Apocalypse healer a litr.., p.38
Apocalypse Healer: A LitRPG Adventure, page 38
David noticed a faint crimson hue radiating from his weapons, though his focus remained on the next enemy. Only after killing more than a dozen Kobolds did he notice his stirring Source. Words of Power spilled unbidden from his lips, his heart pounding wildly as they continued to flow from his lips. Each cut, stab, and slash seemed to transform into something bigger. Greater.
It didn’t even matter how deep the wounds he inflicted were. His blade ripped through the enemy and left behind wounds that were several times larger than they were supposed to be.
Blood splattered on his face, soaking his clothes and blurring his vision, but he didn’t flinch. His movements never slowed. On the contrary, as the Words of Power rolled from his lips, he felt like he was finally in full control of his newly acquired power.
He barely noticed the dozens of carcasses piling up around him as he continued the carnage. The ground floor was almost clear. Most Kobolds had been defeated.
David pushed himself faster as he caught glimpses of the Earthen Elemental tearing through Kobolds while Melach unleashed mana projectiles nearby. Even Torb seemed to have found a suitable rhythm to kill the Kobolds systematically. Together, they swept through the ground floor.
But something felt off as the last pair of Kobolds collapsed. Blood pooled around the corpses, the air heavy with the metallic stench, but David’s focus snapped to the staircase at the other side of the room. His body tensed.
The Words of Power ceased naturally, its power leaving a heavy toll on his Source. However, David couldn’t focus on his surroundings, let alone his Source, at this moment. His eyes narrowed to tiny slits, his instincts screaming danger as his gaze locked onto the one clean spot amidst the carnage. It was the area that felt the most dangerous at this moment.
All sounds on the ground floor seemed to cease simultaneously. The silence was suffocating. It overwhelmed David, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. That was until footsteps resounded—some louder, others muffled and hard to distinguish.
The first figures David saw were scaled. Some wielded wands, while others gripped longbows, but he barely spared them a glance. His eyes were drawn to a small Kobold with fiery red scales. The air around it crackled and snapped, releasing fiery wisps, almost as though its scales were alive or made of fire.
The fiery Kobold wasn’t alone. Five massive Aether Kobolds surrounded it, acting as its bodyguards.
Something about the fiery Kobold sent a chill down David’s spine. It wasn’t just its appearance but a deep, instinctual warning that made his skin crawl. He prepared himself to fight a powerful creature, possibly something on par with the Behemoth Darkai. Yet, as its blazing eyes landed on him, he shifted uncomfortably, his unease intensifying.
David wasn’t the only one affected. It felt as though the entire building mirrored his reaction. The floor trembled, the walls groaned, and the windows—those that had survived the integration—shattered with ear-splitting screams. Each step the fiery Kobold took down the stairs caused more destruction than the last.
The Kobold snarled and struck one of its massive Aether guards with a blaze-colored staff. The Aether Kobold growled in response and surged forward while the Mages and Hunters spread out, stepping through pools of their fallen brethren’s blood to join the battlefield.
“To think they’d move the party for us. I’m almost touched,” Torb snickered, though his voice was tense and cold.
The Aether Kobolds growled deeply and strode forward, yet David’s focus remained on the small, fiery Kobold. A blazing spear materialized above it, sparking to life before whipping through the air at shocking speed. David barely had time to process what was happening. The spear bypassed the Aether Kobolds in an instant, hurtling toward the Earthen Elemental. It shattered into a dozen smaller spears mid-flight and pierced the creature.
The animated elemental didn’t feel pain, but it still collapsed. Its form crumbled and fell apart as the magic holding it together vanished. David saw it happen as he heard Melach’s muffled scream. His gaze flicked to the elf, his frown deepening. Melach’s legs buckled, his face as pale as paper.
Can he keep going? David shook his head. Even if he can continue, it won’t be for long.
The Earthen Elemental’s ‘death’ appeared to have deeply affected Melach. That didn’t bode well.
The fiery Kobold cackled, and a barrage of arrows and magic projectiles followed. The Aether Kobolds split up, accelerating toward their targets. Two charged at Melach and Torb, while one headed straight for David.
There’s no time. Melach can’t handle one, let alone two.
David gritted his teeth. He knew he’d be too slow to reach the elf in time; the Aether Kobold charging him would keep him pinned.
“Sorry!” he shouted, casting [Oasis of Harmony] twice. A white dove appeared above Melach, while a pitch-black one materialized above Torb. The Aether Kobolds heading toward the elf abruptly changed course, their attention drawn to Torb instead.
David sighed in relief, though he knew the solution wouldn’t last long. It would buy only a few precious seconds.
The first barrage of projectiles inflicted little damage. Torb was surrounded by Aether Kobolds, whose massive bodies blocked the incoming attacks, while Melach managed to dive to safety. David evaded the arrows with nimble steps, kicking off the ground to launch himself forward.
As he reached the Aether Kobold, its movements became crystal clear in his mind. He blocked its first two attacks and delivered a series of deep slashes. His speed, strength, and flexibility surpassed the creature’s due not only to his skill but also the overclocked application of [Bless].
A blue projectile struck him in the side just as he prepared to ram his Obsidian Blade into the Kobold’s chest. The impact sent him stumbling, his eyes narrowing as a massive Zweihänder descended toward him. He twisted desperately, something in his body cracking under the strain. Searing pain flared through him, but he narrowly evaded the attack.
Ignoring the pain, David leaped forward. The Aether Kobold had overcommitted in its attempt to finish him. Seizing the opportunity, he drove his shortsword into the creature’s chest and slashed its throat with his soulbound weapon.
[You have defeated Aether Kobold Swordsman (Bronze III).]
The notification flashed briefly in his vision, offering a fleeting confirmation of victory. It gave him the certainty he needed to rush to Melach, whom he saw struggling to evade the second and third barrages of arrows and [Mana Bullet].
While Melach was faltering, Torb was faring worse. He faced a desperate battle against the last four Aether Kobolds.
David sprinted toward them, his lips parting to chant Words of Power. Arrows whistled through the air, two striking his shoulder and chest. A [Mana Bullet] slammed into him, halting his movement and sending pain lancing through his ribs, but the incantation never faltered.
David felt the fiery Kobold’s blazing eyes fixate on him as it waved its staff. A fire spear, like the one that had destroyed the Earthen Elemental, materialized atop the blazing staff. It barreled in his direction.
The Words of Power continued pouring out of David’s mouth, but he slowed down enough to focus on conjuring a crimson shield. His calculation was off. He expected the fire spear to split into a dozen and had only planned to protect his vital points with [Blood Aegis]. However, the fire spear didn’t split this time. Its power was concentrated in one spot, easily shattering the crimson shield and burning a gaping hole through David's chest.
Fortunately, the blazing spear didn’t come close to piercing his heart. David forced a smile and cast [Restore], even as his Source screamed in protest until he finished the last few words. Suddenly, more than a dozen blue projectiles rocketed through the entrance hall, but they never reached him.
Torb blurred before him, breathing heavily. The dwarf’s plated armor was battered, his blood mixing with the growing pool below, yet his movements never faltered. He blocked most magic projectiles, protecting David and Melach.
“Where did your power go? What’s with the Words of Power?” Melach asked weakly, his words more like a gargling mess than comprehensible sounds.
“I’m already done,” David responded casually.
At last, a cacophony of screams resounded. The Aether Kobolds slowed until they stood still, their cries fueling David’s excitement. Simultaneously, the barrage of arrows and [Mana Bullet] ceased.
His heart thundered in his chest as he watched the chaos unfold. Everything had turned out as expected—maybe even better.
Spikes of solidified blood burst from the pool, piercing the Kobolds’ feet and legs, restraining their movements. A spear appeared in David’s hands, and he didn’t hesitate to hurl it at the closest Aether Kobold. The target thrashed, shattering the blood spikes. It stared at David and kicked off the ground but couldn’t take even a single step toward him as the spear pierced its throat and neck.
A notification popped up as the Aether Kobold collapsed, but David ignored it. A green shimmer whizzed through the air, and the head of another Aether Kobold exploded. David heard Torb roar, his gaze briefly catching the mace slamming into the second-to-last Aether Kobold. Then he turned his attention to the main dish: the fiery Kobold.
Torb can handle the last one, he thought and gestured to Melach. “Get rid of the Mages and Hunters. Take a potion or two if you have to.”
A moment later, David rushed toward the stairs. He had only one blood droplet left, and even that was on the verge of exhaustion. His Source was drained and couldn’t sustain another extensive use of the Blood of Law.
He had some potions in his spatial necklace, but none were useful in the current situation.
The fiery Kobold conjured another blazing spear and hurled it at him. It was faster this time, but David was prepared. He conjured a small, compressed [Blood Aegis] and deflected it to the side. The spear split into a dozen smaller projectiles and spread everywhere. Two fire tendrils scorched his arm and torso, but the real threat came when marble-sized lights materialized around the tiny Kobold.
The lights burst forth and pierced David simultaneously. Dozens of deadly magic bullets shredded his chest, legs, arm, and even his throat.
David cursed and cast [Restore] twice quickly while continuing his charge. Another barrage of marble-sized energy bolts struck him before the fresh wounds had begun to heal, but he pressed on. Blood poured from his hole-riddled body, but he guarded his brain and heart just enough to keep going.
He retrieved one of his last spears from the spatial necklace, took the final step into the fiery Kobold’s range, and spun around, his grasp on the spear tightening.
David saw the fiery Kobold twitch and stepped back as a crimson hue of [Holy Touch] mantled the spear tip, but it was already too late.
Several crimson shields manifested around the small creature, blocking its escape. David’s focus narrowed to the spear, his thoughts tuning out whatever the Kobold attempted next.
He poured every ounce of strength into the throw and hurled the spear at the fiery Kobold.
He didn’t wait to see it die. Maybe the first attack failed, maybe not. David retrieved the penultimate spear, mantled its tip in [Holy Touch], and hurled it with renewed determination. His body trembled as the effects of [Restore] began wearing off, and the Blood in his Source dwindled to nothing, but he hurled the second spear regardless.
Even as the sickening sound of the second spear hitting flesh registered in David’s mind, he didn’t stop. He retrieved the third and final spear and hurled it with all his might.
His eyes finally followed the attack’s trajectory. The spear whistled beautifully through the air and impacted heavily.
A sickening crunch rang out as the blade pierced the monster’s skull.
At last, the long-awaited notification popped up.
[You have defeated Grand Kobold Shaman(Bronze VI.]
57
BLOOD EXPERIMENT
David struggled to keep his eyes open. His eyelids felt heavier with each passing second.
The strain on his Source threatened to knock him out, and the spatial necklace’s relentless energy drain didn’t help.
His Source ached relentlessly, as did the rest of his battered body, and he didn’t have enough Blood to spare to cast [Restore]. His body would have to heal naturally.
David stood there for a few seconds, his mind blank, eyes locked onto the Grand Kobold’s body.
Fighting foes with Classes, especially a Mage who had already undergone its First Advancement Ritual, had been far from comfortable. It forced him and the others to adjust their tactics and play by intuition.
Maybe it would have been easier if our group had been bigger. David wondered, his ears perking up at the echo of footsteps behind him.
“You have a hole in your head,” Melach appeared beside him, his face pale, his limbs twitching.
He approached the Shaman carcass with swaying strides and bent down to pick up the blazing staff.
“A magical armament?” The elf’s brows furrowed as his fingers gently caressed the fine lines engraved on the blazing staff. “Is it a system reward?”
David glanced at the staff briefly before his attention shifted back to his throbbing head. Now that Melach mentioned it, David’s head felt like it was bursting apart. He tried to find the hole and winced when he finally found it. Yep, that hurt like hell.
The energy bolt that struck his head earlier must have missed his brain. The other miniature bolts probably strayed from his heart, too. His chest ached—a deep, relentless pain as if invisible claws were wrenching at his heart.
David shrugged. He was still alive, and he doubted his life was currently in danger. But that didn’t diminish his need for Blood.
It was important to cast [Restore] soon, ensuring his injuries wouldn’t worsen, but the spatial necklace’s demand for energy was a much greater pressure. He considered removing the necklace in case the dimension stone’s reservoir drained completely before he could replenish Blood, but he felt like the pressure would help him work faster. That was not rational and seasoned with an overdose of craziness. However, that was who he was.
The looming threat of death drove him into a desperate rhythm that had kept him alive—so far.
This time, he used better material for his experiment. The Aether Kobold Swordsman hadn’t been bad, but it had been drained by the Obsidian Blade for a while before David intervened. A freshly killed Grand Kobold Shaman should be better.
There was no time to waste. He approached the carcass with the Obsidian Blade in his right hand and coated it with an incredibly thin layer of [Holy Touch].
He stabbed the Grand Kobold Shaman and willed the Obsidian Blade to suck the corpse dry. The soulbound weapon didn’t respond to his mental command in a convenient way, but he sensed several glistening specks inching closer within seconds. [Holy Touch]’s power spread thin and expanded slightly. It enveloped the Grand Kobold Shaman’s crimson motes and forced them into submission.
David drew them into his body, ignoring the potential consequences of his actions. Fortunately, nothing bad seemed to happen. The first few crimson motes were pulled to the Source, which devoured them like a greedy beast. It absorbed some natural Aether alongside and replenished his drained Blood.
The tension left his body as a small droplet of Blood formed in his Source. It glistened vibrantly. That was when he noticed something.
The Grand Kobold Shaman’s crimson motes pulsed with undeniable potency, far outclassing the Aether Kobold Swordsman’s. But why was its Essence so much stronger? Was it because of the Grand Kobold Shaman’s evolution path, its Class, or because it was of a higher rank?
Maybe it was a combination of everything. That realization would be invaluable in the future—and even now.
He devoured more crimson motes using the same method until the first droplet of Blood was complete. Afterward, David grasped the Obsidian Blade with both hands. He increased the Blood input into [Holy Touch] and spoke a few Words of Power.
His Source stirred at that, but David ignored it. He didn’t need much of the Law of Blood’s power for this experiment in the first place.
Blood poured from the wound inflicted with his soulbound weapon. It didn’t trickle to the ground. Instead, it streamed along his blade, coating his hand and creeping up to cover his wrist and forearm.
David wanted more than a few crimson motes—he thirsted for a faster way to replenish his Blood reserves en masse. Nourishing his Energy Pathways, ensuring they could hoard more Aether over time, was essential for this task. Equally important was his newfound knowledge: his Source could rapidly form Blood since his Soul had reached the peak of the Basic rank, a revelation he eagerly put to use.
A wave of crimson motes headed his way. He sensed them as they passed the Obsidian Blade, their presence growing sharper as they poured out of the Grand Kobold Shaman’s body. They squirmed in the blood coating his wrist and forearm, entering his body when he conjured a thin membrane of [Holy Touch] across his hands and arms. The process was draining, but its efficiency made it worth the cost.
The crimson motes coursed through his right arm and Deryadus’ Arm, quickly drawing the Source’s attention. They were annexed mid-flow, devoured, and digested in an instant. The speed surprised David, but he pressed on.
In less than a minute, David’s second Blood droplet was complete, quickly followed by the formation of the third droplet.
Three?
He blinked, momentarily distracted, as a delayed notification flickered into his awareness.
[The third Drop of Blood has formed.]
There was no grand explanation for why the third droplet had formed, and its creation felt different from the second’s. Still, David wasn’t one to complain about unexpected rewards. He embraced the surprise and focused on maintaining the flow of crimson motes.
Once his Source was full, David didn’t stop. Instead, he diverted the crimson motes into Deryadus’ Arm.
