Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 143

Thump-!

Regal Bagos opened his eyes to the sound of his heart pounding in his head.

The surroundings were dark.

His body wouldn’t move, and he could feel slimy mucus on his skin.

It was as if he were curled up in amniotic fluid.

‘So, he even used this…’

There was no feeling of regret.

If his head had been pierced instead of his heart, even he would have surely died.

He was only curious about one thing.

How did he end up in this state?

For some reason, a conversation he had with an old colleague came to mind.

It was a conversation they had before he abandoned the heavenly order and took on a terrible curse.

[Do you want to know why you always lose money? You only bet as much as you need at the time and follow along. Even in moments where a decisive move is needed.]

Of course, card games and fights are different.

Moreover, the words themselves are inappropriate to apply to the current situation.

But the context is similar.

He failed to make a decisive move until all five cards were gathered.

Thump-!

Simply put, he lacked resolve.

He gave up one thing at a time and ended up here.

He gave them time because of that item he had been searching for nearly a year.

He had to use Dragon Words [a form of powerful magic].

Yet, these tenacious bastards didn’t give up.

He swung the Dragon Slayer Sword countless times, prepared to rest for at least a year, but they stubbornly held on.

And now, even his second heart had been used.

Thump-!

Regal Bagos finally admitted it.

He had underestimated his enemies, and because he didn’t face them with everything he had, as if facing a worthy opponent.

That’s why he had come this far.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

The rhythm of his regenerated heart quickened, and light returned. He shook off the mucus clinging to his body and rose from his spot.

“…….”

He could see the barbarian beyond the passage.

The bastard was already walking towards him.

With a hole in his lung.

With bright red blood streaming from his mouth.

Without even the support of the dwarf warrior beside him.

Thud, thud.

He walked with a desperate determination.

With only one goal.

To kill the enemy.

Swoosh.

He grabbed the dagger at his waist, then let go.

And reconsidered his options.

The cursed heart that had been activated by the Dragon Words had recovered to some extent. The remnants of the curse remained, but his physical abilities had returned to a certain level, and he could use his powers again.

This was a result that wouldn’t have been possible if the source of his power wasn’t located in his heart, as is typical for a Dragonkin [a race of beings with dragon-like traits].

‘I didn’t expect it to be this much.’

It was unexpected for him as well.

This was the first time the ‘second heart’ had actually been used.

Should he call it a happy miscalculation?

Thanks to it, his chances of winning had greatly increased.

Thud.

Of course, it seemed like their soul exhaustion had ended as well, but that didn’t change anything.

All he had to do was get rid of the dwarf warrior.

No matter how strong that barbarian was, he wouldn’t be able to stop him alone with such injuries.

That’s what he thought.

At least until he met the bastard’s gaze.

‘It’s like looking at some kind of immortal.’

He grabbed the Arcane Greatsword instead of the dagger.

The moment he grabbed it, the remnants of the curse in his heart caused him extreme pain. He had a gut feeling, no, a certainty, that if he used it any more, he might never be able to use one of his arms again.

But…….

‘If I want to kill that annoying bastard, I have to be prepared.’

He would give up an arm.

To kill the enemy.

To survive himself.

“Come, barbarian.”

He had finished preparing to throw everything away.

***

He was staggering as he took each step.

Beside him was the dwarf, and behind him was Misha, who was stubbornly insisting on fighting as well.

“You made a good choice.”

The dwarf spoke as if he had left Misha behind out of concern, but that wasn’t the only reason.

Rotmiller hadn’t woken up yet.

If he woke up even for a moment, someone had to be behind them to take out a potion and throw it to him.

“Yeah, that bastard did this to Dwarki…….”

“Hicurod, swallow your anger. If you die, we’re all done for.”

“……I will.”

The dwarf forced down his rising emotions.

He knew it too.

How important his mission was right now.

Thud.

He closed the distance with each step.

Soon, they were close enough to see each other’s expressions.

There was no need for long words between them.

“Come, barbarian.”

The bastard was holding the Arcane Greatsword again, as if he wasn’t tired of it, and staring at them.

What the hell, what are the conditions that allow him to keep pulling it out whenever he needs it? Curses rose to the tip of his throat, but there was no time to spit them out.

Tap.

The bastard rushed at them since they weren’t coming to him.

But what was this?

It wasn’t as fast as it was at the beginning, but his movements were faster than the last time he saw him.

In other words, his physical condition had recovered quite a bit.

Why? He was sure that it wasn’t a short-term injury.

Variables were appearing one after another from the start.

Swoosh!

The shield was cut like tofu.

It was the dwarf’s shield that had blocked him.

He stabbed the bastard with the mace that had turned into a spear, then handed the Lightinium shield to him without hesitation.

“Use this.”

His shield wasn’t in perfect condition either, but he judged that it would be better than a steel buckler.

Clack!

The bastard’s following attack was deeply embedded in the shield.

It was immediately repaired through [Emergency Restoration], but he wouldn’t be able to use it many times since his soul exhaustion had just been lifted.

‘Nothing is going according to plan.’

The bastard had woken up earlier than expected.

And not only his heart but other parts of his body had recovered as well.

He was even using skills that he couldn’t use before.

「Regal Bagos has cast [Superior Acceleration].」

The blade crossed the moment as if ignoring the laws of physics. The dwarf had chosen to evade instead of defend, but the distance was too far.

Therefore, he sacrificed his left arm, which didn’t have a shield anyway.

‘Flesh Explosion.’

The hand he extended towards the bastard exploded, scattering dozens of pieces of flesh.

However, the bastard didn’t back down.

Screeeeeech!

Even as he groaned, covered in acidic blood, the bastard swung his sword to deeply cut the dwarf’s thigh.

Thwack-!

Even in the midst of that, the dwarf used his battle hammer to smash the bastard’s jaw.

The bastard’s body stiffened, indicating that the damage wasn’t insignificant.

He immediately jumped forward, grabbed his shoulder, and rolled.

And…….

‘Flesh Explosion.’

He shoved his already useless left arm into the bastard’s open mouth and detonated it again.

“Kaaack!”

The bastard screamed and pushed him away.

And at the same time, he stabbed his sword into his neck.

Clang!

A glass bottle hit the back of his head and shattered, spilling its contents.

「Your body is regenerating very quickly due to the (Highest Grade) recovery effect.」

This pain, it’s a highest-grade potion.

No, more importantly, Rotmiller survived too.

He shook off the fleeting thoughts that flashed through his mind and stepped back.

Thud!

The sword that had pierced his neck was pulled out, causing him to feel dizzy.

And the bastard was a son of a bitch who wouldn’t tolerate even that brief opening.

“Die, you!”

The sword instantly pierced his abdomen and tore through his insides.

He carried on the dwarf’s will and instead took a step forward, stabbing with his spear.

Tapt.

The bastard hurriedly pulled out his sword and created some distance, and he used [Giantification] without hesitation.

Damn it, where do you think you’re going?

“Kuhak!”

The bastard, who had been stabbed in the shoulder, coughed up a fountain of blood.

But was this bastard also prepared for an all-out fight?

He even took a step forward and swung his sword again.

It was too late to dodge.

He grabbed the sword with his mangled arm.

The bones in his exposed fingers were severed, and the sensation of the sword catching on his wrist bone stopped it.

「Your character’s health is below 20%.」

「Due to the passive skill [Path of the Hero], all resistance and tolerance values have increased.」

The synergy effect of [Iron Skin] and [Path of the Hero].

He lifted the spear that was embedded in the bastard’s shoulder and shook it back and forth, and the bastard endured it and put strength into the hand holding the sword.

And so began the struggle of strength.

Unfortunately, the winner was the bastard.

「Regal Bagos has cast [Holy Blade].」

The bastard’s sword, which had begun to emit a white light, slashed diagonally all the way to his elbow.

Thump.

His arm in [Giantification] state fell to the ground, and he seared the stump of his arm, which was spewing acidic blood, onto the bastard’s face.

Screeeeeech!

“Kaaaaaack!!”

So, you don’t even have pain tolerance, you bastard.

Where are you trying to endure with your evil—

「Your character’s soul power is insufficient.」

「[Giantification] has ended.」

His body shrank back to its original size in a few seconds because his soul power was already insufficient. As a result, the bastard’s feet, which had been floating in the air, touched the ground.

But had he underestimated this bastard’s resolve?

Tapt.

Instead of retreating, the bastard stabbed with his sword once more.

‘Damn it.’

What kind of explorer of the 8th floor has no pride?

Why is he so good at brawling?

He quickly twisted his body and stepped back because his head was about to be pierced.

He also lost his spear, no, the skewer that used to be a mace.

To make matters worse, his body’s regeneration stopped.

‘I’m screwed.’

Even if it was a highest-grade potion, there was a limit.

It wasn’t even ingested, it was just splashed on him.

With his arm blown off and his organs in pieces, it was already difficult to just maintain the status quo, let alone replenish his blood.

But in that situation.

“I, will, kill…… you!”

The bastard charged.

It was truly hopeless.

The worst-case scenario was already vividly painted in his head.

An unavoidable death.

But so what?

He had no intention of giving up and accepting it.

He stared at the bastard’s sword with his eyes wide open until the very last moment.

And the moment he approached, he rolled to the side.

Whether he would be defenseless against the following attack or not, it was the best choice he could make in the current situation.

Cooong.

He rolled on the floor and used the momentum to get back on his feet.

The bastard’s Arcane Greatsword was looming large in front of him.

It was at that moment.

“……!”

As if an invisible force was pulling him by the back of his neck, the bastard was knocked backward.

What on earth was going on?

When he raised his head to find the answer.

“Y-you! What is, this!”

He saw an old man wearing a black priest’s robe in the distance.

***

He closed his eyes and covered his ears.

Yet, he could still hear it clearly.

How desperately they were fighting.

[So, you’re not running away.]

[Protect Dwarki!!]

At first, it was agonizing to watch them.

He thought that meaningless resistance would only lead to greater despair and suffering.

But when did it start?

“Why on earth are they…….”

As their desperate fight continued, Ludwig discovered it.

His own self, constantly asking questions.

[This is, our item.]

Why don’t they give in?

[Uwaaaah! Dwarki! Don’t die! Please, huh?]

Because they were ignoring the predicted outcome and holding onto vain hope?

No, if that was the case, then why?

[Can we… win?]

[Don’t worry. I will definitely save everyone and return.]

How can they still move forward so brilliantly?

The answer was actually quite simple.

They were strong.

Unlike himself, who didn’t have the courage to bear the sacrifice.

“…….”

Ludwig also knew.

No matter how long he waited, the day he wished for would not come.

A hopeful future of returning to the city with his grandson had never existed from the beginning.

He had simply lacked the courage to accept it.

“May the star that rises at twilight guide me.”

Ludwig briefly made the sign of the cross.

His opened eyes no longer trembled with fear.

He just stared straight ahead.

He was more fiercely certain than ever before.

“I will follow your will.”

The goddess of the stars, Leatlass.

One of the three gods who govern adventure and relationships.

As someone who once served and followed him, how could he dismiss it as a coincidence?

In front of him, who had abandoned his courage.

The fact that these people with such brilliant light had appeared was the last grace given to a lost subordinate.

Therefore…….

“Even if I cannot be embraced in your arms.”

The old man shouted, looking at the sky.

“Karui, I offer myself.”

The fickle evil god laughed with pleasure at his words.

There was no way he wouldn’t know what he was about to do.

As if it was a moment he had been waiting for.

[What do you desire?]

“Send me to that place.”

[Your grandson will not be saved.]

His heart flinched at those words.

But he cast off his weakness.

He also abandoned the compromise that it was already too late to turn everything back.

“I don’t care.”

He had learned from a young mage he had met in a maze.

He could become noble and sublime at any time.

If he himself wished it.