Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 69

I’m running at full power.

Leading a monstrous giant that’s five meters in diameter.

Thump! Thump!

Each footfall sounds like a large monster stomping.

“Don’t fall behind, keep up!”

Behind me are 23 clan members and Misha, and behind them are 40 third-floor explorers who weren’t swayed by Jack Fleischer’s agitation.

The reason they’re together is simple.

[If you give up all your equipment, I’ll take you.]

McGrain, ever the rationalist, wanted to minimize any loss, and…

「The character has cast [Sacrifice Imprint].」

「The character’s physical stats temporarily increase based on the number of sacrifices within a 100m radius.」

The more sacrifices, the better.

“Behel—laaaaaaa!!”

Power surges within me.

As the power overflows, an unbearable destructive instinct takes over my body.

‘This must be because of my fighting spirit.’

Still, it’s a relief.

I don’t have to suppress this desire.

“Kyaaaaak-!”

Miniature versions of Lyakis’s clones fly in from the front.

Even though they’re called miniature, they’re still over two meters tall…

But they’re still small compared to me.

Whoosh!

I swing my mace mercilessly.

My body has grown so much that it feels like I’m swinging a spoon instead of a mace.

Well, the guy getting hit probably feels differently.

Thwack-!

A clone that got hit in the solar plexus turns to dust and disappears.

If it were the old me, I would have had to hit it several more times to kill it.

I realize how much my physical stats have been boosted.

However, the problem is…

KWAANG-!

Every time I smash one, an explosion erupts.

Not from where the clone died, but from where I’m standing.

「Lyakis’s hatred is activated.」

「The character takes significant chaos damage.」

That’s why the presence of a main tank is important in the [Gap of Evil] pattern. These self-destructing clones inflict guaranteed damage on the target that killed them.

In other words, no matter how high the damage is, whether it’s a renowned swordsman or a famous archer, they’re useless here.

KWAANG-!

The level of damage is enough to kill a weak mage in one hit.

My whole body is tingling.

Even with pain resistance, it’s this bad, so if it were the old me, I would have been screaming with every explosion.

Chiiiiiiik-!

The black liquid stuck all over my body melts away, emitting smoke.

In the worst areas, the muscles have already melted away, revealing the bones underneath.

However, there’s no problem.

I am a dark barbarian who has inherited the will of the vampire.

「Due to the passive skill [Source of Darkness], the character will not die until the heart is destroyed.」

I just need to protect my heart somehow.

Well, in my current state, it might seem like a matter of time…

Clang!

Even as I’m smashing the clones to dust and clearing the path, countless glass bottles are flying in.

Also, the priests who are hurriedly following behind are pouring out heals as much as they can.

“That was dangerous! Don’t take down too many at once!”

“Behel—laaaaaaa!!”

“If you heard me, answer me!”

No, is that even easy?

In the [Giant] state, the threat level, that is, the probability of attracting the monster’s aggro, increases depending on the size.

But for a barbarian who is already big, the increase is close to insane.

It’s practically a constant taunt mode.

The fact that the explorers following behind can move comfortably is all thanks to this.

Because they’re all flocking to me.

“Hey!! Can you hear m—”

“I can hear you.”

Still, as McGrain advised, I adjusted my pace, and Misha’s brother and another melee warrior right behind me blew up the clones.

However…

“Priest! What are the priests doing! H-Hurry and heal!”

It’s not very reliable to see them making such a fuss after taking down only two or three.

I don’t like that the priest’s heals are being scattered.

Above all, if I adjust my pace, I can’t maximize the passive effect.

「The character’s health is below 50%.」

「Due to the passive skill [Path of the Hero], all resistance and tolerance stats increase.」

The Orc Hero’s passive skill [Path of the Hero].

This skill, which activates when health is below half, increases all types of defense stats.

And according to my research…

‘The maximum effect was applied when it was below 20%.’

The reason I needed the Orc Hero essence in the first place was because of this.

No matter what color the essence is, the passive is the same.

“Okay, both of you go to the back.”

“What? I can still do—”

Come on, where does a damage dealer try to imitate the role of a tank?

“Something might appear from behind too.”

Soon, I persuaded the two damage dealers with kind words and sent them to the rear.

McGrain, who was watching from behind, didn’t say anything this time.

He just shouted this.

“There are only 10 minutes left. The future is important, so please hold on a little longer.”

Yeah, just cheer from there.

***

5th-grade explorer, Taylon Calstein.

As he retreats from the front lines, a middle-aged man speaks to him.

“Oh, are you here now?”

“Yes, Hernecion-nim.”

When Taylon nods, the face of Anton Hernecion, the mage of the regular 7th team he belongs to, brightens.

“Yes, the vice-captain made a good decision. We need to pay attention to this side too, in case something appears from behind. Don’t you think so?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

Taylon swallowed his bitter feelings and answered weakly.

And as if to avoid the conversation, he turned his gaze.

At the end of his gaze was a barbarian.

“Behel—laaaaaaa!!”

Monsters swarming endlessly from the darkness.

And a barbarian, more monstrous than those monsters, shouting and swinging his mace.

KWAANG-!

Taylon bit his lip as he listened to the sound of explosions, which was already countless times, making it meaningless to count.

Crunch-

The vice-captain made a good decision?

What if something appears from behind?

He felt disgusted with himself for nodding his head, pretending not to know the answer.

‘Damn it.’

The truth was simple.

In the first place, it wasn’t even the vice-captain who told them to retreat. It was that barbarian.

The half-wit brother was in, the half-baked mage who was worthy of that brother was there, and he couldn’t say anything when he was told to get out of the way…

The barbarian who was only considered a mere warrior of that team.

[Something might appear from behind too.]

Taylon couldn’t say anything to that, without even looking back.

No, he didn’t want to.

It was a short time, but he thought it was something a person shouldn’t do.

KWAANG-!

The moment he swings his weapon, terrible pain returns immediately.

No matter how nimble he is, he can’t avoid it.

The problem is that this fact makes his body sluggish.

Even though he has to swing his weapon non-stop, his hands are stiff and won’t move.

How pathetic.

“Hey, don’t worry too much. If you couldn’t feel the pain, anyone could do it.”

Did he fail to manage his expression?

The man next to him said, as if comforting him.

One of the two remaining warriors who had retreated from the front lines with him.

“I heard that essences with pain resistance are mostly not well-regarded, but if this kind of tactic is possible, it needs to be re-evaluated.”

He kept his mouth shut despite the man’s comfort.

Because he thought so himself at first.

Pouring potions like that is only possible with pain resistance, and in the first place, that barbarian and he have different roles.

They are both warriors fighting on the front lines, but…

His role is not to endure with his body and buy time, but to aim for a gap and stab the enemy’s neck.

KWAANG-!

So it’s a natural result.

There’s no need to feel self-loathing.

Yes, that’s what he thought.

But…

“Behel—laaaaaaa!”

The more he watches that large back, the more questions arise.

‘How can he not hesitate in that state…?’

The flesh engulfed in the explosion flows down like water.

The rushing beasts bite at the exposed bones with their teeth.

But even in the midst of that, the barbarian swings his weapon accurately without the slightest hesitation.

Unlike himself, whose body had stiffened.

He is doing what he has to do without stopping.

‘But is this something anyone can do?’

There’s no way.

In the first place, I heard that even with pain resistance, you don’t completely lose the feeling of pain…

Even if that’s not the case.

“They say there’s no one as brave as a barbarian, and that’s true.”

“He looks like he doesn’t even know what death is.”

Having potions, priests, and vampire essence doesn’t make you invincible.

As a famous explorer said.

There is no one who does not die in the labyrinth.

This is the same for that barbarian.

‘There’s no point in denying it anymore.’

Ironically, acknowledging it made his heart lighter. Doing his job silently in a life-threatening situation.

How many people can’t even do this simple thing?

What that barbarian is doing now is definitely not something anyone can do.

As you can see from the changed reactions around him.

“The vice-captain’s insight is truly amazing. I didn’t expect him to do so well on that mission.”

“Does anyone know what that guy’s name is? Someone like that must be somewhat known…”

“What happened to the conversation with the vice-captain earlier? If someone like that joins the clan, it would be very reassuring…”

Even if they don’t know the details like pain resistance, they can’t help but feel it when they see it.

That barbarian saved them.

“It’s terrifying to think what situation we would have been in if he hadn’t been there.”

“Was it Miss Misha? What is that guy’s identity?”

“Uh, I don’t know…”

Someone asked the half-wit brother, but unfortunately, they couldn’t get a proper answer.

But listening to the mutterings of the mage, Hernecion, next to him, he thought.

“If Balkan, who was called the hero of the barbarian tribe, came back to life, he would look just like that…”

There’s no need to wonder what that barbarian’s name is yet.

“It’s the end! I can see the end!!”

“Speed up!”

Soon, everyone will know.

***

「The field effect [Gap of Evil] disappears.」

***

The moment I escaped from the darkness.

Whoooosh—!

A roar like a storm erupts.

And at the same time, a dark red beam shoots from the ceiling towards the center of the darkness.

KWAANG—!!

A scene that resembles the end of the world.

McGrain muttered as he watched this.

“That was close.”

“I agree.”

Beyond the darkness that had disappeared like fog, nothing remained.

In the place where the orc colony was, only the traces of the destroyed land remained.

The head heated by the excitement of the battle cools down.

Maybe if I had been a little late in getting out…

‘[Source of Darkness] or whatever, I would have died on the spot.’

In fact, it was ridiculous to end it with the word ‘close’.

At the end, my spirit power, that is, my MP, ran out and [Giant] was cut off, and the explorers who went to the other side all died, so the clones started to swarm like a tidal wave.

It was a miracle that we escaped in time.

Even so, not everything is over yet.

‘No, rather, the real praying should start now.’

I quickly checked the number of survivors.

There were exactly 30.

This is because many of the explorers who followed in exchange for equipment died at the end.

‘So, the probability is 1 out of 30. No, if you add Misha, it’s 1 out of 15…’

It’s low, but it’s a probability that’s hard to be relieved about.

I didn’t relax and watched the changes in others.

It was then.

“B-Bjorn…?”

Misha’s voice is heard from the side.

A somewhat flustered voice.

“F-For some reason, my body won’t move…”

When I turned my head to look at Misha, she was stiff.

「Misha Calstein has been designated as [Prey].」

「Misha Calstein is incapacitated.」

Shit, is this for real?

McGrain let out an unknown exclamation.

“Amazing. I didn’t expect that to come from your side.”

“W-Why are you all looking at me like that…?”

There’s no time to explain in detail.

I asked, just in case.

Looking directly into Misha’s brother’s eyes.

“Do you have any intention of taking her with you?”

“T-That’s…”

“I don’t think that’s possible. We can’t afford any more sacrifices.”

McGrain draws a firm line, instead of the brother who is having a hard time answering.

However, I asked again.

“Is that what you think too? No matter what your relationship is, she’s still your sister, are you going to let her die like this?”

“B-Bjorn… I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m okay, so stop…”

What do you mean okay?

Your life is at stake.

“So, what’s your answer?”

When I asked strongly again, he looked at McGrain and answered briefly.

“To me… this side is more important than family.”

Bullshit, it’s because you don’t think of her as family.

Anyway, he’s a guy I don’t like until the end.

“I’ve wasted precious time.”

I muttered and picked up the log-like Misha and tied her with a cloth.

And I quickly checked the time.

[23:45]

The time left until the labyrinth closes is about 15 minutes.

A time that can be short or long.

「The Chaos Lord Lyakis awakens.」

It seems like the longest 15 minutes of my life are about to begin.