Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death-Chapter 68B1 - Kobold Nest II

All sounds on the ground floor seemed to cease simultaneously. The silence was suffocating. It overwhelmed David, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. That was until footsteps resounded—some louder, others muffled and hard to distinguish.

The first figures David saw were scaled. Some wielded wands, while others gripped longbows, but he barely spared them a glance. His eyes were drawn to a small Kobold with fiery red scales. The air around it crackled and snapped, releasing fiery wisps, almost as though its scales were alive or made of fire.

The fiery Kobold wasn’t alone. Five massive Aether Kobolds surrounded it, acting as its bodyguards.

Something about the fiery Kobold sent a chill through David. It wasn’t just its appearance but a deep, instinctual warning that made his skin crawl. He prepared himself to fight a powerful creature, possibly something on par with the Behemoth Darkai. Yet, as its blazing eyes landed on him, he shifted uncomfortably, his unease intensifying.

David wasn’t the only one affected. It felt as though the entire building mirrored his reaction. The floor trembled, the walls groaned, and the windows—those that had survived the integration—shattered with ear-splitting screams. Each step the fiery Kobold took down the stairs caused more destruction than the last.

The Kobold snarled and struck one of its massive Aether guards with a blaze-colored staff. The Aether Kobold growled in response and surged forward while the Mages and Hunters spread out, stepping through pools of their fallen brethren’s blood to join the battlefield.

“To think they’d move the party for us. I’m almost touched,” Torb snickered, though his voice was tense and cold.

The Aether Kobolds growled deeply and strode forward, yet David’s focus remained on the small, fiery Kobold. A blazing spear materialized above it, sparking to life before whipping through the air at shocking speed. David barely had time to process what was happening. The spear bypassed the Aether Kobolds in an instant, hurtling toward the Earthen Elemental. It shattered into a dozen smaller spears mid-flight and pierced the creature.

The animated elemental didn’t feel pain, but it collapsed nonetheless. Its form crumbled and fell apart as the magic holding it together vanished. David saw it happen as he heard Melach’s muffled scream. His gaze flicked to the elf, his frown deepening. Melach’s legs buckled, his face as pale as paper.

Can he keep going?

David shook his head.

Even if he can continue, it won’t be for long.

The Earthen Elemental’s ‘death’ appeared to have deeply affected Melach. That didn’t bode well.

The fiery Kobold cackled, and a barrage of arrows and magic projectiles followed. The Aether Kobolds split up, accelerating toward their targets. Two charged at Melach and Torb, while one headed straight for David.

There’s no time. Melach can’t handle one, let alone two.

David gritted his teeth. He knew he’d be too slow to reach the elf in time; the Aether Kobold charging him would keep him pinned.

“Sorry!” he shouted, casting [Oasis of Harmony] twice. A white dove appeared above Melach, while a pitch-black one materialized above Torb. The Aether Kobolds heading toward the elf abruptly changed course, their attention drawn to Torb instead.

David sighed in relief, though he knew the solution wouldn’t last long. It would buy only a few precious seconds.

The first barrage of projectiles inflicted little damage. Torb was surrounded by Aether Kobolds, whose massive bodies blocked the incoming attacks, while Melach managed to dive to safety. David evaded the arrows with nimble steps, kicking off the ground to launch himself forward.

As he reached the Aether Kobold, its movements became crystal clear in his mind. He blocked its first two attacks and delivered a series of deep slashes. His speed, strength, and flexibility surpassed the creature’s due not only to his skill but also the overclocked application of [Bless].

A blue projectile struck him in the side just as he prepared to ram his Obsidian Blade into the Kobold’s chest. The impact sent him stumbling, his eyes narrowing as a massive Zweihänder descended toward him. He twisted desperately, something in his body cracking under the strain. Searing pain flared through him, but he narrowly evaded the attack.

Ignoring the pain, David leaped forward. The Aether Kobold had overcommitted in its attempt to finish him. Seizing the opportunity, he drove his shortsword into the creature’s chest and slashed its throat with his soulbound weapon.

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[You have defeated Aether Kobold Swordsman (Bronze III).]

The notification flashed briefly in his vision, offering a fleeting confirmation of victory. It gave him the certainty he needed to rush to Melach, whom he saw struggling to evade the second and third barrages of arrows and [Mana Bullet].

While Melach was faltering, Torb was faring worse. He faced a desperate battle against the last four Aether Kobolds.

David sprinted toward them, his lips parting to chant Words of Power. Arrows whistled through the air, two striking his shoulder and chest. A [Mana Bullet] slammed into him, halting his movement and sending pain lancing through his ribs, but the incantation never faltered.

David felt the fiery Kobold’s blazing eyes fixate on him as it waved its staff. A firespear, like the one that had destroyed the Earthen Elemental, materialized atop the blazing staff. It barreled in his direction.

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The Words of Power continued pouring out of David’s mouth, but he slowed down enough to focus on conjuring a crimson shield. His calculation was off. He expected the firespear to split into a dozen and had only planned to protect his vital points with [Blood Aegis]. However, the firespear didn’t split this time. Its power was concentrated in one spot, easily shattering the crimson shield and burning a gaping hole through David's chest.

Fortunately, the blazing spear didn’t come close to piercing his heart. David forced a smile and cast [Restore], even as his Source screamed in protest until he finished the last few words. Suddenly, more than a dozen blue projectiles rocketed through the entrance hall, but they never reached him.

Torb blurred before him, breathing heavily. The dwarf’s plated armor was battered, his blood mixing with the growing pool below, yet his movements never faltered. He blocked most magic projectiles, protecting David and Melach.

“Where did your power go? What’s with the Words of Power?” Melach asked weakly, his words more like a gargling mess than comprehensible sounds.

“I’m already done,” David responded casually.

At last, a cacophony of screams resounded. The Aether Kobolds slowed until they stood still, their cries fueling David’s excitement. Simultaneously, the barrage of arrows and [Mana Bullet] ceased.

His heart thundered in his chest as he watched the chaos unfold. Everything had turned out as expected—maybe even better.

Spikes of solidified blood burst from the pool, piercing the Kobolds’ feet and legs, restraining their movements. A spear appeared in David’s hands, and he didn’t hesitate to hurl it at the closest Aether Kobold. The target thrashed, shattering the blood spikes. It stared at David and kicked off the ground but couldn’t take even a single step toward him as the spear pierced its throat and neck.

A notification popped up as the Aether Kobold collapsed, but David ignored it. A green shimmer whizzed through the air, and the head of another Aether Kobold exploded. David heard Torb roar, his gaze briefly catching the mace slamming into the second-to-last Aether Kobold. Then he turned his attention to the main dish: the fiery Kobold.

Torb can handle the last one, he thought and gestured to Melach. “Get rid of the Mages and Hunters. Take a potion or two if you have to.”

A moment later, David rushed toward the stairs. He had only one blood droplet left, and even that was on the verge of exhaustion. His Source was drained and couldn’t sustain another extensive use of the Blood of Law.

He had some potions in his spatial necklace, but none were useful in the current situation.

The fiery Kobold conjured another blazing spear and hurled it at him. It was faster this time, but David was prepared. He conjured a small, compressed [Blood Aegis] and deflected it to the side. The spear split into a dozen smaller projectiles and spread everywhere. Two fire tendrils scorched his arm and torso, but the real threat came when marble-sized lights materialized around the tiny Kobold.

The lights burst forth and pierced David simultaneously. Dozens of deadly magic bullets shredded his chest, legs, arm, and even his throat.

David cursed and cast [Restore] twice quickly while continuing his charge. Another barrage of marble-sized energy bolts struck him before the fresh wounds had begun to heal, but he pressed on. Blood poured from his hole-riddled body, but he guarded his brain and heart just enough to keep going.

He retrieved one of his last spears from the spatial necklace, took the final step into the fiery Kobold’s range, and spun around, his grasp on the spear tightening.

David saw the fiery Kobold twitch and stepped back as a crimson hue of [Holy Touch] mantled the spear tip, but it was already too late.

Several crimson shields manifested around the small creature, blocking its escape. David’s focus narrowed to the spear, his thoughts tuning out whatever the Kobold attempted next.

He poured every ounce of strength into the throw and hurled the spear at the fiery Kobold.

But he didn’t wait to see it die. Maybe the first attack failed, maybe not. David retrieved the penultimate spear, mantled its tip in [Holy Touch], and hurled it with renewed determination. His body trembled as the effects of [Restore] began wearing off, and the Blood in his Source dwindled to nothing, but he hurled the second spear regardless.

Even as the sickening sound of the second spear hitting flesh registered in David’s mind, he didn’t stop. He retrieved the third and final spear and hurled it with all his might.

His eyes finally followed the attack’s trajectory. The spear whistled beautifully through the air and impacted heavily.

A sickening crunch rang out as the blade pierced the monster’s skull.

At last, the long-awaited notification popped up.

[You have defeated Grand Kobold Shaman(Bronze VI.]