Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 299

Suddenly, memories of the first day came rushing back.

[An ‘evil spirit’ has taken root in the soul of Orum, son of Kadua.]

That day, the tribal chief beheaded an unknown player right next to me with a terrifying axe, and from that moment, my struggle for survival began.

Of course, I didn’t know it at the time.

The whole world felt like my enemy, and I had to be wary of everyone I met.

[I thought they were NPCs. If I had known, I would never have done that.]

Just like Zensia, who saw everyone as NPCs.

I didn’t have the luxury to understand their hatred back then either.

But…

Clench-

Now, I can accept it.

[It was you…]

The pity in the tribal chief’s eyes as he looked at ‘Orum, son of Kadua’ was sorrow.

[Isn’t it disgusting? An evil spirit pretending to be human.]

The anger of the citizens gathered in the square when the evil spirit was executed was anxiety.

Of course, it’s understandable.

One day, suddenly, an evil spirit takes over the body of a loved one, turning them into a completely different being.

Is there anything more terrifying than that?

It’s natural to be hated.

Even for me, if an evil spirit possessed Misha, Raven, Bear Uncle, Erwen, or Ainar, I would feel suffocated.

“Bjorn, it’s almost time.”

“…It’s already that time. Understood.”

I, who had been resting in a corner, slowly got up.

The feeling of a stone weighing on my heart was still there.

However…

‘What’s the point of fussing now? Nothing changes even if I do this.’

In the end, emotions are just emotions.

Right, so.

Crunch.

Let’s quickly finish what needs to be done and get out of here.

***

Clatter.

When the time came, the stone door, which wouldn’t budge no matter how hard we pushed, opened, and we resumed exploring the rift.

White-armored guardians, green-armored explorers, silver-thread prophets, and so on.

New types of monsters appeared in each room, and experience points continued to accumulate.

And occasionally, essences were dropped.

But, had we not memorized all the hundred or so essences that could be obtained from the White Temple?

“Could you perhaps tell us what abilities this essence possesses?”

Every time an essence appeared, the Carlton trio would ask us for advice, and surprisingly, Amelia would kindly tell them what she knew.

“That’s the essence of the Azure Palace Judge. I remember it having a high strength stat, which is rare for bow or projectile-related essences.”

“Hmm, so that’s it. Aimbern, what will you do?”

“Strength… I was already thinking of increasing the draw weight of my bow, so this is perfect. The ability is quite nice too. I think I can make good use of it. I’ll take it.”

Aimbern took one this time.

And Carlton and Jarku each took one earlier.

They had been just following us and had already picked up a total of three 6th-grade essences, but I didn’t feel particularly envious.

In the first place, they were just unnecessary items…

“Haha! Thank you! It’s so easy thanks to you!”

“…There’s no need to thank us.”

After all, this wouldn’t be enough as compensation.

At best, the future where he dies in the labyrinth would remain unchanged.

“By the way, it seems like we’re almost at the end.”

Anyway, after a long time of exploration, we reached the boss room.

The gem held in the statue’s hand wasn’t lit, so it seemed we were the fastest to arrive…

“But how do we open the door?”

“Stand back.”

Soon, Amelia smashed the statue to pieces.

Rather than a sudden action, it was one of the fastest ways to proceed.

This way, the door opens with an angry voice.

‘Who did she come with to know even this?’

Suddenly, I became even more curious about Amelia’s past, when a deep voice echoed from beyond the stone door.

[This is the resting place of a noble sacrifice.]

[Intruders shall pay the price with their blood.]

Whatever, you 5th-grade trash.

Since it was an intro I had seen many times during the game, I just listened to it while chewing jerky without any emotion, and soon the stone door began to open.

“C-can we go in?”

“It just spoke like a human! Is it not a monster?”

The Carlton trio, who were intimidated by the voice they had just heard, looked very nervous.

Well, it’s understandable.

The guardian of the White Temple is a ‘superior variant’ who is 5th-grade and has even consumed a random essence.

‘Superior variants’ rarely appear below the 3rd floor, so it’s unlikely they would have ever experienced a monster speaking like a human.

“Bjorn, how long are you going to stand there?”

“Ah, I was just thinking for a moment.”

To be precise, ‘Crimson Fortress’ suddenly came to mind.

The vampire I met back then was also a 5th-grade ‘superior variant’ newbie.

I met him when I didn’t even have an essence.

Ah, of course, this boss is much stronger than that vampire.

We’ve been cursed while exploring the labyrinth, while that boss would have received all sorts of buffs.

‘I wonder what essence it got?’

Soon, as we stepped through the stone door, the door slammed shut with a thud!

“A forest…?”

Unlike the previous rooms, which had marble structures, the floor was covered with bushes, and fruit grew on the trees scattered throughout.

However, it didn’t mean that the other side of the stone room was outside.

A large dome-shaped interior with an artificial garden.

There were a total of five doors on the circular outer wall, including the door we had entered through.

Perhaps if we fail to defeat it, one of those doors will open, and other teams will challenge it.

Well, that won’t happen though.

“You guys stay back.”

“It’s a guardian, are you sure you two will be okay…?”

“I’ll call you if I need you.”

“…Understood.”

Okay, then that’s settled.

After seating the bus passengers, Amelia and I headed towards the cabin in the center of the forest.

Then, did the sensor within the radius activate?

Thud-!

A knight in gray armor fell from the sky on horseback, blocking our path.

The individual’s name was the Knight of the Apocalypse.

Although he was riding a horse, he wasn’t a type classified as large. His height seemed to be about 1m 80, a normal human-sized proportion.

He was much smaller than the giant golem we had met earlier.

But he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

Originally, in most games, as you go to higher levels, the smaller ones are more threatening.

Swoosh.

Soon, the knight on horseback swung a weapon somewhere between a spear and a greatsword in the air, showing off.

“You greedy dogs of the Empire. Today, I shall punish you.”

He’s still just making incomprehensible noises.

“Emily, do you know what he’s saying?”

“I don’t know either.”

Okay, I see.

Thump.

First, I used [Giantification] to match his size and took a step forward.

And at that moment.

Neigh!

The spirit horse, a 7th-grade beast-type monster that the Knight of the Apocalypse was riding, charged at us.

Well, a spirit horse is just a mob that can be taken down with one [Swing]…

‘The stats are inflated here.’

In the boss room, the spirit horse shares the stats of the Knight of the Apocalypse.

In other words, it’s not a mob that can be killed in one or two hits.

Ah, and I can’t use [Swing] right now anyway.

I got cursed several times while coming here, and [Swing] happened to be sealed.

Of course, it was a minor problem.

I have a much more efficient damage dealer, so why would I bother dealing damage?

Thud-!

With that thought, I blocked the knight’s spear, which he thrust while riding the spirit horse, with my shield.

It was quite heavy.

I could see why cavalry was called the strongest in the Middle Ages.

There were no superhumans who could use [Giantification] back then, right?

“You can withstand it.”

I shouted, not budging an inch from where I stood.

“Emil…!”

Ah, she was already flying.

Swoosh-!

Before I could finish my sentence, a blue aura sliced off the horse’s neck.

And that was all.

‘As expected, aura is OP [overpowered].’

The spirit horse, which had fallen powerlessly, disappeared into light.

Thud-!

It was time to start phase 2.

***

The Knight of the Apocalypse is divided into three phases.

Phase 1, where he rides the spirit horse summoned with the active skill [Servant] and rampages.

And the ground battle that unfolds after the spirit horse is released.

For reference, from phase 2, the Knight of the Apocalypse also uses random essence skills below 5th-grade…

‘…Why isn’t this bastard using skills?’

No matter how long I waited, no essence skills came out.

So, I just continued the boss battle normally, and then Amelia stabbed him in the neck with her sword, and we moved on to phase 3.

“Immortality is will, and a promise.”

The Knight of the Apocalypse, who had resurrected with a boastful line.

It was the effect of the passive skill [Chivalry].

A high-risk skill that restores health proportional to the time the equipment was worn when taking damage that leads to death, while destroying all the equipment he was wearing.

‘At first, I wondered what kind of skill this was.’

Since he doesn’t have any equipment, the Knight of the Apocalypse becomes weaker from phase 3.

However, this is also the case for the average player.

If the specs are equal, they would have suffered all sorts of injuries and run out of MP in phase 2.

That’s why I also had a total wipeout during my first try, just exchanging basic attacks and brawling.

Well, for us now, it’s a well-prepared meal—

“I cannot be defeated.”

Uh, what?

Then, suddenly, the Knight of the Apocalypse’s body swelled up.

I was a little dumbfounded.

‘No way, it’s [Giantification].’

Wow, I never imagined that the ‘superior variant’ characteristic would be the Orc Hero essence.

‘No wonder he wasn’t using other skills.’

Now I understood why he hadn’t used skills in the previous phases. Originally, [Giantification] is a skill that cannot be used while wearing equipment.

Instead, the stat increase is enormous though.

“I must not lose…!”

After that, the guy who used [Giantification] started rampaging like a madman and attacking me.

Of course, that wouldn’t work out well.

No, what are you going to do if you get bigger?

Even if you do, your stats and size are still inferior to mine.

Clench.

After grabbing the fist of the guy who was charging at me, I hugged him tightly as if I was wrestling.

And…

Stab.

A finishing blow with Amelia’s dagger.

Whooshhhhhh-

Soon, he turned into particles of light and scattered without even leaving a final line.

It was a moment that was always tense, even though I experienced it every time.

I stared ahead without blinking.

‘Please, let something drop.’

Contrary to my expectations, no essence floated in the air.

Thud.

No rift stone fell with a sound either.

But instead, a piece of equipment came into view.

“A Numbers item came out…”

Soon, after checking the hammer that had fallen on the floor, I froze.

No, what is this?

‘…Crazy, this came out here?’

After a moment of hesitation, I quickly ran and picked up the hammer.

I don’t know about the grip.

But looking at this manly color and the design that made good use of the rugged charm, I was sure.

No.87 Kraul’s Demon Crusher.

A double Numbers item that is so expensive that you can’t even see it unless it’s at the Imperial Sky Auction House…

And the very item that I had decided to use as my graduation weapon after eating the Ogre essence.

But this came out of a 3rd-floor rift?

‘Amazing’ was an understatement.

‘Damn it.’

If only it wasn’t 20 years ago.

***

As an efficiency-focused person, I felt a sense of regret, but it was definitely a happy event and a stroke of luck that had come after a long time.

Yes, that was certain.

However, as soon as I grabbed the hammer, my head became complicated.

‘Ha, how do I take this? If I dig a hole and hide it in a place where no one will find it, will it be okay even after 20 years?’

No, what if someone takes it?

Then I’m just screwed.

Sigh, should I just sell it?

Yeah, I can just sell it and buy an expensive essence at the auction house before I leave.

That’s what I was collecting equipment for in the first place…

“Congratulations. It’s a shame that no essence came out, but that’s just our greed.”

While my thoughts were going in circles, the Carlton group approached and offered their congratulations.

“I feel relieved instead! It’s good that you guys got something too!”

Uh, it’s too valuable to just say ‘something’.

It’s better not to say anything about this.

Looking at it, it seems like Amelia doesn’t even think this is a double Numbers item.

I decided to think about this problem later.

The portal has just opened, after all.

Whoosh!

Looking at the portal that had appeared in front of the cabin in the center of the forest, Carlton asked.

“Then what will you guys do now?”

“We’ll stay a little longer before leaving. We’re going to look around the area in the remaining time.”

To be precise, there are a few things to take with us.

But did they notice that without me saying it?

“It seems you’re trying to find Gavrilius’s arrangement.”

“Yes.”

“Then how about those white fruits on the tree? They look quite unusual.”

Ah, those…

They are hidden pieces, but they’re closer to gag items.

How should I explain this so they don’t try to eat them?

While I was pondering, Amelia explained instead.

“Those are called ‘White Fruits’. When consumed, the stats of one of your essences will change randomly.”

The explanation was short, but it wasn’t wrong.

‘White Fruits’ change the nature of essences when consumed.

The skills remain the same, but the basic stats attached to the essence change to random values that match the grade.

It’s not something you’d eat if you were in your right mind.

There are thousands of detailed stats in this game.

There’s a high chance that good stats like strength and agility will change to almost useless or low-value stats like greed and obsession.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“We’re going to leave right away. Our companions must be waiting for us outside.”

“I see.”

After saying goodbye to Carlton, the elf archer approached me.

“First, let me thank you. We certainly wouldn’t have been able to come this far on our own. We would have had to suffer much more.”

“You were just lucky.”

“Luck… Well, it’s extremely rare to meet explorers like you in the rift. Please understand that we were wary at first. It’s because we’ve had too many bad things happen in a row recently.”

“Bad things?”

“It’s a bit ambiguous to say exactly. It’s not like anyone did anything wrong, but no matter what we do, we’re just unlucky, and things keep going wrong.”

Hmm, is that so?

There is one thing that comes to mind.

I hesitated for a moment whether to speak or not, then opened my mouth.

“You said there’s a guy named Hans on your team.”

“That’s right.”

“Remove him. Then your luck will improve.”

At my words, the elf archer made a blank expression, then burst into an awkward laugh.

“Haha, you’re joking.”

Well, I was 100% serious.