Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death

Taking care of the Cursed and curing them had fully occupied his mind. He barely noticed Rend advancing to Intermediate, his Skill Runes' rank increasing, or his Primary Class breaking through to the Silver Rank.

But now, looking at Zachariah lying in a pool of his own blood, David had to react fast.

The black life signal was gone. Saving his life wouldn't be a problem... but regrowing his arm? David winced as he recalled Zachariah's face.

One arm was simply not enough for a Swordsman, especially not for someone carrying the burden of the Earthen Union's survival on his shoulders.

David took a deep breath, ignoring his pounding heart, and moved.

[Six Attribute Points have been used to enhance the User's Soul.]

High (Intermediate) → Low (Advanced)

His Source responded instantly to the Soul's improvement. It expanded in his mind space and emptied his Energy Pathways instantaneously. David tried to keep up with the consumption of natural Aether but failed to absorb enough ambient Aether to sustain the Source's growth. No more Blood droplets were added to the Source, but the droplets grew stronger—more potent. He watched them swell to three times their size, only to shrink again, glowing even brighter.

More Aether filled the droplets, but they lacked something crucial: lifeforce, David realized. But he didn't have the means to supply any more lifeforce. Not without endangering his own life.

That's not enough, he groaned, gritting his teeth as the Source demanded more.

David opened his eyes, skimming through the notifications, but he couldn't find anything that would help him regrow Zachariah's arm. He cast [Weave of Life] to preserve Zachariah's life as the pool of blood expanded, but that was all he could do.

Zora dashed toward the regressor, and David sensed the holy power surging through her. Before she could reach Zachariah, he conjured [Blood Aegis], blocking her.

"If you stop the bleeding, I won't be able to heal the arm," David hissed. Not without severing what remained of it, at least.

Zora's brows creased, "But… you said you can't do that! Being alive with one arm is still better than dying."

"Just give me a moment. I'll get to that problem in a minute," David responded coldly as he finished reading through the notifications. Only one of them caught his attention.

[Class Skill [Sacrifice] has been fused to your Source. Prepare for the influx of information.]

David bit his lower lip, checking the Class Skill.

[Sacrifice] – [Tier-3 I]

The influx of information hadn't been special. If anything, it only showed him that he could sacrifice something to gain something else in exchange. It reminded him of [Equivalent Exchange] with the sole difference being that [Sacrifice] didn't seem to be used in combat.

Some changes were permanent. Others only temporary... right? David tried recalling every detail of the influx, but his mind was a mess. It was almost like Zachariah's condition—and the regressor's plea for help—had turned him into a mindless fool.

He slapped his cheeks firmly, the burn calming him—if only a little.

"I need lifeforce, or he'll never get his arm back." David turned to the others. "And that would kill him, one way or another."

Some shuddered as his words echoed, but Lukas met his gaze steadily.

"We owe you," Lukas said in a matter-of-fact tone, "How can we be of help?"

Straight to the point? I like that, David thought, clearing his throat.

"Either you bring me as many fresh corpses as possible—monsters on the verge of death will do too—or you give me access to more lifeforce. Your lifeforce," he added.

"He saved us," Lukas said to the others when Zora and those nearby gasped. "I will repay that favor. With interest, if necessary."

The swordsman turned to David and held out his arm. "Let's do it. Take as much as you need—without killing me if possible."

David nodded and began draining Lukas' lifeforce. But that was only the start.

Maja stepped forward, offering hers as well. The remaining members of Lukas' group followed, and it didn't take long before the Cursed joined, creating an avalanche of lifeforce that swallowed David's world, turning it crimson as he devoured it all.

He didn't bother transforming the tidal wave of lifeforce into Blood. Instead, David cast [Sacrifice], offering up as much lifeforce as he could afford to lose. His Source drained traces of the seemingly unending waves of lifeforce entering his body, growing the Blood droplets to full power, but he barely paid his Source any attention as a vibrant crimson sheen engulfed the largest Rune in his mind space.

It felt like hours had passed, but it could only have been seconds before the first men around him collapsed. More men and women followed shortly, yet David could not afford to stop absorbing their lifeforce. He severed the flow from those who could no longer hold on and drained the rest until it felt like [Sacrifice] could fulfill his wish.

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 again.

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.

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David felt the immense weight of the mutated Skill Rune pressing 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, "You said some were killed and that the rest retreated in fear. So… Where. Are. They. Hiding?!"

Zachariah groaned but pointed toward a 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 ushered, 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 did not crush.

Your Mind did not incinerate.

+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.