Crab battle, the sequel.

It takes you back to the first quest you ever did with your party. The crabs were the size of you, and from that alone, your party was nearly eliminated. The girls were disasters, and you couldn't do all that much yourself. That was the party that really showcased how much of a nightmare your party was, though thinking back on it is strange. You've fought far more dangerous things than those since then, and whether it's luck or not, your party seems to come out on top. You've grown, and so have they, though that doesn't mean they're any easier to control.

The first shape you see is the king himself. A crab the size of a two-story building scuttles through the water sideways towards the shore. By the looks of the waters around his feet, there must be over a dozen crabs following suit, each of them the size of a person. The oncoming noise is frightening.

"Well, I know what's for dinner!" Niki stands strong right at the shore--water flowing in around her boots. She raises up her shield and waits. "I'll do my best to keep everyone safe, but there's no way I'll be able to keep them all from getting past."

"Don't worry. We'll pick up the rest," you say.

A number of giant crabs sprint to the shoreline, leading a charge to make room for the king's eventual arrival. One slams into Niki's shield with all of its ****, but she doesn't budge more than an inch as her feet sink back into the mud. She flings the creature away, and then slams her mace right into its head, instantly shattering its exoskeleton to bits and knocking the beast out cold. It happens so quickly that she's able to bash her should into a second one before it can pass, causing it to fall upside down, and using its underbelly as a trampoline, she leaps off and slams her mace down onto the back of a third. As a warrior growing in levels, paired with supernatural strength and durability, she's an absolute monster as long as nobody strikes her weak points.

Some of the crabs begin to scuttle past. Arrows fly overhead and land right into their faces, all while the odd Magic Bolt is flung as well. Together, Snow and Eva smite three more before they can even reach you. They're two growing adventurers--rogue and mage--that have been through a lot. That doesn't last forever, though. There are too many. But it doesn't matter, as you're prepared.

You drag your palm along the flat end of your blade, and as you do, you speak the words, "Flare Blade," causing the sword to ignite into a roaring flame. You leap forwards and perform a spinning strike across the front of the first crab, splitting open its shell with a smouldering slash. You leap up and push yourself into the air from the defeated creature's back, and then drive down your sword into the shell of the next. You draw it back, and lunge at a third crab trying to pass by. It takes two slices, but you drop it to the ground as well--smoke wafting into the air around you from the burning might of your magic strikes.

"Minor Heal!" Amara hurries up behind you and raises her staff into the air. Her magic falls on Niki, who continues to fight hard on the front lines. You look to the elf, and catch her softly biting her lip with a faint pink in her cheeks. She exhales a hot breath. "Do not worry. I very much enjoy being able to heal my friends. Get hurt as much as you wish."

"Don't go sadist on me here," you reply. You look down at your blade which is glowing now.

Alice hurries up beside you and glares at the oncoming grabs. "Locked on," she says. Her arm transforms--two long barrels up to her shoulder that hum with magical blue energy. She slams her foot into the dirt and aims her arm forwards before unleashing a blast straight towards the nearest target.

The crab drops the moment it gets a smoking hole straight through its face.

You place a hand on her shoulder. "Good shot. But you should keep your limited energy for the king."

She nods. "Brilliant tactic."

Is it though? I thought it was obvious.

You look over to Niki, but your eyes widen as the final half dozen crabs completely trample over her body. She lands under the water, and the scuttling crustaceans bolt straight past and towards the three of you.

"Niki!" Amara cries out. "I must see her in order to heal her, Mr. Warren."

"I've got it!" Eva runs right past you and holds out her wand as well as her empty hand. At the top of her lungs, she yells out, "Ward!" which causes the front crab to slam right into the special barrier like a sheet of glass, and then the other crabs behind it. "Now blow them to the side, Amara."

"Uhm. All right, yes." Amara nods and hustles around. She whips up her staff, and a wind begins to pick up around her--lovely white dress blowing like a flower in the breeze. She casts her focus forwards and speaks the magic word, "Gale!"

Your sword fizzles out as you watch.

She gasps aloud as the powerful wind causes the crabs to tumble away from her. You watch as her knees tremble, and she uses her staff to keep her footing. Her breathing takes a moment to settle itself as the rush of so much mana being used passes by. Though spells cause her some interesting side-effects, the mutation supposedly makes her spells more potent as well. She did manage to push six giant grabs into a stumbling pile.

"And now..." Eva takes a deep breath and swirls her wand through the air. It takes a moment to charge, but electricity begins to crackle around her body. "Chain Lightning!" she shouts as an explosion of power travels out and strikes the remaining crabs. The energy arcs out between each of them, causing them all to fry. Smoke as well as the delicious scent of cooked crab wafts up into the air.

Meanwhile, the soaking wet Niki groans and steps her way back to shore. "I'm good!"

"M-Minor Heal", Amara mutters as she hits your tank with another restoration spell.

"I really am fine." Niki chuckles. "You didn't have to heal me."

"Ah. But I must. It is my duty," she replies with a bashful look to the side. "I am a healer after all."

I'm sure that's the only reason.

The tide rushes up the beach, soaking everybody's feet up to their ankles--other than the two observes perched up higher. The Crab King's feet slam into the dirt beneath the surface as it reaches the shore at last. Barnacles grow on its shell, and it's covered in seaweed as well. As it turns, water pours off the top to crash back down into the sea. Standing at about twenty feet tall, one pincer could easily crush your body, but the one on its right is twice as big. It reels up, and crushes it down against the ground right behind Niki, and the **** throws her right into your body, causing you both to fall to the soaking wet ground.

"The final battle begins!" Trin announces. "Kyle Warren and his crew against the Crab King himself. Can you handle it?"