Chương 20: Chapter Nineteen

Bob's initial reaction almost doomed him. To be fair, it could have happened to anyone. There were very few beings out there who, when confronted with hundreds of creatures chanting in unison for their demise, wouldn't fall prey to the fight or flight response. It was simply a shame that Bob tried to take the 'flight' path so literally. Completely subsumed by the instinct to get as far away from the ground as possible, Bob tried desperately to 'flap' the sides of his bag as if they were wings.

Forgetting briefly that just holding the things in a steady position was already a grueling task. The attempt turned out about as well as you would expect. With him losing control of his descent and beginning to slowly plummet towards the ground below. He managed to get himself back together quicker than he had previously, his prior experience being surprisingly helpful. But by the time he'd re-entered a steady glide, he'd already lost at least another fifty or so feet.

Fifty or so feet which were starting to seem really important. From his new vantage, he had a better view of the crabs. Crabs which were now following after him, banding together to pursue his flight path. The bigger ones – each, sans pincers, around the size of a large recliner – luckily seemed far less concerned with him than their smaller brethren. Only following for a few steps as he drifted over before losing interest; their voices in his head briefly booming before quickly fading away.

The others, who ranged from normal-crab-sized to monsters as big as an ottoman, were far less lackadaisical in nature. Their multiple legs pumping furiously as they tried to keep up. They also seemed to be exceptionally angry with him for some reason. And quite vocal about it.

'Kill!'

'Tear!'

'Rend!' In its hysteria-addled state, the sci-fi nerd part of his brain couldn't help but compare his soon-to-be murderers to Daleks. Probably due in part to their limited vocabulary and passionate, single minded dedication towards genocide. Either way, it had the effect of giving their voices a mildly tinny quality inside his head. Admittedly, he found the fact that he could hear them at all more than a little distressing. It was bad enough when it was just a single slime capable of oozing its way into his brain.

Now that it had broadened out to an entire group of monstrous crustaceans as well, he was at a bit of a loss. However, this probably wasn't the best time to try and sort the issue out. Or even the issue of why they seemed so desperate to kill him in the first place. What with him currently hurtling towards his death and all. As he desperately tried – and failed – to gain any altitude, Bob began searching around for any source of potential safety.

He was still gliding at least five or six stories above the highest rooftops at this point, so a fair bit was laid out before him. Unfortunately, a fair bit of that fair bit was covered in crabs. Those 'hundreds' he had seen earlier had now transformed into thousands. The only silver lining being that most of the larger crabs were confined to ground level. The biggest ones he'd spotted so far on the roof-tops being only slightly larger than a case of beer.

Which, unfortunately, was still easily big enough to crush him within their murderous little claws. The closest building to him was the manor that he'd been eyeing up previously. At this point he doubted he could make it to the top of the tower before losing too much altitude, but even if he fell from the side of it, he would still land down on the four-story roof below. In fact, looking at it, that might be his best bet overall. Or even his only one.

After losing all that height previously, he wasn't sure he'd be able to make it to another building before he hit the ground. Something which would result in his near-immediate death. Hopefully. Given that he had no wish to experience the inner workings of a massive crab's digestive system. Genuinely seeing no other options Bob, as delicately as possible, attempted to alter his flight towards the tower. The minor dips and drops caused by these attempts resulting in no lack of enthusiasm from the crowd below.

'Kill!'

'Rip!'

'Tear!' Eventually, however, he managed to get himself mostly on track and under control; only losing another ten or so feet during the process. The mass of crabs below him only continuing to grow larger. As he approached the manor, he felt desperately happy that he'd made the choice to turn towards it. Because forget not making the tower, at this point, he was going to be lucky to make the roof itself. Had he tried to go towards any other building, he wouldn't have gotten even half-way there.

Nearing the delicately inscribed tiles, Bob turned his attention from the crustaceans screaming below him to focus on those quickly approaching from the slanted slates themselves. The roof was impressively arched, the chitinous appendages of his charging foes sliding and clattering along the tiles in their rush to reach him. Bob unfortunately had no such mobility. Able only to mentally prepare himself for what was to come as he drifted the last few feet to the rooftop below.

He was oddly lucky in that he wasn't the first to reach his landing spot. Two crabs arriving almost simultaneously some moments before he set down. He found himself mildly shocked when there was no hesitation before violence erupted between them. The larger of the two immediately smashing the other off to the side, causing it to tumble the rest of the way down the roof. It had no time to resettle itself before he landed.

Which made all the difference; given that the instant he hit the tiles, Bob did something that surprised every creature in the general area. Not least of all himself. He went on the offensive. Ding! Toothless Grasp (E) has leveled up! 1 – 2 A small piece of him felt exultant about the level up. The first one he'd had in who knows how many weeks. The rest of him, though, was a bit more focused on the desperately struggling pincher he'd clamped his jaw around.

Hellbent on keeping it closed and not allowing it to play merry hell with his innards. Unfortunately, his foe happened to be in possession of a pair of the things. And seemed quite keen on introducing him to both of them. As the opposite claw began swinging towards him, however, he realized that it was less of an attack than an opportunity. One which allowed him to perform the only other useful action he was capable of. Ding! Dodge (E) has leveled up!

4 – 5 Between its attempted attack and Bob – who was still attached to its other pincher – suddenly flinging his body to the side, the crab immediately lost what little grip it had on the immaculately smooth tiles of the roof. He quickly let go of its claw when he felt the crab begin to slide off; its legs and pinchers desperately skittering as it attempted to stymie its fall. Bob pressing his body flat to the slates so as not to be dragged along with it.

After watching its last leg disappear over the edge, he turned his attention further above him. Searching for his next foe. Nearest to him were two normal-ish sized crabs who, after his quick victory over their larger cousins, seemed to be reevaluating their options. He ignored them in favor of the massive, suitcase sized goliath coming up from his left. Each of its slow, necessarily cautious steps at war with its desperate desire to tear his nonexistent face off.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Bob briefly wished he still had 'Taunt' equipped. The image of the huge crustacean toppling over the edge in its rush to destroy him was a pleasant one. Then again, given that the thing was literally foaming at the mouth as it clashed its claws and screamed murderous threats inside his head, he wasn't really sure he could make it that much angrier.

Seeing that he had some time before it reached him, Bob stretched out his eye in an attempt to find some sort of egress into the building. He'd already noticed a lack of rooftop windows and was dismayed to see the absence of any low chimneys or evidence of ventilation. The closest entry in sight being set into the turret-like tower he'd previously been aiming for. The lowest in a series of elegant and empty window frames which rotated their way up the structure.

The first one sitting a little over four-feet above the rooftop. Bob started moving. Inching his way as quickly as possible up the steep incline. He had no idea how he was going to manage to climb up to the window, but it was currently his best and only option. Plus, the huge crab seemed to have far more trouble moving up the roof as opposed to down. Which meant if nothing else he was mildly stretching out the time before his inglorious death.

He made it to the tower with time to spare, beginning to circle around the structure in an attempt to both get to the window and place as much of the stonework between himself and the huge crab as possible. The two smaller specimens seeming to have abandoned the idea of attacking him altogether, scuttling off in the opposite direction of the looming conflict.

Bob had just started pressing himself into the grout-lines, trying to squish his body into any crack in an attempt to get the leverage to climb up, when he heard the rattle and scrape of the crab reaching the opposite side of the tower. He immediately dropped. His body beginning to slug its way in the opposite direction when he heard it start circling around. His mind desperately searching for some alternate way out of this situation. An alternate way out that never appeared.

His every glance up and down the rooftop only verifying what he'd already seen. There were no more windows. No chimneys or vents or obviously broken roof tiles. The only visible entrance into the house was through the tower. His only other option being to randomly jump off the roof and hope he was lucky enough to grab hold of a windowsill somewhere on the way down. As he was nearing the completion of one full rotation, Bob knew he had a choice to make.

The crab was slowly gaining ground on him as they circled the structure, the flatter area surrounding it allowing for much more mobility. He imagined it would be on him in maybe two more rotations. If that. With one more brief glance at his surroundings, he made his decision. Coming quickly to a halt and pressing himself as flat as possible to the ground at the edge of the tower. Then he waited. It didn't take long. Only a few moments passed before a thick, chitinous leg scraped its way hastily around the corner.

The rest of the crab following not far behind. It spotted him almost immediately; its eyes darting quickly to the ground below it as it raised a claw threateningly into the air. However, when in the middle of a fight, 'almost' can be unforgivably long. By the time it had started to raise its pincher, Bob had already pounced. Well, perhaps less 'pounced' and more 'hopped'. His form leaping up to wrap first his tassel, and then the rest of his body, around the inner joint of one of the crab's back legs.

Clinging to it with every last ounce of his strength. The crab's reaction was immediate. Spinning its body in a slow circle as it attempted to reach back and pick him off its spiny form, with little success. It's wild movements throwing it off balance and nearly sending it sliding to the ground below. Bob wasn't just waiting patiently, however.

And as it paused its attack to resituate itself, he reached up with his now loose tassel – the rest of his body still clinging tightly to its leg – and gripped onto an almost hook-like protrusion further up its carapace. The crab noticed his movements immediately, but outside of more furious spinning and shouts of ' Kill!

'and' Tear!' echoing in his head, it wasn't able to do much to stop him. Not capable of even moving its body too vigorously without threat of falling to the ground below. As Bob reached the center of its back, his material stretched out over multiple hooks and spikes in order to remain stable, he looked up. Now seeing the bottom of the window slightly more than a foot over his head. Nearly within reach. That is, if he were able to 'stand' at his full height.

Something which he doubted his current stepstool would be overly obliging in. It was as Bob hung there, utterly out of options and feeling his make-do mount grow ever more furious beneath him, that fate decided to throw him a bone. Or perhaps just a terrible, terrible temptation. In its last spinning attempt to toss him from its back, the crab mildly unbalanced itself once again; throwing out a claw in an attempt to regain its stability.

A claw which did so by reaching out and snagging the bottom of the stone window frame. Time seemed to move in slow motion as Bob realized that his body had reacted before his mind even had a chance to. Immediately releasing his tentative grip on the crab's back to throw himself at its claw. Feeling elated as he felt his tassel successfully grab hold before pulling himself towards the window. Only for reality to firmly reassert itself as he felt a massive crushing pain rip its way through his lower half. Alert!

- 7 Health! The 'Snap!' of the crab's other claw clamping down echoed through his form. The agony of it almost seeming to vibrate outwards as he could feel the tips of its pinchers meet somewhere in the middle of his guts. And then, it started to pull. If Bob could have screamed, he would have. The feel of his tassel being stretched close to breaking as he was pulled between the crab's claws quickly claiming its spot at the top of his 'most painful moments' list.

He desperately started to unwind it from its previous position; hoping to get free before it broke, leaving him blind and helpless. However, in a strangely fortunate course of events, something else broke first. Alert! - 3 Health! Bob's body screamed at him as he felt the bottom half of his form give way. The crab's claw ripping completely through him to send his final two silver pieces – long babied and protected on his journey here – clattering down the steep tile roof to the larger crabs below. Alert! 2.

00 Silver – 0. 00 Silver Bob had very little time to react to this news, however. All the energy released by the bottom of his bag giving way had to go somewhere, after all. The 'where' in this case being the rest of his body. Bob shooting off the crab's claw like a rubber band off a finger; straight through the open window it had been pointed at. Unfortunately, Bob felt unable to immediately celebrate his success due to the massive amount of pain he was currently in.

As well as the potential looming death-sentence caused by his sudden and unexpected impoverishment. Though, he had to admit, he felt fairly alive as he flopped onto the stairs directly beneath the window. The agony he was still in verifying that at least. As well as the sudden clashing of claws at the window frame as his foe desperately tried to climb in after him. Crabs no longer being allowed near anyplace he would consider heaven. Even as a food item.

And he had to imagine the crab would currently be inside with him if he were sent to super-hell. He slowly picked himself up, ignoring the massive crustacean which banged and slashed futilely at whatever impervious material the manor was crafted from; its bloated carapace far too large to fit through the narrow tower window. He could already feel the pain from its claws begin to subside. Once again forcing him to feel slightly grateful for the handy benefits granted by his inhuman body.

The stairway he'd fallen onto was massive and spiraling. The tower itself being mostly hollow with the steps open to the air; outside of a thin, twisted iron handrail. No where on it could he see any crabs, much to his relief. He glanced around only a bit more before starting to head up the stairway. Up was safe. Up didn't have massive crustaceans the size of washing machines. Bob was currently a big fan of 'up'. He could still hear the screams of the crabs outside. Small, tinny voices shouting ' Kill!

'and' Tear!', directly into his brain. But the sounds were lessening. A good percentage of them apparently losing interest once he was out of sight. He briefly wondered why distance seemed to be modifying the volume of telepathic speech, given that it shouldn't be dependent on sound waves. Before letting that, as well as all other questions on the physics of obviously mystical abilities, go.

He was currently on far too little health and in far too much danger to concern himself with this universe's bullshittery right now. He needed to get to a very high place, stuff himself into a very tight space, and hope to God that giant, magic, monster crabs had short memories. As he laboriously pulled himself up each etched marble step, Bob tried not to allow himself to think of, or even consider, the long-term of his situation at all.

Placing all his focus instead on getting up the stairs and to the room that seemed to be at the top of them as quickly as possible. Which was for the best, really. Since, at the risk of being accused of understatement, things currently weren't looking great. The screams of the crabs outside had mostly faded away at least, other than those from the big-fella still scraping at the window frame behind him, so that was something.

The rest of his slow, limping trek up the stairs went surprisingly undisturbed; despite him constantly expecting to be thrust into another life-or-death fight. After few minutes of his slow upwards rotation, even the crab below seemed to grow bored and wander off. Leaving the entire area soaked in an eerie and uncomfortable silence. One which felt at all times moments from breaking. He grew slower the closer he was to reaching the top.

Desperately searching for any hint of the tell-tale sound of chitin scraping on stone. But there was nothing. The tower continuing to remain achingly quiet even as he reached the final steps to the room at its pinnacle. He kept himself close to the edge of the stairway as he moved ever closer. Prepared to leap off into the open air of the tower at the first sign of aggressive seafood. However, all was quiet. Bob remaining unmolested as he tentatively stuck his eye out into the room above.

At first, he took little interest in its appearance; far more focused on trying to sus out the location of any hidden crabs. Once he'd declared the room clean, however, his mind was finally able to appreciate what remained of the décor. At which point it briefly stopped operating. Whoever the previous owner was obviously spared no expense when it came to the room's creation.

Whatever force worked to preserve the greater ruins was put on full display here; a decent portion of the room's furnishings managing to remain intact. Even if the same couldn't be said for their contents. What those furnishings were happening to firmly reinstate Bob's belief that this universe was schizophrenic at best.

Nothing like finding a fully decked-out wizard's tower – filled with the requisite pentagrams, bookshelves and cauldron – in the middle of an advanced-seeming metropolis to leave you feeling utterly uncertain of your own genre. However, it wasn't the strange anachronistic aesthetic of the room that had Bob freezing in place. It was the two small lumps of darkened metal sitting, in stark contrast against the stainless white floor, near the cauldron at its center.

From his first glance, he could tell they were the only items in the room which had survived without mystical protection. While the gleaming stone of the empty bookcases probably looked as new as the day the runes were carved into their sides; the ingots instead showed evidence of the long years in their near-black patina. Tarnishing, but never corroding away. The strength of a noble metal truly apparent as they sat, near-unaltered amongst the ruins of a certainly dead people. Silver. Two palm-sized ingots worth.

The mimic part of his brain certain of it even halfway across the room. He wasn't sure exactly how many coins that would add up to, but it was certainly going to be more than he'd fallen in here with. Bob almost felt like laughing. He had done it. He may have doomed himself in the process, but he had done it. While two blackened lumps of silver might not impress a veteran group of adventurers, to him it meant that he'd actually accomplished a goal he'd set for himself who knows how many weeks ago.

He had actually managed to find treasure in the ancient ruins of a sunken city. Ding!