Chapter 9 – Hotpot in a Hotspot Part 1
A few days into his trek along the magma river, Nolen encountered something new — something big.
It lurked near an outcropping of black stone, its massive shell shimmering with heat distortion. A crab-like titan the size of a grown man. One claw glowed molten red, dripping sparks. The other was coated in a frost so deep it crackled.
Nolen squinted.
"Elemental Crab. Yeah… that feels right."
Naming the animal without noticing how to the point it sounded.
He crouched, observing the creature from afar.
"Think it's edible?" he murmured. "Romy, scan it."
Romy's extended-range scanning finally came online earlier that morning, a welcome improvement.
"Scanning now," she replied.
The crab shifted its weight, claws scraping the rock with a low grinding sound. It looked very, very dangerous.
A moment later, Romy chimed in.
"Scan complete."
"Good. Now let's figure out how to kill it."
He checked the data she fed him and made a quick assessment: Joint gaps — vulnerable,
Shell density — comparable to tempered steel, and Elemental claws — possible fire protection and ice manipulation.
"Lovely then." He murmured
Fortunately, Nolen had been busy the last few days.
He'd crafted several throwing spears using a sharp obsidian-like stone and the resilient black wood that grew near the magma river. His Artisan title had accelerated his proficiency; each spear he made felt a bit more refined than the last.
He began by shaping the stone, then proceeded to heat-treat the wood. Next, attach the necessary bindings and shape the point accordingly. Repeat this process to continue developing and refining the skill.
The process had become instinctive.
He tightened his grip on one spear.
"Alright. Let's eat crab tonight."
He moved quietly around a cluster of rocks, stalking the creature. When it turned slightly, exposing the hinge of one leg, Nolen inhaled and threw.
Thunk!
The spear pierced the leg joint.
The Elemental Crab shrieked a harsh, hissing sound and scuttled back toward a rock formation.
Nolen sprinted after it.
The crab reacted instantly.
The red claw flared up, and then a massive fireball erupted toward him.
Bigger and hotter than he anticipated.
He dodged, feeling the blast wash over him like a furnace door swinging open.
He'd fought pyrokinetic villains back on Earth, but only a handful could generate this intense heat.
"That was almost impressive," Nolen muttered, shaking the sting from his arms.
He hurled another spear as the beast repositioned.
It hit the carapace, cracking it but not breaking through.
The blue claw flared next, releasing an ice spear that sliced past Nolen's head close enough to graze his hair.
"Okay. Heat and cold. This is fun."
He ducked behind a stone and waited, watching its movements. The crab raised both claws in an aggressive stance, scanning for him.
That was his chance.
He stepped out, threw with full force, and the spear hammered into the crab's eye.
A piercing cry followed, raw with fury and pain.
"Romy, updates?"
"The carapace density is consistent. Continue targeting vulnerable gaps," she advised. "And don't lose track of it. I'm monitoring its movement."
Nolen only had one spear remaining.
"Then let's make this count."
He circled low, patient, breathing steady. When the crab shifted again, exposing the weaker side, he launched his final spear.
It struck deep between the crab's other eye and shell.
The giant creature convulsed, legs trembling, then collapsed in a heavy thud.
The flames on its red claws sputtered out, and the frost on the blue claw slowly dissipated.
Nolen jogged closer, cautiously tapping the shell with his axe before beginning to carve. He harvested meat, plates, and the elemental claws — the latter of which glowed faintly even after death.
Romy sounded satisfied.
"Well done. You now have some food."
"I can smell that from here," Nolen replied, stomach growling. "Let's process this."
"I'll give you a list of methods like drying, smoking, and preservation techniques."
"Perfect."
He set up camp and began working through the procedures.
Halfway through cutting a claw plate, he suddenly froze.
A presence.
A gaze.
Something watching.
High up on a cliff far beyond human eyesight.
He wasn't certain what it was.
But he knew what being observed felt like.
"Romy," he murmured, "scan that ledge."
"Out of range," she said apologetically. "But I'll keep sweeping the area."
"Good. Let's hope it's just a curious animal."
Though he doubted it.
The next morning, Nolen woke before Romy's alert cycle kicked in, feeling oddly refreshed. He'd harvested enough material to improve his gear further. By combining the Elemental Crab's carapace with his magma-shark leather, he built a set of adaptable armor plates.
The temperature-control system he used is primitive, but effective.
Using the elemental claws, he forged interchangeable plates: Fire Plates, perfect for warmth in cold, and Ice Plates for cooling near molten terrain
The idea came from Earth soldiers' modular armor systems.
"So?" Romy asked. "How does it feel?"
"Cool and Solid," Nolen said, shifting his shoulders. He was using the cold plates since he was still near the magma river.
"Let's head out."
"I agree. Our next step is moving inland. Scans indicate the terrain ahead varies — colder, darker, but we should find a way out of this place or a trace of civilization."
Nolen packed up the rest of the processed crab meat, secured his improved armor, and stepped away from the magma river.
He didn't know what waited beyond the lava-lit river.
But he kept walking.