Z
Field Value Full Name Z Alias Gender Unknown Age Unknown World Unknown Occupation Gambling Addict Status Alive (serves Kome) Role Participant Team Juan Freaky Freakers, then H.A.U.N.T. Edition Crab 3 Creator Z
Have you ever met a strong contender... who you would never want to fight? Because I haven't.
Z is a participant of Crab 3, initially part of the Juan Freaky Freakers, and upon their disbandment joining H.A.U.N.T. They are a mysterious hooded individual with shadow-manipulation powers who enjoys battle and gambling for victories.
Appearance
Personality
Z is a serious and dedicated individual. They seem to put a lot of value on strength and seek to prove their own against any opponent, happily accepting on battles with confidence they can win and even actively challenging seemingly stronger participants. Z has also a slight playful side during them, enjoying the back and forth of a match. Outside of that, they do not seem to have much patience for depravity.
Despite their secrecy and evil appearance, Z shows to be honorable, always sticking to their word and avoiding to kill enemies unless it’s absolutely necessary. They were willing to give even the Freakers a chance in this regard and even valued the life of Centuria’s non player characters. Z is also loyal to their team - if they prove to be worth their loyalty, such as in the case of H.A.U.N.T., trying to prove their own worth by gaining H.A.U.N.T. several medals on the final round.
At least a 5 on the tsundere scale.
Powers and Abilities
Z’s main ability is to create shadow copies of any person that either agrees or is defeated in any way by them. The shadows are equivalent to a copy of the target at the exact moment the copy is made, meaning that Z favors not killing in order to preserve the copies’ powers and stamina at the moment of making them. The copies have the exact same power as the original in that point of their lives, and access to all their techniques. They cannot communicate, and they will generally follow Z’s orders, but if the orders go entirely against the original’s principles, the copies would refuse to follow through. Because of this, Z considers some shadows not worth summoning. Z is also able to copy weaponry and to apply that weaponry abilities to any of his copy, such as making a surefire homing projectile of anything they launch through copying Senjata’s technology.
Z can as well create a shadow copy of its own self. Z’s main method of offense outside of the copies is electricity, provided by the rhomboid amulet on their neck, capable of generating lightning in powerful discharges.
In Round 3, Z did contracts with several contenders in order to acquire their shadows. Those include Ocapon, Tredecima, Boxing Wizard, and even Wanzu. Z also retained shadow copies of Centuria horde armies, and a shadow steed.
Z is well versed in close quarter combats, enough to confidently take on the likes of Celia or Kome. They seem to favor kicks.
Background
History
Recruitment
Z walked into the Bucket on her own and stole the mic from Balkari. Then Z challenged every other Crab from the tournament. Due to these actions they were recruited by the Gamemaster.
Round 1
Z (lost, entry) vs Cassidy (won, entry) in Secret Battle. Match page: C3 R1 - Z vs Cassidy
In Centuria, Z joined the Brotherhood of Shadows, while Cassidy was part of the Empire.
In Z’s reality, they called Cassidy early before the match. They offered Cassidy money and a Lambo (a gift from Oji-san) in exchange for copying Cassidy’s defensive headset abilities. Cassidy inquired why Z wouldn’t copy the Freaks instead, with Z explaining the Freaks’ abilities were undesirable. In the end they shook hands and Cassidy left in her new car, with Z thanking her as a Cassidy shadow materialized.
In Cassidy’s canon reality, the Emperor sent Cassidy along with troops to aid the south coast, but they would have to pass through Forest Alliance territory - dangerous considering the tensions rising between the factions. He equipped her with Luthenil, an ancient sword granted by the elves when they were still allied with the Empire. Cassidy met with Randolph, an empire captain who would be her “second in command” and who showed himself not happy at all to have her on the lead. As they rode on the road (Cassidy on a donkey) she asked him if things could be patched with the Forest Alliance, but Randolph denied it, stating the Emperor had too much a romantic view of the past, and that the elves had killed his wife. They were interrupted by scouts identifying an army of the alliance gathering at the forest, alongside another crab contestant, Z. Z told the elves to prepare for battle, and as the trumpet rang, Randolph convinced Cassidy to rally the empire troops for a battle. A messy battle ensued, Cassidy safe from it thanks to her headset, she rescued Randolph from a battle, but he was promptly stabbed and killed by Z. Cassidy anguished, but Z mocked it, noting all of Centuria’s soldiers were just pieces for the tournament game and that one had already gotten too much attention. Z offered Cassidy to make a deal, but she refused to negotiate with an enemy of the empire, much to Z’s disbelief and annoyance. When Z tried to defeat Cassidy by force, she used the elven blade and cut their hand, knocking them to the ground and catching the attention of all the alliance members. Z accused the Empire of stealing the blade, but the elven commander recognized it had been given to the Empire long ago. Cassidy argued she had used it in self defense and that the elves attacked first, the commander told her they believed the Empire was planning to attack them, but Cassidy explained her mission - with Z insisting the empire had abandoned the coast. In the end, Cassidy offered the sword for safe passage, and seeing the manipulations would not work anymore, Z ran away - with the elven commander promising Cassidy safe passage and hoping this would mean better relationships between the alliance and the empire in the future.
Round 2
Z (won, entry) vs LOVE (lost, entry) in Cooking. Match page: C3 R2 - Z vs LOVE
In Japan, Z drank the gender changing potion (with seemingly no changes) and LOVE took on the kemono potion, becoming human.
In LOVE’s reality, LOVE and Z participated on a cooking show. LOVE was disoriented due to the human potion severing her connection with divinity. They were going to make sushi, and LOVE presented the first ingredient, a big carrot (it was a Daikon). LOVE presented the first ingredient, a big daikon. Z exasperated told her to cut the thing. The daikon began screaming when stabbed. LOVE presented the first ingredient, a big tormented daikon. Then Z, LOVE and the tormented daikon happily noted the rice was done.
In Z’s canon reality, Z was forced to drink a potion by the Gamemaster, and picked gender. Summoning the shadows of Centuria’s armies, Z commanded anyone who could not cook to dissipate. They all dissipated much to Z’s frustration. Ignoring a request from Overkill to join their rebellion and angrily telling Magai to stay away, Z put on a chef’s attire and prepared to face LOVE. The judges were Mishka, Mogan, Cyrus, Rhea and Monkshood and Sentimia (Z noted Bunnies kept appearing). Z started with a black cake. The reception was mostly negative as the cake did not fit the judges’ tastes, and Z worriedly noticed LOVE smugly smiling… then LOVE revealed her dish, an unsightly, eldritch abomination. When asked if she used a recipe, LOVE said she put one with the ingredients. The dish caught on fire and the fire could not be put down, and everyone evacuated, giving Z the victory.
Due to fighting before the intended times, Z and Kome were judged to go to Nuremberg - but Z interceded for Kome and she was released before being jailed. They wished each other good luck in their matches afterwards and remained in contact, discussing the Rebellion situation and their respective wishes.
Unbeknownst to most, Z had made a deal with the Freakers at this stage with the Gamemaster’s blessing - if they failed to win the majority of their matches, they were to obey Z’s orders and disband. Due to them losing, the Freakers were forced to disband and instead regrouped into the Rebellion, choosing to go in a blast of glory. Lenard used then the opportunity and added Z as H.A.U.N.T.’s final member and a replacement for Berlo/Jupiter.
Round 3
Z (lost, entry) vs Celia Pinewood (won, entry). Match page: C3 R3 - Z vs Celia
In Z’s reality, Celia asked Z if they had a deal, but Z said it wasn’t the case. Celia asked Z if they were mad about her beating Overkill, but Z replied they did not mind and, being in a good mood, offered Celia to walk out of the arena. Happily revealing to be the one responsible of disbanding the Freakers and thanking Celia for her help in doing so, Z summoned the Centuria archers to shoot a volley of arrows at Celia, who warped into her ghost form to phase through it and responded by firing lightning bolts at her opponent. However, Z easily absorbed the electricity and fired it back at a far greater power. As they reminisced about the contracts made with Ocapon, Boxing Wizard, Wanzu and Tredecima to create shadow copies, Z approached Celia who had once again phased into her ethereal form, and managed to see her wearing Ocapon’s glasses. Attentive to the fact Z had dodged the first shot of her electric gun, Celia attempted to catch Z off guard with another shot, which Z saw through - yet in the end, this was a distraction from the detective in order to pull her rival onto the ethereal plane as well. Being cut off from the other shadows, Z hesitated but ultimately decided to not summon Tredecima’s, while Celia offered to talk. Both observed the beauty of the other side, and Celia asked Z what their wish was. Confessing it was to always restore whatever was destroyed at the end of the tournaments, Z remembered the words of Dylan, Kome and Lenard when hearing it, and Lenard noticing Z’s mercy towards opponents. In the end, both agreed to end it in a fist fight - and Z emerged victorious.
In Celia’s canon reality, Celia and Z walked to the arena, with the first asking the latter if they would offer her a deal as per usual. Z denied that, given how much was at stake for the battle. Bantering with each other, with Z noting they would not hesitate to kill if needed and Celia responding her gun was faster than Z’s shadows, Berbie made the fight begin. Z summoned the Centuria army and shot arrows at Celia, who phased out of them in her ghost form. Shooting through the dust an electric discharge, Celia hit Z on the amulet, which absorbed the power just like Z planned. Z used the energy to shoot a chain of lightnings, which Celia narrowly dodged. Celia switched to silver bullets, while Z realized it would be difficult to hurt Celia in her spiritual form, and summoned the shadows of all of H.A.U.N.T., LOVE, Oji-san and Overkill for assistance, telling those who could hurt souls to remain. They all vanished except a confused LOVE (whom Z kicked out) and Cyrus, whom Z sicced at Celia’s ghost form. Materializing a rock from the ethereal plane, Celia crushed Cyrus, then she pulled a GIWTWM Videl-Gohan wrestling move on the hooded enemy and began pummeling them on the ground. Responding by electrifying Celia, Z pushed her off but could not retrieve the hat, and Celia warped again into her ghost form. Finding themselves at an impasse again, Z offered Celia a deal: an even fight with no shadows, no lightning, no gun, and remaining on the same plane. Celia agreed, but on the handshake pulled Z into the ethereal plane alongside her. Showing Z the beauty of the other plane, Celia went for a surprise uppercut, demonstrating the other world’s low gravity and sending Z flying. After this however, Z quickly adapted and began laying a beatdown on Celia. Completely beat-up, Celia let herself be punched a final time and deactivated the ethereal plane, causing both herself and Z to plummet under the normal gravity once again - with Z hitting out of bounds. Although at first seemingly dead, Celia ultimately proved to be alive, if badly hurt, and won the round.
Z (won, entry) vs Dizzy (lost, entry). Match page: C3 R3 - Z vs Dizzy
In Dizzy’s reality, Dizzy began by congratulating Z’s handwriting, also being amazed at the shadow crab’s willpower. Z shot thunder at Dizzy, but she turned the electricity into a lasso and tied Z with it. She turned Z into a battery then and inserted them into an old radio. The shadow felt sad because the other shadows would laugh at them and no one even listened to radio anymore, admitting Dizzy’s win when she kindly planted them outside the arena.
In Z’s canon reality, the Shadow approached Dizzy with the same letter, stating it would attack after 30 seconds and that the real Z would join after being done with Celia. Dizzy added 0’s to the seconds, stopping the shadow from attacking - but the shadow got mad and began pushing Dizzy off the arena. Reality then stopped, with Dizzy observing it and eating cake, commenting on her woes during the tournament. The shadow broke out of the cinema-reality, angry and ready to fight Dizzy, who pied it. The shadow responded by electrocuting Dizzy, but this just made her burn in a cartoon way. Responding with a massive explosion, it seemed the battle had finished - but then the real Z appeared, aiming at Dizzy with a Senjata gun they had gotten from Overkill, with homing properties. Through contract-absorbing the gun’s powers, Z had made it so that anything they would throw would hit their mark - the top of the Bucket. After firing there, Z’s shadow pushed Dizzy, who flew upwards to hit out of bounds… However, Dizzy then created a clone and threw a rabbit at Z thinking it was its weakness. Z responded by destroying the Dizzy clone with lightning, but during that distraction failed to notice the real Dizzy creating an anvil and used it as weight to fall down from the shot. Dizzy then revealed her final power, a total fourth wall break domain. Taking over even the narration, Dizzy avoided falling upwards after Z shot her rope by holding onto the panel borders, and kicked a narration box at her rival, sealing them in her gemstone, then kicking the stone out of the comic. The Shadow Z responded by electrocuting the panel border they shared with Dizzy, electrocuting her as well with it, releasing the domain, and catching the gemstone-trapped Z before it hit the out of bounds.
Extra Matches
Z (lost, entry) vs Kome Reidos (won, entry). Match page: C3 EX - Z vs Kome
In Z’s reality, Kome asked Z why would they face her, given she would not hold back and was superior in power. As they reminisced about Lenard’s despair on Z taking that match, Z gloated there would be no one they wouldn’t face, and brought all their shadows for the battle. Kome instantly destroyed the shadow army, and dodged a pre-emptive shot fired by Z before she even activated her mindscape, losing her coat. Kome approached Z’s mindscape/soul self, remembering their words and friendship, but when going for the decisive stab, Z regained control, catching the blade and revealing their plot - to have their own shadow fire electricity at its owner after the mindscape activated, accelerating and kickstarting their neuronal impulses to catch up with Kome’s speed. An ultra speed battle ensued between both of them, twelve minutes condensed to just less than 500 milliseconds, with Z achieving victory after Kome’s stamina ran out right before their own did as well.
In Kome’s canon reality, both contestants faced each other in a fierce battle, with Kome slaughtering the army shadows, stabbing Z several times, forcing Z to summon all the crab shadows. Overwhelmed, Kome launched a small vail meteor on the arena, but Z used the opportunity to electrocute Kome. Now deciding to face Z in her younger form, both reminiscing about their teams and the trust (or lack of trust in the case of Lenard not wanting Z to face her) they put on them, Kome and Z exchanged blow after blow - in the end, Kome tried her own version of the Hime Punch and used it to beat Z out of the arena.
Z (lost, entry) vs Hime Mashima (won, entry). Match page: C3 EX - Z vs Hime
In Z’s reality, an exhausted Z and Hime traded blows in a purely physical battle, having spent all power and resources on previous tournaments. Although Hime used her mastered Hime punch, Z counter-attacked with their own Z kick and managed to defeat the girl by punching her down when Hime countered it.
In Hime’s canon reality, she was surprised to find out she had to fight Z, who proposed a simple fist fight. After delivering a series of combos to Hime, she claimed she would return the hits tenfold, concluded such tenfold was 327 hits (it wasn’t) and proceeded to catch and slam Z on the ground that many times while Kome, Celia and Dizzy cheered, finally putting them down.
During the final War of the Three Votes, the points granted by Z defeats were cancelled by the Gamemaster. However, loyal to their word, Z voted for Brat Pack as a way to pay the defeats the memesisters gave them (although Z did try to manipulate votes in favor of H.A.U.N.T. until the very end), standing against Lenard for their own honor. As such, the Brat Pack ended up winning.
After Crab 3
After the Brat Pack victory, Z woke up at a bed, where Hime, Kome, and Lenard got, as they had betted before, to see their true appearance. Z was invited by Kome to help her in her Multiversal Empire. Z accepted in exchange for Kome reviving Rudolph, the man Z killed on Cassidy’s reality, which Kome agreed to. Z is seen helping with multiversal administration and conquering in Kome’s epilogue, along with its shadows. They presented their resignation when Kome introduced Casino Day and had both Z and Maiden 4 in bunny fits, but Kome raised Z’s pay to keep them on board and cancelled Casino Day for the foreseeable future.
Z later challenged Sack to a battle, and the Brat God put as condition to make it a nuclear baseball game. Although initially Sack seemed to handily win and Kome scoffed at the decision, in the end Z achieved the victory and Sack gave him his victory medal. Z made a copy of it and gave it to his team as a thanks and goodbye.
Z later challenged the Gods along with Dark Mode, hoping for her to achieve the position of new Gamemaster and change Crab entirely, but ultimately the Roomba won.
Relationships
Life Within CRAB
Developed a begrudging friendship with Dylan, and a “cross arms and stand on opposite sides of the same pillar looking cool” friendship with Kome.
Despite hating the Freakers, Z had a good relationship with and respected Overkill, even visiting him before his final match. Overkill interceded for Z and got him out of Nuremberg as well before the final round.
Gallery
Gallery
Trivia
- Z is best boy/girl along with Hime and Sack.
- They have a habit of facing bunnies - Cassidy, LOVE, Celia. Ironically, Hime’s request upon beating Z was for them to wear a bunny outfit of sorts.
- Only Lenard, Kome, Hime and Sack know of Z’s true appearance, gender, age, and identity.
- Had Z won, their wish was to “always restore whatever is lost at the end of every tournament”, effectively saving the worlds from destruction.
Source
Text: CRAB WIKI, Z (revision 1479, 2025-01-24; by Fresbi)
Pictures: Z.png, uploaded to the wiki by Fresbi
Edited by: G
Licence: text CC BY-SA 4.0; characters, comics and art belong to their creators
