Jean still remembered vividly about that day, the day when crab type Zirtues appeared on Earth. They did briefly appear at the beginning of the apocalypse, however, they were all dead.
It was a Tree-V, and with the help of over a hundred people, they managed to defeat it and suffered no casualties in the process. But when we were trying to locate its core, it suddenly convulsed intensely, hardened and took on the shape of a female humanoid.
None of our tools could penetrate the thing at the time, and seeing as it was pretty much harmless, we left it there, acting like a trophy for killing a Tree-V.
And just 7 days later when a team of researchers inspected the statue, it cracked. It was a small crack at first but after a while, there was a hole large enough to fit someone's entire head in, located at the belly.
Then something resembling a small coconut crab crawled out which baffled the researchers. They tried inspecting it but it suddenly jumped up and killed one of the researchers.
After which, more and more crabs crawled out. It was estimated that a thousand crabs crawled out, we tried killing them but it didn't work, each one of them seemed stronger than the Tree-V they had faced before.
This happened in Argentina and quickly multiplied, making us ditch the Americas for good.
***
Seeing a similar being in front of him, he felt dread and terror. But the last mother stayed still for a whole week which led Jean to think the same thing would happen to this one.
He tried swimming up, he had to inform the others about the appearance of such a beast. After a while of swimming, he looked down at the mother and much to his shock,
It was also looking at him, with a smile that stretched way too much, the smile felt predatory, as though it was not born from joy but something more sinister.
He tried hard to look away from it but to no avail. The thing then closed its eyes as he saw the world turn dark and felt his head detaching from his body.
He then felt the world become dry, he had left the waters of the sea. His skin got hotter and hotter, reaching unbearable temparatures when the front of his face suddenly became cold, extremely cold. After which, he felt massive amounts of radiation hitting him at the back of his head.
He had entered space. Though he did not see it, he knew straight away. So, what now?
...
Wait for his death, the only thing that he could do. Infusing Zirtues into their bodies made them extremely tough afterall, which meant there was a bit of time before he would truly die. Jean soon tried ro recollect everything from his life, he did not feel any regrets aside from not being able to fulfil his promise with Erika and Ana. Soon, his consciousness faded.
***
Aktobe, Kazakhstan.
Arriving in Aktobe, Anastasia immediately went to the coordinates of their temporary hideout. This one was made from fearing the Crab-V in Turkey.
She also kidnapped Andre, because why not? Doing that would allow her to meet Jean. Entering the building, she informed all 19 members about the Crab-V.
Standing next to the members truly highlighted just how tall Anastasia was, she was easily the tallest person in the room at 3,5 meters.
She let out her screeching voice, asking for food and happily stayed there awaiting the night's end.
Though refusing at first, she now saw them as her family, people that she must protect.
'Sorry Jean, but you agreed to killing it anyways. I shall wish you the best of luck.'
***
The Base, Nepal.
Currently holding Iris in her arms, Aceso was reminded of why such a young girl like her was thrust into such a hellscape.
Iris was born 48000 years into the war so she wasn't actually that young but in the eyes of Aceso, she was still a child.
Everything outside the room became quiet and Aceso went out to inspect it and to her delight, everything was normal again, albeit a lot more destroyed.
Deeming the situation to be safe, Aceso went out to heal the injured. She also saw Xander, Andre and Erika stepping out of the elevator, they looked disheveled but it seemed they were okay.
A voice then cursed Jean as she laid on the floor, waiting for Aceso. The two men next to her also laid down, replicating what she did, for whatever reason.
"You guys said Jean is going to fight the grade V, correct?"
The two men quickly nodded.
"Fuckkkk, I will go find him and bring him back mysel-"
Interrupting Erika, Aceso covered her mouth with her hand and quickly healed Erika. The girl was displeased but fell asleep to the comfort of Aceso's healing.
Having heard the girl's words, the three of them all thought about the same thing.
'I hope you're okay.'
'I wonder if the sir's alright.'
'Who is this Jean person?'
Two people, at least. And indeed, Andre did not actually know much about Jean, aside from meeting him briefly five times, he had only heard of his feats. Which he concluded was propaganda.
But, if he were able to kill the grade V then it would become a beacon of hope. Not that they needed hope anymore.
'Please. Kill that Crab-V.'
***
Deepest depths of the Baltic sea.
The giant creature which was easily over a hundred meters in height suddenly frowned. Its whole body was soft, very soft, like a jellyfish. This particular mother fed on despair and terror. It became many times stronger, just by feeding on others' hopelessness.
And currently, by sharing its mind with the entire world's creatures, humans and Zirtues. It was appalled to find people having hope, for a dead man.
It stood up from the abyss, and jumped towards the surface. It had to find the sources of these disgusting thoughts.
And kill them.