Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death-Chapter 5B2 - Prehistoric

“Are we still not there?” Torb groaned loudly. His voice cut through the air, making David glance over with mild irritation.

The sun had already begun its descent, yet they had not reached the natural Rift.

Zachariah patted the dwarf’s back. “It’s not my fault the nearest natural Rift is so far away,” he said. “It’s not like I planned to conquer a Rift anytime soon.”

“He’s telling you to keep your mouth shut because we’re doing all of this for you,” Melach said, walking past the duo with quick strides.

David remained silent, listening to the others while his eyes scanned the surroundings. He had been doing that since they left Arc, though not because he feared ambushes. One of his new Skill Runes, [Eagle Eyes], behaved differently than expected. Unlike most other Skill Runes, which had to be actively cast, [Eagle Eyes] was always on. It didn’t drain his blood, but he had been hungrier than usual since acquiring it.

Still, the Skill’s passive effect significantly enhanced his vision and attention to detail. He could see much farther and notice finer details that had previously eluded him. The Skill’s potency was a welcome surprise, especially for a Tier-0 Skill. David was keen to level [Eagle Eyes], testing various methods to enhance its rank.

“I think we’re getting closer,” he remarked, pointing to the wide-open plains ahead. “There are a bunch of monsters over there… Wait. Are those Triceratops?”

Zachariah slowed his pace. “Triceratops? So, this is a Prehistoric Rift? That isn’t too bad.”

Dinosaurs? David hadn’t expected to encounter dinosaurs. He didn’t even know such a thing was possible. That thought seemed foolish now. Why wouldn’t dinosaurs resurface in a world filled with magic, gods, and devils? If divine and magical creatures could exist, the resurrection of dinosaurs didn’t seem far-fetched.

Despite his reasoning, seeing them graze near the horizon felt miraculous. The corners of his lips tugged upward, and he quickened his pace.

“What are Triceratops?” Melach asked, rushing to catch up.

David opened his mouth to respond, but Zachariah spoke first. “They’re dinosaurs—extinct creatures that lived on Earth millions of years ago. The exact number is over 60 million, but don’t worry about specifics. All you need to know is they’ve been gone a long time.”

“And now they’re back?” Torb asked. “Interesting. I didn’t know the World Awakening could resurrect extinct creatures.”

As they neared the grazing dinosaurs, David couldn’t help but marvel at the sight. The once-extinct creatures leisurely fed in the open plains, their sheer presence awe-inspiring.

“Those are Xenoceratops,” Zachariah corrected, stepping up beside him.

David cocked an eyebrow but received only a shrug in return. “I’ve encountered a few dinosaurs before,” the regressor continued. “Xenoceratops are more aggressive than Triceratops, but only if you harm their kind. We should be fine.”

Should? David frowned, unease prickling at the edges of his thoughts. The lack of certainty in Zachariah’s tone was far from reassuring.

The regressor shuddered. “It’d be best if we don’t run into one of the Colossus Xenoceratops in the Prehistoric Rifts. Let’s just say wrestling with a Spinosaurus or a Tyrannosaurus Rex is more fun than running from one of those monsters when they’re extra large.”

David narrowed his eyes at the Xenoceratops, noting their immense size and the way their muscles shifted under their thick hides. Just how much stronger had Aether made them? He would have fought them without hesitation if not for their towering, two-horned frills and the long brow horns above their eyes. For now, the creatures ignored him and the others, continuing to eat as if nothing else in the world mattered.

“Do you think Aether enhances them?” he asked Zachariah.

“I’d say so,” Zachariah replied. “Natural Rifts either use existing data from the world to spawn monsters through a mix of Aether and Essence, or they use foreign data from invading forces to replicate their Rifts.” He pointed ahead, where a faint purple glow shimmered on the horizon. “This looks like a Prehistoric Rift. It uses genetic material from Earth to resurrect extinct creatures from tens of millions of years ago. That process requires a lot of Aether and Essence, so yes—every dinosaur here will be stronger. Don’t be surprised if we encounter some Silver Ranks.”

A sigh resounded, and David thought he heard Zachariah murmuring something about how fortunate they were to reach the Rift early, though he wasn’t entirely sure.

“I don’t want to interrupt your lesson, but…” Melach gasped, pointing at a flock of swiftly moving creatures. They were bipedal, feathered carnivores with long tails and enlarged, sickle-shaped claws on each hindfoot. Childhood memories struck him—documentaries of ancient predators from a time before magic. He remembered those sharp claws and swift movements vividly.

Velociraptors.

They were Velociraptors, creatures barely one-fourth the size of the Xenoceratops, but their claws and teeth appeared sharp enough to inflict considerable damage.

The Xenoceratops flailed, shaking off some Velociraptors, which were stomped to death within seconds, while others, slower predators, were impaled.

“There are hundreds,” Torb gasped, frozen in place. Clicking his tongue, David dashed ahead. Zachariah appeared beside him, and a magic projectile whizzed past, crushing a Velociraptor’s skull. A second projectile followed quickly, releasing a sickening crunch as it struck another predator’s chest.

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“The Rift is our goal…not to act like Saints,” the dwarf shouted from behind. Despite his words, the sound of creaking armor betrayed the warrior’s reluctant movements forward.

“Our goal is to grow stronger, you dork.” Zachariah suddenly accelerated, crossing the distance to the battlefield in an instant. David watched as the regressor joined the fray. His blade exuded a silver hue, cleaving through two Velociraptors with the first strike, but that was just the beginning.

Turning away from Zachariah, David cast [Blessing] and [Symphony Control] on the Xenoceratops, shrouding them in a crimson hue. Black doves materialized above their frills, drawing more ferocious attacks from the tiny carnivores. Yet the fierce attacks failed to have the desired effect. The Velociraptors’ claws and teeth barely scratched the Xenoceratops’ hides, while the herbivores appeared stronger—deadlier.

David cast [Blessing] on himself and materialized the Obsidian Blade. His eyes darted in all directions before he struck out, beheading a Velociraptor. Twisting his body, he activated [Slash] for the first time, slashing upward to attack another predator. The Obsidian Blade trembled violently in his hand, vibrating as if alive. The unexpected sensation threw him off for a moment, the blade’s vibrations a jarring surprise.

I should have expected that. How foolish, he cursed himself, recovering quickly. Casting [Blood Bullet], he targeted three Velociraptors that turned away from the Xenoceratops beside him. The creatures pounced, but crimson-colored projectiles struck their faces, throwing them backward. Though not enough to kill, one bullet to their heads was sufficient to halt their momentum. David considered that good enough for a Tier-0 Skill that hadn’t been leveled yet.

His eyes scanned the battlefield, identifying the first target. Closing in, he thrust the Obsidian Blade through the middle Velociraptor’s eye, killing it instantly. The predator to the right was next. David kicked it fiercely, using his weight and momentum to force the creature to the ground. With another [Slash], he cut down.

Blood spurted through the air, and the faint glow of a system notification tugged at his attention. But there was no time for distractions. David turned to the last of the three monsters. As it lunged at him, he conjured a small crimson shield that shattered under the Velociraptor’s clawed strike. Yet the brief delay gave him enough time to close the gap. Emerging before the predator, he slashed it down.

His heart drummed wildly against his chest at the chaos unfolding around him. Seeking his next target, his focus shifted when something large caught his attention. A head whipped in his direction, nearly smashing into him. A pair of horns narrowly missed, their charge taking David by surprise.

“I’m on your side, buddy!” he grumbled, manifesting a more formidable crimson shield. The Xenoceratops bleated in response and charged.

The crimson shield, the strongest he could form without overcharging the Skill Rune, cracked under the massive herbivore’s weight. David groaned but held his ground. Striking the creature felt wrong; they were allies in this chaos, even if it didn’t realize it.

David groaned, frustration mingling with a strange empathy. These creatures were not the true enemy. It didn’t feel right to retaliate against something merely defending itself.

Instead, he held back, considering his next move.

David’s thoughts were a whirlwind. I need some principles. Clearing Rifts and removing dangerous monsters is fine, but these creatures haven’t done anything wrong… have they?

Fighting thrilled him. It stirred something within his heart that no woman ever could. Yet, the thought of slaying the Xenoceratops didn’t spark the same excitement. Was it because they hadn’t attacked first or posed no direct threat? He couldn’t be sure—but did it even matter? Unwilling to kill the Xenoceratops, he held back.

Instead, David cast [Healing Light] on the nearest Xenoceratops. His hand emitted a crimson glow that expanded rapidly, reaching the creature mid-charge and beginning to mend its wounds. The process was slow but effective, and the herbivore’s furious bleating softened as the bloodlust in its eyes began to fade. Encouraged, he added [Holy Touch] to soothe its rage further. The wounds knitted faster, and the massive beast ceased its thrashing entirely.

“Good,” David murmured, releasing several [Blood Bullets] toward the Velociraptors lunging at the wounded creature. His projectiles hit their marks, and the Xenoceratops wasted no time stomping the stunned predators to death.

The herbivore turned to face him, its gaze unreadable. Yet David didn’t sense hostility. Instead, the creature bleated softly before flicking its head back toward the battlefield.

“Do you want my help? In that case… excuse my rudeness,” he muttered, a nervous grin tugging at his lips. Maintaining [Healing Light], he placed a hand over his racing heart and kicked off the ground, landing atop the Xenoceratops’ broad back.

The creature bucked slightly, emitting a startled noise, but didn’t throw him off.

“Thanks, buddy. Just stay like this for a moment… there we go!” he said, steadying himself. From his vantage point, he cast [Blood Bullet] repeatedly, imbuing the projectiles with [Blood Patch] before releasing them. The marked bullets struck the other Xenoceratops, leaving faint crimson sigils on their hides.

As the connections came alive, David felt a strange, steady drain on his energy. It wasn’t overwhelming, but the constant pull churned his stomach. He ignored it and pushed through, channeling [Healing Light] through the marks to mend the wounded herd.

Using [Restore] would’ve been more efficient, he thought, biting back frustration. But this wasn’t just about efficiency—he came to the Rift to grow stronger, and there was no telling what awaited them after the battle. Saving too much blood energy for creatures that might turn hostile later seemed like a safer bet.

The Xenoceratops rallied. Their grievous wounds glowed faintly as they turned toward David. Their intense stares didn’t unsettle him. Instead, he smiled, casting a weak version of [Blessing] over the herd and his allies, shrouding them all in a faint crimson hue.

Is that enough? he wondered, hoping the effort would suffice.

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The herbivores responded. With renewed vigor, they charged back into the fray, targeting the Velociraptors. David’s relief was short-lived. His gaze snapped to Torb, who was surrounded by a dozen predators just as a Xenoceratops charged toward him.

“Torb!” David yelled, his heart leaping into his throat.

The massive beast barreled past the dwarf, its heavy bulk brushing close but leaving him unharmed. Torb staggered back, shouting curses, but his plated armor remained pristine.

Elsewhere, a similar scene unfolded near Zachariah. A pair of Xenoceratops charged through the masses of Velociraptors the regressor fought single-handedly. Zachariah didn’t appear to struggle, but his sword, alight with silver energy, poised to strike the incoming herbivores.

“Don’t attack the Xenos!” David roared across the battlefield.

Zachariah froze, his eyes snapping to David atop one of the Xenoceratops. His blade wavered, then lowered as the massive creatures bulldozed through the Velociraptors, trampling half a dozen predators in one charge.

David watched, his heart pounding with a mix of relief and wonder. The Xenoceratops ignored his group entirely. Could it be? His chest tightened with anticipation at the possibility—they saw him as his…allies.