Solomon woke up the next day feeling fully rejuvenated.
After having sex with the Goddess of Restoration, his body seemed to feel healed of any minor weakness or injuries he might not have noticed before.
However, the most important thing was the new feeling that he felt in his body. There seemed to be a power flowing through him that wasn't there before.
He could feel how powerful it was. The fifth stage out of ten.
Juniper's vein of restoration. She's already granted me the powers to take down Prince Godrick.
The effects of the powers were plenty, and Solomon's mind seemed to be filled with all sorts of information that wasn't there before.
There were too many capabilities to name, however, the most noticeable was the new speed at which his body would heal.
Solomon tested this by scratching a wound into his thumb. Blood spilt at first, but moments afterwards he was able to use a flowing, flowery essence to seal the wound back together.
He tested the next area by travelling to the Milf's Tavern and ordering himself a large amount of beer, drinking himself until he was sick and drunk.
However, as he focused, he was able to redirect his restoration, using it to attack the alcohol in his bloodstream, keeping him sober.
This is interesting. I assume that the same effect would have happened if I were poisoned.
The restoration vein had no direct combat abilities; however, he was able to come up with ways he could use them in a fight.
To test this... Solomon made his way over to the milf.
The busty old woman stared at him from behind the counter with her usual seductive facial expression.
"My favourite customer!" She cheered, breasts bouncing and spilling from her corset. "I hope you enjoyed your drink. What else can I do for you today?"
Solomon tried not to look at her cleavage in case it gave her any lewd ideas.
"I was wondering if there were any missions floating around the city at the moment. Perhaps bounty or monster hunting?"
"Oh no, you don't want to do that. The wine monster that you fought in my cellar was weak compared to real monsters. We don't want to ruin your handsome face."
"..."
Solomon remained silent for a few moments, keeping his face straight.
"Okay, okay." The milf said with a dismissive wave. "There is a mission that has come up in Redsham City this morning. Zombies. Something we haven't had to deal with in years!"
Zombies.
It was true that the undead existed in Altearth. If a human died under certain circumstances and wasn't properly blessed by a god, they could rise from their graves.
Solomon scratched at his chin and nodded his head.
"What are the details?"
The milf reached into her pocket and handed him a piece of paper.
It mentioned that a monster hunter was desperately needed inside the Temple of Mending. A zombie had been roaming around the building, and the temple had been offering a ten gold coin reward for whoever took it down.
Solomon placed the note into his pocket and rose from his feet.
"Y-you can't seriously be thinking about taking on the zombie?" The milf asked.
"That's exactly what I'm thinking about doing."
...
With his sword sheathed at his waist, Solomon arrived at the huge doors of the temple.
Outside he spotted a man dressed in white robes. His face was wrinkled and he had a necklace with a heart symbol around his neck.
As he spotted the tall, handsome man with a sword approaching, he instantly bowed his head in respect.
"Are you a monster hunter coming to take on our request?" The religious man asked with hope in his eyes.
"I am. I hope I wasn't too late?"
"N-no, you're the first to arrive, so thank you deeply. May the goddess bless you for your kindness."
Solomon tried to hide his smile.
The goddess has blessed me in more ways than you can imagine.
The robed man stepped towards the door and prepared to open it. From behind it, Solomon thought he could hear mumbled groans in the distance.
"The zombie was a devout worshiper of Goddess Juniper. Please be careful when fighting against them. Though you're the hunter of course, I'm sure you know what you're doing."
And with that, the door was swung open and Solomon hurried inside, drawing his sword.
As the door closed behind him, he was left in the large hall of the temple. Sun beamed from the glass roofs, shining on the stage where a singular figure stood.
It was a woman, if she could still be called that. Her skin was ghastly pale, and bits of flesh hung in bloody messes.
She wore white robes, just like the man outside, as well as a veil to cover her hair.
Around her neck was the heart pendant, which she clutched onto as she sang.
Her voice was disgusting, but the melody was clearly a song dedicated to the goddess.
Solomon found himself cringing with disgust. Such a sight shouldn't exist.
He twirled his sword in his hand.
Don't worry. I'll put you to rest soon.
Wasting no time, he dashed towards the stage where the zombie stood. Her eyes landed on him, and she growled fiercely, leaping from the stage.
The two were charging towards each other. However, the zombie was clumsy and slow.
Solomon stepped into range and swung his sword in an upward arc, claiming the zombie's left arm and sending it flying into the air.
"Grahhh!" The beast roared.
Then suddenly, its wound started to glow. Flowers began to sprout from the stump as the zombie used the powers of restoration to try and heal her missing arm.
Solomon wouldn't allow that to happen.
He reached out his hand and accessed his restoration vein.
His abilities allowed him not only to heal himself inwardly, but also to outwardly direct them towards others.
Magically, rose's fluttered from his palm, latching onto the zombie's arm. He pumped the roses full of restoration power, creating an effect he called Flesh Bloom.
Otherwise known as Hyper Restoration.
The zombie's wound started to heal at a rate that she couldn't control. Tumours, bones and muscles began to grow from her body in disgusting, bubbly proportions.
"ARGH!" The zombie growled louder, staring down at her new, twisted limb in disbelief.
May the goddess allow your soul to rest.
Eventually, her body couldn't take it anymore. The limb exploded, sending bloody bits flying everywhere.
Bits of bone shot outward, puncturing the zombie's soft skull and into her brain.
Then, she fell to her face onto the ground.
Once again, the religious woman had lost her life, but at least it was to the very powers of her beloved goddess.