SSS Awakening: I Can Class Change at will

Chapter 152: Luring The Crab King [3]

Their meal passed by completely uninterrupted, something Moon hadn’t expected to happen given how aggressive the previous crabs had been.

“We need to lure them out somehow,” Moon muttered, his mind working through the problem. “They can clearly tell this is a trap, or perhaps they’ve been given specific orders by the Crab King not to leave the water’s safety.”

His eyes landed on the leftover carapaces and shell fragments scattered across the beach from their cooking. “Let’s throw these remains into the water. They’re dense enough to sink properly and send a very clear message to anything watching below.”

Moon, Selene, Yara, and the warriors began gathering all the discarded crab shells, broken claws, and other inedible portions. They carried them to the water’s edge and hurled them into the shallow surf, watching as the heavy carapaces slowly sank through the clear water toward the sandy ocean floor where the crab population made their homes.

It was a deliberate provocation, throwing the remains of their dead kin directly into their territory like discarded trash.

“Now… we wait,” Moon said, folding his arms across his chest in anticipation. He wondered whether the crabs would actually take the bait and emerge to investigate or retaliate, or whether they’d remain in their underwater safe haven indefinitely.

Moon had no intention of diving into the ocean to hunt them on their home terrain. If the Crab King decided to intervene while he was submerged and vulnerable, things could become catastrophically dangerous in seconds. Unless it became an absolute last resort with no alternatives remaining, Moon was perfectly content to wait patiently for the crabs to reveal themselves on the shore where he held the advantage.

And his patience was rewarded.

Slowly, but surely, shapes began to emerge from beneath the water’s surface. Multiple large forms approaching from the depths.

A group of six, red crabs emerged from the waves, each one noticeably larger and more heavily armored than the previous specimens they’d fought. Their shells were clearly of a different quality, they were denser and had a metallic sheen to them.

Moon focused his perception on one of them, and system information appeared.

[Island Crab]

[Level: 25]

’Perfect.’

Moon turned toward Selene with a questioning look. “These are maximum level for the First Sanctuary. They should all provide enough experience for you to level up finally, right?”

Selene checked her current experience mentally, then nodded with a soft competitive grin forming on her face. “Yes. These six should definitely be enough to push me over the threshold to level twenty-four. Maybe even partway toward twenty-four if I’m lucky.”

“Then they’re all yours,” Moon said, stepping back to give her space. “We’ll provide support if things get dangerous, but try to handle them independently for maximum experience gain.”

Selene cracked her knuckles, mana already beginning to swirl around her hands as she prepared her opening attack.

The six level twenty-five crabs advanced slowly up the beach, their massive pincers raised threateningly.

And Selene moved to meet them with determination blazing in her eyes.

The six massive level twenty-five crabs spread out instinctively, their combat experience evident in how they attempted to surround Selene from multiple angles rather than charging directly.

Selene didn’t give them the chance to complete their encirclement.

She slammed both palms against the beach, and the sand erupted upward in an explosion of earth manipulation. Compressed stone spikes burst from beneath two crabs simultaneously, piercing through the softer joints where their leg segments connected to their bodies.

The crabs screeched and stumbled, their mobility severely hit.

Before the others could react, Selene transitioned seamlessly into wind manipulation. A focused air blade shot forward like an invisible guillotine, severing one crab’s eye stalks.

SCREECH!

The creature recoiled blindly, snapping its pincers at empty air.

A fourth crab launched itself at Selene with surprising speed, its massive claw aiming to crush her torso. She responded by summoning a swirling barrier of water that caught the pincer mid-strike, the liquid cushioning and redirecting the force harmlessly to the side.

In the same fluid motion, Selene flash-heated the water surrounding the crab’s trapped claw, rapidly cycling between her water and fire affinities. Steam exploded outward as the superheated liquid scalded the creature’s soft tissue beneath its shell.

The crab released an agonized shriek and tried to retreat, but Selene had already moved back to earth element. Stone shackles erupted from the sand, anchoring its legs in place.

“Her transitions are flawless,” Yara breathed in absolute awe, her eyes fixed on Selene’s combat performance. “The way she moves between these magical elements without any hesitation or wasted movement… it’s like watching water flow in the river, so gentle, natural and effortless.”

Moon nodded, equally impressed despite having fought alongside Selene multiple times. “She’s talented. That level of elemental control takes hard work..”

Two crabs attempted a coordinated pincer attack from opposite sides, trying to catch Selene between their massive claws. She dropped low, letting both attacks pass harmlessly overhead, then unleashed a concentrated fire blast directly upward that engulfed both creatures simultaneously.

The flames didn’t kill them immediately—their thick shells provided substantial protection—but the intense heat forced them to retreat defensively, creating the opening Selene needed.

She pressed her advantage ruthlessly. Wind blades severed leg joints. Earth spikes found vulnerable gaps in armor. Water manipulation disrupted their balance and footing on the sandy beach. Fire attacks exploited openings and drove them into defensive positions.

One by one, the crabs fell.

“I wish I could fight like that,” Yara said quietly, her voice carrying a sense of longing. “To wield such power, to control multiple elements with that kind of mastery… it’s incredible. She makes it look so easy, but I know it must require immense skill, training and talent.”

Her expression showed a mixture of admiration and melancholy. “I’ve trained with bow and arrow my entire life, but I’ll never possess abilities like hers. Our people are limited by this realm—we can’t grow beyond a certain point. But she… she has no such restrictions. She can become as strong as she’s willing to work for.”