Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 116

Did the fear of a level 5 monster leave a lasting impression?

Dwarki stuttered, stepping back.

“W-why is a level 5 monster in the Tower of the Sky…?”

I can’t say I don’t understand his feelings.

It’s common knowledge that only up to level 6 monsters appear in the Tower of the Sky.

But as a seasoned player, let me just state the facts…

‘Level 5s do appear.’

Level 5 monsters do appear in the Tower of the Sky.

It’s just that the probability is extremely low.

Have I encountered them about seven times so far?

If you add up all my playtime over the past 10 years, that’s about how often it would be.

However…

‘I really didn’t expect to meet one on the 12th floor.’

The difficulty of the Tower of the Sky is fixed from the 100th floor onwards.

And every time I’ve encountered a level 5 monster, it was when I was grinding above that.

But for it to appear on the 12th floor?

‘Damn Hans effect.’

As much as I sighed, I shouted with all my might.

“Everyone, get a grip!!”

Whether it’s Hans, or my damn fate, whatever.

This isn’t the time to be calculating probabilities or thinking about how unlucky I am.

The cause is something we can think about later.

When a situation arises, acting is the first thing to do.

Therefore—

“Behel—raaaaaaaa!!”

I charge forward, activating [Wild Outburst].

If I just stood still, someone would end up dying before they came to their senses.

Whoosh-!

As I charged, emitting an increased threat level, the troll immediately swung its fist at me.

It was surprising that such speed came from that massive body, but…

What’s truly surprising is none other than that power.

Thwack!

Damn, I thought I was going to drop my shield.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been pushed back by sheer force.

“I-I’ll help!”

The dwarf joined in, taking the troll’s next blow.

「Hikurod Murard has cast [Balance].」

Thanks to Aiantro’s skill, I wasn’t pushed back, and I even received shock absorption, but…

Crack!

The dwarf’s buckler turned into scrap metal.

「Hikurod Murard has cast [Emergency Repair].」

The dwarf had to use an equipment repair skill after just taking one hit.

Seriously, I told him to change his shield.

[Ggrraaah!!]

I blocked the fist that came at me again and struck the monster’s shoulder with my mace.

Thud-!

I felt a heavy impact, but that was it.

The troll didn’t even flinch, let alone break a bone, and it stretched out its fist.

‘Tch, I can’t even deal damage with my attacks.’

I clicked my tongue and stepped back, avoiding the fist.

In the first place, inflicting wounds would be meaningless to a troll, and I judged that it was foolish to engage in a power struggle with a monster like a troll.

Whoosh-!

At the same time as the troll’s fist cut through the air.

The damage dealers seemed to have come to their senses and started providing support.

The first attack was from Rotmiler’s crossbow.

Swish! Thwack!

The arrow, shot with great force, bounced off as if it had hit a stone wall. As expected of a troll, a normal arrow wouldn’t even pierce it.

Tch, if it were Bear Uncle, it would have been different.

Swoosh-!

Anyway, Misha’s sword strike wasn’t very effective either.

She managed to cut through the troll’s thick hide, but it wasn’t deep enough.

‘Still, it’s a relief that she’s an ice swordsman.’

I tried to console myself, looking at the frost-covered wound.

The monster’s resistance was so high, as expected of a level 5 monster, that a ‘freeze’ effect was impossible, but this was something.

It would at least slow down its regeneration.

“I-I’m ready!”

Dwarki finished his incantation and shot his signature ‘Reinforced Ice Spear.’ The target was the head, which is usually the weak point of any monster.

However…

Crack-!

The troll, with its monstrous physical stats and high magic resistance, simply shattered the ice spear with its bare fist.

But did this sight break his will?

[Ggrraaah!!]

Dwarki trembled with fear and stuttered.

“W-we have to run. Trolls are not monsters that can be fought without any preparation—”

Yes, it’s not an easy monster.

Usually, people hunt them with extensive preparation.

But, where are we going to run?

“Shut up and focus on the battle!!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Sigh, why does he only listen when I yell at him?

Anyway, he’s taken care of for now…

Thwack-!

I focus more on stopping the troll and assess the situation.

With level 5 monsters, you need to have a certain basic spec to even engage in combat.

Well, the same is true for level 6, but level 5 is on a completely different level.

‘This has become troublesome.’

Just look at the vampire we met in the Crimson Fortress.

At that time, there was Raven, a level 6 mage.

The mage’s level is calculated as +1.5, so there was essentially a level 5 or higher damage dealer on the team.

Also, there was the cheat-like item, the ‘Tears of the Goddess.’ A holy artifact with the power to one-shot a Death Knight. On top of that, we were pouring down attacks with the opposing sun attribute.

But what was the result?

‘…Even then, it didn’t die in one hit.’

That’s the power of a level 5 monster.

Even though we held on with potions and poured everything out in one go, it was still alive.

And that was with a monster that had high regeneration but relatively low defense.

On the other hand, what about this troll?

It has both the highest level of regeneration and defense.

In short, it’s a type of monster similar to Deathfind, which served as a solid entry barrier.

A type of monster where the possibility of a lucky punch doesn’t exist if you don’t have the specs.

‘Still… we’re barely within the cut-off line.’

I coldly analyzed our combat power.

Excluding the tank, the dwarf, and myself, I only thought about the damage dealers. Can these two alone deal enough damage to take down a level 5 monster?

The answer was ‘it’s possible.’

If Dwarki focuses all his magic power on ‘curses.’

And while the two of us tanks hold out indefinitely.

If Misha, who has grown significantly this time, steadily deals damage, it was possible.

‘The problem is, it wouldn’t be strange if someone died in the meantime.’

Due to the troll’s characteristics, if it’s impossible to overwhelm it with specs, we have no choice but to go for a long battle.

And when the battle gets prolonged, accidents are bound to happen.

“Misha! Be careful!!”

I gritted my teeth, throwing myself in front of Misha to block the fist that was swung at her.

“Ah, th-thank you!”

It was clear that this would be a difficult battle.

A battle where it wouldn’t be strange if someone died.

If Misha or Dwarki were to get hit, it would be game over.

However.

“Behel—raaaaaaaa!!”

We had no choice but to try.

5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes.

The battle continued amidst the flowing sweat.

Every moment, every second, was a time when we focused on our respective roles and poured everything out for a single goal.

Thwack-!

First, the dwarf and I took turns blocking the monster’s attacks, conserving our stamina as much as possible.

「Riol Worb Dwarki has cast the level 8 curse magic [Worsening].」

「Riol Worb Dwarki has cast the level 9 curse magic [Slow].」

「Riol Worb Dwarki has cast the level 7 curse magic [Softening].」

Dwarki focused on his support role, casting curse magic instead of attack magic.

The troll’s regeneration was reduced, its movements slowed, and its physical resistance was slightly lowered.

Swoosh-!

Misha diligently slashed at the troll.

Targeting only one spot, as I had ordered.

Swoosh!

After repeatedly slashing the same spot, its right arm was now half-dangling.

[Ggrraaah-!!]

Rotmiler wasn’t just standing around either.

He couldn’t shoot an arrow into its eye as I had asked because it was moving around so much, but the attempt itself was helpful from a tank’s perspective.

It distracted the monster.

“Dwarki, come here!”

Also, it was Rotmiler’s job to take Dwarki and run when the troll’s aggro was released.

Sigh, it feels like walking on thin ice.

Thwack-!

Using [Wild Outburst], which had just come off cooldown, I returned the troll to its original state and quickly wiped the sweat from my eyes.

It might seem like we’re doing well, but…

Every moment was a crisis, and a drain on resources.

‘I’m going to get ripped off with repair costs again.’

First of all, the lythium shield and breastplate that I bought for a lot of money were already dented all over. It was a natural result of blocking the troll’s fists countless times.

It’s not even a tier 3 material, but a tier 2 material.

It’s unreasonable to expect it to be unscathed by a level 5 monster’s attacks.

In the first place, repair costs aren’t the most important thing right now.

「Hikurod Murard has cast [Emergency Repair].」

The dwarf, who had been using his skill to repair his equipment every time he blocked an attack, was now almost out of MP.

The same was true for Misha.

She was rapidly consuming MP to maintain [Cold Condensation] at all times to slow down the regeneration even a little bit.

Well, the most serious case was Dwarki.

“Haa, haa…”

Since the troll was a high magic resistance individual, he had to continuously chant curses to maintain the cursed state, and he was now practically a corpse.

In that sense, it’s time for a final check.

“How much magic power do you have left?”

“I can use it for another 2 minutes… no, 3 minutes.”

“What if you remove ‘Slow’?”

“…I could probably go up to 7 minutes.”

“I see. From now on, remove ‘Slow’.”

If the slow curse disappears, the troll’s movements will become more ferocious, but we’ll have to deal with it.

More than anything, if ‘Worsening’ disappears, the arm that we barely managed to cut halfway would heal in a few seconds.

‘7 minutes, huh…’

The time limit has been set.

7 minutes.

If we can’t kill the troll within that time, we’ll be the ones who get killed.

Therefore, it’s time to go for the win.

“Misha, are you almost there?”

“Ugh, even if you say that! It won’t cut!”

I admitted that there was a problem with my plan.

It was impossible to cut off the troll’s arm with Misha’s sword.

With the [Worsening] curse, frostbite, and the acidic blood from the viper’s fangs, we managed to stop the regeneration and cut through the muscles, but…

The problem was the bones, which were as strong as tier 3 materials.

No, actually, troll bones are tier 3 materials, so it’s not wrong to say that?

Anyway, there wasn’t a big problem.

It’s not like there was ever a time when things went according to plan.

‘I’ll have to go with Plan B.’

I discard Plan A and pull out a new plan.

It’s something I just came up with, but whatever.

“Hikurod! From now on, you’re in charge!”

“Understood! But what are you planning to do?”

Instead of answering, I raised my mace.

Everything has its place.

In the first place, a sword isn’t a good weapon for breaking bones.

Unless it’s a sturdy blunt weapon.

Clack!

A good sound resonated as I struck with the mace.

True damage that isn’t absorbed by the skin and muscles!

「The troll has cast [Frenzy].」

「Pain is temporarily gone, and physical stats are greatly increased.」

The troll, which had been letting out painful screams, started to rampage in earnest, even using skills.

“Ah, are you not ready yet!”

The dwarf, who somehow managed to stop it, shouted more urgently than ever.

I didn’t answer.

How would I know?

It’s just a barbarian thing to do until it works.

“Behel—raaaaaaaa!!”

I engraved the barbarian spirit in my heart and relentlessly struck with the mace.

Clack-!

The troll tried to push me away with its good arm, but the dwarf managed to block it.

Therefore—

Clunk.

I throw away the shield I was holding in one hand.

Because hitting with both hands is stronger, right?

Clack-!

When I swung the mace with both hands, I felt a stronger impact.

Something I had felt during the vampire fight before.

A feeling that it would work if I just did a little more.

“Behel—raaaaaaaa!!”

I used [Wild Outburst] to increase my physical stats even a little more.

Even though the dwarf couldn’t stop the troll after I taunted it…

Thud-!

I’m confident in my toughness.

I focused on swinging the mace while taking the troll’s attacks with my bare body.

One time, two times, three times.

Crack-!

The bone slightly broke on the third hit.

And…

Four times, five times, six times.

Crack-!

On the sixth hit, the bone shattered and the arm was bent out of shape.

[Ggrraaah-!!]

At this point, it would be normal to step back, but the troll kept attacking, as if it had its own pride.

Thud!

Even while getting hit, I happily swung the mace.

And then, it was exactly the tenth time.

Crack-!

The bone finally shattered completely.

The arm, now dangling by a few tendons.

“Misha!”

Before I could even shout, Misha flew in and swung her sword, cutting the tendons.

Thump-!

The arm, covered in muscles, fell to the ground with a heavy thud. It was the first result we had achieved after twenty minutes of all sorts of chaos.

However…

‘Is this just the beginning?’

I’m a barbarian who can’t be satisfied with just this.

Without a moment to catch my breath, I wait for the next turn.

Because from now on, it’s truly a race against time.

The troll’s active skill [Super Regeneration].

It’s used when there’s a serious defect in the body, or when the brain is injured and life is in danger.

‘Damn it, just like a troll.’

As soon as the skill was activated, bones started to grow from the severed area, and flesh and muscles began to fill in.

Even with the wound worsening curse and frostbite, or rather, a superimposed frost state, it’s still like this.

What an absurd recovery ability…

‘It’ll take at least 2 minutes for it to fully grow back.’

At least for 2 minutes, the monster can’t use [Super Regeneration].

It’s not just a simple increase in regeneration, but a skill that is used by designating a specific area.

In other words, even if its brain is blown up or its heart is shattered, it can’t heal until that arm is fully healed.

Therefore—

Clunk.

I throw off my armor and helmet.

The dwarf looked at me as if I had gone crazy.

“W-why are you suddenly taking off your armor?”

Why do you ask?

He really doesn’t have any sense.

「The character has cast [Gigantification].」

My body swells up in an instant.

Compared to the troll, which is almost 4m tall, there’s still a difference, but…

At this size, I should be able to hold my own.

Clunk!

I throw the mace and shield away carelessly and grab the troll’s neck, hanging on. And I bound the troll’s other hand with both of my feet.

[Ggrrr-!]

Could it have never imagined that there would be an explorer who would dare to challenge it to a wrestling match?

The troll started to flail its hand around in great confusion.

Of course, nothing changed.

No matter how much stronger this guy’s strength is than mine.

‘Does this guy have a problem with his head too?’

What can a one-armed guy do?

“Misha, stab its eyes first!”

The table is almost set,

Now it’s time to go for the win.