I am in fact beginning to hate our new teacher.
While we were all aware that this was a D rank monster, and not something in our range if not for its molting status, that still didn't change the looks of surprise on Thalia, Liora, and my face as we arrived to see just how big it was.
The crab itself stood to be around 30ft tall with an ever so slightly translucent shell that seemed to be covered in light blue and pink splotches. It held its large body out of the water by a good 10ft as it used its claws to munch on what seemed to be the carcass of a small shark it had found.
We all took a moment to look at Victor as he seemed to be looking at the crab before he turned back to us.
"Looks like we found the rrrrrrright one, now since this is a rrrrrrratherrrrrrr larrrrrge overrrrshoot forrrrrrr yourrrrrr levels, I will come in and save you all exactly two times. Afterrrrrrr that you arrrrrrre on your own."
Victor said as he jumped up on a nearby rock and stretched out. I turned to Thalia and Liora and began to ruffle through my bag. I handed each of them 5 healing potions, a potion of Focused Senses, a potion of Vigilance, and a potion of shadowmeld.
"Healing potions are for if anyone gets injured because I don't know If I can run back if healing is needed, I'm gonna have a lot of stuff on my hands. The Focused Senses and Vigilance are for right now as general buffs, and the shadowmeld is if you get in a bad spot, drink it, find a shadow and don't move, it will make it so the crab will not see you as easily and should give you a chance to recover."
Thalia and Liora nodded as they downed their two buffing potions as I downed the ones I had made for me, leaving me low on Vigilance potions, and out of focused senses potions. I reached into my cloak and pulled out one of the vials of liquid crystal as I checked to make sure my clockwork coil, and new Revolution core were working.
The Technomancer at the dukes estate has helped me rig the core to activate with the clockwork coil and had helped me install it. Honestly the process was strange as unlike what I had expected, the revolution core went into my chest like placing a ball on mud and letting it sink in. Even now I had to occasionally stop from fidgeting with it.
I poured the vial of liquid crystal inside the hatch on the right side of my chest as I could feel the core filling up and being full of fuel.
I gave one last glance at Liora and Thalia as I nodded and stepped out onto the beach. The crab seemed oblivious to our presence, seemingly preoccupied with its meal as Liora stepped up into the air, the wind spiraling under her feet as she stepped up. She pointed to her staff as a familiar ball of wind formed and shot out at the crab. It flew forward and struck the crab in one of its legs, the normally hard shell no longer there to protect the leg, the skin dented inward as the leg shot under the crab knocking it off balance. However, the wind blast's normal pushing effect seemed ineffective as the crab barely moved as it slowly spun and saw us. It raised its pincers and clacked them together, the claws still hard despite the rest of the body as it sliced clean through the shark skull it was holding in one claw with a blade like cut. The battle cry of the crab wasn't like anything I had expected, It wasn't a bellowing roar, but a hissing sound, almost like air escaping a small hole.
Party member Liora has used skill Soaring Rythme(D) to create a foothold in the air
Party member Liora has used skill Wind Blast(D)
Luminous Cobalt Crab has taken 37 damage
Luminous Cobalt Crab has resisted the pushing effect of Wind Blast(D)
I stood, spear in hand, with a wide stance as I waited for the crab to come to land, my hand resting on the ripcord of my clockwork coil to get it and my revolution core running once I could join the fight as strings whipped past me, but they were more than normal.
Turning around I saw that to my surprise, Thalia seemed to have learned a new skill. A new double set of arms made of the mana strings weaved into the shape of arms, all lashed forward with their strings. Best of all the strings seemed increasingly more durable as they began to wrap around the nearby rocks and tie the crab down. It pulled and strained as the strings seemed to sink into the soft flesh a bit as the rocks around the crab broke away until Thalia grabbed the loose strings caught on the spikes at the edge of the shell and tied the crabs legs to them, catching it on its own body as it staggered and struggled to move.
Party member Thalia has used skill Arachnae's Helping Hands(C)
Party member Thalia has gained two extra sets of hands in which to weave
Party member Thalia has used skill Marrionetting fingers(D) X 3
Luminous Cobalt Crab has resisted the strings
Luminous Cobalt Crab has resisted the strings
Luminous Cobalt Crab has become bound and unable to move
The power was amazing, and combined with the fact that she now had a C rank skill, I was rather surprised at what she was able to do, however as I turned to congratulate her, I could see she was pale, her face showing clear symptoms of Low mana as I quickly rummaged in my bag and tossed 3 of the Energy potions her way as she caught them and started to uncork them with 3 hands as the others held strings out, her feet skidding in the sand as the crab thrashed against its bindings. It stared us down for a moment as its shell shimmered before I heard what sounded like Victor slamming his paw down. A large stone shot up from the sand as there was a sound of the air Ionizing as the stone exploded. Liora quickly summoned wind around her to push away any flying debris as I stood in front of Thalia and covered my head as several stones bounced painfully off of me.
The front of the rock had melted as the air hissed with heat, the crab stood glowering at the rock as it closed its mouth.
"Thats one rrrrrrescue."
Victor said casually as he went back to licking his back.
Luminous Cobalt Crab has used skill Photonic Beam(D)
Ally Victor has used skill Rune Magic(E)
Runes Selected were Earth, Water, Earth
Rune magic Stone shield was used
Stone shield has blocked 35 damage and was destroyed
You have taken two damage
"Aiden, you ok!"
Liora yelled as she fired another wind blast, moving through the air, to be ready to dodge in case the crab threw something at her.
"I'm fine, the shield blocked most of it!"
I yelled as I turned back to Thalia.
"How are you holding up?"
"Need a moment to regain some MP, its gonna get to the beach, so your up Aiden."
I nodded as I turned back to the water. The plan we had was simple, Liora would blast away at it trying to keep it back with Thalia helping to hold it away from the shore, and I will hold it back as we finish it off once we get to land, but Thalia seems to have used her new skill to early and drained herself too fast, so there was a shift that had me coming in earlier than I thought.
The crab pulled the strings free from its body as it charged, its speed surprising as it scurried on its legs towards us on land, the water cresting like a wave coming into shore.
I yanked the ripcord as I felt the sparks of the clockwork coil kick in and the revolution core start humming. With a mental command, I felt the Aether within begin to drain as it spun. A surge of power shot through my limbs. I rushed forward towards the crab, however I put too much power in my legs, what had been meant as a step became a leap that launched me towards the crabs face. I felt a hand grab my collar as I gagged and fell to the ground on my back. Liora over me ready to defend while I got up.
Party member Liora has used skill Wind Blast(D)
Luminous Cobalt Crab has taken 33 damage
Luminous Cobalt Crab has resisted the pushing effect of Wind Blast(D)
You have used items Clockwork Coil(E) and Revolution Core V2(D)
Your Dexterity increases by 10 and your speed is increased by the Clockwork Coil(E)
The Revolution Core V2 is online
You have shifted the Revolution Core V2 into Idoling
Your Strength and Constitution are increased by 30
You have used item Spear of the Seven Hunts(D)
You were stopped by party member Liora
I scrambled to my feet as I could feel the humming power in my limbs as inside my mind Will recited what we had learned from the blueprints to the Revolution Core
"Ok, it has 5 modes, running which does nothing, but consumed no Aether, Idling which consumed 1/10th of an Aether Vial every 6 seconds and makes you stronger and more durable, Low Gear that makes us faster and hit harder, but the heat causes burns around the Revolution Core and eats through more Aether, High gear that makes us even faster, but causes more severe burns and muscle strain, and lastly Nitro which gives even more strength, but causes third degree burns, and prevents unnatural healing. Stick to low gears for now, save it for if we need it!"
Got it, I thought to Will as I glanced back at Thalia. She quickly drank two all 3 of the vials using the three arms on her right side as her left arm shot forward, and yanked me back as one of the crabs claws slammed down where I had been as Liora took to the skies again. I skidded to a stop as I spun my spear, using the force to push myself to the left and the approaching crab claw to the right as the sand flew up from the impact.
Party member Thalia has used item Basic Energy Potion X 3
Party member Thalia has regained 9 Mana
Party member Thalia has regained 11 Mana
Party member Thalia has regained 8 Mana
Party member Thalia has used skill Marrionetting fingers(D)
"I don't think I'm gonna have enough mana to take it down!"
Liora yelled from above me as she fired another blast at the crab, leaving a third dent in its skin as this time, the shot struck one of the panels on its face, making it stumble back and rub its face with one of its claws.
"Hey, wait, I don't think that's a-"
Will started but I ignored him as I commanded the Revolution Core to shift to Low Gear.
The feeling of heat and pain was immediate as I hissed through my teeth. My body felt so light I could run laps around everyone as I ran in a zigzag, the ground seeming to take a small moment before registering my footsteps as I dashed back and fourth, and jumped, flying 25ft and grabbing the top of one of the legs and swinging myself onto the crabs head. The top of the body was soft, like standing on a tarp full of air as I Carved into the crabs head with my spear. It let out another hiss of pain as one of its claws snapped up to cut me. I jumped, jamming my spear into the wrist of the claw and spinning as it yanked its claw back to avoid falling off the head. My body thrummed with strength and power
You have shifted the Revolution Core V2 into Low Gear
Your attack power has increased and you are even faster
You have used Item Spear of the Seven Hunts(D)
You have done 50 damage
Your skill Combo Star(E) has activated and granted a surge of speed
You have used Item Spear of the Seven Hunts(D)
You have done 56 damage
The heat of the Revolution Core V2 deals 11 damage to you