Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death-Chapter 32B1 - Main Rift I

David’s mind raced as the Rift Boss turned toward him. He continued absorbing the crimson motes, hoping they would trigger a change.

[Bless]!

[Superior energy has been detected. Skill Rune overclock has been initiated.]

[Proficiency of Bless reached 100%.]

[Tier-0 III] → [Tier-0 IV]

David cocked an eyebrow at the notifications. He hadn’t used more holy power than usual to activate [Bless], but there was no need to complain about the Skill Rune overclock. If it could occur without his doing, all the better. Perhaps the merging of the crimson motes with his holy power was the cause—or perhaps it wasn’t.

The Rift Boss tensed, its massive body coiled as though ready to barrel toward him and tear him apart, but a high-velocity projectile interrupted. A blue blur whizzed through the air, striking the Rift Boss precisely where it hurt most. The shot pierced its left eye, which burst apart in a fiery explosion.

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The Rift Boss spun around, roaring in rage and agony. It kicked the ground, launching itself toward the source of the attack—the female mage.

A surge of excitement coursed through David when he realized the Rift Boss had been so focused on him that it hadn’t noticed the mana bullet. However, the joy evaporated quickly. The wolf reached the female mage in moments. She was drenched in sweat, her breathing labored, and her legs spasmed wildly as she struggled to stand.

David saw everything. The Rift Boss lunged at her, crimson claws flashing. He winced as her scream cut short, guilt stabbing through him. But it wasn’t as though he could have done anything to save her. He wasn’t fast enough to intercept the Rift Boss.

Grinding his teeth until they hurt, David continued absorbing the crimson motes. Most motes near the Fang corpse had already been consumed or had vanished before he could claim them. He scanned the battlefield, searching for new targets, and waded toward the area with the densest concentration of monster corpses.

The scene was oddly mesmerizing. Hundreds of crimson motes filled the air around him, wreathing the battlefield in an eerie red glow.

David felt his Holy Sea shift. Its once-pristine energy now carried an unfamiliar, crimson warmth.

He couldn’t discern the exact changes yet, but absorbing the motes became easier with each passing moment. Even the mental strain of perceiving them no longer overwhelmed him.

David clenched his fists. It still wasn’t enough.

Sweat-soaked clothes clung to his tense body as glowing tendrils of energy erupted from his skin. He cast [Holy Touch], overclocking it with the energy formed by the fusion of crimson motes and holy power.

David extended it outward instead of restricting [Holy Touch] to his body or the warrior longsword. Vibrantly glowing tendrils shot in all directions, eagerly seeking more crimson motes. The tendrils succeeded, but their light also turned David into a human lighthouse.

A searing pain coursed through his mind, making his brain feel as though it were melting. David cursed his own stupidity, but the pain eased within moments as a warm, soothing sensation circulated through his head.

Turning sharply to the left, David saw Torb locked in combat with the Rift Boss. He quickly used [Bless] on Torb to stall for time. That’s when he noticed something peculiar—the crimson motes emerging from the Mini-Bosses’ carcasses were the most vibrant. They flooded into David’s system, quickly resolving his brain-melting dilemma.

Satisfied, David retracted the tendrils of [Holy Touch], now drenched in crimson motes. He observed his Holy Sea, its pristine energy now resembling a blood-filled sea. He wanted to use the motes to upgrade his Skill Runes or perhaps even push his Rank higher, but the Rift Boss clearly had no intention of giving him the time to do so.

The massive wolf hurled Torb through the air with a deafening crash. The dwarf’s mace had struck the side of the Rift Boss’ head, leaving it dented, but the beast charged toward David instead of finishing off Torb.

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David’s eyes narrowed. The side of the Rift Boss’ head was caved in, and its left eye was gone. Even the blood-drenched fur couldn’t conceal the severity of its injuries.

The Rift Boss was hurt.

Exhaling heavily, David coated his warrior longsword with a thick layer of [Holy Touch]. Draining his holy power, he pushed both [Bless] and [Holy Touch] to their maximum levels. Holographic screens materialized in his peripheral vision, but he barely noticed them as he prepared to face the charging beast.

[Excessive superior energy has been utilized. Skill Rune overclock has been initiated.]

[Excessive superior energy has been utilized. Skill Rune overclock has been initiated.]

It worked… but the result was different than he’d expected. The pristine light shrouding the warrior longsword transformed into a crimson wreath as he jumped into action. Surprised by the power surging through him, he pressed his feet deep into the soft ground.

First, he turned into a cannonball, the kick propelling him forward with shocking speed. Second, his body couldn’t keep up with the sudden power-up. Pain shot through his calf as he kicked off, tearing the skin around his right leg. His left leg dug deep into the ground as he pushed ahead, burning as though set on fire. The skin ruptured again, sharp pain radiating with every step.

David gritted his teeth and pressed forward, embracing the agony. Lifting the crimson-wreathed longsword, he closed the gap to the Rift Boss in no time. The wolf lunged toward him, but David veered to the side, evading a direct clash and slipping into its blind spot.

The wolf’s head snapped to the left, its neck twisting as it sought him. But David was already moving. Ducking low, he dove beneath the Rift Boss and slashed deep into its chest. Using his momentum, he carved a long, gaping wound across its torso and emerged on the opposite side.

The wolf jerked its head back to the right, locking its remaining eye on him. David stood there, the longsword raised to eye level, its crimson glow unwavering.

First, he thrust the blade forward, targeting the Rift Boss’ remaining eye. At the same moment, an [Arcane Blast] soared through the air, exploding against the left side of the wolf’s head with a thunderous impact. Torb, despite his bloodied, battered state, charged in from behind, his mace raised high.

Then, everything blurred.

David’s vision faltered, his thoughts scattered, and chaos enveloped him. He felt the weight of it all pressing down, threatening to crush him. Yet, amidst the confusion, one purpose shone through: the Rift Boss’ death.

His Holy Sea drained completely, leaving nothing behind. Though fresh holy power and crimson motes surged through his pathways, neither was ready for use. His Holy Sea, now strained and fragile, seemed to scream at him, urging caution.

But David had already accepted its fate.

A thin crack ran through the Holy Sea. As he demanded more energy for one final attack, the crack widened. The crimson-dyed [Holy Touch] surged along his longsword, a flood of energy racing to the tip as he drove the blade into the Rift Boss’ right eye.

The blade scraped against bone before cutting deeper. At almost the same moment, Torb’s mace slammed into the back of the wolf’s skull with a sickening crunch, forcing the sword deeper.

The Rift Boss twitched once. Twice. It yelped weakly as David twisted the blade with the last remnants of strength left in his body. Only then did the final message flash before them.

[You have defeated the Rift Boss, Alpha Fang.]

[Common Rift - Fang Den - has been cleared!

Rewards will be distributed shortly!]

A faint smile crossed David’s lips as he saw the notifications. But the relief didn’t last long. More holographic screens appeared, and one stole his attention.

[Fang Den’s connecting link to the Main Rift has been severed. Overflowing Aether cannot be evenly distributed without initiating–...Reboot! Aether overflow has been detected in the Main Rift. Horde formation has been initiated.

Time remaining till the Horde’s spawn: [5H:59M:59S]]

David turned to Torb, ready to speak, but the dwarf seemed frozen in place, staring at him—no, at his chest.

A heaviness settled over David, though it seemed like an ordinary aftereffect of pushing past his limits. But Torb’s haunted expression unnerved him. He furrowed his brows and looked down, realizing what Torb had been staring at.

The Rift Boss was dead, but its claws were still embedded deep in his chest.

“Fuck,” David muttered under his breath, feeling his strength drain away.

He’d poured everything he had into defeating the Rift Boss. There was nothing left to heal himself.

He was so fucking dead.