Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death-Chapter 60B1 - Vault I

The headache didn’t cease right away, but David considered it a blessing rather than a curse. The throbbing pain in his head was an indicator of his rapid progress, just like the piles of notifications flashing before his eyes.

[Your contribution to the Familia has been distributed. Enlightenment Orb has been emptied.]

[Your Rank increased by one.]

[Bronze II] → [Bronze III]

[Three Attribute Points have been added.]

[Your efficiency at wielding the Words of Power increased.

Your understanding of the Law of Blood deepened.]

[Proficiency of Weave of Life reached 100%.]

[Tier-2 I] → [Tier-2 II]

[Proficiency of Equivalent Exchange reached 100%.]

[Tier-2 I] → [Tier-2 II]

…

[Shield of Blood reached 100%.]

[Tier-0 VIII] → [Tier-0 X]

[Shield of Blood reached its limit. Initiate Tier progression.]

[Shield of Blood: Tier-0 X] →[Blood Aegis: Tier-1 I]

David groaned at the pile of notifications and dismissed the rest to check his status instead.

Name: David Stears

Primary Class: Lifeweaver

Secondary Class - [None]

Rank: Bronze III

Body:High(Basic)

Mind: High(-)(Basic)

Soul: High(-)(Basic)

[Laws]

[Law of Blood]: [Lowest(Minor)]

[Class Skills]

[Weave of Life]: [Tier-2 II]

[Equivalent Exchange]: [Tier-2 II]

[Skill Runes]

[Restore]: [Tier-1 V]

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[Cleanse]: [Tier-0 IX]

[Holy Touch]: [Tier-1 XI]

[Bless]: [Tier-0 IX]

[Blood Aegis]: [Tier-1 I]

[Oasis of Harmony]: [Tier-0 IX]

Attribute Points: 6

6 Attribute Points?

David cocked his head to the side. He double-checked the status and nodded slowly.

I must have missed a rank-up message, he thought.

He didn’t know when the message appeared, but there must have been one. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reached Bronze III just now.

To David, the rank-ups were secondary. It was nice to see, and the Attribute Points boosted his prowess considerably, but the real gains lay in his Skill Runes’ improvements.

First of all, it was satisfying to witness his Class Skills improve by one rank. Yet it was even better to observe [Restore] reach its first minor threshold and three Tier-0 Skills edge closer to their first Tier progression. That was especially true after he accessed [Blood Aegis], which was partially at fault for the headache in the back of his mind.

Another reason for his satisfaction was [Holy Touch]. It had increased by two ranks, crossing Rank X—something David had presumed to be the limit for all Skill Runes.

The second-tier progression would be a lot more difficult if the limit of a Tier-1 Skill Rune weren’t ten, David mused.

If the limit of a Tier-1 Skill Rune were closer to fifteen or twenty, he could accept it and focus on their progress. But what then? Would he push all his Skill Runes to the second Tier, only to discover that wasn’t enough for Silver Rank?

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David’s mind rattled. He wondered about the limit of a Tier-2 Skill Rune or what he would do when his Skill Runes reached the 3rd Tier. The process was already becoming increasingly difficult. Tier-0 Skill Runes could be pushed to Tier-1 with time and practice, but pushing half a dozen Tier-1 Skill Runes to the 2nd Tier required a completely different kind of investment.

There’s no need to make that decision today, he reminded himself. Ignore Zachariah’s warnings for a moment and focus on your next step!

Still, Zachariah’s words and comments feasted on his doubts.

“You look like shit.” Torb slapped David on the back with a laugh. “But that shit-eating grin of yours makes me want to punch you!”

“That’s nice to hear.” David forced a smile, wiped his bloody nose, and glanced at the Tirac receptionist. “I’m sorry about the blood on the counter.”

The receptionist stiffened under his gaze, her trembling hands and quivering lips betraying her unease.

David rolled his eyes but continued, “You said something about a Vault. What’s that about?”

He didn’t receive an answer right away and pressed on. “My friends received a small fortune—apparently enough to purchase a magical armament. Is the Vault visit a replacement for the money?”

“Y-You are allowed to pick one item from the Vault connected to Arc.” The receptionist’s voice wavered, but she regained composure—albeit too slowly for David’s liking. “But if…if you don’t want to visit the Vault, you can choose the monetary reward. I wouldn’t recommend that, sir.”

David didn’t mind her avoiding eye contact as long as he obtained the necessary information.

“Can I visit the Vault before making my decision?”

She hesitated but finally nodded after a second.

“In that case,” David smiled at the Tirac, “let’s go to Arc’s Vault.”

***

David’s stomach churned as he stepped out of the golden door, the cold stone before him looking far too inviting. He toppled over, retching as nausea clawed at his insides. His legs caved in, and he landed hard on the stone floor. At least he managed to keep the little food he had inside his stomach.

His head spun as though he’d been riding the worst roller coasters for hours without a break. It reminded him of the past. Not in a nice way, though.

David remained on the cold ground, hoping the nausea would subside quickly.

“What the hell was that?”

He glanced up, ready to tear the receptionist a new one. Couldn’t she have warned him?

The receptionist smiled at him with a mix of pity and something else. Did she enjoy his misery?

“The Vault is an independent dimension connected to various Sanctuaries via highly secure dimensional portals, protected by the Pantheon and other things. We jumped through space to reach the Vault. That’s why you’re feeling like this. The first few times are always like this. You will get used to it, sir.”

Her smile widened while David’s grimace worsened. The confidence in her voice was more annoying than surprising.

“It would be nice if you could tend to your condition, but that’s not possible in this space. Try circulating holy power. You will quickly notice that it won’t work. You cannot use your Skill Runes here. Your physical prowess won’t disappear, but try attacking me, and you will realize what it means to attract the Pantheon’s wrath.”

The last bit was unnecessary. David wasn’t planning to attack the receptionist. He was here to pick one item and leave right away. Still, he understood her reasoning. Even the so-called Savior of Arc could be tempted by greed. It was better to extend a warning before anything could happen.

He nodded in response to her commentary and allowed her to savor the illusion of being in full control of the situation. She must feel the power resting in her hands, even if it was only for a few minutes, David thought, letting her believe she was in charge.

Accessing his Source, he circulated a minuscule portion of Blood through his body. The receptionist appeared oblivious, even as he cast [Restore] with the trace of Blood.

His Skill Runes weren’t blocked, and David doubted the restrictions extended to Laws either. Had they forgotten to apply the Vault’s restrictions to him, or had he somehow bypassed its effects? Perhaps the limitations didn’t include his Source and Blood, or it might have been something else entirely.

It didn’t matter. He was here for his reward and would leave right after.

“Can I pick whatever I want?” David jumped to his feet and walked up next to the Tirac receptionist. He heard her faint gasp and noticed her eyes widening ever so slightly. He responded with a smile.

“I feel better.”

“A-already?” Her smile cracked.

“Is that bad?” David asked, feigning ignorance.

“No! Of course not!” The receptionist pointed ahead. “Please follow me. We are close.”

David walked a step behind the Tirac, whose feet barely touched the stone floor. Her soft footsteps echoed faintly in the wide hallway until they reached a towering gateway guarded by a pair of massive statues. The receptionist tensed and slowed as they walked past the statues. It took David a moment to understand why.

He glanced up at the statues’ faces, only to see two pairs of obsidian eyes staring back at him. He thought he heard the faint crack of stone, but the Tirac grabbed his hand before he could look closer.

“Don’t look at them!” she hissed, her voice trembling.

This time, David didn’t think she was afraid of him.

“The statues are the things you were talking about earlier,” he concluded, but the receptionist remained silent.

Not long after, they reached and passed a second gate. It was slightly smaller, yet the statues were still there. This time, there was no cracking stone. That changed when they reached the third gate in the long hallway. The receptionist halted and retrieved a small scroll. She unfolded it and began reading in a language David had never heard before.

The walls trembled, and so did the statues. The massive figures flanking the gate suddenly turned and pushed it open.

“The gate should remain open for the next thirty minutes,” the receptionist muttered.

“Should?”

The corner of her lips twitched upward, only to settle into a flat line a moment later.

“It’s the first time I’m here.”

David had a lot to say but decided to push it aside. He nodded.

“We should hurry up then.”