Apocalypse healer 2 a li.., p.1

Apocalypse Healer 2: A LitRPG Adventure, page 1

 

Apocalypse Healer 2: A LitRPG Adventure
Select Voice:
Brian (uk)
Emma (uk)  
Amy (uk)
Eric (us)
Ivy (us)
Joey (us)
Salli (us)  
Justin (us)
Jennifer (us)  
Kimberly (us)  
Kendra (us)
Russell (au)
Nicole (au)



Larger Font   Reset Font Size   Smaller Font  
Apocalypse Healer 2: A LitRPG Adventure


  APOCALYPSE HEALER 2

  ©2025 HIDEOUSGRAIN

  This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of the authors.

  Aethon Books supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact editor@aethonbooks.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Aethon Books

  www.aethonbooks.com

  Print and eBook design, layout, and formatting by Kevin G. Summers. Artwork provided by Dimas.

  Published by Aethon Books, LLC.

  Aethon Books is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead is coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  ALSO IN SERIES

  Apocalypse Healer

  Book One

  Book Two

  Book Three

  Want to discuss our books with other readers and even the authors?

  JOIN THE AETHON DISCORD!

  Calling all LitRPG fans: be the first to discover groundbreaking new releases, access incredible deals, and participate in thrilling giveaways by subscribing to our exclusive LitRPG Newsletter.

  JOIN HERE

  CONTENTS

  Prologue

  1. Egoist

  2. Torture

  3. Punch

  4. Versatility

  5. Prehistoric

  6. Proficiency

  7. Raptors & Nurturing

  8. Prehistoric Rift

  9. Verge of Death

  10. Tribes?

  11. Berserk Giant

  12. Platineersilk

  13. Secondary Class

  14. Legacy

  15. Joining Sides

  16. Warfare

  17. Power

  18. Glamorous

  19. Modification

  20. Fortress

  21. Next Step

  22. No Break

  23. Class Advancement

  24. The Last?

  25. The Way

  26. Scheme

  27. Challenge

  28. Migration

  29. Them

  30. Tamed Creatures

  31. Cursed

  32. Surgeon

  33. Sacrifice

  34. Herald

  35. New Home

  36. Picking up Artifacts

  37. Heavy Stones and a Rift Ruler

  38. Blood Tinkerer

  39. Regrowth

  40. Search

  41. Request

  42. Cohorte

  43. The Flow

  44. Army

  45. Destress

  46. Prepared for War

  47. Warzone

  48. Armored

  49. Need of Lightning

  50. Powerhouse

  Epilogue

  Thank you for reading Apocalypse Healer 2

  Groups

  LitRPG

  PROLOGUE

  The stars twinkled with an abundance of Essence as they observed the Earthen Union’s awakening. It was their worst nightmare and greatest hope—a dangerous double-edged sword.

  The final Cycle had begun as the Earthen Union’s planetary core stirred. Its awakening initiated an era of great triumph and nightmarish losses.

  “It’s starting earlier than expected,” a cold voice rang out through the wide open space

  “Isn’t that why this is the final Cycle? Every time we’ve tried to change something, they’ve adapted,” another voice replied, laced with mild annoyance. “They grew stronger while our power was consumed to prevent the Fall.”

  Muffled voices continued, but the stars resumed their observation, watching as the world below them transformed.

  Across the Earthen Union, the land cracked and tore apart. Gorges of all sizes split open like old wounds, their depths exposing secrets long buried. Yet some gorges were different—unique and perilous.

  From the deepest of these chasms, darkness gushed forth, expanding rapidly and shrouding the fractured land. This darkness twisted the surrounding terrain and heralded the emergence of monsters. Their roars echoed through the rifts as they surged outward, their colossal forms tearing through nature with reckless abandon.

  But this was only one of many mythical phenomena. Volcanoes erupted, spewing rivers of molten fire, and entire mountain ranges burst from the ground. Exotic natural treasures materialized amid the rapidly expanding flora, their brilliance rivaling the stars themselves. Deep within the oceans, the union of Aether and Essence spawned miraculous sites of power.

  In one of the seven great seas, a serpent hundreds of meters long broke the surface, its scales gleaming like polished gemstones. However, it was only one of its kind. Even grander beings came to be, but they retreated into the depths to bide their time.

  “More Modifications are being forced upon the Earthen Union this time,” the first voice returned as the changes intensified.

  Towers that pierced the heavens, pagodas sprawling like miniature cities, and settlements teeming with extraterrestrial life and temples sprang into existence. Thousands of Rifts manifested across the land, the Aether within them crackling ominously.

  “At last, everyone understands what’s at stake,” the second star observed. “They know holding back their resources means annihilation when they come for us.”

  Nature across the Earthen Union flourished wildly under the overwhelming influence of Aether and Essence. Forests grew dense and untamed, rivers carved new paths, and fields of vibrant, alien vegetation blanketed the land. Animals followed suit, mutating and evolving into fierce, unrecognizable forms.

  An ear-shattering sound suddenly reverberated through the cosmos, like glass shattering on a cosmic scale. The stars flinched instinctively, knowing all too well what the sound heralded.

  They turned their focus from the Earthen Union to a fissure that had opened in the fabric of space itself—a crack in the Weave that revealed the Otherside. Through the breach, tentacles the size of mountains writhed furiously, drumming against the rift’s edges. Though powerful enough to obliterate kingdoms in seconds, the tentacles failed to pierce through the barrier.

  “That’s not too bad—” one of the stars began, but its words died in its throat as the scene shifted.

  Black ichor sprayed violently as something tore the massive tentacles to shreds. A horrifying shriek pierced the void, but the stars barely registered it, their focus drawn to the colossal void-like eye that appeared beyond the rift. Its gaze felt infinite, a sentient abyss radiating malice.

  A hiss filled the air, and words of the forbidden language reverberated through their minds. The stars recoiled instinctively, retreating from the crack.

  As if on cue, portals of all shapes and sizes began appearing nearby. The oppressive whispers in the stars’ minds ceased as divine and infernal beings emerged simultaneously. Gods descended from radiant portals, Devils surged forth from the Hellgates, and the Old Ones materialized from the Weave itself.

  Transcendent entities from across the cosmos joined the gathering, their Essences crackling dangerously in the wide open space. Once bitter enemies, they now stood united.

  For today, the enemies of yesterday had set aside their animosity. Together, they faced the incomprehensible terror looming beyond the rift.

  1

  EGOIST

  Blood spears sizzled through the air, whipping past Zachariah to strike their targets. Two spears shattered the skulls of bronze-skinned Orcs while the rest tore through the chests of smaller, azure-skinned ones. The spears exploded upon impact, tearing through flesh and scattering gore.

  David watched the bodies collapse lifelessly to the ground with a satisfied smile but dispersed the kill notifications with a grunt as Zachariah’s voice rang out.

  “What’s taking you so long back there? Daydreaming?”

  “I’m experimenting,” David grunted, “Shut up. I’m a fucking Healer trying to be a wannabe Mage.”

  “Oh, really? I didn’t think you remembered.”

  Zachariah’s voice cut through the battlefield, overshadowing the monsters’ desperate screams.

  Did he have to remind me every time? David thought irritably. He was a healer, but that wasn’t all. A Lifeweaver was much more than just a healer, it was a combatant’s calling.

  “If you’re busy cursing me in your mind, you might as well cast [Blessing] on me. We’d be much faster that way,” Zachariah shouted as a silver streak swept through the battlefield, cutting several Orcs in two.

  A grunt esca

ped David’s lips, but he started moving again. He cast [Blessing] on both himself and Zachariah, augmenting their strength, before adding [Symphony Control] to the fray. A black dove materialized above Zachariah and screeched loud enough to pull away the attention of several Orcs looking at David.

  “Bastard!” Zachariah shouted, though there was a hint of playfulness in his voice.

  David summoned the Obsidian Blade from his mind space. The dark blade manifested in his hand, glowing crimson with a cast of [Holy Touch] as he closed the distance to Zachariah. His friend looked busy cutting down the masses of Orcs swarming him. He weaved around the massive clubs threatening to squash him and dispatched three Orcs with swift, deadly thrusts.

  Zachariah’s swordsmanship was simple, swift, and deadly to a fault. David could only guess how many years of training and battles Zachariah had endured to wield his blade with such precision.

  Having someone like Zachariah at his side was a boon. Yet, David sometimes felt it was a curse as well. After all, his friend was a man from the future—someone who, despite all his knowledge, couldn’t explain why the Earthen Union or the world’s awakening had changed so drastically.

  David tried to make sense of the last 24 hours, but nothing added up. If not even the Regressor could fathom the changes, how was he supposed to?

  Therefore, he decided to give up. For now, he told himself, he would experience everything from scratch. Together.

  David appeared behind the Orcs attacking Zachariah and started cutting them down. His soulbound weapon sliced through the air, severing an Orc’s neck before beheading another. Blood spurted from the monsters’ necks, prompting David to invoke the Law of Blood. Words of Power rolled from his lips.

  The Orcs turned toward him—some snarling at the sight of their fallen brethren, others reacting to the echoes of his ancient words. David just smiled. He threw the Obsidian Blade at one Orc and cast [Blood Aegis] to halt another’s charge. A third Orc barreled toward him, but David moved swiftly, evading the incoming wooden club. He lowered his body and pressed his feet firmly into the ground, his arms shooting upward to use the monster’s momentum against it.

  Grasping the Orc’s outstretched arm, David hurled it over his shoulder. A sickening crunch resounded, but he didn’t care if something in his or the Orc’s body broke. He cast [Restore] on himself, glimpsed a new kill notification, and retrieved the Obsidian Blade.

  The soulbound blade reappeared in his hand as he cleaved downward, piercing the throat of the Orc lying on the ground without hesitation. Words of Power continued to spill from his lips as the pools of blood around him stirred in response.

  The blood rippled, then erupted. Spikes of crimson burst from the pools, impaling the remaining monsters’ thighs and stomachs.

  David thrust the Obsidian Blade into the carcass of the strongest Orc near him and accessed his storage device to retrieve a set of bearded axes. He coated the axe blades in [Holy Touch] and advanced into the masses of screaming monsters, his heartbeat swallowed the sounds of the world around him.

  Zachariah and David left the Familia with bulging pouches of shimmering currency slates, their weight a testament to the successful raid.

  “Dealing with the Orc Village was worth it,” David remarked, glancing at their spoils. The World Awakening was still fresh, yet it had already begun to reshape their reality. According to the live-updated map, the first Rifts had taken only a few hours to materialize. The nearby regions had been reshaped, spawning settlements outside the Pantheon’s control. The Orc Village, teeming with hundreds of Orcs, had emerged several kilometers north of Arc.

  David glanced at Zachariah and smiled wryly. If not for the Regressor, he might have gone mad already. Then again, sanity felt like a distant memory. Regardless, he was grateful Zachariah had been there to “explain” things, if you could call it that.

  The transcendent organizations of the cosmos are reshaping the Earthen Union with their Modifications, David recalled Zachariah saying. The thought lingered, heavy with implications he barely understood. Forces other than the Pantheon—enemies of the Pantheon—were investing their resources in the Earthen Union, altering it to their needs.

  “You take the money,” Zachariah said, handing over his pouch. “I hope the Artificer finishes your Blood storage soon. We’re going to need it.”

  He tilted his head. “Or you could get your act together and properly master the Law of Blood. Learn to replenish Blood mid-combat while the Blessing of the World is still active. If not⁠—”

  “I know, I know,” David groaned. “If not, it’ll be tens of times harder later. The Blessing is my best chance to grow strong enough to face the future, which—by the way—neither of us can predict at this point.”

  Zachariah’s glare was sharp enough to cut steel. “Don’t remind me of that. I’m still processing that everything’s happening much sooner than it should. Even my foes are stronger than they used to be. Those idiots from Pandemonium…”

  “At least we won’t have to take many breaks now that I have enough corpses to replenish my Source,” David shrugged. “Maybe we’ll reach the Silver Rank at this rate. I didn’t think wiping out the Orc Village would be this easy with just the two of us.”

  As much as Zachariah annoyed him, David couldn’t deny the man’s skill. His fighting was brutal yet mesmerizing, each motion precise and deadly. The Regressor wielded his blade with an efficiency born of years of battles and training.

  David had tried to mimic Zachariah’s techniques but failed miserably. Forced to adapt his tactics within seconds, he’d felt death breathing down his neck more times than he cared to count. Still, Zachariah’s knowledge of the Laws and the System was invaluable, and he’d taught David just about everything he could.

  Their teamwork wasn’t bad either. Zachariah was a remarkable melee fighter and healing him wasn’t too taxing. A simple cast of [Restore] after each battle was usually enough.

  “You saved me from certain death, but that doesn’t mean I’ll sugarcoat my words,” Zachariah said suddenly, his tone cutting. “Your fighting style is arse. I haven’t seen anyone fight as selfishly as you in years.”

  David slowed, confused by the accusation before cocking an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m not talking in Common, am I?!” Zachariah’s stare sent a chill down David’s spine. “Most Orcs are muscle-heads. The Bronze Ranks we fought in the Orc Village certainly were. I could have taken them all down alone without getting a scratch.”

  David’s gaze drifted to Zachariah’s left arm, where an Orc’s club had struck during the fight.

  “You pushed the Orcs onto me to lessen your burden. That would’ve made sense if you’d been acting as support. In fact, if you’d used your crimson shield to protect me or refreshed [Blessing] the moment it wore off, everything would have been perfectly fine. We could’ve wiped the village out twice as fast.”

  Zachariah stopped abruptly in the market square and fixed David with a piercing glare.

  “You fight like an egoist.

  Don’t get me wrong,” Zachariah said with a sigh. “I am also selfish and focus mostly on my own fight. That’s why I’ve lost so many good people in the past. It’s the reason I started fighting alone. But if we keep fighting as a team, we must address how we work together.”

  David nodded slowly, though some of Zachariah’s comments felt off. He could faintly grasp where the man was coming from.

  “I’m not sure you can pull it off,” he admitted honestly. “If you focus only on your enemies—let’s just say the Orcs from earlier—how would you ensure I’d be safe? I mean… you don’t expect me to protect myself from the onslaught of enemies and pay full attention to supporting and healing you, right?”

  He could have added that he didn’t trust Zachariah enough to shift to full support, but it didn’t seem necessary.

  Zachariah groaned, then nodded after a pause.

  “It works with Orcs and other less intelligent monsters, but you have a point. If we fight multiple, powerful enemies—intelligent entities—I might not be able to protect you. One might stall me while the others would kill you and tear you apart. But that doesn’t mean it will always be the two of us. We can adjust our fighting style a little while it’s just us. However, something needs to change once we expand our group.”

 

Add Fast Bookmark
Load Fast Bookmark
Turn Navi On
Turn Navi On
Turn Navi On
Scroll Up
Turn Navi On
Scroll
Turn Navi On
183