Am I a Healer? You'd Better Think So!-Chapter 3: Consumed

"Shit, shit, shit..."

Darian muttered, eyes wide as a strong fear consumed him. The danger closing in from all sides was suffocating, an overwhelming presence that drained his strength. His soul trembled, his will faltered, and his legs nearly gave out.

But...

"No..."

He clenched his fists tightly. For a moment, he saw himself as he used to be—the fragile boy who hid in his room while his mother faced the world for him. A burden. A coward. His death hadn't been solely that bastard Young Master's fault. He had failed too. He ran from his curse, and the price was too high.

His fingers stopped shaking. The fear was still there, but something else was growing inside him. He had to win. He had to return to his siblings and take care of them. He had to do it for his mother, or he would never forgive himself.

"This is a test... there must be a way. I won't run. If I don't see a path yet, it's because I haven't looked hard enough..."

*Gwaar! Gwaar! Gwaar!*

Guttural, discordant laughter cut through his words. It carried malice—and something even more disturbing.

Darian found himself completely surrounded. There were hundreds—maybe more. Running earlier wouldn't have made a difference. He was doomed to face this.

The creatures had human-like features, but something was deeply wrong. There were both masculine and feminine forms, but their skin was blotched and purple, their eyes glowed with a cruel red light, and thick, violet smoke puffed from their mouths.

"This..."

Darian's heart nearly stopped. They looked human... or had been once. His mind, which had just found some resolve, wavered again.

These creatures... they looked like the physical manifestation of how he had seen people as a child—twisted, menacing, demonic. The reflection of the curse that had haunted him his entire life.

Darian was a human who had never trained for combat—he didn't even exercise properly. A mere mortal thrown into terror itself. Despair crashed over him like an unforgiving wave, drowning every shred of logic. His instincts took over, and he ran like his life depended on it.

*BANG!*

A creature appeared before him with terrifying speed. Before he could even react, a brutal punch slammed into his stomach, as if his very essence had been ripped away. He was sent flying backward, crashing violently onto the ground.

It felt like his soul was being torn apart. He writhed in pain, a unique and indescribable agony—pain in the soul was something entirely different from physical pain.

It took a few seconds, but he finally realized that, somehow, the creatures hadn't moved in. They were watching him, waiting for something. With great effort, he pushed himself up, resting on his knees.

That's when he saw the circle of monsters around him. Their glowing red eyes gleamed with twisted pleasure as they slowly closed in, leaving him only a five-meter gap. They were armed with swords, sabers, and spears, their expressions dark masks of pure amusement.

The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the tension in the air.

Darian looked up at the approaching figure. His body wasn't purple—but completely black. He looked like a human man, but when Darian met his eyes, he felt an overwhelming pressure crush down on his soul.

Obviously, this was their leader. The difference between him and the others was brutal—like the gap between heaven and earth.

"Kill... priii... agh..."

The creature's voice was an incomprehensible noise, but the sick pleasure in its tone sent a chill down Darian's spine.

The leader closed his mouth with a cruel smile, and with a simple hand gesture, one of the soldiers stepped forward.

One of those abominations approached Darian. It resembled a man and held a spear that looked alive, forged from some kind of purple metal that perfectly matched its twisted flesh.

There was nowhere to run. The mocking grin on the creature's face said everything Darian needed to know about what was coming.

Suddenly, the soldier lunged.

*Choc!*

The spear tore through the air and plunged into Darian's chest with merciless brutality. The pain was instant—searing through him like molten iron—but there was no flesh. He was a soul... this pain went far beyond anything imaginable.

"Aaargh!!"

The scream that escaped his lips was muffled by the sheer agony. But the monster yanked the spear out with disdain and, with a vicious kick, sent Darian flying.

*Bang!*

Darian tumbled across the ground, writhing in agony. Every impact against the dirt shattered him even further. When he finally stopped, his uncontrolled groans of pain were met with the distorted laughter of the other abominations.

They were enjoying his suffering, as if his pain was entertainment. And in that moment, Darian understood—he was already doomed, trapped in a place where there was no hope of salvation.

It was impossible...

'No...'

It was up to him and no one else.

He stopped groaning and writhing, his mind now locked onto one thing—survival.

'I won't die here...'

*Choc!*

The creature seemed to revel in his resistance. With a wicked grin plastered on its face, it struck again. The spear pierced through his body even harder, a ruthless blow that showed no mercy. But it didn't stop there. Five more strikes, one after another, impaled his limbs and chest, ripping through him without pity.

Then, with a disdainful kick, it sent him flying again.

Just like before, the spectators made space for his body to soar through the air and crash violently onto the ground. The circle closed in once more. The leader, however, simply watched, entertained.

But this time, Darian lay there motionless. He made no sound.

Darian got up slowly.

His spiritual body was torn apart—deep cracks ran through his very essence, like shattered glass on the verge of breaking completely. There were holes in his soul, clear enough to see through to the other side. If anyone from Earth saw him, they'd be stunned—how was he even still alive?

The monsters stared at him with disdain, as if waiting for him to collapse at any moment. But when they saw his reddened eyes, they noticed something strange—a powerful glow was beginning to flow through them, like something inside Darian was waking up.

"!"

His existence trembled under the pain, but something even stronger was there: shock. The curse that haunted him started surfacing again.

Now, he could see clearly.

'These freaks... their dark karma... it's inside their bodies...'

Darian could see it. There was no visible aura around them, but he could feel it. These things had it—dense, far greater than the worst person he had ever seen on Earth.

The blood inside them didn't flow. It was like they weren't even alive—but that karma moved like an invisible current, as if it was the only thing keeping them going.

'Karma is what drives them... and also their power.'

Suddenly, his eyes trembled. His soul twisted, something uncontrollable surged from within him. This... this was... hunger.

A crushing hunger.

He was a soul, he had no body, no stomach. How could he be hungry?

It all happened in a second. The hunger swelled inside his essence, a deep, primal need. But instead of giving in to it, an unexpected calm washed over Darian.

'I won't lose.'

He muttered to himself, remembering the book he had read to exhaustion. The protagonist faced the worst situations, but never fell into despair. He stayed calm, unshaken, even in the most desperate moments.

Darian knew what he had to do. He had to fight. He had to find a way to turn the tables. No matter how impossible it seemed. He wasn't going to break.

*Rhaaagh!*

The abomination roared, lunging at Darian with its spear, its ferocity surging.

But this time...

Darian's eyes burned like stars. Everything around him seemed to slow down, as if time itself was dragging. He saw it—he saw the karma inside the creature shifting.

It was like the spear had a heart... no, it had a core. A small core at its center, absorbing some of the monster's power. He felt the vibration of the attack, as if the movement itself was predestined. He knew exactly where it would strike—before it even got close.

*Pierce!*

He didn't dodge. He didn't even try. He couldn't.

It was like someone pointing a gun and telling him exactly where the bullet would hit after pulling the trigger. He knew, and at the same time, he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

He was weak. His body wasn't fast enough to react.

The pain was so intense he felt like he would explode, his soul nearly ripping apart. But it wasn't the pain that made him falter. His will, no matter how worn down, kept him tethered to life. He didn't explode. He didn't give in.

But the faint light that had existed inside him from the beginning... it flickered out, as if all his energy had been drained. There wouldn't be another miracle. He wouldn't last much longer.

The spear tore through him, piercing straight through his being into the ground. The creature had used so much force that the tip got stuck, its blade embedded too deep to be pulled out right away.

Darian's eyes gleamed with sheer fury—a crimson glow, fed by pain and desperation.

"FUCK YOU!"

He roared, his voice echoing like a primal scream, an explosion of his last remaining strength.

And with that...

His hunger was unleashed.

There was no control.

It was instinct—a force beyond anything he had ever known.

At the same time, the abomination froze. Through the connection of the spear, something was being pulled out of it, drained with a force it couldn't resist.

The creature's essence—its dark karma—was flowing straight into Darian.

He felt every bit of that energy seeping into him. He was being filled with power—more than he ever thought possible.

The hunger... now he understood. It wasn't hunger of the body. It was hunger for power.

The thing he had always feared, the curse he had dreaded... was the very thing that gave him strength.

It all lasted just three seconds. No one had time to react, no time to process what had just happened.

The monster fell.

The sound of its body hitting the ground echoed through the silence. No energy left. No life. It had been destroyed—consumed.

A white, sacred glow emerged around Darian.

All the monsters froze, their eyes locked onto him, hovering inches above the ground. His existence pulsed with that light, radiating an unknown power. Even he could barely believe what he felt.

The sensation... it was familiar. It reminded him of Rhea.

Instinctively, the light seeped into the cracks of his soul, filling them with a comforting warmth. The unbearable pain that had torn through him moments ago was replaced by something almost... divine.

*Ryaaargh!*

The leader of the creatures roared in fury. The air around them distorted, and all the monsters drew their weapons, a wild aura surrounding them.

Darian, still bathed in that white light, rose to his feet. His mind was hazy, but something inside him was flowing differently. He clenched his fists...

Something appeared.

A dark aura, thick like tar, wrapped around his hands.

It was small—insignificant compared to the white glow—but the moment he saw it, he knew.

It was the absolute opposite of that light.

'If the white heals me...'

The thought barely formed before the enemies were already on him, blades and spears mere inches from his body.

Without hesitation, Darian raised his hand.

The black aura twisted like a whip, lashing toward one of the attackers.

*Shluk!*

The creature froze the instant it was pierced. Silence fell. Every other monster stopped, their eyes wide with shock.

Then, without making a single sound... the aberration collapsed, lifeless.

Darian felt it. He felt the enemy's karma being ripped away, devoured. The white light in his body flared even stronger, growing several times over. But the black... the black also grew, subtly. A rush carved itself into his soul, something inhuman, primal.

'So that's it...'

He understood. Everyone who came for the trial sought to absorb a law, to mold it into their own power. But he... he had always had this power... since the moment he was born.

His curse...

Was actually his blessing.

**Gwaaaaaar!!**

The leader roared, snapping all the aberrations out of their stupor.

They acted purely on instinct, with only primitive intelligence; it seemed their karma, which was their power, also corrupted their minds. The leader, however, was different. His karma was a thousand times greater, and with it, his strength and intelligence too.

Without hesitation, hundreds of aberrations attacked at the same time.

Darian clenched his fists and grabbed the fallen spear. He had seen how the first enemy infused their power into their weapon and tried to copy it.

It only took a thought.

The black energy surged from within him, flooding into the spear like it had always belonged there. His smile widened—he saw a chance.

He struck.

The next moment, Darian was sent flying back after taking a direct hit. The enemies surrounded him, furious.

Darian tried to fight. Failed miserably.

That was to be expected. He had absolutely no experience whatsoever. He didn't know how to move, how to hold the spear properly, how to attack. He was weak. No skill, no training. For a moment, he thought he was a superhero just because he had discovered his power. But reality hit him like a hammer.

Weapons pierced through his body. The pain was indescribable, his mind wavered, shutting down. But the white power healed him in a second, bringing him back to normal.

"AH!"

He roared, spinning the spear like a staff.

His power was devastating... or maybe there were just so many enemies that anyone could land a hit. The impact sent several of them flying.

Then, he tried to summon the black whip again...

Nothing happened.

"Shit!"

He ran, dodging what he could, getting pierced and slashed, but always regenerating.

He swung the spear clumsily. An enemy fell before him. Without thinking, Darian threw himself at it, pressing both hands against its body.

'Shit, I let go of my weapon!' he realized too late how stupid that was. There was no turning back now, so he focused on his hands.

The creature's body froze.

Then stopped moving entirely, completely lifeless.

Darian exhaled in relief. It worked. He needed to touch them directly. He still had no real skill in using this power properly.

He scrambled to his feet, running, getting hit over and over. He was a target against hundreds. The tension was suffocating. His healing power wouldn't last forever—he could feel it waning.

He tried using his eyes, predicting the attacks. Failed.

Failed again.

But it didn't matter. As long as he had the white power, he was immortal.

His movements were clumsy, random, without any technique. He was a pathetic immortal, wasting a gift anyone else would sell their soul for.

But...

There was nowhere to run.

His eyes narrowed. His curse was his power.

He could feel the enemies without needing to look. He could foresee the attacks before they happened. And he also had the power to kill them.

He just had to stop being pathetic.

...

One day passed. Two days.

He fought. Fell. Got up. Repeated.

It was a brutal trial-and-error training. The pain of being pierced and torn apart never lessened from the first time. The only difference was that his body healed fast enough to keep him standing.

The leader, of course, joined the battle too. He was a thousand times stronger, but even he couldn't win. No one could.

Darian was getting wrecked. But every time he took down and devoured an enemy, his power was restored. Still, the speed at which he burned energy was higher than what he recovered. He was losing, little by little.

It was just a matter of time before he fell.

But he didn't back down. Didn't feel fear.

It was win or die.

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Luckily, that white power seemed to keep even his mind intact, stopping him from breaking down.

On the third day.

He finally reached balance. With every hit he took, he healed at the same speed he absorbed and restored energy.

From a clumsy amateur, he became a mediocre fighter. But by failing and learning, through pain and sheer will, he was improving.

On the fourth day.

"Nnh... aaagh..."

The leader collapsed, dead.

Darian's eyes widened.

He turned abruptly, ready to dodge and counterattack... but there was no one else attacking.

The silence wrapped around him like a punch to the chest.

"I... I won?"

He stood there, unsure of how to react. Four days of nonstop massacre, tension, and pain.

Now, he finally understood his power a little better. Every enemy he absorbed, 99% of the energy that flowed was white, but 1% was black.

They were absolute opposites. And he knew he was just scratching the surface of what that really meant.

But one thing was clear: as long as he had this power, he was practically invincible. And his offensive potential was terrifying.

Then, a troubling thought hit him.

"Wait... Does this mean I have to fight the strongest, most terrifying creatures to get stronger?"

The feeling was awful. He was completely different from everyone else. Could he even grow stronger like them?

What if the only way to evolve was to throw himself against the worst monsters in the world, putting himself in mortal danger nonstop?

"... It's too early to say that... maybe there are others like me... maybe it's normal..."

Then, a chill ran down his spine.

The test.

He had forgotten about the test.

"How am I supposed to pass the test if I already have the blessing?"

The thought caught him off guard, but after a few seconds, he just scoffed.

"Well, fuck it. The instructor said I'd return to Earth in thirty days. I'm already in this training universe... so I'll train."

A grin spread across his face. He never wanted to be the weakling running while others protected him again. If he had a power like this, then he was going to use it to the fullest.

Darian closed his eyes, focusing.

Soon, he sensed massive clusters of karma in several directions. When he opened his eyes again, the same overwhelming hunger from before surged. But this time, he smiled.

Now, he was happy to feed it.

***

Fifteen days passed in the test.

Darian threw himself into training.

He fought. Hunted. Devoured.

Sought stronger enemies. Took down two leaders similar to the first. His control over his power grew with every battle.

He was beginning to understand the limits... and how to surpass them.

Then—

**ROAR!!!**

A deafening roar tore through the air.

Darian's eyes widened as he turned toward a distant mountain...

No, it wasn't a mountain.

It was something alive. Something colossal. And it was looking at him.

The air around him trembled. An overwhelming force, infinitely greater than anything he had faced, hit him like an invisible wall pressing down on him.

He froze.

He couldn't circulate his power.

He couldn't move.

His mistake became clear in that instant.

Darian got cocky and had already started seeking stronger prey. He got reckless, once again thinking he was some kind of superhero or ultimate predator. He hunted and devoured, going deeper and deeper into enemy territory. The result?

*RUMBLE!*

The space around him distorted.

And then—

His soul exploded.