Apocalypse Reset: My Crab Can Heal the World!

"I see…"

Commander Seifa Brahn's calculated demeanor breaks, a creep of worry wriggling into her stony eyes.

"And why would they want to do such a thing?" Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

It's Barns who speaks up for the group. "Clancy is the strongest guy slash crab I know. He's the reason I'm able to resurrect humans, and he was able to repel Donatella. Isn't it obvious? They're afraid of him."

The Commander shakes her head slowly. She hates everything she's hearing.

"Donatella is one of the two weakest Sentinels," she informs them, wagging the binder in her hand before she sets it on the table. "If they want your King dead, then I fear I can advise you to comply with their demands. You all have far too much to lose."

"Not happening," Barns states. "Every single person in our Kingdom, myself included, is only alive because of Clancy. We'll fight to the last person to protect him if we have to. That is my stance."

A quiet settles over the room - awkward silence. Everyone is wondering the same thing - is this alliance between Dimartino and Lantafort doomed to fail?

Commander Brahn clears her throat after some time, taking charge of the situation. "It remains my hope that you and I can have a fruitful collaboration. The Sentinels are no friends of Lantafort, Commander Barns, but you are. You and yours saved us from the Master Vampire Adon, who claimed far too many lives during his ambush. And so the least I can do is leave you with this."

She pushes the dossier over to Barns. All the information that Lantafort has gathered on the Sentinels is in those pages.@@novelbin@@

"Worry not, we have other copies," Seifa grins. "If this King of yours is as strong as you say, perhaps you have a chance. Though I have seen the one known as Nazakiel in battle. He has powers that defy explanation and I believe he single-handedly assured the apocalypse would lead to the end of humanity.

"If your leader can defeat Nazakiel, I will have no further inhibitions, and I shall pledge the full might of Lantafort and our ten thousand to you. However, until then…I am afraid we can not be true allies in the sense of the word. But know that Lantafort supports your mission, and we shall welcome any and all from Dimartino at any time."

It's not the response Barns is hoping for, not by any means. But he has no choice but to accept.

"I understand," Barns says. He clenches his fists under the table. Understanding doesn't make it any less frustrating - Dimartino needs their numbers.

"As a token of good faith, I would like to appoint Skado as our official ambassador to Dimartino. Skado, Commander Barns - do you both accept?"

Skado bows his head. "With pleasure."

"Of course," Barns smiles. "Hey, if he didn't come back with us, I think I'd already start to miss him!"

Seifa Brahn shows off a rare but beautiful smile - genuine, and warm. "I shall miss him myself. He is my son, after all."

Barns mouth opens wide in surprise. "Wait, what!?" he exclaims. The son and mother duo look at each other and chuckle to themselves.

'I suppose it makes sense,' Barns thinks. 'They both have that discerning eye.'

The group talks a bit more before Barns ends the conversation.

"I will return soon to finalize our arrangements," he says with a hint of formality that surprises even himself. "But I need to get back to Dimartino. A lot has happened since I've been away."

Barns also realizes he'll have to send an ambassador to Lantafort as well. He wonders if anyone he knows is particularly suited for the job - though he couldn't in a hundred years imagine someone like Haima or Godrick working as an advisor, and people like Maria are too valuable to Dimartino to send away.

Skado looks first to Barns and then to his mother. "If it is alright with everyone, I'd like to stay in Lantafort until Barns returns again," he says. "There are a few things I'd like to take care of before moving to Dimartino for the time being. I should only need a day or so."

The two parties are in agreement, and in no time at all, Barns, Eldrie, and Osmond are back on the road to Dimartino. They have a stop to make on the way, however - at the Pale Court, to see Francois. After all, she promised them she'd release twenty thousand of her citizens if they could defeat Adon and Adea. It's time to see if she's still willing to hold up her end of the bargain.

It takes them about half a day to reach the Pale Court from Lantafort, and as they walk, all Barns can think about is how nice it would be to get some transportation between the towns. They certainly didn't have the technological capabilities to build an automobile or a train, but maybe he could talk to Underhill about some type of carriages. Though, that might require horses…

It's still bright out when they dip into the fog, but as they do they are shielded from the sun, locked in the pale, muted domain of Francois. As they come to the Pale Court, the vampiress is already standing outside, in the center of her stark white city. The army of humans at her disposal continue their soulless march around the Pale Court's myriad levels in a single-file line, shambling ominously.

"Keep that Crab Intuition rolling," Eldrie says, feeling a sense of dread as they approach Francois' 'city'. Barns reassures him that he will - it's not like the 'Crab Intuition' is some toggle Barns can flick on and off. If there's ever a murderous intent, he'll know.

"Eldrie, you should stay far back," Osmond advises. "Barns was able to resist Francois' curse, but I have no expectations for you. Just the sound of her voice can drive a human man insane with lust."

"I can handle it," Eldrie protests, but even Barns stops him.

"Trust me, Eldrie," Barns says, shaking his head. "Stay back."

The former vampire huffs. "As you command, Master Barns." He forms his right hand in the shape of a crab claw and gives Barns a stoic salute. Barns hands Eldrie the dossier for safekeeping as he continues further down the path with the Demon Lord.

As Barns and Osmond enter the city, a sudden icy cold envelops them, and Francois' voice reaches them from far away.

"Why, if it isn't the little boy hero and my dear brother Osmond. Oh, I do hope you're not planning to leave Eldrie behind. It has been so long since I've seen him, I have a gift just for him."