Chapter 35：Runes-tree (1/2)
[Heal-I: this rune uses mana to double the natural healing of living tissues for five minutes.]
It seems his Legacy knew how to keep him focused on the fight and that's why he didn't see these messages earlier. His thoughts were in a disarray but he managed to use the last bit of his mana to activate the new rune he gained. Warm orange light enveloped his body as he felt the pain slightly subsiding. As his mind became clearer, he was now sure of it. The Legacy rewarded him for his achievements more than his levels. It gave him this rune now because he killed a person for the first time.
As his thoughts reached this, Arthur's stomach churned and twisted at what he has done. The morals that have been installed in him for years were deeply rooted in his mind. He felt a pang of sudden guilt, but it was short-lived again.
They attacked him more than once, and if they didn't die, then he would. He defended himself by killing them. He gave them the chance to retreat, but they refused. His guilt disappeared and all that was left was a bitter taste, reminding him of who he was.
Kira came over and nudged Arthur's arm with its nose. Arthur smiled and stroked its chin as the two began to heal themselves together. After several hours of replenishing mana and using his new rune, Arthur's body was a lot better. The rune doubled the speed that he could heal given enough mana. He kept replenishing his mana by breathing and using the rune when he could, accelerating his healing for several hours.
Although this rune wasn't instant healing like the potion which he drank in Avarice dungeon, it was better than having nothing. After being able to walk, Arthur went to the two corpses that have laid there motionless. He hesitated for a second before he used his Absorb rune. Getting stronger took priority after being in so many life-death situations. He didn't care if he absorbed the essence of monsters or humans, he needed strength.
[Mana stat has been increased by 1.]
[Mana stat has been increased by 1.]
[Mana stat has been increased by 1.]
[Mana stat has been increased by 1.]
Feeling the surge in mana, his healing accelerated further. Arthur paused at the strength he had questionably gained, but he felt no different from all the other times he got stronger. Life was fair and death doesn't discriminate.
The two, man and wolf, returned to the pub where Arthur took out several skewers of meat that they prepared the night before. As they began to barbeque them, dawn arrived as myriads of colors started changing in color, until it was a blue sky at noon.
As the two witnessed the beginning of the day, they ate and healed their wounds after a difficult battle.
Arthur realized how drastically his life has changed. Getting heavily injured twice in a month seemed like a norm now. He never experienced such pain and life before, that's why he found it hard to get used to. The redeeming aspects were that it was far from being boring and that he did what he saw fit.
After their meal, the two decided to rest some more before heading out for the day. As they were resting, Arthur checked the last bit of information he glimpsed at earlier. The so-called Runes-tree.
As he thought about it, the Runes-tree appeared in front of him just like the rest of his stats. Arthur was dazed by the magnitude as a giant tree made of runes appeared in front of him. Each rune was connected by lines of glowing light that served as the branches of the tree. Instead of its truck, there was a pillar of golden light that had a single rune glowing. As Arthur looked at it, he realized it was the Absorb rune.
Eight other runes were glowing. They were the runes he used every day, in addition to Heal-I. However, as Absorb was at the trunk of the tree, there was another extra rune. It was the Force-I that had evolved. Every rune was on a different side of the tree, surrounding the golden pillar of light. Every rune was on a different branch than the other, with Force-II and Force-I being on the same branch, with the former being further away from the trunk.