s the [System Architect] and he’s literally a god. He should fix that.”

[System]: Inquiry parameters accepted. Inquiry parameters set as follows: [Bug Fix], [System Architect], [Agnostic]. Escalating Inquiry.

Nooooooo! Stop, [System]! BAD [System]!

Error: Invalid Permissions. [Lore] unable to answer inquiry concerning [System Architect]. Escalating Inquiry. Sending [Message] to [System Architect].

No, no, no, no, no! Strike that! No message!

You have received a new message! Say “Yes” to accept!

“Waahhhh!”

Invalid response. You have received two new messages! Say “Yes” to accept!

“No.”

Invalid response. You have received four new messages! Say “Yes” to accept!

Don’t cry, Crabby. You got this. Think of the beach. Deep breath, in and out.

“Yes.”

Ding.

Message: Aethir [System Architect] to Crabby McCrabbington I

Contents:

YOU AGAIN!!!!

What has it been, like a week? You know what, nope… Going to be the bigger god here and not say anything. I’m fixing this now. I’m assigning Construct D-616B626172 specifically to monitor you. Since CHARISMA thought the best way for a crab to speak was to MANIFEST ITS WILL, I’m disabling the [Will-Inquiry] subroutine. You don’t get to ask the [System] questions until you reach level 100. If you have a problem you want the [System] to answer, pray about it and be ignored.

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

Woo! Dodged an arrow there…

Ding.

Message: Aethir [System Architect] to Crabby McCrabbington I

Contents:

P.S. And stop breaking my [System]!

But it’s not my fault!

Ding.

Message: Aethir [System Architect] to Crabby McCrabbington I

Contents:

P.P.S And if you break anything else, I’m coming down there and bringing my [Smite] button!

Noooooo! Not the [Smite] button!

Ding.

Message: Aethir [System Architect] to Crabby McCrabbington I

Contents:

P.P.P.S And [Agnostic] is an option because FREE WILL! You’d think the whole, DIVINE REVELATION would have spelled it out for you!

Idiot Crab.

That… Okay, that one was fair. A bit rude, but fair.

I waited, tensed for another message. A minute passed and I released my held breath. I think I’m okay now. He said he fixed the problem, right? I guess I should test it.

“Hey, [System]! How much grump could a grumpy god grump if a grumpy god could grump grump?”

Silence.

“Were you referring that question to me?”

Waah! What was that?

I almost jump out of my shell. The scary little construct is a mote of light that appears out of nowhere, and up to this point, it just seemed to fade in and out of existence at a whim. Now that I’m back on Arthos and there are fewer pressing matters to attend to, I want to figure this guy out. I try to give him a poke with my claw.

Poke. Poke. Poke.

“Please stop that.”

Every time the voice comes from the flying mote, its colors brighten.

My curiosity gets the better of me and I ask, “Hey, where do you keep appearing and disappearing to?”

It—no, he… Well I can’t tell if it even has a gender so I’m going to go with he—replies, “What you see is just a manifestation of a minuscule part of the [System] that has now been reassigned to monitor you. Note that my inherent linguistic functions and knowledge base has been elevated to facilitate this ability.”

I didn’t get that last part, but it seems like he’s going to be hanging out with me. That’s pretty neat.

“You said you were reassigned? What were you doing before?”

The construct replies, “I was a minor subprocess tasked with ensuring no insectile life-forms on Arthos evolved into hive-mind configurations. Their evolution on a planet not designed for their presence tends to lead to… apocalyptic scenarios.”

This is getting even neater! “Oh? Like what?”

The construct brightens. “Like consuming all of the biomass on the planet and leaving Arthos a dead bare husk.”

Okay, less neat now.

“If we’re going to hang out together, what should I call you?”

“Like I said, I am Construct D-616B626172. You may refer to me by that name.”

Yea, I’m not going to remember all of those numbers. I think for a moment, remembering what he said his old job was. I got it!

“I’m going to call you Dbug!”

I wring my claws nervously, hoping he likes the name. When the silence stretches, I start to wonder if maybe he doesn’t get it.

“Because, you know… you’re Construct D… and you used to monitor insects…”

The light dims a little as he says, “I am cognizant of your reasoning. Fine, henceforth I will accept temporary designation of address as Dbug.”

Yes!

He follows up with, “Note that part of my new functions are to serve as remote assistant. You may say ‘Dbug, Status up,’ at any time to review changes in status and skills. Would you like to exercise that function now?”

Alright! Things are looking up. I’ve completed Step One of my five step plan—Avoid the [Smite] Button! Time to move onto Step Two: checking out my status.

“Dbug, Status up!”

“Since your last view you have pending classes, titles and evolutions. Would you like to go over them now?”

I nod and several screens begin to appear. Having never done this before, I was sure going over a lengthy list of classes and skills was going to be great fun.

Congratulations!

You have a pending bestowal. Some classes can only be given by others. They can offer a unique and exciting path to power.*

*Warning: If you do not meet class requirements, the class will be downgraded to meet your current status.

Class Name: Lord of Coasts | Tier III

Description: Wind and waves answer your call. The earth hangs on your every word. You hold [Dominion] where they meet. Exert your will and live on the [Elemental Edge].

Stats: +10 to all Stats per Level

Req: Level 75

[Mana Manipulation]: Rank X

[Water Manipulation]: Rank X

[Earth Manipulation]: Rank X

[Any Martial Skill]: Rank X

Choose Class: Y/N?

That sounds right up my alley! I can get this class and then retire to the beach in style. Between Water and Earth Manipulation and [Dominion], sitting in a giant sand castle and telling strangers to ‘get off my land!’ fill my mind. Then, if they don’t, I’ll make giant sand claws and throw them in the water.

Heehee.

With a mental prod, I select “Y.”

[System]: You do not meet the requirements for this class. Tier requirements = Level 75.

[System]: Lord of Coasts (III) downgraded to Coastal Knight (II).

[System]: You do not meet the requirements for this class. Tier requirements = Level 50.

[System]: Coastal Knight (II) downgraded to Coastal Squire (I).

[System]: You do not meet the requirements for this class. Tier requirements = Level 25.

[System]: Coastal Squire (I) downgraded to Apprentice of the Coast.

Huh, guess I should have paid attention to the warning. That’s okay! Keep your head high, Crabby! I’ll get there eventually. Let’s take a look at this Apprentice of the Coast.

Class Name: Apprentice of the Coast | Tier –

Description: You have just begun the path to power. Learn of the cutting Waves and rigid Earth. Wield might and magic to [Slice] your enemies.

Stats: +2 to all Stats per Level

Req: *Met by higher tier class bestowal | Y/N?

Accept Class: Y/N?

With trepidation filling my claws, I prod the “Y” button.

CHAPTER 9

SKILLFULLY ENTITLED

“When considering the evolutionary capability of any creature, one must consider the influence of both [Sapience] and Mana. For instance, take the mundane cow. In regards to Mana, should the cow be placed in pasture that is Fire-Aligned--say, near magma—studies have shown the following as the most probable outcome:

Cow → Dire Cow → Fiery Bull → Burning Bovine → Inferno Oxen

But add [Sapience] to the mix?

Cow → Explosive Bull → Incendiary Tauros → Blazing Minotaur → Herald of Fire

That concludes today’s class. Homework will be an essay on, “Why farming near volcanoes is a bad idea.”

— Jebediah Cowbane, Master Rancher. Recorded Lesson from: “AG666: Intro to Fire, Flame & Farming.” AC 1624

Congratulations! You are now an Apprentice of the Coast!

Analyzing current [Skills]…

[Analysis] complete.

Upgrading [Skills]!

Please wait…

Upgrade complete!

[Scuttle I] is now [Scuttle II]!

[Pinch I] is now [Slice II]!

[Mana Sense I] is now [Mana Sense II]!

[Mana Manipulation I] is now [Mana Manipulation II]!

Added [Earth Manipulation I]!

Added [Water Manipulation I]!

View Skills now? Y/N?

A rush of knowledge barrages into my skull. Disassociated concepts congeal into understanding. Before, when Toriana guided me to learn [Eyes of Intent], she must have muted the flow of information. That or it was an alternate effect due to the artificial nature of [Physical Reality].

Either way, there was now an instinctual understanding of how to move Earth and Water. Placing that aside, I pull up my [Skills] screen.

Magic Skills

Mana Manipulation II: Lvl 1

Effects: Move Mana, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 4% faster/accurate shaping

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Wield the might Arcane” – Archmage Vendros

Water Manipulation I: Lvl 1

Effects: Move Water, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: .4% faster/accurate shaping

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Lore: “Nature is like [Water]. It takes the shape of its container.” – Sea Folk Advice

Earth Manipulation I: Lvl 1

Effects: Move Earth, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: .4% faster/accurate shaping

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Lore: “I’m always down to [Earth].” – Elemental Saying

Mana Sense II: Lvl 1

Effects: Feel the mana around you.

Current Bonus: 4% greater clarity

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Begin your path to power.” – Mage Guild

Eyes of Intent I: Lvl 1

Effects: Manifest your will.

Current Bonus: Undefined

Cost: Variable

Lore: “My sight will end this age.” – {REDACTED}

Examining the new layout, I take note of the changes and additions. I haven’t practiced, but I’m thrilled at the thought of moving Earth, Mana and Water around. Continuing with my review, I select [More] and see:

Physical Skills

Coast II: Lvl 1

Effects: Increase movement speed, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 4% faster movement. +10% faster actions where Water & Earth meet

Cost: 2 Stamina per Second

Lore: “I just like to [Coast].” – Government [Lackey]

As my new upgraded skill appears, my mandibles crease downward in a frown. Coast is cool… I guess. I mean, it’s an obvious increase in abilities. And I do like my coast. I am also the Lord of the Coast. Well, technically I’m an Apprentice of the Coast, but I’m going to get there!

As I take a look at the lore of the skill, the description doesn’t help to endear me anymore to the upgrade.

“Hey, Dbug?”

Dbug appears as a mote of light, just hanging there, staring at me. At least, I think he’s staring at me. Hard to actually tell where light is looking. I wonder if I can sneak up on him?

I extend a claw…

Poke.

Aaaad… he dodges it. Ah well, maybe next time, Crabby. Anywho! I get down to asking him my question.

“Hey, Dbug, can I change the name of this skill? I think I prefer to [Scuttle] around. I’m not sure what a government [Lackey] is, but I don’t think I like it very much.”

“Lore is there in order to expand your knowledge base based on the planet you find yourself on. The tool tip gives you insight into other common users of the skill so you can gain context based on experience. Changing the name of a skill won’t do anything to the skill itself.”

I wave a claw at his long-winded explanation. “Yeah… Cool, cool, but can I change the name?”

Dbug sighs. I’m not sure how, because he doesn’t have any lungs. Did he just purposefully make a sigh for no reason?

“You should be able to use [Eyes of Intent] as a customization option. Will has powerful interactive effects with the [System].”

His second sentence catches my attention. “Oh? Like what?”

“That information is [REDACTED].”

Hmph. Ignoring that for the moment, I bear my [Eyes of Intent] onto the screen. A brief flicker of the window and I receive a new message.

System: User preference indicated. Coast has been locally renamed by user to Scuttle. All other bonuses remain the same.

Yes! Closing that window, I check out the skill. It looks much better now.

Scuttle II: Lvl 1

Lore: “Hey, girl, you want to [Scuttle]?” – Common Pickup line.

Hmm… I’m not sure why you would need to have a line when you pick something up… Guess it’ll work for now. I close the window and look at my other changes.

Slice II: Lvl 1

Effects: Increased effect of STR on edged weapons, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 4% greater cutting damage

Cost: 12 Stamina per Attack

Lore: “Time to [Slice] & dice.” – Royal Chef

Natural Camouflage I: Lvl 7

Effects: Shift your color to match surroundings. Speed/accuracy improves with skill level.

Current Bonus: 1.4% faster shift/accuracy

Cost: 1 Stamina per Second

Lore: “Hide like a cuttlefish, blend like an octopus. Their claws can’t hit and their face is a sourpuss.”

My new and improved [Scuttle] has gone up in power! Not only that, improved quality as well. The per level amount increased from .2 to .4 per level nd the skill added a situational effect. The transition from [Pinch] to [Slice] is also interesting. [Pinch] increased claw damage, but [Slice] only increases the damage on bladed weapons.

I look at the edges of my claws. Are they sharp enough to count? More testing is required. It also had the same quality increase as [Scuttle] and [Coast] did.

A blinking notification at the corner of my eye catches my attention. I bring it up to view.

Congratulations! You have IV New Titles!: Would you like to view them now? Y/N?

I do? Wow, go me! I hurriedly select the option for “Y.” My eyes glaze at the results.

Titles

Triumvirate Unveiled

Feat: You have seen the Shadows of Ages Past, the Triumvirate Unveiled.

Effect: +5% to Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence

Lore: “I may be blind, yet still I see.” – {REDACTED}

Kiss from a Crab

Feat: *New* Received a [Divine] Crab Kiss

Effect: +1% to all Stats

Lore: “There… Used to be a Pretty Crabby alone on the sea…” – *New* Latest hit from ‘Pinniped’

Luck of the Crab

Feat: *New* Divinely Announced as the “Luckiest Crab in the History of Existence.”

Effect: Once per day, [Dodge] attack that would cause your death.

Lore: “This… this is ridiculous.” – *New* Goddess of Wisdom, flabbergasted

[Lore] Contributor II

Feat: Performed *New* Feat. Contributed to the [Lore] of Arthos

Effect: +1 to Charisma, +1 to Wisdom

Lore: “Go forth and forge your legend!” – [Lore]

I’m blushing reading through the Titles.

Reading the second one, I channel my inner Aethir and grumble, “Just wait until I find this Pinniped guy! I can’t believe he wrote a song about me. I’ve never even met him before! Wait? That happened like an hour ago! Did Toriana commission a song or something? Did she commission a song about the kiss she gave me? What does that mean?”

No, Crabby! Snap out of it. There was never a chance between the two of you. You come from different shores and she’s not actually a crab. She’s an ancient eldritch deity of unfathomable power. And why would there be a need for a crab goddess anyway? I doubt there’s a race of [Sapient] crabs who would be dying for some passion in their lives.

* * *

Meanwhile, on alternate planes of existence…

“And that’s why I think we should create a new race and populate a planet full of [Sapient] crabs,” Charisma said.

Wisdom, Intelligence, Strength, and Vitality shot it down with a singular, “No.”

Wisdom turned to the only aspect yet to speak. “Dexterity?”

“Dexterity, we talked about this!” Intelligence interjected. “This is a BAD idea! Remember the Sphinx debacle? An entire race of female human cat monsters that no one likes because their idea of a good time is: Riddle or Death.”

Dexterity leaned in close to Charisma and whispered, “We’ll talk later.”

“Yay!” Charisma beamed with joy.

CHAPTER 10

EVOLUTION

“I have eyes but can’t see Mount Tai!”

“…Stop that.”

“What?”

“Look, kid, I know you probably have some sort of [Knowledge] or [Instinct] skill with your class, but nobody really cares. [Lore] isn’t perfect, okay? This is Arthos. Heck, I’ve never even heard of a ‘Mount Tai.’ And if I EVER hear you talk about some carp leaping over a dragon’s gate again, I’m going to disown you. Blightmaw the Dreaded lives two mountains over there and I don’t need that kind of attention in my life. Understand?”

“…Yes, Dad.”

— Overheard Conversation, Lenorian Market. [Knowledge] and [Lore]: A social primer, AC 872.

BACK ON ARTHOS…

Placing thoughts of the goddess aside, I decide to open up the notification on the race portion of my status. I’m immediately faced with a concerning message.

Congratulations! You qualify for an Evolution!

Current Race: Crab (Mundane)

Analyzing current [Title], [Lore]

[Analysis] complete.

Additional Options Found!

View Evolution now? Y/N?

I leerily eye the message. I’ve had an exciting few weeks of life so far, and I’m a bit worried about what that might mean for an evolution. I can always get a new class… But evolution? That’s me, Sir Crabby. That’s a fundamental change to who I am. Oh well, no use worrying about it. It can’t be that bad right?

Turns out, it very much can be.

Evolution

Ghost Crab

Feat: [Sapience], Mistaken for Undead by [Royal]

Description: You are the Ghost Crab. You walk unseen amidst the tidal pools, ethereal claws grasping for prey. Assume the [Undead] mantle as you [Drain Life] from your foes.

Effect: [Undead], [Wraith], [Drain Life]

Lore: “A-a g-ghost crab? Is it undead? I don’t want to be a zombie!” – Erica, Princess of Lenoria

I wince from a twinge of heartache. Don’t worry, Erica. I’ll come find you soon. Then we’ll go on all the adventures you told me about. We’ll fight dragons and ride unicorns. We’ll mine with dwarves and go hunting with elves. We’ll go to parties, and I’ll wear all the clothes you said you’d make for me. I remember how dashing you said I would look.

With a heavy sigh, I push aside the memories and strike this one from the list. I can’t do any of that if I become a ghost.

The next one is… underwhelming.

Coastal Crab

Feat: [Sapience], [Water] & [Earth Manipulation]

Description: Become the Coastal Crab. An uncommon evolution found on the Coasts of Lenoria. Commonly used as fodder for new adventurers.

Effect: [Medium-Size], [VIT-UP], [MAG-UP], [DEX-DWN]

Lore: “Ya ain’t goin’ to the dungeon ’till you’re level 10. Go to the beach and get to [Whack]’in.” – Adventurers Guild Primer

This one also gets a hard pass. I faintly remember the few times I’d come out of my hidey hole during the day. Wrangly young humans in raggedy clothes would be swarming on the beach, [Whack]’ing any crab they could find with a stick. That’s not the life I’m looking for.

The next one should be better…

Oh, COME ON!

Lucky Crab

Feat: [Sapience], [Luck of the Crab]

Description: You are the Chosen One. Your Dawning will bring a new Era to the [System]. Embrace your [Destiny] as you transcend [Fate] and bring [Luck] to the Universe. Become the enemy of the gods.

Effect: [Kaiju-Size], [ALL STATS-MAX], [LCK-MAX]

Lore: “WHAT in the nine hells!” – Aethir, God of Intelligence, & “This… this is Ridiculous.” – Lira, Goddess of Wisdom

As I finish reading, Dbug appears. “Though it is your own choice, I recommend not going for this evolution.”

He barely manages to finish speaking before I butt in. “But it’s Kaiju sized! Think of all the sand golems I could smush. Erica could ride me!”

“There is a distinct possibility that the influx of mana reserved for an elevation of this magnitude would cause your soul to implode.”

I sag in defeat, muttering to myself. Last time my soul got injured I was stuck on that beach for forever. Going back there isn’t a consideration. Not even for Erica.

I wearily eye the screen and shove it a bit further back from me. I’d just got done meeting the divine. I’m not going to pick an option that specifically says, “Become the enemy of the gods.” I mean, they made the [System], right? I’m not going to be able to beat them using a tool they created.

“Then again…”

Suddenly, the [System] chimes in with a Ding.

You have received a new message! Say “Yes” to accept!

Sigh. “Yes.”

Message: Aethir [System Architect] to Crabby McCrabbington I

Contents:

Don’t do it, Crab.

I see you eyeing that evolution with your beady stalks. I have to admit, this was an error on my part. I didn’t think I had to [Patch] this out, as the odds for it were astronomical. That being said, I have my finger on my [Smite] button. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll summon the Aspects to [Alter-Time]. I can’t remove your FREE WILL, but I can remove YOU.

Do this for me, and I’ll throw you a bone.

Cheers.

– Aethir, God of Knowledge

I grumble under my breath, rolling my eyes. “I wasn’t planning on picking it anyway. Erica would probably be afraid of me if I was the size of a mountain.”

Removing Lucky Crab from consideration, I move to my next option. It’s not, terrible.

Three Headed Crab

Feat: [Sapience], [Triumvirate Unveiled]

Description: You have seen the Triumvirate Unveiled… and survived. Now, your form mimics their Divinity as you walk in their Shadow. Become the Three Headed Crab and assume their aspects.

Effect: [Three-Headed], [ASPECT: WIS, INT, CHA]

Lore: “What is your choice?” – Lira, Goddess of Wisdom

Imagining myself with three heads just seems ungainly. And would I have three stomachs or one? One consciousness or three? Best case scenario, it’s just me in three heads. Worst? That would be three Sir Crabbys with different personalities like Toriana, Aethir and Lira. Three different Crabbys would certainly be a massive pain. Plus, I like my personality as is. This evolution isn’t bottom of the shell, but it’s pretty close. These have to get better…

Love Struck Fiddler Crab

Feat: [Sapience], [Kiss from a Crab], Be the subject of a [Bard]’s [Masterpiece]

Description: Your Legend soars. Your love transcends the limits of Mortal & Divine. Embrace the Music in your soul and spread your story. As the [Bard] Pinniped said, “I like to think of myself as a people person.”

Effect: [Class Change: Bard], [CHA-UP], [Skill Mastery: Fiddle]

Lore: “You’ll always be my friend, Sir Crabby.” – Toriana, Goddess of Charisma

Yet again, my hopes are crushed. For a fleeting moment, I consider asking Aethir if I could borrow his [Smite] button. I don’t know who this Pinniped guy is, but a [Masterpiece] is a step too far. Ah… Murder is probably an overreaction. Maybe? I’ll have to think about it some more. Moving on, I prepare to be disappointed.

Instead, I am confused.

{REDACTED} Crab

Feat: [Sapience], Have two or more [System] entries attributed to {REDACTED}

Description: When {REDACTED} {REDACTED} he {REDACTED} the {REDACTED}. Now, walk in his footsteps as you {REDACTED}. Fight {REDACTED} with {REDACTED} and embrace {REDACTED}.

Effect: [Class Change: {REDACTED}]*, [{REDACTED}-Size]*, [Skill Mastery: {REDACTED}]*

Lore: “{REDACTED}.” - {REDACTED}

*WARNING: May have {REDACTED} effects!

I look over my skills and titles and find the “two or more [System] entries,” it mentions. They’re both in the [Lore] Category, one for the title: Triumvirate Unveiled and the other for the skill: Eyes of Intent. They read:

Triumvirate Unveiled: “I may be blind, yet still I see.” – {REDACTED}

Eyes of Intent: “My sight will end this age.” – {REDACTED}

I ask Dbug, “Hey… this sounds a little scary. Can you tell me more about it? Why can’t I view the information?”

“The reason for that is {REDACTED}. However, extrapolating from your primary question I can say that redacted information from the [System] is due to several effects. Either the information is restricted to you from various factors or the information has been completely removed by divine intervention.”

I poke the screen with my claw. “Can you tell me which one of those reasons it might be?”

The mote of light flashes through various hues of color before simply saying, “No.”

I follow up with, “Is it because you can’t tell me or won’t tell me?”

“I have been assigned to assist you. As such, I am providing such aid as I am able. That being said, my access and ability to retrieve information is limited. You will have to attempt to pray about it should you require further clarification.”

I sigh. “And be ignored.”

“And likely be ignored, yes,” Dbug agreed.

With that, he fades back into the mana-sphere.

I’m going to hold off on this one. Frankly, this evolution sounds a bit ominous. I consider trying to tell Aethir about the option, though I’m sure he already knows. Whatever this evolution is should be in the [Lore] for this world. The blue guy probably keeps track of all of that. Plus, I don’t think he’s very happy with me right now. I’m sure everything will be fine. Yep, everything will be fine.

I’ll bring it up later.

Maybe.

My hopes are abysmal reaching the last entry at this point. I hardly pay attention, imagining instead what I’m going to do with three heads. I get halfway through when I stop, interest fully piqued. Refocusing on the screen, I start from the beginning.

Elemental Crab

Feat: [Sapience], [Mana Sense], [Mana Manipulation], at least two [Element Manipulation] Skills

Description: Rarely Seen, the Elemental Crab is a study in anthropoid ingenuity. Commonly found by travelers to the [Elemental Planes], they ambush foes at the borders. Beware their Icy Claws. Fear their Earthy might.

Effect: [Skill Mastery: Mana Sense, Mana Manipulation], [INT-UP], [WIS-UP]

Lore: “Let’s venture the planes he said! It’ll be fun he said! Now I’m out three right toes and I’m missing my kidney.” – Diary Entry of Lost Adventurer, Presumed dead by Crabs

There’s actually a good one. Woohoo! I [Scuttle] around my tiny cave and laugh in glee. Then grind to a halt as I run out of breath and stamina. I sport a giant grin as my pincer selects “Elemental Crab.”

Only to immediately fall unconscious.

CHAPTER 11

TIME TO EXPLORE

“Recite the mercenary creed.”

“I will always place the payday first.

Retreat is an acceptable tactic.

I will never attack a large group.

I will never leave a fallen monster core.”

“Says here on your application that you’re a [Bard]?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Application denied.”

“But why?”

“You know how hard it is to run away while someone is singing? Makes hiding impossible. And how are you supposed to sneakily attack one or two at a time while you’re strumming a lyre? Also, the survivor payments are based on number of kids. There ain’t a single merc troop that can afford to hire [Bard]’s.”

— Exercise Example #78, Interview Practice. From, The Lyre and You: A Bardic Guide to Employment. AC 1527

I jolt back to awareness as motes of mana fade away. I examine my new form, eyes swiveling on my stalks as I assess myself. Where before I was a light-yellow color, almost translucent, my arms and legs are now light blue, darkening to an almost brownish red at the end of my claws. My carapace is almost completely black, shimmering slightly with a sprinkling of lighter colors. No longer am I tiny, a mere two inches in diameter, now I’m huge! My carapace is probably ten inches wide. I snap my claws and hear a satisfying crack.

Pleased with my new form, I bring up my status. I want to make sure everything is good before exploring my location.

“Status.”

Character Screen

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Age: 8 Months | Level: 1 | Class: Apprentice of the Coast | Race: Elemental Crab

Titles: Triumvirate Unveiled, Kiss from a Crab, Luck of the Crab, Lore Contributor II

Health: 50/50 | H-Regen: 0.05/sec

Mana: 150/150 | M-Regen: 0.17/sec

Stamina: 120/120 | S-Regen: 0.12/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 2

Wisdom: 17

Vitality: 5

Intelligence: 15

Dexterity: 7

Charisma: 14

More…

Everything appears to be fine. No creepy messed up text or anything! I do some mental math and determine that the percent bonuses from my two titles must be additive. That is, they offer a total of 6% bonus to WIS, INT and CHA, rounded to the nearest whole number. Which is why there is no difference to my STR, VIT, or DEX as 1% of those base values aren’t enough to elicit a change. It also appears that the [INT-UP] and [WIS-UP] features of the racial evolution was a flat +3 to those stats. So that’s nice.

I take a look at Mana Manipulation and Mana Sense, as the evolution mentioned something about Mastery. I spot the change immediately, but only the changes.

“What happened?”

Dbug appeared. “I have been informed to give you only the changes to your stats. It is generally preferable to going over everything over and over again.”

“But what happens if I want to go over every single stat over and over again?” I asked.

Dbug’s hue dims to a sick yellow. “Please, no one wants to do that.”

Mana Manipulation II: Lvl 1

Current Bonus: 4% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

Mana Sense I: Lvl 1

Current Bonus: .4% reater clarity

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

A Static Bonus was added to allow me to train 50% faster. Very exciting! Closing all my screens, I turn to my surroundings.

I’m still in the small cave from before. The size used to be adequate, though now I’m starting to feel a bit cramped. The walls are a brackish volcanic rock, crumbling into the sandy floor. The only light comes from a small pool which I walk over to. Leaning forward, I can make out a light haze at the bottom. It appears to be a well, a shaft to somewhere else. I can’t make out the fine details at the bottom, but it seems to be safe. I gingerly lower a claw into the water. It’s just warm sea water, much like I’d find on any beach.

Shrugging, I [Scuttle] into the water and begin to sink to the bottom. As I’m falling, something keeps nagging at me. I continually scan the walls and sides of the small shaft, but there’s only clear stone, no sign of movement. As the light grows brighter below, I figure it out. I concentrate on [Mana Sense] and details bloom before me. The surrounding rock almost radiates with power. Power that grows stronger the farther I fall. Following the lines of mana below, what I thought was a light isn’t a light at all. It’s a swirling vortex that’s drawing me in.

I turn upward, claws facing the top of the well. My new evolution must be adapted for swimming, because only now do I realize I have a small pair of paddles. I scramble, employing my swimmerets, and unsuccessfully escaping the swirling locus of mana. Everything I have is brought to bear, my stamina and magic bottoming out as I employ [Scuttle] and [Water Manipulation] as best I can.

My efforts are in vain.

As my desperation turns into despair, a blinding light engulfs my vision. My struggling figure disappears the moment I enter the whirlpool. The last thing I see before my vision fades is a [System] message.

Adventurer!

Welcome to the Deepwater [Dungeon]!

* * *

MEANWHILE, IN THE DIVINE REALM…

Aethir [Thought-Stream] #2,738^35, head of crustacean development on Arthos, was having a bad day. His claws were a whir on his seashell keyboard, continually deflecting incoming transmigration requests from the larger [System]. Examining the root cause, he was able to determine there must be some sort of buffer overflow coming from a small planet. The larger [System] simply designated it as [Earth].

“What a ridiculous name for a planet,” he muttered, scanning the base printout of its statistics. He threw his claws up in the air. “And it’s like Arthos! The place is mostly covered in water!” Muttering even more to himself, he prepared a trouble ticket to send up. Just as he was about to click the ‘highest priority’ button, he paused.

There’s a lot of water there… and the current intelligent species isn’t anything remarkable.

After some quick calculations, he removed it from the priority list and put it into the file for ‘potential crab worlds.’ Then he put the file in his credenza, and ensured the cabinet was just perfect.

Satisfied with his work, he leaned back in his swivel chair and took a deep breath. A gentle chime sounded in the cave. He pushed a button on his keyboard and a portal opened to reveal the Toriana [Thought-Stream] from earlier. Her bright pink shell was a minor distraction as he saw what appeared to be a bag of mortal food in her claws.

They stared at each other for a moment before she coyly said, “Sooooo… Crabby and chill?”

“I have no idea what that means. And at this point, I don’t want to know,” he replied. As he prepared to send her away, a harsh knock sounded.

Sighing, he opened another portal to reveal Lira’s [Thought-Stream], who was also in her crab shape. A pitcher of some kind of drink hovered on a plane of ice next to her.

Strangling his aggravation he said, “Yes? Can I help you?”

With a voice reminiscent of glaciers breaking, she responded, “I was invited to the coordination meeting. Was I misinformed?”

Aethir turned the full force of his glare onto Toriana. She beamed at him.

“Come on! We’re supposed to be working together here. The crustaceans aren’t going to develop themselves!”

Aethir waved a negligent claw at his screen. Wearily he said, “They will do exactly that. That is part of the reason for the [System] after all.”

She waved a cute claw at him. “Yes, but instead of sending boring fuddy duddy [System] messages to each other, we can hang out! Maybe even put up something for us to watch. I know you have access to some scry screens around here.” She [Scuttle]’d up to his desk and pointedly looked underneath it. Crab Aethir slammed his claw on the desk to focus her attention on the present.

For a long moment, crab Aethir considered banning them from his area. After all, he’d just gotten it setup the way he liked it. But then he sighed. He was tired… He could use some help. And she was right, he was supposed to be coordinating with them. A couple clicks on his seashells and a graph was displayed, showing the projected future tracks for Arthos crustaceans.

“As you can see, projections for this quarter—”

Toriana waved a claw and the graphs disappeared. Lira sighed.

Toriana pouted and said, “No! Pull up the feed on Sir Crabby. Aethir Prime assigned a [System] construct to assist and monitor him. We can get close up views of the action!”

Aethir was bewildered for a moment before asking a simple question. “Yes, but why? Why would we care about a single crab?”

Toriana innocently tapped her claws together.

Lira examined the pink crab carefully. “More importantly, what would be so interesting about anything a single crab could do, as to draw our attention away from charts and projections?” She looked longingly at the charts and graphs.

Toriana’s innocent smile grew, which should have looked terrible on a crab, but she somehow pulled it off.

“Did either of you pay attention to where Crabby first appeared?” asked Toriana.

“We are all-powerful, all-knowing beings. Of course we didn’t,” said Lira.

As gods, they could track every grain of sand on a beach, that didn’t mean it was a good use of resources. Crabby was one crab. Though that didn’t stop Aethir from immediately typing on his keyboard.

“When he left the divine realm, he was returned to his original embarkation point. Which happened to be almost on top of the [Dungeon] closest to the incursion zone,” Toriana said.

Everything in the room grew still.

Aethir’s eyes widened, now tapping frantically. He pulled up the view of Crabby being sucked into the [Dungeon] entrance. He swallowed nervously. “This could be bad. There is a serious imbalance somewhere in that region.”

“It could also be good! Maybe Crabby will figure out the problem.” Toriana lifted a claw to her mandibles as she pondered the situation. She raised her claw as if coming to a realization. “He is lucky after all!”

“Luck isn’t a thing,” said Lira, getting comfortable.

“I was planning on sending a mission there to find the problem,” said Aethir.

The more he thought about it, the more he liked the option. Besides, if Crabby died, he could just send another, properly prepared mission, and if by some miracle he was successful, then Prime would be satisfied. A win-win by his estimation.

Toriana waved a claw, summoning a red glittering couch into the small cave. She maintained her cheer as she plopped right in the middle and patted the open seats on either side of her. “Now, let’s settle in and monitor. I already set up most of my job as an automated function so I can spare a month or so for this. You guys do the same and join me!”

Aethir pondered. He looked to his screens and then his fellow gods before slumping in defeat. Toriana was right. He could mostly automate this job and focus his attention on Crabby. Prime was watching the same thing, sort of. In the end, was in charge of crustacean development, and the crab had almost destroyed the planet twice already.

After clicking a few buttons, he climbed onto the couch next to Toriana as she said, “Here, have some popcorn!”

Aethir waved a claw in dismissal.

Toriana followed up with, “I also have chocolate!”

Hesitating, he decided to try one, otherwise she would never stop bugging him. Pleasantly surprised, he kept his face stoic. No good would come from encouraging her.

As the gods settled in, Lira offered drinks. Not wanting to be a rude host, he accepted.

“What is this?” Toriana asked.

“Styx Slushie,” Lira said. “I make them myself.”

“Ah,” Aethir politely responded. “That would explain the undertones of condemned souls.”

Lira frigidly smiled at his perceived compliment. While Crabby regained consciousness, she said, “So, what are the odds now?”

Aethir waved a claw in dismissal.

“They’ve gone from impossible to improbable. Without our intervention, he would have woken up and been unable to evolve. He was a mundane ghost crab before. They can hold their breath but he would have drowned in the [Dungeon].”

“At least he has a chance now,” Toriana responded.

“A slim chance,” Aethir muttered.

Comfortable silence fell amongst them as they shared food and drinks. Unbeknownst to gods and men, they watched Sir Crabby McCrabbington I, Apprentice of the Coast and High Crab of the Realm start his new adventure.

CHAPTER 12

DEEPWATER [DUNGEON]

“We’ve gone over the most common [Dungeon]’s in the first half of this course. Now, in this second half, you’ll have a chance to take a guided tour. If you look at your schedules, you’ll see we have nature, fire, construct and trap dungeons lined up for everyone.”

“But, ma’am, what about underwater dungeons? I don’t see them listed.”

“Mr. Lurik, go sit in the corner. A demerit is going in your record.”

“But…”

“Can you breathe underwater? Can you fight three dimensionally? Can you move quickly against fluid friction? Can you evade combat when a single drop of blood can be sensed by every creature? Can you hide your body’s natural electrical field? Can you survive without your armor? Without a bow? Without any basic elemental spell other than Earth and Water, which EVERYTHING has a resistance to?”

“…No.”

“Listen up, class, I’m only going to say this once. NO ONE goes to underwater dungeons. The sea folk LIVE in the water and they still negotiate for access to land dungeons. The only people who go to underwater dungeons are the desperate and the mad. It’s a DEATH sentence.”

— Sylvia Sorensen, Dungeoneer. Recorded Lesson from: “DUN101: Intro to Dungeoneering.” AC 1132

Adventurer!

Welcome to the Deepwater [Dungeon]!

As I wake up, I do my usual self-diagnostic.

Okay. Cave… Check.

Claws? Clack, clack. Check.

Legs? With a quick [Scuttle] left and right, that’s a check.

Everything appears to be working fine. No damage at all. I pull up the last message I received before passing out.

[Dungeon]… [Dungeon]… [Dungeon]…

Yep. Not sure what that is.

I assess my surroundings to try and figure it out. I’m still in some kind of small cave, completely surrounded by water. Ambient light filters in from an unknown source. I’m alone…

A gentle current flows past my shell.

Wait a minute! I’m not alone!

I call out to the surrounding water,

“Hey, Dbug! Are you there?”

A mote of light appears in front of me. His colors change from an ambient blue to an annoyed yellow. And am I detecting a trace of exasperation in his voice?

“I am always here, Crabby. My very important purpose was reassigned to solely watch you. How can I assist?”

I discard my question and wonder about what he said. If his job has been reassigned, then…

“Well, who took over for you?”

Dbug dims in his usual mode of searching for information. “It appears as though the sub-process for worm monitoring was promoted to my previous position, and so on all the way back to the base soil monitoring process. Then a new soil monitoring process was spontaneously generated.”

“Why would something need to monitor worms?”

“So they don’t grow to kaiju size and start consuming all life on the planet. Some evolutionary larval forms are also problematic, serving to encapsulate and sequester water away from the surface. It usually results in a complete desert world.”

I raise my claws in exasperation. Why does everything have to be so world ending! Putting those thoughts aside, I get back to my original question.

“So, I got a screen here that says I’m in a [Dungeon].”

“Yes… you did.”

We stare at each other for a minute before I realize he’s waiting for me.

“What is a [Dungeon]?”

“A [Dungeon] is a [System] construct designed to facilitate leveling for [Sapient] beings. Through spontaneous monster generation, it fills various ‘floors’ with creatures so that [Sapient]’s may level in a designated area.”

“Interesting. Okay… Does it do anything else?”

“Yes, but that information is {REDACTED}.”

With that final pronouncement, he fades away. Before he completely disappears, I wave a claw goodbye.

Okay, Crabby, gotta make a plan. Step one: get out of the [Dungeon]. Step two: figure out where I am. Step three: make my way back to the coast. Step four? Er… I’m not too sure about step four, but Erica said it’ll involve parties and a top hat and a miniature cane… Whatever those things are. Nodding, I venture forth, searching my sparse surroundings.

Circling the room, I fail to find any sort of way out. Remembering how I got here, I activate [Mana Sense] to find some kind of clue. The walls shine bright gold to my vision, where mana has literally suffused every inch of this place. As my sight roams across the walls, a discoloration is brought to my attention.

I [Scuttle] over to the anomaly. A small section is a slightly lighter color than the surrounding area. I deactivate [Mana Sense].

Regular wall.

Activate [Mana Sense].

Lighter wall.

Deactivate [Mana Sense].

Regular wall.

Activate [Mana Sense].

Lighter wall.

Deactivate [Mana Sense].

* * *

Aethir internally groaned. “I can’t watch this.”

“Shhhh! He’ll figure it out!” Toriana said, popping piece after piece of popcorn into her mandible.

“It is rather painful to view,” Lira said, looking quite comfortable on the couch. With a long sip of her drink, she grinned. “Simply exquisite.”

* * *

Regular wall…

Ever so carefully, I reach out a claw to the surface and give it a tap, then scurry backward just in case.

Utter silence.

Wait a minute… I look at my claw, perplexed. I tapped the wall but there wasn’t any sound. Gingerly stepping forward, I lay my claw against the stone… and pass right through!

Ha! The wall is fake! It’s not even real!

Ding.

[Mana Sense II] is now level 2.

I wave my claws in excitement. “I, Sir Crabby McCrabbington, have solved the mystery of the discolored walls!”

Satisfied, I remember to always check for discolored spots and poke at them in the future. [Scuttl]’ing through the illusion, I find myself in another room…

And a claw spearing for my face.

WHOA!

You are in combat!

[Dungeness Crab] attacks you for -10 HP!

You have taken damage!

Go away [System]! I don’t have time for you right now.

Combat Notifications disabled.

I brush the notifications out of my sight. My attacker and I are about the same size, but the [Dungeness Crab] is an ugly brown and white. The initial hit speared me in the side, and a twinge of pain distracts me from examining the wound. I activate [Eyes of Intent], trying to communicate the misunderstanding.

“Hey, buddy! Didn’t mean to just barge in here. No harm, no foul, right? Let’s just take a minute and talk about this.”

As the thread of my will reaches the crab, I receive a response.

[Rage]

Okay… That doesn’t look like it’s going to work. Negotiations failed, time to go with Plan B.

“Alright then! You want some, come get some!”

I [Scuttle] ahead, raising pincers to strike my foe. Our claws lock. We grapple, our limbs entwining as each attempts to dominate the other. We have almost equal weight and limbs, so the engagement isn’t quickly decided.

As my legs scurry, trying to find better leverage, I realize something.

I’m gradually losing.

It might be only a little bit, but the [Dungeness Crab] is stronger, and I’m already growing tired.

With a heave of strength, I push and disengage, drifting backward in the water to get some distance. My mind races as I pull up skills and screens to come up with a plan.

The [Dungeness Crab] isn’t interested in giving me a moment to breathe, rushing forward to reengage. I [Scuttle] to the side, dodging his rush, and a plan begins to form.

The crab stops, using its legs and the friction of the water to slow itself and turn to face me again. I can almost see those simple thoughts, see it prepare to charge.

I use [Earth Manipulation] on the floor, digging my legs in and locking my limbs into place. I lift some sand and coat the top of my claws as I raise my arms in challenge, taunting the crab.

“Is that all you got!”

It races ahead, legs kicking up debris in the water as it prepares to tackle me. It’s getting closer, closer…

NOW!

With all of my strength, I rapidly engage my skills. [Water Manipulation] at the bottom of my claws to remove the fluid friction. [Earth Manipulation] at the top of my pincers, pulling them toward the floor. [Scuttle] applies to the action, 10% faster where Water and Earth meet. I activate [Slice] as my claws fall…

And rip my foe asunder.

You have defeated level 3 [Dungeness Crab]!

Experience is awarded for your actions.

[Scuttle II] is now level 2.

[Slice II] is now level 2.

[Water Manipulation I] is now level 2.

[Earth Manipulation I] is now level 2.

You have leveled up!

You are now level 2.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

* * *

Toriana threw her claws in the air. “YAY, Crabby!”

“I almost got to go back to work early, darn,” Aethir mumbled, burying himself deeper into the couch.

Lira refreshed her drink. “A brutal victory. Glorious.”

CHAPTER 13

AFTER CRABBY REVIEW

“As we tour through the fourth floor of this nature [Dungeon], ensure you note the floor’s theme. Each floor will have a predominant creature type for the first five floors before reaching a safe area. The safe area is right after the theme boss, which generates every five floors. Each individual floor will have floor bosses which correspond to their predominant creature type. With sufficient knowledge and awareness, you can speculate on the nature of the theme boss based on the creature types you’ve encountered. Susan, care to speculate on what we may encounter for the theme boss?”

“Well, we’ve seen rats, hogs, elk and wolves so far. I’m thinking some kind of terrestrial animal? Something that doesn’t fly, at least.”

“Excellent job, Susan, adequate analysis. And Mr. Lurik? If this were an underwater [Dungeon], what would you think it’d be?”

“It’s unknowable because no one goes to them, and we’d all be dead.”

“Quite right, Mr. Lurik.”

— Sylvia Sorensen, Dungeoneer. Recorded Lesson from: “DUN101: Intro to Dungeoneering.” AC 1132

The rush of blood slowly fades as I remove my claw from the enemy crab. The sheer force of my descending strike split his carapace in two. Using [Water Manipulation] to scrub the ichor off my claws, I start reviewing the fight. That was too close. Even though we were commensurate in size and weight, he was still stronger than me. Is it because of his species or level? I pull up the [System] notification to double check and see that yes, he was level three. I look to my fallen foe, his blood now staining the sands.

“Sorry, buddy, it was you or me.”

As I prepare to move away from the cooling body, my stomach growls. When was the last time I’d eaten? There was that few weeks by the coast with Toriana, but she said I was in my soul form. I never grew hungry, so I hadn’t thought about it. Shrugging, I turn back to the fallen [Dungeness Crab].

“Waste not, want not I suppose.”

Once I begin prying the shell off the crab, a sudden spray of bright lights appear, motes of mana dissolving in the water and the crab fades into nothing.

“What? Noooo! My food…”

I scurry closer to save a piece. I pat my claw on the ground, trying to figure out if maybe it had gone into the floor. Things don’t normally just disappear into thin air. Getting nothing, I sit down to rest, and as I do, the sand where the crab had fallen opens up. A piece of crab meat rises from the ground, cut perfectly square and ready to eat. I eye it warily.

Yeah… that’s not normal at all.

I flicker my [Mana Sense] on and off to see if it’s another trap. Nothing. It’s just a piece of crab meat. Extending a claw, I poke it. It jiggles menacingly at my strike.

Hmm, well, I am hungry.

I pick up the meat, examining it from all sides. The coloration appears to be normal, nothing rotting or malformed. I smell the water around it. That’s fresh. Already weirded out by this place, I conduct more tests.

A claw placed on the meat shows it to be within ambient temperature ranges. I lift it above my head and let it drop. It gently falls through the water before landing with a little puff of sand. It demonstrates the expected fluid dynamics of an inanimate object. I decide to check its friction coefficient with the sand and give it a slight nudge. It slides within expected parameters. I decide—

“What are you doing?”

Waahh!

I almost jump out of my shell as Dbug appears, floating right in front of my eyes. I eye him suspiciously. Normally he kind of fades in from nowhere, though sometimes he just pops up instantly. I halfway suspect he’s doing it on purpose.

“I was trying to figure out what this is! I mean it looks like crab meat, but I’ve never been in a [Dungeon] before. That, and when I was going to go eat the monster, it just disappeared and this rose from the floor! I may be new at this, but I’ve never seen things just randomly emerge from nowhere.”

Dbug patiently explains. “This is what is known as an item drop. To incentivize [Sapient] entry, [Dungeon]’s will provide additional materials after a creature is defeated.”

“Yeah, but why? I mean, I could have just eaten the monster, right?”

“No, you couldn’t have. The creature you just defeated is a mana construct in the shape of a crab. It doesn’t actually have a body. In addition, projections have shown that providing material rewards in the shape of these, drops, are a powerful motivator for entry. They can serve as the basis of an economy in some locations.”

Not really understanding all of that stuff about economy, one thing stood out. “Then, why do [Dungeon]’s want people to come in so much?”

“They don’t want anything so much as it is their function. That, and [Dungeon]’s level the same way as anything else. Mainly fighting and killing. With higher levels, they can create more floors and stronger monsters and so on. Generally speaking, it’s a self-perpetuating cycle.”

Okay! So, everything here wants to kill me. Got it! Gotta be careful, Crabby. You’ve landed yourself in dangerous waters.

I wave a claw goodbye as he disappears.

A slight tingle ripples through my carapace. My runaway thoughts screech to a halt as I swivel to identify the source. It felt like there were eyes watching me from the dark. I scan my surroundings, searching the walls and ceiling. Nothing but cool stone. This place is unnerving. And why was I trying to do all of those tests before? Thoughts of fluid and friction scrambling my awareness. I set the matter aside and decide to check my new status.

“Status.”

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Level: 2

Health: 37/70 | H-Regen: 0.07/sec

Mana: 112/170 | M-Regen: 0.19/sec

Stamina: 94/170 | S-Regen: 0.11/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 4

Wisdom: 19

Vitality: 7

Intelligence: 17

Dexterity: 9

Charisma: 16

Woo! Sir Crabby is making progress. The level gave me plus two to all stats. I guess the base value for STR, VIT and DEX still isn’t high enough to give more points for [Kiss from a Crab]. Hmm… That was strange before though, I’ve never gone off on a tangent like that, trying to test things. And all those weird terms and phrases? Maybe the stats are doing it? I already dismissed being a three headed crab because I didn’t want my personality to change.

Warily I eye my status.

They stare back and I glare.

“I’m watching you, [System].” I shake my claw threateningly.

Silence.

Oh well, guess I’ll just have to keep an eye on that. Settling down, I tear into the meat and wait for my health to recover.

* * *

While recovering, I reflect on the fight. I didn’t really have any experience fighting when I lived on the coast. I was tiny and mostly hid in a hole in the ground during the day. At night, I [Scuttle]’d out in search of food. If something scary like a bird or a bigger crab showed up, I ran and hid—

Wait! Hiding! I still have [Natural Camouflage]. I don’t know how well it will work, but it might help. With a bit of concentration, my light blue and black shell fades to gray, matching the dull floor and walls. If I have to fight some more, maybe I can get the drop on the bad guys this time.

As for the fighting part? I guess I’ll continue to use what worked here. Anchoring myself to the ground gave me a solid base to leverage the motion of my claws, and moving the water away from my strikes allowed for a faster swing. For more power, I can coat my claws with earth to increase the weight, and [Scuttle] will compensate for the reduced speed. Finally, [Slice] will give my claw a cutting edge and allow me to fell the enemy with one attack!

“Haha! It’s the perfect plan. There’s no way it could fail!”

An ominous current flowed through the [Dungeon].

I suddenly shiver, weirded out for a second. A lot of strange things are happening here. It’s probably just because this place is full of mana. That must be the reason. Dismissing it from my thoughts, I get to my feet. A quick flicker of [Mana Sense] shows me the exit and I creep ahead, ready for an ambush.

* * *

Toriana had become perfectly still. “Did… did he just tempt [Fate]?”

“I’ll be back to work by the next floor,” Aethir said, just a pinch smug.

Lira clacked her claws. “Pass the popcorn.”

CHAPTER 14

DOUBLE THE FUN

“For years they called me mad. Mad, I say! Everyone rambling on about ‘dangers’ and ‘feasibility.’ But I’m ready to show them. They’ll come crawling when they’ve realized their error. I’ve managed to find a biomancer who doesn’t ask too many questions. I have gills now; I can breathe underwater. You can’t use spells or equipment, you see. It’s too dangerous, too likely for the [Dungeon] to notice and focus on them to the exclusion of everything else.

“Fluid friction was my next concern. I focused on Water magic for five years, finally unlocking [Water Manipulation]. Hahaha! You see how it’s all coming together? My blood? My blood I traded to a Nereid; a water fey. I got a good price for it. She replaced it with ichor and suppressed my ambient electrical field. I can’t regulate my temperature now, but sacrifices, you know? The next five years after [Water Manipulation], I spent toughening my body. Armor would slow me down even more down there. My hands and feet can be my only weapons.

“I am ready.”

— Lurik Benselsik, Water Mage. Interview with Sea Folk Adventurer guild. Presumed suicide by Dungeon. AC 1148

Claws ready, I gingerly step through the illusion separating this room from the next. My [Natural Camouflage] must have had some effect, because this time there’s a split second to react before the [Dungeness Crab] swings at me. I [Scuttle] to the side and hug the wall, bringing [Earth Manipulation] online to anchor myself to the ground. The crab’s initial sprint had thrown it off balance. I focus on its movements, estimating the time I have before the second rush.

I never see the other one drop from the ceiling.

Its impact slams me to the ground. Panicking, I overcompensate, scrambling to get to my feet. Gathering my legs underneath me, I jump in desperation to get away from the claws raining blows on my carapace.

My leap dislodges the crab while I’m tossed into the water, swimmerets engaging to regain my bearings. I align myself horizontally in time to see the crab who I’d thrown off rushing from below. I raise my claw to strike—

Wait… Where is the first one?

Crash!

Crack!

Roaring pain chases all thought from my mind, the first crab having impacted my side. While I was engaged with the ambushing crab, it crawled to the ceiling and employed the same strategy as the second. It didn’t aim for my carapace, the strongest part of my shell. No, when it swam from the ceiling, it slammed into the side of my body, ripping free one of my right legs.

Its impact wrenches me more than forty-five degrees from the parallel as a cloud of blood squirts into the water. In a state of shock, I idly notice my leg drifting to the floor. White meat stark and apparent from the severed chitin.

My awareness jerks back to the present right before the second crab impacts. I stare into its beady eyes, features full of rage and malice. Scrambling to dodge—I’m not quick enough. My movements too slow being suspended in water. The only response I have time for is crossing my claws in front of me to absorb the impact.

Crack!

It slams into me and rebounds, momentum propelling it toward the ground as I’m flung upward to the ceiling.

Crack!

My head hits the unyielding rock and stars dance in my vision. I drift down, dazed and confused. Blood leaks from a dozen different places in my shell. With a modicum of awareness, I catch them rushing side by side, swimming at me with claws extended. I try to summon a response, but my mind is sluggish and my body fails to respond. They close in. Just before the strike, I find my body completely yanked to the side, out of my control, slung down to the ground and back toward the entrance.

I ride the momentum of the sudden change in direction and orientation, letting my body bounce and slide for the opening. Idly, a portion of my mind remembers the [Luck of the Crab]: Once per day, [Dodge] attack that would cause your death.

The pair of crabs, unable to stop, hit the ceiling. The sharp crack of their impact a minor solace as they start to recover. Summoning as much strength as I can, I drag my broken and beaten form to the wall. I pass through the illusion to the first room, praying they won’t follow.

Warning: You are at low health 12/70

Warning: You are bleeding. -1 HP/sec

Warning: You are at low health 11/70

I cross the threshold to the previous room as the [System] blares messages at me.

Collapsing, I manage to slur, “Yesh, yeah, I… I got it…” My voice weakening by the second.

Dbug appears, and his light is a point I’m able to focus on through the haze and pain.

“You’re bleeding, Crabby. Your health will continue to decrease unless you get it to stop.”

I stare at him blankly, taking longer than I should to fully understand his words.

He follows up with, “Apply pressure to the surrounding area. Your body’s natural regeneration should take over from there.”

It takes all of my willpower and full focus to activate [Earth Manipulation]. A black halo crowds in the corners of my sight as I apply a layer of sand to the open wound. The dimming light is banished by a haze of red. Searing pain focuses my thoughts. I hold the pressure, hold the skill in place as I’m torn between black and red.

For what feels to be an eternity I’m held there, a lone broken crab in a [Dungeon], until a new message appears.

Warning: You are at low health 4/70

Note: Bleeding has stopped

Warning: You are at low health 5/70

As I see the first health point rise, I slowly release the hold I have over the skill, fully prepared to reengage if need be. With shaking trepidation, I gingerly release the sand. As the red fog of pain diminishes, the black halo returns and I struggle to stay awake. I need to watch my status, make sure I don’t start bleeding again.

Soon, the only solace I have left is banished as pain and exhaustion steal my awareness.

* * *

Toriana gasped, half leaning off the couch. “They hurt my Crabby!”

“He’ll recover, his regeneration is high enough,” Aethir said, then his eye stalks whipped around. “Wait, why do I smell smoke?”

“I’d forgotten how fun these meetings can get,” Lira said, failing to hold back a chuckle.

“Tori?” Aethir waved his claws at the pink crab hoisting a torch above her head. “TORIANA, put down the FIRE! My credenza!”

Toriana’s lit up with unfathomable power, “Everything will BURN!”

Lira snuggled in, taking all the popcorn for herself. “This party is getting fun.”

CHAPTER 15

DARK NIGHT OF THE CRAB

“Hey, Phil, you know how we’re here guarding in case there’s a [Dungeon] break?”

“Yep.”

“And you know how eventually ALL [Dungeon]’s break if they’re not regularly cleared out?”

“Yep.”

“And you know how the Sea Folk only live near the coast, and the planet is seventy-five percent water?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Then how come all the deep-sea [Dungeon]’s haven’t broken open and flooded the land, raining down monsters to kill us all?”

“You know you’re the reason I drink, right?”

— Conversation between two Guards, Lenorian [Dungeon]. Cataclysm Theories: Thoughts and Observations, AC 1622.

With consciousness returning, I’m glad to note I’m still alive. I guess the enemy crabs either can’t go through the illusion separating the rooms or don’t know it’s there. I lay there, motionless, trying to figure out where the pain is coming from.

Ah, there it is. It’s everywhere. The pain is coming from everywhere. I sluggishly bring up the notifications that blink in the corner of my eye.

Ding.

Warning: You have a cracked shell. (-2 VIT)

Warning: You have a missing leg. (-2 DEX, -2 VIT)

Note: You have 9 of 10 legs remaining

Warning: You have lost > 50% of base VIT

Warning: Negative VIT results in Negative Health Regen

Warning: Negative Health Regen results in death

“Thank you, [System]. So kind of you to let me know my life draining away will kill me.”

Silence.

At least it isn’t forwarding broken inquiries anymore.

I don’t want to look at my full status. I’m scared of what I might find with my leg gone. With a hint of trepidation in my voice, I ask, “Dbug? Status update?”

Dbug appears in a whir of light. He seems subdued as he says, “Since the last time you’ve checked, you’ve lost one of your legs and have a cracked shell. With that injury, you are currently suffering from a negative modifier to your base vitality and dexterity. Your base values for those categories are:

Vitality: 7

Dexterity: 9

“You currently have a negative four to vitality and a negative two to dexterity. This decreases your total maximum health from seventy to thirty.”

He pauses, letting me think about what he’s said. He then asks, “Is there anything else?”

I wave him away and he disappears.

It’ll be a while before I recover. As I look at my health regeneration and my missing leg, I notice something wrong with my vision.

My sight goes blurry and I blearily wipe my eyes, trying to figure out what happened. I must have gotten sand in them, as even being submerged in water, they feel wetter than they should. I also must have gotten something in my nose, because I start sniffling. The sharp pain from my body is joined by a dull ache from my chest as I think about my journey so far.

“I…”

Sniff.

“I don’t think I like this part of the adventure.”

Sniff.

I remember when Erica told me a story. There was a shining hero who rode off to slay the dragon. It was difficult, but he had a lot of fun and saved the village. Then he came home and married the princess. I look to my side.

“He didn’t come home missing a leg…”

Sniff.

I bring all my limbs close, huddling into as small a ball as possible.

Sniff.

And fall asleep.

* * *

I wake up still aching, but feeling better. My health has recovered to its new max of 30/30. I’m still missing my leg and my shell is still cracked. I try to remember how I’ve fixed this before.

Let’s see, the last time…

Huh, the last time was when I got sucked into the wake of Erica’s teleport. Then all that stuff with the gods happened, and when I woke up it was better. Yeah, everything was fixed then. I struggle to remember my life before being [Sapient]. There was—yeah! I was attacked by a bird. I’d lost a leg that time as well. It took a while, but eventually when I got older, I shed my carapace and I healed the damage.

I take a look at my current form. Can I make that happen right now? I concentrate, trying to imagine getting a shiny new shell and a brand-new leg.

And… Regenerate!

Silence.

Shed skin! Er… Grow legs!

Silence.

Hmm. I might have to wait for this to fix itself naturally.

I put away thoughts of my shell and move onto figuring out what happened. Thinking back, it all started when I overreacted and threw myself off the ground. I scroll through my combat logs to confirm a growing suspicion.

[Dungeness Crab] – Lvl 3 tackles you for -7 HP!

[Dungeness Crab] – Lvl 3 attacks you for -10 HP!

You have left the ground.

Water & Earth no longer meet.

[Scuttle] -10% faster actions

Yep, once I was mid-water I slowed down. When [Scuttle I] upgraded to [Scuttle II] it gained the secondary effect of faster actions where Earth and Water meet. Apparently, breaking contact with the Earth deactivated that. Then, I was ambushed by the same tactic I’d just fallen for. There was a slew of combo attacks, and I was unable to respond. Not only that, the crab’s timing and teamwork were impeccable. It’s like they were controlled by the same intelligence.

I struggle to organize my thoughts and decide to just list out the problems.

There’s two of them and they work as a team.

If I leave the ground, they can ambush me where I can’t see them.

They’re higher level.

I’m slower and have less health now.

I activate [Earth Manipulation] to test what I can do with it. There aren’t any rocks in the area, the floor covered with sand, so I clench down with my mind, trying to make the rock form. With half of my mana pool and a few minutes of concentration, I’m rewarded with a tiny pebble. Maybe I can throw it at the enemy?

I lift it in my claw and wind up to hurl. I swing my claw forward and my back legs come off the ground as I do a half turn. The rock slowly drifts about two feet before gently tumbling to the sand.

Huh.

Using [Earth Manipulation], I focus on the rock, lifting it into the water and attempt to move it with speed. It leisurely wafts about.

Time to recreate what I did during my first combat. Activating [Earth] and [Water Manipulation] simultaneously, I remove the water friction in front of the rock to let it move faster. I can manage it, but it takes all of my focus to juggle the two skills at once. It’s way more difficult outside of the rush of combat.

Panting hard, I sit down, mind scrambling to think of an adequate strategy. For some reason, my mind keeps coming back to that bird who attacked me. I had been minding my own business, looking for seaweed, when it got tired of messing with a rock—

Wait, that wasn’t a rock. Think, Crabby, think.

It was a hermit crab.

A hermit crab that carried someone else’s shell.

Stalks glinting with a hint of malice, I summon [Earth Manipulation]. Slowly, paying attention to the joints, I place layer upon layer of sand around my form. My size increases, the sand making me twice as big as I normally am. When I’m done, I take a single pondering step forward, my muscles creaking with the strain. I take another step, focusing on moving the sand with my mind and body at the same time, while also removing the friction with the water. A single step, still half as slow as I can normally move, but twice as fast as the last step.

My mandibles curve in a crabby grin. I can get better at this, I know it. Time to train.

[Water Manipulation I] is now level 3.

[Earth Manipulation I] is now level 3.

* * *

“Let’s get down to business! To defeat… The CRABS!” Toriana bellows.

“Why are you singing? Did you paint your face?” Aethir asks.

“Should he start with armor? Or perhaps… some STABS?”

Lira shakes her head. “You are the saddest god I’ve ever seen.”

“I haven’t got a clue?” Aethir grumbled.

Toriana giggled with delight. “Mister I’ll, make a crab out of you!”

“Sigh.” Aethir rolled his eyes.

“Technically, he’s making it out of sand,” Lira said.

CHAPTER 16

INTERLUDE: THE EMPEROR

Augustus Octavius, Emperor of Lenoria and third of his name, sighed at the reports in front of him. The “Incursion at the Beach,” as it was being called, was a definite blow to both his existing power base and his thoughts of expansion. What little the public knew about it drastically weakened the people’s faith in his leadership. The inordinate response was driven by the revelation that his brother had fallen to corruption. And they still hadn’t managed to catch him. He crumpled the papers.

“Your Majesty? Is there something I can assist with?” his aide cautiously asked.

Augustus leaned back in his chair, his hand reaching for his eyes in a vain attempt to wipe away the pain. “No, Cadrian. It’s just the same as always. Skirmishes on the borders, unrest in the populace, and now…” He waved at the papers. “And now, an uprising in the south. The Duchy of Laurenceburg is trying to break away…” he said the next with a twist of disdain, “…declaring their independence.”

His aide, picking up on his mood, cautiously replied, “Surely, they know that even if they succeed, they will quickly fall to their neighbors. The strength of an empire is exactly that… being an empire. By separating, they are divorcing themselves from the perceived shield of invincibility that Lenoria represents. We stand firm as a single monolith. A small region divorced from that would be pounced upon by opportunistic predators.”

The emperor nodded, all points he’d considered. “Apparently what is self-evident to many is obscure to the leader of this rebellion. It’s being spearheaded by Laurence himself, fool that he is.”

His aide stroked his chin in thought. “Ah, well in that case it’s understandable. By nearly every measure he is assessed to be quite the idiot. Surely he realizes that in a decade or two Lenoria’s power will blossom.” The aide turned to the newly commissioned family portrait. The old one with the emperor’s brother standing next to him had been taken away and burned.

“Quite,” the emperor responded. He shoved the papers away and levied his entire attention on the aide. Cadrian paled under the weight of his regard. “How goes preparations for the memorial?”

His aide nervously gulped. “By all accounts, splendidly. It’s been several weeks since the attack and all bodies have been recovered and purified of corruption. Several of the noble families have even offered to help…”

“No, this attack was on my family. The Imperial family takes care of its own.”

“But surely the empress can find better use of her time, she’s been there for weeks,” the aide began.

Augustus fixed him with such a level stare that the aide blanched.

His aide continued, “Yes, the general populace has been inflamed by the blatant attack on your majesty and family. There have been calls to levy additional forces against the Sea Folk in retaliation. The nobles, being more aware of the situation, have proposed restrictive fines and tariffs.”

The emperor scoffed. “The measures would be useless. The income we receive by allowing the sea folk access to our [Dungeon]’s far offset the loss of life that occurred. And they were hardly party to the attack, they suffered losses of their own.”

“Yes, sire, but perception being what it is…”

Perception was what the emperor was counting on. He looked at the splendid portrait of his family. The new artist was truly skilled and had captured his grief perfectly.

Augustus drummed his fingers on the table in thought. Finally, he told the aide, “Go ahead and meet with the Sea Folk ambassador. Let him know that publicly the fines and tariffs will increase. Also let him know that privately they will receive increased [Dungeon] delving slots in some of our more remote areas. That should satisfy everyone.”

“As you will, sire.” The aide bowed and left the office.

The emperor sat for a moment, gathering his thoughts. His eyes glanced around the room, taking in the opulence his position afforded him. Heavy gold inlay touched every crevice that it could be fit into. Paintings from antiquity hung upon the walls, their contents and subject matter obscured by passing time. He brushed a fleck of imagined dust from his desk. Even this, his desk, was made of mana-wood from the elven forests, given some three hundred years prior.

A rising tide of anger threatened to surge forth. He gritted his teeth in the privacy of his room and restrained himself from shouting. His thoughts raced at the injustice of it all. He thought, What’s the point if I can’t protect my family?

His thoughts lingered on his daughter. His lucky girl, the shining jewel of his eye. He glared at his daughter’s image. His musings then shifted to the face of her attacker.

What’s the point if corruption can take my own brother?

As his anger increased in depth and measure, the surrounding area began to tremble from the pressure of his will. A faint whisper seemed to come to his ears, as if reaching from distant shores. Whenever he let his emotions get the better of him, as he grew more powerful, the whispers became clearer.

Finally wresting control over himself, he entered a meditative state, calming his mind. The whispers began to fade, and before completely disappearing, Augustus offered a brief response.

“Not today, Corruption. The emperor does not yield.”

The whisper faded to nothing, and the emperor looked back up at the painting. “I do not yield. Not for any reason.”

CHAPTER 17

EYE OF THE CRAB

“Welcome to the Adventurers guild. I’m your introductory guide. But listen here, kid, let me tell you something you already know. The [System] ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. I don’t care how much [Strength] you have—it will beat you down to one health and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as a [Dungeon]. But it ain’t about how much damage you can do. It’s about how much damage you can take and keep moving forward. How well you [Dodge] and keep moving forward. That’s how leveling is done! You got that?”

— Stony Barboa, [Pugilist] Instructor. Lenorian Adventurer’s Guild, AC 1583

Now… I just need to figure out how to train. I take another ponderous step, the sand armor clinging to my body. I lose control of the sand and it ejects into my surroundings, spraying directly into my face. I sputter, spitting out sand into the water as I suddenly realize…

I’m blind!

Ah—I can’t see! In a frantic haze, I rush around the small room waving my claws in the air. Where is everything! Ahhh!

WHAM!

“Oww…”

Sliding down the wall I just swam into in my reckless sprint around the room, my vision starts to clear up. Carefully, I lift my claws to my eyes and clean them. With gentle wipes, the sand is brushed away and I breathe a deep sigh of relief.

Whew!

That was a close one, Crabby. You almost blinded yourself there. Alright! Step one of training: Do not get sand in your eyes. Check!

Hmm… What else can I do?

I think about the recent fight, and the time I’ve spent in here thus far. It seems as though the Dungeon creatures either can’t or won’t cross over into additional rooms. I don’t know if that’s just because this is the first floor or if it applies everywhere, but… If they could, then I don’t think I would have made it. I was bleeding pretty badly earlier. An inkling of an idea occurs to me and I think about it harder.

“If the [Dungeon] monsters can’t follow me in here… then that means I can train against them?”

That seems like a good idea. Especially since I know what I’m in for. Those dastardly crabs won’t be able to get the drop on me! And if I need to, I can run through the illusion back into this room. I climb to my feet and as I’m about to apply my armor, I receive a stroke of inspiration. Even though it’s not a skill, this sand armor thing is pretty neat. I should come up with a name for it. I lift a claw to my chin and ponder. After a while, I get an idea and begin applying the sand over my body, hardening it.

“Wonder Crab Powers: Activate!”

My words don’t help my [Earth Manipulation] skill any, but they do help to quell the queasiness I feel brimming in my shell.

“Form of: Armor!”

Hmm, I might have to work on the phrasing. That made me feel better, but I’m still nervous. Putting it out of my mind, I try to focus on the here and now.

Alright, Crabby. Time to take it to the enemy!

Step by slow step I move forward, venturing to test my skills.

As I pass through the illusion, I spot the two [Dungeness Crab]’s bunched together on the other side. My entrance startles them into action. They turn as one and swim as fast as they can toward me.

Time to test how strong this armor really is!

I bear down on [Earth Manipulation], making the sand as hard as I can. They’re rushing, reaching with their shiny claws to pierce my shell. I’m braced, ready for the impact. As I can see the whites of their eyes, I go for a pre-emptive strike. I go to move my claw and…

And I CAN’T MOVE!

I hardened the armor too much. It’s in my joints!

I struggle to loosen the sand, but it’s too late. The [Dungeness Crab]’s slam into the armor and ricochet off, heading to either side of me. I’m shoved backward through the sand. I’m braced for pain, but I’m hardly hurt at all.

As the enemy crabs are shaking their heads, getting their bearings, I manage to drop the sand from my body and swim for the illusion to the previous room.

As I sit in the safe room next door, I think about what just happened.

The armor seems to work okay. I just have to make sure the sand doesn’t get into my joints and solidifies. I start to count how many joints I have and give up. I’m not sure how many there are, but there’s a lot and they’re hard to keep track of. Maybe… maybe instead of sand armor, I can do something else? I think back to my time at the coast. A mean seagull flew down and almost hit me! But I was in water at the time, and it’s claw only glanced off my shell. And I’m surrounded by water… Maybe I can be slippery instead?

I activate [Water Manipulation] and try to form it into a shape around my body. It appears to work okay, until I manage to fully cover my body. At that point, when I step forward, I instantly fall flat, my legs sprayed out to either side. I try to get to my feet and fall once more. Every time, I fall down. I finally release the skill. Maybe, it’s because I’m surrounded by a low friction substance and I’m trying to move through it covered in another low friction substance?

Pondering the possibilities starts to give me a headache and just let it go for now. I think I’ll stick with the sand armor. As I start applying it, I think of a new cool thing to say. I didn’t much like the Wonder Crab powers one.

As the sand congeals into a thick coating, I pay extra attention to the joints. I don’t want to get stuck like a rock again. That’s when it comes to me. The dreaded enemy is right through that illusion, and it’s not I that should fear. It should be them!

I try to think of the scariest thing I can imagine, and in my deepest darkest voice say, “Releasing Crab art restriction to level three, two, one…”

“Approval of situation [Dungeon] recognized.”

“Commencing the Sand Armor invocation!”

I move my claws back and forth, up and down, in the spookiest way I can think of. I’m almost done with the armor and throw in a last scary jab.

“[Skill] restrictions lifted for limited use until the enemy has been rendered silent…”

I stop waving my claws around.

Nah.

I don’t like putting my voice that low. Plus, it was really long. I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t work. Besides, it was kind of hard pretending to be scary. I don’t really think I’m a spooky kind of guy.

It’s okay, Crabby. You’ll figure it out eventually!

I try to remain hopeful. I need to focus on what’s going on right now. And right now? I think I have a new idea. Let’s try sand armor and water slide together.

I pass through the illusion.

This time is just like the first. I only see one of them and the other is… already falling from above! As it swiftly descends into a dive, I activate [Water Manipulation], both around my legs and on top of my shell. I make smooth surfaces that should deflect the impact. As it strikes, I try to brace myself and…

“WHEE!”

I’m sent skidding, spinning round in a circle as I move like a crab on ice. The weight of the sand is enough to keep my body close to the ground, but the thin layer of water underneath me is providing enough slipperiness to keep me moving. I glance at my health. The sand armor is doing its job and I’m still okay. As I careen across the floor, I realize I’ve missed an important fact…

I’m not sure how to stop this thing.

“No, no, no, no, noooooo!”

WHAM!

And… I found the wall. As I’m shaking my head to clear it, a flicker of motion draws my attention. The other crab is almost on me! It must have chased me over here. I raise my claws and brace myself, but—

I haven’t deactivated the [Water Manipulation].

WHAM!

I’m sent skidding across the floor, spinning in circles once more. As I start to slow down, I shake my head and glance at my health. Still okay. All limbs intact. Okay, you got this, Crabby! You can make this work. Just have to—

WHAM!

And I’m flying across the floor. My stomach rumbles and I emit a low, “Eugh…”

Okay, spinning this many times isn’t fun anymore. Once I’m slowed down enough, I discover I’m near the illusion to my safe room. I stagger through and let my stomach settle. I’m going to have to figure something else out.

Collapsing onto the sand I hear a familiar ding.

I manage to utter, “Dbug… status update?”

The tiny light materializes next to me. “Since your last check, the following has been improved.”

[Earth Manipulation I] has increased in tier!

[Earth Manipulation I] level nine is now [Earth Manipulation II] level one!

[Earth Manipulation II] has gained a Static Effect!

[Earth Manipulation II] now has a 5% faster training speed!

I wearily wave a claw to stop Dbug from reciting it all out. I take a moment to note the changes that have been made. Seems my mock battles with the [Dungeness Crab]’s have been useful.

The current bonus for both skills has increased to a total of four percent faster, accurate shaping. Small changes, but every bit helps. I can already feel the difference. I started with a small pebble, and now I can wear armor!

As I prepare to brainstorm new ideas, Dbug interrupts my thoughts.

“Would you like to hear stat increases as well from training?”

“What do you mean?”

Dbug explains. “Up to a certain point, increasingly difficult physical activity can increase the base values of your stats. This effect is limited by your race and other measures which are hidden from view.”

“Yeah, okay. Tell me what’s changed.”

Ding.

“Through dedicated training you have improved your body’s natural capabilities. You have received plus one to strength and dexterity.”

Wow, I guess that means if I lift heavy rocks or something I could get really strong? There’s only sand in my immediate area though. Hmm, maybe in the future. I’m already a bit leery about the sand after the whole, blinding thing.

As I consider my next idea for training and what I should do. It’s time for my favorite skill!

Time to [Scuttle]!

Zoom left.

Zoom right.

While [Scuttl]’ing back and forth, I increase the difficulty, multitasking by singing a song Erica taught me.

“I like to eat, eat, eat, Crabbys and bananas!”

It’s a bit morbid, but I’m sure Erica wasn’t actually referring to eating me.

Pretty sure.

Almost one hundred percent.

I’m just going to stop thinking about it.

As my stamina empties, I lay down and focus on recovering. Phew! I should really come up with some better songs.

Nothing against Erica of course, but the “Eat Crabby,” song only has one line and melody. It gets old pretty fast. Figuring out a new song might give me something fun and relaxing to do while waiting for my stamina and mana to recover. Like they say, all work and no play makes Crabby a dull crab!

Hahaha… Haha… Hmm.

Wait a minute.

Like who says?

I try to quash a rising sense of panic as I scour my memories, attempting to find an instance when ANYONE said that. I come up blank. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. I keep referencing things I’ve never seen or heard of, sayings and phrases that make sense but are unfamiliar. Then, there was that weird moment when I went full Aethir on testing the crab meat.

You never go full Aethir.

GAH! There it is again!

I scramble to my feet. Is it the [System]? The gods? Are they trying to change me? Why do I keep coming up with this stuff? I bring up my screens, scrambling to figure something out, anything that would give me a hint. I go through my recent memories, then further, all the way back to when I first gained [Sapience]. A moment sticks out, right after Aethir summoned Lira and Toriana. What were his exact words. They were something like…

“‘A mundane… doesn’t have the knowledge… support cognizant thought.’ THEN he was, ‘As [Lord of the Coast], which… class, includes… skill [Knowledge: Noble].”

Okay, okay, Crabby. This is something. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but there are knowledge skills. They would probably let you know something. Except I don’t have that skill. And after a peek at my status, nope, don’t have it. What else? I remember him saying,

“‘[CORRUPTED] appeared, its aura infect… the crab.”

I pale. That giant rotting snake who started this whole mess. Am I infected? I look at my body, then my screens. No, I can’t be. That was the whole reason for the trial, Crabby. They fixed everything. I glare at my status, skills, and titles, headache forming as I fail to make a connection.

And yet.

My attention keeps drifting to the [Lore] section. I ponder, claw on my mandible. [Lore]… I’d mostly ignored it, with the exception of that strange {REDACTED} evolution. But as I look through the quotes and references, these are all things I’ve never seen or heard of, yet they still somehow feel familiar.

There has to be a reason for it. I don’t imagine Aethir would add something extra to the [System] just to make a skill more exciting. So if Aethir added it, then it must be needed. And if it’s necessary, then there must be a need for a connection between the [System], [Knowledge], [Lore], mortal and divine?

Ding.

Congratulations! You earned 1 New Title!

Would you like to view it now? Y/N?

Shocked out of my musings, I lift a claw and select yes. I’m struck by what I see.

CHAPTER 18

CRABBY’S THEME

“So, our longevity is because Arthos needs us to be powerful enough to create [Lore]?”

“Correct, and power takes time. Legends aren’t told about Belinda the Dwarf baker. No, legends are told about us. Now, what does having [Lore] for a planet mean?”

“Umm… it means [Lore] and [Knowledge] interact?”

“And…?”

“It forms the [AKASHA] that allows the [System] to implement. Which protects the other races from [CORRUPTION]?”

“Very good, son.”

“Hey, Dad?”

“Yes, son?”

“Before [Lore] is created, what protected the other races?”

“Well, that’s another reason for our power.”

— Apocryphal Fragment - BC, Men in Blue Archives. Recovered from Dragon Temple #██████

There’s… there’s a lot to unpack here.

Title

Bridge Between

Feat: Have [Knowledge] of the [COVENANT], Have [Triumvirate Unveiled], intuit existence of the [AKASHA].

Effect: +5% to WIS, INT, CHA, [DEF-UP] against [CORRUPTION], +[Knowledge] to [System] interface.

Knowledge: ETERNITY guards the AETHERIC GATES. Mortals guard the MATERIAL PLANE.

The [SYSTEM] is the bridge between.

ETERNITY flows from the AETHERIC GATES, through the [SYSTEM] to reality. By their nature, mortals cannot withstand ETERNITY.

[Knowledge] is an ASPECT of ETERNITY. [Lore] is the mortal contribution to [Knowledge]. Where [Knowledge] & [Lore] meet, the [AKASHA] is formed. The [AKASHA] is the collective unconscious of mortality. The [AKASHA] is the first line of defense against [CORRUPTION].

*Due to the unconventional nature of your awakening, you have more of a connection to the [AKASHA] than others. You know things you should not and reference things you’ve never seen.

Lore: “Have the [Knowledge], Understand the [Lore], Power the Will, and Even the Score.” – {REDACTED}

I try to understand what this means for me. The menu says [Knowledge] is an Aspect of Eternity. Thinking back on my trial, I recall that it’s a past face of Lira, the current Wisdom. So, [Knowledge] exists as an Aspect; but knowledge must always be expanding, mortals constantly contributing new things to know.

It looks like my connection to the [Akasha] isn’t changing me, not changing who Sir Crabby is. The [Akasha] just lets me pull from the collective result of the meeting between [Lore], which is mortal discovery and creation, and the growing [Knowledge] of everything that has come before.

I slump with mental exhaustion, a crushing worry now removed from the back of my mind. I’d tried not to think about the [Akasha], but the nagging concern haunted me. That’s all in the past though. It’s decided then. I’ll just be me.

I wear a Crabby grin, taking a small comfort in knowing that everything I know and learn, and reference and create, has all been shaped by an infinitude of life. It’s not just I, Sir Crabby, a scared crab alone in a [Dungeon].

It’s we, Sir Crabby, a result of everything that has come before. Everyone out there. Be it mortal or god, by our shared history we are bound together.

After all that hard thinking, I decide to take a nap. And when I wake up, something else I hadn’t considered at the time surfaces. Now that I know of the importance of [Lore], I notice that my old buddy {REDACTED} has shown up in the entry for the Bridge Between. This is the third time now, and when read it all together it says:

Eyes of Intent: “My sight will end this age.” – {REDACTED}

Triumvirate Unveiled: “I may be blind, yet still I see.” – {REDACTED}

Bridge Between: “Have the [Knowledge], Understand the [Lore], Power the Will, and Even the Score.” – {REDACTED}

The menu might be trying to tell me something. Nothing immediately comes to mind, but the wording for the Bridge Between has a nice rhyme to it. Maybe it can be the basis for a song? I repeat the phrase a few times, unable to put a melody to it. Finally, I dismiss it from my thoughts and refocus on the task at hand.

What was I doing before?

Ah! I was working on making better music than the “Eat Crabby” song Erica taught me. I try to come up with something fun and Crabby themed.

“I like my [Coast], [Coast], [Coast].”

No, that’s almost the same song.

“I like to [Slice], [Slice]—”

AH! Why is that melody stuck in my head? This shouldn’t be that hard, I [Know] what music is after all.

Wait…

“It can’t be that easy.”

I warily look at the Bridge Between [Lore] entry. I [Know] what music is. I have a deeper connection to the [Akasha], so that I may better understand [Lore]. I pull up my old speaking skill, [Eyes of Intent]. It’s effects?

Manifest your Will.

Finally, I have [Mana Manipulation] for the power. Though I’m not sure what the “even the score” part is about. Dismissing that for now, a plan starts to form. And before I can scare myself out of it, I plop down to start. Letting my awareness drift away, I repeat the exercise Toriana guided me through to unlock [Mana Manipulation] and [Eyes of Intent].

I find myself drifting in a mental void, only my thoughts as a lonely companion. This time though, instead of focusing on venturing to the core of my mana, I take a moment to assess my surroundings. Amorphous darkness surrounds me, the negative blankness shifting in the recesses of my mind.

With my knowledge of music, I just need to find the [Lore] in the [Akasha]. I activate [Eyes of Intent], and rather than forming a narrow bridge to send thoughts and speech, I aim to express the [Lore] I seek. I imagine myself, running and in combat, indiscernible music beating in the distance. The darkness shifts and flashes of meaning pound into my head. The information is strange, foreign and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Yet, the foreign [Lore] captures the essence of what I’m looking for.

With all my strength, I latch onto the [Lore] as it fights, buckling against my mental claws. I can’t capture all of it, only flashes here and there filtered through my own life and experiences. Holding on, I bring my awareness out of that dark location and back into reality. The [Lore] starts to fragment, breaking away from my control as I activate [Mana Manipulation]. I seize control of the mana around me and activate [Eyes of Intent], willing the music forth. Almost as if possessed, my claw moves, dictated by the [Lore] pouring from the [Akasha].

My claw moves to the left.

“Crabby…”

My claw moves to the right.

“Crabby…”

My claw thrusts ahead.

“Crabby…”

My claw raises high in the sky!

“Sir Crabby, HOOOOO!”

I start running circles around the room, excitement and music and joy pouring out of every motion, moving faster and faster while my mana, soul and Will sings.

“Sir Crabby is on the move!”

“Sir Crabby is loose!”

“Feel the magic!”

“Fear the claws!”

“Sir Crabby is loose!”

“Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir Crabby!”

“Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir Crabby!”

I slide to a halt, panting from the power I’ve channeled. My body is sore and my mana and stamina are completely bottomed out. Regaining conscious control of my body, I hear a—

Ding.

Congratulations!

You have a new skill!

Sir Crabby’s Story

Effects: Channel the [AKASHA] to tell your story.

Current Bonus: Various, dependent on [Lore]

Cost: Variable, user defined

Lore: “It can’t be that easy.” – Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

I bring up the logs of the last minute or so.

(undefined) effect has been applied

(undefined) effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

(undefined) effect: 1 minute duration

One minute of power in return for all of my mana and stamina? Oh yeah, this [Dungeon] is going down.

Humming, I do a final check of my status. It’s been a while since I looked at it in its entirety.

Character Screen

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Age: 8 Months | Level: 2 | Class: Apprentice of the Coast | Race: Elemental Crab

Titles: Triumvirate Unveiled, Kiss from a Crab, Luck of the Crab, Lore Contributor II, Bridge Between

Health: 30/30 | H-Regen: 0.03/sec

Mana: 170/170 | M-Regen: 0.2/sec

Stamina: 120/120 | S-Regen: 0.08/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 5

Wisdom: 20

Vitality: 7 (-4)

Intelligence: 18

Dexterity: 10 (-2)

Charisma: 17

Focusing on my WIS, INT and CHA, the [System] gives me a further breakdown of where the values are coming from.

WIS: Base (14) +3(RACE) +1(TITLE) + 11%[BASE]*(TITLE) = 20

WIS: BASE[18]*TITLE[11%] + BASE[18] where [BASE] = DEFAULT(14) + RACE(3) + TITLE(1)

INT: Base (13) +3(RACE) + 11%[BASE]*(TITLE) = 18

INT: BASE[16]*TITLE[11%] + BASE[16] where [BASE] = DEFAULT(13) + 3(RACE)

CHA: Base (14) +1(TITLE) + 11%[BASE]*(TITLE) = 17

CHA: BASE[15]*TITLE[11%] + BASE[15] where [BASE] = DEFAULT(14) + 1(TITLE)

Looks like the percentage boosts from titles apply after all modifiers to the base value such as flat increases from titles and racial bonuses. The base value seems to be increased by leveling up, and in the case of STR and DEX, the physical training I did before.

STR: Base (5) + 1%[BASE]*(TITLE) = 5

STR: [BASE]*TITLE[1%] where [BASE] = [DEFAULT] of 5

VIT: Base (7) + 1%[BASE]*(TITLE) = 7

VIT: [BASE]*TITLE[1%] where [BASE] = [DEFAULT] of 7

DEX: Base (10) + 1%[BASE]*(TITLE) = 10

DEX: [BASE]*TITLE[1%] where [BASE] = [DEFAULT] of 10

I bring up my titles, just wanting to view my accomplishments so far.

Titles

Triumvirate Unveiled

Feat: You have seen the Shadows of Ages Past, the Triumvirate Unveiled.

Effect: +5% to Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence

Lore: “I may be blind, yet still I see.” – {REDACTED}

Kiss from a Crab

Feat: Received a [Divine] Crab Kiss

Effect: +1% to All Stats

Lore: “There… Used to be a Pretty Crabby Alone on the sea…” – Latest hit from ‘Pinniped’

Luck of the Crab

Feat: Divinely Announced as the “Luckiest Crab in the History of Existence.”

Effect: Once per day, [Dodge] attack that would cause your death.

Lore: “This… this is ridiculous.” – Goddess of Wisdom, flabbergasted

[Lore] Contributor II

Feat: Performed New Feat. Contributed to the [Lore] of Arthos

Effect: +1 to Charisma, +1 to Wisdom

Lore: “Go forth and forge your legend!” – [Lore]

Bridge Between

Feat: Have [Knowledge] of the [COVENANT], Have [Triumvirate Unveiled], intuit existence of the [AKASHA].

Effect: +5% to WIS, INT, CHA, [DEF-UP] against [CORRUPTION], + [Knowledge] to [System] interface.

Lore: “Have the [Knowledge], Understand the [Lore], Power the Will, and Even the Score.” – {REDACTED}

The [Knowledge] portion of the [Bridge Between] title doesn’t automatically show. Concentrating, I can make it appear and disappear. With a brief effort, I find I can do that with the other entries as well. More to investigate later. Time for my physical skills.

Physical Skills

Scuttle II: Lvl 7

Effects: Increase movement speed, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 6.8% faster movement

Static Bonus: +10% faster actions where Water & Earth meet

Cost: 2 Stamina per second

Lore: “I just like to [Coast].” – Government [Lackey]

Slice II: Lvl 4

Effects: Increased effect of STR on edged weapons, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 5.6% greater cutting damage

Cost: 12 Stamina per attack

Lore: “Time to [Slice] & dice.” – Royal Chef

Natural Camouflage I: Lvl 7

Effects: Shift your color to match surroundings. Speed/Accuracy improves with skill level.

Current Bonus: 1.4% faster shift/accuracy

Cost: 1 Stamina per second

Lore: “Hide like a cuttlefish, blend like an octopus. Their claws can’t hit and their face is a sourpuss.”

During my training time, I’d managed to bring [Scuttle II] up quite a few levels. That improvement from the base 4% speed to 6.8% has been quite helpful. I’m still not as fast as I was when I had all my legs, but every little bit is welcome. The [Slice II] level up is due to practicing my [Earth Manipulation] and making rocks. I would sometimes attack them, trying to work out my frustrations.

[Natural Camouflage] is still the same because there’s only so much stamina in a day. Those crabs have shown I can’t hide well enough to escape them. Thinking of the camouflage, I have a sudden image of me all in black. I could swing from lines strung up in palm trees while beating up evil-doers in the night. Then, I could take them to prison where they would break free and I could do it all over again.

I could be… Crabman!

I shake my head, dismissing the idea. I’m underwater, that won’t work here.

…Maybe in the future.

I bring up my magical skills, reviewing the progress I’ve made.

Magic Skills

Mana Manipulation II: Lvl 5

Effects: Move Mana, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 6% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Wield the might Arcane.” – Archmage Vendros

Water Manipulation II: Lvl 1

Effects: Move Water, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 4% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Lore: “Nature is like [Water]. It takes the shape of its container.” – Sea Folk Advice

Earth Manipulation II: Lvl 1

Effects: Move Earth, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 4% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Lore: “I’m always down to [Earth].” – Elemental Saying

Mana Sense II: Lvl 2

Effects: Feel the mana around you.

Current Bonus: 4.8 greater clarity

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Begin your path to power.” – Mage Guild

Eyes of Intent I: Lvl 1

Effects: Manifest your will.

Current Bonus: Undefined

Cost: Variable

Lore: “My sight will end this age.” – {REDACTED}

Sir Crabby’s Story

Effects: Channel the [AKASHA] to tell your story

Current Bonus: Various, dependent on [Lore]

Cost: Variable, user defined

Lore: “It can’t be that easy.” – Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

[Mana Manipulation] got a nice spike. It appeared to have some kind of synergistic effect with [Water] and [Earth Manipulation]. [Mana Sense II] has refused to budge. Then again, there’s nothing to see here besides the grey walls and sandy floor. Though the two elemental manipulation skills reaching Tier II kind of makes up for that. Plus they both gave me a static bonus of 5% faster training speed.

Nodding to myself, I close all the screens and face the entrance to the next room. Here we go.

CHAPTER 19

CRAB BATTLE

“Listen here, boyo, I don’t care what you’ve learned from your fancy pants college, alright? We go down in the [Dungeon], we make it to the boss, and you do exactly what I tell you. [Dungeon]’s change, they adapt, they do everything in their power to kill you deader than dead.”

“What’s deader than dead?”

“Pray you never find out.”

— Recorded Conversation, Adventurer’s Guild. AC 1509

“Tank Mode, Activate!”

A single layer, double layer, triple layer of sand covers my entire body, [Earth Manipulation] armoring my form. It barely leaves a gap, only what my joints need for movement. I take a ponderous step, my natural buoyancy negated by the increased weight. My legs dig into the sand as I operate [Earth Manipulation] and my body in unison. I set forth and pass through the illusion, eager to take my revenge.

One of the [Dungeness Crab]’s are already moving to engage. The crab is moving fast, legs kicking up sand as it rushes to attack. A flicker of motion catches my attention and I see the other one already scrambling up the wall, preparing to strike from above. This time, I’m ready.

“Deploying Anchors!”

My legs dig into the floor, [Earth Manipulation] activating to join my armor to the ground and lock me in place. The rushing crab barrels headlong, claws snipping, just about to slam into me. I cross my claws in front of my body, bracing for impact. Half-running, half-swimming, it rushes head-on to strike. As our forms meet, there’s a brief moment of shock in the monster’s eyes as it slams into me…

And bounces off.

“Hahaha! Take that, stupid crab!”

I’m anchored to the floor, covered in sandy armor. The crab didn’t have enough force or leverage to move me, so the energy of the impact actually rebounds. Almost as if it slammed into a wall. The monster floats there, stunned, and I take advantage. It’s still within reach as I activate [Slice] and bring my claws down.

Its entrails spray the water red.

“Where’s the other—Ha!”

The other one is already descending from the ceiling, swimmerets engaging to pick up speed. Quickly eyeing the angle of the other crab’s descent, I see it aiming for my legs again.

“NOT this time!”

I bring all my concentration to bear, hardening the armor there, and draw more sand to cover it. It almost looks like I’m covered in a tiny sloped hill, and I hardly feel the hit when the remaining crab impacts and rolls away. The hostile crab shakes its body, briefly stunned.

Unfortunately, my enemy is outside of my reach, and as I’m anchored, I can’t move to take advantage. The hostile crab withdraws, cold intelligence looking at my crabby defense, before starting to attack the sides, the back, all in an attempt to get through my protection. My opponent realizes the futility and swims to face me, repeating the actions that doomed his fellow.

As the remaining crab rushes in, a glimmer of an idea begins to form. I stealthily release my grip on both the ground and my armor, holding them in place, but not reinforcing them against impact. When the enemy closes in and we lock claws, I release my anchor, letting the force of the crab’s momentum shove me back. As I slide from the impact, my opponent moves into the space I was occupying.

The space now filled with the cloud of sand.

I bring my will to bear and move the earth, covering the enemy as I was covered. Except this time, I don’t leave room for the joints to move. The hostile crab struggles against my efforts, trying to unlock our grasped claws and get out of the trapping sand. I bear my mind forward, encasing my enemy tighter. Finally, my opponent stops. Encased in earth I control. I unlock our claws, lift my arms up high, and bring them down. My [Slice] cuts the final crab in twain.

Ding.

You have defeated level 3 [Dungeness Crab]!

You have defeated level 3 [Dungeness Crab]!

Experience is awarded for your actions.

[Scuttle II] – 7 is now level 8.

[Slice II] – 4 is now level 6.

[Earth Manipulation II] – 1 is now level 3.

You have leveled up!

You are now level 3.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

As the enemy disappears and crab meat rises from the ground, I settle in to recover my resources. Chowing down on the rewards, I think about the battle and what I could have done better. Tearing into the glistening food drifts my mind elsewhere.

I think I’ll just let myself enjoy the victory for a bit. As the crab meat fills my stomach, a smile comes to my mandibles. In the depths of the sea, in the second room of the Deepwater [Dungeon], I sing…

“I like to eat, eat, eat… Crabby’s and bananas!”

* * *

Toriana glides around the couch in a dance of triumph. “Victory! I knew Crabby could do it.”

“Took him long enough,” Aethir said. “I was considering getting a nap in.”

“That was a clever strategy. I didn’t think he had it in him,” Lira said.

“You know what he has in him? The other crab!”

“Toriana, that’s not what I meant…”

“Now that just leaves one mystery. What the heck is a banana? Aethir?”

Aethir gives her an incredulous stare. “Really? Sigh… A banana is…”

CHAPTER 20

GETTING THE SHAFT

“Professor, for my dissertation project, I was planning on going to the Elemental Planes to research some of the native life forms.”

“An admirable goal. Where exactly do you plan on going?”

“There’s not a lot of research done on the border of Earth and Water. I was thinking of starting my work there.”

“I assume you have your affairs in order?”

“What do you mean?”

“You remember when you were a young adventurer and you went down to the beach with all the other adventurers, and there were hundreds of crabs? You were told to kill them until you were level 10.”

“Yeah.”

“Great! Now imagine those hundreds of crabs can cover you in earth up to your neck while throwing icebolts at you.”

“I’m going to pick somewhere else…”

“Wise choice.”

— Dissertation Recorded Interview, College of Elements. AC 1376.

After finishing my meal, I take a look at the combat logs to confirm a suspicion I have.

You are in combat!

[Dungeness Crab] attacks you for -10 HP!

Improvised Armor (sand) takes (8 HP) damage!

You have taken -2 HP damage!

[Dungeness Crab] uses [Tackle]!

You are [Rooted]!

[Tackle] failed!

“Ha! It worked!”

I’d previously tested my sand armor, but had enough trouble with my initial tests that the last fight was pretty much me going off of instinct. I’m glad to see I wasn’t too far off the mark. Though, it looks like my new armor isn’t perfect.

“It probably depends on the toughness of the material.”

I bring up some sand in my claw.

“I was holding it close and compact to my body, but maybe sand can only do so much?”

I let it fall to the ground.

“Rock would probably work better, though it’d be even heavier and harder to use. That, and I can’t really move a whole lot yet.”

The moment of melancholy passes through me and I banish the thought.

“You’ll get there, Crabby! Step by step.”

Checking my status, I’m fully recovered. Clambering to my feet, I turn on [Mana Sense] to seek out the next illusion to pass through.

There’s nothing.

My stalks scan the walls as I walk around the perimeter of the room. The light, golden shine of mana evenly covers the circumference of the circular space. The familiar discoloration of an illusion just isn’t anywhere. I start scanning the entire area for a hint. It’s not until I reach the very top of the roof that I see the portal to the next area.

“Ooof.”

I was a ghost crab before. Coastal life was for me and I embraced it. After all, the coast was the only thing I’d ever known, and I wasn’t really good at the whole thinking part at the time. Funny thing about coastal crabs, we can’t actually breathe underwater. I didn’t even have any body parts for swimming. I just had legs for days!

That’s a weird phrase…

Anywho!

It wasn’t until I evolved and got my fancy new swimmerets that I could swim in open water. Unfortunately, just because I can swim, doesn’t mean I can swim good. I certainly can’t swim covered in sand armor.

Sighing, I dismiss the concerns.

Here we go, Crabby.

I jump from the floor and swim toward the entrance to the next area.

As I pass through the illusion, I’m on edge, spinning wildly in expectation of an imminent attack. I’m pleasantly surprised to find nothing rushing at me. No enemies preparing to strike. What immediately grabs my attention are the surroundings. It’s a vertical shaft, gently illuminated with three sets of crossing bands of light tapering off into the distance.

“This is new.”

A sinking feeling erupts in my chest as I look at the maze of lights.

This feels like a trap.

I let myself sink back into the room I’d just left, floating to the floor before engaging [Earth Manipulation] to make a stone. Crunching down with my will, the sand compresses. I carry it next to me as I return to the shaft. Once on the wall, I lock my legs in to hold me in place.

My instincts are screaming to return to a horizontal orientation. The position I’m in feels very unnatural. I don’t think crabs are designed to climb up and down vertical surfaces.

Sigh.

I send the rock ahead of me, letting it waft through one of the bands of light. My control over the rock breaks when a spear materializes from the wall, the speed creating waves in the water as it pierces the rock, shattering it to pieces.

Gulp.

I couldn’t dodge that.

I couldn’t dodge that if I was horizontal and on land.

I couldn’t dodge that if I was horizontal, on land, and with a speed buff.

I couldn’t dodge that if—

No! Think, Crabby!

There are gaps in the bands of light, dark places big enough for me to pass through. The problem is there’s also dark holes in the walls I can’t see into. My [Mana Sense] isn’t showing me their contents either. I reach out with my will to the falling pieces of rock and gather them together. Reforming them, I send it ahead, threading through the light and near one of those dark holes.

A massive claw reaches out and shatters the rock.

Gulp.

That claw was about half the size of my body. If I got hit with that…

Best not to think about it.

The good news is, the holes are too small for whatever those things were to come completely through. Looks like only their claws can fit.

Alright, so I have to move vertically through the shaft of death, not crossing any lights that will immediately kill me, while also dodging any attacks that will immediately kill me, and make sure that while dodging said attacks that will immediately kill me, I don’t cross the lights that will immediately kill me.

Phew!

Piece of cake, Crabby. You got this.

The other good piece of news is that the end of the shaft is visible. Estimating the distance, it’s about a hundred, maybe two hundred Crabby lengths away.

I form a plan, imagining threading through the light. Swimming is right out. I can’t move fast enough through the water for that to work. Especially not vertically. And my [Water Manipulation] isn’t to the point where I can use it to shuttle around.

I’ll have to climb along the walls, piercing the rock with my legs to climb. At least I’ll be able to take advantage of [Scuttle]’s secondary effect of faster actions where Earth and Water meet. Plan made, I grit my mandibles and raise my claw. I’m going to need everything I have for this.

“Crabby.”

“Crabby.”

“Crabby.”

“Sir Crabby, HOOOOOO!”

Ding.

Sir Crabby’s Music has been applied.

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

Effect: 1 minute remaining

Power surges through my body and I race upward, aiming for the first dark space between the bands. The music pounds in my carapace as the rhythm informs my every step.

♫♫♫ “Sir Crabby is in the sea!” ♫♫♫

♫♫♫ “Sir Crabby is loose!” ♫♫♫

I cross through the first gap, eyes scanning wildly for a claw coming to strike me unseen. Seeing that I’m clear, I continue, time ticking away. Closing in on the second band of lights, a claw erupts from the shadows, zooming toward my scrambling form.

I tuck my head low to the wall and the claw misses me by mere inches as the current rips at my hold.

Gotta move! Gotta go!

Scrambling to the side of the claw, I continue up, clearing the second beams of light.

♫♫♫ “Feel the current, Fear the Claws!” ♫♫♫

♫♫♫ “Sir Crabby is loose!” ♫♫♫

I’m running out of time, the buff more than halfway through. When I reach the third set of lights, two sets of claws erupt simultaneously from opposing sides of the shaft. I won’t be able to dodge both them and the lights. Mind scrambling. The claws rushing in closer to strike. Estimating their trajectory and the gap in the lights on the other side, I make my choice.

I leap from the wall, aiming not for the gap, but the other side of the shaft where it’s still clear. The claws intersect below me and I unleash a [Slice] with my pincers, using the rebound from the attack to accelerate my movement.

I land on the opposing side and scramble through the last gap, body shaking from exhaustion just as the music ends.

♫♫♫ “Sir Crabby.” ♫♫♫

I clutch the wall, holding myself in place, safe for now. The end of the shaft is near, where it opens into air. Looks like the next portion of the [Dungeon] is on land, which will be a nice change. I take a moment, letting my stamina regenerate. Once I’m semi-recovered, I scan the final portion of the corridor. No holes where the claws can come from.

Still cautious, I continue on, moving slow in case I missed something. I’m only five Crabby lengths away from open air when my instincts scream in warning. I freeze, trying to figure out where the danger is coming from. I see nothing, smell nothing—it’s just me, the shaft and the water. Striving to determine what I’m sensing, it hits me. The ambient mana levels had increased in this area. Activating [Mana Sense], I look ahead.

There are crisscrossing bands of light in the final stretch.

“Oh, you sneaky [Dungeon] you.”

Gritting my mandibles, I move gingerly to the side. Having narrowly avoided death from the invisible trap, I crawl into open air.

* * *

“That’s my lucky Crabby!” Toriana cheers, nibbling on a new treat. “Mmm, these are tasty.”

“Quite. I like bananas better than chocolate,” Aethir said.

Lira regards him. “Really? I think I prefer the chocolate.”

“Ooo, I want to try them with some crab meat!”

Aethir clacks his claws a bit. “Isn’t that a bit, cannibalistic?”

“Crabby and bananas!” Toriana sings.

“Only in the loosest definition,” Lira decides. “It would be from a different species of crab after all.”

“Point, I suppose you could consider it as hunting and it wouldn’t be a taboo…” Aethir concedes.

Lira waves a claw when she notices Toriana scurrying around the space. “Trash can is over there, hun.”

“Thanks!”

Aethir perks up, eye stalks whipping one way and the next, following Toriana’s scuttling. “Did she just have carrots?”

“I’m more concerned with how that much food fits into such a small body.”

“My credenza!”

CHAPTER 21

THE CHOICE

Oh, there’re sober Crab’s aplenty,

And seals of barely twenty,

There are squids of over ninety

That have never yet kissed a God.

But give me a ramblin’ Crabby,

With a Princess that’s not too shabby.

And an Aspect that’s not too flabby

And together we’ll rule the world.

I’ve roamed through all the planes

Fought demons subterrain,

And enjoyed the blood floodplains

Where the devils did prove kind.

And when mortals were no pleasure,

I’ve searched for gold and treasure

Yet Sir Crabby does out measure

My worth in divine mind.

— Ramblin’ Crabby, Songs of the Divine. Latest hit from Pinniped, [Bard] and [High Priest] of Toriana, Goddess of Charisma. AC 1750

I crawl out of the exit shaft and into open air. I’m exhausted from my sprint through the murder lights and the subsequent shock of dealing with INVISIBLE murder lights. Panting, I tryto catch my breath.

Phew!

Ding.

“Dbug, status update?”

“Through pushing your physical limits, you have improved your body’s natural capabilities. You have received plus one to dexterity.”

He follows up with, “Congratulations! Also, [Scuttle] tier two has increased in level. It is now level nine. [Mana Sense] tier two has increased in level. It is now level three.”

Neat!

I wave Dbug away and he fades and disappears.

It’s not just combat and training that can help, working through something like the trapped shaft will also improve my physical abilities. Although, I’d much rather not have the stakes be so high.

Moving forward! What’s going on around here?

I’m still in the [Dungeon], yet something is different. Where before there was only one way to go through the pathways, here I’m being offered choices. Shaking off the water clinging to my carapace, I move into an open area. Six doors line up in a row in front of me, carved images hewn into their surface. In order, I see:

A crab lifting a rock.

A bleeding crab.

A flying crab.

A judge crab with measuring scales.

A crab reading a book.

And two crabs kissing.

I don’t focus too much on that last image… It seems a bit vulgar. I blush, thinking of Toriana.

No, Crabby! It’ll never work. Move on!

And besides, even if she LIKED, liked me, she’s as old as the Multiverse. That’d be like crab robbing or something.

I use my claws to slap some sense into myself and try to figure out what the carvings mean. Thoughts of Toriana casually drifting into my awareness before being struck down with a mental claw gives me the clue I need.

“It’s the stats! Strength, vitality, dexterity, wisdom, intelligence and… charisma.”

Blush!

Anywho! I figured out what the images show, but what do they mean? I have six choices. What’s the right path? Perhaps it’s a test. Do I have to pick the one I’m highest in? I pull up my highest three stats.

Wisdom is currently twenty-two, intelligence is twenty, and charisma is sitting at nineteen. If that’s the case, I should pick the judge crab. But… If it’s not just a measurement of my stats, and rather a test like it’s portrayed on the images, I’d much rather read a book. Nodding, I lay down to rest, wanting to make sure my resources recover before opening the door.

* * *

Fully recovered, I climb to my feet and walk to the door with the book. A claw placed on the image causes the door to spring open. A black portal appears. Slowly, with my stalks swiveling for any danger, I move into the black.

As I pass through into the next room, the door slams shut behind me. Panic swells and I rush back to the door to see if it will open. My efforts are in vain. As I’m pounding on the stone, lights flicker on. A low purr is heard and I swing toward the noise, claws raised to attack or defend.

It’s a giant cat… human… thing. I’m not exactly sure what I’m seeing, but it’s huge and has a cat’s body and a woman’s face. That’s not the concerning thing though. I can veritably feel the power drifting off the creature. I flicker my [Mana Sense] on, and am almost blinded by her radiance. We stare at each other before she speaks. Her voice a high meowling pitch.

“Hello, little crab. Come to take the trial of intelligence, have we?”

It speaks! I’m about to respond when she continues.

“This is how it works. I give you a riddle, and you have one chance to give me the right answer. If you give the wrong answer, well…”

Her giant head reached down to lick her paw. When she raised it back up, a Cheshire grin is showing, giant sharp teeth flashing in the macabre smile.

I’m not sure what she’s getting at but… “You lick me?”

She frowns. “I get to attack. Any questions?”

“That sounds terrible. Who are you going to attack?” I look around the room, trying to find the poor soul she was planning to strike.

A tinge of annoyance enters her voice as she says, “You.”

I rock back on my legs, startled by her response. I shift gears, thinking furiously, trying to figure out a plan. Then I remember something.

“How many attacks do you get to do?”

“You’re at too low of a level to be worried about that. I’m bound by the terms of my contract to only attack once. Though, I’ll hardly need more than a paw to deal with you, little crab.”

As she speaks, claws extend from her paw. They’re roughly half the length of my body, yet her words make me sigh in relief.

“Okay!”

I [Scuttle] over to her location and take a seat right in front of her, lower body reclined so I can look up into her face.

“Ohhh, confident, are we?” she purrs. “Alright then, little crab… What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?”

Hmm.

I look down in front of me. I have my claws here, I can see those—Wait! I got it!

“My legs!”

“…What?”

“Yep! I mean, I can kind of see them with [Mana Sense], but not with my eyes, you know? They’re so far out to the side, and I think us crabs are designed to look up and forward and all that. Peripheral vision is hard!”

WHAM!

I don’t even see her move before [Luck of the Crab] activates and I’m dragged backward, her paw slamming into the floor.

Cough. Cough.

I choke a bit from the dust raised by the strike.

“Haha! I guess I’ll have to try again tomorrow!”

I start to [Scuttle] back over to the door, away from the giant cat-person-thing.

“Wait,” she says.

I turn back. She’s standing there with her paw in the air, a confused look on her face.

“What just happened?”

I raise a claw and wave it at her. “I can [Dodge] one attack a day that would kill me! So, I’m just going to try again tomorrow. I’ll be over here doing some training.”

Her perplexed gaze follows me as I [Scuttle] out of her reach.

* * *

Time passes…

♫♫♫ “La dee da da. Feel the current. Fear the Claws. Sir Crabby is loose!” ♫♫♫

A rock wobbles slowly in the air.

♫♫♫ “I like to eat, eat, eat, Crabby’s and bananas.” ♫♫♫

The rock wobbles back to me.

♫♫♫ “Sir, Sir, Sir Crabby!” ♫♫♫

A screeching yowl interrupts my concentration. I turn toward the cat-person-thing. She’s hunched down, paws covering her ears. She looks rather miserable.

“For the love of Wisdom! It’s been eight hours! Do you know any other songs besides those two?”

I raise a claw to my chin, considering. “Nope! That’s all I got for now.” I turn back to my rock

♫♫♫ “Feel the current. Fear the claws—” ♫♫♫

“Look! Look, I’ll make a deal with you. I can’t force you to answer until you’re ready. But I can give you…”

She visibly gulps as an expression of pain passes on her face.

“I can give you two chances to answer the riddle! Just please, for the love of Wisdom, stop singing.”

I huff a bit, offended. My voice isn’t that bad. Better not to antagonize the giant murder cat though.

“Okay… I guess,” I grumble.

I go back to training, waiting for a day to pass.

Under my breath though…

♫♫♫ “Feel the current. Fear the claws…” ♫♫♫

* * *

A day passes…

I go back to the cat lady and she’s sitting there, eyes red and fur sticking out. She must have not gotten any sleep. Which is strange. I mean, I didn’t sleep but I was training. She should really take better care of herself.

“Okay, okay… crab. Here we go. Here’s the riddle. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?”

Hmm… “Love!”

Her pained and tired expression grows thoughtful for a second. “That’s… a surprisingly good answer. It’s not the right one though.” A pondering expression forms on her face.

“So… Can I pass?”

Her face grows tired and weary. “Unfortunately no. The contract I’ve signed with the [Dungeon] requires me to only accept the right answer. Just, give me a minute.”

I lift a claw to my chin, trying to figure out the answer to her riddle. I have two chances to get this right. Hmm… oh! I think I got it!

“Is the answer, food?”

The tired sphinx blearily stares into the distance. She mutters, “I told you to give me a minute. I was going to give you an easier one.”

I wave a claw to dismiss her concerns. “But I gave you the correct answer, didn’t I? I mean, the more food you eat, the more food you leave behind? You know, for small creatures. When you… you know…”

I try to not actually say that word. It’s a bit embarrassing.

“I understand. And no, that isn’t the right answer. Which means…” Her face contorts into a grimace, and her jaw clenches and unclenches. “Which means I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Okay!

I brace myself for the inevitable jerking to the side from her paw slap, but she just lays her head down and covers it with her arms. I’m starting to get worried. I walk up to her and gently poke her with a claw.

“Hey, are you okay? You don’t seem like you’re feeling well. Do you want to try to attack me again? Maybe that would cheer you up.”

She quietly meows, before she says under her breath, “What’s the point? It wouldn’t work anyway.” She lifts her head from her paws and looks at me once more. “Just… go over there. And be quiet this time, please?” She says the last in almost a pleading tone.

I guess I could be quieter. She seems pretty distraught. I try to reassure her as much as I can with a pat on her arm.

“I’ll be right over there. See you tomorrow!”

The cat grumbles as I return to training.

* * *

Toriana: “And sit back down!” Toriana scolds Aethi. “I don’t want to see you working anymore.”

“But it’s sooo boring.”

“You are a universal constant. You should develop more patience,” Lira says.

“He’s just singing Crabby and bananas now…”

“Patience.”

“I could be doing spreadsheets, Lira! Spreadsheets!”

Toriana nudges Aethir. “He’s switched over to Sir Crabby, hooo!”

Aethir rubs his eyes. “Why… is she dressed in a cat costume?”

“Apparently the all-crab planet is big into cosplay in the future,” Lira says, grinning.

“That doesn’t answer my question…”

CHAPTER 22

CHOICES

“[Witch] Beatrice, you have been found guilty of consorting with demon kind, summoning devils to curse your neighbors, and all sorts of associated villainy. As such, you are hereby sentenced to be immediately burned at the stake. Do you have any last words?”

“Yer burnin’ me at the stake, eh?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, I imagine my last words will be snap, CACKLE, and pop?”

“Trial recorder, note the [Witch]’s wordplay as yet another example of her perversion and the reason she was brought to our attention.”

— Trial Recordings, [Witch] Beatrice v. Inquisitors. From, Puns and You: Safety Edition. AC 1258

Think I’m due a little nap. I’ve been awake for a while. A couple of hours later, I spring up, ready to seize the day! As I rouse myself, there’s a strange sensation in my shell. I look over and see the murder-cat laying on her side, her chest rising and falling in exhalation. A deep rumble emerges from her chest.

Is she broken?

I mean… I don’t shake my surroundings when I sleep, do I? I look at my small body, then at the giant cat-lady. Maybe it’s because she’s so huge? I raise a claw to my chin and ponder. If I had chosen the “Lucky Crab” evolution, would I shake the water when I sleep? Thoughts for later.

I sneak over to examine her closer. With every breath, her body seems to rumble, as if vibrating. This close, my claws are trembling. Even though she attacked me the first time, the second go around she seemed a bit nicer. I should make sure she’s okay.

Cautiously, I lean forward and tap her on her nose.

“Hey… hey…” I whisper, trying to wake her up gently. “Hey, lady… wake up.”

She lifts a paw, more massive than my entire body and subconsciously wipes her nose. Then she rolls over and continues vibrating.

I go over to the other side to look her in the face once more and poke her a couple more times, each time trying to awaken her with my words

“Hey… you should wake up. Are you okay? Why are you shaking? Is something wrong?”

Poke, poke, poke, poke.

WHAM!

And I’m jerked to the side as her massive paw slams down on the floor. She lifts her head from the stone, bleary eyed and disoriented.

“Wha… what? What is…”

She registers her surroundings and gains a measure of awareness. She then looks directly at me.

“YOU.”

I climb back to my feet, raising my claws in a waving motion to calm her down.

“Hey, you were just making weird noises! I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

She gazed off to the distance, and I can tell she’s checking a screen of some sort.

“It’s been three hours! Do you not require sleep?”

I wring my claws a bit nervously. “I uh… don’t really like sleeping. And every couple of hours I wake up, so I came over here to make sure you were fine.”

She got ponderously to her feet and sauntered over to the other side of the chamber, near the entrance. With a flex of her paw, a long claw emerges, and she swipes it along the floor. A flash of light and a long-jagged line is cut into the stone.

“New rule! You stay over on this side of the line and don’t cross over until it’s time for a riddle! Got that?”

I nod and head over there. Guess I should get some more training in. As she lays down, I remember her wanting some quiet. So, singing is out. Maybe humming? Humming should be good.

♫♫♫ “Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm…” ♫♫♫

♫♫♫ “Hmm, hmm, hmm.” ♫♫♫

I sneak a glance at the cat and see a single red eye staring at me between her paws. She’s covered her entire head. I decide to end the song with a whisper.

♫♫♫ “Sir Crabby is loose!” ♫♫♫

I reach out with [Earth Manipulation] to practice my armor, and she gets to her feet. Glaring at me the entire time, she pointedly turns completely around. She faces the rear wall, and all I can see of her is her tail. I go back to practicing my armor.

* * *

I’m bored! Even putting my sand armor on and off grows tiring, so I switch to [Water Manipulation]. I hope I can get out of here with the next riddle, because the cat-lady seems to not be doing so well. She was constantly tossing and turning. It wasn’t until a couple of hours ago that she started vibrating again. I learned from the previous time though. When you’re a cat, vibrating is good!

I was having difficulties with finding enough water to work with, but eventually figured out there was moisture in the air. With enough effort, I was able to condense it into a small ball. When I manage it, I jump up and down in excitement. I did it! Ha!

Ding.

The [System] seems to agree with me.

I whisper, “Dbug, status update.”

Dbug appears, but he hasn’t gotten the memo about being quiet because he loudly says, “Congratulations! Also, [Water Manipulation] has increased its tier. It is now tier three, level one.”

He ignores my crazed attempts to hush him. When he finally disappears, I breathe a deep sigh of relief. Whew.

At least until it occurs to me the vibrating has stopped.

I slowly look over at the lady and see her bloodshot eyes staring at me from over her shoulder. I rush to explain.

“It wasn’t me this time. It was Dbug! I was being quiet!”

“It’s… been… Forty-eight hours….” Her voice is scratchy, as if crawling from the depths of the burning hells.

I nod. That seems about right.

She continues, “And I’ve slept for… five of those…”

Yes, that seems fair.

“I’m going to lay my head… away from the exit. Facing the wall. And when I wake up… you will not be here. Do you understand?”

Yay! That sounds great. It’s really not my fault I’ve been stuck here.

She lays her head down and returns to vibrating. I’m not an expert on giant cats, but she should really get that looked at.

A couple of hours pass, and I’ve returned to humming while I train.

♫♫♫ “Hmm, hmm, hmm.” ♫♫♫

My water ball wobbles slowly in the air.

♫♫♫ “Sir Crabby is loose!” ♫♫♫

Man, this is boring. I can only do this so much. At least I was able to go back to singing. It took a while, but I did discover she didn’t really notice my song when she was sleeping. Maybe there’s something else I can do with this water?

I grasp [Water Manipulation] as hard as I can manage and start pulling more and more moisture from the air. The ball manages to double, then triple in size, and I’m struggling to maintain control over it. At the very limit of what I can manage, I grasp the water and shove it toward the ceiling.

It wobbles toward the roof of the cave, the liquid’s bulk wavering under my control. When the ball reaches its peak, I lose my hold and the ball bursts, gentle droplets falling from the sky and pattering on my shell.

My mandibles curve into a smile. It’s just like rain on a beach. I wonder if I—Uh oh…

The vibrating’s stopped.

Cat-lady is completely soaked, her matted fur clinging to her body. She’s stood up and turned around, and seems to have progressed all the way through the stages of grief. I think she might be on acceptance now.

With utter resignation, and a dead tone of voice she says, “I see you moved.”

I nod.

“Didn’t try the exit?”

I shake my head. “I have to answer a riddle first!”

The cat-lady inhales sharply, then exhales noisily. “It’s not his fault. He is a child.” She waves a paw at me. “Come here, crab.”

I walk over to her.

“Sit down.”

After I sit, she gives me a pointed stare.

“Look, crab, I’ll give you the easiest one I can think of, okay? I want you to think REALLY hard about this.” With bitter resignation she says, “Congratulations, you have unlimited chances to guess.”

I eagerly nod, letting her know I’m ready.

“Okay, here’s the riddle. What do you call a cat that loves to swim?”

Ohhh, this is a tough one. I don’t really know anything about cats. I know a bit about swimming though! It seems like cats shouldn’t really like swimming. They have fur and all that. Fish are better swimmers. Hmm… Oh, wait!

“Is it a, catfish?”

She collapses to the floor. Strange, she looks really relieved. She must have gotten tired thinking of all those riddles.

“Oh, thank Wisdom,” she muttered. “Yes, yes, crab, the answer is catfish.”

“YES!” I wave my claws in delight and [Scuttle] around the room.

“Okay, okay, very exciting. I’m glad you came, now please exit the door behind me to the boss room.”

I stop, my arms still raised. “Boss room?”

“Yes, the floor boss is right behind me. Move along now.”

I lower my arms. This might be a big fight. I nod and prepare to head out. As I walk to the door, I hear one last thing. I look back. She’s soaking wet, and even though I don’t think she likes me very much, a hint of concern touches her voice.

“And, crab? If… if you go any farther, be careful. I don’t know what it is, but there’s… there’s something wrong happening down there.”

I nod, appreciating the words for what they are. I wave a final goodbye.

“Okay! Have a good time murder-cat-lady!”

Opening the door and preparing for battle, I hear her low voice murmuring exasperatedly, “I’m a bloody sphinx.”

* * *

Lira repeatedly clacked her claws at Aethir. “Pay up.”

“That hardly counts. Catfish? Seriously.”

“Doesn’t matter. The Sphinx asked and he answered.”

“Stupid lucky crab…” Aethir grumbled.

“I am Lord of the Thundercrabs!” Toriana exclaimed.

“You have got to remove the costume and stop building forts with the couch cushions.” Aethir gave her his best displeased stare.

“I expected as much from my arch rival, Halibut-Ra! Face the wrath of my minion, Lira-gra.”

“Seriously?” Aethir says, doing a double take on Lira. “When did you have time to put on a costume?”

Lira-gra grinned. “That’s the kind of hater talk I’d expect from Halibut-Ra.”

CHAPTER 23

INTERLUDE: THE FOLDER

Aethir took another sip of his Styx Slushie as Sir Crabby said, “Is it a, catfish?”

The god of intelligence slumped in relief and unseen tension spilled into the room. His unordinary response caused the room to grow quiet. Aethir normally presented a stoic persona, and the outward display of emotion was highly irregular. As he recovered, he sat back up to see Lira and Toriana staring at him.

Lira arched her brow. “Surely it’s not that bad. He only took three tries to get the answer right. For an eight-month-old, new to [Sapience], that’s fairly decent.”

Toriana chimed in. “Yeah, even with an enhanced connection to the [Akasha], he couldn’t be expected to know that much.”

Aethir nodded in agreement, hesitating before speaking. “Yes, you’re both right. It’s just… when he got the first answer wrong, I did a low tier [Future-Scry], curious to see how long it would take.”

“That’s cheating, Aethir,” Toriana said.

“I know, I know. There’s already been several real incidents of low probability occurrences actually happening near him. And I wanted to see if anything… untoward could have occurred.”

“And?” Lira said.

“I’ll just let you see for yourself.”

Aethir snapped a claw and a filing cabinet appeared. He stood up from the couch and rifled through a drawer, pulling out a deep red folder, the color of blood.

“That’s the horror folder,” Toriana whispered.

“Yes, and there was a .001% chance he would have added to it with what might have happened here.”

Aethir flipped through the stack, pulling out a sheaf of papers stapled together. A twist of will and two copies appeared. He floated them over to the other gods and they began to read.

Page 1 of 74:

1. Sphinx: What two things can you never eat for breakfast?

Sir Crabby: Crabby’s and Bananas.

2. Sphinx: What has hands but doesn’t clap?

Sir Crabby: Me! I have claws, but they don’t clap, they just kind of clatter together.

3. Sphinx: What has many ears but cannot hear?

Sir Crabby: The [System].

4. Sphinx: Four legs up, four legs down, soft in the middle, hard all around. What am I?

Sir Crabby: Me! Laying on my side.

5. Sphinx: What falls in winter but never gets hurt?

Sir Crabby: Lira, Goddess of Wisdom.

6. Sphinx: What has many keys but can’t open any doors?

Sir Crabby: Toriana, Charisma Goddess. She has keys to every heart, but free will, you know?

7. Sphinx: What can you catch, but not throw?

Sir Crabby: A rock! I’m still working on the throwing part of it.

8. Sphinx: What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?

Sir Crabby: A legless murder-cat-lady.

9. Sphinx: When things go wrong, what can you always count on?

Sir Crabby: Friendship.

10. Sphinx: What do you call a bear with no teeth?

Sir Crabby: An old bear.

After the first page, Lira stopped. Her voice, cool as a winters morning, said nonchalantly, “Aethir.”

“Hmm?”

“There’s seventy-four pages here.”

“Yes, yes there are.”

“There’s ten questions per page.”

“You’re as acute as ever, Lira.”

“At one question per day, Crabby would have run out of food before the end.”

“Yes, but after the first week, the sphinx swore not to kill him. She just wanted him to leave.”

After having read through every page, Lira spoke. “Though this is truly an affront against intelligence, I don’t see the horror in it.”

Aethir glanced between her and Toriana, giving them a minute to figure it out. Toriana spoke first.

“Wait… None of these responses are correct.”

“Nope,” Aethir said.

“But they stop at question seven hundred and thirty-six.”

“Yep.”

“So, what made them stop?”

“The sphinx did,” Aethir said.

“You said after the first week the sphinx forswore violence against the crab,” Lira chimed in.

“Yep.”

“Which means…?” Toriana asked.

Lira’s expression shifted. Her normal impassive face, slowly glazing into a look of shock.

“If this future had happened… It’d be the first instance in the history of the Universe.”

“I still don’t get it!” Toriana whined. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Look on the back of the last page.”

Toriana turned the page. On it were only a few lines.

Race: Sphinx

Death: Self-immolation

Reason: Riddle

A resounding silence filled the room as Aethir collected the papers. He returned them to the blood red folder and filed it in his credenza.

Lira finally spoke. “Truly Horrifying.”

Aethir nodded. “That’s why it’s in the folder.”

CHAPTER 24

LIKE A BOSS

“Okay, young human. The elders have convened and agreed upon a plan.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You will go on foot from here, venturing through the blighted wastes of Algranak. Passing through the Haunted Vale, you will descend into the Caverns of Despair, thereby passing the Cursed Plains of Hunger. After ascending from the cavern, you will move stealthily through enemy territory until reaching the open lava pits of Fiergana. There, you will cast the Amulet of Tearful Somnolence into the fire, thereby defeating the Dreaded Lord of Kyrthia.”

“What kind of enemies will I face?”

“Many an evil race befalls that land. Shades, spiders, orcs and trolls are the main constituents of the Dark Lord’s Army.

“But nothing that flies?”

“…No.”

“Okay, instead of all that, how about I just grab a wyvern and drop the amulet on a flyby? Don’t even have to stop, we can have this done by dinner time.”

“…Like I said, the plan is for you to go on foot from here…”

— Quest Interview, [Hero] and [Elders]. From, “The Five P’s, Or: Why [Wisdom] ≠ [Intelligence].” AC 1537

Here we go, Crabby! Time to fight the boss!

I extend a claw to the door leading out of the cat-lady’s area. When I touch it, the door recedes into the floor, offering a glimpse into a wall of water. It hangs there, suspended without flowing into the room I’m standing in.

“Neat.”

There’s sand in the room, so I activate [Earth Manipulation], pulling it through the door to cover my form.

“Tank mode, activate!”

Girded in my sandy armor, I walk into the next room, submerging myself back in an aquatic environment. The [Dungeon] room mirrors what I’d seen before. Bleak grey stone walls comprise a rounded room, curving up into a general dome shape. The grey color extends to the floor, a pit of sand with a color indistinguishable from the walls.

I move slow, stalks scanning the walls and ceiling, looking for any presence of the enemy. As seconds turn to a minute, my nerves relax a bit, nothing appears to be present.

“Maybe he went out to lunch?”

I lower my claws, looking for the next door and—

“WHOA!”

A giant claw erupts beside me.

I activate [Scuttle], skating away from the creature now pulling itself from the ground. As I move to the other side of the room, the giant crab is halfway out of the floor. A quick look at the combat logs show me:

You are in combat!

[Dungeness Crab - Big Momma] attacks you for -20 HP!

[Dungeness Crab - Big Momma] misses!

20 HP! Even with my armor protecting me I’ll take 12 HP damage per attack! That’s assuming the armor would even fully protect me. Those claws are about the same size I am. That means I could, at most, take four hits from the boss. As she finishes pulling herself free of the sand, I get a look at the thing.

It stands five Crabby’s tall and about seven wide, huge pincers snapping menacingly in the water. The boss crab’s dirty brown colors are speckled with gray, sand-covered chitin. Her eyes, twice the size of mine, stare into my soul, and I could almost see the effervescent rage simmering below the surface.

Gulp.

Alright, Crabby. You got this. I believe in you!

“Deploying Anchors!”

My armor fuses into the ground and I bury my legs, holding myself steady with [Earth Manipulation]. The boss begins her forward rush, mimicking her smaller brethren. I lift my claws as she arrives, moving to intercept a downward striking arm. My claws cross in an X, catching her claw with my own.

Crunch!

My armor holds when my strength fails, the strike forcing my arms close to my body. The chitin in my claws crack.

[Dungeness Crab - Big Momma] attacks you for -20 HP!

Improvised Armor (sand) takes (8 HP) damage!

You have taken -12 HP damage!

[Sir Crabby] 38/50 HP

A wave of pain ripples through my consciousness. She’s strong! Far too strong for me as I am. It looks like I’ll have to try Plan B. It’ll be a short fight, one way or another, but I won’t last otherwise.

“Crabby.”

“Crabby.”

“Crabby.”

“Sir Crabby, HOOOOOO!”

Ding.

Sir Crabby’s Music has been applied

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

Effect: 48 seconds remaining

We’re locked into place, each struggling to gain more leverage over the other. As such, I almost didn’t notice the effect of my music.

Forty-eight Seconds!

Then I realize my song runs off of my mana and stamina. If those values start lower due to the fighting and [Earth Manipulation]… This will be a shorter fight than I thought. The wave of strength from my skill takes effect, and I’m able to move the crab backward, shoving hard against the ground to gain leverage. We’re still locked in place, our claws in a struggle for dominance. All the music is doing is allowing me to match the larger crab.

I can’t win like this. Not by just matching what the other is doing. As I consider my options, a faint glimmer of motion catches my attention. I can barely see something, the patterns on the creature’s skin letting it blend in almost perfectly with the surrounding water. Whatever it is, it’s descending from the roof. Is it another crab? Reinforcements for the boss? I can barely deal with the one I’m fighting, much less another!

Our muscles strain to gain advantage.

The trajectory of the object drifts over to the crab’s legs. As the unknown thing lands next to the boss, I hear a young female voice rapidly say,

“[LEG BOMB]! [LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

Several things quickly occur. A small explosion rocks the enemy crab, the unknown attacker collapses to the side in pain from her now severed leg. I stagger forward, the lapse in my attention causing me to disengage the anchors holding me to the ground. The crab boss also recoils, her own leg floating in the water.

And a small starfish just pops out of thin air, landing on top of my carapace. She’s missing two of her twelve legs, but any other thoughts vanish as she yells, “Quick, disengage! The boss is about to [Rage]!”

I start to [Scuttle] back, the increased weight from the starfish slowing me down.

The Giant Crab has already almost recovered from the hit, the boss’ side is leaking ichor into the water. The crab’s shell is rapidly darkening from brown to a deep red, and seems to be shaking in anger.

“Okay! When the boss attacks again, you need to catch her like before. The incoming strike will let me move in and I’ll do the same thing I just did.”

I nod, my legs already digging into the floor to anchor myself. “Hi! I’m Sir Crabby! What—”

“No time to talk! Fight now, talk later!”

I banish thoughts of talk from my mind. The crab is already recovering and beginning another rush. I lift my claws to catch the strike.

As the claw descends the little starfish says, “[LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

Pop!

And she’s gone again! How does she do that?

My arms catch the descending claw and attempt to hold. Yet they’re forced back to my body, the boss’s strength overwhelming me. Meanwhile, I see the starfish pop into place right next to the crab, next to the previous leg that had already been blown off.

“[LEG BOMB]! [LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

Two of her arms detach, both floating in the water. One is blinking red, flashing faster and faster before—

BOOM!

Pop.

And she’s back on top of my shell.

The enemy staggers, missing another leg on that side. This time, I’m ready for the decrease in resistance and actively push ahead, shoving the giant crab away from me. The water is growing murky, our struggles sending waves of sand into the surroundings. The boss crab’s fluid stain the water, leaking from the two holes in her chitin.

“I can only… do that… once more!” the little starfish manages through heavy panting.

I nod, assessing the reeling crab. Two legs were gone on the boss’s right side, one more and standing would be impossible.

“Okay, we can do this! One more hit and I’ll take it from there!”

The boss regains her footing, slower this time, movements plainly dull from pain. Our actions repeat as before, except as I shove the boss away from me, I disengage my anchors and begin to attack. Even staggered, listing to one side and no longer able to stand, the boss puts up a fight.

As my third strike comes in, blocked by a large claw I hear, “Go to the side! Attack the weak spot!”

[Scuttl]’ing back and to the right, I attack the side of the boss crab’s body. Not even [Slice] are getting through! Her shell is too—dang—hard!

Grrrr…

Ding.

Warning!

Sir Crabby’s Music: 26 seconds remaining

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

I gotta get through! I don’t know what will happen if the boss isn’t dead before the buff runs out. Could she recover? The starfish said she couldn’t attack anymore.

“Break!”

Slam!

“You stupid!”

Slam!

“Shell!”

Slam!

Ding.

Warning!

Sir Crabby’s Music: 18 seconds remaining

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

This isn’t working! I gotta do something different. My mind races, picking up and discarding plan after plan. As my anger rises at my inability, the music plays.

♫♫♫ “Sir Crabby is loose!” ♫♫♫

I don’t need to be loose! I need to be stronger!

As if in response to my thoughts, the music begins to slow and flashes of memory begin to arise. The [Akasha] is not only music which I’d gained insight into, it was the [Lore] of the story.

There was… “YES! I got it!”

I move my claw in front of my face, my eyes and claw beginning to glow in unison. I channel my will as I roar, “Give me CLAW beyond CLAW!”

Ding.

Warning!

Sir Crabby’s Music: Overload Activated

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

New Effect

Effect: +50% increase to STR

Sir Crabby’s Music: 3 seconds remaining

“It’s clawing time!”

I lift my arm up high, activate [Slice], and bring it down. The strength of my strike tears into the monster and the boss finally falls.

Ding.

Your party has defeated level 7 [Dungeness Crab - Big Momma]!

Experience is awarded for your actions: [Scuttle II] – 9 is now level 10!

[Scuttle II] is now [Scuttle III] level 1!

[Slice II] – 6 is now level 8!

[Earth Manipulation II] – 3 is now level 5.

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You are now level 5.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

As the rush of combat fades, a flicker of motion brings my attention to the impromptu party member. I turn to the starfish, whose slowly crawling to me, her normal twelve legs rendered to eight from the battle. A gush of emotions rush through me and I begin to ramble.

“Hi! I’m Sir Crabby. Thanks for the help. That was so cool! You were like BOOM and then POP and then you did the BOOM again! That was awesome. How did you do that? Is it your race or class? What are you? What’s your name?”

The starfish pulls herself up to head height, extending a leg to meet my extended claw. As we shake, she speaks proudly and with a hauteur tone.

“My name is Luna. Greetings and well met, Sir Crabby. As for my attacks? That’s because I’m a… [Ninja]Star!”

* * *

In the Divine Realm…

“Lira! You spit your Styx Slushie all over me,” Aethir complained.

“Really, Toriana? What is a starfish doing with a humanoid class under the ocean?” Lira chides.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Sure you don’t. Just for that, the Thundercrabs just got canceled.”

Toriana started to pout. “What? How?”

“How? I made them collectively realize a team of Thundercrabs was silly.”

“Why did you do that!”

Lira shakes her head. “You know why.”

CHAPTER 25

WHAT’S A [NINJA]?

“Bring out yer dead!”

Clang!

“Bring out yer dead!”

Clang!

“Who’s that?”

“That’s Bob! He’s a local [Necromancer] and [Artist]. He holds an art class every week. Even designed the chandelier for the chapel last year.”

“Oh, wow! That was an impressive installation. What a strange mix of skills though. I wonder what drew him to that?”

“I don’t know, but if it prevents him from razing the countryside, then I support his artistic endeavors.”

“Hmm… quite.”

— Overheard Conversation, Streets of Lenoria. From, “The Best of the Joy of Bones.” AC 892

“[Ninja]Star!”

“Whoa, you’re a [Ninja]! What’s a [Ninja]?”

The starfish deflates a little, becoming hesitant. “Err, I’m still working on figuring that out. It looks like I’m supposed to attack from the shadows? But I’m slow, and I have to plan out my attacks carefully. I can only do a couple of attacks before I run out of legs and mana.”

Talk of legs remind me of my own situation. I shuffle a bit self-consciously.

“Ah, yeah. I’m missing a leg too. Are you going to be okay? I still haven’t figured out how to get mine back yet.”

She waves an arm in dismissal.

“Oh, I’ll be fine! I can grow them back in a day or so.”

A subtle wave of jealousy rises up. A day? Her legs grow back in a day? I want my legs to grow back in a day… Well, at least she doesn’t have a shiny carapace like mine. She looks squishy more than anything else, so at least I have that going for me.

“You said you’re still working on figuring that out? What does that mean?”

She floats back to the ground and begins moving toward the dissolving boss.

“I got my class a couple of weeks ago. Ninja had a bunch of [Knowledge] and [Lore] skills, but I don’t really understand how to make everything work yet. I imagine you’re in the same seashell, right? Having just awakened in the [Dungeon] and all.”

Her words evoke a bout of confusion, and I realize she must be misunderstanding the situation.

“I didn’t awaken here in the [Dungeon]. I’m from outside! I’m trying to find my way out.”

She freezes and then rushes back to me. Her arms wave about in excitement as she starts rambling, just as I had.

“You’re from outside? How? What is it like out there? How did you get in? Is the entrance still there? Are there others with you?”

I wave a claw to try to calm her down.

“Whoa! Whoa, it’s just me here. Why don’t we sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.”

I begin to recount my experiences, letting her know of the impromptu teleportation and the trouble with the gods. She listens attentively, only interrupting now and then to clarify matters.

“And after I passed the sphinx, I entered here.”

“Wow, that’s quite interesting,” she says. “I’m jealous. I prayed to the divine statistics but I never felt like they were listening.”

“I spoke with them.”

“I understand that. Sometimes when you pray it really feels like they answer.”

“Yeah,” I awkwardly reply. Seems like she doesn’t believe I talked to the actual gods. I don’t really have a frame of reference, but I guess talking to them personally was a bit unusual. Time to change the subject.

“What about you? What are you doing here? How are you talking?”

As I ask my questions, I pay attention to her answer. Her response verifies my suspicions when I activate [Mana Sense] and see her doing… something, with the mana around her.

“This is [Mana Speech]. It’s a skill that lets me vibrate the water around me to produce sound. As for what I’m doing here? I’m stationed here at the boss room for any other [Dungeon] creatures that make it this far. We haven’t had anyone awaken or show up in a long time. The others will be so excited!”

“Others?”

“Yep! [Dungeon] monsters can become [Sentient] when they meet certain stat thresholds. As for [Sapience]… That only happens when they get a class, like us, or if they spend enough time gaining knowledge and life experiences. In the second case, they tend to be more… in touch with their animal side.”

I nod, thinking her words through.

“That makes sense.” I shudder at thought of what would have happened if I gained [Sapience] the usual way. I imagine I would be roaming the [Dungeon], trying to eat everything in sight and hiding all the time. I’d probably be one angry crab. I dismiss thoughts of Angry Crabby and focus on what else she said.

“So, there’s a bunch of [Sapient] [Dungeon] monsters somewhere around here, looking for others like them?”

“Yep! I’ll take you to them in a bit.”

* * *

“That’s unusual, right?” Toriana asks.

“A [Dungeon] being so imbalanced that it produces a ‘bunch’ of [Sapient] monsters?” Lira clarifies. “Extremely. The [Dungeon] should almost never produce any [Sapient] monsters. One or two a year, sure, but they shouldn’t last very long.”

“What if they had a safe area?”

Lira tapped a claw to her chin. “That would be possible, I suppose.”

I should have sent additional resources to investigate the area earlier,” Aethir mumbles. “Now it appears that all we have is Sir Crabby.”

“And he’s just the crab for the mission! Go Sir Crabby!

Aethir rolls his eyes. “Groan…”

* * *

As I turn to leave, Luna chimes in, “But before we head out, let’s see what rewards dropped!”

Oh, right, the boss! I join her as the creature completely disappears and a small pedestal rises from the sand. On the pedestal are two items: a token and a small piece of shimmering crab meat. I start to grab them before remembering Luna.

“Err, do you want to…?”

“No! No! Go ahead.” She waves an arm at me. “This is your first boss drop, and I’ve taken down this guy before.” She pats the ground beside her.

“Okay!” When my claw touches the token, it dissipates, mirroring the vanishing [Dungeon] monsters. Bits of mana absorb into my shell.

“What the…?”

Ding.

Congratulations!

You have cleared the first of ten floors!

You have received the first floor token*!

*Tokens allow you to return to this floor to resume your progress.

“What does a token do exactly?”

“We’re all based out of the [Safe Zone] between levels five and six. I can take you directly there, but you can’t go backward or forward unless you’ve cleared the corresponding level. So you’ll have to start with level two if you want to continue on.”

Interesting… I move onto the other reward. I’m holding what appears to be a small piece of crab meat almost like any other I’ve seen. A faint glimmer on the meat’s surface hints at something though. I activate [Mana Sense] and the light almost blinds me. There’s a ton of power in this thing. I lift up the meat in my claw and turn to Luna.

“Do you know what this is? This looks just like crab meat but it’s chocked full of mana.”

Luna shrugs. “Eh, just eat your reward. [Dungeon]’s are bound to only offer helpful rewards for boss encounters.”

That’s good information to know. I lift the small piece to my mouth and start chewing. The meat sizzles, almost like little popping rocks that agitate about as I chew.

When the food hits my stomach, I look down at my claws and bring up my status.

Hmm… That doesn’t appear to have done anything. I think it’s just shiny mana meat? Oh well, I guess.

Gurgle.

I lean over, claws clutching my mid-section. My stomach is rumbling, minor pain radiating out as the food dissolves. As I digest the flesh, I can feel mana releasing into my system. A lot of mana.

“Are you okay? What’s going on?” Luna worriedly raises an arm.

“I’m—” Burp! “Okay. Just need a second to process. Just—” Blub! “Need a second.”

As I focus on the mana coming from my stomach, there’s magic reaching out, radiating into my body. It’s almost as if the tendrils are looking for something. A wisp reaches the cracked shell on my carapace and latches on. A second, stronger tendril clamps to where my missing leg should be. A final wave of mana courses through my body. When the power recedes, my stomach settles and I begin to recover.

“That didn’t seem too… Urgk!”

I clutch back over. It’s time! My instincts rise as my consciousness falls away. Thoughts are banished as base urges override my actions. I begin to shudder and shake, my old shell detaching from my body as a new shell grows beneath it. Distantly, I can feel the leg growing, new chitin and muscle erupting from my side. Shivering and crawling out of the constraints of the old shell, I return to conscious thought.

All the cracks are gone! I snip my claws in the water, excitement racing through my body. And my leg—My leg is back! I raise and lower my brand-new leg and begin racing around in a circle. My leg is back! I have all my legs! Yes!

Luna’s speech cuts in the water and my wave of happiness screeches to a halt.

“Are you okay? Um, your new leg looks great? So, that’s good, right?”

I freeze, turning to the starfish. Slowly, ever so slowly, I cross my claws in front of my body and begin to carefully walk behind my discarded shell.

“What are you doing? Is something wrong?”

Emotions rise as my new shell starts to glow blue from the blood rush. I struggle to provide a coherent response as she takes a single step forward, arm cautiously reaching toward me. Finally, I can’t hold back anymore and my screams of embarrassment peal out into the water.

“Don’t look at me! My body isn’t hardened yet, pervert!”

As fast as I can, I [Scuttle] farther behind my discarded shell and peak over the top. Luna stands frozen on the other side of the room.

Phew.

You played that well, Crabby. Now you just have to wait for your carapace to set and you can move on, to adventure!

* * *

“Aethir, you’re being ridiculous,” Lira says. “We are gods, we know everything that has happened or is likely to happen.”

“It is still perverse. We could change the channel or fast forward.”

“You disabled the Tele Inductive Vitriolic Oscillator, so we have to watch in Crabby’s real time.”

“Stupid mortals and their linear time…”

Toriana twirls a claw. “Woohoo, take it all off!”

Aethir sighs heavily. “Why is she wearing a large red bow?”

“It’s from something called the Powercrab Larvae. It replaced the Thundercrabs after their cancellation.”

CHAPTER 26

NOT SO [SAFE ZONE]

Aspect Class: Infernal

Special Clearing Procedures: [Dungeon] #9812-A4L3 is located at █████████, an Abyssal Trench. All procedures proscribed for clearing [Dungeon]’s located in █████████ must be followed. All Mages assigned to [Scry] [Dungeon] #9812-A4L3 must undergo weekly aura screening. Failure to comply is grounds for immediate [Erasure]. Access to [Dungeon] #9812-A4L3 is limited to the [Cleric] class and it’s subsidiaries.

All information concerning [Dungeon] #9812-A4L3 is classified by order of █████████, and only accessible by personnel read into the █████████ Project.

Observations of {REDACTED} are to be immediately reported to the Director of █████████ Operations. Any attempt by personnel to extract creatures, equipment or█████████ are to be immediately reported. Any appearance of {REDACTED} [Lore] entries may be grounds for immediate █████████.”

— Partial Record of Dungeon #9812-A4L3, Men in Blue Archives. AC 1███

“Are you done yet?” Luna calls.

“I’m working on it!” I call back. I then mutter to myself, “Wisdom! You don’t see me rushing you when you regrow your legs.”

I exhale loudly, then spot Luna on the ceiling observing me again. She’s too curious for her own good.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing! Nothing! Uh… Just give me a little bit.”

I huddle down, not wanting her to see me. Seriously? Who watches a crab molt? Who wants to watch every tiny little change on a crab? What kind of beach did she grow up on?

I almost slap myself on the head in realization. She didn’t grow up on a beach, silly. She grew up in a [Dungeon]. Even still, that’s no excuse for bad manners. As I sit motionless to let my resources recover and my shell harden, I decide to bring up my status.

“Status.”

Character Screen

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Level: 5

Health: 130/130 | H-Regen: 0.13/sec

Mana: 240/240 | M-Regen: 0.27/sec

Stamina: 300/300 | S-Regen: 0.24/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 11

Wisdom: 27

Vitality: 13

Intelligence: 24

Dexterity: 17

Charisma: 23

Oh yeah! With the two level ups and my legs and shell fixed, there’s no more negatives! And look at that health and stamina. Those are exquisite numbers to see.

Reviewing the battle against the boss crab, I’m pretty sure I can take that boss by myself now. I was already holding my own with the music buff, and with my health increasing, I can take ten hits. That’s more than double what I could before. As I close my status and check the progress of my shell. It’s been about an hour and my new shell has already started to solidify.

It’s just taking too long.

Through trying to think of a way to speed up the process, an inkling of an idea begins to form. Deciding to give it a whirl, I cross my claws, sinking into my thoughts as I have twice before. I ignore the shifting shadows, not needing to pull [Lore] from the [Akasha]. Instead, as Toriana had guided me, I venture to my mana core, taking a piece of my mana and bringing it up to the surface.

Just like the first time, the process occurs in a mere instant, yet it feels like hours had passed. The process was a bit easier as well, and I turn my [Mana Sense] on so I can see what I’m trying to do.

I send tendrils of mana through my shell, attempting to reproduce the effects of the crab meat. The mana touches and then detaches, as if unsure of its purpose. I bear my concentration down and start to run the mana through my carapace, imparting thoughts of stability and strength. I manage to set up a flow, mana pulling from my core, through my shell and then back to my core. My shell hardens as I hear a—

Ding.

You have learned to reinforce your shell!

[Mana Manipulation II] – 5 is now level 7.

Reinforcement is not a skill, but a basic facet of [Mana Manipulation].

Yes!

My shell grows harder until eventually, the chitin snaps into rigidity. And continues to get stronger. The mana flowing within and over the shell reinforces the existing chitin layers. I let the flow peter off, and as I sense the hardening maximize, my shell begins to return to normal. Now my shell hardening technique is something I can turn on and off at need.

I get to my feet and move over to Luna.

“I’m all done! You can look now!”

She turns over to me. “I don’t get why I couldn’t look before.”

I wave a claw in anger. “You did look before! I saw you hiding up there.”

She shrugs. “I still don’t see what the big deal is. Nothing changed.”

I pause, considering her perspective. “It might be a crab thing. I don’t know, I’ve never met a starfish before.”

She nods one of her arms. “Anyway! Are you ready to go? We can head to the [Safe Zone] now if you want?”

“Sure. What do I need to do?”

She takes one of my claws. “Just hold on tight.”

I’m unable to get a word in before she says, “[Recall].”

A blinding flash of light barrels down and I’m somewhere else. No transition, no gradual change. Just one moment I’m in the boss chamber, and now? Now I’m on some kind of stone platform. Gentle light descends from above, rays of illumination cascading into the water. The platform I’m on is flat and nondescript, the same monotone gray as the rest of the [Dungeon]. My surroundings though? My stalks swivel as I gaze in wonder.

A hundred shades of bright fronds cascade through the water, waving in an unseen current. Schools of tiny fish flitter amidst the shelter of their boughs. Coral, living stone, surrounds the platform in reds, yellows, oranges, and every shade in between. There are tiny crabs scuttling along the white sandy bottoms. Their size only matched by the miniature clams they hunt. Far ahead is kelp rising from below, green vegetation filtering the light above.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Luna says.

I nod, for once lost for words. Eventually, I snap out of my daze, seeing something swimming through the water to our location. The monster is moving stealthily, blending into the coral and sand around it as the creature’s skin color ripples to match the refracting light. The indistinct blob gets closer, and a deep-rooted instinct flares and my stalks begin to make out critical features.

The creature is bulbous and appears to have eight slithering arms. I can practically feel the menace as it creeps nearer. My brain is searching, scrambling to make sense of what I’m seeing. It’s only when noting the horrible monster’s natural camouflage that I’m reminded of my own ability. And the [Lore] that I now possess.

“OCTOPUS! Prepare for BATTLE!”

I raise my claws high, [Earth Manipulation] already armoring my form. It’s only as I’m beginning to chant “Sir” to start up my music that I realize Luna hasn’t moved. She’s instead quickly tapping on my shell. And the octopus’ advance has stopped. Then I hear the words she’s been trying to say.

“No! You’re safe, Sir Crabby! He’s a friend! A FRIEND!”

I pant, trying to corral my emotions and cage my desire to face this dreaded enemy.

It’s okay, Crabby. Think of the beach. Think of a nice cool hole in the sand and your favorite seaweed mat. I lower my arms, letting my [Earth Manipulation] go. I barely manage to restrain myself when the octopus speaks.

“Ooooh, crunchy crabbies wantsss to fight? We can go elsewhere. I can hold you sooo sweetly, crunchy crabby. You can taste my venom as I taste your flesh. Yesss, we can do that. Just leave your little friend there. Leave the boring star alone and comesss with us. I have a dark hole just for you, my crunchy.”

My arms, which were lowering, begin to rise again. I take a step back and whisper to Luna.

“Are you sure this guy’s a friend? Because it sure sounds like he wants to eat me.”

“No, Octo! Sir Crabby is a friend, not food! You want food? Go to another floor. No hunting in the [Safe Zone].”

“Psssshhh. The boring star speaks true. I will go then. I findsss crunchy crabbys somewhere else. Bye then, boring star. And you too my sssweeet meat.”

It swims off into the distance. Octo’s body camouflaging as it moves out of sight.

I turn to Luna, barely managing to put my thoughts in order.

“What—the heck—was that?”

Luna watches Octo leave before turning back to me.

“That? That’s someone who gained [Sapience] by relying on their experience and instincts. And not nice ones at that. Be careful around him.”

Nodding, I follow her as she leaves, heading deeper into the coral [Safe Zone].

* * *

Toriana waves two big claws down. “Boo, I don’t like him!”

“He’s just a base evolved octopus,” Lira consoles. “I’m surprised he didn’t just try to eat Crabby. He’s actually quite a bit nicer than he needs to be.”

“I guess we shouldn’t judge octopuses by what they look like!”

Aethir gives her the blankest stare he can possibly muster.

Toriana cleared her throat. “Ahem. I said—”

“That’s right, Clawsome!” Aethir interrupted.

“Wait, are you dressed up?” Lira asks Aethir.

“There was a blue one.”

CHAPTER 27

THE HOLLOW

“Remember students, skills and the [System] can only do so much. Conceptual ability, personal drive, pure willpower, imagination… these are all pieces of being a [Mage]. You give a man [Fire Manipulation], and he’s cautious, knowing the devastation that fire can bring. You give a child [Fire Manipulation], and they’re enraptured, twisting fire serpents to touch the sky.

“And thus, at the highest reaches of spell craft, it is these facets which inform the outcome of a Mage duel. Consider the words of [Archmage] and [Grand-Engineer] Savage; who, upon receiving an attack that previously flattened a mountain range, famously countered the spell with a single phrase.

“‘I reject your reality and substitute my own.’

“That, my dear students, is true power.”

— Grant Byron, Master Mage. Recorded Lesson from: “MAG201: Intro to Visualization.” AC 1622

“So, are all…” I start to say, then trail off into silence.

“Yes?”

“Are all animals who become naturally [Sapient] like… like that octopus?”

Luna emphatically waves her leg. “Oh no! Now, there’s a fair share that turn out like Octo, but there’s an equal number who end up pretty close to you and me.”

“Pretty close?”

“Yep! I’ll introduce you to one once we get to home base. Todd usually hangs out there.”

I take the sights of the coral in, beautiful light shining amidst the rocky splendor surrounding me. All the animals and creatures are small or barely hatched, and I begin to wonder.

“Are all these little guys just mundane creatures?”

The starfish pauses, confused for a moment before I notice and wave a claw at the little crabs and fishes that flit about.

“Oh! Oh yes, the [Dungeon] uses this area as a kind of incubation space. This area lets them grow naturally then releases them to fight and grow stronger. At least, that’s what the carvings say.”

“Carvings?”

“You’ll see in a minute, we’re almost there.”

Turning a corner, the coral begins to thin out, replaced by the kelp forest. It was shadier here, the vegetation soaking up the light from above. Just before we leave the coral entirely, Luna moves just off the beaten path, tapping in a specific rhythm on a series of rocks.

As she does, the ground starts to open, revealing steps leading down below. The pathway was kept lit by a series of luminescent plants, embedded carefully into small divots in the stone wall. Their leaves glowed gently with a blue light, providing a gradual transition down into the dark.

“Welcome to the Hollow,” Luna says.

She begins to head down and I follow her into the [Dungeon] creature’s base camp.

I’m immediately greeted by the same gray nondescript surroundings as the first floor of the [Dungeon]. The room is probably a hundred by a hundred Crabby lengths, and the walls are positively covered in carvings. I step immediately to the nearest wall closest to the entrance and make out the oldest one, faint etchings worn bare by time.

The ancient carving says, “Always have someone [Sapient] here. If someone is here, the [Dungeon] can’t change this place.”

The next line down says, “The only way out is through. Touch the core and gain your freedom.”

And the next, “If you’re afraid, do not worry. You may live in peace here at the Hollow. But beware the Cave.”

I turn back to look at Luna. She’s staring wistfully at the walls. She speaks quietly, almost with a reverent tone and waves to the room filled with engravings.

“Generations of [Dungeon] creatures have left their knowledge here for the rest of us. But the two most important ones remain.” She taps the first two lines. “Always have someone here, and the only way out is through.”

I take a moment to consider the carvings and the weight of predecessors who came before me. One thing was sticking in my claw though, and I didn’t know how to put it delicately. I just decided to come out and ask.

“I don’t know much about [Dungeon]’s and all that. But if the [Dungeon] made you, then why aren’t you guys under its control?”

Luna takes one of my claws in her arm and leads me farther down the wall.

A quarter of the way in, a carving read, “The gods and [System] have given you a chance. Though artificially created, you have come to know yourself. By touching the core, you may gain freedom from bondage and leave the [Dungeon]. Until then, the [System] keeps you free from [Dungeon] control.”

That makes sense. I remember reaching out to the [Dungeness Crab] with [Eyes of Intent] at the beginning of the first level and the sheer anger the monster gave off. If Luna or the others were still under the [Dungeon]’s control, I wouldn’t have made it out of that boss room alive.

* * *

“That’s so amazing!” Lira says.

“That room must have been there for centuries,” Aethir mused. “Imagine slowly building up that much knowledge about a [Dungeon] with such a tiny trickle of monsters.”

“I wonder how common it is?”

“I’m checking, but I don’t see many stable floors,” Aethir says. “There are a few, and those merit additional investigation, but this room is the single greatest find I’ve ever seen in a [Dungeon]!

* * *

“Is this it? Just a square room?”

She playfully slaps my chitin. “No, silly. I said I’d bring you to meet some others. Most everyone is either off training somewhere or doing something else. Todd should be on shift to stay here. He’s actually one of our strongest fighters and he enjoys solitary meditation.”

She walks across the room and touches an engraving. The wall recedes into another passageway, and she heads in.

I follow her into a much smaller area. There’s some sort of kelp matting on the floor with gentle blue lights flickering from the lighted plants. Various white stone tables and benches are laid out, hewn from the coral above. I’m preparing my greeting when I fail to notice anyone. Luna points up to the ceiling.

There, perched above the entrance, is some sort of black spiky ball. The ball is about half the size I am, and its spines ripple independently of the still water. I wave cautiously at the thing, then murmur to Luna.

“Umm… What is that?”

To my relief, Luna takes over introductions.

“Todd the sea urchin, meet Sir Crabby the…” She bends a bit closer to me and whispers, “What was your race again?”

“Elemental Crab.”

She straightens back up, “Elemental Crab.”

I nervously wave, having no idea how to interact with a black spike ball. “Uhm, hi! Nice to meet you!”

“TODD.”

The voice booms through the small room, the volume and low bass drumming deep into my shell.

“He says it’s nice to meet you as well, and welcome to the Hollow. Ensure you read the wisdom of those who came before, and make sure you keep the peace with everyone in the [Safe Zone].”

I slowly turn to Luna, glancing between her and the urchin. Pointing a claw at the urchin, I say, “He definitely just said TODD and not any of that other stuff.”

She nods an arm. “Yeah, Todd’s real subtle like that. There’s a ton of subtext in everything he says. You have to watch the spines, you know? If you don’t pay attention to them, you miss a lot of stuff.”

I shake my body incredulously. Before I can speak again, he says, “TODD.”

This time, when I stagger a little, I pay attention to the urchin. When he speaks, he moves his spikes at the same time, and I can detect a ripple throughout his form. I can’t really decipher urchin ripples though, as I concentrate on keeping my mind clear from the volume and bass he’s producing. Heck, I think his words actually created a small wave in the water.

“Oh! And he wanted me to remind you to be wary of the cave.”

I shake my head, trying to clear it from listening to Todd. “What cave? This is the second time I’ve heard about ‘the cave.’”

She points an arm across the room, where a black hole rests in the wall. I move closer to it and read the carvings around the entrance.

“Warning: Enter the Rave Cave at your own risk. Risks include: Temporary Memory loss, Permanent Memory loss. Unknown side effects.”

“What’s this about then?”

“Well, whoever goes in there only comes out about a day later. All they have to say about their trip is they had a great time and all glory to the Hypnofrog.”

I shake my head. “That doesn’t seem too bad.”

“No, you don’t get it. That’s all they have to say about their trip, period. No matter what you ask them, they quote, ‘I had a good time. Oh, and All Glory to the Hypnofrog’ end quote.”

I take a step back. “Ah, that seems a bit more… sinister.”

“Yeah. On the other hand, we’ve never seen this Hypnofrog, so I guess he’s okay with staying in there? The oldest carvings warn everyone away from the cave, so it’s not like anyone should be surprised. Also, it’s great if you want to lose a couple days’ worth of memories. Seen something traumatic? One day in the Rave Cave and you’re right as rain, no memory of what happened.”

I step farther away from the hole in the wall. “Yeah, I think I’m going to stay away from that.”

Luna joins me in backing up. “I think that’s a good choice.”

* * *

Toriana scrutinizes Aethir. “Seriously, you’re going to dress as bubbles?”

“It’s blue. There’s nothing wrong with matching colors.”

“Tori, how is that not one of yours?” Lira asks.

“I have class.”

CHAPTER 28

MOONCRAB

“Little is known about the enigmatic species the [System] has named the Hypnofrog. That’s mainly because any attempts to study it results, in quote, “having a good time,” end quote. We do know that it’s close relative the Discotoad has been spotted at sites of mass indulgences. Typically, followers of more primitive aspects of Charisma will have Discotoads on hand. Some reports claim that followers will even lick the toads, causing an extreme status effect. What we can confirm is that they must both have an evolutionary ancestor in the more common ‘Singing Frog.’ Thus, should you be caught in a remote area and hear a chorus of your favorite music playing, evacuate posthaste. Their evolved cousins may be about.”

— Excerpt from, Amphibians of Arthos: An Adventurers Almanac. AC 1748

Wow, a ton has happened in a short period of time. I’ve discovered I’m not alone here in this [Dungeon]. I’ve met Luna, Octo, and TODD—Yuck, I’m even thinking of his name in bass. Anyway, I’ve met all these new people. I guess the question is, what do I do now?

I take a seat at one of the benches helpfully provided and Luna joins me, sitting across from the table in front of me.

“So, Luna. Thank you for bringing me here to the [Safe Zone] and all that. But, what now? I mean, what is it you want? I want to get out of here and meet up with my friend at the coast. What about you?”

“I…” she seems a little hesitant, but after a moment manages to barrel through in a rush. “I want to get out of here too. I know some creatures are okay with living their life in the [Dungeon], but I want to explore. See the world and all the places in it. I don’t want to be constrained to living in ten floors until something eventually kills me.”

That certainly makes sense. I can’t imagine being stuck here indefinitely. I’d probably go mad. Plus, Erica is waiting for me. This is just a small detour, Crabby! You’ll get there eventually.

“In that case, do you want to clear the [Dungeon] with me? I thought we worked well back there, and—” I quickly count the number of arms and legs. “Twenty-two limbs are better than ten, I suppose.”

She laughs, her starfish body rippling with the motion. After the chuckles pass, she sweeps her arm expansively. “In that case, crab, this young mistress invites you to join her [Sect]!” Her tone rises, becoming haughtier and more confident. “Together we will explore and conquer this [Dungeon], crushing all opposition before us!”

She ends her declaration half out of the bench, an arm held high and holding motionless as she awaits my response. There’s only one thing I can say to that.

“What’s a [Sect]?”

She immediately collapses back down on the table. Her response is in a more normal tone, appearing a bit sad and confused.

“Umm, I don’t know exactly? I think I should have one, but it’s just me here and I’m not sure what they’re for. I have an idea that they’re a group of people who do something? The class [Knowledge] is all very fuzzy.”

Hmm… I understand her problem. I’ve had to deal with information coming out of nowhere myself. As I think about how I can help, it comes to me.

“Hey! Don’t be sad.” I pat her splayed out arm with my claw. “I think I have something that can help!”

“Really?” She perks up, two legs holding my claw. “What can you do?”

“[Knowledge] and [Lore] meet in the [Akasha], and I can get some information from there. I’ll try and see if I can get more info about [Sect]’s, maybe?”

“Yes! That would help a ton, and might help me figure out what my class is pushing me toward.”

I nod, disengaging my claw from her grasp.

“Okay! Just give me a little bit, I’m going to try now.”

I cross my claws, going into the dark shadows of my mind to search the [Akasha]. I activate [Eyes of Intent], pushing out thoughts of the word [Sect]. Images flash before my eyes, unclear, hazy and without context.

A [Sect] seems to be a group of people who sit around thinking about their stomachs?

No, that can’t be right, Crabby.

More flashes and more information intrude into my mind and my concentration starts to waver. I’m forced to break contact and return to the waking world. As my surroundings start to register, I see the starfish waiting expectantly.

“So? What did you find?”

How to explain what I discovered…? “Umm… A [Sect] could be a couple of things. It could be a bunch of people who get into tournaments for no reason.”

“What’s a tournament?”

“I’m not sure. It could also be a group of people who hang out waiting for a single guy to show up. They then send out progressively stronger people one by one to defeat him, but only end up making him stronger.”

“That’s dumb. Why would you only send out one person at a time when you had an entire group of people?”

“Yeah, that didn’t make sense to me either.”

She collapses on the table. A bit of a whine enters her voice as she says, “These are all terrible ideas. I’m never going to figure this out.”

I hurry to reassure her. Patting her arm I say, “No, no. A [Sect] might also be a group of people who go on adventures and missions together, rallying for attack and defense. They pool their resources in one spot and whoever needs something can get those based on their contribution to the group.”

Luna perks back up. “That… that sounds pretty good actually!” She sits all the way up. “Alright, I’m going with that! If we do that, would you want to join?”

Her voice becomes more and more excited and I’m drawn in by her happy tone.

“Yeah! Yeah, that sounds like a party!”

“That’s an odd choice of words,” said Luna.

“I know, but party really sounds appropriate here for some reason.”

“Okay then! I, Luna, hereby establish the MoonCrab [Sect]! I invite Sir Crabby McCrabbington as head!”

Ding.

Factions Unlocked

You have been invited to be the Head of the MoonCrab [Sect]. You will have equal power and privileges as the other Head.

Do you accept? Y/N?

I reach out a claw to accept ‘Y.’

Congratulations!

You are now one of the Heads of the MoonCrab [Sect].

[Sect] Members:

Luna (Head) – Lvl 8.

Sir Crabby McCrabbington I (Head) – Lvl 5.

“Yes!” Luna takes my claws in her arms and jumps up and down in excitement. “This is great! I, no, we have our own [Sect] now!”

I don’t really understand her excitement, but I’m caught up in how happy she is and we dance around the room for a while. As the rush of emotions fade, the events of the past couple of weeks catch up to me.

At the end of the day, I’m still just a small crab, and it’s been a harrowing time in the [Dungeon]. I mean, I’d gotten some rest because I needed to, but I hardly got any sleep. I had to always keep one stalk open in case I was attacked. As Luna went to go talk to Todd, the fatigue began to creep up on me. Before laying down though, I went to go ask Luna one more thing.

“Hey, Luna? The crab part is obvious, but why Moon?”

“Oh!” Her colors slowly darken in a response I was beginning to recognize as a blush. “I must have forgotten to properly introduce myself. I’m Luna, but my race is technically a Moonstar.”

I take in her fluctuating bands of black and silver, her body seemingly made for the shadows. I nod, acknowledging her words.

“Okay! I’m going to lay down for a while and get some sleep. When I get up, how about we go tackle the [Dungeon]?”

She waves an arm. “Go ahead! I’ll get some rest myself after I get done talking with Todd. Thanks for everything, Sir Crabby! I look forward to working with you!”

As I lay down on the kelp floor matting, I feel the tension leak out of my shell. It’s been a long few weeks, Crabby. While nothing’s going to stop me from getting home, maybe, just maybe…. I can make some new friends along the way.

* * *

Aethir throws his claws into the air in exasperation. “Great! Now there’s monster [Sects] on Arthos!”

Toriana pats his arm. “It’s just the one. What could one [Sect] do?”

“Oh yes, because a single [Sect] with no competitors always turns out well,” Lira says.

“You guys never let me have any fun.”

“Lira-gra, I’m going to kill her.”

“Okay, Bubbles. I’ll hold her claws.”

“Oh, come on guys.” Toriana quickly [Scuttle]’d out of the way of Lira’s claws. “I was joking—Oh crap!” She bounces off of a certain piece of furniture that someone is overly fond of, knocking everything asunder.

Aethir’s eye stalks droop. “My credenza!”

Toriana briskly starts to sweep up the mess she made with a claw. “I’m sorry…”

“Out, both of you, out until you learn how to properly treat someone’s cabinets!”

CHAPTER 29

INTERLUDE: DREAMS OF THE BEACH

The stone of power sits alone in the wastes. A wave of magic ripples across the sandy plain and grips the stone, lifting it high into the sky atop a tower of sand. As the tower rises, walls spring forth, crenellations pouring into existence to protect the stone. A series of steps cascade down the tower, leading to a castle being wrought from the depths of the earth.

The sands join, pathways and defensive fortifications materializing from thought into existence. Mana ripples throughout the structure, creating windows, battlements, all the splendor of a fortress at war. The castle defenders spring forth from the walls of sand. Faceless, clad in light armor, they wield halberds of the same material as they were wrought. They move into position, beginning their patrol around the new fortress. Behind the castle, a serpent rises from the sand, its coiling length wrapping around the castle. The creature’s stomach rumbles for prey.

As they gaze into the wilderness, the tower rises behind, the stone of power glinting in the distance. Mana and Will created this bastion of defense. They would protect the stone.

And yet, a sandstorm arises, clouds of dust blocking out the sun. Blocking out the defenders view of the horror that awaits them.

Giant chitinous legs puncture the earth, creeping ahead amidst the howling winds. The defenders sally forth, racing to the gate to defend the structure. A barrier rises, blocking the sole means of entry or exit. Pounding on the walls shake the crenellations, and the constructs stand in fear. IT is coming.

Ghastly legs pierce into the sandcastle walls. The legs ravish the gate, and the defenders brandish their halberds, ready to face the attacker.

The giant creature pulls itself into the courtyard. The violent entry causes the walls to rain down on the defenders. The enemy is revealed as a monstrous crab, and its claws slam down on the soldiers. Each strike shatters their bodies upon the firmament.

More soldiers appear, halberds raised to attack. Their forms stand resolute, yet their hearts waver. This creature outsized them by twenty times or more. The crab chitters disdainfully and looks away from the meager defenders. The stone is over there. These constructs are no match for the giant crab’s power.

Clouds gather above the castle, the waves of mana blocking view of the sun. The defenders look to each other in fear. Fear of the approaching monstrosity. The dragon roars from the ramparts it’s perched upon. With a negligent claw, he gestures for the golems to engage. His majesty would not deign to face this unworthy foe.

Gathering their courage, the sand warriors begin their charge, with two of them grasping hands to merge their power. As the crab claws it’s way closer, two soldiers become one. Their union yields a knight rising from the ground, armored and riding upon his horse. He sprints ahead, lance brandished to strike his foe.

The lance lowers, and the crab contemptuously blocks the meager strike. The knight disengages, circling around the creature, looking for a new opening to attack. With barely a thought, the crab spins and knocks the soldier off his horse, sending him sliding into the fortress wall.

The sand knight is stunned, struggling to regain his senses as the horrific crab rushes forth. The giant crab slams its claw forward, pinning the soldier’s arm against the wall. The knight struggles, gazing deep into the unforgiving eyes of the enemy. Just there, out of the warrior’s reach, is his weapon. He leans farther, grasping, reaching for the only salvation at hand—his blade.

At the last moment, as those blasphemous mandibles close in, he grabs the weapon, sliding the shining blade into the gaping maw of the beast. The crab releases the knight and recoils, surprised by the sudden attack.

The sand warrior, weary beyond thought, collapses, letting his arms sink into the ground. The knight pulls from the smidgen of mana that animates his form. He gives of himself to pull a great sword from the earth, sacrificing defensive measures for a two-handed blade.

The crab and the warrior charge, each ready to end the other. Only one will remain upon this field of battle. Yet before they could join arms, blade against claw, construct against crab—they stop. Far, far above the walls of the sandcastle, a tsunami of water rises, ready to swamp their meager defenses. For a bare instant, everyone is frozen in fear. As the tsunami peaks, the monstrous crab breaks himself from his entranced state and angrily shakes his claws in defiance. From atop the spire, the sand dragon roars at his impending doom. The strength of nature’s power blocks out the sun and falls upon the castle, wiping away defenders and invaders alike.

A peal of laughter calls out on the beach as Erica says, “Okay, Mr. Crab! That wasn’t a fair fight! The wave swamped the castle. Let me recover my mana and we’ll go again, okay?”

Crabby snipped his claws in preparation. He would let the [Friend] make her preparations. Only sand spilled in honor was worth relishing.

* * *

The dream faded and Sir Crabby woke up. For a split second, only a moment when he was half-awake, he thought he was back on the beach again with Erica. He let loose a wistful sigh and repositioned himself.

He started to count clams, trying to go back to sleep. Hoping he would dream of her once more.

CHAPTER 30

THE MAZE

“Felicia Allspark here. I’m reporting live from the internecine conflict roiling within a local [Necromancer] enclave. I’m here with one of the combatants of the fight, a low level [Dark Mage] of some renown. Sir, can you tell me why this fighting has broken out?”

“Of course. The living are aggressively renegotiating our contracts. Just because the undead overlords don’t have to sleep, doesn’t mean we don’t deserve some rest.”

“Makes sense. And what of the reports of casualties and failing morale among the living members?”

“Don’t worry, Felicia. Be it death or depression, we’re fully prepared for all eventualities. After all, when it comes to raising spirits, we have a lot of experience.

— Felicia Allspark, Lenorian Herald. From, “Contracts 101: Undead Edition.” AC 237

As I awaken from dreams of demolishing sandcastles, I see Luna waiting for me. I raise my claws to the sky, getting a good stretch in before stifling a yawn. Todd is still hanging out by the entrance to the room.

“So, I asked Todd to join our [Sect]. He said yes, but only as an [Elder]. Which I take to mean, he’ll only show up if something bad happens.”

Her words confirmed my thoughts on the matter. Curious, I bring up the faction menu.

Sect Members:

Luna (Head) – Lvl 8.

Sir Crabby McCrabbington I (Head) – Lvl 5.

TODD (Elder) – Lvl 18.

Whoa, Todd’s level eighteen. I eye the spike ball on the wall more cautiously. How he’s just, lurking above the entrance, ready to drop on anyone entering. Yep, not messing with that guy. Dismissing thoughts of Todd for the moment, I turn to Luna.

“I’m thinking we tackle the second floor? I assume since you guys have lived here for a while, you have some idea what it is.”

“Yep! Let me get some food and I’ll tell you all about it.”

I take a seat at the coral table while Luna bustles about. She places an arm against a wall carving and a drawer opens. As she grabs two big hunks of crab meat, she struggles with the weight. Moving and carrying something at the same time seems to be a bit difficult for her. I decide to try something and activate [Water Manipulation], grasping the food from her arms and floating the meat to the table. As it sets down, I hear a Ding.

[Water Manipulation III] – 1 is now level 2.

I’m going to have to keep working on that. [Earth Manipulation] is already tier two, level five. [Water Manipulation] is lagging a bit behind. I dig into the meal.

“Level two is pretty easy,” Luna begins. “There’s no creatures in there, it’s just a maze.”

I raise a claw in question, still chewing on the food. “Sho, if itsh a maze, do you knowsh the way throughs?”

She doesn’t have a face, but somehow, I can sense the disapproval wafting from her body.

“I don’t know how you’re speaking, but you’re not even using the air or water. You don’t need to simulate the sound of you talking with food in your mouth.”

I stop chewing, mouth hanging open. Ah, she has a good point, doesn’t she? I’ll have to work on that. As I clear up my thoughts to transmit through [Eyes of Intent] I hear a ding.

[Eyes of Intent] – 1 is now level 2.

Huh, well I guess I won’t look a gift crab in the mouth.

“Todd here was kind enough to provide me with the most current map of the level,” Luna continues. “The [Dungeon] changes the levels now and then, and we don’t always have the most accurate record of the layout. We also don’t station anyone on that level as there are no creatures who would gain [Sapience] there, and we’d catch any that were coming from level one.”

“Speaking of which, shouldn’t someone be stationed at level one right now?”

“Octo is there. All his talk of finding some ‘crunchy crabbies’ was just his way of saying he was headed there.”

I don’t comment on her interpretation of the octopus’ words. To me, it sounded a whole awful lot like Octo was going to go eat something. I discard thoughts of Octo and lean forward when Luna lifts a stone tablet onto the table.

Carved into the tablet are several square lines. It only takes me a moment to realize that what’s depicted is the upcoming maze. There are several different ones carved onto the stone.

“As you can see, the passageways don’t change.” She taps the different mazes. “What changes are the doors between them. So, depending on which pathways are open,” she points, “you can determine which iteration of the maze you’re in.”

That doesn’t seem too bad. Something was bothering me though. “What about here and here?” I point out two variations where there is the same entrance initially, but different later. “Won’t we need to backtrack if we get unlucky?”

She shakes an arm no. “The maze is small enough we can do a mana ping to get an idea of the next upcoming passage. That way, we don’t accidently pick the wrong door and waste time.”

“Mana ping?”

“Yes, you don’t—Ah, you’re using that weird way of talking. Mana ping is the first step to [Mana Speech]. That one is easy, just take a hold of the smallest portion of your mana that you can, preferably one point of mana, and throw your power as hard as you can in a radius around you. You need to keep track of whatever your mana sticks to with your mind as your mana sloshes everywhere. You should be able to get a sense from your energy’s deflection and absorption of what’s in your surroundings. Go ahead and try it.”

Following her instructions, I grasp a tiny bit of mana from my core and release it in a wave around me. I try to keep track of the energy with my will, but the mana almost immediately runs haywire, zooming around my location. As mana bounces and reflects off the surrounding location, the energy returns to me in uneven waves, giving a jumbled sense of the room. I’m almost immediately struck with a minor headache, and I lean over the table.

“Oww.”

Luna nods an arm apologetically. “Ah, sorry about that. I forgot [Mana Sense] took me a little while to figure out how to use it. If you’re willing, Todd can help out? He was the one to train me.”

As the waves of pain subside, I lift my head from the table. Todd continues to hang menacingly over the doorframe. In lieu of a better option I cautiously agree.

“Uhm… Todd? Do you think you can show me how to do this?”

He detaches from the doorframe and floats gently to the floor. Turning, he slowly moves into the carving room, his only response being, “TODD.”

Luna says, “Come on! Seems like he’s going to do the same training I went through. This should be pretty quick.”

Shaking my head once more, I follow them into the larger area. As I enter, Luna begins explaining how this was going to work.

“Okay, so the training is pretty easy. Todd’s going to put up a wall that you can’t see through. Then, he’ll hide a shape behind the wall. All you have to do is extend a single strand of mana over the wall and use the mana to identify the shape behind it. Understand?”

“I got it, but how will this help with the ping part of the mana?”

“This is just to get you used to sensing shapes remotely. We’ll move onto the ping and bouncing mana off other surfaces next.”

As she’s speaking, a wall of earth emerges from the floor. I extend a branch of my mana, moving my mana over the wall and to the other side. The sense I’m getting is abstract, and an immediate image doesn’t come to mind. I’m able to make out Todd. My [Mana Sense] doesn’t have enough definition for a clear figure, but in lieu of a ball of spikes, I can determine a vaguely Todd shaped round ball. Next to him, rising from the ground is another structure.

I extend the single strand to cover the wall’s surface, trying to build a mental model of the shape’s contours in my mind.

Long minutes pass until I blurt out, “Is it a bunch of bananas?”

Todd immediately disburses the wall in front of me and I see what the shape actually was. In front of me is a remarkably lifelike earth statue of Octo.

Oof. This might be harder than I thought.

We try again, and as I’m practicing, I murmur under my breath, “Hey, Dbug. What’s on the other side of this wall?”

True to form, Dbug has still not internalized the meaning of stealth. He emerges from wherever he hides out and speaks. I can’t tell exactly, but I have a sneaking suspicion he’s being even louder than normal, his voice seeming to carry a bit farther.

“I’m sorry. My function is to assist you. Telling you the answer would counteract that purpose.”

Luna is on the other side of the wall with Todd, and at the treacherous light’s proclamation, she peeks her head around the side. “No cheating! Dbug, don’t let him cheat!”

Dbug fades back into the immateriality, leaving with, “Do not worry. I will not.”

I huff and raise my claws. What’s a crab gotta do to get some respect around here? Putting the little traitor out of my mind, I get back to work. I’m going to figure this out!

An hour passes and I finally manage to reliably determine the identity of the various earth sculptures Todd’s made. He’s cycled through several different creatures I’m familiar with and some I’m not. Everything from crabs to fish, and even aquatic insects. I’m not sure what level his [Earth Manipulation] is at, but the sheer detail is impressive.

When we finish, Luna comes over to me and says, “Alright! Now onto the next phase!”

I have a slight headache, and I’m starting to grow tired. I ask her, a bit of a whine in my voice, “There’s more?”

“Yep! This should be the last part of the exercise. It’s pretty easy. Todd will maintain the wall, and then you use your tendrils to go around the wall and read the carvings behind him. Once you get that down, you should have a handle on enough detail and fine control to use mana ping properly.”

I wave a claw in acknowledgement and start my first attempt.

My mana extends around the claw and onto the wall. There are so many different carvings, of different strokes and depths, it’s almost immediately evident which blocks of text are written by a single author. I focus on one and try to make out what the text is saying. I’m only able to read one word in several.

“I… like… Big… Crabs… and I… cannot lie?” I say, trying to confirm what I’m seeing.

Todd’s wall immediately falls and I’m able to read what the carving says with my eyes.

“I’d like to note the presence of bigger specimens in this dungeon. Crabs in particular are a notorious candidate for enlargement. And I personally find their meat specifically delectable. Trust me, I cannot lie about this.”

I almost got it. I ask Todd to raise the wall again.

“Spending… most my life… living in an… aquatic… paradise?”

The wall falls.

“Spending considerations aside, most my life has been living in an artificial aquatic environment. Paradise to some.”

Getting closer… “Raise the wall!”

“Dreams of war… dreams of liars… dreams of dragon’s fire… And of things that will bite?”

Ding.

[Mana Manipulation II] – 7 is now level 8.

I already know I’m right this time as the earth falls and I walk up to the passage. Crazed scrawling text is carved into the wall. “Who wrote that?”

Todd waves his spines in an indistinct manner and Luna interprets. “Todd says that particular person had a hard time here. He eventually went to see the Hypnofrog to help with some of it.”

I note the carving, faded with age. The carving seems to be one of the older ones, and I start to wonder how long both he and the frog have been here.

Alright, time to do this for real! I release a ping of mana, and I’m able to discern the contents of the room.

Ding.

[MANA SENSE] HAS LEVELED UP!

I’ve gotten a bunch of notifications today. Perhaps using my skills in new and interesting ways helps with the level ups? More to investigate later. With all of this training, I start think of low light situations. This extra sense would come in handy there. Suddenly, right in front of my face, comes a loud booming voice.

“TODD.”

I only shake a little bit this time. Starting to get used to this.

“Good point, Todd. When you get good at [Mana Sense] and if you learn [Mana Speech], you can make your voice sound like it’s coming from anywhere in your detection radius. Which is great if you’re trying to redirect an enemy. You can make them think you’re coming from somewhere else.”

I wave a claw of acknowledgement at Todd. “Alright then, I think that’s about everything. Are we ready to go?”

“Yep! Hold on!”

This time I manage to brace myself before she says:

“LEVEL 2 – [RECALL].”

* * *

Aethir makes one last adjustment to his shelves. “Just the way I like it.”

Toriana tried not to pout. “I said I was sorry.”

“You know to stay clear of his credenza,” Lira says.

“I needed something to jump off of.”

Lira swept her claws out. “Literally anything else in the office would have been better.”

“I’m sorry, Aethir.”

“You think I’m going to forgive you just because you asked nicely?”

“Pretty please?”

“Sigh. You realize how annoying it is that no one can stay mad at you?”

CHAPTER 31

MAZE-LIKE

“Welcome, trainee class #369 to the Merchant’s guild. As you progress through this introductory course, you’ll receive a wide variety of training. Our purpose here is to ensure that you’re aware of the best and most up to date methods of extracting money that Arthos has to offer. Before we begin, please repeat after me as I recite the Merchant’s creed.

“‘Power and the money. Money and the power. Minute after minute, hour after hour.’

“Keep that mantra in your heart and you will do well on the streets of Arthos.”

— Recorded excerpt from trainee class #369, Merchant’s Guild. AC 1642

“Level 2 – [Recall].”

The magic takes hold of us and in a split second, we’re somewhere else. The cold, drab grey walls of the Dungeon] surround me, and I’m faced with three choices of entrance.

“This is either variation 1C or version 2A. Either way, we need to start at the left entrance,” Luna says.

While I trust their maps just in case, I mark the left passage as we enter. We move through the hallways, and after a moment I consider the speed of our progress. Luna doesn’t really move very fast. I don’t know what her dexterity value is, but it must be much lower than mine. More than half at least.

“Umm, do you want to catch a ride on my back? It might be a little quicker?”

She pauses, arm stretched out to take another step. “Yeah, that might be best. There’s no reason to dally here when we don’t have to.”

She climbs onto my back and we head farther, winding our way through the level toward the exit.

There wasn’t much to be said about the journey. Luna and I talked about the little things in life. She enjoys sneaking up on baby crabs and scaring them. I tell her of my love for the coast. She’s never seen the outside or the sun, so I describe the sound of waves crashing on the shore; the constant dynamic motion of water meeting earth. As we reach each intersection, she releases a mana ping, indicating one choice or another, and we make quick progress. A crab and starfish venturing into the depths of the labyrinth.

As we turn a corner, Luna taps me on the shoulder.

“Just ahead should be the entrance to the next level.”

I wave a claw in acknowledgement. Venturing onward, I start to slow down a little. Something doesn’t seem quite right.

“Luna, is there supposed to be an open area like this?”

Right in front of me lies a circular room, the walls closing into a dome above. Up to this point the maze had been corridors and passageways, and I don’t remember seeing any locations like this on the map.

“No,” Luna replies, her tone edging to caution. “The [Dungeon] might have changed something. Be careful.”

Before proceeding through the entrance, I activate mana reinforcement, running power through my body to harden my shell. As my carapace gently vibrates and then settles, Luna’s giggles cut through the water.

“That tickles!”

I brush aside Luna’s response and prepare myself for whatever we may find. “Here we go.”

Stepping into the open area, I raise my claws, expecting combat…

Only to receive silence in response.

I begin to lower my claws, before remembering the last battle I was in.

No, Crabby. Stay alert! Something could be anywhere.

My stalks scan the blank walls of the perimeter. They roam upward. Nothing. No movement draws my attention at all. Before I begin to relax, I think of one more thing and try out my new ability. I release a mana ping into the water and nothing jumps out at me. Nothing on the ceiling, the floor, the wall… Hmm. There seems to be something over there on the wall.

I go over there to take a look. This is not the usual illusions I’ve seen thus far. The illusion seems to be a shape carved into the wall itself. I lean down to get a closer look. It’s almost arcane, and a dim shimmer of mana suffuses the surface. Luna extends an arm toward the arcane symbol.

“Are you sure you wanna be messing around with this thing?”

She hesitates, then continues on. “It’s only a carving. No harm ever came from touching a carving.”

She makes contact and I’m blinded by a cascading tide of mana. Light shines everywhere, rendering me motionless and mute, and suddenly we’re somewhere else.

I clear away the spots in front of my eyes. In front of us are now four entrances much like the ones we started from. This is either a new part of the maze or we were just transported back to the beginning…

I search for the mark I placed on the left entrance, and sure enough, the mark is right there.

“We were sent back to the entrance. And the [Dungeon] changed the maze when we were being moved.”

“Oops…” Luna says quietly. “It… it can’t just move us around like that! That’s against the rules!”

I shrug and ask Dbug. “Hey, Dbug, can the [Dungeon] move us around like this?”

Dbug materializes. “Technically no. Otherwise the [Dungeon] would just teleport everyone who entered straight into a crusher.”

Gulp.

Dbug always gives such good news, doesn’t he?

Dbug continues. “But, since Miss Luna here touched the trap glyph, the trap was able to move you in a limited way. Merely resetting you to the entrance.”

“And the changes?”

“For maze floors, [Dungeon]’s typically have preset configurations that can be changed at will. Normally a change of this magnitude would take time, but maze floors are an exception. That, and the fact that you weren’t technically on this floor while being teleported, enabled the [Dungeon] to switch to an alternate state.”

I thank him for the info and he disappears once more. “So… which passageway is the right one?”

Luna sounds a bit nervous as she says, “Uhm… none of my maps begin with four entrances. This… this is something new.”

I take a deep breath of water. Alright, you got this. “Well, I see the mark I left on the first entrance there. Why don’t we go the same route as we did last time and see if we get lucky?”

An ominous current flowed through the [Dungeon].

I shiver as Luna taps my shell in acknowledgment. We set off, venturing to navigate this new maze.

One hour later.

“And… another dead end.”

Two hours later.

“This isn’t right either.”

Three hours later.

“Well, the good news is, we’re running out of choices.”

Four hours later.

“This is the last conceivable pathway available. There is literally no other option.”

Tired, cranky, and weary from hours of walking with Luna on my back, I enter another open area. It’s the same one where Luna initially touched the carving.

I raise my claws in preparation and whisper, “Don’t touch anything.”

“I’m not going to!” she whispers back.

As we walk farther in, I release a mana ping to get an idea of my surroundings. I’m initially comforted by the lack of response. Nothing on the walls, the ceiling, the floor—wait a minute. There’s nothing on the floor, but maybe… I start to get a bad feeling and switch from pinging mana to a hardened tendril, extending my mana directly below us.

Something in the FLOOR!

I dive away from my standing location just as a claw rips through the surface. In a horrid recreation of my earlier battle, a massive figure breaks the ground and rouses itself into view. But this time there’s something terribly wrong.

The [Dungeness Crab – Big Momma] is rotting, chitin withering away and revealing pieces of meat and ichor oozing into the water as she manages to claw to the surface. Her movements are sluggish, and she stares with milky dead eyes. I bring up the combat logs.

YOU ARE IN COMBAT!: [UNDEAD DUNGENESS CRAB - BIG MOMMA] ATTACKS YOU FOR -35 HP!

[Undead Dungeness crab - Big Momma] misses!

It seems to be even stronger than before! My suspicions are confirmed as she begins to plod forward, each step cracking into the ground. Even with my improved stats and reinforcement, I’m not sure if I can take the impact from another strike. And her new speed doesn’t bode well.

“Luna! I’m going to stay mobile. Get in the hits where you can, but be careful!”

I [Scuttle] to the side, aiming for the undead crab’s leg. Applying a layer of sand to the top of my claw, I [Slice] into the monster. My claw rebounds the decaying chitin, revealing hardly a mark on its surface.

It’s rotting and my strength still isn’t enough?

Gritting my mandibles, I growl, “Fine then!”

I start my usual litany, ending with “Sir Crabby, HOOOOO!”

Ding.

Sir Crabby’s Music has been applied

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

Effect: 1 min, 27 seconds remaining

That should be enough time. Even as the undead crab is turning toward me, I lash out, applying [Slice] to my claw. As I strike, I can feel my claw cutting into her leg, the undead shell crunching underneath the power coursing through my form. I’m driven back however. My second hit ejects a cloud of putrid murk, clouding my view and assaulting my nose.

As I stagger away, I hear Luna saying, “[LEG BOMB]! [LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

Pop!

And she’s back on my shell, two arms missing. An explosion shakes the water, and the crab is down two legs. Our attacks don’t seem to have slowed her though. The undead crab displays no signs of the pain that slowed her earlier version. Her lack of recoil catches me off guard, and I’m forced to bring two claws up to block. Before the impact falls, I’m able to summon earth to enshroud my form and provide stability as my legs burrow into the ground. Even still, I’m driven deeper into the floor by the weight of the strike.

As I’m receiving the impact, Luna attacks again, using her own means to dodge the incoming claw.

“[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG BOMB]! [LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

And she’s back on my shell. The crab continues to ignore its grievous injuries and lifts both arms high to pile drive me into the ground. I rapidly disengage locking procedures, ditching the earth holding my position steady and burrowing out of the ground. As her arms swing downward, I [Scuttle] to the site of the previous explosion. At this point, I’m holding my breath and squinting to view the monster. The rotting debris is really making it difficult to see.

It’s still limping along with two legs, and I engage once more. I [Slice] into the single leg providing stability and it buckles, unable to support the bulk of her form.

With her unable to properly move, the battle is a forgone conclusion, and the [Undead] crab is defeated.

Ding.

Your party has defeated level 9 [Undead Dungeness Crab – Big Momma]!

Experience is awarded for your actions.

[Scuttle III] – 1 is now level 3!!

[Slice II] – 8 is now level 10!

[Slice II] – 10 is now [Slice III]

[Earth Manipulation II] – 5 is now level 6.

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You are now level 7.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

I back away from the creature as it dissolves and try to get a clear breath of water. This fight was easier in some ways because I knew what to expect. But in others?

“Luna, have you ever heard about [Undead] in the [Dungeon] before?”

Her voice betrays a hint of fear. “No. This is new. There’s no record of them in the carvings either. It doesn’t make sense for the [Dungeon] to create [Undead]… The water would destroy their body faster than anything we would. I think… I think something might be wrong.”

* * *

Toriana looks rather worried. “There shouldn’t be any [Undead] in any [Dungeon], should there?”

“There could be a coding issue, I’ll check,” Lira says.

“When I get a moment, I’ll have to send another mission to review the [Dungeon] core,” Aethir says.

“Unless Crabby finds the issue?” Toriana asks hopefully.

“That’s quite unlikely.”

“Crabby is kind of the master of the unlikely,” Toiana points out.

“Fine, unless Crabby finds the issue.”

Toriana squeals with delight. “Huzzah! Anyway, back to the show. Go Team MoonCrab!”

CHAPTER 32

SOMETHING’S WRONG

“Alright, class, we’re going to be going over multiplication tables today. Turn to page fifteen of your textbooks.”

“Ugh, tables again? Isn’t there a skill or something for this?”

“Are we going over dimensional calculus? How about manifold variations on the mana-sphere of the planet? We’re not reviewing abstract number theory and how it relates to the elemental planes, are we, Mr. Stusen?”

“…No.”

“Despite your inability to demonstrate it, your status says you’re reasonably intelligent. You don’t gain a skill for something you should be able to do in your head. Now open your textbook and get to studying.”

— Student Teaching, Lenorian Classroom. “Teaching guide to [Skills].” AC 1198

The [Undead] crab doesn’t dissolve into motes of mana to be reabsorbed. No, the former boss melts into a puddle on the floor before us. As the sludge seeps into the ground, the familiar reward pedestal begins to rise. Instead of a smooth transition, the platform stutters and stops, as if the pillar was driven by gears that were grinding into place. On the pedestal lay another token, pristine like the first floor. And beside it? Beside the token lay a chunk of rotting crab meat festering in the water.

“I’m not eating that.”

“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”

I extend a tendril of [Water Manipulation] to bring the token close. I stay back from the dissolving boss. I’d prefer not to have any of that sludge touch my shell. As I extend a claw to the token, Ding.

Congratulations!

You have cleared the second of ten floors!

You have received the second floor token*!

*Tokens allow you to return to this floor to resume your progress.

I wave the notification away as I start to think about what’s happened so far. First the sphinx said something was wrong. Now Luna thinks the [Dungeon] is off. Not to mention the weird occurrence of a boss that wasn’t supposed to be there and the state it was in. And the rewards? The rewards were a joke, presented in a manner that screamed “TRAP!”

Considering the circumstances while recovering my resources, I decide then and there I’m going to get out of this [Dungeon] as soon as possible.

“Hey, Luna!”

“Hmm?” She’s close to the pedestal, not touching where the puddle had vanished. Still, her actions make me nervous as she seems to be trying to get a better look at the rotten meat. Inching closer to do so.

“I don’t know what’s going on here, but I think we need to accelerate our progress. Whatever’s happening with the [Dungeon] might not be good for anyone living here.”

“I agree. Do you think we should go back to tell Todd and the others?”

“No, I think we should wait for another floor. It might just be a local problem, you know? Something wrong with this area. I’d hate to get everyone’s claws—err, appendages, in a ruffle because of an unfounded suspicion.”

Luna nodded an arm. “I agree. How about we wait for our resources to recover and then proceed onto the next floor?”

I nod and decide to pull up my status while I wait.

Character Screen

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Level: 7

Health: 114/170 | H-Regen: 0.17/sec

Mana: 176/290 | M-Regen: 0.31/sec

Stamina: 148/380 | S-Regen: 0.32/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 15

Wisdom: 31

Vitality: 17

Intelligence: 29

Dexterity: 21

Charisma: 28

I only suffered one attack in that prior fight, and my sand armor deflected some of the damage. I take a look at my claws where I blocked the hit. It seems like the reinforcement prevented any cracking so I wasn’t suffering from any vitality debuffs. We were lucky we faced the monster we did. Even stronger and undead, we were familiar with her tactics.

“It also helped that the boss was slower,” I muttered.

“What’s that?” Luna called.

“I said we were lucky with that fight. It was also a big help that the boss was slower.”

She moves closer. “Yeah, I think you’re right. I managed to recover my legs at the Hollow, but I’m down five of them now. I’ll need another rest to regrow them.”

I assess her form. I can already see little nubs growing from where her arms broke off.

I become a little annoyed. “Yeah, but the limit to using your attacks is your mana, right? Once that’s recovered you should be okay for more exploring.”

She nods an arm hesitantly. “Yeeaahh, okay… Okay, I can do that.”

I shuffle a bit at her nervous tone. “‘Yeeaahh, okay’? What does that mean exactly? If we’re going to be a team, I need to know what you’re thinking.”

She deflates a little, slumping down. “It’s just that, I only have a limited number of attacks. If I use them all up, then I’m kind of helpless. I’m too slow to dodge and too squishy to take very many hits.”

Her defensive tone lowers my mental claws a bit. I try to be more considerate. “Yes, but that’s what I’m here for. Stay back if you need to, but I don’t think we can wait a day between every fight for you to be at one hundred percent. Not if we’re going to figure out what’s going on.”

She waves an arm in acknowledgement. “Okay, we’ll do that. Let me know when you’ve recovered. I’ll just be over here.”

She backs away and falls to the floor, lying flat on the ground. She seems a little dejected but, I mean, I’m making sense, right? Rewards usually come with risks and we might need to take a little risk to investigate. Putting it out of my mind, I check my skills. I’ve gotten several levels and tier ups since the last time I looked at them.

Physical Skills

Scuttle III: Lvl 3

Current Bonus: 9.2% faster movement

Static Bonus: +10% faster actions where Water & Earth meet

Cost: 2 Stamina per second

Slice III: Lvl 1

Current Bonus: 8% greater cutting damage

Cost: 12 Stamina per attack

[Scuttle] and [Slice] are almost in the double-digit improvement realm. I don’t bother to look at [Natural Camouflage]. It’s still in tier one, and I’ve had no cause to improve its ability. I quickly test [Scuttle] and [Slice], the difference clear. My strikes are a little sharper, and my movement’s quicker and smoother in the water. I bring up my magic skills.

Magic Skills

Mana Manipulation II: Lvl 8

Current Bonus: 7.2% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

Cost: None (Passive)

Water Manipulation III: Lvl 2

Current Bonus: 8.8% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Earth Manipulation II: Lvl 6

Current Bonus: 6.4% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Mana Sense II: Lvl 4

Current Bonus: 5.6% greater clarity

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

Cost: None (Passive)

Eyes of Intent I: Lvl 2

Current Bonus: Undefined

Cost: Variable

Sir Crabby’s Story

Current Bonus: Various, dependent on [Lore]

Cost: Variable, user defined

The first thing I notice is that while [Eyes of Intent] has leveled up, there’s no change to the listed effects. I guess the skill might just be stronger? ‘Manifest your will’ would probably be pretty hard to quantify anyway. Maybe, ‘You Manifest 2% stronger’? That doesn’t make sense. Heck, and [Sir Crabby’s Story] doesn’t even have a tier or level. That skill just is.

Hmm, maybe the [System] has trouble with measuring them? After my review, I close the windows and climb to my feet. “Have you recovered, Luna?”

“Yep! I’m ready to go! We just need to find the exit now.”

Flashing my [Mana Sense] reveals the familiar illusion blocking the exit. We pass through and discover stairs leading down. Step by step, we descend into the darkness.

CHAPTER 33

THE REEF

“Oh divines, shelter us from destruction. Guard our bodies as you guard our souls. Stand strong against the defiling touch and offer succor to those who have fallen. May you stand your eternal vigil against the dark, and in your wake, allow all life to flourish.”

— Common Prayer, Lenorian Chapel. AC 273

As we head down the stairwell, I ask Luna about the layout, monsters, and her experiences with the floor. She perks up, seeming a bit more animated in her steps.

“Oh! I’m very familiar with the area. This is the floor where I gained [Sapience]! It’s a small reef, similar in character to the [Safe Zone], though substantially smaller in size. Monster wise, there should mainly be starfish, barracudas, squids and the odd crab. There will be other mundane fishes and such, but nothing dangerous.”

“What’s a barracuda?” I recognize the squid as a relative of the dreaded octopus and resolve to keep wary.

“It’s a long predatory fish with sharp teeth. Mundane types can be five or six times as long as you are, and its primary mode of attack is to dart in at speed and bite their prey. They’re very quick. Some of the ones we may see here can even be up to seven to eight times as long as you. We may need to hide in the coral and ambush them.”

I’m already forming plans for attack and defense against this new predator. It seems like I might need to take advantage of the terrain. There’s just one thing.

“If it’s an open area, what about the boss?”

“Ah, the boss changes. The boss monster can be anywhere from crabs, starfish or barracudas. They’re all just larger, faster versions of the regular ones, so we should be able to get plenty of practice. The boss may roam a bit, but it generally hangs out at the entrance to the next level.”

Emerging into a new level at the bottom of the stairs, we’re greeted by a scene of devastation. A wide swath of coral lay dead and still. The vibrant colors of the [Safe Zone] are nowhere to be seen, just bone white reaches of expired matter. No movement was in sight. No small fishes or crabs. No small plants clutching to the rocks. Just silent water and the light flickering weakly from above.

The light tap of our own steps echoes in the void as we touch the sand. My nerves begin to climb and, quietly as I can, I whisper, “Is this normal?”

My stalks swivel in all directions of the bleak wastes searching for a threat.

“No, no… I-I don’t know what’s happened here. There should be little fishes and crabs. Starfish and barracudas and squids. There’s just, there’s nothing here.”

I motion her to jump on my back and I tense, prepared for anything. “Let’s get to the exit. I don’t want to stay here a minute longer than we have to.”

She climbs on and we progress through the deserted reef. Even the current seems dull to my perception. Luna motions left or right as we get to various pathways, guiding me with as little motion as possible. An hour passes venturing through the level, and the slow tightening of Luna on my shell breaks me from my vigilant fear. One of her arms is pointing forward, and I can barely make out what she’s indicating. Up ahead is a region of darkness. Something is blocking the light from above. I raise my claws in preparation and make my way toward what I assume to be the exit.

As I rally forth, the path is restricted by a ring of coral, reaching high into the water and blocking my view. I ring around it and notice a way forward into what appears to be an arena. This is where I see what is blocking the sun. The carnage.

A thick layer of corpses float above the makeshift arena, matched by a putrid pile of rotting flesh in the sand. The smell hits like a truck and I retch, staggering backward from the weight of the stench.

“Now we know where all the animals and monsters went,” Luna whispers, her tone disgusted and scared.

I try to reign in my emotions and look with a clinical eye at the sights. The layer of rotting meat on the ground consists mostly of crabs and starfish, ripped apart into constituent pieces. Chunks are torn from each animal, bites and marks in the bodies consistent with a frenzied attack. Above, the fishes float. With a sense of detachment, I note they’ll eventually fall to the floor as the natural decay process decomposes the bodies.

Luna whispers, “I don’t see or sense anything. Do you?”

I send a mana ping and receive nothing. My stalks have been moving non-stop, searching for movement. I gently shake my body no.

“The entrance to the next level is on the other side of the arena. Let’s head over there and regroup.”

I nod and [Scuttle] around the edges of the corpse pile, struggling to step it’s not covered in gore and rot. I make it halfway along the edge of the area when I see a flicker of motion. I freeze, slowly turning my body to face what’s coming. The corpse pile is shifting, crabs and starfish cascading gently down as a creature reveals itself.

It was buried under the pile—No. The creature was burrowing among the dead.

The boss is a giant starfish five times my size with rotting, twitching arms. The starfish originally had five limbs, but it seems to have lost one in the struggle for supremacy. The giant starfish stands from the shifting pile, revealing raw strips of flesh torn from its face. The starfish takes a step, turning around, and shows me a backside filled with horror. Glistening fangs protrude from every inch of the creature’s bottom, ichor welling from deep within.

At this point, I’ve already activated mana reinforcement. And as panic rushes through my frame, I tell Luna, “PREPARE FOR—”

It springs headlong at me, hungry teeth reaching to bite and crush. The boss is fast, faster than I would have expected a dead starfish to be. The creature’s movement through the water kicks up a cloud of muck, showing to still have some measure of [Skill]. I can detect the artificial movement of mana around the creature’s body and the currents changing to aid its attack. As an arm flashes down, I barely manage to raise a claw to block. Luna is already gone.

“[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG BOMB]! [LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

As I join my other claw to reinforce the block, a small explosion pierces into the front of the star. Though, when Luna performed the second substitution, she seems to have decided that disengagement was the right call, appearing farther behind me.

The explosion rocks the monster, yet just as the undead creature before, this monster doesn’t feel any pain. Only a split second has passed, and I find my strength equally matched with the rotting star. It takes a second longer for me to notice the undead creature’s insidious plan. While one of the rotting arms is engaged with my two claws, the other three are creeping around, trying to wrap my body. I imagine those teeth grinding against my shell, my body slowly giving way to the husk’s crushing weight and strength.

Panic races through my thoughts. I have to break away! I can’t let the arms encircle me!

Seconds pass before I put my thoughts in order. I don’t have time to test the usual song. My claws and eyes begin to glow as I intone, “GIVE ME SLICE BEYOND SLICE!”

Warning!

Sir Crabby’s Music: Overload Activated

Effect: +50% increase to STR

Sir Crabby’s Music: 15 seconds remaining

With the rush of power coursing through me, I HEAVE, pushing myself out of the rotting star’s grasping reach and [Slice] at the attacking limb. Our disengagement kicks up another cloud of rot and a sudden lungful of the black water sends me coughing and scrambling to safety. I activate [Water Manipulation] to sort my vision and lungs, sending the particulates away to give myself some breathing room.

I manage to catch my breath as the water settles, and I can see the results of our brief clash. Luna’s attack had already removed one of the [Undead]’s four remaining legs, and my [Slice] had cut another. Now, with only two remaining, the rotting star was dragging itself through the layer of decay. The creature’s teeth ripping into the bodies to give itself the traction needed to crawl.

I shudder with revulsion and move ahead to finish the job. Two descending claws [Slice] and remove all remaining limbs. The rotting star’s motion finally stopped, the monster dead, I turn to check on Luna. When I see her moving as fast as she can, it hits me.

There hasn’t been a Ding from the [System].

I whirl, claws raised, just in time to witness the monster ballooning up and bursting into a cloud of little starfish. The rotted flesh withers as hundreds of tiny, horrid creature’s rip and tear through their mother’s flesh. I’m caught in a cloud of putrid rot, swinging wildly, trying to dislodge them.

They’re tunneling into the joints of my shell, miniature dead fangs hungry for my insides. I try everything, my will reaching, my mana bursting as I scramble for [Water Manipulation] to dislodge them. My throat is choked in fear as I spin wildly about, trying to kill something I can barely see.

As pain and fear ravish my flailing body, I cry out, “Luna! Luna, help! They’re EATING ME!”

Long seconds pass with no response. Where is she? Has she run away? My music runs out and the buff fades. My struggles grow weaker. I can’t see the surroundings, the water turned black by my panicked struggle. As I start to give up hope, there’s a familiar pulse of mana rippling through the water.

“[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG BOMB]! [LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

I barely register what happens next as an explosive shockwave sends me into unconsciousness.

* * *

Toriana half leaps off the couch. “Crabby! Nooo!”

“Maybe he survived,” Lira consoles.

“Or not,” Aethir says without hesitation.

“Aethir!”

“Um, I mean. I sure do hope that plucky little crab made it.”

CHAPTER 34

CRABCUSATIONS

“Hey, Phil.”

“Hmm?”

“How do you know a rabbit is in a good mood?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s when they’re… hoppy.”

“…Steve, what’s the name of the [Dungeon] we’re guarding?”

“Uhm, the Cave of Kai-er’Banog?”

“Exactly. It’s literally filled with face-eating rabbits. They have a mean streak a mile wide. Stop talking.”

— Conversation between two Guards, Lenorian Dungeon. From, Safe Guide to Dungeon Delving, AC 1622

I slowly return to consciousness back in the [Safe Zone]. I’m currently sprawled out on one of the coral tables, and Luna is gently snoring, slumped over one of my claws. She appears to be sleeping, and I struggle to put together what happened as I rouse my weary mind.

Luna must have sensed something, because as I get my bearings she springs up from her slump. She grips my claw tightly, already crying and preventing me from moving.

“Sir Crabby! Are you okay? Speak to me, Crabby!”

Her words pound in my head and I raise my claw to my carapace, trying to block out the pain.

“Shh, keep it quiet please. I’m…” I run a quick diagnostic without moving. My health has recovered and there doesn’t appear to be any cracks in my shell. She’s still holding me tight so I can’t [Scuttle] to test out movement. Other than that?

I whisper, “Other than everything hurting, I think I’m okay.”

She slumps once more onto the table. She speaks quietly and with evident relief.

“Oh, thank Wisdom! I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you.”

I try to nod, but the motion provokes a wave of pain. I may still be in one piece, but it feels like everything is jostling inside. As if it hasn’t settled into place yet. “What happened?”

She hesitantly begins to respond, “Well, after you were attacked, the only thing I could do was set off a blast right next to you with one of my [LEG BOMBS]. Even though you weren’t the target, you were hit by the shockwave. It knocked you out and killed most of the starfish, and with their death, I was able to [Recall] us back here.”

She made a vague motion toward the door. “Todd helped me drag you from the platform and removed the few remaining fish.”

I try to imagine how Todd could move anything. I mean, does he even have any muscles under all the spikes? How would that work? I dismiss it for now, that’ll be a thought for later. With my other claw, I gently remove her arms from clasping me. There’s something I need to address.

I try to keep my voice neutral, but even still, a hint of the pain and anguish I’m feeling seeps into my voice.

“What… what happened with that? I was calling for you to help me. You didn’t respond. I’m not sure how long it was, but my music ran out.” A hint of accusation colors my tone as I say, “I thought… I thought you had run away.”

Luna flinches, as if my speech had physically struck her. She curls up, pulling away from me.

In a small, quiet voice she says, “No, no I wasn’t going to run away. It was just… When the starfish blew up you started flailing around and I couldn’t see. I only had four legs left. Only one attack before I’d be forced to drag myself.” Her voice grew quieter and quieter. “I’ve never told you how I awakened, did I?”

I shake my claw no.

“I wasn’t bestowed a class like you were. It was only in the wake of a battle that I gained [Sapience]. When I came to, I was on the outskirts of a melee. I only had… I only had one leg left and there was still fighting raging in the area.” She began to cry a little. “I was helpless. My first thoughts, my first knowledge, was knowing how helpless I was. When I heard you like that, when I wanted to go in to help you… I just got so scared. I’m not… I’m not fearless like you are, Crabby. I don’t know if I’m cut out for this.”

A hundred thoughts and responses and accusations rush through my mind. I consider and discard them one by one until I’m left with a realization. She wasn’t going to abandon me. Just as I was a scared crab alone in a [Dungeon], she was a scared starfish struggling with combat. And I knew how to help.

I pat her shoulder, the area where one of her arms joins her core, and try to put on a reassuring tone. “Hey, hey. You know I’m not fearless, right? There’s lots of things I’m scared of.”

Sniff. “Yeah? Like what?”

“I’m scared of octopus’ for one. I don’t know, they just creep me out.”

Her crying is cut off as she briefly chuckles. She sounds a bit more centered as she says, “That doesn’t count.”

“No, no it doesn’t, I suppose.” A swell of hesitation rises in me before I decide to quash it. I forge on, telling her my greatest fear. “I guess my biggest fear is, time.”

“What do you mean?”

“I might be little, but I’m not dumb. I know I was just a regular mundane crab on the coast who randomly met a princess. I also know that while I will always hold her as my friend, she may not remember or care as she grows older. How long will it take me to get home?”

I shuffle a bit, considering the unspoken answer. I then remember how big she was. How big and how small compared to the other humans. She might be young like me.

“Will she remember me in a month, a year? For me, it was the defining moment of my life. But for her? Was I important to her as well or just another playmate she made at the beach?”

I trail into silence, my raw emotion brought to light. I feel scraped raw voicing the fears which lurked in the back of my mind since entering the [Dungeon]. Staring at my claws, thoughts whirling in my mind, a light bonk on my head breaks my spiraling thoughts.

Luna is standing there, two arms on her hips. “I don’t know about your princess, but for me?” She leans forward, wrapping me in a hug. “For me, you’re important right now. And if you’ll have me, I’ll be your friend.”

My claw reaches around her body and draws her close. We hold that position, and for just a little bit, find comfort in the presence of each other.

As we break contact, a voice rumbles in the room. “TODD.”

Luna responds, “Yes, Todd, I agree. If we’re going to make this happen, then we have to work better as a team. We should come up with a strategy for when I run out of legs.”

We sit in silence, thinking about the problem, and a glimmer of an idea begins to form.

“How does that skill work, exactly?” I ask.

She raises an arm and gestures. “Well, I can naturally detach my limbs. And when I do, I target them with the skill. The residual mana in the limbs either detonates or moves me as needed.”

“So… If you had more than twelve legs, you could use your skills more?”

She seems confused. “Yeesss? But I don’t. I only have twelve.”

I turn to Todd, my mandibles spreading in a Crabby grin. “Do you have a bag around here?”

CHAPTER 35

[NINJA]STAR!

“Felicia Allspark here. I’m reporting live from the internecine conflict roiling within a local [Necromancer] enclave. I’m joining a vigil being headed by some of the living to honor their fallen comrades.”

“I lost my brother today in combat. Who will join me to avenge his death?”

“You have my sword.”

“And my bow.”

“And my axe.”

“And your brother.”

“…What?”

“I just raised him. He’s standing over there. Wave hi, Carl!”

“You just… raised my brother as a zombie?”

“Don’t look at me like that. I was told that everybody needed to fight.”

— Felicia Allspark, Lenorian Herald. AC 237

“You want to what!”

I raise my claws, trying to calm Luna down. “Look! Look! All I’m trying to say is that, if we get a bag, you can detach your arms ahead of time. Then, before we head out, you can recover and be ready to go.”

She sputters, barely coherent, voice rising in reply. “And just what? I carry a bag of arms around? That—This—That sounds absurd! Obscene! Horrid! Grotesque! Probably a bunch of other words I can’t think of right now!”

“Yes. True. But then you’d have all the ammunition you’d need, right?”

“And what about if we meet someone? I can just IMAGINE how that would go.” She adopts a mocking tone. “Oh, hey, Luna. Nice bag you have there. What’s in it? Well, I’m happy you asked, Bob, I’m just carrying around a bag full of arms!”

“TODD.”

“Oh no! Don’t you start too! I don’t care if I don’t meet anyone in the [Dungeon], it’s the principle of the thing.”

I scratch my head with a claw. I don’t really understand why she’s getting so upset about it. Maybe another approach? “I thought… I thought girls liked arm bags?”

“Arm bags! Not bags full of arms! ARGH!” Throwing up her limbs in frustration, she storms out of the room.

I turn to Todd and shrug.

“TODD.”

“Yeah… I don’t get it either. There would just be the one bag. I don’t think we could carry two.”

I let Luna cool down for a bit while I get some food and review the gains from the previous battle.

Ding.

Your party has defeated level 11 [Undead Starfish - Crusher]!

Experience is awarded for your actions.

[Scuttle III] – 3 is now level 4!

[Slice III] – 1 is now level 3!

[Water Manipulation III] – 2 is now level 4.

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

You are now level 9.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

It’s not immediately clear, but so far everything indicates that fighting boss monsters at least four levels higher will allow me to gain two levels each time? Or maybe it’s because I almost keep dying each time. Maybe the [Dungeon] is purposefully making the monsters higher level? I dismiss my musings and leave the small room I’m in to find Luna.

She’s in the carving chamber, looking around at the etchings engraved on the walls. She stands straighter when she sees me, appearing more confident, and walks over.

“Before we, try the bag idea, can we talk about your skills and how they work? I’d like to get a better understanding of you.”

We sit down and I talk about each of my skills, going over how I’ve used them in the past.

“Let’s go outside, I want to try something,” Luna says.

Exiting the Hollow, we enter the reef. She lays on the ground and covers her limbs in sand. Standing up, the particulates stay attached to her skin and present a raggedy appearance.

“Alright, here’s what I want you to do. I want you to try throwing me over there, while using [Earth] and [Water Manipulation] to enhance the speed and strength of the throw. Don’t forget to use [Scuttle] for the faster actions where water and earth meet.”

This time it’s my turn to be flabbergasted. “Throw you? But what will that do? I don’t understand.”

“I don’t have to use [LEG SUBSTITUTION] to position into place if you can get me there. That will save at least one leg for me to use.”

I nod and nervously snip my claws. “Uhm, how do you want to do this?”

She seems just as nervous. “I’m just going to lay down and you can try. I’ve never done this before either, so I guess whatever feels natural?”

She lays on the sand and I grasp two of her adjacent arms in each of my claws. I try to move her from my standing position and realize I don’t have enough leverage. She’s deceptively heavy. Instinctually recognizing I shouldn’t tell her that, I say, “Alright! Here we go!”

I plant my three front right legs into the ground without using [Earth Manipulation] to lock them in place. I still want to be able to pivot on that point, but I don’t want to float away from the force of my throw. My left side moves back and I [Scuttle] forward, my entire body swinging on a pendulum as I hurl her in front of me. As I release my claws, I activate [Earth Manipulation] to impart a spinning motion, then [Water Manipulation] to decrease the friction her body is making as she zooms through the water.

She races in front of me, actually rising in the water as she leaves the area under my control. She flies off into the distance, lifting above the surrounding coral, and I’m left there standing with my mouth open, claws empty and Luna nowhere in sight.

Ding.

[Scuttle III] – 4 is now level 5!

[Water Manipulation III] – 4 is now level 5!

[Earth Manipulation II] – 6 is now level 7!

I close my notifications and hurry after her. “Luna? Luna! Are you okay?”

When I finally reach her, she woozily lifts up from the ground.

She lifts an arm and says joyfully, “That was awesome! Let’s do it again!”

We spend hours practicing, and once we become tired, decide to call it a day. My aiming improved and Luna was able to practice detaching her leg upon arrival to the target.

As we re-entered the Hollow and passed through the carving area, Luna says, “I think this will be a good strategy, Crabby. It will definitely save on ammunition when we’re under attack.” She appears a bit hesitant, lowering her voice a little. “And I guess we can find a bag…”

“What’s that?” I say, pretending not to have heard her.

Her silver stripes darken in a blush and she almost yells at me, “I SAID, I guess we can find a bag!”

I give her two claws up as we enter the smaller room. As we do, Todd is there sitting on a table.

“TODD.”

And I’m confounded as usual.

“No!” Luna says. “No, I couldn’t ask that of you! It’s your prized possession.”

“TODD.”

“Are you sure? We can figure something else out. A bag isn’t so bad.”

“TODD.”

“Well, I guess we can borrow your bag then. I’ll return it as soon as we can, okay?”

“TODD.”

“No, thank you! This will make things so much easier!” She turns to me. “So what do you think?”

I shrug. “I think TODD I guess.”

She playfully slaps my claw and giggles. “There’s no reason to be vulgar about it.”

I stand motionless, unsure of what’s going on. My confusion is broken by a light slowly growing from Todd. As the light fades, a spine is detached from his body and gently floats over to Luna. The spine curves in a band around her core before flashing once and disappearing. All that is left is a new black striation wrapping around her center.

“What just happened?” I ask.

“Oh, I thought you were following all that. Todd is letting me borrow his spatial ring. It’s a rare [Dungeon] drop and he’s the only one of us to have received one. I can store my arms in here and we won’t have to worry about the logistics of carrying an… arm bag.” She says the last with a hint of distaste.

As we settle in, she detaches her twelve arms. They vanish from sight and I stare, shellshocked, at the ring’s ability.

Before getting some rest I ask her, “What about these others you’ve been talking about? I still haven’t met them.”

Her voice grows a little quieter. “I don’t know, Crabby. That’s something else I’ve been worried about. They should be here by now. Get some sleep, and we’ll look for them in the morning.” We both lay down and fall to slumber.

CHAPTER 36

LUCKY CRAB

“Hey, Phil?”

“Hmm?”

“I was thinking after I finish my contract here of opening up a farm. Yeah, I could have magical farm animals, you know? Like a moon rooster or an earth pig. Maybe a half-dragon, half-carp. What do you think?”

“I think that’s a terrible idea.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because it’s all fun and games until a drought happens and you’re faced with eating one of your friends. I pity the fool who tries to eat a half-dragon anything.”

— Conversation between two Guards, Lenorian Dungeon. AC 1622

Luna and I wake up and prepare to head out. We grab some breakfast and I ask her about the next level.

“I thought I told you? All even numbered levels are puzzles or mazes or something non-combat related. We’re going into level four now, so it should be a series of obstacles and puzzles.”

I nod around a bite of crab. “Yeah, but that was before, wasn’t it? With all these changes, who knows what we might face.”

Her usual jovial tone takes on a shade of worry. “You’re right. But we practiced a lot yesterday. And I won’t freeze up again. Not anymore!”

I rush to reassure her, patting her arm. “I’m not worried about you. I’m just worried about what’s going on in this [Dungeon]. I don’t like the fact that we’re being faced with something completely new that no one has ever seen before.”

She laughs. “Worst-case scenario, we can always sic the Hypnofrog on the [Dungeon]! Hahaha!”

We laugh, and then gradually trail off as we nervously glance at the hole in the wall.

“Actually, now that I think about it, how about we not talk about the Hypnofrog where it might hear?” she says.

“That’s a good plan.”

We finish our meal, and then taking my arm, Luna says, “Level 4 – [Recall].”

As our surroundings change, I remember something I was wondering about. “Hey, Luna, what’s with that [Recall] skill?”

“Oh, it’s something that all [Dungeon] monsters have. Recall lets us go to floors we’ve cleared before and take someone along with us.”

“What about me? I don’t remember getting the floor token for this level.”

She blushes. “When you were unconscious, a pedestal arose. I was able to grab the token for you and applied the upgrade while you were knocked out.”

I acknowledge her words and look around to assess the area. The plain, rough-hewn stone walls are replaced with fashioned stone. There are massive slabs fashioned into squares and mortared together. I walk up to a block and place my claw on the wall.

“This is new.”

“Yep! I understand that as you go farther down, the [Dungeon] spends more and more time and effort on making the surroundings comfortable and aesthetic. Todd said it’s to lure people into a false sense of security before something attacks.”

I remove my claw from the wall. In front of us, there are two doors. One door has what looks to be a coin engraved into the panel with a crab embossed on its surface, and the other has what seems to be a fish pushing a boulder up a hill. The second image is hard to explain. Yet somehow in pictographic form, wavy lines of mental energy is depicted emanating from the fish moving the rock. The image is quite bizarre.

“Are you familiar with this, Luna?”

“No. These choices are new. Maybe we should just pick one and go with it? If everything I know is wrong, then I don’t want to fall into the trap of assuming I know what’s best.”

I acknowledge her point and consider the two options. “Well, which one do you want to go with?”

“I think I’d rather go with the door on the left, the fish one. Maybe it’s testing how strong you can think? I don’t know, but I consider myself a pretty strong thinker. And I believe you are as well.”

That seems as good a reason as any, so I move toward the door with the fish. Luna is on my back, and she reaches in front of me, touching it with her arm. She disappears in a flash of light and I’m stunned for a moment, standing there in shock. Quickly, I reach out to touch the door and nothing happens. No flash, no transportation. I’m still in the hallway with the two doors.

Maybe the [Dungeon] will only let one person in a room?

Going along with that thought, I move to the other door. Internally, I’m a little partial to this door anyway. Afterall, the door has a crab on it, so whatever is behind the door can’t be that bad, right? I touch the door and vanish in a cloud of light.

As my vision clears, I’m out of the water again. A red carpet lays around the room and tables fill the area. A quick survey reveals games of chance, brightly spinning wheels of various makes, models and colors. As I’m standing there shocked, trying to figure out where the danger will come from, a human comes up to me. He, at least I think the human is a he, is wearing a black suit, neatly dressed with a half mask covering his face. The mask doesn’t fit perfectly, and I can see what it’s trying to cover up. Half of the human’s face is rotting away. As I raise my claws for combat, I notice he isn’t breathing.

I activate mana reinforcement and prepare for battle.

The human says, “Hello, sir, and welcome to the Lucky Crab. I’ll be your host, designated ‘Hal’.”

My brain struggles to deal with this unexpected scenario. What kind of name was Hal? That seemed like it was half of a kind of fish or maybe the kind of name you’d give to some poor seahorse with a fanny pack carrying a bunch of his kid around. Deciding to roll along with the situation, I reply, “Er, it’s good to be here? Uhm, if you’re the host, how do I leave?”

The human straightens up from its bow and proceeds to hand me a small stack of circular coins. He points at the various games and devices around the area. “Leaving is easy, sir. All you need to do is double your starting amount of funds and you can buy your way to the next level.”

I nod and gather the coins up in my claw. Cautiously, I ask, “And if I lose all the coins?”

The half of the human’s mouth I can see lifts up in a grin that reveals jagged fangs. I don’t recall if Erica had those, but I don’t think so. The [Undead] human’s voice goes deep and guttural. “Well then, it would appear crab will be on the menu tonight.”

His words send a shudder through my shell and I turn on [Mana Sense] to get an idea of his power. The light shines brighter than the sphinx. I don’t think I have a crab’s chance in the desert to beat him with the amount of mana coursing through his form.

I shudder and look around. I have no idea what to play.

* * *

Meanwhile, Luna appears in a shadowed area, light flickering weakly from an indistinct source. She’s still underwater, yet can hardly see two feet in front of her. Sending out a mana ping reveals nothing of import, and the range of her senses don’t reveal any exterior walls. She calls out for Crabby, but it appears she’s alone here. It doesn’t seem as if he made it through.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

Only silence answers her timid call and she decides to take a step forward. As she does, an indistinct pressure begins to build. Both on her body and her mind. It doesn’t seem like much, so she takes another step. The pressure doubles, and she can make out a doorway in front of her. There’s no directions or input from anything to indicate what she should be doing. For lack of a better plan, she takes another step, and the pressure doubles.

She’s beginning to feel a disturbance in the pressure now, and cool water oozes from her body under the increased strain. She’s about four steps away from the door. She doesn’t know if she can make it.

Luna takes another step.

* * *

Meanwhile, I tell the dealer I’d like to raise.

The host has explained the rules of a game called poker and I’m already down a hand. There’s an element of luck to this game surely, but there’s also strategy, and I’m having a tough time of it. I look at my remaining coins and decide that after this hand, I’m going to try something else.

* * *

Over in the other trial, Luna takes another step. As the pressure increases, she begins to hear something chittering in the dark. Little whispers flickering at the edges of her awareness.

“You are nothing. The crab has left you to die. Your future is here, with us, in the shadows. You know what I say to be true. Join us, join your brethren in death.”

Luna shakes her head in denial, taking another step. As her arm touches the ground, the pressure doubles and she’s crushed to the floor. She can barely breathe, the weight of the recriminations flowing ever faster.

“You left him to die. You left one of your few friends to die. What does that make you? That makes you worse than a coward. That makes you a traitor.”

* * *

I look around to the shining lights, to the multifaceted blinking machines and options available. I have enough coins for one more bet. I decide to put it all on a single game where a ball falls onto a spinning wheel. You have to guess which number is the one that the ball is going to land on.

I take a seat and place my remaining coins on three. Three is a good number. It’s the number of the gods I’ve met, and of me and my two friends. I’m nearly twitching from nerves as the monster spins the wheel and presses a button. The ball falls down onto the wheel. It bounces around the pit faster and faster before beginning to slow.

“Come on… Come on!”

The construct replies, “The ball has landed on thirteen.”

I look up in horror as the creature removes his mask. The other side of the human’s face is a grinning skull, the flesh rotting where it touches the blackened bone. A rancid tongue lolls out of his mouth, the horrid thing falling down to chin height. It licks its lips in anticipation.

I barely see the human move before I’m spinning away, dragged by [Luck of the Crab]. He looks down at me, then at his hand, as if shocked by the initial failure.

I’m already dodging, scrambling to find some cover or a door. Anything that might help. As the [Undead] closes in on me, he freezes. He then straightens up perfectly, as if nothing had happened and resumes a normal tone of voice.

“The casino regrets to inform you that your teammate has passed the trial. Please exit out the door to your right to join her.”

A wave of his arm materializes a door out of the floor and I rush to get through. I only hope that Luna is alright.

* * *

A few minutes before…

Luna struggles, trying to summon the will, the strength, the anything to move just a single step more and touch the door leading out. Yet nothing she does can stop the weight of the pressure on her body. As her consciousness fades, she tries [Leg Substitution]. The skill fails to activate. She reaches in her mind for the spatial bag. Her efforts are stymied once more.

The shadows whisper, “See? You are nothing. Your team is nothing. Your friend has already lost. You are just ephemeral dust in the wind, destined to rot.”

The words seem to reverberate within her mind. She could imagine the embers of her willpower, slowly flickering out, suddenly flaring up in rage. The thing in the shadows could mock her. But her new friend? Insult her team?

“You may have me, but you’ll never have us both! And if one skill doesn’t work… Well, I have another! [LEG BOMB]!”

The force of the explosion slings her body forward. Almost in slow motion, she could feel her flesh shredding and tearing from the shockwave of the limb detonation. When she activated the skill, she targeted her still attached legs. Her body hits the door, and then she was in a new area. She manages to hold onto consciousness only long enough to see Sir Crabby emerge safely. With a tiny whimper she collapses, passing out from the pain.

CHAPTER 37

IT’S A TILE!

“Alright, Bill, I have an idea.”

“Go on.”

“We make a magical game, right? And in that game, everything in it seems like real life, heh?”

“Okay, that seems like it’d be interesting.”

“But hear me out. Once you enter the game, you can’t leave.”

“It’s like what, a [Dungeon]?”

“Yes, a group of heroes in a [Dungeon]!”

“The game would never get past the review board.”

“Yeah, but—”

“No buts. We would be buried in magical prison so fast we’d never see the light of day. You can’t just hide that you’re making a hugely successful game. Heck, the dragons would probably get involved.”

“But the scandal would draw sales!”

“The scandal would get us murdered by angry parents.”

“Well, if [Dungeons] and dragons are wrong, I don’t want to be right.”

— Conversation between coastal [Wizards], Creators of “Tactical Saber [Rules].” AC 1637

I see Luna stumble in from her doorway, her body torn from an explosion. She lifts up to look at me before passing out. I rush over, checking her for shrapnel, for any visible indications of what might have injured her. It’s only as I assess the ragged lump of flesh where her leg previously was that I realize she must have blown off her leg while it was still attached.

She’s already starting to recover, the torn flesh mending itself before my eyes. Her healing factor must be incredible. Determining that she would be okay, I take a look around to see if we are in any immediate danger.

The respective exits that we both ventured out of lead into a wide-open square. Tiles cross an expansive reach that must measure at least one hundred crabby lengths. There are no markings on the tiles and no evident creatures that I could detect. On the other side, an obvious lever rests near a door which appears to be the exit. Deeming that we’re safe for the moment, I take a seat, waiting for Luna to recover.

* * *

Time Passes…

Luna’s first words when she wakes up are blearily pronounced.

“Huh?” I huddle over her, remembering my exposure to shock induced trauma and speak quietly. “Hey, you’re okay. You just had a bad time of it. We’re safe for right now.”

She rouses herself and regains a semblance of coherence. “What now?”

I indicate the tile floor, then let her know I’d already tried [Mana Sense], but didn’t see anything wrong with the floor. Still, a wide-open tiled expanse with nothing in sight? That seems pretty suspicious.

“Okay. I guess we need to test the floor… Let me try first.” She grabs a leg from her spatial ring and throws it. When her leg lands, it overlaps two tiles. One of the tiles glow for a moment before two spikes emerge from the ceiling and floor, meeting in the middle. Her leg is impaled between them.

Gulp.

I gather some sand and compress the loose material into a rock. I send the improvised rock forward with [Water Manipulation], keeping it centered between the floor and ceiling and not touching either. My rock only makes it several tiles in before the spikes shoot out and destroy the poor thing. Repeated testing of floating rocks don’t reveal any pattern of distinction. No matter where the rock went, the spikes would meet and rend it back into pulverized sand. The results are disheartening, and we both sit down and think about how to solve the puzzle.

Luna, with some trepidation in her words, says, “I think you’re going to have to throw me.”

I look at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

She rushes through what I could tell was a carefully prepared speech. “Look, when I use [LEG SUBSTITUTION] I conserve momentum, right? Which means if you toss me out into the area, then as the spikes come down, I can use my skill to dodge and get farther to the safe area. I think I can make it in… three, maybe four jumps?”

I immediately start waving my claws no. “That’s too risky, Luna. There has to be another way. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be fast enough to miss them, and if you get hit even once you’d be pulverized. The spears are too fast.”

The more I say the more resolute she becomes. She cuts me off with a sharp wave of her arm. “I can do this! I’m not scared. Unless you see another method?”

I look across the distance, trying to figure out how to manage this. I haven’t been able to figure out any solutions. I also don’t see any particular pattern. Finally, I cave, deciding to give Luna’s idea a shot.

“Alright, if you’re sure…”

“Yes, I’m sure. I can do this!”

We line up in our throwing configuration and I grasp her arms. I begin a countdown. “On three! One… Two… THREE!” Spinning my body, I throw her over the trapped area. She makes it over three tiles before the spikes appear. Just before they hit, I hear, “[LEG SUBSTITUTION]!” She dodges the first one!

Her speed is sustained, spikes dropping faster in an effort to pierce her hide. She lets out several cries and the growing distance between us and the density of the water blends her speech together. As she makes several jumps ahead I hear, “[LEG], [LEG], [LEG SUBSTITUTION]!”

And she makes it to the other side!

She staggers. Her mana and stamina are probably bottomed out from the succession of jumps. Speaking of jumps, I’m jumping right now! I race around the clear area on my side and wave my claws in the air. She grins back and slumps down exhausted.

She takes a few minutes to recover and gets to her feet, making her way over to the lever next to the door. After she pulls the lever, all the traps on the tiled floor and ceiling activate at once, leading to a dense forest of spikes between me and her. There’s a narrow passageway winding through the obstacles and I take it, joining Luna on the other side of the hall.

I pat her arm. “That was awesome! I knew you could do it!”

With a bit of skepticism in her voice, she says, “You didn’t sound like you thought I could.”

I wring my claws a bit nervously. “Well, I was just kind of scared for you. I didn’t want you to risk yourself and all that. We’re a team after all.”

My words seem to reassure her and she places an arm on my claws. “Yes, you’re right, Crabby. We are a team. Now, let’s see what’s through this door.”

As she reaches out to touch the door, I quickly grab her arm and stop her. “Hey! Remember the last time we tried this? How about we open the door together.”

She climbs up onto my back, and once she’s situated, claw and arm reach out as one. As our limbs make contact, the door slowly opens.

To reveal a staircase leading below.

We enter and the door closes behind us as a token pedestal rises from the earth.

“Onward then, to level five.”

CHAPTER 38

RUIN & SORROW

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of one of our finest. His work classifying taxonomic variations of various creatures is well known. But even greater still was his love of children’s education. His tireless efforts to expand the frontier of knowledge will be forever engraved in our minds, as his generosity is engraved in our hearts. To him we mourn. Yet we take comfort in knowing that he died like he lived… With animals in his heart.”

— Public Eulogy, Sir Irwin. Renowned [Biologist] & [Teacher]. AC 1006

As we descend the staircase, I ask for a brief on what to expect from level five.

“We’re heading into an open area like the reef. But instead of a reef it’s filled with abandoned underwater structures. Kind of like a ruin.”

“And creatures?”

“Much like—Well, it’s SUPPOSED to be much like before. There’s supposed to be barracudas and squids and crabs and fish. Sea urchins would also start to show up on this level with the boss being any variation of those types.”

Our conversation fades away and grows silent as we exit the stairwell. Just like Luna said, it’s much like level three. A wide-open area sprawls between us and the entrance to a small town. Stone wreckage marks the floor and there’s remnants of walls torn away to the sand below. The light from above seems dimmer than before, as if it’s weakening with each level we descend. Passing into the empty town, I keep my stalks on a swivel, scanning for danger.

None of these buildings appear to have doors, roofs or windows intact, just hollow shells for walls. A quick [Scuttle] over to one of the buildings yields a look inside. It seems the [Dungeon] isn’t going for a completely accurate portrayal, as the interior of the house is empty. There’s no chairs or accoutrements to indicate that anyone had ever used these buildings for their designed purpose.

Venturing back to the road, we continue, passing through the main square, defunct fountain lying broken and shattered. It’s pocked and worn surface matches every other detail I can detect in this level. Luna indicates the path with her arm and we spend another hour filtering through side and back streets. We’re forced to the alternate paths as the main route is blocked. Clogged with rubble and debris.

After a while, I don’t need for her to indicate which way to go, as a familiar sight greets me. There, far in the distance, I start to make out a dark layer blocking the light. I grit my mandibles, already anticipating what we’re likely to find. As we near what looks to be a broken cathedral, I activate mana reinforcement for my shell. I want to be ready to move or flee as needed. This building seems to be the only structure in the area with its roof still intact, and we’ll need to enter it to find the stairwell to the next level.

I bend my lower body down to get a better view overhead. Above the church, I see the prior inhabitants of this level. Floating corpses one and all. Pulling my sight from the macabre view, a dark portal looms before me. Shadows cover an expanse where massive doors used to lie. With a force of will, I take a deep breath and stride forward, passing through the veil to the other side.

This building still has some furniture. Rows of pews cascade from the altar up ahead. I also notice that those same pews are covered in corpses. Rows and rows of bodies, creatures mangled and broken and eaten. Suppressing a shiver, I walk forward, using [Mana Sense] and mana ping as much as possible to augment my detection abilities. There’s an indistinct shape on the altar, yet the low light prevents me from readily identifying it. I keep my claws brandished, prepared for combat.

Luna and I creep ahead, and find a large sea urchin, though not quite as large as Todd, slumped and broken on the plain stone altar. The urchin’s spines are largely ripped from its body. The poor creature is quite evidently dead.

Considering what I’ve seen so far, I would say it’s double dead.

There’s no way enough of its body is together to provide a base for physical processes. Even rotting [Undead] need a minimum of flesh to animate.

“Do you think they all killed each other?”

Luna looks nervously around the room. “I don’t—Wait! There’s someone over there!”

She jumps off my back and rushes after what she’s seen. I follow, keeping my eyes peeled for an ambush. She turns halfway around a pillar and I finally realize what she’s referring to. The creature must have been making some movement or something which revealed its presence. As I keep one eye on the encircling area, I try to assess the creature.

I’ve met him before.

Luna calls out, “Octo? Octo can you hear me? I’m right here, it’s Luna, I’m here, Octo.”

The octopus is in bad shape, missing six of his eight legs. They don’t appear to be regrowing either. Just a black sludge draining out of torn sockets where the limbs used to be. There are deep cuts along the surface of Octo’s body and one of his eyes is missing. Some claw or other appendage must have gouged it out. As Luna’s words call out in the water, Octo regains a bit of awareness, and with effort, the octopus manages to weakly speak.

“Lu-Luna? Boring star? It’sss… you? Oh, and the crunchy crabbieeeee…”

His voice begins to fade on the last word as Octo loses consciousness. Gently reaching forward, Luna slaps him a few times.

“No, no, Octo! Stay with me now. You’re not healing. We need to get you out of here. Get you fixed up.”

As her tapping continues, her words ring out and provokes more of a response from the fading octopus.

“Get me—no… NO! You have to END me here. I… I can’t do it myself. I-I can feel something spreading. Can feel it in my blood.”

I take a deeper look at him. He weakly moves his two remaining arms to the stumps of his legs and I can see black veins gently pulsing beneath his skin.

“End? No. No, Octo, we’ll, we’ll get you some help. I’m sure someone can heal at the Hollow. Just wait a moment and I’ll get us out of here. Stay with me now!”

Her speech seems to aggravate Octo. His struggles to remain conscious grow more pronounced, his words clipping and short.

“Crabbies. It’s in me just as it was in you. There’s no time. Do what must be done. I… I don’t want to end up like them.” A weak gesture to the bodies surrounding us indicates his meaning.

My gaze is torn between the two. Octo, who has fallen prey to some [Undead] infection, and Luna, quietly despairing for her friend. “I don’t know what he’s talking about, exactly. But… if this thing is spreading, then… I think we should respect his wishes,” I say.

Luna is crying, projecting her pain into the water, her body shaking. I take her by the shoulder and pull gently. I try to speak and emotions overwhelm me, the tragedy at the loss about to happen. I manage to say, “Come over here. You don’t need to see this. I’ll… I’ll take care of Octo. I’ll be quick, I promise.”

I manage to drag her a little bit away before she flails in my grip, her tears turned to anger. “No! Octo is my friend. If this needs to be done. Then the last face he sees will be someone who knows him.” She faces me. “Make sure you keep guard. I don’t know if my attack will draw anything over here.”

I turn my back away from them and scan the area, trying to give them some privacy. Despite my efforts, I still hear Luna’s gentle words.

“Octo? Octo, I’m sorry this happened to you. It’ll be quick, okay? Uhm… I’m just going to place two of my limbs here. Just close your eyes, okay? Close your eyes.”

The Octopus’ words call out weakly. “Crunchie crabby, boring star… Thank… thank you.”

Luna’s voice breaks once more as she says, “[Leg Bomb].”

Dual blasts ring into the area and I begin to move in a circle, keeping my senses pealed for anything moving to intercept us. I can detect nothing in my view. The only noise is Luna’s quiet sobbing behind me. Finishing my patrolling circle, I move back to the pillar where the two of them are. Luna’s sobs still haven’t ceased, and she’s draped over the octopus, as if to comfort his cooling corpse. Two explosions ended Octo’s life. Luna must have placed her limbs to the left and right of the dome which served as his head.

I walk up to her to provide comfort and gently try to pull her from him. We need to move away from here. Away from this sepulcher of death.

As I lift her gently, she turns and says, “What—”

Octo’s corpse lunges from the ground. As if in slow motion, his beak opens, ichor welling from inside his rotting body. Black mucus sprays out of the inside and I struggle to pull Luna away from the flailing mouth.

I’m too slow.

It latches directly into Luna’s midriff, the beak taking a bite out of her center. My claw is already falling upon the [Undead] octo as I activate [Slice]. The attack kills him once more. Luna is shaking and crying even harder at the sudden turn of events and I drag her away from the re-dead octopus.

Minutes pass and Luna eventually gains some semblance of emotional stability. I’m torn between horror and sadness at the sheer waste of it all. I didn’t like Octo, and I’m pretty sure he wanted to eat me. But I still don’t think he deserved to go out like that. I’m sure nothing deserves to go out like that.

As we recover, I notice a pedestal has risen next to the octopus’ corpse. “Was Octo the boss of this level? I thought the [Sapient] creatures weren’t under the [Dungeon]’s control?”

She hesitates. “Yes, but… If the boss is dead and everything else is dead on the level, and the [Dungeon] can’t change anything while we’re here, then maybe upon Octo’s death, the [Dungeon] assumed control? It twisted him into that… that thing, and he became the boss?”

“Well, let’s get out of here then. The [Safe Zone] is up next, and we can regroup and decide what to do.”

We collect the token and make our way back to the altar, where we find the stairwell down. The entire situation has changed. The [Dungeon] is full of [Undead], and even the [Sapient] monsters can be affected. As I consider the recent events, I remember the octopus’ words. My walk slowly stops as the implications of what he said courses through me.

I remember him saying, “It’s in me, just as it was in you.”

I look to Luna and try to remain nonchalant, offhandedly saying, “Hey, Luna? Can you check your status for me and see if anything seems off?”

A moment of silence passes as she does what I ask. She then says, “That’s weird. Some of the numbers look funny.”

I take a closer look at Luna’s body. At the point of Octo’s attack, a small ring of black surrounds a puncture wound. It doesn’t appear to be healing at all.

With fear and trepidation and a thousand thoughts and emotions surging through me I tell her, “Luna, I think this [Dungeon] is [CORRUPTED].”

CHAPTER 39

RECOVER & PLAN

“When examining the general public aversion to [Necromancy], one must consider the source. The public’s primary hatred of it derives from two factors. One is the understandable dislike of what appears to be a perversion of life. No one likes to imagine themselves or their loved one’s corpse rising to walk the land, their peace in death twisted to suit inscrutable purposes. The other reason is also simple. [Necromancy] and [CORRUPTION] look remarkably similar. Except where one is mana and [System] control of decaying flesh, the other is an outside perversion of our very essence.”

— Sylvia Sorensen, Dungeoneer. Recorded Lesson from: “DUN101: Intro to Dungeoneering.” AC 1133

“I think this [Dungeon] is [CORRUPTED].”

Luna’s tone cracks from fear. “Why-why do you say that?”

I try to keep my voice calm, but her reaction feeds on my own and my voice wavers. “I’ve seen it before. When I was first awakened on the beach. My [Status] acted funny and then I received a ton of error messages and was summoned before the gods.”

My words shock her into silence as she considers my words. “Wait. You literally saw them? Face to face? Do you think the gods will want to see me?”

My claws lifts to my chin as I tilt my body, thinking. “Yeah, I tried to explain it to you earlier when we first met, but didn’t want to make it awkward. Now that I think about it, I don’t think they’ll summon you. I think I was only brought before them like that because the error’s broke something important. I think, well I think you may just end up like Octo. Not unless we find a way to fix it. I don’t know how we’d go about doing that though.”

“Let’s hurry up and go talk to Todd. He may know.”

I pick up the pace, moving faster through the stairwell until we enter the [Safe Zone].

I hardly notice the natural splendor, my thoughts subsumed by the recent circumstances. It’s only as we reach the site of the Hollow and Luna dismounts that I regain awareness of the present. We descend and make our way through to the back room. Todd is hanging out in his usual spot, lurking above the doorway. We sit down at the tables and recount our story. As we finish, an awkward silence resounds.

Todd detaches from the wall and floats to the floor. A stone platform rises underneath him and he uses it to move across the room to Luna. He must have a high level of skill in [Earth Manipulation]. I certainly can’t use a platform to move around. As he approaches our table, the platform raises until he’s of the same height as the injury on Luna’s body. He leans forward, his spikes fluttering in the water.

“TODD.”

Luna nods an arm. “Yeah, that might work… Todd says my wound might be fixed if we manage to escape the [Dungeon]. For Todd and I, our bodies are made of [Dungeon] mana, since we were originally [Dungeon] creatures. That’s also why we might be infected if the [Dungeon] is truly corrupted. Upon leaving, the [System] should give us physical forms so we can function separately from the [Dungeon] environment.”

“Okay. Looks like we have a plan. We need to get you to the [Dungeon] core as soon as possible.” I turn to Todd. “Can you help us? Have any of the other creature’s returned yet?”

A hesitant ripple flows through his spines. I think I’m starting to understand him a little better.

Luna says, “Apparently no one has returned yet. Todd’s worried about it. Someone should have come back by now.”

My mind continues to spin as I pick up and discard ideas. As I’m thinking, I see Luna slump a little. I then do a personal assessment and realize I’m exhausted as well. We need to rest.

“How about we get some sleep and tackle it when we wake?”

She nods in response and we find comfortable places on the kelp mats. As seconds pass to minutes, we fall into slumber.

Hours pass, and as I regain consciousness, I find that I’ve awoken first. Since Luna is still sleeping, I review my notifications.

Your party has defeated level 12 [Undead Octo]!

Experience is awarded for your actions: [Slice III] – 3 is now level 4!

[Water Manipulation III] – 5 is now level 6!

[Earth Manipulation II] – 7 is now level 8!

You have leveled up!

You are now level 10.

You gain +2 to all stats from the level up.

I consider the information. Seems like this is almost a summary notification of everything I experienced on both the trap floor and the brief fight with Octo. The fight with the octopus could hardly be called a fight at all as he was falling apart. Heck, I dispatched him with a single claw. That was probably the reason I only gained one level. Closing the notification, I see that Luna is starting to rouse from her slumber.

As she shakes off the weariness from sleep Todd enters. “TODD.”

Luna yawns. “Todd says he wants to remain here in case anyone else shows up. He fears it’s only because one of us is present that prevents the [Dungeon] from destroying the Hollow. He thinks it might try to warp this level into something horrifying like we’ve described if everyone leaves.”

I consider and then say to Todd, “That makes sense. We could use a base of operations or if we need to fall back. But what about later levels? If the [Dungeon] has taken them all, then will you join us?”

“TODD.”

Luna chimes in. “He says he will. If in a couple more levels no one has shown up, he’ll join our group to clear the [Dungeon]. At that point, there’s no point waiting here to be destroyed.”

We gather food from the stocked stores and eat in silence. Before we head out, I crouch close to Luna, inspecting her wound. The black ring surrounding the puncture mark appears to have grown a little, and there’s still no indication of it healing.

“Do you feel any different? Any sudden urges to consume or anything like that?”

She shakes an arm no and follows up with, “No, actually I feel alright. If anything, it just feels, hollow. As if there’s a hole where something important should be and…” She quietly adds, “It feels a bit cold, like a numb void echoing in the dark.”

I pat her on the shoulder, trying to cheer her up. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out and get you fixed!”

As we ready ourselves, I voice a final thought. “We think it’s [CORRUPTION] that’s affecting the [Dungeon], right? I think that process takes time. We might be able to escape before it gets too terrible in here.” Luna takes my claw in arm and almost to myself I add, “I wonder what’s going through the [Dungeon]’s head right now?”

A shrug is the only answer I receive as Luna activates her skill:

“Level 6 – [Recall].”

* * *

Meanwhile, in the depths of the [Dungeon], a silent battle is being waged. A battle inside the [Dungeon] core itself.

/* Program 9281: Dungeon Monster List

Author: Aethir

Last Updated: AC 0

*/

#include <water.type>
using List(Deepwater.Dungeon);
main List();

{

List1 = Dungeness Crab;

List2 = Dungeness Crab - Big Momma;

L̷i̷s̵t̸3̴ ̷≠ ̷U̴n̶d̵e̶a̵d̶ ̷D̷u̶n̶g̴e̵n̶e̷s̶s̸ ̷C̵r̸a̷b̶ ̶-̷ ̴B̴i̵g̶ ̸M̸o̶m̸m̷a̶

L̸i̸s̷t̵4̴ ̸=̷ ̷U̸n̸d̶e̸a̸d̷ ̴S̵t̶a̷r̴f̶i̸s̴h̴ ̶-̸ ̴C̶r̸u̵s̴h̶e̸r̶ ̴

}

Break;

INSERT INTO List(Deepwater.Dungeon);

{

L̵i̸s̵t̵1̶ ̵≠ ̷I̶n̵s̷e̵c̶t̸i̵l̷e̴ ̸A̶b̸o̷m̶i̷n̷a̵t̶i̸o̶n̵;̶

̸L̸i̷s̴t̸2̸ ̸=̷ ̴S̵o̵u̶l̵ ̸D̴e̶v̶o̵u̷r̴e̸r̶;̵

̶L̶i̸s̸t̵3̷ ̵=̵ ̸E̷t̸e̶r̷n̵a̵l̶ ̶S̷o̵r̴r̶o̴w̷;̷

}

Compile Error. Parameters are not <water.type>;

*ERROR*

*ERROR*

*ERROR*

Break;

Ë̴̘͚́͛l̷̹̆̉̋ê̴͇̾͆v̶̼̘͘à̵̻͉̒̉t̸̻̜̅e̶̢̗͂ ̵̛͚́A̶͙̕ċ̸͈̣̱̿͝c̵̟̓̿e̵̲̺͐̎͊s̴̻̗͊š̴̳ ̴̝͍̈P̶͙̋̏ḛ̷̙̭͒ṟ̴̪̺̊́̌m̴̺͈͕̆i̸͝ͅs̷̫͗̈̾s̶͔̃͑̐ȉ̶͎̪̳͗̄ỏ̵̡n̸͈͛͛̃s̵͖̯̖͊

INSERT INTO

List(Deepwater.Dungeon);

{

List1 = P̴͕͍̲̝̆A̴̺̩͑̒͝Ĩ̴̡̝̳N̸̪̗̣͆́͛̔͜͝

}

…Parsing…

Local administrator override accepted.

Conceptual variable accepted. [Dungeon] engaging callout to program [concept.translation] accepted.

[Dungeon] is now updating lists based on conceptual variable.

CHAPTER 40

LAVATORIUM

I was a Princess

Along the beach roads I did ride

With sand and magic by my side

I met a young crab who was alone and afraid

I cast a spell and on that coastal beach we played

Corrupted attacked me with a corpse that’s unalive

But my song survives

I was a Ghost Crab

I was born upon the tide

With the sea I did abide

I met the Gods and we almost came to blows

Charisma kissed me and said I was her beau.

And when the kiss broke off I’m frozen by a chill

But I am living still

— Highway Crab, Whale Album. Latest hit from Pinniped, [Bard] and [High Priest] of Toriana, Goddess of Charisma. AC 1750

As the wave of magic clears and we end up on the sixth floor, I’m shocked to see that I’m on land. My carapace crackles from a wave of heat blasting into my face. I edge forward and discover I’m on the edge of a cliff. A cliff leading into a giant pool of lava.

It bubbles upward from a vast lake that appears to be several hundred Crabby lengths wide. Jets of molten ash and magma shoot randomly into the air, searing my lungs with the waves of heat they produce. I [Scuttle] from the edge and lift my claws in front of my face. I can already feel the temperature of my shell increasing from the simple motion.

“Is this normal? What’s going on?” I ask.

At this point, she’s already moved to my back, and she turns up the volume on [Mana Speech] to make herself heard over the rumble of molten stone.

“No, this should have been something completely different!” We look around, trying to figure this level out. Quieter, as if to not draw attention, she says, “Look over there. I think something is watching us.”

She points to one of the walls surrounding the lake where a small shrimp is hiding in a recess. The creature still appears to be alive thankfully. Maybe the [CORRUPTION] hasn’t infected this level yet? Regardless, for some reason the shrimp has a giant oversized claw. Even more bizarre, it scuttles into an unseen point in the back and disappears from sight.

“That’s weird,” I mutter, discomforted by the whole thing.

Recess after recess fills the walls. They’re all small nooks and crannies placed along the edges. They descend into the distance, reaching all the way to the other side. I try to detect another lever on the other side. Maybe we can repeat our earlier success and throw Luna over there? Yet, with the distance involved and the sporadic shooting of lava, I quash that thought. Even with her arm bag, I don’t think she can jump enough times to make it. Nor do I find a mechanism on the other side, something that can enable us to pass without effort.

“Hey, look at that!” Luna says, tapping my shell.

There’s a small lever on the wall behind me, almost hidden by the surrounding rock, its gray color blending with the surrounding material. I go over to clasp the lever and pull my arm down, activating its function. With a whirr, gears and mechanisms engage around me and I back up to the edge of the lake.

The temperature rises, and I spin around to see platforms lifting from the lava. They’re made of stone, and still glow red from the heat they were subjected to. They begin to rise in the air. When they reach the apex of their climb, they start to move back and forth, forward and back. When I try to detect a pattern or track their movement, I realize the platforms never touch. Just get close.

It seems as if this level is designed to have us jump from platform to platform in order to make our way to the other side. Which is concerning. I’m back on land in the open air. Crabs aren’t really designed for the whole jumping thing. And I still haven’t figured out what those random holes in the wall are for.

I turn to Luna. “Do you have any good ideas?”

Her voice doesn’t reassure me. “I think you’re just going to have to clear this level as it was intended. You’ll need to jump from platform to platform there, there, and there, all the way across.”

She proceeds to indicate a series of six sequential platforms that allows for a path from our side to the other. There are more than those of course, but the other choices end up taking a longer route. The six she points to are an almost straight line alongside one of the walls.

Having decided on a plan, I want to test my jumping skills. At the small starting area we’re located on, I go to one side and start [Scuttl]’ing ahead. About ten crabby lengths into my sprint, I bend down and push my legs as hard as I can. I’m immediately flung into the air.

“I’m doing it! I’m FLYING! I’m—”

WHAM!

I slam into the opposite wall and slide down it.

Ding.

You have received impact damage: -4 Hp.

Yeah… This might take some practice.

* * *

Time passes…

I spend most of the day training my running and jumping. My initial trouble was due to the unfamiliarity with my drastically increased stats. As a normal mundane crab, I never really jumped. My natural abilities never allowed me to do so. Now? Now, I was a crab on the breeze.

“Wee!” Luna cries as I manage to jump from a running sprint, hit one of the walls, recoil and then fall back to earth. “Do it again!”

I pant, thoroughly winded from that maneuver. “Just… give me—whew—a second.” I sit down, letting my body cool off. The area was still raging hot, but I’ve grown used to the heat. Luna seems to have adjusted to the heat as well.

Resources recovered, I climb to my feet. With a hint of seriousness I say, “Alright, I think the fun’s over. I won’t be able to get much better in such a short amount of time.”

Luna agrees and lowers herself as much as possible on my back. We’d figured out that any arms or appendages of hers in the air would mess up my estimations of when and where to jump.

I walk to the edge of the lava, where the magma bubbles in the lake. Moving to the side, I line up with the first platform. I gird my claws and say, “Here we go!”

“Crabby.”

“Crabby.”

“Crabby.”

“Sir Crabby, HOOOOOO!”

Ding.

Sir Crabby’s Music has been applied

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

Effect: 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining

In my training earlier, I’d already practiced with my music playing. As the mana rushes through my carapace, I take a running leap—

And land on the platform!

The platforms measure about ten crabby lengths in diameter. They’re no longer glowing red hot, but they are lightly searing my shell as I do a little dance to keep my legs cool. A sudden shift in movement throws me off balance and I stumble when the rock shifts forward. I move to the center and eye the approaching platform. We’re moving on a horizontal plane and the platform is moving vertically up and down. As we get close, the platform lowers and matches our elevation. It’s only there for a moment before heading back up again.

When the platform matches up with us, I’m moving backward, my platform receding into the sky. This next one is our last shot, Crabby! My body is tensed up, waiting for the optimal moment. The distant platform arrests its motion and begins to travel downward as my platform stops and begins moving forward again.

Wait for it… NOW! Sprinting ahead, I leap into the air. My claws stretch out before me as I see that I’ve mistimed the jump. The distant platform is already starting to move up. Panic rises in my shell as I see the edge move out of my reach.

Luna lunges over my shell, moving from my back to my claws, four of her arms gripping my shell and the other eight reaches ahead of us. She manages to just barely grip the edge of the platform and we’re stuck hanging on the side.

“When we start moving down, I’ll swing you to the side! Use the momentum to get up!” she yells.

The platform reaches the apex of its movement and pauses. The platform gently shudders and then begins its fall toward the boiling lake of lava. Luna’s body clenches before a sharp jerk swings me to the right. I’m able to get my other claw on the edge of the platform and clamber on top. Carefully, I pull Luna up and we pant from the stressful effort.

“Alright… Just four more to go,” Luna says, then climbs back on top of my shell. The platform reaches the bottom and begins its ascension. I eye the next platform. The next position is moving horizontally to out right, its end point closer to the wall. I gauge the gap and aim accordingly. As we ascend, I wait until the right time and begin my sprint.

I jump and land safely.

This platform seems to be moving at a faster rate of speed than the first two. In the time it takes for the second platform to move up once, the platform I’m currently on has already moved left and right twice. The change in speed has me a bit off balance, but I’ve got this. The next platform is actually moving almost at a forty-five-degree angle to our end point. So, I’ll need to run straight and then transition my straight speed into almost a perpendicular change in order to bridge the gap.

Sigh.

As the platforms move to each other, I begin running. Just as I reach the edge, a blinding flash and BANG shoots out from the wall. I’m disoriented. I don’t appear to be hit at all. There was just a loud light and noise. But my footing slips on the jump, and as the lights flash in my eyes, I see that it’s cost me. I’m not going to be able to make the platform. Not even with Luna’s help.

As I fall toward the lava, I’m filled with regret. I can’t think of anything to do in this situation. I can’t fly. [Luck of the Crab] won’t save me. That skill only activates on a deadly strike. Not melting in molten stone. I stare upward to detect the cause of my misfortune and see the shrimp from earlier. The creature’s bright colors clash on the gray stone and reveal a huge claw held in front of it, tightly closed. I only glimpse the shrimp for a moment before it disappears, moving to hide in the wall.

As I tumble haphazardly in the air I manage to choke out, “I’m sorry, Luna! Get away! Substitute to the platform!”

Her grip on my body tightens as she roars, “One time activation! [DANGER RECALL]!”

The bright glow of mana surrounds us as we’re whisked to the [Safe Zone].

CHAPTER 41

DAO OF TODD

“Welcome, class, to MAGMTH423: Leyline Differential Geometry. In this course, we’ll be handling the calculations needed to determine the geometry of the flows of mana which encompass our planet. Using cutting edge techniques such as integral calculus and multilinear algebra, we will peel away the mysticism surrounding the structure of ley lines. I see we already have a question. Yes?”

“Will learning this give me a skill?”

“Not everything is about skills, Mr… Stusen, is it? As a prerequisite for this course, you have been pre-screened to ensure you have sufficient intelligence and wisdom to understand it. As such, the likelihood of gaining a skill is minimal.”

“I’ve been lied to my whole life…”

“What was that, Mr. Stusen? I didn’t hear it.”

“Nothing, nothing…”

— Recorded Lesson from: “MAGMTH423: Leyline Differential Geometry.” AC 1208

We collapse onto the ground, limbs entwined and splayed haphazardly. I’m shivering, the close call with death twisting deep in my core. The entire thing played back in my mind. The heat was growing hotter, and I could almost sense my shell cracking. Everything almost ended there, Crabby. Just melting away and burning into nothing.

I take long slow breaths to calm myself. My mind continually flashes between that lone shrimp on the ledge and the burning lava.

“What was that skill?” I ask Luna.

“It’s something the [System] gives every [Dungeon] monster that achieves [Sapience]. It’s a one time, get out of danger skill for when you’re in the [Dungeon]. No matter the situation, you can use it to recall to the [Safe Zone].”

She’s moved off my back and is standing next to me. She places an arm on my claw and I realize I’m still shaking.

In a quiet tone she asks, “Are you okay?”

I struggle to compose something non-hysterical. “How are you not shaken? That was the closest I’ve ever been to… to not making it out of here.”

She wraps her arms around me, and for a moment I just take comfort in the hug.

“I guess it wasn’t that bad for me? I knew I could get us out of there. Now though? There’s nothing I can do if something like that happens again.”

I nod, acknowledging her point. “Well, we spent most of the day in there training. I guess we can meet up with Todd and get some rest. Try to tackle it tomorrow.”

We leave the recall platform and head to the Hollow. Just two friends walking amidst the reef.

As we enter the Hollow, I see Todd out of his usual spot. He’s sitting in the middle of the carving room. I assume he must be reading the walls but it’s hard to tell with him. Still, as he turns to our entrance, I think I can detect a questioning posture. Did his spikes move?

“TODD.”

Luna says, “Yes, I know it’s only been a day. Let me brief you on what happened.” She quickly recounts what happened with periodic interjections from Todd or I to clarify some points. Upon completion, the room falls silent.

“TODD.”

Luna freezes, as if completely stunned. I tap her on her shoulder. “Luna? Are you okay?”

Several seconds tick by before Luna starts to respond to my repeated pokes. “Sorry, TODD had a lot to say.”

At this point I’ve almost given up on pointing out the ridiculousness of that statement. “And?”

I can tell she’s a bit hesitant but she manages to come out with it. “Todd said we’re both complete idiots and he’s surprised to see us alive.”

I start to sputter, claws raising in anger. “What? That’s—I—”

Luna raises two arms to calm me. “He also said that attempting a life-or-death trial in adverse terrain with only one functional team member after only training for a day is the height of folly. Especially since we could regroup and try it later.”

Her even tone betrayed her own aggravation at what he said, but I still have to acknowledge his point. While the infection does seem to be progressing in Luna, it’s not rampaging through her like it did Octo. Maybe the effect is slowed down because she’s suffered a relatively minor wound? Even still, I feel like we don’t have time to waste.

As I raise my voice to say that, she cuts in. “Lastly, he said he would train us tomorrow, after we rested. But first he said we need to… find ourselves? Our path? I don’t understand what he’s trying to say there.” The end of her speech tilts into a question directed at Todd.

I’m still trying to figure out the meaning of his words when a wave of mana draws my attention.

Todd rises into the water, a platform of earth forming underneath him. Half of his spikes break off, beginning to spin in a vortex around him as they are joined by spears of stone pulled from the ground. They begin interweaving, diving in and out in an unparalleled display of skill. I flicker on [Mana Sense] and countless threads of mana surround the sea urchin. They’re manipulating the water, reducing friction. They’re pulling the spikes and spears into motion, twisting them to spin and penetrate. They create an encircling dome, providing protection as the vortex continues to grow. I try to count the individual strands of mana that control and move the spikes and spears, and swiftly lose count.

All thoughts flee. Awed and shocked at the sheer mastery displayed by the urchin. The vortex slows and stops, the spines returning to Todd. The spears of stone meld into the ground, and the pillar on which he stood lowers. He then slowly moves forward until he stands directly in front of us.

Then, for the first time, I hear Todd speak actual words.

“TODD. Is spikes. PATH. Is spikes. What is CRABBY? What is LUNA? What is PATH? Know yourself. Know enemy. NEVER FEAR OUTCOME. HUNDRED FIGHTS.”

He leaves us there, stunned by his feat of magic as he departs the Hollow. After I get over his apparent skill, I lean toward Luna and whisper, “Did you know he could do that?”

She takes a minute longer to get her bearings and she whispers back, “No. Though it makes sense.”

“What does?”

“Well, you know how [Dungeon] creatures’ bodies are essentially created by the core’s mana?”

I nod.

“There’s a suspicion. Some of the others suspect that unless we get killed or escape, we can’t actually die.”

“Wait, what?”

“Yeah, wild right? But that’s usually a non-issue. Eventually everyone gets tired of the same thing over and over and tries to escape. But Todd? I’ve asked around before. He’s the oldest one here. And the second oldest one said that Todd was old even when he was newly [Sapient]. Who knows how long it’s been?”

“And, what? He’s just been here, practicing his skills and not leveling up?”

“There’s probably only so much experience he can gain before he out-levels everything the [Dungeon] can throw at him. And without exterior [Sapient]’s visiting and dying and leveling the [Dungeon] up… Todd might have lived for a very long time.”

A rush of blood sweeps through my shell and quickly become excited. If he’s that experienced, then this training might really help. I try to lower my expectations and calm myself. There’s no telling what tomorrow will bring.

Luna and I grab some food before lying down. Sleep couldn’t come sooner.

CHAPTER 42

CRABBY’S ROLE

“I don’t get humans with their music these days. All these weird instruments and ‘deconstruction’ of past works. Back in my day, a guy with a lyre in a tavern was good enough. Now we have ensembles and troop performances. Last time I checked they even invented something called a ‘choir.’ I don’t know what that is, but it sounds terrible.”

“Sir, I’d like to note that your exposure to music has been a bit, limited.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Well, sir, you’re a dragon. I rightly expect that when you ask for music, they’ll play whatever is less likely to get them eaten.”

“You’re saying they prefer life over artistic integrity? The gall!”

“You’re quite right, sir. Those people have no sense of integrity.”

— Interview between Blightmaw the Dreaded and Captive. From, My Life in a Cave: An Autobiography.

After waking up and eating breakfast, we enter the carving room to find Todd. He’s already on a pedestal in the center.

“TODD.”

Luna says, “He said that training starts now. He wants us to attack him.”

I look worriedly at the urchin, then turn to Luna. “Are you sure? There’s two of us and one of him. I don’t want him to be hurt.”

I barely manage to finish my statement before a stone spear shoots out of the ground in front of me, barely stopping before piercing my eye. The stone slowly recedes into the ground, leaving me stunned. Never mind that I was surprised, that spear was too fast for me to handle even if I knew it was coming.

“On second thought, I think Todd will be fine.”

Luna nods and we take our positions. I activate mana reinforcement for my shell. The tension rises and no one moves until I suddenly yell, “NOW!”

I grab Luna and throw her. As she’s spinning toward Todd, I’m already cladding my sand armor.

I’m halfway through covering myself when Luna reaches the midway point between Todd and I. Several things occur almost simultaneously. A wall of sand bursts between the urchin and Luna, stopping her movement. The same wall blocks my view of the urchin as I try to armor up. A slew of sand flies out from the wall and I cross my claws in front of my face, trying to block any projectiles.

It takes me a second to realize the sand isn’t an attack. It’s just a cloud reducing visibility in the water. I try to run forward, wanting to provide support to Luna, when I realize I can’t move. A gentle pressure pins me in place. I activate a mana ping to gauge my surroundings and my senses reveal spikes growing from the ceiling. They’re not piercing my armor, but they encompass my limbs, stopping them from moving.

Luna is still struggling. She pulls one of her legs from the wall as she says, “[LEG SUBSTITUTION].” She reappears right above Todd, and I sense one of her spare arms appear out of her spatial ring. She manages to say, “[LEG]” before half of Todd’s spines fly out from his body. They hover gently around every limb and arm she has.

She wisely changes her mind about the bomb and says, “I yield.”

The earth pinning me melds back into the ceiling and the room returns to normal. I struggle to provide a response. In about ten seconds, Todd had absolutely wrecked us. He restricted both of our movements, blocked my visibility, and decisively dealt with Luna’s counterattack. I had a sneaking suspicion Luna wouldn’t have been able to escape from that wall if he didn’t want her to.

“TODD.”

Luna interprets. “He said to recover our resources then we’ll go again. Also, we need to figure out our path.” As we sit down and wait for stamina and mana to refill, Luna continues. “I think when he says path, he might be referring to something specific.”

I lift a claw in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. He said his path is spikes, right? That’s who he is as an urchin, and he’s specialized in attacking and defending with them. Todd seems like he’s good at holding a location and controlling the battlefield.”

“Yeah. I guess what he’s meaning here is figuring out our roles? Like, who we are as creatures and what we want to be?”

Luna nods. “That sounds like a good plan. But it seems a little easier said than done.”

We trail off into a comfortable silence.

“Alright, Luna,” I whisper so Todd couldn’t hear. “We’ll start off the same. This time though, be ready to substitute so you don’t get trapped and I’ll rush him from the start so he can’t pin me.”

She whispers back, “Okay, sounds like a plan.”

Once more we wind up in a standoff. I don’t even yell, “NOW!” I just grab Luna and throw her. As I release her from my claws, I use the momentum to angle to the right and begin [Scuttl]’ing forward. My legs kick up sand as I move as fast as I can to flank Todd. An earth wall rises to block Luna, and she immediately substitutes above the wall to get in position. A sand cloud forms, once more limiting visibility. Luna and I get around the cloud at almost the same time, her materializing in the water above Todd and myself moving around the wall. There we discover—nothing. Todd is nowhere to be seen.

Wait!

There’s a small hole on the ground. I direct a mana ping at the hole, and sense a tunnel leading to the other side of the wall. We both figure out the trick at the same time, and spin around. The wall has now turned into stone spears that hover in the water. Behind the wall, Todd waves the spikes on his body.

I think I might be getting better at understanding his body language, because it seems like he’s mocking us a little.

That suspicion is confirmed as Luna slumps. “Todd would like to remind us to maintain situational awareness. If we’re fighting an adept earth manipulator, they can generally travel rapidly through the ground.”

We sit down and recover. We try again. I go full tank mode and cautious probing attacks. Pinned and overwhelmed.

We try splitting up and attacking him on opposite sides. Dual walls block each of us and then he burrows to take us out one at a time.

We try to get innovative and put Luna’s legs in an earthen shell. I throw them through the water to set up a minefield that Luna can remotely detonate. Todd rises to the ceiling on a pillar of stone and attaches himself there. Then, pillars of earth encompass the bombs and bury them. This is happening as we’re running around the walls he previously set up. As we turn the corner, we run headlong into another wall of his personal spikes.

Luna loses it.

“I’m tired of this! We can’t even get CLOSE!”

I try to calm her down. “It’s okay, Luna. I’m sure we’re getting better! We’ve never even tried that minefield before.”

By this time Todd has reset on the ground, and the area has returned to normal, his spikes returned to his body.

Luna continues to rant. “NO! I can literally teleport and I still can’t touch him!”

I pat her on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. “We’ll get there eventually. Take a deep breath and—”

“ARGH!” She flips her body back.

Eyes wide, I’m stunned by what happens next. She winds back and throws one of her arms forward. As her arm reaches the farthest extension from her body, she detaches her limb, and the momentum of her throw hurls it through the water.

Todd lifts a wall to block the projectile. As her arm strikes, Luna’s already sacrificed another leg to substitute above him. He’s ready though, and his personal spikes rise to intercept her. She somehow jerks sideways mid-water, abruptly dodging his attack and hurtling at an angle toward the floor. I flicker on [Mana Sense] and see a line of mana attaching her body to the leg she just threw.

She’s using the line to pull herself out of the way of Todd’s attack. After the dodge, she’s close to the ground and parallel to Todd. She substitutes once more to get right in front of him. She manages to activate [LEG BOMB] just as Todd displays a new skill. It must be some kind of ultimate defense, because all I see is a bright golden glow before he’s completely covered in a rock dome. The explosion of Luna’s skill blasts her backward, and she’s lying on the ground, panting in exhaustion.

I rush over to help her as Todd emerges from the shell. He moves slowly over to us.

“GOOD.”

As I’m looking over her to see if she’s okay, she pants, “I got… a new skill.”

I raise my claws in excitement. “Really? That’s awesome! What did you learn?”

“It’s called [LEG CHAINS]. As long as one of my legs is anchored somewhere, I can attach mana threads to my leg and use mana to pull me through the water.”

I think about the implications of a skill like that. She can set up or use multiple anchor points in a fight. Then, she could stop, move, and reposition three dimensionally in the water. And finally, the substitution would let her move in close for a killing blow or retreat as needed. It seemed to solve most of her speed and movement problems.

I wave my claws in the air and [Scuttle] back and forth. “That’s great! I’m so happy for you!”

Her silver bands darken as she blushes. “Thanks, Crabby. But I think that’s all I have for today. I need to save some legs for tomorrow’s training.”

Todd says, “REST. Meditate on PATH.”

I accompany her as we break for dinner.

That night, as I’m lying sleepless on the kelp, I think about the training we underwent. What’s my role? Luna’s role seems to be about the extreme attack. Zooming in and out and making one or two big hits. If she wasn’t with me, she’d be hiding and ambushing while doing that. And me? What am I supposed to be doing?

I think about my fights so far. Even with my buff’s and anchoring myself to the floor, I usually barely match the opponent in strength. And I’m slow and stationary. An easy target. I am a small crab after all. I pull up my status.

Character Screen

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Level: 10

Health: 230/230 | H-Regen: 0.23/sec

Mana: 360/360 | M-Regen: 0.38/sec

Stamina: 440/440 | S-Regen: 0.44/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 21

Wisdom: 38

Vitality: 23

Intelligence: 36

Dexterity: 27

Charisma: 34

With my highest stats being in wisdom and intelligence, I don’t think I’m cut out for just pure strength or melee combat. I look at my shell, reflecting on my own body. Even with my sand armor, I can’t provide total damage protection, and there’s a limit to how much I can put on before my joints are unable to move. And man do I have a lot of joints between ten legs.

I decide to try something new. Just as when I searched for facts about [Sects], I go into my mind. With [Eyes of Intent] I look for information on roles and paths. Vague ideas and flashes of knowledge flow by me, giving me insight into fighting archetypes. I see a fully armored orc, clad in shining mail, ignoring blows from tens of foes. There’s a small goblin mage, frail and in the back, holding aloft a staff brimming with fire. A human healer, their robe pure white, offering a glowing hand to an injured comrade.

Flashes and glimpses stream through, yet none catch my attention. None seem to fit me, Sir Crabby. As a slowly growing despair builds, I pause on an idea. In the vision, an elf runs through the woods. He’s wearing a suit of medium armor, finely made, and carries a sword at his waist. As he flows through the forest, it’s as if he’s cutting through the air, a dim shimmer of mana surrounding his body.

He moves faster and faster, before arriving at a scene of a battle where mutated bears are attacking a small party of adventurers. As he slides through the air, he pulls the sword from his scabbard. The weapon flashes down. The mana surrounding him seems to coat the weapon, increasing speed and sharpness. The sword cuts into the monster before the elf disengages and moves to another creature, already preparing to strike.

I struggle to hold onto the images as they grow dim, until eventually, I’m forced away from the mental space. As the information fades away, I’m left with an impression of the role I’d just seen. As if on the wind, I hear a gentle whisper. It sings to something deep within me. A role that I’ve been searching for but had never known.

I’m forced out of the area as my mental strength fades.

I look down at my claws. I pull up my skills and look at the elemental manipulations. I take in my stats, decision already made. No hulking warrior of the deep shall I be. No weak mage, hiding in the back and blasting magic at his enemies. I shall not be the tender healer, mending his allies. Nor the wandering bard, a thousand skills but master of none.

No. I will yield claw and magic as one, neither warrior nor mage nor support. I will slice my foes as I split the line between magic and combat.

My path will be a spell claw!

CHAPTER 43

SMITH

“I want to be the very best, like no one ever was.”

“I’m going to need you to dial your expectations down a little.”

“To bake bread is my real quest, to raise dough is my cause.”

“You’re a new hire. You’re going to be at the counter alright?”

“I will travel across the town, searching far and wide.”

“The heck you will.”

“Each pastry tasted to understand the fillings that’s inside!”

“You’re my sister’s son, but if this keeps on, I’m going to fire you.”

— Interview at a bakery, From: The Dough-Man: A guide to Unusual Classes. AC 1021

The day starts anew. We return to training, Luna and I. Just two figures in a desperate struggle to land a hit on an urchin. Luna’s new ability provides her with increased mobility, and she’s able to join and retreat from combat as needed. For myself? I was struggling a bit with my decided role.

“Sir Crabby, HOOOOO!”

Ding.

Sir Crabby’s Music has been applied

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

Effect: 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining

Luna is engaging Todd, pulling herself in and out to bait his attacks. While she keeps him occupied, I try to close in. My every effort is in vain. I’m not fast enough to outrun his battlefield control, and I’m not strong enough to break his skills. As the day passes, my optimism gives way to despair. I know the role I want in our team, but I can’t seem to find my way there.

While Luna and I recover after a particularly hard lost battle, Todd joins us.

“TODD.”

And Luna translates: “He wants to know what’s wrong? He says it seems that your energy and drive has decreased. He also wants to know if you’ve discovered your path.”

My pain flares to anger as I bite out my response.

“Yes, I know what I want to do.” I describe the role of the claw blade as I envisioned it. A medium armored attacker who moves swiftly and is able to engage the enemy with skills and claws. A fusion between warrior and mage. Not as specialized as either, but a synergy of both. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you, Todd. It’s just frustrating to have an idea and not be able to see it through.”

Everyone is silent as my words echo through the room.

“CRAB, is different than LUNA. LUNA, feels strongly. CRAB thinks hard. Lean on strength. FIND PATH.”

I nod and prepare to climb to my feet to fight when Todd says, “NO. Crab STAY. Crab THINK. Luna fight alone.”

A spike of pain courses through my shell at Todd’s words. Though it may be for the best. I try to put some cheer into my words. “Hey, you go ahead and practice with Todd. I’m going to go to the other room and try to figure this out.”

“Are you sure? I don’t—”

“No, no.” I wave a claw at her. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be back in a while.”

I leave them in the carving room and return to the side area. I sit down and pull up my skills, trying to search and find a way for them to work together. As I consider each one, an idea begins to grow. My stalks flicker between [Eyes of Intent] and [Natural Camouflage]. I received the second as a function of my prior mundane crab race. I’ve almost solely abandoned [Natural Camouflage] by this point due to its uselessness. Not that stealth was a terrible idea, but I think the [Dngeon] and the [Dungeon]’s creatures can tell where I am regardless of my efforts to hide.

I re-read the description of the camouflage skill.

“Shift your color to match the surroundings. Speed and accuracy improves with skill level.”

That means changing the structure of my shell. I activate the skill and examine my claws with sight and mana. Yep, the color change is done at a physical level. I remember the feeling I received from the elf sprinting through the woods. He seemed to cut through the air, aided by the mana covering his body. The feeling of it was similar to what camouflage did. Except, instead of stamina, that skill was a physical change brought on by mana.

I decide to try my idea out. I enter my mental space and float motionless in the dark. I take a moment to center myself, breathing deeply in the calm as I focus. Then, I bring up [Natural Camouflage], [Mana Manipulation], [Slice], [Scuttle] and [Eyes of Intent]. I activate my eyes, bearing my will down on [Natural Camouflage] as I express my desired end state.

I pull from [Mana Manipulation] for the idea of reinforcement, using the skill as I have in the past. I pull from [Slice] the idea of cutting through substance, making a new path from what was once a whole. I pull from [Scuttle] for the concepts of water and earth, the separation between elements and the flow of movement.

I take the disparate skill parts, my mind and will shuddering with the weight of the effort, and I bend them toward the screen in front of me. This skill is not in my path. I am not a lurker in the dark, hiding to make a strike. No, I am an Apprentice of the Coast. What I can’t use… I… will…

BREAK!

Crack!

Ding.

You have broken the skill [Natural Camouflage I].

You have reforged [Natural Camouflage I]

You have gained a new skill.

You have gained a new title.

Skill Smith

Feat: Broken and Reforged a [Skill].

Effect: +1% to All Stats

Lore: “When all you have is a hammer, every [Skill] looks like an ingot.” – Dwarf Saying

The skill gives way, the mounting pressure releasing as I’m ejected from the mental space. I’m shaking, my mind and will weary from the effort. Still, as I pull up my new status and skill, I can’t help but break into a smile.

The +2% to all physical stats changed my dexterity from 27 to 28. Though I pause at the age category. Nine months? Several weeks have passed since I’ve entered the [Dungeon]. You’re one month older, Crabby. I set my musings aside before I start to become saddened. Noting the minor changes, I move on to my new skill.

Cutting Mask II: Lvl 1

Effects: Your form shifts to cut through elemental obstruction.

Current Bonus: 4% faster speed/fluidity

Cost: 1 Stamina per second, 1 Mana per second

Lore: “I am the wind. I am water, earth and fire. I am… {REDACTED}.” – {REDACTED}

I’ve been using [Scuttle] this whole time, and while it’s great for faster actions and movement, [Scuttle] doesn’t do anything to help with adverse terrain. And [Cutting Mask] starts at tier two. Which is strange, but maybe that was because I deconstructed [Natural Camouflage] to help make it? Maybe it’s something else. Maybe the skill can only be gained at that tier? More to investigate later.

I’m also happy to note from its effects that [Cutting Mask] has a ..4 improvement per level. Which now lines up with [Scuttle] and [Slice]. Previously, [Natural Camouflage] only improved . .2 per level. Which lends credence to my theory of [Cutting Mask] being a higher quality skill. The costs have increased though. Camouflage only cost stamina, while [Cutting Mask] costs both stamina and mana. I activate the skill to test its effects.

A wave ripples through my body. The chitin in my claws subtly shift. The curves become smoother, the edges sharper. I look closer, activating [Mana sense] and see a tiny edge projected from the angles. I slowly move my claw, the edge gently slicing the water.

I jump to my feet and activate [Scuttle]. Walking through the room, I can’t even feel the weight or density of the water surrounding me. It’s not a total reduction of course, but I’ve dealt with the constant pressure and weight of my environment this entire time. Each and every improvement is drastically notable.

I go to rejoin Luna and Todd in the carving room. Luna’s recovering from a bout.

She turns to me and says, “You look different.”

I look down at myself, at my familiar blue colors, legs and stalks. Yep, everything is still the same. “How so?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to put it in words. You just seem, sharp? Edgy? No, that doesn’t make sense.”

I laugh and explain that I gained a new skill. We’re both buoyed by excitement while we wait for Luna to recover. I stare eagerly at Todd.

My mandibles climb into a crabby grin as I think to myself, he’s not going to know what hit him.

CHAPTER 44

THROUGH BLOOD AND FIRE

“I think I’ve done it. I spend long hours with students in the graduate college, parsing through arcane lore and problems of scintillating complexity. I have to bring others in to help. I can’t see the full scope of the problem. I cannot allow myself to even subconsciously think of how to solve it. They are hesitant at first but quickly grow excited. We work long hours before finally creating the perfect question. That question is:

“Define the scattering matrix of a particle traversing a portal constructed by Arcane magic. Account for varying mana levels in the background metric tensor from the vacuum state to overcritical. Use perturbation theory to calculate the portal lifetime while under a divination attempt. You have 60 minutes.”

I sit down to complete the question. Every ounce of math and magic is pulled out of me. Every inch of learning bends toward completing the goal. Finally, as I write down the last equation on the fifth page, I hear it. The familiar Ding of gaining a skill. My elation quickly turns to despair.

“NOOOOOOOOOO!”

— Steven Stusen, Mathemagician. From: 15 Years a Student: How I gained the skill [Abacus]. AC 1213

Turns out, I’m wrong. Very wrong in this case. For the third time today, I’m dodging a wall of spikes. Even with [Cutting Mask] and [Scuttle] working together, I can’t get close enough to engage.

But that’s okay.

It’s okay, because now I can apply enough pressure to the urchin. We fight, day after day, honing our skills and teamwork in simulated combat. After a week of training, Luna and I manage to hit him.

“[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG BOMB]!”

BANG!

Todd rocks back from Luna’s strike. She’d pulled off a risky maneuver. The last couple of exchanges, she established a pattern of behavior, diving in and out in a specific rhythm. When it was time for her to move away, she moved forward instead, taking the hit and powering through to land a blow. Meanwhile, I copied a page from Todd’s play book, throwing up a wave of sand to blur his senses. We collapse in exhaustion as the battle ends.

Ding.

Tired, I pull up the summary of this week’s training. It’s certainly been of use.

Congratulations!

Through pushing your physical limits, you have improved your physical capability!

+2 DEX

+2 STR

You have gained a level!

You are now level 11!

[Scuttle III] – 5 is now level 7!

[Slice III] – 4 is now level 6!

[Cutting Mask II] – 1 is now level 3!

[Mana Manipulation II] – 8 is now level 10!

[Mana Manipulation II] is now [Mana Manipulation III]!

[Earth Manipulation II] – 8 is now level 10!

[Earth Manipulation II] is now [Earth Manipulation III]!

[Water Manipulation III] – 6 is now level 8!

[Mana Sense II] – 4 is now level 6

In the last week, almost all of my skills have leveled up twice, and I even gained a class level. When I think back to my early days in the [Dungeon], hovering a rock around a room, I realize the [System] must consider simulated combat the best method. That’s the only thing I can come up with considering the huge gains I’ve made fighting against Todd.

We break for dinner. As we’re eating, I notice Luna start to bite faster, almost tearing into the crab meat. I reach out a claw to see if she’s okay and she suddenly stops moving.

“Luna? Are you okay?”

She doesn’t respond. I lean forward, trying to provide a comforting claw. She snaps back, clutching the meat in her arms and yells, “MINE!”

I stop, fear rushing through my shell, my blood pounding in my carapace. We sit there, in a terse standoff until Luna gradually relaxes, slumping as tension leaves her body.

She speaks, voice tearful and her arms shaking. “I’m-I’m sorry. I-I don’t know what came over me there. I didn’t mean to yell.”

Hearing her familiar voice, I continue my movement and place a claw on one of her shoulders. “Shh, you’re okay. We’ve just had a stressful week is all.” As subtle as I can, I examine the puncture wound she received from Octo. The black ring has grown in size, tendrils starting to snake out from the wound.

In a quiet tone she asks, “How bad is it?”

I try to brush off her concerns. “Don’t worry about it, okay? It’s worse, but the wound doesn’t look that bad. Just, I think we’ll call it quits for now with the training, alright? We’ll get you to the [Dungeon] core and you’ll be as right as rain.”

I shower empty platitudes at her and we slowly turn to happier topics. My rest was fitful that night, consumed with dreams of Luna tearing my shell apart.

The next day comes and we gather together. Luna takes my arm and says, “Level 6 – [Recall].”

And we’re back to the fire.

In our absence, the level appears to have reset, the platforms no longer in view. I turn around and head to the wall behind me, raising a claw to engage the activation lever. As the unseen gears activate, Luna climbs onto my back and we wait in companionable silence. It takes several long minutes to acclimate to the temperature and the presence of air. As the platforms start to cool off from their lava immersion, I move to the edge, ready to tackle this level.

I whisper to Luna, “Alright, here we go. Remember the plan.”

A single tap on my shell is her only response as the first platform reaches the starting ledge.

“Sir Crabby, HOOOOOO!”

Ding.

Sir Crabby’s Music has been applied.

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

Effect: 2 minutes, 45 seconds remaining

I leap and land on the first platform. As it moves ahead, the other one descends to match our elevation. I activate [Cutting Mask]. When it’s three-fourths of the way down, I begin my sprint. I time my approach better this time and clear the gap without hanging precariously over the edge. I take a moment to relish in the feel of that jump. Flying through the air, the wind gently parted before my shell, the skill making the motion smooth.

The platform rises and reaches the apex of its height. A crisp jump to the third is flawlessly completed. My hackles raise as I go on guard. This is where I was attacked and fell last time. I’ve been scanning the walls, releasing mana pings periodically to try to detect the shrimp. I’ve yet to see the little jerk. Still, I remain alert until a flicker of motion draws my attention. THERE!

I don’t utter a word, simply launching into motion, grabbing Luna from the top of my shell and spinning as I throw her toward the wall. She flies through the air, rising to attack the exposed shrimp as it lifts its claw. The shrimp hesitates, then decides retreat is the better part of valor as it scurries to hide.

But not fast enough.

“[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG BOMB]!”

BOOM!

Luna jumps in front of the hole, thrusting a limb inside and detonating her attack. She hangs there on the side for a second before substituting away, returning to her place on my shell.

“Did you get it?” I ask, worried that the creature may have escaped.

“Yep! Combat logs show the shrimp is dead.”

I refocus on the platform coming up. In the course of Luna’s escapade, we’d already moved back and forth twice from the starting to the ending position. This will be a difficult jump. The approaching platform approaches at an angle, and I’ll need to convert my forward sprint to sideways motion. As I had practiced, I raise a small pillar of stone at the end of the platform, anchoring it to the floor. I time the line-up—NOW!

Sprinting, rushing head on toward the pillar, the platform begins to slow before its return. I spring toward the pillar, my legs cushioning the impact of my landing as I launch at an angle for the next one. As I’m soaring through the air, the wind blowing in my face, a strange feeling rises and I yell at the top of my gills.

“PARKOUR!”

And we land safely on the fourth platform. I take a minute to catch my breath, the hot air searing my gills as I struggle to recover.

Luna asks, “What was that word?”

“I don’t know. It felt like a good word to use.”

She giggles and taps my shell. “You’re a weird crab, you know that? Good, but weird.”

“And you know many crabs, do you?” I’m already eyeing the next leap.

Luna says, “I’ve met a fair share. But I think you’re one of a kind, Crabby.”

My insides heat up from the rush of blood through my system. Blushing, I shove the flattered thoughts aside and focus on the next platform. Two more to go, Crabby!

The next platform is also an ascending and descending one. Except this time, the platform doesn’t ascend enough to match the elevation of the platform I’m on. I’m going to need to make a leap of faith, trusting my aim is true. As our position moves, I line it up and begin running. The gap is smaller this time so I don’t put as much force into the motion. As I land on the platform, I heave a quick sigh of relief. I’ve landed near one of the edges.

That relief is crushed as the moving platform begins to tilt. I scramble, digging my claws into the ground as I grapple for the other side. I pass the midway point and continue. The tilt stops and begins to go the other way. As it almost reaches equilibrium, I jump to the middle, holding fast and stabilizing the structure.

“That one was scary,” Luna says in a quiet voice.

I nod, breath reserved as I gather myself. The final platform appears to be an easy jump, nothing awkward about the angles or speed. But after the one we just landed on? I eye the tempting platform warily.

“Alright, when I make my jump, I’m going to aim directly for the middle. If that one tilts as well, it shouldn’t be so bad.”

Luna taps my shell to acknowledge.

My platform approaches the other and I begin to sprint. As I reach the crest of my leap I hear a Ding.

WARNING: SIR CRABBY’S MUSIC: 17 SECONDS REMAINING

I land in the middle, not too concerned. The platform appears to be stable, so I should be okay. If need be, I can recover before making the final jump to refuge.

That idea is shattered as Luna yells, “Crabby! Look!” Her arms point to the side and my gaze widens in horror as I see the edges of the platform crumbling. It’s progressing quickly, earth falling away into the lava below. There’s no time to recover, no time to think before making this final leap.

I sprint as fast as my body can go, using [Scuttle] to speed my legs and [Cutting Mask] to pierce the air. Every inch of me is straining, trying to reach the other side. I touch the crumbling edge and throw myself into the air, striving to reach the other side. At the crest of the leap, I begin to move down. My stalks eye the safety of the ridge. I’m not going to be able to make it.

Luna throws her upper body back and launches one of her arms ahead. It flies in front of us, pinning into the rock. Her lower body grips my shell and I’m disjointed as we suddenly jerk forward. The edge is closer… Closer…

YES!

We crash into the final area, collapsing in heat and pain and exhaustion from our struggle.

Minutes pass recovering my stamina and mana. Finally, I get back to my feet and Luna climbs onto my shell. I prepare for combat, eyes and senses wary of the next room. This is supposed to be a puzzle floor, but I’m not letting my guard down. I’ve been attacked before on these.

Moving to the wall, a quick tug on the lever causes a portion of the wall to descend. It’s dim, without illumination, though I can determine the outline from the continual mana pings I’ve been using. Shadows crawl along the floor, shifting in accordance with the red glow from the lava behind me. As Luna and I hesitate on the threshold, I can detect something moving within. I creep forward, preparing to face whatever may come.

As we walk into the antechamber for the next floor, there’s the usual staircase leading down. What draws my attention though is a small fish flopping on the ground. It was plainly corrupted and seemed to have swam up from the next floor below us.

I ask Dbug, “Can [Dungeon] monsters move floors?”

Dbug replies, “Not normally, no. The ones who are able, are mainly subfloor or roving boss monsters. This is highly unusual.”

Luna chimes in “Well, the [Dungeon] may be falling deeper into [CORRUPTION]. That could account for the problems.”

I wave a claw at the flopping fish. “There’s problems and then there’s ‘sending something that can’t move’ to the wrong floor. I think we need to be prepared for anything.”

Luna taps my shell in acknowledgement as I [Slice] down, easily ending the small flopping creature. I don’t bother looking at the combat logs for the ‘fight.’ This is such a small monster, I doubt we have anything to worry about. We fall into a comfortable silence as we progress down onto the seventh floor.

CHAPTER 45

ONCE BITTEN, TWICE CRABBY

“Welcome, class, to the introductory course at the Adventurer’s Guild. Today, we’ll be going over the worst foe you can meet at your low level. Goblins.”

“You’re kidding, right? They’re like, level two at best. My party has easily knocked out several patrols in the past.”

“Remarks like that account for over a quarter of new deaths. Individually, they’re not a problem. Weak monsters at most. No, the problem comes when you only think there’s a few of them. Believe me, until you reach the third tier, hundreds of small furious monsters rushing at you in a swarm with rusty knives is something to be concerned with. How do you think I lost this eye?”

— Brad Hawthorne, Goblin Slayer. From: “Introduction Course: Adventurer’s Guild.”

As we emerge from the stairway onto the seventh floor, my eyes are already searching for threats. We’re in a wide-open area with a covering. This layout seems like an expansion from the previous layouts of caves and caverns, magnified to a gargantuan scale.

“What do you see?” I ask Luna.

Luna joins me in searching, and we release mana pings almost nonstop into the water. I’ve learned my lesson from previous floors and also extend mana tendrils into the ground, searching for creatures waiting to pounce. Nothing immediately appears but this is definitely a combat floor. There has to be something here.

Luna sighs. “I think they’re hiding.”

Her words made sense. Though, I wasn’t sure if that was an improvement or not. We’ve dealt with more than our fair share of ambushes, so I remain wary. Even in this seemingly open space. As I continue scanning, I don’t see how something could hide here. Unless they had some sort of specialized camouflage.

I take a few more steps in. Nothing attacks. I continue, step by cautious step until I’m standing in the middle of the massive dome.

Luna says, “We should create some kind of search pattern, maybe? I mean, there has to be something here.”

I send out another mana ping, checking everything nearby. There really seems to be nothing here, and we’re getting worked up for no reason.

“We’re already searching. I don’t see how a specialized pattern might help. Let’s see if we can find the exit, maybe the foes are in another area.” I click my claws together and start [Scuttl]’ing forward. If pings and [Mana Sense] aren’t working, then I’ll just have to do a manual check of the walls.

Suddenly, Luna taps my shell and points off to my side.

“What’s that?” I ask, looking at the small fish.

I walk over to examine the fish further. As we get close, Luna says with a hint of confusion, “I don’t know. That one doesn’t look like it’s from around here.”

My claws raise, prepared for combat, but the fish is just floating there, on its back.

It looks dead. Not corrupted dead, mind you. Just dead, dead. Hmm… Double dead? I’m going to have to figure that one out. Thoughts for later.

I reach out and apply my tried and true investigative techniques.

I poke it with my claw.

Poke, poke.

It jerks a bit and I step back, prepared for a trap. This entire situation is bizarre and beginning to freak me out.

“Maybe the [Dungeon] is busted,” I mutter.

“Improbable.”

Waah!

I jump back as Dbug appears in front of my eyes. At my curtailed shout, Luna was already lunging forward, preparing to strike, when she recognized his familiar colors.

I ask Dbug, “What kind of fish is that?”

“It’s a piranha, a freshwater swarming fish that can devour an entire cow in under two minutes.”

“What’s a cow,” asked Luna.

“I think they might be talking about a fresh water sea cow, called a manatee,” I reply, “Those also live in rivers.”

“That makes sense, but this isn’t fresh water,” says Luna.

Dbug sounded tired as he said, “It specifically means a land based cow.”

“How did it get in the water,” asked Luna.

“Sometimes land animals swim,” I reply thinking back to the beach and the few land animals I’d seen swimming.

“They don’t just eat cows,” said Dbug dryly.

“Of course not, cows don’t swim that often,” I replied.

“Maybe the piranha need to eat cows or they get sick,” said Luna.

“Which explains why the fish is dying,” I grin.

“They are fresh water fish,” groaned Dbug.

“So why did you bring up a cow,” asked a puzzled Luna.

Dbug’s colors changed rapidly As the conversation grew increasingly self-referential. Their bickering continued, but I focused on my own thoughts, after all
their repartee has given me some information. It seems as if I was correct to begin with.

“So the [Dungeon] is busted?” I ask.

Dbug shifts his shade slightly yellow. I think I can almost detect a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“The [Dungeon] can never truly be busted. Even suborned and corrupted, the [Dungeon]’s base nature is that of a [System] construct. As such, even if the [Dungeon]’s original purpose is subverted, its capabilities and resources remain.”

I don’t entirely understand all that, but I have a growing suspicion that Dbug uses big words when he’s wrong. Luna seems to come to the same conclusion as we look at each and say, “The [Dungeon] is busted.”

Dbug just sighs and grows silent before fading away.

I walk through the dome, finding a cleverly disguised false wall. This fake was just thick enough to fool my [Mana Sense] because it was made of actual stone, so I didn’t notice the variation on initial scans. After breaking through, we enter a long corridor. Partway through the hallway, some of the piranha’s, no more than a dozen, fade into view, swarming toward us to attack.

With a deft [Slice] and some side stepping I manage to dispatch them with ease. Looking at my claw, the only words I can manage is, “Huh.”

If the whole floor was like this, we’d get out of here easy. It’s been pretty difficult lately with the dire and terrible battles, but on the other hand just getting down one more level would be nice. I remember Luna mentioning off-hand that prior levels eventually reset, so if we needed more experience, we can head back and clear some prior floors.

With those thoughts, I look at Luna’s injury. The [CORRUPTION] still seems to be under control for now.

The corridor starts to bend, and as we turn the corner Luna yells, “Oww!”

She jerks, thrusting a piranha away from her.

It appeared out of nowhere. A prompt [Slice] of my claw ended the miserable fish and its guts burst into the water. The piranha’s rotted flesh was full of decaying gasses that were revealed by my attack. The burst wasn’t as extreme as one of Luna’s explosions, but it was certainly worse than a hard whack. I ask her if she’s okay.

“It bit me,” she grunts.

I see a tiny bite mark on one of her arms, a bit of flesh removed from the surface. I lean in and see a speck of black corruption in the wound. Luna tries to brush it off, hiding the arm from my sight.

I was about to follow up with questions when an additional school faded into sight. I don’t know how they were hiding, but I still haven’t managed to detect them. I look warily at Luna. She seems to have found an inner reservoir of strength.

She forces cheer into her voice as she energetically says, “We can handle this many. We’ll be fine as long as there are only a few of them.”

Then another school joined the first.

“Wisdom,” I mutter.

* * *

“Break off!” Luna yells as she reappears on my shell. I immediately [Scuttle] away, letting the confused piranha search for us.

Honestly impressed, I mutter, “That was brilliant.”

After all, it isn’t often you witness a starfish confusing an entire swarm of freshwater piranha in the ocean using two teleports and a tuna. I made a note to ask her where she got the tuna from. I think she pulled the stray fish out of her storage, but I couldn’t be sure. I take a moment to imagine using tuna as some sort of multipurpose tool to get out of trouble, but quickly dismiss the thought.

Focusing on the present, I consider our circumstances. Now that we’ve gotten away from all of the swarms of piranha, the rest of this level of the [Dungeon] should be relatively easy. What I thought was a simple open floor was revealed to be laid out like a maze, and every path we’ve taken came to a dead end. The good news is there were only so many paths. Eventually we would run out of options and figure the way out. My voiced opinion on the subject was cause for Dbug to appear.

“There’s always a way out.”

I nod, acknowledging the attempted assistance for what it was. Not that the attempt did anything for my rising sense of paranoia though. Swarming evil fish were no joke.

We reach another intersection as another swarm of piranha comes into view. I spare a weary moment wondering if there was anything besides these fish on this level. If there were, they were probably eaten by now. Our initial evasions appear to have changed their instinctual behavior. I imagine there’s a cunning intelligence behind their half dead eyes, since they appear to have moved into some sort of search pattern. Their sight’s decayed, so as long as we’re quiet and stealthy, I think we’ll be fine. I tell Luna the plan, and then, just in case, tell Dbug as well.

He appears once more as a glowing ball.

The piranha’s dark soulless eyes swivel toward us. I exhale.

“We figured them out,” Luna says. “As long as we keep them separated and move quickly, they can’t get us. I think everything will be fine unless they explode and draw others to us.”

Then the swarm races toward us, each terrible fish a buzz saw of teeth and anger. Their rage was so virulent, they started to swell as they closed in. With all the stealth I had, I dodged and cut one of them in half.

Then one of the ones I dodge slams into the wall in its haste to reach us.

And explodes.

I grit my mandibles.

“Wisdom.”

* * *

We start to run out of paths to try. In lieu of a better option, Luna says, “This way,” wearily shaking her head.

She was down to only three remaining legs after emptying out her storage. And she was fresh out of tuna. At least we’re clear of the exploding piranha swarms. By now, I’ve been buffeted by so many tiny explosions that my control over [Mana Manipulation] has improved. I’ve been reinforcing my body constantly, running power through my beleaguered shell to prevent cracking.

Luna had likewise improved her own defensive skills, getting more and more proficient at using her legs as anchors and repositioning dynamically. And yet, her wounds were healing even slower than when we entered the floor. The few times I’d been able to see the original attack from Octo, it’s clearly getting worse.

We’d made some serious progress searching the floor. With only a few passageways left, we turn another corner and spot an additional swarm. They haven’t spotted us yet.

She idly wonders, “I still don’t know why freshwater monsters are here.”

Dbug chooses that moment to appear. “Monsters are a good source of experience.”

Before the creatures could hear him, I jerk my claw and poke him in the middle. His colors shift to account for my claw. Every time he tries to speak, I poke him, interrupting his attempts to talk. He eventually gets the idea and fades away. I glance over at the piranhas. They don’t seem to have noticed.

We’ve worked out a plan of action after the prolonged attacks, so after that brief interruption, I tell Luna, “Okay, normal attack.”

Luna taps my shell in acknowledgement before substituting into their midst. An explosion flashes in the middle of their tightly packed swarm. Almost all of the piranha are turned into meat paste, and only a few on the sides independently explode from the attack.

I rush to join her, and by the time I get there, every single one of the horrible creatures are dead or dying.

“See, we got this!” Luna raises her arms in excitement.

“We’ll be fine unless their remains merge together into some sort of super corrupt piranha or something!”

As if on cue, the various fish guts begin congealing into a central point.

Dbug appears once more, quietly saying, “Sometimes floors have sub-bosses. Be careful, they are far more dangerous than normal creatures!”

“Wisdom.”

* * *

“They’re freshwater creatures,” Luna groans.

“Yes, we’ve established that. And we’re currently in the ocean, I know. I feel the same way.” I try to reassure her with a pat on her arm.

The last fight had not gone well.

I concentrated on my [Mana Manipulation] skill, bearing my will down on the reinforcement aspect I previously learned. In the course of the fight, I received several impacts of resounding might, and while the reinforcement held up, the chitin on my claw was still dented. With a brief twinge of pain, my claw pops back into place, my natural regeneration healing the underlying tissue damage. I don’t think I can use that trick everywhere, especially if I was missing limbs, but [Mana Manipulation] certainly helps keep my outer shell intact.

Luna is down to one leg. We’d been at this almost a day, and while she has several more growing back, they won’t be ready soon enough to be useful. From the sub-boss on, every school of piranhas exploded and merged into a single, larger and more powerful rotting piranha.

This new morphing and melding strategy worries me to no end. What if all the corrupted creatures start doing this? I briefly go into my mental space to come up with an idea for an effective means of attack. All I receive in response is strange images of forming a construct of my own. With three other people, we could work and join together. Five of us in a single team. A name for it comes to mind.

“Mighty Morphin’ Oceanic Rangers?” I mutter, confused at the idea.

“What are you talking about?” Luna asks.

While morphing seems like a good idea, it’s not one I can do with just Luna and I here. Time to get a move on. I climb to my feet and continue onward.

We thought we were almost done with this floor. Turns out the sub-boss was just hiding the entrance to a secondary layer. Fighting the merged creature was worse than fighting the entire swarm of lesser critters, but I had a system of checks down now designed to counteract them.

“What should we call it?” Luna asks.

“What?” I reply, checking the tunnel before [Scuttl]’ing forward.

“Your new piranha detecting method,” she says. I could hear the notes of pain in her voice. Between her legs and the tiny bites she has, she was talking as much to distract herself as she was genuinely curious about my answer.

“It’s just a piranha checklist,” I whisper, pointing ahead to where another school of piranha menacingly swam.

“Yea, a piranha check,” whispers Luna, chewing on the words. “List? Maybe we should call it a PCL?”

“That seems overly complicated.”

We fall silent as I manage to [Scuttle] past the school without combat.

Luna follows up with, “We could just call it a Piranha Check?”

I spare a second to think about that. “I don’t think you need a special phrase to check for danger.”

I mean, seriously, who does that?

You need to check for danger every day, but having a check like that would turn you into a paranoid, twitchy fool after a while. I can just imagine myself, jumping at shadows all the time. Dbug was bad enough. No, I didn’t want to live like that. I have my demons of course, but I won’t let them badger me into changing who I am.

As we continue on, we finally reach the boss’s room. Whatever was originally here, had been swarmed, exploded, and eaten by the piranha. There were bits and pieces splayed across the entire area. The boss was unfortunately replaced by three schools of piranha. Considering the size of the remains, there must have been more here in the past.

“Look at the walls,” whispers Luna, pointing toward countless black smears covering the area. The exploding fish had done a number on the room, and even the ceiling was badly damaged.

As I was assessing the situation, that’s when I saw it. A long, deep crack throughout the ceiling that ran across the length of the roof. I reach out with [Earth Manipulation] and pull. The [Dungeon] struggles against my efforts, but it had limited ability to change things while we were here. The entire roof shudders and collapses, cascading rubble into the water below.

The evil fish didn’t have time or enough sense to escape, and as they were crushed, I could feel the indistinct sensations of their tiny explosions.

From the entrance, we watch safely until the water clears and the explosions settle down.

“The room is clear,” Luna says.

“Yes!” My mandible rises in a Crabby grin as I limp out of the shadows. All that build up and stress, and we’d gotten to the floor exit without anything too terrible happening.

Luna seems to think for a moment before whispering, “It’s too quiet. I wonder if the guts of all those piranha will merge and—”

“NO! No, no, no, no, noooooo!” I growl, bopping her on the head. “No more ‘I wonder.’ We’re done with this place. Let’s just move on.”

I [Scuttle] through the exit, leaving this floor and my piranha checklist behind.

CHAPTER 46

CALL ME

“Hey, Phil?”

“Hmm?”

“What took you so long? I was guarding the [Dungeon] by myself.”

“I was talking to someone. The scry apparatus was busy.”

“Why was the apparatus busy? Who were you calling?”

“The [Psychic] hotline!”

“I advise you to take this more seriously.”

“Look, it’s a public apparatus! What do you want me to say?”

“You could simply say there was a fat woman on it, and it took you a minute to get her off!”

“…How did you know that?”

— Conversation between two Guards, Lenorian Dungeon. AC 1621

We descend the stairs and I check to see if Luna’s okay. She seems strung out, twitching and jerking at every shift in the shadows.

Emerging onto the puzzle floor, she asks, “Should… should we do a piranha check?”

Oh wow. That last floor has seriously rattled her to the core. And I’m sure the infection isn’t helping either. I give her a pat with my claw, attempting to calm her down.

“It’s okay, Luna. So far, we’ve pretty much only seen one type of animal per floor. Even with the larger areas, there have only been a few strong enemies to defeat. That last level… well, being constantly paranoid and looking for piranha’s everywhere is just silly.”

As I said the word ‘piranha’s,’ a slight shiver radiates from her body. I change my pat to a soothing motion.

“Like I said, it’s okay. This is a puzzle floor, right?”

She cautiously nods an arm and hesitantly says, “It’s supposed to be…” She suddenly jerks up, waving her few remaining arms around almost frantically. “But they could be anywhere!”

I continue to try and calm her down as we emerge into a small stone cave. I point out the solid walls. “See? Nowhere for them to sneak up on us from. Everything is fine.”

Luna hesitantly nods an arm and seems to be getting over her Piranah Traumatic Stress Disorder. I consider what we’ve been through and decide to take a little break. Luna needs one, and I want to review the gains from the previous floor.

“Dbug, status up?”

The tiny light materializes next to me and says, “Since your last check, the following has been improved.”

[Mana Manipulation] tier III has now increased in level!

[Water Manipulation] tier III has now increased in level!

[Earth Manipulation] tier III has now increased in level!

[Mana Sense] tier II has now increased in level!

You have defeated 69 [Corrupted Piranha’s]

Congratulations!

You have gained 3 levels!

You gain +6 to all stats from the level ups

Dbug fades away and I check on Luna. She’s mostly recovered from her ordeal and I ask if she’s ready to continue or if she wants to go back to the Hollow.

“No, I think… I think we need to clear this as soon as possible. Each floor has only gotten more difficult, and I can feel… I can feel myself changing. It’s getting harder to keep my thoughts together.”

By her hesitant words and tone of voice I can tell how difficult it was for her to admit that. As I consider her situation, I try to come up with a solution. I look through my screens, seeing if there’s anything I can do to help. A long overlooked category catches my eye. My evolution. I remember Aethir saying he’d throw me a bone if I declined the “Lucky Crab,” option. Is… is this the time to ask for help?

I’m pretty sure the gods could instantly heal her, but I may need this in the future, to either help us escape or to get home. Considering all the options, I come to the realization that I can’t make the choice by myself. This involves Luna as well, and I’m not going to make a choice about her body without her consent.

“Hey, Luna, I… I may have something that could heal you.”

She instantly flares up, her tone turning jagged and raw. “Why? Why would you make me go through this if you could fix it?”

I explain the entire situation and she gradually calms down.

“I think you need to save it,” she says. “These levels are increasingly hard and there’s no telling what we might face. I’m still okay for now, I can hold on.”

A sharp sensation rises in my shell and it takes me a minute to put a word on what I’m feeling. After some contemplation, it’s clear, I’m feeling pride. For a long time now, Luna and I have worked together. But really? You never know the true measure of a person until their chips are down. I pat her on the back and tell her how I feel. I think it might help.

“I’m proud to be your friend, Luna. I know how hard that choice must have been. Don’t worry, we’ll beat this place together and escape. We’ll take Todd and we can go explore like you’ve always wanted. And if it gets too bad… I won’t let [CORRUPTION] take you, I promise.”

I hear a small sniffle from Luna. Oh no! Did I make it worse? I start to wave my claws, trying to backtrack, when she springs from the floor and wraps me in a hug. Her crying is just from her own way of expressing relief!

In a small voice I hear her say, “Yeah, we’ll go and explore. We’ll go to the coast and meet your princess, then we’ll all go on adventures together.”

I can tell she’s starting to feel better, so I decide to finish with something that made me feel better in the past. With a cautious, almost questioning tone I ask, “To Adventure?”

She breaks away from my hug and looks me dead in the eyes, mustering an inner reservoir of strength. With a sudden movement she throws her arms up in the water and yells, “TO ADVENTURE!”

And so, we leave the antechamber of the eighth floor, adventuring forward to solve its secrets.

As we enter an empty room, I continually scan the walls, using [Mana Sense] to detect the presence of any traps or something that could spring out at us. Regardless of what I told Luna, the last level also freaked me out. After not detecting anything, we cautiously pass through the illusion from this room to the next.

The sudden transition from water to air is instant. We’re on land again. As I clear the water from my gills, I examine my surroundings. Ahead is a strange boxy device. There’s a series of buttons on the front and a strange cord connecting the box to a long black stick. The entire thing is constructed out of metal, and is immediately suspicious. I scan the room, searching for anything of note and come up empty. There doesn’t appear to be anything in here other than the box. Luna has climbed back on top of my shell and I walk forward, my steps cautious on the stone floor.

I make it halfway across the room, when the box starts vibrating, emitting a ringing sound. In response, I leap backward and glare, ready to defend from the box. Its ring fills the room. I continue glaring. The box just continues ringing. Finally, with nothing else happening, I step forward, getting right in front of the strange contraption.

This close, I can see the buttons on the front are labeled with numbers from one to nine. The long black object seems to be resting on a holder designed for it and is attached by a cord to the box. I whisper to Luna,

“Do you know what this is?”

She whispers back, “No. I’ve never seen anything like this before. But with the [Dungeon] slowly falling to [CORRUPTION], who knows what it might be? We should prepare for combat, just in case.”

I agree with her assessment and form sand armor around me. As I finish, I tell her I’m going to lift the black stick from the holder to see what it does. Luna taps my shell in acknowledgement.

This entire time the box has been ringing incessantly. I reach out a claw and gently lift the stick into the air. Click. A voice starts emitting from the stick. I move the stick closer to Luna and I and see two holes that were hidden by its former position. I almost drop the thing when the voice begins anew.

“Hello, Crab…”

Luna and I fearfully stare at each other. The [Dungeon] is talking to us.

“And starfish. So nice for you to join us…”

The [Dungeon]’s voice seems familiar, but there’s an awkward nature to it. Almost as if two people are speaking, overlapping each other with intonation. One of the voices is vaguely familiar, almost tickling in the back of my brain. I must have heard them before, but can’t remember. The other? The other is hardly recognizable, but I’m able to identify that voice as the construct from previous floors. The one where Luna and I were separated.

The black stick hangs limp in my claws. I’m not sure how to use the thing. “Yes?”

The voice continues, “First off, there is a proximity device located in the box in front of you. Try to run and it will know. Also, there’s a significant amount of explosive in there as well. The explosive has enough strength to wipe out the entire floor. Try to run and the box goes boom. Do you understand?”

I’m halfway to dropping the stick and sprinting for the entrance when I hear the last statement. Thoughts, plans, ideas, all rush through my mind as I try to figure a way out. [Luck of the Crab] might not save me from an explosion. Especially one that can destroy an entire floor. And what about Luna? No, for now, I have to play whatever game this thing is getting at.

I grit my mandibles, angry at the situation. “Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Now, crab, I’m going to pose a riddle for you. You have two seconds—”

The voice breaks into shrieking gibberish, and I move the stick away from my body. A piercing wail emits from the device, and there’s an indistinct howling. A cacophonous mishmash of words spew forth, and over the shrieking, I can make out two separate sides: the [Dungeon] and the[CORRUPTION].

“—You have five minutes.”

“You have two seconds.”

“—You have three minutes.”

“Two seconds…”

“—One minute.”

“Two seconds.”

“—Thirty seconds”

At this point the wailing fades a bit, and once more the voices join together, overlapping in a twin tone. “Thirty seconds.”

They must have been battling each other, disagreeing over the length of time we had to solve the riddle. I can tell it was a fight, because instead of an overlapping voice, I heard two distinct tones. The [Dungeon] construct must be fighting to give us more time. Fighting and losing against the [CORRUPTION]. The shrieking disappears, and the voice returns to normal. It sounds smoother somehow, almost as if the disagreement has drawn them closer together. I shudder.

“You have thirty seconds to provide the correct answer. The answer can be input on the device in front of you. Do you understand?”

I nod. Then realize the thing might not be able to see that. I choke out, “I understand.”

Luna tightens her grip on my shell. She’s been listening in this whole time and is understandably afraid. I think back to my time with the sphinx. This might be difficult.

The corrupted [Dungeon] rattles off, “As I was going to tend my hive, I met a squid with seven wives. Every wife had seven sacks, every sack had seven fish, every fish had seven spawn… Spawn, fish, sacks and wives. How many were going to tend the hive?”

When he finishes, I try to buy more time and say, “Woah, whoa, wait a minute, I didn’t get all that. Say it again.”

“Not a chance. Input the answer in thirty seconds or die.”

The stick makes another click noise and the voice disappears. For a short moment, I stare at Luna in horror.

Luna says, “All right, seven squids with seven wives makes—”

I abruptly slash my claw, to stop her speaking. “Luna, I’m good at this.”

She ignores my claw, saying, “Seven guys with seven wives makes—”

I snap at her, “Quiet, Luna! He said seven wives with seven sacks. Seven times seven is forty-nine. Now tell me the rest.”

Luna stutters, the stress of the situation turning screws on us both. I don’t know how long it’s been. Five seconds?

She says, “Seven wives? A sack with… s-seven sacks with seven…”

Time is running out! I wave my claws in anger. “Weren’t you listening?”

She begins to get angry with me. “Yeah, I was listening. I didn’t hear every bleeding thing.”

There’s no time to argue! “Seven wives times seven, forty-nine. With seven fish. Seven times forty-nine is three hundred forty-three, right?”

“What, are you asking me or telling me?”

“I’m telling you. Three hundred forty-three times seven is… One, zero, twenty-four—Two thousand four hundred and one.” I emerge from my contemplation and look her dead in her face. “That’s what you got, right?”

She seems to be a bit confused. “Yeah, that’s what I got. Is that it, two thousand four hundred and one?”

“That’s it.”

Luna leans ahead with her arm, saying, “Let me input two… four… zero… one.”

Suddenly, a flash of insight strikes me and I lunge, grabbing her arm and stopping her from inputting the answer. “No, wait, wait! It’s a trick. It’s a trick.”

Her confusion doubles. “What? What do you mean?”

“I forgot about the squid.”

She waves her remaining arms. “What squid? Forget the squid! We got fifteen seconds left!”

“He said how many were going to tend the hive, right? The riddle begins: As I was going to tend my hive, I met a squid with seven wives. The squid and his wives aren’t going anywhere.”

She thinks about it for a second, a whole second! Time is wasting!

“What are they doing?”

Her inane question drives me further into anger. I wave my claws in the air and yell, “They’re swimming in the ocean, hunting for clams! How the Wisdom should I know, Luna?”

She sarcastically responds, “Well who’s tending the hives then?”

With exaggerated patience I say, “The guy. Just, the guy.”

“Just one guy?”

“Yes, just one guy. The answer’s one.”

Luna dives forward, hitting the one button. She seems contemplative and she murmurs under her breath, “Just one guy’s going?”

The corrupted [Dungeon]’s voice returns. “Hello, crab, starfish.”

That whole experience was nerve wracking and my entire shell is quivering. I want to present a brave front here, not wanting the [Dungeon] to know how much I’m shaking. I cockily respond, with a bit of humor in my voice. “Yeah, piece of tuna. Give us something harder next time.”

Luna wearily lifts her arm in encouragement. I return the gesture with my claw, pincer up.

“But you’re ten seconds late.”

As I hear those words, I drop the stick and sprint for the entrance. Luna is clutching tightly to my shell. Her mana is surging, preparing to activate her [Leg Chain]’s to help us maneuver from the impending blast. We reach the entrance to the room when it dawns on me—there’s no explosion.

I cautiously look at the hanging stick, dangling from the metal box and try to hear what’s coming from it. Even from all the way across the room, I can make out the sounds of the [Dungeon] fighting against the [CORRUPTION]. The howling and wailing continues for long moments before it stops. The voice continues, smoother than ever before.

“Congratulations on passing the first of two puzzles for this level.”

The stick clicks and a portion of the wall slides into a recess in the floor.

“That… that was a close one,” Luna says.

That was terrifying. Even though we got the right answer, it was trying to trick us the whole time. Seems we were lucky…

An ominous wind blows across the level.

I shiver. Then I shuffle on my feet awkwardly. “Hey, back there, I—”

“No, I understand. I was the same. I’m sorry for being mean to you.”

I wave my claw in acknowledgement. “I’m sorry as well. Even if the situation was terrible, I still feel bad about it.”

“I do too. We’ll try to do better next time?”

“Deal.” Looking at the entrance to the next room, I murmur to her, “Didn’t the [Dungeon] say there were two puzzles on this level?”

“Yeah. Each level is getting harder.”

My mind is in a frazzled state and my nerves feel wrecked. I look at Luna and well… after the piranhas and the threat of explosion? I think waiting a couple of minutes to recover are in order.

“Crabby?” Luna asks in an almost contemplative tone. “When we were back there with the riddle… Since when did you get so good at math?”

I shrug my claws, not really thinking too hard about it. “What? You think I just check my status for no reason? There’s a lot of math in there, and intelligence is my second highest stat.”

Luna shrugs and we settle down, just focusing on recovery. I keep my eyes on the entrance to the next room, dreading what is to come.

CHAPTER 47

THE JUG PROBLEM

“Hey, Phil.”

“Hmm.”

“Call the town guards, someone’s about to be murdered.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to go talk to that guy standing over there with the sign.”

“Sir, you having a nice day? Not to get too personal, but an elf standing in the middle of a human village wearing a sign that says, ‘I hate humans,’ has either got some serious personal issues or not all his dogs are barking. Now, you’ve got about ten seconds before some [Thugs] see you, and when they do, they will kill you, you understand? You are about to have a very bad day.”

“Tell me about it.”

— Conversation between Dungeon Guard and Belview Escapee. Streets of Lenoria, AC 1622

After we’ve recovered, Luna climbs back on top of my shell and we walk into the next room. This one is a little different. Instead of a boxy metal device, there’s a fountain of stone. Gentle water cascades from the sides and falls down into a holding area constructed around it.

“You see anything?” I whisper to Luna.

She waves an arm no, and I slowly walk up to the fountain. From the top, there is a carving of a three headed fish. Each head projects water from its mouth in a different direction, and the water cascades down the fountain’s side. There, sitting on an intermediate ledge of the fountain is a small metal box, roughly my size. I’m wary and raise my claws in defense as well as apply my sand armor.

“Is that a bomb?” Luna asks.

I think, considering what we’ve just experienced. Each level has been themed in a certain way, and even with the [CORRUPTION], it has been sticking to those themes. Taking a closer look, there are latches on the side, and as I [Scuttle] around the fountain, I notice tiny hinges which would allow the lid to open. From this angle, I can also see two jugs sitting right below it next to the pool of water.

“Yeah, just go ahead and take the box,” I say.

She responds nervously. “You’re the armored one!”

With a chuckle I say, “But you can teleport!”

“Fair enough…” Luna murmurs.

She climbs off my shell and over to the box. Balancing the box on top of her body, she makes her way to the floor and right next to me. Nothing has happened thus far, but the latches on the side are an obvious trap. I take a step back.

“Don’t open the latch.”

“What? We have to open the box,” Luna says. “This is the obvious next step.”

I sigh, looking around the room. She’s right, there’s nothing else here. “Go ahead and open the latch then. Just be prepared to move back if needed.”

“It’s going to be alright, Crabby.”

She braces herself for whatever may happen. She reaches forward, and with tiny clicks, the latches unlock. Slowly, she raises the lid.

Still no explosion.

I heave a weary sigh of relief and join her in looking at the contents. Inside, is another small black stick attached to the box on a cord with a tiny placard next to it. Right beside the stick, a small flat metal piece seems like a likely place to place something on. I hear whizzing and buzzing from inside, the clanking of mechanical gears and a rising tide of mana.

The sign reads: I am a bomb. You have just armed me.

“Oh no! Oh no! I told you not to open the box!” I wail.

“We had to! What do we do?” Luna cries from on top of my shell.

The box starts ringing with the same annoying sound as the previous construct. I grab the black stick from its holder and place the stick next to us. The corrupted [Dungeon]’s voice comes from the box.

“I trust you see the placard. There is another proximity sensor, so please, don’t run.”

A harsh static sound explodes from the stick, and I move it away from my body. I can briefly hear the [CORRUPTION]say,

“Please… RUN…”

The voice cuts off and falls silent.

“Yeah, we won’t run. How do we turn this thing off?”

The [Dungeon] says, “On the fountain there should be two jugs, you will need them momentarily.”

“Yes.”

“One is five gallons, the other is three gallons. Fill one of the jugs with four gallons of water. Then place that jug on the scale and the timer will stop. You must be precise. One ounce more or less will result in detonation. You have—”

Again the [Dungeon] engages in a fight with the[CORRUPTION]. The screaming and wailing fades and it is revealed that we have five minutes to solve the puzzle. The line clicks and the voice is gone.

Luna and I look at each other in confusion.

“I don’t get it. Do you get it?” I ask.

She mutters, “No, this puzzle doesn’t make any sense.” She follows up with her statement and asks me to get the jugs. I engage [Earth Manipulation] and move the clay jugs over to where we’re seated at the rim of the fountain. I climb onto the top of one of them and look inside. It’s empty and I’m trying to figure out how to get exactly four gallons in there.

“Obviously, we can’t fill the three-gallon jug with four gallons of water, right?”

She acknowledges my point. “Obviously.”

I lift a claw in the air. “Alright. I know. Here we go. We fill the three-gallon jug exactly to the top.”

“Uh-huh.” Luna seems to skeptically follow along with me.

“Okay. Now, we pour those three gallons into the five-gallon jug…”

“Uh-huh.”

“Giving us exactly three gallons in the five-gallon jug, right?”

“Yeah… Then what?”

I’m getting excited. “Now, take the three-gallon jug, fill that a third of the way up—”

“No, no, no. He said be precise. Exactly four gallons!” Luna cuts in

I throw my claws up in the air, frustration mounting. “Argh!”

“How much time do we have left?”

The placard has now been replaced by a clock, slowly ticking downward.

“Wisdom! We have less than a minute,” Luna says. “Let’s just throw this thing away!”

“How do we have less than a minute? Less than two minutes have passed!”

“The [Dungeon] is cheating!” Luna yells.

Which was true, but didn’t help us much. She started to sob.

“No! We can’t throw away the box, it’ll explode. Just… just wait a second. Let me think.”

Luna begins shaking in fear, and as my mind races to find a solution, it suddenly comes to me. “I GOT IT! I GOT IT!”

I point at the three-gallon jug. “We’ll fill that and then pour it into the five-gallon jug. Then we’ll refill the three gallon one and pour it again into the five-gallon jug, leaving only one gallon left.”

Luna speedily waves an arm in a ‘speak faster’ motion.

“We empty the five gallon, then pour the one gallon into the five gallon jug. Then we refill the three-gallon jug and pour that into the five gallons… giving us exactly—” We yell together, excited at having figured it out. “FOUR GALLONS!”

I wave my claws in jubilation.

Luna snaps and brings me back to the moment. “Come on! Come on!”

Right! We don’t have time! I engage [Water Manipulation], moving the water back and forth between the fountain and the jugs.

As the streams of water move through the air, Luna says, “Don’t spill it!”

I ignore her words, concentrating on making this as precise as possible.

“Yes! Exactly four gallons! You did it, Crabby!”

The ticking noise from the box begins to increase in speed and I hurriedly move the earthen jug into position on the metal plate. As I do, the countdown clock stops at five seconds and new words appear. “Bomb disarmed.”

Luna and I jump up and down, excited at having survived another close call. As we’re spinning, a portion of the wall opens up revealing a lever.

Luna climbs on my back as I tell her, “Well, I guess this is the next level then.”

Once I pull the lever, a portion of the wall descends, and we’re greeted by a room thick in shadow. Pinging mana confirms there’s something in there.

“Hello?” Luna calls out.

My pings alert me to slight movement and the quiet sounds of something scraping against the floor.

A weak voice responds, “Luna? Is that you, lassie? Ai’ you, you stay back now. Just… just stay there. Dinnae, dinnae come closer.”

Luna tightens on my shell. “It’s me, Angus! I’m here with Crabby. Are you okay? Can we help?”

A tired old voice calls back, “Crab… Crabby? He’s a new un’, eh? Yeah, yeah, he can help. Send ’im in. Just, you stay back, girl. I dinnae want ya ta see me like this.”

I’ve been constantly pinging mana into the room, trying to receive a clearer view. It takes me a while to interpret, and as I do, I pale in horror. I don’t think Luna has figured it out yet as I lower her to the floor beside me. She’s already struggling against my claws to get into the room.

“NO! Let me go! He sounds hurt! He’s my friend!”

“He asked for me, Luna. Trust me, okay? Just stay here. Let me see if I can help.”

She struggles briefly and collapses. Her quiet sobs echo in the chamber. I pat her once before straightening up, walking into the room leading to the next floor.

As I enter, details become clearer. There’s a stairwell descending to my right and a crab in front of me. At least what looks to be most of a crab. He’s motionless, dark slashes hewn through his shell. Black blood leaks from holes in his carapace and he only has a single claw. The other, and all of his legs, lie in a pile around him, oozing corruption onto the floor. I try to view it dispassionately, but a quiet voice screams in my mind. It looks like he removed his legs himself, stranding his mind in a rotting prison.

I move quietly closer.

“Ergh—hack—I’m not too prettae to look at, I know,” he struggles to say. “The—cough—the rot gotten in mae real bad now. An I… and I dinnae want to risk, risk hurtin’ others.”

I keep my voice low, hoping against hope that Luna doesn’t hear us. “And [Recall]? Why didn’t you go back to the [Safe Zone]?”

“Dinnae work. After too long, well…” He gestures at the leaking fluids. “Things just stop workin’. It won’t be too long now, laddie. I need ya to… to end this for me clean. I don’t want, I don’t want Luna to see me like this. She’s a good gal she is.”

I nod, maintaining my silence against my roiling emotions and the sheer injustice I’m forced to administer. I raise my claw high and the crab lunges at me. His one remaining broken claw clasps my own. He clenches and pulls me close, blood leaking from his mouth as he quietly whispers.

“Don’t go below. The [Dungeon]… There’s nae more levels. It’s just the others. The others and the core. It’s taken them too.”

He collapses and I’m left shaking, shivering from hurt and fear and crying within my mind. I stay there, my claw raised high as I struggle to do what must be done.

“DO IT, LADDIE!”

I’m shocked into motion and my claw falls. [Slice] ends his pain.

Ding.

You have defeated [Half-Undead Dungeness Crab] – Angus.

You have gained 2 levels!

You are now level 16!

You gain +4 to all stats from the level up.

As Angus melts into the floor, only my quiet retching fills the room.

When he’s completely gone, I project my voice and call Luna in. She rushes as fast as she can, trying to see her old friend.

The black puddle is all that remains.

I encompass her in a hug as she cries and shakes, doing my best to comfort her. Time passes and she grows quiet.

The crab’s final words come to me. He said there are no more levels. It’s just the core and the others. The ones who have been taken. My mind races as I wonder how deep the [CORRUPTION] has gone. Will even touching the core let us escape? Will it fix Luna and prevent her from becoming a monster?

“Take us back to the [Safe Zone]. We need to get Todd and get the hell out of here.”

CHAPTER 48

THE GAUNTLET

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the corruption of death I will fear no evil, for the [System] art with me…”

— Unattributed, Prayer to the Statistical Divines. AC 1625

We [Recall] back to the [Safe Zone] and rush to the Hollow. Finding Todd, we give a play by play of what happened. Luna falls quiet when I speak of Angus’ last words.

“I think it’s time, Todd. Weeks have passed and no one else is here. We could really use your help finishing this.”

Todd waves his spines and Luna translates. “He said he’ll come with us. He’ll be right back though. He wants to go warn the Hypnofrog of what’s coming.”

I hesitate and come out and ask him. “Is that safe? I don’t think we can afford to wait for a day to pass for him to return.”

Todd waves once more and Luna says, “He said he’s dealt with the frog before. It won’t be a problem.”

Todd elevates on a platform and heads to the hole in the wall and disappears. Maybe twenty minutes later he returns. He waves his spikes and moves past us.

Luna says, “The frog has been warned. The frog will handle its own egress from the [Dungeon].”

We move back into the carving room and Luna and I head for the staircase leading outside. I stop as Todd pauses behind me. The platform he’s riding on raises until he’s level height with the first carving on the wall. The carving faded and worn by time. His body ripples and he leans forward, his spikes touching the wall. He says a few simple words.

“GOODBYE… Old friend.”

His platform lowers and we head outside. As we gather in a group Luna says, “Alright, I’m moving us to level 7. Angus said there’s no more levels. It’s just our friends and the core. I don’t know what we’ll find there. Any ideas?”

“I DEFEND and control. CRAB and LUNA. You ATTACK. Safety first.”

That seems as good an idea as any.

Luna grabs my arm, and Todd and her say at the same time, “Level 7 – [Recall].”

The familiar lights glow around me and gradually fade. As they do, I’m struck by a sense of horror. A seemingly endless field of pure black sand stretches ahead, bathed in a bleak light. The ground seems to absorb the ambient radiance. There are holes in the floor sprinkled throughout. Right next to our arrival point lies one of the gashes.

Inching closer, the sand just disappears into a hollow void, receding into darkness. My eyes recoil from the blank emptiness and returns to my surroundings. On the sand are blocks, ruins, stretches of stone half melted into decay. It’s as though we’re walking on a thin egg shell of constructed reality, barely keeping us from descending into madness.

Backing away from the hole, I focus on the distance. There, at the edges of my sight, is a mound. A pile of something. Terse movement catches my eye around the heightened elevation, and I can’t make out figures or details. Even the water seems oppressive. It’s as if the very environment is crushing my spirit, watching and waiting for my demise.

I turn to my teammates and whisper, “Okay, we’ll head toward the mound. Keep an eye out for anything, alright?” Luna climbs on my back and Todd just waves his spikes. I’ll take it that he understood.

We slowly cautiously walk through the bleak deserted floor, keeping away from any holes that are rent into the sand and make our way to the target.

An hour passes and we’re still walking. There’s been no sign of movement anywhere in our vicinity and the mound has nearly doubled in height. Even still, it’s far enough away that I can’t make heads or tails of the brief flickers of motion.

“This floor is massive. Have—is this usual?” I whisper.

“No. I think maybe the [Dungeon] just shoved floors seven, eight and nine together to make this one?” Luna whispers back. “Maybe it’s deconstructing the [Dungeon] level by level.”

“For what purpose? What’s the point of doing that?”

Todd whispers as well, for once his voice no longer booming in the water.

“To make something NEW.”

We fall into silence as we venture onward.

Another hour passes. I smell the hill before I make out the details. The odor of rotting flesh and decaying meat. The myriad scents of corruption.

Minutes pass as we grow ever nearer, and I can finally make out both the mound and the figures that swarm the pile. The pile is a giant hill—no, a small mountain of bodies. A quick survey reveals crabs, starfish, sharks, barracudas. Creatures of all shapes and sizes frozen in a rictus of death.

And the figures swarming around the pile… A half rotten shark chows on the meat, tearing and eating into the feast before him. The shark’s hunger consumes him, but his efforts are in vain. As food enters his gullet, it falls out of the hole in his stomach, spewing the contents onto the floor.

There is a brightly colored fish flitting amidst the eyeballs of another. Motion near the fish startles him and he puffs up into a spiky ball. Yet, no matter how hard the fish tries, he can’t maintain that shape, the water he consumed to bloat his form leaking through rents in his skin.

Then the third and final creature with a nose that spears out from the front of its face. The large fin on her back is riddled with holes. She continually stabs the pile of meat. Blackness leaks from her wounds into the water and her once noble sword is broken, maybe only half the size it once was.

They don’t seem to have noticed us yet.

“Larry? Pops? Irene?” Luna says. “Is that… is that you guys?” Her voice quavers in the water, and her body tightens on my shell.

All motion instantly stops. The three [Dungeon] monsters slowly turn, their dead eyes staring into our own as they shriek. In their voice I hear pain and hunger, an eternally thirsting hunger. Each in their own way, they begin to rush toward us.

“Prepare for combat! Sir Crabby, HOOOOO!”

Ding.

Sir Crabby’s Music has been applied.

Effect: +30% increase to STR, DEX

Effect: 2 minutes, 45 seconds remaining

I activate mana reinforcement, strengthening my entire shell. The shark is moving the fastest, the former stripes on its lithe body streaking in the water. I move in front of Todd and grab Luna, preparing to throw her.

“Todd! Delay the other two! We’re going for the shark!”

“TODD.”

Earth walls blast from the floor and a dome of stone surrounds Todd. Sand blankets the battlefield, providing concealment from friend and foe alike. I spin, with Luna in my arms, and release her at the shark. I activate [Scuttle] and [Cutting Mask] to dodge. I skirt to the right, and the shark turns its head to bite me. Instead, Luna has arrived.

“[LEG BOMB]!”

BOOM!

The explosion hits the nose of the shark and he whips his head away from the impact. The shark slams into the floor and skids along before shaking his head and turning around. I take advantage of the shark’s brief moment of disorientation and sprint. As I close the distance, I activate [Earth Manipulation], utilizing the sand billowing in the water to bind the shark’s movements. He continually breaks the weak hold of the sand, but that gives me enough time to arrive. My claw descends in a [Slice], striking his eye and cutting into the monster’s skull.

That isn’t enough.

His tail whips around, catching me in the side and tossing me back through the water. The shark’s strike flips me head over legs, spinning upward. I’m disoriented, arms and spinnerets flipping to stabilize myself in the rushing currents.

As I even out and gain my bearings, all I can see is an open mouth, teeth reaching for my body. I cross my arms, bracing against the impending doom.

Then Luna says, “[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG CHAINS]!”

And she pops onto my shell, grabbing me and jerking me back to the floor. The sharp smack of the shark’s jaws slamming shut rings out in the water from where I was a moment ago. I’m going to need to avoid that. I spare a glance at Todd and see an exercise in futility.

The puffer fish is jetting water out of his mouth in a tight stream, cutting into the floor as it lances toward the dome. The water strikes Todd’s armored defense, and while there are marks left by the attack, the stone appears to be holding. The swordfish rushes back and forth, continually spearing the surface, unable to breach the integrity of the shell. The sword fish glances our way and moves a bit toward us, thinking us easier prey, when a spear erupts from the ground. She whips back to Todd, eyes blackened and enraged, refocuses on the dome.

Todd is fine.

I assess the state of the shark. I inflicted a deep cut on his face, carving into his skull, but I have to do more. I consider my options and decide to go with what works.

“Alright, just like we did the first time. This time, I’ll go left.” A single tap on my shell shows her acknowledgement and I brace as the shark chargesin.

The corrupted shark gets closer, closer… NOW! I dive to the left, dodging the shark’s attack and he snaps his head at me, trying to bite into my side.

“[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG BOMB]!”

The explosion blasts the shark’s head backward and he’s unable to curtail his dive. Striking and sliding along the sand, I rush to engage using [Earth Manipulation] to stymie his efforts. As he whips his body to break the grasping reach of my skill, I approach the shark’s left side. Coming in at an angle, my claw descends. My second [Slice] meets the first and the shark is decapitated.

Ding.

NOT NOW [SYSTEM]!

Shark defeated, I turn to assist Todd. Luna has already planted herself on my back and I yell, “We’re going for the pufferfish!”

I grab her and spin, throwing her at the enemy shooting water lances. A glance at Todd reveals thin cracks on his armor. He should be alright engaging with the swordfish. Luna spins outward and I sprint ahead. The fish notices her arrival and turns. The beams of water moves from Todd to Luna.

“LUNA! Watch out!”

There’s a brief scream before “[LEG SUBSTITUTION]! [LEG BOMB]!” and Luna appears behind the fish, her leg blowing up next to the fish’s body and ending him for good. Rushing to her, I can see a black substance leaking from Luna’s falling form. She’s been hit badly. I catch her and apply pressure to her wounds. She’s almost been cut in half and only two legs remain on her body.

“LUNA! LUNA! Are you okay? What can I do?”

She weakly pats me on my shoulder. “I’m… fine. I’ll be okay in a bit. Help… help Todd.”

I carry her away from the battle and bury her side in the sand. Hopefully the pressure of the earth will help keep her stable.

“Alright, I’ll be right back. Stay with me, okay?”

A small arm wave is all I get in response. I sprint over to Todd and he seems to sense my intentions. As the swordfish spears the dome once more, the armor shatters and the fish, disjointed and confused, continues on. Her shortened nose spearing into the ground. Todd is nowhere to be seen. A tiny hole in the ground leads elsewhere. As the swordfish struggles to get her head unstuck from the sand, I close in and raise my claw.

At the last second, the swordfish wrenches her head free and swings. The creature’s sword is about to meet my claw and I know the strength and momentum of the strike will send me flying again. I continue, prepared to be cast aside, when the remnants of Todd’s shell melt and reform. They become spears that are joined by Todd’s spikes. They flash into existence, piercing her body and pinning the swordfish in place. She thrashes, her struggles made futile as [Slice] descends.

One attack is enough.

Ding.

As the swordfish falls, my music also fades. I take a moment, trying to calm my exhausted and shaking form, before I remember, “Luna!” I rush back to her, calling out behind me. “Todd! Come help! Luna is hurt!”

He glides along the ground, conveyed by a platform of earth straight to her side.

She’s grown a bit paler but appears to be holding on. “I need you to hold [Earth Manipulation] on her body as I remove her from the ground. You’re better at it than me. I don’t want the pressure to be removed.”

A ripple of his spikes reveals he understands and I gently pull her up. As I do, I barely glimpse a line of black corruption seething along the edge of the cut before Todd applies a layer of earth. I softly hold Luna in my claws. The half of Luna that remains.

“Hey, hey, Luna. Can you hear me? How are you doing?”

Her words slur, rousing to consciousness. “Hey, weird crab. How ya doin’, buddy? I’m pretty tired. I think I’m going to take a nap now.”

“NO! No, Luna. You gotta stay awake. You gotta keep with me! We’re going to get out of here and go see the world, remember? We have to go see the world together. Just, just stay with me, Luna!”

My shell shakes as I cry silently over my injured friend. I turn to Todd. “Do you know anything that can help?”

“CORE. LEAVE DUNGEON… New body. All healed.”

I nod and gently place her still form alongside Todd on his moving platform. Fear and anger race through my shell as I wipe my eyes clear of the clinging sand. I stand up and a burning determination pounds in my carapace.

“Let’s get to the core then.”

CHAPTER 49

THE CREATURE

“…Thy [Stats] and thy [Skills], they comfort me.”

— Unattributed, Prayer to the Statistical Divines. AC 1625

We circle around the small mountain, searching for where the core might be hiding. Reaching the other side, I gaze off into what seems to be an endless expanse. I can’t determine any defining feature that would indicate the core’s resting place. As I’m thinking, claw on my chin, Todd grabs my attention. A wave of his spikes points to the pile of bodies. And there’s a tunnel digging into the mountain.

“It’s probably in there, isn’t it?”

He ripples again, in a gesture I interpret as quiet acceptance. I take a deep breath of water, before releasing it in a sigh and moving to the mound of flesh.

Todd and I walk single file into the entrance. I keep my claws close to my body, trying to guard them from the oozing ichor gently falling from the walls. Even still, slow drips continually tumble from the ceiling, pattering on my shell. As we progress, I turn back to see how Todd is doing. He’s created a small canopy of stone on his platform to guard his and Luna’s body from the dripping blood. I face ahead once more and continue. Luna doesn’t have much time left.

As we descend, the light slowly fades, until only mana pings give me any indication of my surroundings. Minutes pass and the bodies have fallen away, replaced by rotted stone and decaying earth. Bolstered by this development, I quicken my pace, hoping this means the [Dungeon] core isn’t too far gone.

Turning a corner, I’m blinded by a sudden light and I lift my claw to shade my eyes.

A room lies in front of me. Much like any other room in the first few floors of the [Dungeon]. On one quarter of the room, plain gray stone walls cover the environs in a familiar comforting tone. But on the other two thirds?

Bleak chaos reigns.

* * *

On one of the lowest floors of the divine realm, so low as to barely merit an office. Three [Thought-Stream]’s responsible for crustacean development on Arthos begin speaking.

“This is a serious problem,” Lira said, reviewing the situation in the core room.

“I agree, I don’t think it can be repaired,” Aethir said.

“You are a god, you can fix a credenza,” Lira grumbled.

“Not one that was destroyed so successfully,” Aethir stated with finality.

Toriana waved her claw sheepishly at Aethir. “I’m sorry.”

Aethir relented. He really couldn’t stay angry with Toriana. Not because she wasn’t annoying at times, but because it was literally impossible to stay angry at the embodiment of Charisma.

“Back to the other serious problem,” Lira grumbled.

Toriana’s eyes remain riveted to the screen and they start to tear up as she assesses his predicament. She manages to choke out a quiet, “Poor Crabby.”

“Forget the crab. This level of systemic breach is unacceptable!” Lira said, reviewing her monitoring screens.

Lira’s comment manages to refocus Toriana. “Wait, do you mean it’s actually infiltrated into the core?”

Lira raised an eyestalk. “Doubtful. The [Corruption] appears to be trying to subsume the [Dungeon] core and modify it. Usually, we only see corruption in individuals. [System] constructs like the [Dungeon] core are normally immune. There are processes designed to protect them. It appears as though this might be possible because the [Dungeon] is located in an isolated incursion zone. A separate [System] instance, if you will.”

“I’m still not even sure it’s possible to corrupt a [Dungeon] core,” Aethir said. Everything the gods knew said it was impossible. If [Corruption] ever figured out how to infect a core there would be problems. “Still, something is making the attempt.”

A slight gasp escapes Toriana. “That means we can help Crabby!”

Lira paused in her review. “No.”

“Yes we can. Mortals have to protect the material plane, but what’s obviously happening there falls under our responsibilities. The [System] is a divine function!”

“That’s a stretch,” Lira said, flipping her diagram around. “The core is corrupted, which means the attack vector must be coming from outside reality. It’s a tiny pinprick in the aetheric gates defending reality.”

“Tiny counts,” Toriana said with a grin.

“Not in this case,” Aethir bellowed, scuttling to the monitor. “The crack was minimal and has already self-sealed. If there is not an active connection, we cannot interfere.”

Toriana was growing visibly distressed.

“What he’s saying is that the tools we have available at our level require an active incursion to target,” Lira clarified. “Without an active attack, we can’t engage the System Metric Interconnection Transmorphic Engine.”

Aethir scowled in annoyance at her words as he scuttled around the room to various other monitors. He already had a much better name for that particular system. Leave it to Lira to overcomplicate things.

Toriana’s eye stalks bent in thought. She struggled to find a justification before brightening up. “We should find the weakness so we can patch it properly!”

“I believe I said the crack has already sealed itself,” said Lira. “We would have to expend an enormous amount of power to even find where the [Corruption] entered.”

“The [Corruption] isn’t stupid. It knows to seal up after an attack.” Aethir scowled. The whole Crabby show had been a waste of time. He should have sent an agent right away, but no. He’d listened to Toriana with her vain hopes of Crabby defeating the [Corruption]. That little newly [Sapient] crab was going to be useless against the enemy.

When the [Corruption] got past the standard defenses, even the trivial amounts that bypassed the gate shielding, it was smart enough to hide its tracks. An active breach would have been dealt with by now. there were too many [System] processes in place to detect something like that. With no crack to seal, they didn’t have a justification. Without a justification, they couldn’t help Crabby.

It would be a miracle to save him now.

* * *

I continue to look around. The other part of the area is composed of what appears to be gently pulsing flesh, red veins threading and peaking to the surface. A black vile substance rushes through the arteries, spreading to tendrils that encroach on the other side. I can feel a dull thud in my shell, the thud corresponding to a deep sound that emanates from the horrid waste. On the dividing line, on the border between order and madness, a block of crystal gently floats. The crystal’s state mirrors the room it’s in, two thirds flesh, one third stone. The corrupted half is engulfing the other side, grasping flesh reaching to destroy the core.

I whisper to Todd, “I’m not sure touching that would help.”

Before Todd can respond, a black beam of light shoots from the core, forming a solid link between them. I try to move him away as he stands motionless, paralyzed by the core. I flicker [Mana Sense] to gauge the strength of the connection and I immediately shut it off. The black light roiled in my vision, tendrils of shadows reaching out from the spell. I had the sudden sense that if I continued looking at the core, the [Corruption] would reach me. The [Corruption] would consume my eyes.

As I activate [Earth Manipulation] to move the platform away, I freeze. A voice whispers behind me.

“Oooh-oh, little crabbies. Little FOOD, laddie.”

The cacophonous sound shudders in my brain as I attempt to parse the words. There’s one, two, five, countless voices wailing in terror. They all speak separately, all speak together, all speak one by one in a barrage of pain that says everything and nothing at all. I turn back to the core just as a tentacle materializes from the flesh of its surface.

It descends sucker by sucker to the rotting ground. The slurping sound of flesh slapping on flesh as the tentacle hits the floor is unnerving. And the [Corruption] isn’t done yet. A moment later, the tentacle is joined by a headless human torso, gently spitting out onto the ground, splatting horrendously into the viscera. Two more tentacles emerge, smaller, individual ones that are joined by a skull.

The skull lands, eyes burning fire from empty sockets. The disparate parts and pieces begin to drag themselves together. Skull on body on tentacle, until a creature melds in front of me. The [Corruption] speaks with the voice of everyone I’ve ever known.

“You’ve come to join us, little crab?”

“Join you? What…?” I struggle to respond to the abomination. I focus on the immediate concern. “What have you done to Todd? Give him back!”

The [Corruption]’s gaze flickers to the motionless urchin, still transfixed by the light. It waves a negligent tentacle. “He is connected to the core. The core is connected to us. When we finish with the core, your friend will return to us. But you? You’re something other. Something blocks us.”

Its voice turns whimsical, as if trying to figure out an intriguing puzzle. “We can’t see why. Maybe something about a bridge? Hmm… Come closer, let me take a look at you.”

As the [Corruption] finishes speaking, a tentacle shoots ahead, extending farther and farther to impossible lengths before wrapping around my body. With casual disdain, the tentacle retracts, and I’m face to face with a blackened skull, staring deep into its burning eyes.

My arms and legs shake. I can’t break free from the creature’s grip. A long, blackened tongue extends from the skull’s mouth, falling down past its chin. The creature leans forward, and with a disgusting rasp, licks my shell.

I try to [Scuttle] free, activating my manipulation skills to no avail. Every iteration of my effort is somehow suppressed by the thing in front of me. The monster is too strong. As [Corruption]’s grip tightens, threatening to crack me in half, my short life flashes before my eyes. I remember Erica and how I’ll never see her again. Todd and Luna will soon die, subsumed by this creature. Everything I have wrought and struggled for will fall to ruin. I remember the gods and how they—

I remember the gods.

With gritted mandibles, I stare into the creatures’ burning eyes and yell, “Aethir, Lira, Toriana! I could really use some help here!”

* * *

In a miserable office, three [Thought-Stream]’s responsible for crustacean development on Arthos quarrel once more.

Toriana starts. “We should—”

“No,” Lira cut in.

“But the covenant says—”

Lira speaks over Toriana. “Do not cite the deep magics to me, Charisma. We were there when it was written.”

Toriana slumps, visibly depressed. A deep heartfelt sigh rumbles from her small body. She murmurs in a small voice, “I know.”

Lira, obviously discomfited, awkwardly moves to pat Toriana on the back. She hesitantly says, “I’m sorry, Tori. It’s just, we guard the Aetheric Gates. The mortals guard the material plane. That’s just the way it has to be.”

Toriana looks at her with teary eyes. Her voice cracks a little as she says, “But… It’s not fair. We are so close! We might get lucky!”

Lira rubs her back and continues to talk quietly. “We are never lucky, but yes, we could intervene. However, by doing so, our greater selves wouldn’t have enough strength to guard the gates. Everything is tightly managed. The mortals have the [System] to help. We can’t spend our power firing into the dark.”

“I’m sorry,” Aethir said. “The mortals are on their own even if their failure costs us an entire planet.”

A soft cry rises from Toriana and she shakes. “But… but I love him!”

Lira and Aethir turn away, dejectedly returning to their duties. They’ve all lost people and planets before, yet it always hurt Toriana the most.

Seeing their willful negligence, the Goddess of Charisma concentrated on the unfolding situation. She wouldn’t turn aside. She would do something about it. She didn’t have much power to spare, but sometimes… Sometimes you cheat a bit for people you love.

* * *

Silence returns my frenzied inquiry to the gods. As the creature overwhelms me, all I can manage is a brief consideration that my impassioned cry was worth a shot. There’s nothing I can do. Todd is paralyzed and Luna is non-responsive. As my eyes frantically scan the room, I pale. Luna’s wound is growing faster than ever before, black concentric rings creeping along her flesh.

I scan the area desperately, trying to find something, anything, to give me leverage or strength to break the creature’s grip. Its strength is threatening to break my reinforced shell. Distantly I feel it crack and light begins to fade as everything starts to grow dark. I struggle with everything I have, squirming, trying to escape the crushing grip.

I have to fight!

My efforts only seem to annoy the creature, and a black miasma rises from the tentacle holding me. [Corruption]’s voice rasps, gently whispering for me to give up. I ignore the insidious whispers. If I’m going down, I’m going to snap my claws as I go. I will not fade gently into the night.

A sudden twist brings my eyes around and something grabs my attention. It’s unusual, which is strange considering I’m in a [Dungeon] filled with jugs, exploding fish and corrupted monsters. Right next to the core is a small spot that looks almost identical to Luna’s wound. I dismissed the discolored spot on my initial scan of the area, but for some reason, all of my attention is drawn to it now.

Then I remember something important. Something going back to my first days exploring the [Dungeon]. One of the first lessons I learned…

I am always supposed to poke at discolored spots.

Almost casually, a small portion of my mind realizes I have only a few moments remaining. In a last ditch effort, I reach out for [Earth Manipulation]. My mental claws struggle futilely against whatever the creature was doing to lock my skills down. I try to move the stones, to do something against my attacker. The only light remaining in my vision was that of the discolored area.

I have to win. Not for myself… but for Luna… Todd… Erica…

My body clenches as I hear the sharp crack of my shell starting to break. I take the pain and memories of my friends, of their hope in me, and bring my mana and will to bear. And just for a split second, my skill activates, hurling the stone across the room.

* * *

“That is one lucky crab,” whispers Wisdom as the hidden crack appears on the viewing screen.

Aethir pauses, briefly surprised. “He actually accomplished the mission.” The probability of him finding the source of the [Corruption] was minimal, hardly a rounding error in estimation.

Toriana scuttled over to Aethir. “Now that Crabby has shown us the way, we can finally help him, right?”

Aethir smiled as he pulled a golden, glowing shell out of his much-battered credenza. “I believe we can, and I have just the tool for the job. My favorite tool, in fact. It will clear every bit of [Corruption] from the surface of the [Dungeon]!”

A quick glance revealed that Crabby only had seconds remaining. Aethir didn’t want to waste any time. He slammed his claw down on his prized button as he yelled, “SMITE!”

CHAPTER 50

AETHIR EX CRABBINA

“What happened to all the miracles, Poppa?”

“Well, son, this is the [System] Age. Miracles have gone away, receded into myth and legends from the Age of Wonders.”

“But why?”

“Well, no one knows why exactly. You ask one man, it’s because the gods don’t love us anymore. Another? It’s because the [System] provides for us.”

“What do you think, Poppa?”

“Well, I think it’s pretty simple. I think they’ve stepped back from direct involvement because they want us to stand on our own two feet.”

— Conversation between Father and Son, Streets of Arthos. From, “History and Myth: The nature of the Divine.” AC 123

I’d sent my prayers, done my best, tried my hardest, and nothing seemed to work. Then as my final action, I did what I told myself anyone should do when faced with imminent destruction—I didn’t go down without a fight.

Mind you, I hadn’t put up much of one. At least I went down clawing and that had to count for something. My only regret was that I couldn’t save everyone.

The portal opening on the ceiling tells me I did something right. There’s a shining metal cylinder that glows red hot in the water. As my weary brain attempts to interpret this new development, the weapon fires and a golden light blasts into the room.

Divine fire pours into the area with a beam that scours away the [Corruption]. The creature drops me, scurrying to dodge the beam. I huddle in on myself, prepared for the coming of my own demise, when I realize that it doesn’t hurt. I look down at my claws and the golden flames gently caressing my shell. The flame flickers in the dark room, almost playful, as it evaporates and cleans my carapace.

The burning power freshens my body, removing the muck and ichor coating the surface. I look around in wonder. The flames are burning the core, the [Corruption], every piece of evil that has saturated this room. It all just dissolves into nothing. While I don’t feel anything but a pleasant warmth, the same cannot be said for others. Because the [Corruption]?

The [Corruption] is screaming.

Countless mouths erupt from each burning surface, teeth gnashing in agony as the evil attempts to fight against the purifying flames. Despite the strength of the creature, its efforts are futile as the fires consume everything. Minutes pass and the rotted flesh completely burns to ash. I look to Todd and Luna. They seem to be okay. Luna has even been completely restored, her body healed, and I hurry over to check on her condition.

I extend a claw and gently poke her. “Luna? Hey, Luna, are you there?”

She tiredly waves an arm at me. “Heyyyy, whatcha doin’? I’m just taking a nap.”

I grab her arms and start swinging her around, excitement coursing through my shell. “You’re healed! You’re back!”

“Waaahhhh!” she yells, jolting awake from being crab handled. “Let me go, you weird crab!”

I calm and set her down.

She looks around at the newly pristine core room and says, “Huh. We’re at the core? How did we get here? And what happened? My head’s a bit fuzzy.”

I take the time to explain everything that’s happened thus far. She follows along until the end when I explain that I think the gods must have intervened with the portal. She stops me.

“Whoa, Crabby. I’m not sure how I know, but the gods just don’t interfere like that.”

Todd chimes in. “TODD.”

“Yeah, what Todd says. We shouldn’t have made it out alive.”

The [System] Dings.

You have received a new message! Say “Yes” to accept!

Sigh. “Yes.”

Message: Aethir [System Architect] to Crabby McCrabbington I

Contents:

This is it, crab, bone thrown. You don’t get any more free handouts. Your fate is your own to manage. Good Luck.

P.S. Toriana told me to tell you that she loves you.

P.P.S Lira told me to remind you that Toriana loves everyone so you’re not special.

Cheers,

— Aethir, God of Knowledge

I close the window, offering a silent thanks to the gods. At least now I know they can hear me. For a moment, I pause on the first post script message. She loves me? No, not right now, Crabby. You have other things to deal with.

I raise my head from the screen and see Luna and Todd looking at me pensively. “Everything’s fine. Remember that free handout? I just cashed in. No more divine intervention for me.”

They both slump, visibly relieved.

“Well? Ready to get out of here?” Luna asks.

We walk over to the core, and as we reach to touch the glittering surface, something catches my eye. I’m staring deep into my own reflection, the core’s polished gem mirroring the surroundings. And in that mirror I see, not my own eyes, but a hungry burning gaze.

Somehow, a fragment of the [Corruption] hid itself away in the core. Away from the divine fire that purged the rest of the [Dungeon].

There is no time, we’re all trying to get out of here. I activate my skills, [Scuttl]’ing ahead so my claw touches first. As my mana connects with the core, my reflections burning eyes grow larger and larger. I struggle in vain as against my will, I’m drawn into my mental space.

I can feel my mana core behind me, it’s gentle pulsing giving me a sense of stability in this directionless zone. I’m surrounded by the [Akasha], the familiar shadows moving ephemerally in my sight. What’s new is the boundary I sense. I thought this space was infinite, never having seen or felt an edge. Now? Now I know this space is contained because there’s something pounding at the barrier. With a brief flicker of will, I’m flying forward, venturing forth to meet my foe.

A tender blue light emanates from a wall in front of me. On the other side, the creature swings its tentacles at the barrier, each strike rattling my insides at the glowing cracks that form. Yet, hope is not lost. The cracks heal themselves, rejuvenating in a cycle of growth that bars the creature’s path. The fragment of [Corruption] continues its barrage as it sweetly whispers:

“What does a little crab want?”

“Do you want Wealth?”

“Do you want Power?”

“I can give them to you.”

“I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

Its words tenderly caress my mind, even as the fragment attacks the shining barrier of light. For a brief moment, images arise in my thoughts. I could be the Lord of Crabs, ruling the world from a giant sandcastle. Surrounded by the most delicious foods and the prettiest girl crabs. Each moment, the fragment hammers my mind with another improbable scene. [Corruption] could give me whatever it thought I wanted.

“Just… Let! ME! IN!”

I snap out of the daydream, guarding my thoughts from the insidious words. I try to activate my skills; [Slice], [Scuttle], the various manipulation abilities, anything that would let me drive this thing away. One by one I try, and they all fail to engage, all fail in the face of whatever this thing is. But then I get a flicker of response from [Sir Crabby’s Story].

I’m surrounded by the [Akasha] here, and whatever the thing was doing to block me apparently doesn’t work when I’m this close. As the fragment’s struggles continue, I reach out, not knowing what I’m looking for, only knowing that there has to be something that can help.

I project my will into the ethereal threads of knowledge and lore that binds mortal existence. Searching for a weapon, an idea, a shield, something that can help against the evil before me. Flashes of inspiration appear in the distance. A man swings a sword, and then falls before a blackened corpse. A mage reads from a spell book, the tome suddenly moving to consume his face. Defenders are manning a wall, giving way to endless waves of monsters. Failure after failure is displayed before me, all mortals struggling against darkness… and losing.

A harsh laugh breaks my concentration and I refocus on the thing in front of me. Skin has grown over the skull, yet patches of bone still peak from the rotting flesh. As the skin grows further, the voice warps and changes. The monster begins to lose its multitone and settles on a single male sound.

I’m staring into the half-face of someone I’ve seen before. From what seems to be long ago, its articulation echoes from the beginning of my journey.

The thing wearing the face of Erica’s Uncle says, “Your story is a simple one, foolish crab. I’ve heard it a thousand times before.” He cackles while I struggle to find something to fight with. “That won’t work. That never works. I am the rot within, the hunger without. Your paltry connection to your pitiful lore cannot face me. I will attack and attack for all time, while but a moment passes in the real world. Your power is weak and you will give in, and you will fall, as all mortals do.

“For I… AM… C̴̗̭̅͑̎͗͌͋̓̀͗̑̚O̷̡̗͔͙̗͙̣͔͌̒̿̇̆̓͂́̄̓̇R̸̜͓̯̻͇̘͚̰̯̤͎̟̠͉̬̻͎͖̱̈́͂̇̄̇̇̓̄̉̕͜ͅṚ̶̖̖̤̖̜̠̭͇̦͖͈͊̈͊̑̈̏́̔̿̈̚U̸̳̙̪̼̖̥̺̫̍̄̀̇̃̆̏̏̂̊̆͌̇̎̌̍̋̏̐͋͘͠͠P̸̛̹̘͎̝͍͉̜̣͖͚̯̓̒̀̄͑͜T̸̡̧̻̹̄I̵̧̧̛̝͓̠̥͎̘̲̱̱̞̪̭̮̓̇͊̈̈̈̄̓̑̀͒̈̍̍͗̆́̚̕̚̕͜O̵͍͛̀̑̑̏̀̂̈̈́̋̏͘͜͝͝N̴̢̹̻̙̠̝̱̥͖̬̗̟̿̓͂͌͜͠.̶̡̢̨̦̩͙̮̼̹̫̦͗͗́̋̍̏̒̿̽͛̐̽̿̚̕ ”

Its words sink me into despair. What can I do? There’s nothing here to drive it away. How do I fight something forever? Something that attacks the very essence of who I am? As I fret in fear and hopelessness, a glimmer of a thought begins to emerge. I think back to the effects of my skill, [Sir Crabby’s Story]. It’s the only thing that seems to have a chance at working in this mental disembodied space. I’ve been using the skill as a buff so far, but technically it says that the bonus is ‘Various, dependent on [Lore]’ and the cost is, ‘Variable, user defined.’

I latch onto the idea, the words the entity just said. He said I cannot face him. But is that all the [Akasha] is? The [Akasha] is where divine knowledge meets mortal lore. Where the [System] flows from the gods into the material plane. The [Akasha] is one part of the [Bridge Between].

And a bridge goes both ways.

I fling my mind into the shadows, reaching farther, deeper than ever before. I ignore the surface layer, the references and musings and discoveries of all mortality. It’s as if I’m diving through endless shadows, words and ideas floating in an ephemeral haze. In an eternity, a moment, an hour I see an ocean of gold.

It shines gently below. Infinite in scope and depth. There are faint details in the waters of divine knowledge. Its strength is too vast, its power so great as to break my mind, body and soul. I extend a mental claw into the substance and touch a mere drop, a single inkling of the shining sea. The divine knowledge burns like fire, and my will melts as I race back to my mental space, journeying through clouds of mortal understanding.

The drop faintly dims, growing weaker as it stretches farther from the source, diluted by the shimmering waves of existence. Even still, as it fades, the drop becomes almost familiar. Flavored by the clouds I pass through. This single drop is my story, and my story is a single drop in the ocean of knowledge.

By the time my consciousness returns to my mental projection, I have an idea. An idea flaming through my body as my eyes alight in golden fire. The power burns inside me, and somehow I’m being injured in a fundamental way. My story is my own… and the cost? I’m willing to pay any cost to defend my friends.

Inspiration grips my heart as the pain thunders in my chest. Before I’m washed away by the overwhelming strength I’m borrowing, I channel the power into my voice. I grit my mandibles and begin to sing.

“I was injured in the morning

When my world was begun.”

“What are you doing?”

“And I recovered by the grace

Of the gods, sorely won.”

“Stop that.”

“And I came down from trials

Placed my will upon the earth.”

“I command you to stop.”

“And in this [Dungeon]

I proved my worth.”

“STOP! SINGING!”

The golden flames burst from my eyes to encompass my form and I lift my claws high. The pure light tones sing in the dark. Happiness and joy beating back the creature before me. Jubilation echoes from my voice as a distant hymn is brought to Arthos, channeled through my personal life and experience.

“[Corruption], then, whatever you may be,

I am the Lord of the Coast, said she,

And I’ll find her now, wherever she may be,

And I’ll find her again at the Coast, said me.”

The creature’s attacks begin anew. Its frenzied swings pound faster and faster as if to break me and the song I sing. The music pounds within me, the sliver of divinity I’ve touched filtered through mortality, expressed in the truest story I know.

My story.

I advance, claws raised high.

“You cut me down

And I climbed up high;

I am the crab

That’ll never, never die;

I’ll destroy you

If you destroy me.”

Its attacks pause and its eyes widen in fear. I gather the light, the fire, the pure power I’ve drawn and let it out in a final roar.

“I am the LORD OF THE COAST, said she!”

My roar echoes into the barrier, breaking it to pieces. The shards fly and pierce the fragment as it fades. I return to reality, viewing the core in front of me. I’m faced with only my reflection, nothing threatening our continued existence. As I immediately start gasping and almost collapse, my friends bolster me up, peppering me with questions.

“The [Corruption] was hiding in the core after the gods cleared the rest of the [Dungeon]. It was a trap. I… I managed to defeat it though.”

Todd and Luna continue to support me while I recover. After a time, we ready ourselves and reach ahead. A blinding flash of light descends, and as it clears, I find that we’re someplace new. It looks like we’ve finally escaped the Deepwater [Dungeon].

Of course, I couldn’t tell anyone that right away, because I’d been temporarily blinded by the bright flashing teleporter.

Everyone really needs to tone it down with the lights and the glare.

CHAPTER 51

THE ESCAPE

“The fight continues, even to this day; from the material realm, to the elemental planes, unto the Aetheric Gates. All creation stands as one, against [Corruption].”

— Popular sermon, Streets of Lenoria. AC 293

As the stars in my vision fade, I see that we’re still somewhere in the water.

“Can you finally see?” Luna asks.

“Yes,” I grumble. Stupid flashy teleporters.

I struggle to get my orientation, sending mana pings off into the distance. We’re in a small rocky cave, and it looks to be naturally constructed. The cave is dark, and the exit curves off out of sight. However, that’s not the only thing in front of us. Sitting motionless, hovering in the water, is a bubble of air. And inside the bubble, is a frog.

I lean over to Todd and ask him, whispering, “Is that the Hypnofrog?”

Todd nods his spikes and I straighten up.

The frog stares at us impassively, no indication or sign of what it’s thinking. As I try to determine if the frog is friend or foe, I make the mistake of looking at its eyes. The eyes that slowly revolve in a twisting vortex. My mind blanks and all I hear is a distant whirr.

Before I become lost in the pounding noise, the frog breaks contact and turns away from us. He says a single word, it’s voice neutral and without inflection.

“Come.”

Our group follows him from the cave, entering a long passageway leading upward. We move in silence, our surroundings growing dark, and the Hypnofrog’s eyes begin to glow. Twin beams of light pierce the water and illuminates our path. We reach what appears to be the final room when the frog stops, hovering in midwater.

Without looking at us, he says, “This is your final lesson. Where is the exit?”

My hackles raise at the implication that this has all been some kind of training experience. I don’t know what he was doing this whole time, but while he was hanging out in the [Safe Zone], Luna, Todd and I were struggling for our lives. I’m about to raise my voice to tell him off when Luna pats my shell. She doesn’t need to say anything. We’ve worked together long enough to pick up what the other is feeling. The sense I get from her is, ‘There’s more important things to focus on.’

And she’s right. It looks like we still haven’t gotten out of here yet. As I examine the small room, right in front of me is a carving of a green face. The carving seems a bit grotesque, but that’s due to the design choice. The face is maddened and its mouth is opened wide, large enough to fit all of our bodies. The space inside the carving’s open mouth appears to be shadow, almost a solid void. Mana pings of the surrounding area don’t reveal anything else but the carving.

“Is the exit through the mouth ahead?” I ask.

The frog chuckles briefly and humorlessly replies, “That is the obvious choice. In the future, know that [Dungeon]’s have a limited control over their entrance and exits. Go ahead and extend your mana into that black space.”

I engage [Mana Manipulation] and extend it into the hole. As mana passes the surface without a ripple, it completely cuts off as though sheared through. I repeat my investigation with earth and water to the same effect. I’m about to comment on the bizarre nature of what’s happening when the frog speaks up.

“What you’re seeing is an orb of annihilation. It’s a common final trap for anyone trying to escape. When creatures beat the final boss, they’re often so weary and elated, they don’t even think and walk right into the orb. Instant death then occurs.” He walks over to the wall and twists a seemingly ordinary rock. As he does, a portion of the wall descends and leads out into what appears to be the outside.

The frog says, “Traps at the end of [Dungeons], such as this orb, account for over three-fourths of [Sapient] [Dungeon] monster deaths. Part of my assignment here is mitigating those preventable deaths.”

With that proclamation, he walks ahead. We cautiously follow, venturing into what appears to be freedom.

We find ourselves on a ledge, a thin promenade extending from the side of an underwater mountain. Far, far above is a bit of light. While down here the water is black and inscrutable. It’s not completely featureless though. As I stare into the dark sea, occasional pinpricks of light appear in the distance. I strain my eyes, struggling and failing to make out any details. Several minutes pass and nothing happens. We’re just standing on a ledge in the ocean. Finally, I decide to try and engage the frog. I’ve let go of my previous anger after his help earlier. And besides…

Being polite doesn’t hurt, right?

“Uhm, Mr. Frog, sir. What, what are we doing here? What’s going on?”

The frog doesn’t move or glance at me, just continues gazing into the distance. “Sit and wait. It’s too dangerous to move now.”

I look to Todd and Luna. Luna shrugs, unconcerned, and Todd just ripples in a motion that seems to be nonchalance.

I take a seat and bring up my [System] logs. They’ve been blinking for a while now. I’m immediately inundated with a wall of text.

Ding.

You have defeated [Undead Tiger Shark] – Larry.

You have gained a level! x2

You have defeated [Undead Pufferfish] – Pops.

You have gained a level! x2

You have defeated [Undead Swordfish] – Irene.

You have gained a level! x2

You have defeated [CORRUPTION] – Incarnation.

You have gained a level! x3

You are now level 25!

You gain +18 to all stats from the level up.

Congratulations!

You may now advance your class!

Congratulations!

New Title Available.

A wave of mana flows from the [System] into my body, bolstering my ability as most of my stats nearly double. I remain still, trying to let my mind and body adapt to the changes. I hold off on advancing my class for the moment, I want to be in a safe space before doing something completely new. As I finish, there’s a light gently glowing in the distance.

The light floats in the water and as time passes, it grows closer. The light is revealed to be a lantern, floating along in a bubble of air. Inside the bubble is a human, dressed in a blue suit, sitting cross legged. He’s wearing some kind of dark shaded glasses and his expression appears stern and unwelcoming.

He continues toward us until finally stopping, hovering parallel in front of our ledge. He briefly glances at Todd, Luna and I before turning to the Hypnofrog.

“Agent Frog, why have you summoned me here? Report.”

The frog begins speaking. “Agent Frog reporting. [Dungeon] 284C2K, [System] classification Deepwater [Dungeon] suffered an infection by [CORRUPTION]. The urchin and the sea star are [Sapient] [Dungeon] monsters. The crab is an outsider, [Sapient] as well.”

The seated man jerks at those last words. “How did he arrive in the [Dungeon]?”

“Unknown.”

“How did he achieve [Sapience]?”

“Unknown.”

The man briefly looks back at me and stares for a moment before returning to the frog. “Continue.”

“The infection progressed, devouring and corrupting all life within. The crab and starfish teamed up to defeat and escape the [Dungeon]. They hoped escape would heal the starfish’s own infection. They eventually teamed up with the urchin and made their way to the core, defeating corrupted [Sapient] [Dungeon] creatures to do so. They then made their way to the core room.”

It pauses as if to gather its own thoughts. “From there, my personal sight was obscured, but from their words, after the [Corruption] was purged and the [System] restored, it appears as though the crab faced and defeated a [Corruption] incarnation.”

The man isn’t even hiding his stare this time. His eyes never leave me as he just floats in the water. His unabashed attention is making me nervous, and I wring my claws a little.

The frog continues, “Also, the [Dungeon] suffered some kind of incident. Something purged the entire [Dungeon] of evil and allowed them to escape.”

The man jerked his eyes from me and focused on the frog. “Incident? What kind of incident?”

“Unknown classification. From their words and my own observations, I believe it may have been… divine intervention.”

The man in blue rocks back, visibly stunned. He pulls his gaze from us and looks off into the distance. His brows are furrowed in thought. Finally, he turns back to the frog.

“Agent Frog. This is an unusual tale. There isn’t a current precedent for how to deal with this. As the Agent on ground, what do you recommend?”

“Though unusual, I believe all of these incidents appear to be one-off events. I don’t recommend memory wipes at this time. I recommend usual processing procedures in accordance with personnel acquisition and recruitment from areas surrounding the incursion zone. To include an immediate draft into territorial forces.”

I’ve been trying to follow along in the rapid-fire conversation, but as the final speech leaves the frog I start to object. I lift my claws and say, “Hey! Wait a minute here!”

The man in blue cuts me off. “You, crab, how did you get here?”

I glare at him. “Freak teleport accident.”

“And how did you gain [Sapience]?”

I glare harder. “Freak [Sapience] accident.”

My glare is matched by his own and he frowns. “And what is your goal here, crab?”

The sudden shift in topics puts me off guard. “I… I’m just trying to get home.” I add, just for clarification, “I’m from the coasts of Lenoria.”

The man in blue’s frown changes to one of pity. He looks into the distance, then says softly, “Sorry, crab. That’s not going to happen. The coasts of Lenoria are fifteen thousand miles that way.” He points behind him to the dark sea and the distant flashes of light. “And you’re not getting past that.”

His words raise my shackles. “Get past what? There’s only dark water over there. I can’t see anything.”

Understanding crosses his features and he begins moving his arms in a spell casting motion. “I’m going to cast a vision enhancement skill on you. [Megalodon’s Sight].”

A green wave of mana passes from his hands to my eyes, and when the light fades, my vision clears. I can see far, far away into the dark. My shell pales and my blood rushes to my extremities at what lays before me.

I see War Unending.

A deep trench rends the sea floor in two, miles of canyons leading into the earth. On both sides of the trench, sea animals huddle in bunkers. They’re dug in, occasionally conducting sorties to raid and attack. Above them, coordinated platoons of fish swim in synchronization. Periodically, the fish turn as one, firing coordinated spell blasts at the corrupted monsters rising from the abyss.

Miles and miles of dug in positions, fortresses, barricades, earthworks lay on either side, manned by what appears to be millions of creatures. They all defend against the continuous waves of monsters emerging from the trench. I get the sudden sense they’re the first and only line separating Arthos from destruction.

I almost collapse from the sheer scale of the battle. “What… what does this mean?”

The man in blue’s voice carries a tone of pity as he says, “What does it mean? Welcome to the war, crab. You’re in the army now.”

EPILOGUE

WORLD AT WAR

“Well, Toriana, Lira, it’s been fun,” Crab Aethir says to the other gods. They all turn away from the screen floating in their cave.

“What will happen to him from here?” Toriana asks.

“I’ve conducted some minor [Future Telling], but everything is murky and unclear,” Aethir says. “I’ll keep a tab on the crab for now. There’s too many unusual things happening around him.”

“Especially with that evolution,” Lira says. “Something like that showing up here? Again? The prophecy—”

“Is just that, a prophecy,” Aethir cuts her off. “It’s been proven wrong since the dawn of time. There’s no reason to get all ruffled because signs appear once more.”

“Well, this was fun,” Toriana says. “But I should really be getting back to my own area. I’m thinking of trying to push through an advertisement campaign to give crustaceans a positive spin. Too many people eat them on land as it is.”

“Yes, the next hundred years or so should be interesting.” Lira looks into the distance, and a sense of amusement appears on her mandibles. “Well, amusing at least.” She lifts a wise claw to her chin. “Maybe I can delay taking the crustacean souls off to the afterlife. It won’t save many of them, but even a few over time…”

Crab Lira and Toriana leave Aethir’s cave and he’s left alone once more. Returning to his desk, he begins to handle all the work that has piled up in his absence. Checking to see that the other [Thought-Streams]’s have really left, he pulls up another scry window. He lets it play in the background, chuckling at the sight of Crabby’s shocked face.

Crabby’s no longer alone and afraid. He has friends beside him, and he’s about to enter a new and frightening world.

The world at war.

Crab Aethir took a deep breath and sighed before returning to his work. The [System] wasn’t going to manage itself after all.

* * *

Emperor Augustus Octavius, fourth of his name, was going through reports. A storm battered the imperial palace. Wind and rain pattering on the window behind him. He ignored all of that, focused on the expenditure reports.

“Grain production has increased over this quarter, which means—”

A stroke of lightning flashed in the distance, the boom coinciding with the mana lights going out. He jumped, finding himself in sudden darkness. He was about to activate a skill to produce fire when the lights flickered back on.

And he discovered he was not alone.

Standing in front of him, where there were none before, was five individuals; one from each of the major races. They all wore business suits, in the southern style of a deep shade of blue. On their faces was a pair of glasses, dark lenses blocking out view of their eyes. The emperor’s arm was slowly going under his desk, to the emergency alarm as he scanned the intruders.

An elf, a dwarf, a halfling, one of the sea folk, a human—wait… Is that…

“Uncle Zed?”

The emperor’s hand was halfway under his desk. He hadn’t seen Uncle Zed in close to twenty-five years, and he was presumed dead by misadventure. The human strode forward, and his stern expression morphed into a tired smile.

“Hey, kid, been a while.”

They clasped arms, and while Augustus was worried by how they bypassed security, he managed to get his emotions in check. His father’s brother was known as a man of high morals. He didn’t feel as though he was in immediate danger.

Conscious of the other people’s presence he asked, “Well… this is certainly a surprise. In almost every way imaginable. I don’t imagine you and your friends showed up on a whim. What is your purpose here?”

His four companions remained silent, letting his uncle speak. Which was wise, all things considered with some of the recent clashes between their respective kingdoms.

“You’ve been in power now some twenty years,” his uncle said. “It’s time you learned some things.”

His uncle took a seat and the emperor waved his hand for him to continue.

“There is a World War going on. And has been since the cataclysm, about 1750 years in fact.”

This ridiculous statement rocked the emperor back, and he tried to wipe the skepticism from his face. He was still confused by the situation, but there was no need to be overly impolite. Especially since they could bypass all the wards layered under this room.

He awkwardly chuckled. “That’s a fine joke, uncle, and I know our races,” he gestured to the others, “have had some spats and wars, but I’d hardly consider it an ongoing conflict. In fact, I think we’re in a rare bout of peace at the moment.” He grinned, nodding to each of the people in the room, a statesman to his core.

Only stony expressions returned his gesture.

A flicker of mana caught his attention as an invisibility skill was lowered. Behind the four was a very large, very old dragon. The tides of power wafting off its form crushed him into his seat and he instantly broke out into a sweat.

“Silence human.” The room rumbled from the dragon’s voice. “This planet is over two thirds water. There is a single supercontinent. Despite what you may believe, if the majority of all [Sapient]’s are fighting, then it is a World War.” It returned its gaze to his uncle and imperiously said, “Continue.”

The emperor gulped. Now he knew how they’d snuck in. He offered a silent prayer to the gods. Sneaking was a much better alternative to just ripping the castle in half.

“As I was saying, there is a World War. And for those of us here on land, it’s largely a secret one. It is being fought underwater, on the far side of the globe by legions of [Dungeon] monsters.”

The emperor wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and considered this new information. Legions? And the dragon said the majority of [Sapient]’s are fighting… And if the planet is mostly covered in water…

“Who… who are they fighting?” he croaked out.

At his question, the dragon rumbled. “[Corruption].”

The emperor paled even further.

“And so, after an initial trial period in which your leadership ability was assessed, it was decided that you would be allowed to remain in power,” his uncle said.

At the sheer arrogance of that statement, the emperor’s hackles rose. Sure, dragons were difficult opponents, but the empire had enough high levels they could take one out. Mindful of his current company though, he said, “And who made this decision?”

“The dragons.”

The emperor was about to slump in relief. Okay, the empire could deal with a single dragon. They’d be weakened, but the survivors would gain massive amounts of levels. He’d have to reconfigure his forces to account for it. All in all, it would be a net gain. He just had to make it through this meeting and then he could marshal his forces and—

“All of them,” his uncle clarified.

The emperor was barely holding himself together at this point. Revelation after revelation hitting him one after the other. He didn’t even know the dragon’s had an organization. Common knowledge said they were all solitary beings you didn’t mess with. They were much like the weather. You couldn’t do much about them, and if they took out some sheep now and then, well, that was just the cost of doing business. He wearily waved a hand for his uncle to continue.

“I’m part of an organization called the Men in Blue. We serve as adjuncts to military intelligence to the undersea forces in their fight. We also serve as liaison between the incursion zone and the continent. As current projections show you remaining in power, it’s time for the empire to do its part. Tithes, material resources and aid will be expected of you moving forward.”

The talk of supplies put the emperor back on solid ground. Some things began to line up. Reports and expenditures he remembered seeing when he first took power. Resources diverted away for unknown purposes. He thought it was merely greedy nobles and middlemen taking more than their share. But now? Now things started to make sense.

“And soldiers? Military forces?”

“Unnecessary,” the dragon rumbled. “It was attempted some thousand years ago, but the land dwellers were more of a liability than anything.”

A final point came to the forefront of his mind. He looked to one of the people standing stoically behind his uncle. “And the sea folk?”

He examined their blue skin, the fisheyes and fins along the arms and legs. It possessed a humanoid body, yet he’d never heard anything about this from them. In fact, as far as he was aware of, they all lived near the coast of the continent.

“They are restricted from that area the same as everyone else,” his uncle said. “The [System] imposed a barrier upon the initial incursion onto this world. Some few make it through, sea folk and land dwellers alike, but once you enter you can’t leave.”

“Make it through what?” the emperor asks.

The dragon replied. “Retired military are allowed outside of the restricted area. They are commonly misidentified as Kraken’s and Leviathans.”

Ah… So that’s where all the missing ships went. Every few generations someone had the bright idea of exploring the other side of the world, trying to see what’s out there. Most never return. Now he knew the reason why. He took a deep breath, coming to terms with his new perspective. He worked best with a plan of action and he didn’t seem to be in immediate danger.

“What do you need from me?”

His uncle reached over his desk, shaking his hand. “You’ll find a report on your desk. In it will be requested supplies as well as a drop off location. That will be all. Rule well and you’ll never see us again.”

“Rule well human,” the dragon rumbled. “I detest mandatory briefings.”

Lightning flashed and the lights went out. When they returned, Emperor Augustus Octavius found himself alone in his office. His garments were soaked in sweat and his hand trembled slightly. In front of him was a blue sheet of paper listing supplies and the location of an old warehouse in the capital.

“Rule well,” he muttered. He placed all thoughts of the situation out of his mind. It was out of his control. He went back to what he was best at, management and logistics. The empire wasn’t going to run itself after all.

* * *

In the depths of the abyssal trench…

Far below the raging conflict, a sea of undead spewed forth from corrupted [Dungeon] cores. They initially attempt to burrow deeper, their base instinct directing them to reach the core of the planet and twist it from its purpose. Almost immediately, they begin swimming upward. There was uncorrupted nearby. They have to take out the immediate threat first. Then they could return to their work.

It was a process largely automated. In the end, this was an unimportant world. They would win in time, and they had endless time in which to win. The semi-sapient awareness in charge of this conflict was briefly stunned by an explosion of divine power. Some miles distant, a piece of itself was obliterated. That was fine. Attempting to take over a [Dungeon] behind enemy lines was a minor ploy anyway. Though, it wasn’t expecting divine intervention on a [System] world.

Maybe it needed to accelerate its plans for this planet. As it mused, it’s greater self sent it an idea. With a brief consideration, it decided to follow through. From one of the corrupted cores, tentacles emerged, slithering onto the floor. It was joined by legs and arms, and then a skull with burning eyes. Flesh grew over the skull and a human’s face was revealed.

The Grand Marshall and general of Lenoria’s forces looked around at the rotting corpses of his troops. Seems he had a new mission. Every effective force needed leadership.

After all, the war wasn’t going to run itself.

* * *

The story continues in Incursion City.

Flip to the back for full appendices.

THANK YOU FOR READING DEEPWATER DUNGEON

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Fight, survive, adapt, and rely only on yourself.

That is Derek’s creed, and what's got him through the System Integration on Earth.

Everything changed when the System came. Cute bunnies and beautiful butterflies became savage killing machines. Then the Invaders arrived with a single goal: to obtain ownership of this new habitable planet.

War has raged ever since.

None of this mattered much to Derek, aside from making living a little more perilous. He mostly kept to himself. He was the weird guy who owned a cabin that occasionally came into town for a drink and light conversation. After System Integration, that didn’t change much—he only got stronger.

After years of fighting monsters and Invaders alone he’s become quite adept at surviving. Who needs others to get in the way or worry about?

Until one day, Derek goes against his better judgement. He decides to lend some help on a mission that doesn’t seem too hard… He should have stuck to being alone…

GET SYSTEM CHANGE NOW!

* * *

Basil Bohen was asleep when the System arrived and the world changed...

Dungeons suddenly popped up across the planet, summoning invaders and monsters from alternate realities. Ancient gods slumbering beneath the Earth were woken. And all humans were empowered with Levels and Classes gained by, amongst other things, killing monsters and other humans.

Only a single instruction was provided by the System: “Whoever reaches Level 100 first shall become Earth’s new Overgod.”

So initiated a worldwide battle royale of epic proportions... which Basil would rather sit out. Choosing the [Tamer] profession which allows him to speak with his cat, Plato, and other apocalyptic monsters, he'll adopt and train them to fight alongside him and defend his corner of the countryside.

After all, why bother fighting the apocalypse when you can tame it?

GET APOCALYPSE TAMER NOW!

Inside the Tower, there is only one choice—climb or die.

John Mavren and his comrades eventually reached the 100th floor, five years after the desolation of the outside world and twenty years after the Tower first appeared. In a violent battle to ascend, John was struck down even as he dealt the final blow to the last boss.

Those who survived were granted passage off ruined Earth and into worlds unknown, but they refused. Instead, they asked the Final Guardian for only a single grace—that John be returned to life.

Time moved backwards.

Bestowed with a fragment of his original power and with almost no memory of what had happened before, John wakes up in the past only one year after the arrival of the Tower.

With a sense of impending doom and a single, desperate hope for survival, John knows he must conquer the Tower and defeat those who dwell within.

He must become powerful enough to overcome a forgotten future and stop the apocalypse.

GET TOWER REBORN NOW!

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APPENDIX 1: FULL CLASS/SKILL/TITLES

Character Sheet

Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I

Age: 9 Months | Level: 25 | Class: Apprentice of the Coast | Race: Elemental Crab

Titles: Triumvirate Unveiled, Kiss from a Crab, Luck of the Crab, Lore Contributor II, Bridge Between, Skill Smith

Health: 520/520 | H-Regen: 0.52/sec

Mana: 690/690 | M-Regen: 0.72/sec

Stamina: 1120/1120 | S-Regen: 1.06/sec

Basic Stats

Strength: 54

Wisdom: 72

Vitality: 52

Intelligence: 69

Dexterity: 60

Charisma: 68

Physical Skills

Scuttle III: Lvl 8

Effects: Increase movement speed, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 11.2% faster movement

Static Bonus: +10% faster actions where Water & Earth meet

Cost: 2 Stamina per second

Lore: “Time to [Scuttle]!” – Thief Saying

Slice III: Lvl 7

Effects: Increased effect of STR on edged weapons, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 10.8% greater cutting damage

Cost: 12 Stamina per attack

Lore: “Time to [Slice] & dice.” – Royal Chef

Cutting Mask II: Lvl 4

Effects: Your form shifts to cut through elemental obstruction.

Current Bonus: 5.6% faster speed/fluidity

Cost: 1 Stamina per second, 1 Mana per second

Lore: “I am the wind. I am water, earth and fire. I am… {REDACTED}.” – {REDACTED}

Magic Skills

Mana Manipulation III: Lvl 2

Effects: Move mana, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 8.8% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Wield the might Arcane.” – Archmage Vendros

Water Manipulation III: Lvl 9

Effects: Move Water, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 11.6% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Lore: “Nature is like [Water]. It takes the shape of its container.” – Sea Folk Advice

Earth Manipulation III: Lvl 2

Effects: Move Earth, relative to skill level.

Current Bonus: 8.8% faster/accurate shaping

Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed

Cost: 1 Mana per Second

Lore: “I’m always down to [Earth].” – Elemental Saying

Mana Sense III: Lvl 1

Effects: Feel the mana around you.

Current Bonus: 8% greater clarity

Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed

Cost: None (Passive)

Lore: “Begin your path to power.” – Mage Guild

Eyes of Intent I: Lvl 4

Effects: Manifest Your Will.

Current Bonus: Undefined

Cost: Variable

Lore: “My sight will end this age.” – {REDACTED}

Sir Crabby’s Story

Effects: Channel the [AKASHA] to tell your story

Current Bonus: Various, dependent on [Lore]

Cost: Variable, user defined

Lore: “It can’t be that easy.” – Sir Crabby McCrabbington I.

Titles:

Triumvirate Unveiled

Feat: You have seen the Shadows of Ages Past, the Triumvirate Unveiled.

Effect: +5% to Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence

Lore: “I may be blind, yet still I see.” – {REDACTED}

Kiss from a Crab

Feat: Received a [Divine] Crab Kiss

Effect: +1% to All Stats

Lore: “There… Used to be a Pretty Crabby Alone on the sea….” – Latest hit from ‘Pinniped’

Luck of the Crab

Feat: Divinely Announced as the “Luckiest Crab in the History of Existence.”

Effect: Once per day, [Dodge] attack that would cause your death.

Lore: “This… this is ridiculous.” – Goddess of Wisdom, flabbergasted

[Lore] Contributor II

Feat: Performed *New* Feat. Contributed to the [Lore] of Arthos

Effect: +1 to Charisma, +1 to Wisdom

Lore: “Go forth and forge your legend!” – [Lore]

Bridge Between

Feat: Have [Knowledge] of the [COVENANT], Have [Triumvirate Unveiled], intuit existence of the [AKASHA].

Effect: +5% to WIS, INT, CHA, [DEF-UP] against [CORRUPTION], + [Knowledge] to [System] interface.

Lore: “Have the [Knowledge], Understand the [Lore], Power the Will, and Even the Score.” – {REDACTED}

Skill Smith

Feat: Broken and Reforged a [Skill].

Effect: +1% to All Stats

Lore: “When all you have is a hammer, every [skill] looks like an ingot.” – Dwarf Saying

GROUPS

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APPENDIX 2: DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Lore – The total sum of mortal discovery, creativity and culture. Examples include: Thundercrabs, Powercrab Larvae, Cosplay.

Knowledge – An Aspect of Eternity – The total and exact factual understanding of everything that is or was. Constantly added to by lore. Examples include: References to Mount Tai on planets without either “Mounts” or “Tai.”

Akasha – Mortal’s collective unconscious. Formed at the union between lore and knowledge. First line of defense against corruption. Contains echoes of every story ever told.

The System – The bridge between divine power and the material plane. Mortals cannot handle divine power. The system serves as a translation measure between the two. The initialization of the system only happens after the lore of a world (mortal discovery, creativity and culture) is developed enough to bear the weight of an influx of knowledge from the wider multiverse. Otherwise, the nascent developing identity of a world would be crushed. When the lore has developed to a sufficient level, knowledge is introduced, the akasha is fully formed and system implementation begins. Marks translation from the mythical Age of Wonders to the System Age.

Corruption – The enemy of mortality, the [System] and the gods. Examples include: [Corrupted Piranha], Erica’s Uncle, and Large Corporations.

Aspects of Eternity – An absolute expression of divine power as limited by a single facet of existence.

Gods – Literal personifications of the Aspects of Eternity. They have multiple aspects that fall under the same logical association. A billion faces, a trillion worlds, an infinity of gods, that all fall under a single voice. Examples include: Tori-Tori, Goddess of Cute Pastries.

Free Will – The ability of mortals to choose freely how they wish to interact with the universe and make choices. Offers them limited ability to interact with the gods as they see fit. For example, Strength in his Aspect as Ares, a God of War may incite anger in the viewer. But interacting with him in his Aspect of Hercules, may give righteous strength and valor. Examples include: Eating an entire box of Donuts, “Just Because.”

Multiverse – The various planes of existence. Those currently known: The Material Plane, The Elemental Plane, The Divine Realm, The Burning Hells.

Arthos – Classified in the Divine Guide to the Cosmos under category: Generic Fantasy World #23. Known to have humans, dwarves, elves, halflings, dungeons, dragons and crabs.

Toriana – A god. Known Aspects: Charisma, Love, Lust, Yearning, Passion, Fire, Chaos, Rapture, Madness, Cute Pastries.

Aliases: Leader of the Thundercrabs, Desecrator of Credenza’s, Clawsome.

Lira – A god. Known Aspects: Wisdom, Knowledge, Experience, Ice, Winter, Death, Entropy, Slushies, Skiing.

Aliases: Lira-Gra.

Aethir – A god. Known Aspects: Intelligence, Wind, Spring, Magic, Hope, Innocence, Credenza’s, Floral Arrangements

Aliases: Bubbles, Halibut Ra.

Strength – A god.

Vitality – A god.

Dexterity – A god.

The Triumvirate – Composed of Toriana, Lira and Aethir. Responsibilities include: Managing the [System].

The Trinity – Composed of Strength, Vitality, Dexterity. Responsibilities include: Unknown.

[REDACTED] – Unknown. All that is known is that he/she/it/they have been removed from the lore of Arthos. Examples include: [REDACTED], as well as [REDACTED] and [REDACTED].

Men in Blue – Secret Organization. The best kept secret on Arthos. Known activities: Monitoring/clearing the deep-sea dungeons.

Dbug - Construct designation D-616B626172. Previously assigned as an insect monitoring program. Currently tasked to make sure Crabby doesn’t break anything too important. Likes: Appearing out of Nowhere, being too Loud, and changing colors.

Sphinxes – A failed race. The gods discovered that combining a cat’s playfulness, curiosity and sadistic impulses with human intellect and laziness and then pumping it full of power resulted in a creature that lounged around and thought of riddles all day. And then killed anyone who got them wrong. They hang out by themselves because hardly anyone likes them.