Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death

They closed in on the Rift without further problems. David inspected the surroundings and discovered several curious details as he explored the crackling, violet vortex that spanned over two dozen meters.

He first noticed how his body absorbed significantly more Aether as they approached the Rift. Since the World Awakening, Aether had been abundant wherever he went, but the Rift and its surroundings were on another level entirely.

He used the ambient Aether to fill his Energy Pathways, never letting it remain idle after absorption. David cast [Holy Touch] and maintained it as he circulated the holy power, modified under Blood's influence, through his body. The Energy Pathways, which in his mind resembled firm, well-trained muscles, had grown far from their earlier atrophied state. Nonetheless, his focus on nurturing their development never stopped. On the contrary, he hoped to sustain this growth for as long as possible.

Now and then, he retrieved a Velociraptor corpse to drain its Essence and replenish his Blood reserves. He also pulled the Obsidian Blade from the Utahraptor's body once it was emptied, discarding the less valuable parts of the Elite Monster before thrusting the soulbound weapon into another target. With each moment, they drew closer to the wildly swirling Rift.

"The surrounding nature is changing fast," Melach noted, breaking the silence. "I don't think many plants on Ystra grow this quickly."

"The World Awakening accelerated the growth of everything," Zachariah responded lightly. "But that's a negligible fact. No matter how fast you grow, you still need nutrients and Aether. The Earthen Union was always overflowing with nutrients, but it lacked Aether. That is no longer a problem. If anything, the Earthen Union will soon be overflowing with Aether."

David scrutinized the grass field that reached up to his calves, wondering how long it would take to cover his lower body. Would it be days—or merely hours?

"At least you have cheap but efficient mowers. Not the magical kind I know, but these creatures are probably easier to maintain," Torb quipped, pointing toward a spot farther from the Rift.

David followed Torb's gaze and was surprised to see hundreds of large, heavy-looking mammals grazing nearby. Their backs were covered in broad, upright plates, and their long tails ended in spiked tips, completing the appearance of creatures any fan of the prehistoric age would recognize at a glance. A horde of Stegosaurus munched through the rapidly growing grass field, keeping the blades short.

Other large creatures lingered near the Stegosaurus, and as David looked around, he found even more prehistoric beasts close to the natural Rift.

"Do you think they left the Rift voluntarily?" David asked.

Zachariah turned toward him, his expression contemplative. "Natural Rifts are different from man-made ones. Some creatures were probably forced out due to territorial conflicts, while others left out of curiosity—or to protect their kin from the dangers lurking inside. Regardless, they will stay close to the Rift to absorb more Aether until stronger predators emerge and force them to relocate."

David mulled over Zachariah's explanation, trying to picture the chaos inside the Rift that might drive creatures out. His heart raced at the thought of encountering some of the prehistoric age's 'strong' predators.

"That's interesting, but can we enter the Rift now? I want to—" David began, but Torb interrupted with a laugh, striding past him and patting his back.

"Fight? This might be a surprise to you, but we already know that," Torb said.

Melach chuckled, and even Zachariah smirked as he walked by.

"Whatever. Let's conquer the Rift!" David declared.

There was no guardian protecting the Rift, which allowed the team of four to step through unhindered. David didn't know what to expect, but stepping through a magical portal into another dimension felt surreal. As he entered the swirling vortex, the air shifted around him with every step. The dense forest ahead replaced the familiar grasslands behind.

The flora shifted dramatically, transforming into lush greenery with giant ferns and sprawling cycads growing everywhere. Moss-covered rocks and lichens appeared where nothing had been before, and massive tree trunks emerged from thin air. Wildflowers scattered vibrant colors across the scene, but David's focus lingered on the more pronounced changes. Tall conifers and low shrubs dotted the landscape between the towering trees.

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A cool, damp gust brushed against him, carrying the sounds of rustling ferns, splashing water, and the distant calls of birds and other creatures. The oddly peaceful atmosphere contrasted with the chaotic changes happening around him.

The transition ended after several steps, and David spotted his teammates again. Only now did he realize he hadn't seen them during the shift. Was that normal? Probably. David shrugged and turned his attention toward the source of the splashing sound. A waterfall cascaded down a rocky mountain nearby. Channeling Blood into his eyes to augment [Eagle Eyes], he scrutinized the surroundings once more.

"Are we in a valley?" He wondered aloud.

"Possible. That's a mountain range to our right, isn't it?" Zachariah agreed.

"It's silent," Torb added. "Too silent."

David nodded in agreement. He had expected fierce battles right from the start, but so far, nothing had happened. He couldn't spot a single creature. Sure, distant roars, growls, cracking noises, and chirping birds echoed faintly through the forest, but nothing had attacked them yet.

The distant growls gradually grew louder. The cracking intensified, joined by shadowy figures flashing through the prehistoric forest away from the mountain range. However, the figures didn't come toward them; instead, they collided with each other.

"A fight between dinosaurs," David muttered, casting [Blessing] on everyone before cautiously approaching the shadowy figures. To get a better view, he climbed a nearby tree. Gripping the rough bark, he scrambled up to a branch hanging over a dozen meters above the ground. He leaped to the next branch, but his foot slipped. For a heart-stopping moment, he almost fell. He managed to regain his balance and steadied himself.

Finally, he saw them.

An incredibly long monster with a sailed back, towering hind legs, and a long, crocodile-like skull had sunk its fangs into a large, bipedal predator. The other creature retaliated, digging its dagger-shaped teeth into the sail.

David's breath caught as the two predators fought desperately, tearing each other apart. The scene was brutal yet mesmerizing. The Carnosaur's fangs sparked and erupted into flames as they ripped through the Spinosaurus' sail. The Spinosaurus shrieked but didn't retreat. Its long, narrow head whipped around and clamped down on the Carnosaur's neck. Flames burst from the Carnosaur's neck, scorching the Spinosaurus' face, yet the massive creature didn't back off. David gaped as the Spinosaurus' charred flesh seemed to mend itself unnervingly fast, the healing visible to the naked eye.

The Carnosaur roared, thrashing wildly. Flames erupted across its body, wreathing both itself and the Spinosaurus in fire. Only the Spinosaurus roared in pain. Despite its burns, it lunged, only to be met with a headbutt from the Carnosaur's flame-covered horns.

The battle intensified. David watched as the Spinosaurus was pushed back but refused to yield. The two creatures tore through the forest, crushing trees, shrubs, and anything else in their path. At one point, the Spinosaurus seemed to gain the upper hand, but suddenly, the Carnosaur's flames shifted to an eerie, vibrant blue. The surrounding plants caught fire, and the Spinosaurus' wounds stopped healing. The Carnosaur ripped chunks of flesh from its opponent, forcing the massive creature to retreat.

The Spinosaurus let out a deafening roar and turned to flee. The Carnosaur charged after it, but its movements were slower now, drained from the brutal fight. Its blue flames dimmed, returning to their usual red-orange hue.

David followed the Spinosaurus with his gaze as it leaped into a river he hadn't noticed before. The water churned violently as the massive beast plunged in. The Carnosaur roared furiously, thrashing about before abruptly turning. David stiffened as the predator seemed to glance in his direction. Did it see them?

But after a moment, the Carnosaur turned away, running in the opposite direction at shocking speed.

"What was that?" David muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he tried to process what he'd seen.

The sunlight filtering through the trees suddenly dimmed. A massive shadow loomed over him, and his instincts screamed danger.

"Get out of the way, everyone!" Zachariah's shout rang out, sharp and urgent.

David looked up, his blood running cold. A gargantuan creature towered above him, its massive foot descending toward him like a falling boulder.

"Fuck!" he cursed, overclocking his body and casting [Blessing] on everyone. He leaped to the side with all the strength he could muster, barely avoiding the crushing weight.

As he landed, he caught a glimpse of Melach gliding through the air, graceful as ever. Zachariah sprinted away in the same direction. Relief flickered through him—they had made it. But where was Torb?

David's stomach twisted as he scanned the area. He spotted the dwarf running, his body shimmering with an earthy hue. But Torb's speed was the slowest, and his position—the worst.

"You're not going to die here!" David growled, his determination surging. He overclocked [Blood Aegis], pouring as much Blood as he could muster into the spell. Large, glowing shields materialized above Torb as the gargantuan foot descended.

One by one, the shields shattered under the sheer force of the creature's weight. They were too fragile to stall for long.

David's heart dropped as the foot slammed down. The impact obliterated bushes, plants—and Torb, who had no chance to escape.