Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 600

A messy, disheveled mop of hair covered his face, like a poorly fitted wig.

And through that mess, a single eye was revealed.

Thump-!

Its height was about 6 meters.

It was already far beyond the standard for a large monster, but its excessively long arms made it seem even larger.

‘Still smaller than Hipramant, though.’

Thump-!

Even so, the pressure was on a different level.

That’s because I knew more about that thing than anyone else.

The Lord of Silence, Silierte.

The floor master of the 5th floor, known for its tricky gimmicks.

For me, an ‘explorer’ who relies on essence [a type of magical energy], it was a disastrous opponent.

It was impossible to counter with ‘Binding’ magic, unlike when facing ‘Traitor’ Ricardo Ruehenphraha, who possessed this guy’s essence…

‘Why is it here?’

Regardless of my question, my actions were immediate.

Tap.

The moment I made eye contact with it, I stepped back and pulled Erwen into my arms.

And…

“……!”

Instead of a voice that wouldn’t come out, I gave simple instructions with hand signals.

While looking at the mage Gahwin, who happened to make eye contact with me.

‘Attack.’

‘Very strongly.’

If they were members of the Anabada Clan, I could have given more complex instructions with hand signals, but this was a limitation I couldn’t overcome.

Fortunately, Gahwin acted immediately upon receiving the instructions.

「Gahwin Besilus has cast the ancient magic [Katuka’s Thunderstorm].」

Katuka’s Thunderstorm.

One of the ancient magics that Gahwin, in his role as a ‘mage,’ could use, an instant-cast magic with no casting time.

Naturally, its power was considerable.

Flash-!

Several flashes of light, as if the sky were collapsing, engulfed the entire canyon.

Kuuuuuung-!

A huge vibration, not a sound, reached my skin.

And at the same time.

「The character has moved out of the range of [Silence].」

The Lord of Silence, Silierte, who was climbing the cliff, fell down, and the sound returned.

“Uh…”

Gahwin, who had cast the magic first, looked somewhat dumbfounded.

“Hmm… a strange monster indeed.”

The village chief was nonchalant.

‘Ah, come to think of it, there might not have been floor masters in the labyrinths of the era this old man lived in?’

According to the records engraved on the Stone of Honor, floor masters began to appear in the labyrinths after the Abyss Seeker Limenin reached the 10th floor.

“Sir Besilus, do you know the identity of that monster?”

“If I saw correctly… th-that monster we just saw is a floor master of the Great Labyrinth…”

“Floor master…?”

The village chief tilted his head as if the word was unfamiliar.

However, there was no time for a leisurely explanation.

“What are you all doing! Hurry and follow me!”

We had to get out of here first.

Even if we had to fight that thing someday, the narrow canyon was not a good place to do it.

In the first place, I also needed time to sort out my thoughts.

“Erwen, hold on tight.”

“Yes, yes!”

I quickly moved forward while still holding Erwen.

Tap.

As I started to run in earnest, I noticed another new change. I had been trying to break through the monsters no matter what, but…

‘A blessing in disguise, perhaps…’

Perhaps due to the aftermath of the Lord of Silence’s appearance, the monsters blocking the path had disappeared without a trace.

“Baron, please tell me where we are going!”

“We’re going down.”

“Down…? Isn’t the floor master waiting down there!”

“That’s why we’re going. If we’re going to fight, a flat area is better than a canyon.”

“Surely… you’re not thinking of fighting that, that thing?”

Gahwin shouted as if it were absurd, but I had only one thing to say.

“Then is there any other way?”

“Damn it, it’s a floor master! A floor master that causes casualties even when hundreds of people prepare to catch it! And you’re going to catch it with five people? Even this fairy here can’t even do one person’s worth!”

Actually, it wasn’t an incomprehensible reaction.

The notoriety of the floor master was beyond words.

The harsh words… well, it must be because of the field effect [a magical influence on the surrounding area].

There was no time for a calming talk, so I decided to be lenient this time—.

“Gahwin Besilus!”

At that moment, the village chief’s shout echoed through the canyon.

The village chief’s scolding, which I had never heard before.

“Y-yes…?”

Looking at Gahwin, who was completely stunned, the village chief spoke firmly.

“Stop grumbling and follow the Baron’s words. This is an order.”

“Yes? B-but…”

“Are you going to disobey?”

“N-no, it’s not that… I just think there must be another way besides fighting that thing—.”

“Answer with a yes or no. But be careful. Today’s answer will determine your future.”

“…I will follow.”

Still, thanks to the village chief stepping in at the right time, the situation quickly calmed down.

Originally, when command is shaken at times like this, there is no good outcome, but fortunately, the village chief seemed to know that fact as well.

Tap.

The village chief quickly increased his speed and came next to me, who was at the front.

“Judging by that friend’s reaction, it seems like a very difficult enemy, but you have a plan, right?”

“…Of course.”

To be precise, I was still thinking about it.

Anyway, it wasn’t a situation to despair so quickly.

Because the essential elements for the raid were already in place.

‘Priest, mage, knight.’

The most important roles when raiding the Lord of Silence. Of course, it was still too few people to catch it with just five people…

Unlimited divine power and ancient magic.

The village chief was also showing overwhelming power throughout this chapter, perhaps because his stats had been inflated.

With this, the minimum conditions were met.

‘The problem is me and Erwen…’

But let’s think positively, there is a high possibility that there will be some ‘role’ in the raid.

The [Dungeon & Stone] I knew was that kind of game.

‘Once the boss fight starts, I’ll have to run the raid with those three and see how it goes.’

For reference, the most important thing here is the priest.

If you make good use of unlimited divine power, it’s possible to hold out somehow—.

“Y-you, you man-!! Stop right there!!”

At that moment, there was a commotion from behind.

I stopped running and turned around to see Gahwin and the Archbishop, who had stopped as well.

No, to be precise…

“The Archbishop suddenly stopped and won’t move!”

Gahwin was looking worriedly at the Archbishop, who had stopped as if he were possessed by something.

“Step aside for a moment.”

I put Erwen down and went to check, but the Archbishop was just staring blankly into the air.

It was clear that something was wrong.

‘What is it?’

There was no such pattern with the Lord of Silence?

Is it different because it’s inside the rift?

If so, there are too many variables—.

“Baron.”

At that moment, the Archbishop suddenly opened his mouth.

‘Oh, geez, you scared me…’

I secretly stroked my startled heart while calmly checking the situation.

“Archbishop, are you okay? What was the situation?”

If there was a problem, I needed to quickly come up with a solution—.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. In fact, I’m in better condition than ever.”

‘What is this again?’

“…What does that mean?”

“It’s as I said. The miracle of God is filling my whole body. I wonder if I’ve ever been so full in my life…”

Looking at his eyes, the Archbishop was still out of it.

‘Ha, I really don’t have time for this.’

“Baron.”

While I was pondering what to do with the Archbishop, the Archbishop moved his gaze and stared at me.

“Baron, have you ever thought about serving something other than the spirits of your ancestors?”

The same words he had said to me before the Lord of Silence appeared. However, this time, I felt a sense of incongruity as soon as I heard it.

It wasn’t certain yet, but…

“I’m just asking to be sure.”

I needed to check.

“Is it correct that the ‘something else’ you just mentioned is referring to Leatlass?”

The Archbishop was silent.

However, as if answering my question instead.

Swishhhhhh-

Thousands of black particles rose from the darkness of the labyrinth. And they gathered around the Archbishop as if giving a blessing.

Unfortunately, I knew the identity of that effect.

The effect that occurs when you change jobs to a Karui priest.

Swishhhhhhhh-!

The Archbishop smiled brightly and reached out to the black particles.

It was no longer meaningful to deny it.

It was too sudden and hard to believe, but.

“Do you see? The grace of God?”

The Archbishop had changed jobs to a Karui priest.

***

「Eden Hestia has succumbed to temptation.」

「You can use the power of Karui.」

***

My mind went blank.

Suddenly, our team’s priest changed jobs to a Karui priest.

What should I do about this?

‘Should I kill him now?’

Looking at his defenseless appearance, it didn’t seem impossible at all.

No, I even thought that there might not be another chance other than now.

I had to make a decision quickly.

It was clear that it would be a headache if the Archbishop, who had unlimited divine power, turned into an enemy after changing jobs to a Karui priest.

‘But… if I kill him, is there an answer after that?’

Putting aside the moral question of whether it was okay to kill the Archbishop so easily.

Without a priest, we could never catch the floor master.

However, my mind was complicated.

‘It might be that I shouldn’t kill him.’

I didn’t know the strategy for this rift yet.

But what if the Archbishop, who had changed jobs to a Karui priest, had to play a key role?

An impulsive choice could lead to irreversible consequences—.

「The character has cast [Swing].」

When I came to my senses, my hammer was already swinging towards the top of the Archbishop’s head.

A decision made in the moment, not after careful consideration.

Crack-!

With one hammer blow with all my strength, half of the Archbishop’s head was blown away.

However, the Archbishop was still standing.

I wasn’t surprised because I already knew that Karui priests could go into half-head mode.

“Y-you… what are you doing!!”

However, was it different for Gahwin, who was watching?

“A-attacking the Archbishop! Are you truly insane!!”

‘Ah. He just doesn’t know what the situation is right now.’

There was no time to explain.

‘One more time.’

I swung the hammer, but unfortunately, it was blocked by the tentacles that sprouted from the Archbishop’s body.

A sight that looked too disgusting and eerie to be called a divine spell.

“…W-what the heck is going on?”

I swung the hammer a few more times, but I gave up after being countered by the tentacles and gave a brief explanation.

“The Archbishop has become a Karui priest.”

“What?”

“Look. He’s still alive even though half of his head is smashed.”

“T-then we should get rid of him quickly, shouldn’t we?”

‘Hey, a moment ago you were asking what I was doing to the Archbishop.’

“Count Saintred, would you like to try?”

After quickly giving instructions, the village chief drew his aura and swung his sword without any questions.

But…

Clang-!

That shell even blocked the aura.

However, the village chief didn’t seem disappointed at all.

“If I go all out, it might be possible, but… after that, you’ll have to treat me like I don’t exist. It’s like a finishing move. Do you want me to do that?”

The village chief looked at me as if the rest was up to my choice.

Thanks to that, my worries deepened.

Since he had made such a firm statement, it seemed like he would keep his word, but…

‘If the village chief is gone too, there’s only one mage left.’

I had to think about what would happen after that—.

“You all…”

At that moment, the Archbishop’s mouth opened.

“You still don’t understand me at all.”

A voice that didn’t feel any emotion, like the village chief’s tone from before.

“Don’t worry. You’ll soon be able to understand.”

At the same time as the Archbishop’s ominous declaration ended.

The Archbishop’s chest, with his spine bent backward as if receiving an exorcism ritual, opened wide.

Crackcrackcrack-!

I knew what skill it was as soon as I saw it.

「Eden Hestia has cast [Unstable Vessel].」

Unstable Vessel.

The strongest finishing move of a Karui priest.

The effect of the skill is simple.

It makes you temporarily invincible during the casting time, and…

‘It explodes.’

In terms of range and power, it was the strongest skill that no other skill in [Dungeon & Stone] could match.

‘It’s already too late to avoid it.’

I made a decision.

Even if I had to give up on the village chief, I had to stop that first.

Just as I was about to open my mouth with that thought.

Thump-!

A vibration was felt from the ground, and the sound was erased.

「The character has entered the range of [Silence].」

「All essence skills are sealed.」

To make matters worse, the floor master that we had dropped earlier had reappeared in this situation…

‘Attack.’

‘Very strongly.’

I urgently sent the hand signals I had sent to Gahwin to the village chief. But the village chief just looked at me with a troubled expression and shook his head.

‘Ah… maybe it’s not okay if the essence is sealed?’

‘Damn it.’

So I quickly changed the hand signals.

‘Run away with all your might.’

‘Anywhere is fine.’

‘Survive.’

The first time I had ever used the ‘every man for himself’ hand signals in my long explorer life.

As soon as I confirmed that everyone had understood the hand signals, I picked up Erwen and stood at the edge of the cliff.

Of course, even then, I wasn’t sure.

Could I survive if I fell from here?

‘Still… it’s more likely to survive than getting hit by that skill.’

With that thought, just as I was about to kick off the ground and jump.

Thump-!

A large hand appeared from below the cliff.

I was going to ignore it and jump, but the movement of that hand was a bit strange.

It didn’t seem like it was aiming for us.

‘Uh…?’

In fact, the guy who had his upper body hanging over the path curled up as if hugging the Archbishop tightly.

And…

“……”

It seemed like it made eye contact with me for a moment.

Thud.

Then, it released the strength in its hand while holding the Archbishop and fell down the cliff.

「The character has moved out of the range of [Silence].」

About 3 seconds later, the distance increased and [Silence] was lifted.

And how much time had passed again?

KWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!

An explosion, as if a nuclear bomb had gone off, erupted from below.

“Everyone! Hold on tight!!”

The Great Labyrinth began to collapse.