Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death-Chapter 63B1 - Access & Changes

The inability to replenish Blood was probably David’s biggest problem. His Source could form and contain up to two Blood droplets at a time—enough to use and overclock his Skill Runes frequently—but any unexpected consumption was a risk he couldn’t ignore.

He had the Law of Blood, but it strained his Source rather than draining it. Overusing it, however, could cause damage, something he had to plan for. And if even a fraction of what Zachariah had warned him about was true, the future looked grim.

“I need some money,” David said to the others.

He had some funds left, probably enough to get by, but he didn’t want to take chances. He wanted to be ready if something went wrong if they were stranded or forced to push further than expected. Now that he could store more supplies, the urge to stock up was almost compulsive. Better to prepare now than scramble later.

“If we’re going to raid the Nest, I want to be prepared.”

He didn’t care if anyone called him paranoid or even suicidal. The head on his shoulders wasn’t just for show.

David caught Torb’s eyes darting toward him, the dwarf’s hand instinctively flying to guard his pouches. He couldn’t fault Torb for being protective, especially with the family issues the dwarf was dealing with. Adding the financial burden of a magical armament probably wasn’t making things easier for him.

Melach, however, didn’t hesitate. He handed over a handful of Bronze slates without a second thought. “Is that enough, or do you need more?”

“I don’t know,” David admitted with a shrug. “I want to buy some tents, food, water for a few weeks, and a few other things to prepare for the worst-case scenario. With the preservation enchantment, everything will stay intact if we need it later.”

Nobody could predict what the future held. One bad mission might leave them unable to return to Arc for days. Preparing for such a scenario wasn’t just prudent—it was essential. While unlikely, the possibility of getting stranded loomed large enough to justify the expense. He had the means, so why not use them?

“That’s a good idea,” Melach said, nudging Torb and nodding toward David.

“Seriously?!” Torb’s face turned red, his grip tightening on the pouches at his side. He groaned in frustration but eventually gave in, reluctantly fishing out some Bronze slates and handing them over. His gaze locked onto David’s. “You better repay me—with interest!”

“You dork,” Melach snapped, rolling his eyes. “David lets us use his storage device. We’re a team. If you can’t handle that, fine. Keep your money. You can haul your spoils of war back to Arc yourself while David and I use his spatial necklace. How’s that sound?”

Torb’s expression darkened further, his frown deepening. “I hate you,” he grumbled, his eyes flicking between Melach and David. “You too!”

No more words were exchanged, but the Bronze slates found their way into David’s hands.

“So…what do we need to raid a Kobold Nest?”

***

David was back in the city for the first time since he’d left. It hadn’t been that long, but it felt like an eternity had passed. The city had transformed into a shell of the bustling place he remembered. Cracked streets and crumbling skyscrapers stretched before him, stark reminders of what once was. He couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for nature to reclaim it all—for weeds to fill the cracks and vines to strangle the ruins humanity had left behind.

Their journey through the ruins revealed little in the way of magical creatures, but David did spot plenty of birds, cats, and dogs. He didn’t dislike animals—in fact, he liked them—but the ones they encountered were far from the pets humans had once known. One of the dogs—a hulking creature standing over a meter tall at the shoulder—torched an Infected with terrifying ease. Flames spewed from its mouth like a living flamethrower, reducing its target to charred remains.

“Adaptation to Aether,” Melach remarked casually as he watched the scene unfold. “I’m pretty sure I mentioned this before, but your world’s animals will mutate to adapt to the Aether in the air. The more they absorb, the stronger they’ll grow. Don’t worry, though—there are racial limits. Your domesticated animals can’t evolve into Transcendent beings.”

Torb’s lips twitched as though he wanted to argue, but the dwarf stayed silent.

“Are you sure?” David asked, his tone uncertain.

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“I mean… the Earthen Union’s animals gain access to a lesser version of the System. It’s nothing special, but if they meet certain racial requirements and evolve, they can unlock more System functions.” Melach tilted his head, his tone matter-of-factly. “But the intelligence and control of Aether required to do so isn’t something normal animals can acquire easily. Perhaps, after countless generations and who knows how many mutations and evolutions, their offspring might succeed… but the chance is slim even then. And the likelihood of evolving continuously until reaching the final ascension to a Beast God is…”

His fingers drummed against his Mage Wand as his voice trailed off. “Whatever. Can we raid the Kobold Nest?”

Was Melach nervous? If he was, it didn’t seem to be about the Kobold Nest.

David couldn’t help but wonder about the lesser System and how it functioned for animals and monsters. Questions swirled in his mind: how much did they know about their evolution requirements? Could they gain Skills or Attribute Points, or was their progress fundamentally different?

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Most of the questions slipped from his thoughts, but one lingered.

“Is that why the kill notifications look different?” he blurted, stopping abruptly. His words forced Melach and Torb to halt and turn to face him.

“What?” Melach’s frown deepened.

“The kill notification. It looks different depending on what I kill. I saw the Rank of the Kobolds and Darkai I killed. But the kill notifications from the Fangs and Infected didn’t show anything like that.”

“I didn’t know you could see the Rank of Kobolds,” Torb muttered. “I haven’t killed any yet.”

Melach shrugged. “Kobolds are intelligent but never had access to the full System. It always considered them inferior, just like Goblins and Gnolls. That’s why they evolved like monsters.”

“You speak like that’s a thing of the past,” Torb said, eyeing Melach suspiciously. David noticed something in the dwarf’s expression that unsettled him.

“Apparently, it is. We’ll find out soon enough.”

The raid on the Kobold Nest seemed to hold the answers.

“Would it change much if Kobolds gained access to the System as a whole?” David asked though an idea was already forming in his mind.

“How long has it been since you gained access to the System?” Melach asked sharply. “What, two weeks?”

David nodded slowly.

“And how much stronger have you gotten in that time?”

A lot. David didn’t even recognize the man he’d been two weeks ago. He was stronger, faster, and more durable. Everything about him had changed.

“Now imagine what would happen if races born and raised in Aether—races that were always suppressed, hunted, and forced to mix with ‘lesser’ races because others wouldn’t acknowledge them as equals—suddenly gained access to the System that had always denied them.” Melach’s fingers scraped against his wooden Mage Wand. “What would you do with that sudden gain of power in a newly integrated world where you’re no longer one of the weakest?”

David wasn’t sure if Melach was exaggerating. The elf’s serious tone felt dramatic, maybe even over the top. Was it really such a big deal to be acknowledged by the System?

David had grown significantly in the past two weeks, but that was necessary. The world had changed, and he had to adapt.

“If what you’re saying is true, everything might have changed. We don’t know if the Kobolds gained access to Classes or unlocked special racial traits. They might even wield Laws or Skill Runes now that they’ve gained full access to the System,” Torb murmured. “That is… if they actually gained full access.”

David hadn’t seen Kobolds use Skill Runes or anything similar. They wielded weapons and took joy in their enemies’ pain, but that was it. They still died by his hand, just like the undead did. He remained the hunter, and that wouldn’t change anytime soon.

They resumed their march, but Melach and Torb moved with heightened vigilance. The air grew tense, the weight of the upcoming confrontation pressing down on them as they closed in on the Kobold Nest.

Minutes later, something finally happened.

Out of the corner of his eye, David caught faint blue shimmers flickering like ghostly flames in the alley to their right. The sight sent a chill through him, a haunting reminder of his first encounter with Kobolds and Sebastian’s sudden death.

Then he saw them. Several projectiles—blue spears—whistled through the air with shocking velocity.

Torb stepped forward with a grim expression, his shield raised. David darted to the side, evading a pair of spears aimed at him with light, practiced steps.

Torb’s shield glimmered as a thin membrane coated its surface. The spears struck the barrier, their momentum dissipating before they fell harmlessly to the ground, leaving the shield unscathed.

“A masterpiece!” Torb exclaimed, admiration shining in his eyes.

“You can make love to your new toy later,” David teased. “Let’s finish our mission first.”

He surged toward the alley, his focus locked on the figures emerging from the shadows. Several Kobolds stepped forward, their growls echoing in his ears.

Their primal aggression stirred something in him.

The raid hadn’t fully begun, but David’s heart was already pounding in his chest.

Today was going to be a great day.