“So I’m a Crab?

‎Kaito Fujiyo was eighteen years old, and his life was… normal.

‎Too normal.

‎He woke up every morning, attended college, laughed with a small circle of friends, and spent most of his free time gaming or watching anime. He wasn’t antisocial—just quiet. Talking to girls made him uncomfortable, not because he hated them, but because silence felt safer than rejection.

‎An introvert in a noisy world.

‎That day felt no different.

‎Kaito entered his college classroom, dropped his bag on the desk near the window, and sighed. His friends were already arguing about some game update. He smiled faintly and sat down.

‎Then—

‎FLASH.

‎A blinding white light exploded across the room.

‎“What the—?!” Kaito raised his arms, but the light swallowed everything.

‎Sound vanished.

‎Gravity disappeared.

‎His consciousness sank into darkness.

‎Rebirth

‎Cold.

‎That was the first thing he felt.

‎Not the gentle cold of air conditioning—but deep, crushing cold. Pressure wrapped around him from every direction.

‎Kaito opened his eyes.

‎Or… tried to.

‎“Why can’t I move my hands?” he thought.

‎Something felt wrong. Very wrong.

‎He looked down—or at least attempted to—and saw hard red-black armor, curved claws, and multiple jointed legs resting on dark volcanic sand.

‎“…Claws?”

‎A reflection shimmered in a pool of glowing blue water nearby.

‎Two crimson eyes stared back at him.

‎A crab.

‎No—

‎A massive, demonic crab with jagged horns on its shell and glowing runes etched across its body.

‎“WHAT THE HELL?!”

‎His scream came out as a sharp, clicking screech.

‎“I’m a… crab?! You’ve got to be kidding me!”

‎---

‎System Awakening

‎Before panic could fully consume him, a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

‎> [System Activated]

‎Name: Kaito Fujiyo

‎Race: Devil Crab (Larval Form)

‎Level: 1

‎HP: 120/120

‎Skills:

‎• Hardened Shell (Passive)

‎• Abyss Claw Lv.1

‎• Dark Resistance (Minor)

‎Kaito froze.

‎“…A system?”

‎Just like in the novels he read late at night.

‎Just like the anime he loved.

‎“So… I really got reincarnated?”

‎Another message appeared.

‎> [Evolution Available]

‎Conditions: Consume mana-rich prey

‎His fear slowly turned into disbelief.

‎Then—

‎Excitement.

‎“…If I’m a crab,” he muttered internally, “then I’ll survive as a crab.”

‎Around him stretched a vast underground sea filled with lava-lit water, monstrous silhouettes swimming in the distance. Predators. Strong ones.

‎His instincts screamed danger.

‎But his heart beat faster—not with terror, but determination.

‎“I was quiet in my old life,” Kaito thought.

‎“I avoided attention. Avoided risk.”

‎His claws clenched.

‎“But this world doesn’t care about personality.”

‎A dark smile formed in his mind.

‎“If survival means fighting…

‎Then I’ll evolve.”

‎---

‎The Devil Crab Begins

‎A shadow passed above him.

‎A serpent-like creature with glowing fangs descended toward the seabed.

‎The system chimed.

‎> [Enemy Detected: Lava Eel Lv.3]

‎Kaito lowered his body, claws digging into the sand.

‎“Alright then,” he thought.

‎“First hunt.”

‎His crimson eyes glowed brighter.

‎“This time… I won’t run.”

‎To be continue.............