Poison coursed through Teresa's veins as she pummeled the Dread Arachnid to the ground, <Sturdy Outer Shell> coating her body as she got some experience for a few skills simultaneously. Jake and a few gorillas had brought back a small pack of level 20 monsters. They closely resembled massive spiders with a rocky coat covering their flesh, black light pulsing beneath the brown stone. This was exactly what <Purify> needed, the skill leveled up repeatedly from the short encounter. As soon as a bit of combat experience pushed it over the leveling threshold, a tidal wave of experience filled it back up to 99% again from her practice curing cancer.

Skill Level Up!

<Purify: lv 5>

Type: Restoration Magic

Channel Mana to your touch and convert it into a healing energy. Use this energy to slowly destroy toxins at a similar level or weaker.

----->

<Purify: lv 8>

Type: Restoration Magic

Channel Mana to your touch and convert it into a healing energy. Use this energy to slowly destroy toxins at a similar level or weaker. Gain a moderate boost to efficiency and efficacy when used to destroy radiation and its symptoms.

The new description of the skill heavily implied the cancer had been caused by radiation. Why else would it mention radiation? As a result of her skills leveling up, she didn't need to spend nearly as long on each gorilla. Healing Daisy had drained all of her Mana, but now she could help three or even four gorillas before running out. Additionally, it took only around 10 minutes per gorilla, depending on how bad their symptoms were.

As a result, between healing and regenerating Mana Teresa got through the vast majority of gorillas within six hours. It was late at night by this point, and there were still a few left. Teresa had needed to skip a few gorillas who had problems she wasn't sure she could solve.

They had brain tumors.

Teresa had barely ever healed brain damage. She wasn't even sure if she could, at the very least not at this level. Restoration Magic had been able to heal a concussion in the past, but that had only happened once. This was something much more extreme, she would have to gradually destroy their brain cells and use magic to replace them. For all she knew, this could kill the gorillas. Even if it worked, would they still be the same? Teresa wasn't a neurologist, she knew jack shit about the brain on such a level. Would healing the damage back recover the information that had been lost?

They all had damage in differing parts of the brain. Some only had a small tumor that would gradually worsen, while others were left completely incapable due to their condition. The idea of even trying was nerve racking, she knew damn well that she could very easily kill them by accident. Sure, they would probably die without her help, but that didn't change the fact that trying to help could result in their deaths. If Teresa was purely a logical computer, then this would be an extremely easy choice. Unfortunately, Teresa had already felt what it was like to kill. Hell, sometimes the choice was so easy it was automatic. This was different, this was having someone's life in her hands.

She had felt the same way with Sarah for a long time in the Tutorial, but there had been a clear cut path to success. Get stronger, improve her healing, and eventually she would be able to save Sarah. Now, she wasn't sure what it would take or if it was possible.

Is there anything you need for these four? Gary asked, approaching as he saw her hesitance.

"I don't know if I can heal them." Teresa replied back in a hushed whisper. "If I try, it might end up killing them. Even if it works, I don't know if they'll be the same afterwards."

Your hesitation is unexpected. Gary said. Teresa wasn't sure what emotion was on his face, she couldn't read him. The only way to guarantee their deaths is to do nothing.

"I know, I know, believe me. I left them for last so my skills would be as high level as possible, but it doesn't make it any less stressful. Now I'm exhausted, what if I make a mistake because of that? Maybe I should have healed them first, but then that wouldn't make perfect sense either. I don't know, I can't figure out how to put it into words." Teresa told him.

The choice is between letting them die on their own, or attempting to save them knowing you could possibly kill them yourself. Gary signed. The answer should be obvious, but I understand. It is not easy making a choice that could result in someone's death, even knowing it is the best choice available. I have learned this the hard way over the last few days, and it's not as simple as it should be.

"No, it's not." Teresa said. Of course she was going to try, but she had to work the nerve up to do it. "Maybe we should wait until morning."

I am not sure they will be alive by then. Gary told her. That is a risk in and of itself. If you are to do anything, I would advise doing it soon. I will admit, I am surprised the one who tore Jacob's arm off is capable of showing this much concern over another.

"Is that the gorilla that tried to kill me ages ago?" Teresa asked. It had only been a week really, but so much had happened it may as well have been a long time. "That was different, it was self defense. I had to make an example out of him, or else we might have had worse casualties in the long run."

It is likely you are correct, Jacob's behavior cannot be excused. Unfortunately, he will not be able to atone for his actions, as he is no longer with us. Gary said back. These four will not have a chance without you. You have already done a lot for us, and we owe you a debt we cannot repay. I would like to hope for the best and wish you good luck, but we understand there is only so much one person can do. Do not let their lives weigh you down, you've given them a chance they would not have otherwise to survive something no gorilla has come back from.

"Thanks Gary, just give me a few minutes and I'll get to it." Teresa replied, trying to mentally prepare herself. Her first goal should be to deal with all of the damage outside of their brains, something she could do rather quickly. As a matter of fact, that was exactly what she was going to do while she thought. Teresa began funneling three types of Restoration Mana through a gorilla in particularly bad shape, taking care of her body without paying any heed to the brain yet.

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She repeated the process for the other three gorillas, until all that was left were the brain tumors. Once that was all that was left, all she had to do was regenerate Mana and quit procrastinating. Teresa hadn't used her Mana recharging staff this much in a long time, and the constant usage of her Mana resulted in her <Mana Control> getting a lot of experience.

Once she was ready, she took a deep breath and got to work. Restoration Mana from <Purify>, <Facilitated Restoration>, and <Healing Touch> all made their way up to the first gorilla's brain. She decided to take it slowly, this was bound to be incredibly risky after all. This tumor was the smallest of the bunch, giving Teresa the highest odds of success. She winced as <Purify> slowly began picking away at the cancerous brain matter, the first brain cells being obliterated by her magic. Thankfully, brain matter began to grow back along the edges of the tumor as she slowly trimmed it down.

It took a lot more Mana to heal a brain than something simple like a bone or a cut. This actually worked to Teresa's benefit, as it made going slow a given. She needed to focus more to do less, but that was fine. It was preferable actually, if the brain was healed too easily she would probably mentally freak out wondering if she messed something up. Within half an hour the first gorilla was healthy again, proving it was indeed possible.

"How are you feeling?" Teresa asked nervously.

Very tired. The gorilla responded, seeming out of it. She sat down in a daze, making Teresa worried. She was alive, but it was more than likely things weren't perfect. Teresa could tell while healing back brain matter that it wasn't exactly the same as before. Obviously the cells weren't cancerous anymore, but there seemed to be something fundamentally different that Teresa simply didn't understand. On the bright side, the gorilla was still alive. She had to take her victories as they came, focusing on only the bad was a pre-System habit she didn't want to fall back into.

She got to work again on the next gorilla, healing them just like the previous. It was time consuming and stressful, but it needed to be done. Teresa repeated the process on the third gorilla, leaving only one behind. The last gorilla had the largest tumor and the lowest odds of success. The larger the tumor, the more disoriented the gorillas were after getting healed.

Restoration Mana went through a process Teresa had become all too familiar with over the course of several hours, destroying cancerous cells while replacing them with healthy ones. Despite her exhausted state she worked flawlessly, there was nothing particularly different about healing a tumor this large.

Which was why it was shocking when the gorilla suddenly collapsed.

What the fuck? Teresa tried to keep healing the gorilla, but all of the activity in his brain had ceased. It was like she had been pushing Mana through an active city that suddenly went quiet, what the hell happened? She realized with horror that brain cells were rapidly dying at a pace she couldn't control. She canceled <Purify> and focused entirely on <Healing Touch> while being boosted by <Facilitated Restoration>, but it wasn't enough. Something Teresa had learned in the Tutorial was she couldn't heal the dead, and it appeared the gorilla's brain had suddenly died.

"I don't understand, why?" Teresa asked, panicking as she realized the gorilla was dead. Nothing had been out of the ordinary, at least Teresa didn't think so. What had gone wrong? She thought back through the entire operation, trying to pick her memories apart with extreme scrutiny. If the brain was a city, then the tumor was a massive dilapidated building. When she healed it, she broke down the building and erected new structures in its place. This was identical to the previous operations, though there was something that simply hadn't been a problem until now.

While she may have been constructing new buildings in the wreckage, the lights weren't on. It took a bit for the brain to recognize the regenerated brain matter, and the information that had once been held was lost. When healing the last gorilla, she must have overwritten something in the brain that was vital to his survival, or maybe she just did too much at once. If she had only healed the tumor in multiple batches spread across several hours, would he still be alive?

Two hands pressed against her back as Gary stood next to her, looking down at the dead gorilla with sorrow plastered across his face.

"I'm sorry, I tried, I really did." Teresa responded, her heart pounding. Someone had just died because of her. Someone she could have saved if she was more careful, if she was smarter, if she just knew more-

You did everything you could. Gary signed with his free hands. You may be powerful, but you are not a god. Do not feel ashamed, and do not apologize. Over twenty of my people have been saved by you today, twenty people who had no hope. Thank you Teresa, for doing what you could.

Teresa had no words, she didn't trust herself to speak. She didn't know how she could feel both overwhelmed and hollow at the same time, her mind was completely incapable of focusing. Maybe it was for the best that this gorilla went last, since there was no way she could use her Restoration Mana carefully in this state.

Get some sleep, or at least try. Gary signed. If you need anything, anything at all, just ask.

Teresa nodded, trying her best to control her breathing. Controlling her breathing, like it was that simple. Bullshit. How was she supposed to do that? Someone just died because of her failure. He was a gorilla, but he was just as sapient as any person was.

"I… I think I want to be alone for a little bit." Teresa said, her voice shaking. Gary nodded.

I understand. Come, this way. Gary led Teresa away from the body of the gorilla whose name Teresa still didn't know. Should she know, or would that just make things worse? Damn it, when she had gotten out of the Tutorial she had felt fantastic, at least as great as she could feel given the situation. Now she felt like she was spiraling again, was that all for nothing? It was like she took one step forward and then two steps back, it was bullshit. Even if she knew she did her best, it didn't change the end result. There was one dead gorilla that she could have saved if she was just better.

Her mind raced as she imagined what other people would say. They would all try to be comforting, some might even find it weird that she was this hung up about it, Jonathan in particular would probably call her stupid for being upset about one dead gorilla. Fuck that asshole, fuck everything. She had been so close, so fucking close to saving everyone. It didn't matter what she told herself, it didn't matter what was logical, someone had died who could have lived if Teresa had performed better.

Gary showed her to a small hut that seemed to have been recently constructed. It was just some branches with leaves and moss covering the top, along with a "bed," made of twigs and large leaves.

We don't know how to build the way you humans can, but we tried to mimic what we've seen in your settlement. Gary signed. Teresa sat down on the edge of her makeshift bed, letting out a long exhale before she laid down.

"Thanks Gary." Teresa whispered, pulling the leaves over herself. She heard the Albino Gorilla depart as he walked away, giving her some space. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to hold herself together. She had shit to do, shit that wouldn't get done if she didn't sleep. She closed her eyes and tried her best to sleep, not sure how exactly she was supposed to do that.

In the morning, she was going to have to heal humans. Hopefully it would be a lot easier than this.

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