Conrad had spent a week stranded on the beach, the unrelenting waves crashing in rhythm with his thoughts. The days blurred together. The sun was both an enemy and a savior, giving him light, but it also burned him as he scavenged for food, water, and any sign of civilization. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, his clothes worn to shreds, but he had adapted.
He learned how to fish with rudimentary spears made from sharp rocks, built himself a shelter from the wreckage on the shore, and even started experimenting with the remnants of strange plants he found, hoping they'd provide something useful.
But the nights were the hardest. He couldn't shake the constant fear of Dante's absence, nor the pain that weighed heavily on him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the ex-lieutenant dragging Dante into that swirling portal, the agony of the moment replaying over and over again in his mind.
Today was different. Conrad could feel it. He wasn't going to stay idle anymore. He couldn't afford to wait forever.
He grabbed his makeshift sword, a jagged rock he'd fastened onto a wooden handle, and tied the last of his belongings into his pack. He had no clear goal, no idea where he was going, but he was ready to leave the beach. Maybe he would find answers, or maybe he'd just find trouble. Either way, he was ready.
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As Conrad ventured farther inland, the sand soon gave way to a forest dense with dark trees and the scent of wet earth. The landscape seemed alive, as if the very ground was holding secrets, whispering threats in the wind. He trudged on, the tension in the air making his muscles tight, like a storm was about to break.
He paused when the faint sound of clanging metal reached his ears. His eyes narrowed, instinctively reaching for the weepon at his side. It came again—an eerie, metallic scraping sound, like something enormous dragging its heavy body through the underbrush.
Suddenly, the ground shook with the weight of something massive moving toward him. Conrad spun around to face the noise.
From the shadows emerged a hulking figure—a massive crab-like creature, its body forged from iron, runes glowing ominously across its exoskeleton. Its pincers clicked menacingly, and a low growl vibrated in the air.
Conrad's breath hitched. "What the hell…?"
Before he could react, the creature slammed its claw into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. A dozen smaller, iron crabs skittered from the trees, their bodies just as gleaming and menacing as their master.
The fight had begun.
Conrad's mind raced, but his body moved on instinct. He ducked under a swing from one of the smaller crabs, its claw missing him by inches, and retaliated with a quick stab at its underbelly. The creature hissed as the jagged rock embedded itself into its metallic shell, but it didn't go down easily.
The smaller crabs swarmed him, pincers snapping and claws swinging. Conrad danced between them, his movements sharp and precise, using his speed and agility to his advantage. He stabbed one crab through the eye, then swung around to cleave another in half with a clean slice.
But there were too many. The crabs' relentless assault wore him down, and soon, his body was covered in cuts from their sharp claws. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and the exhaustion was starting to catch up to him.
He needed to end this.
With a roar, Conrad launched himself forward, charging toward the biggest crab. It swung its claws down like a deadly guillotine, but Conrad rolled under the strike, coming up behind the creature in a fluid motion. He stabbed his makeshift sword deep into the joints of the crab's legs, causing the creature to stagger back in pain.
But it wasn't enough. The creature let out a bone-chilling screech, its eyes glowing brighter with fury. It shook off the wound, its thick armor holding strong.
"Damn it," Conrad muttered. "It's not gonna be that easy."
The massive crab retaliated, slamming both of its claws together in a vicious blow. Conrad was thrown back, his body slamming into a tree trunk. He felt the impact all the way down to his bones, and his vision swam for a moment.
He couldn't give up now. Dante was still out there. And this was his chance to show he could survive anything.
With renewed determination, Conrad pulled himself up, blood streaming down his face. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his eyes locking onto the crab.
The creature charged again, but this time, Conrad didn't flinch. He stepped forward, grabbing a large stone from the ground and throwing it directly into one of the crab's glowing eyes. It screeched in pain, stumbling back, disoriented.
Now was his chance.
Conrad dashed forward, diving under its massive body and delivering a series of quick, precise stabs to the joints beneath its shell. The creature roared in fury, but it couldn't move as quickly as before. Its glowing eyes began to fade.
With one final strike, Conrad drove his makeshift sword through the soft, vulnerable spot under the creature's armored shell. The iron crab let out a deafening screech before collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud.
The smaller crabs scattered, no longer having their giant protector to rally around.
Breathing heavily, Conrad stood over the fallen beast, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. He had done it.
But there was no time to celebrate. He needed to turn the beast into something useful.
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Conrad looked at the massive claws of the crab. His eyes flicked to the shredded remnants of his clothes, and a grim smile tugged at his lips.
He grabbed the largest of the crab's claws and, using the jagged rocks as tools, began to carve into the hardened exoskeleton. The work was grueling, but after a while, he managed to pry off the claw's sharp point and fashion it into a crude glove. He fastened the iron crab's claws to his hands, strapping them tight with vines and rope.
The weight of the claws felt strange, but as he flexed his fingers, he realized how dangerous they could be in battle. His old weapon had been a jagged rock, but now… now, he had the power of the crab's iron limbs at his disposal.
It was a temporary fix, but it would serve him well.
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Afterward, Conrad moved to the part of the beast where he had seen the strange glowing runes. His new claws scraped through the thick shell until he uncovered the symbols again. He studied them carefully, recognizing the pattern and the strange language that pulsed beneath his touch.
The runes glowed faintly under his fingertips, their ancient symbols almost mocking him as he traced them. He focused harder, his mind racing to decipher the message.
His heart skipped a beat when the meaning finally clicked into place.
"To those who are still stranded on the surface, seek aid with us in the ravine to the east of the island. The password is 'Rocks.' Ride this crab there before nightfall."
Conrad froze, his stomach sinking. "Why the hell did I kill this crab then? Now my life's even more screwed." A bitter laugh escaped him, his hands clenching into fists. But there was no point in dwelling on it now—he had a task at hand. At least he had something to go on.
He took a moment to orient himself, squinting at the horizon. East. He had to get to that ravine before nightfall, and maybe—just maybe—there was a chance to find some people who could help him. To help get Dante back. If he could find someone stronger, someone who could aid him in taking down the ex-lieutenant, then maybe, just maybe, he'd have a fighting chance.
Conrad took a deep breath, steeling himself. He packed what little gear he had left and set his gaze on the east. There was no time to waste and a long way to go.
He was going after Dante. No matter the cost.