NOVEL WEB 29: Crab Database… Crababase?
[Library of Truth Creature Database
Creature: All-Encompassing Crimson Cancer
Level of Caution: EX (Level 9 Monster)
General Information:
Of the theorized 13 cataclysmic monsters (and five spotted), Cancer was the fourth to be birthed out of the Primordial Fog Wall.
Its current size is unknown as it has grown larger with each subsequent sighting. However, during its last altercation with the Federation of Obsidian, its size was estimated to be around the size of a track and field pitch.
As for its general appearance though, it generally resembles a giant crab that glows faintly red even in the absence of any external light source.
Currently its location is unknown. However, it’s known to travel the sea floor in search of sustenance. Last known location: Federation of Obsidian’s Anchor Mountain Range, 278 years ago.
Anchor Mountain Altercation:
The Crimson Cancer is theorized to have scaled the Anchor Mountains from its desolate sea-facing edge as it descended from the tallest mountain to raid cities within the Federation of Obsidian.
It’s only theorized as experts are not sure how it scaled the sheer cliff face that the mountain range presents to the ocean.
After a month of fighting, Casimir, God of Conquest, managed to stave off the crab with the aid of his two assistants, Tessa, Goddess of the Harvest, and Cyril, God of Weaponry.
The total amount of damage and deaths caused has been kept under wraps by the Federation and thus is not available to be reported here.
Reasons for Caution:
As a cataclysmic monster born out of the Primordial Fog Wall, it’s been blessed with divinity on par with the Primordial deities. Given its immense size, it's not surprising it's just as strong, if not stronger than its divinity suggests.
Unlike its strength, however, the Crimson Cancer’s size belies its speed. It moves as fast, if not faster than normal deities. Even more, because it is able to stop and completely change direction in only a couple breaths, its agility has been characterized as “unreasonable” by many observers and fighters who have lived to recount their experiences after an encounter.
It is due to the Crimson Cancer that what used to be the most major mountain within the Anchor Mountain Range is now known as one of the most minor.
Due to its capabilities of teleportation, it is theorized that the Crimson Crab holds the divinity for movement; however, nothing is known due to the Crimson Crab possessing no semblance of sentience.
As for its abilities, during its first couple of encounters with various parties, the Crimson Crab has been noted to have extreme control over short-range teleportation. However, as it's grown, its teleportation has stopped. Instead, with the Crimson Crab’s ability to manifest up to four extra sets of pincers with magic, it has been noted to just teleport to those around the battlefield.
It’s unknown whether the Crab has grown too large to teleport itself fully or if it hasn’t been challenged enough to warrant using the amount of energy needed for such a maneuver.
The mystery is further complicated by the fact it has developed more traditional cloaking abilities as it has grown—abilities that are known to be far more energy efficient.
Entry added by: God of Knowledge, Solomon (Administrator)]
---
Waking up the next morning, Valencia could only raise her eyebrows as she read about the situation from Estelle’s “Senior Citizens” Primordial Deity group chat.
... Why did they call it that anyway?
It was probably Estelle...
Solomon and Joanna, however, being the ever-responsible duo they always were, reported the latest news within Marcen’s Cliffs to the group chat. Not that Valencia usually cared to read it, but now that she was back in the city, she felt she had a bit more of an obligation to know what was going on within the city she helped to found.
Yet, with the battle having been resolved without too much conflict around 4 am, Valencia just shrugged. Sounds like everything was fine.
Running her hands through Astrid’s hair, Valencia couldn’t help but lean down and plant a few kisses onto Astrid’s sleeping face.
She did wish she could have a spar with Casimir though... He must have grown after all those years of training and experience. When was the last time she had fought him?
Before the Crimson Cancer Incident?
Maybe he’d last longer than an hour if she fought him now...
Deciding to shelve the thought, Valencia checked the time before sighing. “It’s only 6:35 am?”
Slumping back into bed and pulling the covers back over herself, Valencia cuddled back up with Astrid. Resolving to sleep some more, Valencia gave Astrid a couple more kisses before dozing off as the sun began to peek over the horizon.
---
“How are you doing, Cyril?” A voice broke the silence, nudging Cyril from his half stupor. “You went a little overboard with the fighting didn’t you?”
“Tessa. You must understand, it was all done to ensure the stupid crab people couldn’t achieve their goals,” Cyril groaned as he pushed himself up. “Holy, I haven’t been this dirty in a while though. My laundry machines aren’t going to like me after I make them wash this outfit...”
Waving her hand to cover the shattered crater Cyril had been laying in with a thin layer of grass, Tessa helped Cyril onto his feet as Casimir walked over.
Adjusting his watch on his wrist before checking the time, Casimir waved over the other deities from the various rocks they had been sitting on. “Good work everyone. I know we’re all tired, so I’ll keep it brief.”
“I mean we don’t really need sleep anyway,” Cyril laughed from his frog-like crouched position.
Getting a kick in the side from Rowan, Cyril could only writhe on the floor as Rowan put on a fake scowl. “Don’t you know Casimir is already verbose enough? No need to give him leniency.”
“Anyway,” Casimir cleared his throat, “I just want to catch up and make sure everyone is on the same page. Especially since the actions of the cultists did not seem very... intricate perhaps. Their actions have always been confusing and hard to decipher, but this time it feels almost deceptive. Deceptively simple, though. So an extra couple steps of prudence wouldn’t hurt.”
“Agreed,” Tessa stepped forward, creating a small map out of grass on the ground in front of her. “As always, I’ve done some emergency repairs, growing plants as support for the damaged buildings in our section of Marcen’s Cliffs. It’s quite obvious but the cultists were moving in an easily identifiable pattern: the eight pointed star. However, unlike previous skirmishes we’ve had with this group, it seemed they gave up rather easily. They weren’t moving in their usually more confusing weave-like patterns to blend the battlefield and kept to their own sections.”
“Okay, putting aside their weird attack strategy, isn’t an eight pointed star-based ritual a tad more... basic than what they usually go for? No ritual with an eight pointed star at its base is able to generate enough power to reach the Crimson Cancer.” Casimir sighed, tapping his foot as he sank into his thoughts. “Let’s keep an eye on the situation... Make sure to keep an extra couple tabs on the other underground crime syndicates. They might be coordinating with these other cults.”
“Cyril, please continue to keep an eye on the other two major organizations. I would not be surprised if Morgana and the twins have to fend off an attack of their own in the coming days or weeks,” Tessa added as she pat Cyril on the back. “And yes this is me giving you more work.”
“Wow... uncool.” Cyril could only shake his head. “It’s okay, I’m sure my agents will be happy to do the work for me. They’re all in good spirits after having a fun battle.”
With Cyril’s blatant delegation of work earning him a couple of pointed glances, a silence fell over the group.
A couple moments of uncomfortable silence later, Casimir broke the silence. “Tessa, just make sure to keep him busy so he doesn’t pick more fights. You’re all dismissed.”
