Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 33

“Bjorn.”

At the moment Ainar called my name, the sun, hidden behind the red clouds, completely dipped below the horizon. Simultaneously, a man with pale skin appeared, bathed in the red moonlight.

“How peculiar, truly peculiar….”

He glanced around the ruined city, then fixed his gaze on us.

“Looking at you makes my bloodlust boil; I can’t stand it. Do you happen to know why?”

Why, well…

There’s no way we’d know.

And I don’t particularly want to know either.

I answered nonchalantly.

“If you give me a moment to think, I might remember.”

A judgment that even a minute would be good to buy time.

However, at the same time as my answer, the guy’s eyes lit up.

“But… it’s an unbearable desire. Kehehehe.”

Honestly, it was a bit absurd.

I never thought a vampire bastard would act like a know-it-all.

“Kehehe, keh! KHAHAAHAA!!”

The vampire, who had been giggling like he was possessed in front of several people, suddenly turned serious….

“KYAAAAAAK!”

He let out a roar that sounded like it came from some alien creature.

Clang-!

The vampire’s main weapon, his claws, were already extended, making a sharp sound.

His eyes were now filled with madness, emitting a blood-red glow.

‘This is just like the game again.’

Come to think of it, it was like this in the game too.

No matter how intelligent and capable of communication they were, the only real conversation was a few lines like an intro.

“I’m used to this level of fear.”

The murderous intent emanating from the 5th-grade monster was enough to make my skin crawl, but surprisingly, the dwarf was fine.

“Everyone, step back!”

I was a little impressed.

He only showed a pathetic side with the corpse golem, but is he still a 3-year veteran explorer?

At the same time as the vampire’s figure disappeared, the dwarf stepped forward and raised his buckler.

Kwa kwa kwang!

A roar and a dust storm swirled around us.

The power was clearly felt even a few steps back, but….

“Hahaha! It’s heavy indeed!”

The dwarf didn’t budge an inch.

It wasn’t that his stats overwhelmed the vampire…

It was all thanks to the essence.

「Hicurod Murad has cast [Balancing Weight].」

The ability of the 7th-grade monster ‘Aiantro’.

A ‘knockback immunity’ skill that prevents you from falling or being pushed back as long as your feet are on the ground.

The additional option is shock absorption.

“Tarjin, you stay back!”

As the battle began, I gave the order.

But, there was no answer.

When I glanced over, the carrier was already far away, holding the mage.

It was definitely a good thing, but why do I feel resentful?

I decided to think about the feelings I felt later and shouted.

“Ainar!”

“I’ll take the right!”

We’ve worked together so much that I can tell what he wants just by looking at his eyes.

I nodded briefly, took the left side of the vampire, and charged at the same time as Ainar.

“KYAAAK!”

The vampire, still retaining some battle intelligence, retreated.

At the same time, the dwarf’s buckler, which had been half-crushed, was restored to its original state as if time had reversed.

It wasn’t that the buckler had such a function…

「Hicurod Murad has cast [Emergency Restoration].」

The ability of the Living Armor.

It not only saves on equipment costs but also greatly increases its performance when a magic tool is equipped later.

The dwarf, who had finished repairing in an instant, shouted.

“I’ll take the front; you guys help from the side!”

There was no objection.

It was only because it was the dwarf that he could hold out for a few seconds. To be blunt, I’m the least helpful here.

Ainar at least consumed an essence this time, but I have nothing except the ‘Undying Mark’ I paid for.

Well, I guess I’ll be helpful as a meat shield.

“KYAAAAAK!”

At that moment, the vampire’s body, which had been watching us from afar, split into hundreds of crows.

The flock of crows flapped their wings and flew towards us at high speed.

“Get as far away as possible!”

The crows that flew towards us exploded as they hit the ground.

Kwa kwa kwang! Kwang! Kwa kwang!

The explosive power itself wasn’t great.

However, it was impossible to avoid the blood splattering everywhere.

‘Damn it.’

Of course, it’s not like the blood has acidic substances mixed in like the corpse golem…

Considering the follow-up attacks, this is more troublesome.

“B, Bjorn! What the heck is this!”

Red tattoos were engraved on our foreheads, soaked in blood, and then a clear light scattered.

「The character has been designated as a sacrifice.」

「The physical abilities of the Vampire Duke Cambormier are temporarily increased by the number of sacrifices within a 100m radius.」

Ignoring the game log that somehow popped into my head, I gritted my teeth.

The vampire’s figure was slowly regenerating among the puddles of blood left by the exploding crows.

He’s buffed now, so it’ll be even more difficult to deal with.

‘Has it been 3 minutes now?’

It’s still a long way to go before the preparations are complete.

Can we really hold out until then?

I shook my head.

There’s no point in worrying about whether we can or not.

“Behel—RAAAAAAAA!!”

We have to hold out.

With the stubborn barbarian spirit.

***

Buff-type skill ‘Sacrifice Mark’.

‘Eternal Life’, which greatly increases regeneration in proportion to lost health.

‘Master of Blood’, which absorbs a portion of the target’s abilities when directly sucking blood.

The three active skills of the vampire each show tremendous power in melee combat.

The problem is, that’s not all.

This insatiable bastard also uses various black magic spells.

“Bjorn, more crows are flying!”

Transforming into crows and exploding, turning into smoke to avoid swords, summoning monsters using scattered blood, etc.

The vampire bastard showed the fraudulent specs of a high-grade monster.

‘That’s why everyone gives up the game without even reaching the 6th floor.’

I realized the insane difficulty of [Dungeon & Stone] again and raised my shield.

The shield was already torn and dented by claws, almost scrap metal…

But it’s better than nothing.

Clack-!

I used the recoil to bounce back and absorb as much impact as possible.

A trick I naturally learned while fighting an enemy who overwhelms in every aspect: strength, speed, and skills.

[Please hold on for 5 more minutes!]

Then, Raven’s voice echoed in my head.

I wondered if the time would have been shortened a bit if she had saved the magic power to send a whisper…

But still, hearing the hopeful news made me feel a little better—

“Hicurod is down!”

—Never mind.

The dwarf, who had been closely marking the vampire, showing the experience of a 3-year veteran explorer, collapsed.

Although Ainar, who was nearby, rushed in and prevented the vampire from sucking the dwarf’s blood…

「Hicurod Murad has fallen into a [Combat Incapacitated] state.」

The tide of the battle turned in an instant.

Both Ainar and I were already battered.

It was almost impossible for the two of us to hold out without the dwarf, who had accounted for more than 50% of the battle.

‘Then, I’d rather…’

I made a quick decision.

“Ainar! Take Murad and fall back!”

“But….”

“I’ll hold this guy off!”

“A, alright!”

The moment Ainar slung Murad over his shoulder, I dashed forward and swung my mace.

Thwack!

A valid hit after a long time.

“AACK!!”

My brain throbbed from the recoil of the successful attack.

It’s all because this crazy bastard is a superior variant.

「Vampire Duke Cambormier has cast [Pain Sharing].」

Moreover, he completely recovered from his injuries just by taking a step back and catching his breath.

Damn it, I still have pain left.

What kind of crazy bastard is this?

“KYAAAAAAK!”

Still, the aggro was drawn to me as I wanted.

I habitually checked once again that the item hidden in my boots was safe.

The item name is ‘Tears of the Goddess’.

In short, it’s a holy object.

It’s disposable, but it can be used for healing and also for attacking against evil-attribute monsters.

‘…Should I use this now?’

Of course, I don’t mind using it.

No matter how much of a ‘top-tier’ item it is, it’s a special item that can only be used in the ‘Crimson Fortress’.

If I use it on the dwarf, his combat power will be restored immediately, and if I use it on the vampire, it will inflict considerable damage.

But…

‘No.’

I ended the meaningless worry.

What was the reason I’ve been stubbornly defending all this time?

One attack is enough.

No, more than that would be a minus for us.

The opportunity is only once.

We have to pour everything into that one moment.

That’s the only way for the five of us to hunt down a 5th-grade monster.

Click.

I took out a potion from my waist and opened the cap.

And the moment I poured the potion into my mouth, looking at the vampire rushing towards me.

Chiiiiiiik!

The countless minor injuries accumulated during the battle were healed, and the pain surged like a tidal wave.

My hands lost strength, and I felt like I was about to collapse. It was impossible to fight after drinking a potion, but…

‘It doesn’t matter.’

What I’m about to do now isn’t a fight.

Thwack!

The vampire’s claws pierced my abdomen.

As if this level of plate armor was useless, it went in very deep.

“……!”

The nerves that felt the threat to life sent pain signals to the brain like crazy.

My mind went blank as if it was overloaded.

‘Damn, if I knew this would happen, I should have just eaten the corpse golem essence back then.’

With belated regret, I poured another potion into my mouth.

Chiiiiiiik!

The healing effects of the Undying Mark and the potion overlapped, and the injuries healed quickly.

“KYAAK—”

Looking at the vampire bastard who was startled as if he didn’t understand the current situation, I muttered.

To be honest.

It feels like I’m going to die from the pain, but…

“Behel—rada, you son of a bitch…”

Pain can’t kill me.

The fact that I’m still alive is proof of that.

***

“What on earth is that man doing…!”

Raven, who was hiding behind the rubble far away, watching the situation, couldn’t help but be shocked.

She had seen many explorers’ bizarre strategies and hunting methods through books, but there was nothing like this.

Just drinking potions and holding out?

“T, there’s no way he can succeed. H, he’s going to die!”

It doesn’t make sense logically.

She knows because she’s tried potions a few times.

The pain is beyond imagination, and the degree of pain increases depending on the severity of the injury.

But what about that barbarian right now?

Chiiiiiiiiik!

It’s not just bubbles boiling and steam rising, but smoke is actually billowing over his body.

This was a phenomenon she had never seen before.

In this state, it wouldn’t be strange if he died from shock, not just from the injuries.

In fact, there are many cases of people dying from taking potions, so it’s not uncommon.

“Huh?”

Then, her eyes widened as she was stamping her feet.

The pain that the barbarian was feeling right now was something she couldn’t even imagine.

But at least one thing was certain.

He shouldn’t even be able to move in that state.

But, what the heck is this?

Clack-!

He blocked it.

In a situation where he was lying on the floor.

With a shield that was now a lump of scrap metal.

The barbarian blocked the vampire’s claws that were stabbing down from above.

As if to prove that it wasn’t just a lucky hit from struggling.

Clack-!

Several times in a row.

Of course, it’s not like he blocked every attack. Even now, his whole body is being slashed by the claws that are being swung indiscriminately.

But…

Clack!

He blocks attacks aimed at critical points like the head or heart by instinctively putting up his shield.

‘Is this even possible…?’

Whether he was avoiding them accurately in the pain with superhuman concentration, or whether it was just the battle instinct left in his body that made it possible, she couldn’t tell.

However, a document she had read a long time ago suddenly came to mind.

The true value of a barbarian lies not in their excellent physical abilities, but in their mental strength?

‘I think I understand what that means now….’

“Raven, it would be best if you got out of here now.”

Then, Tarjin, who had been watching the battle with her, opened his mouth in a heavy voice.

He said to get out, but in reality, it meant to abandon them and run away.

“I’m not sure if I can protect you if things continue like this. This place is that dangerous.”

Really, I was speechless.

‘Who do you think doesn’t know that and is staying here?’

She would have already done that if she could.

She was often told that she had a soft heart for a mage, but even so, she wasn’t naive enough to risk her life for explorers she had just met.

But…

“Are you out of your mind? Get out? Where to?”

There’s nowhere to run.

The only way to get out of the rift is to defeat the ‘Guardian’ and go through the portal.

‘…Knowing that, that man is probably so desperate.’

It felt like I was suddenly awakened.

Even a barbarian who had just finished his coming-of-age ceremony was making a cold judgment and doing the best he could in the current situation…

What the heck am I, a mage, doing right now?

“If Bjorn dies, it’s over. We have to save him somehow.”

Originally, mages are not just beings who shoot high-powered magic from behind.

Analyzing the situation calmly through knowledge in various fields and presenting the most efficient way for the team is also one of the mage’s jobs.

“…….”

Raven re-examined the current situation.

The 3-year veteran dwarf warrior is incapacitated.

The female barbarian is giving him potions to help him recover.

So far, there’s no problem, but…

I, the mage, am waiting in hiding until my magic power recovers, and a human swordsman is guarding my side.

Looking at it again, it’s quite wasteful.

“Tarjin, go to Mr. Murad.”

“Yes?”

“I’m fine. At least go there and let that female barbarian join the battle.”

“…Understood.”

“Leave your backpack here.”

At the somewhat irritable tone, Tarjin didn’t even question it and followed the instructions.

She didn’t even look at his back and immediately put her hand into the subspace backpack.

‘Essence of the Corpse Golem.’

As soon as she clearly imagined the image, a test tube was in her hand.

‘It’s a bit… no, it’s a big waste, but it’s not comparable to life.’

Raven slowly raised her magic power and unfolded the spells one by one.

Whooong!

Accuracy assist.

Projectile range assist.

Automatic trajectory adjustment.

If I put a few more spells here, I wouldn’t even need to move my arm directly, but…

‘I have to save as much magic power as possible.’

Soon, she completed the spell and threw the test tube she was holding with all her might.

And…

Clang!

The test tube, which flew far away in a smooth curve, broke as it reached its target and emitted light.

…「The [Essence of the Corpse Golem] permeates the character’s soul.」

「Pain resistance +70.」

「Strength +15.」

「Bone density…」

「…….」

「…….」

.

.

.

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 2

Physical: 111.4 (New +45.4) / Mental: 95.3 (New +55.3) / Ability: 23 (New +13)

Item Level: 218

Total Combat Index: 284.2 (New +112.7)

Acquired Essence: Corpse Golem – Rank 7 (New)