Chapter 32: Icelandic Crab

"I know," Logan said flatly. "You stay here and guard the hut. Nothing inside is to be touched or moved without my order." Then Logan released Bella—the wood spirit—from his backpack space. Oddly enough, though Bella was a living creature, she could still enter that inventory dimension, which Logan found surprising.

He grabbed his Breeze Sword in one hand and a small glass vial in the other. The vial contained C-grade drinking water, an emergency measure if he grew weak.

"Bella!" The tiny spirit chirped excitedly the instant she appeared—a bright, high-pitched noise of delight. Logan could only sigh. It was pitch-dark outside, with torrential rain. He'd rather not go out if there weren't a risk of sea beasts invading.

Nonetheless, he charged into the storm. Bella fluttered onto his shoulder, her small pale-yellow wings generating a transparent barrier. Like invisible glass, it shielded Logan from the wind and rain.

Logan marveled at the barrier's sturdy feel. "So this is one of your abilities?" he muttered. "Better than a raincoat. Doesn't stink, either."

He raced toward the shoreline, his newly increased attributes letting him move faster. Upon arrival, he froze. In the blackness, giant shapes scuttled along the island's edge—he halted to assess them.

They looked like towering crabs, each one at least as big as an elephant, poking and scraping at the ground. The extended island built with Floating Stones differed from actual land, so the crabs were testing the surface.

A quick mental screen popped up:

Race: Icelandic Crab (Low-level Demon)

Rank: F-early to F-late

Skills: Cross-cut, Water Bubble

Traits: Lives in groups, typically a favorite dish among the "Bruce" race. Don't be fooled by their smaller size—their strength is immense, and though their carapaces aren't quite as tough as a Dragon Armor Beast's, they're still resistant to same-rank weapons.

Logan exhaled in relief. He'd feared something more powerful. For a normal survivor who hadn't broken F-rank, a swarm of Icelandic Crabs would be catastrophic. But for him, it was free materials. Still, hundreds of them were no joke. Even with his C-grade Breeze Sword, carving through so many thick shells might deplete his divine power. A prolonged fight could prove dangerous.

Before he could plan an approach, a forceful pressure swept over him from the distance. Logan's eyes shifted, and in the flickering darkness, he witnessed a scene he'd never forget.

Kevin Lake glanced at the dark green chunk of meat, recognizing at once that it was no ordinary piece. He had no system interface—he wasn't technically a "survivor"—but he knew quality when he saw it.

Meanwhile, Logan Lane sat in meditation, thinking about future plans. Logan had told Kevin to teach him fighting skills. On equal ground, Kevin might still win a fight—he certainly had more martial training. He could also serve as physical labor: chopping wood, hauling stones, and so on.

As for the two women, Logan had once considered letting them serve him intimately. Now he felt no spark of interest, so they could do manual chores. Anna Young came from the same Celestial Empire as Logan, and she was younger; he planned to assign her to watch both the district chat and trading interfaces around the clock. Logan himself had no time to do so. Some valuable listings disappeared in a flash, so having Anna monitor them would be ideal.

He could let Rena Dane handle the prey he brought in, gather fruit, maybe farm or wash clothes. Once he had more resources, he could feed them rank-grade food to strengthen them—easing his own burden in the long run.

Logan glanced at the Contract Card in his backpack. He mused about using it on another actual "survivor" rather than a vassal. Vassals and survivors operated under different rules; only that card guaranteed loyalty from someone who had full system privileges.

Outside, thunder rolled over the pounding rain. Logan sat cross-legged on a blanket, reading while savoring the aroma of roasting meat.

"Kevin Lake, both water purifiers are full. Fetch two wooden buckets—separate the ordinary purified water and C-rank water, then refill the purifiers with rainwater," Logan instructed, not looking up.

Kevin acknowledged, continuing to watch the roast. He separated the water into containers, poured fresh rainwater into the purifier basins, then returned to the fire.

Logan took a cup of C-rank water and some Dragon Armor Beast Meat, sprinkled it with salt, and ate in front of Kevin's longing stare.

The E-rank Dragon Armor Beast Meat was potent enough, but the C-rank water was something else altogether. Logan's face flushed as the huge energy tore through his body, far more painful than before. He gritted his teeth and observed his stat panel, watching numbers climb at a visible rate.

But it wasn't enough. Forcing back his fear, Logan gulped another mouthful of C-rank water and signaled Kevin to remove the cup. The subordinate did so hurriedly, then watched in shock as Logan's body began to swell like a balloon.