Apocalypse Healer 2: A LitRPG Adventure, page 24
A sacrifice—lifeforce worth thousands of lives—in exchange for Zachariah’s arm.
That was all David wanted.
However, Zachariah’s arm didn’t regrow immediately when [Sacrifice] took effect. Instead, David felt a shift in his mind space. He closed his eyes and watched as the vibrant crimson sheen changed. Sparks of gold and silver emanated from [Sacrifice], but they did not remain idle. They swirled through his mind space and surged toward [Restore].
Just as the first glistening particles disappeared into [Restore]’s Rune, a notification appeared.
[Proficiency of Restore reached 100%.]
[Tier-1 XVII] → [Tier-1 XVIII]
It didn’t stop there. More particles from [Sacrifice] flowed into [Restore], merging with the Skill Rune and stimulating drastic improvements.
[Proficiency of Restore reached 100%.]
[Tier-1 XVIII] → [Tier-1 XIX]
Another notification followed immediately.
[Proficiency of Restore reached 100%.]
[Tier-1 XIX] → [Tier-1 XX]
[Restore reached its limit. Initiate Tier progression.]
[Restore – Tier-1 XX] → [Restoration – Tier-2 I]
David’s eyes widened as [Restore]’s Skill Rune transformed into [Restoration]. A vibrant smile spread across his face. He stopped draining the Cursed’s lifeforce and rushed toward Zachariah, certain he could regrow the Regressor’s arm back.
But [Sacrifice] was still in full effect. More notifications popped up as [Restoration] continued to advance. Yet just as David thought [Sacrifice] would finally stop, [Restoration]’s Skill Rune transformed once more.
[A mutation has occurred to Restoration’s Rune due to external factors.]
[Restoration Tier-2 V] → [Greater Restoration Tier-2 V]
“That’s even better,” he smirked, kneeling beside Zachariah and grasping his shoulder. He unleashed [Greater Restoration], overclocked and at full power.
David felt the immense weight of the mutated Skill Rune press down on him. His Source stirred as a massive surge of Blood poured into [Greater Restoration].
A moment later, an unfamiliar power pulsed through his arm and into Zachariah. Something was happening, but before he could process it, his vision darkened.
He woke up with a pounding headache—so intense that he would have gladly cracked his head open against the nearest wall. The moment he opened his eyes, the sky spun wildly. He turned to the side and vomited.
Grimacing, he attempted to channel Blood through his head, but the effort only made him heave again.
David groaned and forced himself upright, though it was a struggle. The first thing he noticed was Zachariah’s shouting.
“Burn that fucking arm! I don’t care who does it—just get rid of it!”
A moment later, flames flickered at the edge of David’s vision, and he felt a firm hand rest on his shoulder.
“Thank you. If not for you, I’d be dead.”
It was Zachariah. Alive and with two intact arms.
David glanced at him, only for the regressor to shove a glass vial into his mouth.
“Drink it. Regrowing my arm must have done a great deal of damage to your mind.”
“Fuck you,” David muttered, swallowing the viscous liquid. His headache gradually lessened, but that didn’t stop him from cursing Zachariah for several minutes.
The Regressor listened to the insults in silence, a small smile tugging at his lips—one that irritated David to no end.
“I hate you,” David sighed, finally calming down. “Either way… how did you know I could regrow your arm?”
“Oh, that? I didn’t.” Zachariah’s smile widened.
“What?” David stared at him in disbelief. “Then why the hell did you tell me to do it?!”
His stomach lurched at the revelation, and he barely managed to suppress another wave of nausea. Though, the idea of vomiting all over Zachariah was tempting.
“I was just hoping for the best.”
David cocked an eyebrow.
“I wanted to put a bit of pressure on you,” Zachariah admitted, his voice quieter than before. “And it looks like it worked. So, all’s well that ends well, right?”
The Regressor moved his left arm in excitement, but David wasn’t having it. He pushed himself up and punched Zachariah square in the gut.
Zachariah doubled over, gasping for air, and David couldn’t help but grin.
“Yep, everything is fine. Now.”
Despite the blow, Zachariah didn’t glare at him. Instead, he straightened with a wry smile. “But seriously… thank you.”
“No problem,” David said, brushing it off. Then, he shuddered as the memory of the black life signal resurfaced. “But what exactly happened?”
Zachariah’s gaze darkened. “I was scouting the surrounding villages and towns, searching for more bandits. And I think I found them.” His eyes flickered to his left arm. “But I also found something else.”
A creature?
David didn’t press for details. If it was about Them, they couldn’t speak of it. Not without giving Them more power.
“So, you fought that creature, and it infected your arm?”
Zachariah nodded. “I was certain I was stronger and attacked. But the bandits must have noticed. They joined the fight, and the creature grew stronger. It killed several of them, and the rest fled. Once the bandits were gone, it managed to scratch me, and…” He exhaled sharply. “I knew saving my arm would be pointless. So instead of trying to protect it, I used it as a shield to safeguard the rest of my body.”
That was probably the best decision he could have made, David thought. If the creature had managed to inflict the black life signal on multiple areas of his body, Zachariah would have been lucky to lose only a few limbs.
A cold voice suddenly cut through their conversation.
“I heard you talking about the bandits. Where are they now?”
David turned to find Lukas approaching them. Good, he thought, Lukas was alive and well.
“Did you listen to me?” Zachariah asked curtly. “If you did, you would have known that this creature killed the bandits.”
“That’s not what you said,” Lukas responded, stepping closer. His eyes darkened menacingly as he added, growing louder with each word, “You said some were killed and that the rest retreated in fear. So… Where. Are. They. Hiding?”
Zachariah groaned but pointed in one direction. “I think I came from this way. The bandits were hiding in a small town surrounded by a massive forest. No idea if the forest was already there before the integration or if it’s something new.”
“They’re hiding in Horville?”
“I don’t know what the town is called,” Zachariah shrugged.
“Maja!” Lukas turned around. “Bring me to Horville!”
David glanced at Zachariah, who met his gaze.
“He’s radiating killing intent,” the Regressor muttered.
“I can tell. He’s going to die if he stays here, isn’t he?”
“Probably. Either the bandits are going to kill him, or the creature will. If it hasn’t left yet.”
David gestured for Zachariah to follow Lukas, who was rallying his party. He studied their life signals and was surprised to see that everyone was doing fine. Even the life signals of the Cursed, who’d returned to their homes, had improved, though they were still far from perfect.
“We will come with you,” Zachariah told Lukas and glanced at David. “You’re fine, right? I don’t want you to fight to the death when you’re not at your peak.”
David shrugged. “I think I’d regret it if I didn’t come. In the worst case, I will bother you for a few more potions. After all, my head is the only thing that’s killing me.”
Within a few minutes, they departed. Maja conjured another golden portal—this time with less effort—and they stepped through, emerging on a small hill before a large town.
However, instead of finding hundreds of life signals, David noticed something else.
“Death,” he muttered, goosebumps covering his body. “Nobody in this town is alive. Not anymore.”
“But I saw something move just now!” Lukas growled.
David snapped at him. “I don’t give a shit about what you saw. I am telling you that there is no intact life signal in this place. The only moving thing is a black… Oh fuck…”
His head flicked to Zachariah. “The creature is still there.”
A moment later, a humanoid creature the size of a small building emerged from town. Darkness mantled the creature and spread outward, wilting the shrubs and trees it touched instantly.
Zachariah moved before the others, unsheathing his sword slowly.
“Do not look into its eyes,” he warned, but the creature’s long head had already snapped in their direction. Sharp, twisted horns jutted from its head, glowing faintly as something twinkled beneath the darkness the creature emanated.
A high-pitched scream rang out from the right, followed by a deep gargle. David caught the man beside Lukas collapsing. He was dead even before he hit the ground.
Mere moments later, David felt the creature’s attention linger on him. He wanted to do something—move and attack—but his legs were frozen. A heavy weight appeared inside him all of a sudden. It tried to crush him, his Source and soul, yet David resisted.
He cursed and allowed the anger bubbling in his chest to explode. Finally, he regained control of his body and stepped forward. Every step seemed to fuel the fierce flames of anger in his chest, pushing him to charge at the creature and kill it.
However, Zachariah didn’t let him pass. The Regressor’s blade pointed at his chest suddenly, his eyes drilling into his.
“Don’t allow it to manipulate your emotions. It’s only a fragment, a mere trace of their power, but it is still a sproutling of Them.”
David didn’t know what happened, but the anger in his heart died the moment the tip of Zachariah’s blade poked him. He realized in horror what would have happened without Zachariah and pulled back. His eyes drifted to the others, but they remained unmoving. Two out of Lukas’ group of seven were dead on the ground, and the rest either looked like they were about to burst into tears or stared at the creature in horror.
That is a sproutling? A fragment of Them? And it is already strong enough to overpower Zachariah… David swallowed, staring at the creature as it turned away. Was it not interested in killing them?
The darkness engulfing the creature expanded, and its black life signal vanished. A moment later, the darkness dispersed, and the creature was no more.
It left… just like that?
Following the sproutling’s departure, the heavy weight on his soul vanished. At the same time, screams and sobs reached his ears, but David checked the notification that had just flashed to life.
[Congratulations. You survived an encounter with a Void Fragment.
Your Soul was not crushed.
Your Mind was not incinerated.
+1 Mind, +1 Soul]
It was an easy rank-up for him and Zachariah, but David did not feel great about it. On the contrary, he felt awful.
That was one of the things Asmodeus showed me last night, he reminded himself, shuddering again.
Once again, David felt like he had lost control of the situation. He felt weak—helpless.
34
HERALD
David let the others grieve their two fallen friends while Zachariah left to check out Horville. The Regressor returned a few minutes later and stood beside him in silence.
A while passed before the gut-wrenching sobs and cries subsided, yet no one spoke. Maja manifested a portal back to the town where the Cursed resided, then conjured a second one for Zachariah and David.
“Thank you… for helping us,” Lukas muttered, his shoulders drooping.
A tear fell to the ground as David patted Lukas’ shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“If you ever need help again, come to the Dwarven Sanctuary,” Zachariah said with a faint sigh before adding, “I’d recommend that the Cursed grow stronger. Even the elderly can become Clerics and acquire useful Classes. They can extend their lifespans by upgrading their Bodies and keep their minds sharp by strengthening their Minds.”
The Regressor departed through the portal, and David followed after saying his farewells.
There wasn’t much he could say to console them either way. Zachariah had warned them, but they took the risk, nonetheless. Some of them had died, the rest were lucky to be alive. They all could have died, and probably would have, if the Void Fragment had attacked.
The scenery changed as he rushed behind Zachariah, and he found himself in Torb’s office. The dwarf wasn’t present.
“You might want to tell the others what happened earlier, but it might be best if you—” Zachariah started, but David lifted a hand with a smile. “I know.”
Zachariah stared at him with a raised eyebrow. “You do?”
“Asmodeus visited me last night.”
Zachariah’s eyes widened for a moment. He nodded in understanding.
“What will you do now?” David asked.
Zachariah shrugged. “I’ll probably force Melach or some other Mage with decent fire-attributed Runes to come with me. The corpses in Horville need to be incinerated. The more firepower, the better.”
Were the black life signals that much of a problem? David had seen them spread through Zachariah’s arm, but what was there to damage in corpses?
“It will spread into the surroundings, seep into the ground if you don’t destroy the corpses, won’t it?” David took a wild guess.
Zachariah shook his head. “‘Death’ isn’t strong enough to infest the Earthen Union just yet. However, monsters—especially undead—should never get to touch it. They will devour the Death and absorb it.”
Somehow, from the way Zachariah spoke about it, David doubted ‘Death’ was the proper term for the black life signals. It seemed more like Zachariah was trying hard not to mention it—just like Them.
“What’s your plan?”
“Mine?” The question took him by surprise. What was his plan?
Today’s events changed a lot. He was stronger than ever, yet he felt incredibly weak. That had to change.
“I think I’ll make use of the Blessing with everything I have,” he said. “I might be away a little longer, though.”
The Blessing of the World wouldn’t last for long. Maybe it would end in a few hours, maybe in another day or two—David couldn’t tell for sure. The last few days had not only been stressful but had overlapped as well, making it incredibly hard to tell how much time had passed in reality.
Regardless, David wasted no time. He told Zachariah where he could be found in an emergency and departed for the prehistoric Rift.
Several dwarves guarded the prehistoric Rift’s entrance, blocking his path with their spears. They said something, but David wasn’t listening. His mind was focused on the Void Fragment and his pathetic antics.
He had been certain things would change once Lifeweaver reached the Silver Rank, yet everything was still the same. He was strong, but his power was still far from the top. The winged serpent had made that much clear, cracking his confidence. But the Void Fragment encounter, and the relentless reminder of the Earthen Union’s fate in past Cycles, shattered it completely, crushing it into dust.
That had to change.
David pushed the spears aside and looked at one of the dwarven guards, the world around him turning crimson as he did. The guards retreated and made space for him as he entered the prehistoric Rift again.
He returned to the valley and dashed toward the Rift Core, which had changed a lot. The stone foundation circling the Rift Core was now surrounded by massive walls and several towers. More dwarves, stronger entities, protected the Rift Core alongside several powerful dinosaurs.
How had they tamed them? David didn’t know. It didn’t really feel like the dinosaurs had been tamed. Maybe they weren’t tamed at all, and the dwarves and dinosaurs simply accepted each other’s company for the sake of peace and Origin Essence.
But David did not care. He unleashed his Bloodlust to the fullest, voicing everything that needed to be said.
“Anyone who bothers me will be killed on the spot,” he declared, leaping across the wall. He sat cross-legged beside the Rift, ignoring the weapons pointed at him. He needed strength, and he would take everything necessary to obtain it, even if that meant making enemies of Aether-infused prehistoric monsters and a bunch of dwarves.
But he needed Origin Essence right now. Serene Ego was certainly not the strongest Secondary Class, but it was exactly what David required in this moment. If he ever wished to acquire enough power to rival the strongest, he would have to improve his foundation. Enhancing his stats with Attribute Points and level-ups would shorten the gap and grant him some power, but Monk—and thus also Serene Ego—provided the means to upgrade his foundation and unlock the full potential of his existence.
All he needed was enough energy, Origin Essence preferred, the means to absorb it smoothly, [Meditation], and ways to utilize the energy: [Reinforce], [Mind Palace], and [Dao Comprehension]. Both Class Skills and the Legacy Skills would push his potential to the limit while simultaneously increasing Serene Ego’s Rank. The combination was as close to perfection as one could get, David thought, confident in his next course of action.
Even if the Secondary Class is harder to level up, I can do it. He licked his lips, devising plans and goals, one of which included the next Class Advancement of Serene Ego.
Since he was already there, he might as well try to reach the Silver Rank with his Secondary Class. He closed his eyes as a sudden realization hit him.
Wait a second, he didn’t open his pores to absorb and annex the Origin Essence around him. Instead, his hand reached for the spatial necklace with a wry smile.
“I don’t want to break my neck now, do I?” David snickered, ignoring the heavy tension in the air. He removed the necklace and studied it for a moment. The damaged dimension stone didn’t seem connected to the chain. Was that new, or had he somehow failed to notice that the stone was never attached to the chain?
