Barns continued to train every other day - alternating with his days rescuing humans, and never taking a break day to himself.
He would start standing under the waterfall early in the morning, and go on until the sun began to set. He'd grown used to the temperature, and no longer shivered - staying completely still, however, proved evasive.
In time, he and Clancy began to bring 'Adventurers' with them to clear camps. The Adventurers got much-needed combat experience, and it made Barns' job easier. More and more humans were resurrected, until eventually Dimartino was free of monsters - except for the castle, of course. The horde of 3,000 waited there patiently - they would defend the castle until the end of time.
[Progress: 954/1000000]
'Almost at a thousand,' Barns murmured to himself. 'Hard to believe we've done all this work and we're not even at a thousand…'
Anyone who could be saved right now was saved, and the town of Dimartino was bustling with life. All 955 people (plus one crab) worked hard daily to contribute to the revival of humanity. Farms were established, as were orchards. Wild animals were hunted and captured for meat, and artisans rebuilt the technology and tools at their disposal. Merchants established an economy, and many chose to earn their coin through Adventuring tasks.
The population kept growing, and as it did, Yunie received more and more Daily Quests from the system. Resources were flowing freely - rare weapons, items, and specialty cuisine were just some of the various rewards Yunie received.
One day, as Barns was continuing his waterfall training, a meeting was held to discuss the future of the economy. Barns decided to sit it out, and let Clancy represent them both at the meeting. Barns didn't care what happened with the economy - isn't that what the merchants were for?
At the meeting, Yunie, Quinn, and Clancy convened to talk about the future of the merchants.
"It's all getting too much for me to manage," Yunie complained. "With the guild growing as it has been. I spent over half my day at the exchange, and can barely get my quests posted when I come in every morning."
Clancy clicked his claws, recalling an earlier conversation with the shady merchant Underhill.
"FRIENDLY MAN UNDERHILL MERCHANT. OFFERED TO LEAD."
Yunie was getting quite good at deciphering Clancy's reductive thoughts. "Hmm, yes. Underhill, I know him. But he gives off a certain…unsettling vibe, to me."
Quinn narrowed his eyes. "To me as well. That man is more ambitious than he'll ever be loyal."
Clancy shimmied back and forth. "NO EVIL INTENT." All Clancy could tell was that Underhill wasn't trying to kill anyone - not necessarily his other duplicitous motives.
Yunie seemed surprised. "Is that what Barns wants? Underhill in charge of the markets?"
Clancy felt defensive. It was just as Underhill suggested several days ago - his opinion as King Crab wasn't valued.
"BARNACLES TRUST ME."
Quinn checked the time on his watch like he had places to be. He was busy with the growing town as well.
"Hey, if the hero wants Underhill, it's Underhill," Quinn confirmed. "Yunie, can you reach out and get him trained in what you need him to take over?"
"Of course," Yunie said, speaking her words hesitantly. Underhill was far from her first choice, but the hero duo must have seen something she could not.
After that, Underhill became the new 'Master Economist' for the burgeoning kingdom, and Yunie shifted her responsibility to the Adventurer's Guild full-time.
…
One day, about two weeks into his training, Barns has a breakthrough.
It's almost as if he loses consciousness for a second - but for a brief moment, Barns doesn't feel the water on his skin at all. The surprise causes him to shift his weight, and he's immediately sucked into the water.
Barns resurfaces, spitting water out of his mouth. 'What was that?' he thought to himself.
Time was rapidly approaching - the longer they waited to attack the castle, the worse off they were, now. There was also the looming threat that Osmond may try to attack the town pre-emptively, now that he's been surrounded. Barns knew he had to finish his training quickly.
Without letting himself think, he tried again.
It takes him nearly thirty minutes to build up the concentration required - but eventually, he manages to perfectly steel himself. Again, the water bounces off his skin. For a full five seconds, he feels nothing at all. His entire body is infused with energy, and his skin is hard as a rock.
When the five seconds are over, so too does his shield end. As he stands in the water, a notification appears before him:
[Congratulations! Your Crab Affinity has granted you the following skill:
Harden Body - You will gain the ability to harden your body like a crab's shell. You can only use this for five seconds, and it takes five seconds to recharge after use.]
Barns reads the message over and over again excitedly. Then, he simply wills himself to use the ability. In a flash, his body becomes impervious to everything around him. Now he can activate it at will.
'I'll be way stronger now,' he thinks to himself. 'For half the time, I'll be invincible.'
He jogs back to town, eager to tell Clancy of his accomplishment. Little does he know, someone else is also tuned in to his accomplishments.
Far away, Maria stares at a painting of the late king as she stands in the main hall of Dimartino Castle. She swirls a glass of red wine in her hand, her drink the same color as her beautiful long gown.
Maria dismisses the message. "Crab Affinity. What a joke." Her bravado does little to conceal the unease apparent in her - the slight tremble of her hand, the nervous tapping of her foot.
She sets the wine aside, handing it to a skeletal butler who waits at her beck and call. She lifts her dress and strolls into a ballroom, where Osmond is awaiting. As she enters, the skeleton band begins playing a lovely song that echoes throughout the entire ballroom. All the tables and chairs have been cleared out - the room is ready for dancing.
Osmond puts his arm around Maria's waist and they begin to flit about the dance floor. They dance like this at least once a week - a romantic hobby they'd started years ago, but now left Maria wanting more.
Maria, resplendent in crimson, glides across the marble floor like a fiery phoenix reborn, while Osmond, with his horned shadow and demonic visage, follows her steps with careful grace. Beauty and the Demon, entwined in a tragic waltz.
As she spirals around the ballroom, she thinks about Barns. In just three weeks, he's come such a long way. He really might have what it takes to save humanity.
Her mind shifts. She has skeletons in her basement - family members that were changed and restrained. Even they could be brought back…
As Osmond leans Maria back, tipping her theatrically, he holds her pose for a moment. He stares into her eyes - she's avoiding eye contact with him. Osmond has known Maria for a long time, and he can see through her like this.
"What's on your mind, my dove?"
Maria looks at him. "The hero has finished his training. I expect their attack any day now."
Osmond closes his eyes knowingly. "I see. This may be our last dance, then."
Maria laughs. "Don't say it like that, Oz." Though she tries to brush it off, Osmond's demonic heart hangs heavy in his pale chest. The feeling that Maria's love is conditional - that he is expendable.
"All I want is for you to be happy, Maria. Whatever makes you happiest - that is what we shall do."
The two continue dancing, but a solemn tone lingers over them for the rest of the evening. When they finally adjourn to bed, there's no bondage to speak of. Just two people lying side by side, but they couldn't feel further apart from one another.
As Osmond's breathing steadies and he falls asleep, Maria navigates to her System Messages and looks over the message she received from Zelia again.
'Do you want to have your cake and eat it too?' the message starts. 'Then follow my instructions exactly.'
She continues to scan through the message. If this is what she needs to do…then she is resolved. She couldn't think for Barns' sake - nor for Osmond's. Her battle was a selfish one, and she was about to play her hand.