Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death-Chapter 49B1 - An Arm for an Arm

Fighting two Herculean Darkai at once was proving far more difficult than David had anticipated. The boost from the Fragment of Blood was wearing off, and the effects of the Recovery Serum were fading.

David dodged the Herculean Darkai’s fireball, but its claws slashed across his stomach before he could reach the Mini-Bosses. Overclocking [Restore] kept him standing, the glowing skill patching his wounds just enough to stay alive.

Gritting his teeth, he infused the Obsidian Blade with [Holy Touch], driving it into one of the Herculean Darkai’s waist. He pushed [Holy Touch] to its limit, and released a massive burst of crimson holy power into the demon at the cost of his rapidly draining energy reserves.

As the power of [Holy Touch] faded, David twisted the blade in the demon’s flesh and ripped it free. A fireball struck his back at that exact moment, and the stench of his burned skin filled his nostrils. He stumbled but forced himself to keep moving.

The injured Herculean Darkai lashed out with a savage kick, then tore into its flesh with sharp claws, ripping away large chunks of it. It snarled in agony before launching a fireball directly at its wounds. The black flames erupted, cauterizing the injuries in a gruesome display.

It worked…but damn, that’s way too draining!

David grimaced. The demons were savage.

Maybe it would have been worthwhile if the Herculean Darkai hadn’t been savage enough to tear its body apart. But, of course, that’s exactly what it did. These demons were savage, yet they knew how to manage their wounds. The Herculean Darkai and their common counterpart were good at assessing the damage their foe could inflict with every attack. Sometimes, they would rather sacrifice a claw than lose their heads.

Neither would be an issue if David had enough holy power to waste or the ability to access the ambient Aether. But it was corrupted and repelled his advances. He twisted his upper body, only for the unscathed Herculean Darkai to do the same. It seemed to copy his actions and impaled his left leg. David gritted his teeth through the pain, casted [Bless], and jabbed at the demon’s claw.

The Herculean Darkai didn’t pull back. It twisted its claw in David’s leg and released a fireball at him from a close distance. Or that ought to have happened if David hadn’t responded to the demon opening its massive maw. He created a small crimson shield before the Herculean Darkai’s maw when it released a black fireball. The blazing projectile exploded upon impact, simultaneously damaging [Shield of Faith] and the Darkai’s maw.

He severed the Darkai’s claw in the same instance, pulled it out of his leg, and cast [Cleanse] on it.

Please work.

David cast [Restore], hastily patching the gaping wound in his leg, his eyes flicking to the fading crimson motes around him. He absorbed as many crimson motes as he could see and grasp, but most of his attention lingered on the severed claw and the two Herculean Darkai.

[Demonic Essence of the target has been cleansed.]

David infused [Holy Touch] into the cleansed claw, kicked the ground with his injured leg, and pierced it through the Herculean Darkai’s thigh. He cast [Cleanse], overclocked, and used it with the most potent crimson motes on the Mini-Boss, hoping for the best.

But before David could witness the aftermath of his attacks, several things happened simultaneously. First, the crimson motes around him dispersed. Second, the red hue and the bloody mist mantled his body, and his eyes faded into nothingness. Third, the pain he hadn’t felt all this time assaulted him at once.

It felt like everything he’d experienced since consuming the Fragment of Blood came crashing down on him like a massive reminder of what it meant to borrow power.

But that was fine. Everything was going to be okay. It had to be.

A sudden pang of pain spread through his arm. His sight grew hazy, yet David could clearly see the familiar arm sailing through the air.

It was his left arm!

Fragment of Blood’s assault had occupied his mind a moment too long. Lost in pain, he didn’t even see the Herculean Darkai’s attack until his arm flew past him. Even after seeing his arm, David had a hard time recognizing what was happening. He had to feel the pain of losing an arm to understand what was happening.

David overclocked [Restore] to its limit and dashed forward, desperate to catch his arm. Maybe, just maybe, [Restore] was strong enough to attach severed limbs. It had to work!

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But one of the Herculean Darkai blocked his path. They didn’t stay idle. The Herculean Darkai before David kicked him fiercely in the side. His rib cage caved in, and it sounded like several ribs broken in one go, but that wasn’t even the worst. David lost his momentum and didn’t reach his arm. Worse even, David saw the Herculean Darkai shift its gaze toward him as if it had noticed something.

A moment later, his heart sank in horror.

The demon turned to the severed arm and released a fireball, burning it to cinder.

“You…” David growled, his voice low and guttural. For a moment, he forgot the agony wracking his body. “I’m going to tear you apart, you fuckface!”

Rage fueled David to the brim. It was overflowing within him. However, he was not only angry at the loss of his left arm. He was angry at himself. How stupid could someone be?

Consumed by rage, David felt himself letting go, the pain in his body eclipsed by the fire burning inside him. Then, suddenly, his mind went blank.

He had no idea what had happened, but it couldn’t have been more than a second or two before he snapped back to his senses.

Through blurred vision, the first thing David saw was the Herculean Darkai’s severed arm hitting the ground. A moment later, his eyes drifted to the Obsidian Blade or, to be precise, the solid crimson blade extension that had materialized around it.

He didn’t have the energy to question what was happening. However, he could instinctively feel the power residing within the crimson blade. It augmented his soulbound weapon’s sharpness drastically and extended its range.

His stomach churned, and his Holy Sea couldn’t have taken longer than a second to scream. David felt his Holy Sea waver; the crimson motes within swirled chaotically, refusing to settle into the Skill Runes where they belonged.

They surged out of the Holy Sea and to the Obsidian Blade’s placeholder through its crimson connecting link.

David coughed up blood, but he wasn’t done yet. He might have lost one arm, but so did the Herculean Darkai before him. In fact, the Herculean Darkai was more grievously wounded. It bled like a pig and could hardly move one of its legs. The left leg pierced by its own claw was oddly pale and twitched violently as if it required tremendous effort to stay.

Gritting his teeth, David charged at the Herculean Darkai, casting [Bless] despite the searing pain that wreaked his body. He ignored his Holy Sea’s screeching and the faint cracking that rang through his entire body as he arrived before the Mini-Boss and leaped into the air. He rammed the Obsidian Blade deep into the Darkai’s chest until no more than its handle was visible.

The Herculean Darkai’s remaining arm burst forward. David wanted to use [Shield of Faith], but no shield to protect him conjured. The Mini-Boss’ claws dug into his side, and the next thing he remembered was gliding through the air. He smashed hard on the ground, the life in his eyes fading slowly.

Is that how it feels to die?

He wondered, staring at the sky through hazy eyes.

David had given it everything he had, and he did not once regret joining the fight against the Horde.

In spite of that, he recognized that it had been a bit foolish to fight two Mini-Bosses alone. Maybe he could have handled one of them, but David would never know.

Is that how it would end? He didn’t want to end it here. He was just getting started. David still hadn’t met his parents and hadn’t told them what he’d held back all these years. He couldn’t let it end here.

David couldn’t move anymore. His body didn’t budge, and his Holy Sea threatened to fall apart at any moment. Even if he didn’t die here, David was certain his Holy Sea would never be the same after today. He went too far.

He had overestimated his capabilities.

David’s eyelids grew heavier by the second. They threatened to close, forcing him to eternal slumber. Yet, something deep down was telling him that he shouldn’t give up. That he should fight against death. That he should overcome it!

It took David an eternity to realize what that feeling was. It was the same thing that bothered him earlier.

He had been close before, but now he made it. David shattered the final barrier.

A cascade of notifications lit up before his fading eyes, the words blurry but unmistakable. Summoning the last of his strength, David forced himself to focus on their meaning.

[You have defeated Herculean Darkai(Mini-Boss).]

[You are the sole contributor to the Herculean Darkai’s demise. Congratulations, Lone Hunter!]

[The User went above and beyond to triumph over a mighty foe.

You broke and mutilated your body, but you are still alive.

You broke your Mind’s limit. Even so, it never failed you.

You healed your allies and slayed your enemies. You protected Arc.]

[The User’s Body, Mind, and Soul have been strengthened.]

Body: Middle(+)(Basic) →High(-)(Basic)

Mind: Middle(Basic) → Middle(+)(Basic)

Soul: Middle(-)(Basic) → Middle(Basic)

[Your Rank increased by one.]

[Iron IX] → [Iron X]

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[One Attribute Point has been added]

[You have met all conditions. Commence First Class Advancement!

A moment later, time slowed to a crawl.