Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death

What was the best way to start his first day in Arc with a bang? David considered a light chat with some gods of the Pantheon a good way to start.

"Do you want to come with us to the Familia, or should we meet later to give you your share of the loot?" Melach asked.

David thought about it for a moment. Melach and Torb were members of the Familia, where they had obtained the mission to kill the Mutant Giant Infected. Earning a fortune and gaining special boons didn't sound too bad, but David shook his head.

"We can meet up later. I'll roam the Panthea to learn some more about the Pantheon and their gods."

As the group split up, leaving him alone in a place teeming with foreign creatures, David's pulse quickened. The intensity of it all pressed down on him. Yet, nobody paid much attention to him as he scrutinized everything intently.

The streets were crowded but not claustrophobic. The bustling energy felt oddly calming to David. Although thousands of invaders may have been in Arc, he didn't feel a threat from this place. He watched the people rushing through the market square and connecting pathways to do their jobs, chat, and live pleasant, peaceful lives.

Why does this feel so…normal? It shouldn't feel like that, should it?

How had he adapted so quickly? Just a week ago, the integration had thrust him into chaos. He'd spent most of it in an abandoned house, training, yet somehow, this all felt...normal. Even meeting mythical races from fairy tales hadn't surprised him.

Let's go meet some gods!

David's eyes trailed some shops, especially those with magical armaments, but his interest died quickly. He was penniless and couldn't afford anything even if he'd wanted to buy something.

His attention shifted to the second-biggest building in the Sanctuary, the Pantheon's temple, and he approached it with unhurried strides. The Panthea was short, but the road was magnificent and inviting.

At first, David paid little attention to the large statues. But as his muffled steps echoed through the Panthea, a heavy pressure began to press on him, growing with each stride. He glanced in all directions until his eyes locked on a few figures kneeling before a statue. They uttered incomprehensible prayers but didn't seem to be struggling while doing so.

David slowed and scrutinized the statues for the first time. His eyes drifted from a scaled humanoid creature wielding a spear to a human-like figure clad in heavy armor. There were also men and women of various races clothed in robes, tunics, and other garments. David wouldn't usually pay much attention to them if not for the heavy pressure they exuded.

Their gazes seemed to pierce through him, leaving David with the unsettling sense that all his secrets were laid bare.

Was that how the Pantheon demonstrated their superiority? David couldn't tell, but he was impressed, nonetheless.

How strong were the gods of the Pantheon if they could show off their powers like that? David recalled Torb saying that the Panthea in all System Sanctuaries looked the same. If that were true, the gods must spend tremendous power to fuel the statues. And for what? To flaunt their strength and remind everyone of their dominance?

David cracked a smile. The lifelike statues carved with shocking detail were intriguing, but the power they exuded in a sorry attempt to push him down and force him to his knees was far more impressive. It was amusing, to some degree.

The pressure on him increased as he strode to the end of the Panthea and the entrance to the Pantheon's temple, but David's smile never cracked.

He licked his lips, scanned the temple one last time—it was magnificent, its grandeur rivaling the cathedrals and historical churches David had visited in the past—and stepped inside.

The pressure weighing on him dispersed, replaced by utter silence.

David saw several men and women kneeling on wooden benches. Their lips moved, but no sound escaped.

Do as you please.

David ignored the praying men and women and stepped closer to the front, his eyes trained on what appeared to be a hyper-realistic hologram. No. It wasn't a hologram. It was a small structure showing a floating island. An island built on clouds.

Damn. That looks super realistic.

He nearly blurted that aloud as he checked the small city with countless pristine palaces built atop the island.

Was that the Pantheon?

David cleared his throat, excitement bubbling in his chest. He understood how foolish this was, but he did it nonetheless.

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"Hey, gods, or whatever you are... Why did you invade the Earthen Union? What's the point of all this?" His voice boomed through the temple, but no one answered.

A muffled shriek rang out behind him. Turning, David caught the wide-eyed stares of the praying men and women. Their disbelief was palpable.

He turned back to the floating island with a shrug.

"I am not mad or anything. Well, maybe a little bit. But that's okay. Life has been more exciting since the world changed," David snickered. "Either way, I need answers. Now!"

David heard murmurs behind him and only glanced back when he heard some bustling. The praying citizens jumped to their feet and scattered quickly. They stormed out of the temple as if their lives depended on it.

That's unexpected… Are they afraid of their gods?

Maybe he should have been more vigilant of the gods. Then again, David wanted answers from the Pantheon, and he wouldn't leave the temple until he got them.

"Is the Pantheon too afraid to speak the truth? Why are you not telling us anything?" David's demanding voice resounded through the temple. "Why integrate the Earthen Union… no, our entire planetary system, into the Pantheon? Was that really necessary? Even if it was, did you have to do it in such a gruesome way?"

There was no answer. Again. David tapped his dagger impatiently. Did he have to go further?

"You're fucking scared, aren't you? You call yourselves gods but are too afraid to stand up for your actions. Scaredy cats. Losers. No-names. You're trying to inflate your egos with the Panthea, but you mindfucks don't even realize how stupid you look! Nobody respects the Pantheon. Nobody likes you! You're worth less than my sweaty socks!"

A wave of satisfaction washed over David. Letting his anger loose felt amazing, even if it didn't bring him closer to answers.

But the Pantheon didn't seem to share his sense of relief. A deep growl echoed through the temple, and a heavy pressure descended upon him. His legs trembled violently, threatening to buckle. Still, David stood strong, bracing himself against the overwhelming force pressing down on him.

A vibrant light materialized above him, flooding the temple and overwhelming his senses. The crackling sound of electricity filled the air.

David's eyes widened as the pristine light gathered and condensed.

The light formed into countless arcs of wild electricity that merged into one. Suddenly, a thunderous explosion rang out, and the currents burst downward in a single massive bolt of lightning that struck David mercilessly.

David couldn't react in time. Even without the pressure restraining him, he wouldn't have been fast enough to evade it. The lightning bolt hit him with devastating force, slamming him to the ground.

He writhed in agony, his chest blazing with pain, as though he had been hit by a flaming truck. His skin burned, and he doubted his clothes would survive this ordeal. Not that it mattered. The pain consumed him, overshadowing all else.

So, it's Divine Punishment, huh?

He grimaced through the pain and activated [Cure Wounds]. But once wasn't enough. David cast [Cure Wounds] more than ten times in rapid succession until only faint traces of holy power remained in his Holy Sea. That should be enough. It had to be.

[Excessive holy power has been detected. Initiate Skill Rune overclock.]

[Proficiency of Cleanse increased.]

[Proficiency of Cure Wounds reached 100%.]

[Tier-0 IV] → [Tier-0 V]

[Cure Wounds reached the first minor threshold.

Healing potency increased. Energy consumption decreased. Control increased.]

Even as his wounds healed rapidly, David's face was twisted in pain. [Cure Wounds] prioritized the most grievous injuries first, mending the white electricity coursing through his body almost as quickly as it inflicted damage.

Despite the torment surging through his veins, David pushed himself to his feet. A smile spread across his face—a defiant grin that never wavered, even as pain more intense than his battle with the Kobolds consumed him.

"Thank you for confirming that you, or at least some of you, are listening," David said mockingly, bowing deeply toward the floating island.

His theory had been confirmed.

The lightning bolt's remnants didn't just fade, they continued spreading through his energy pathways and Holy Sea, nourishing them.

David's eyes widened as the electricity surged within him, carrying an unmistakable charge of potent holy power.

His grin widened further, and he cast [Holy Touch], draining the last dregs of energy from his Holy Sea. [Holy Touch] surged through his body, colliding with the electricity currents and following his instincts.

He didn't need to try hard to subdue the energy. Willing [Holy Touch] to consume the currents, he channeled the immense power into his Skill Rune.

Even as the currents' holy power was absorbed, [Holy Touch] didn't stop. It devoured the remnants of the divine punishment, replenishing his Holy Sea in seconds.

David chuckled and licked his lips, savoring the sensation of the potent holy power coursing through him.

"That was nicer than expected," he said, his grin splitting from ear to ear. "Thank you for helping me rank up my Skill Rune! How about you give me a few more presents? A nice Skill Rune sounds like a great gift. What do you think, gods of the Pantheon?"

David doubted they would indulge him, but he wasn't about to let that stop him.

Why?

The answer was obvious.

From what David had observed, the gods of the Pantheon were patient—but even gods had limits.

All he needed was to find their weak spot, prodding it until one of them snapped under the humiliation.

At that point, they'd be too enraged to realize they'd slipped up.

Or so David hoped.