Endless Evolution As A Skeleton In A Game-Like World
Chapter 24: [24] Fire Is The Only Way

Chapter 24: [24] Fire Is The Only Way

[Harvest Failed!]

Ark took a deep breath as he stared at the text. For whatever reason, it seemed more ominous than it normally did.

’This damn bastard. Is he still fighting to make sure Soo-jin dies even while dead?’

Of course, there was no way to know if the person’s will could affect his extraction, but strong wills had a way to manifest themselves even after death...

And Nolan’s bitterness towards Soo-jin must have been extremely strong. If not, he wouldn’t have risked his life by stabbing her in the back.

’You’re going to give me what I need, whether you like it or not!’

Ark grabbed his shirt tightly and activated the skill once more. The notification was normally instant, but this time Ark felt like it dragged on for far too long.

And then finally...

[Harvest successful! You have successfully received 2x health potion (F-Rank)]

But that was not all...

[Harvest successful! You have successfully received D-Rank skill, Serpent Spear Form!]

Although Ark should have been happy to have received a skill which seemed rather useful, he felt disgusted instead.

Nolan had such a useful skill, and he still couldn’t do anything during the battle? It was pitiful to think about.

Olivia who had been watching him by the side was speechless. Apart from the health potion Soo-jin gave him, he was meant to have none.

How then did he get not just one, but two? And why was he so interested in Nolan’s body?

Isabella was too out of it to notice, her eyes were locked on Soo-jin, her entire focus on trying to stop the bleeding.

’Will this work?’ Olivia felt her heart tightened. F-ranked potions were good at healing minor wounds, but when it came to more severe injuries they were basically useless.

All they would do was increase their suffering before they died...

’If only we had a healer...’ If a healer was here instead of her, then maybe they wouldn’t be in this mess? Once again, she was pulling her party back.

"Well done Olivia, you can step back now." Ark said. Olivia moved to the side and Ark took her spot.

He placed three bottles of health potion on the floor, two of which he had gotten from Nolan, and the last which Soo-jin gave him.

Then he placed his hands on the three of them and activated his ability.

[Harvest successful! You have successfully removed impurities from Health Potion (F-Rank)]

Health potion (F-Rank) >> Health Potion (D-Rank)

The dark red colour of the potion immediately transformed into a lighter shade, while Ark’s hands became coated with a thick oily substance which he wiped away on his cloth.

’Thank God it worked...’

If he was not able to upgrade the potion, then things would have been far more difficult. Although he had not expected it to move up an entire rank, he was more than happy to accept it.

Olivia stared at him with stunned silence. It was clear she had a lot of questions to ask, but she held herself back, and Ark appreciated her restraint.

Now was not the time.

He raised his hands and his fingers were suddenly engulfed by fire. "Lift her up, Olivia, and hold her arms tightly." He said in a cold tone.

Olivia did as she told, she lifted Soo-jin’s unconscious self in a way that allowed Ark see the wound, then she held her arms tightly.

Finally, he placed a piece of wood wrapped up in cloth between her teeth.

"W-what are you going to do?" Isabella stuttered, her eyes growing wide.

"You already know." They could not fully rely on potions, they had to give the potion something to work with.

They had to seal the wound...

Isabella’s expression fell and she stared at the floor. Then without a moment of hesitation, Ark placed his flaming hand right against the wound.

Shhhhh—!

Soo-jin’s eyes snapped wide open, her body tensed and she thrashed around, but Olivia managed to hold her in place.

"AHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed at the top of her voice, shivers running through her body as she struggled.

She was far stronger than the orange haired girl, but her health was well below fifty percent, meaning her stats were severely affected. It was a miracle that she was even awake.

"I’m on fire... I’m... I’m on fire! Mom... please, please no!" She stuttered in between cries.

Ark’s expression darkened. ’What is she talking about? Why was she calling her mother?’

The Soo-jin Ark knew would have swallowed any kind of pain, yet she seemed to have an aversion to fire, one so strong that although she was not fully conscious, she was trying to flee for her life.

’What happened in her past?’

He glanced at Isabella, but she avoided his gaze the moment their eyes met.

Watching Soo-jin act so terrified made Ark feel terrible. But no matter how much she tried to escape, no matter how much she begged people that were not here, he had to continue.

For her sake.

Ark passed his finger over her back like a hot knife on rubber, burning the wound closed.

But as he was working, Soo-lin’s tail suddenly launched into the air, and then came down like a spear right towards them, one for each person.

It was just moments away from reaching them when Ark screamed out her name. "Soo-jin! Snap out of it!"

The tail froze just inches away from their skulls, the fur so tightly packed that it could likely puncture steel.

It was then Soo-jin seemed to wake up from whatever fever dream she was having. Her eyes that had once been hazy now focused on him as he soothed her back with his other hand.

He had paused his work to give her a moment of respite.

"Ark?" She was breathing heavily and trembling all over.

"We need to close your wound, Soo-jin. It is going to hurt like hell, but this is the only way to keep you alive."

He paused for a few seconds.

"Our only option is fire."

Soo-jin stared at him for a few seconds. Her true feelings were usually hidden behind a mask of indifference, but now he could see just how conflicted, afraid, and worried she was.

All because of the fire flickering in Ark’s palms.

But after a short time, she steeled her expression and turned her back to him. "Do it."

Those two words carried more weight than they normally would have. For someone clearly afraid of fire to allow someone to burn them, it showed that at least to some degree, she trusted him.

Ark nodded and once again placed his flaming fingers on her back. She held herself for a few seconds, before a muffled cry escaped her lips, and the shaking began once more.

But throughout everything, not once did she tell him to stop...