Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 179

Kooong! Kooong! Kooong!

The doppelganger, letting out a battle cry, kicked off the ground and charged forward.

I understood the feelings of the trainee knight who had run away from the field in the past, abandoning all pretense.

So, that’s what I look like…

‘It’s natural to run away.’

The threat level increased by [Wild Outburst] was enough to make my skin crawl just by looking at it.

The sheer oppressive force combined with its massive physique was truly terrifying.

First, I needed to match its size.

「The character has cast [Giantification].」

「The character has cast [Wild Outburst].」

Our eye levels matched in an instant.

I put strength into my core and shouted with all my might.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

An original battle cry that no doppelganger could ever imitate.

I dashed forward, covering my upper body with my shield.

For the record, the doppelganger did the same.

Soon, our shields collided, and a roar like a dump truck crash erupted.

Kwaaaang!

As expected of a doppelganger, the difference in power was zero.

The next action was also exactly the same.

「The character has cast [Swing].」

「The doppelganger has cast [Swing].」

The maces crossed like a mirror image.

Kwaaaang-!

Another explosion echoed, and the ground vibrated.

This was like a battle between giant monsters.

If we fought like this, it seemed like the fight would never end, but there was a crucial difference between this guy and me.

That was my companions.

‘In the game, team luck is also a skill.’

Without needing to give orders, magical support soon followed.

The curses with relatively short casting times were the main focus.

In just a few seconds, the stats of the other me, such as strength, agility, and physical resistance, were reduced.

The flustered doppelganger stammered and said to me.

“Y, you… Mom!!”

What, is he throwing a ‘your mom’ insult here?

My mind went blank for a moment at the unexpected line.

Kwaang-!

When I came to my senses, the doppelganger’s mace was hitting my shield.

If I had reacted even a little later, it would have smashed into my head.

“You crazy doppelganger bastard!”

I quickly regained my composure and responded.

It seemed that he even inherited the habit of becoming more vicious when at a disadvantage….

I couldn’t let my guard down against this opponent.

That guy, me.

Whoosh!

Taking advantage of the gap when he blocked Bear Uncle’s arrow with his shield, I slammed my mace down on his shoulder.

Then, a fountain of blood erupted from his mouth.

‘Did he bite his tongue?’

Well, that’s classic.

It was one of the patterns I had expected, so I had no problem avoiding it.

Because that was something I would definitely do.

Especially in a disadvantageous situation.

Chiiiik.

The acidic blood that was poured uselessly on the ground bubbled.

Misha exclaimed in admiration at the sight.

“Wow, how can you do the same things as you?”

What are you talking about?

“Don’t just watch, come and help me.”

“Okay.”

Soon, Misha and Ainar joined the front line.

So, to save time, I grabbed his mace and hugged him from behind.

Now, all I had to do was stab his head with my sword, since his actions were restricted.

“Kkyeeeeeeeeeeeeeek-!!!”

The doppelganger, with my face, let out a screech like nails on a chalkboard.

Misha froze at the sound.

It wasn’t for long.

However, at the moment when she readjusted her stance and thrust her sword.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

A battle cry erupted from behind.

It wasn’t Ainar’s.

No matter how deep his voice was, it was different from a real man’s.

“Bjorn!!! Bjorn has tripled!!!”

No, why are only my doppelgangers appearing?

***

The second doppelganger, who had already used [Giantification], covered his upper body with his shield and charged like a beast, disrupting the formation.

It was the (True) Shield Charge.

“Don’t try to block it, just dodge it!”

Misha and Ainar, hearing my sincere advice, retreated without a word.

It was a shame that I couldn’t finish him off right away, but….

Well, what could I do?

It was my karma for becoming a damage tank after eating the ogre essence.

「The doppelganger has cast [Swing].」

Ainar’s body, who had blocked the mace with his greatsword, was sent flying far back.

It was a force like Lu Bu himself [a famous warrior from the Three Kingdoms period in China, known for his unmatched strength].

I wondered if I should join in now, but….

“Yandel, please keep focusing on that one! We’ll take care of this side!”

I decided to follow Raven’s orders for now.

Surely, they wouldn’t lose in a 1:4 fight.

So, I focused solely on marking the doppelganger I was originally fighting.

‘Ha, this is really annoying. Why is he so tough?’

Thanks to the curse magic, the situation was much more favorable, but it was difficult to finish the fight quickly and go help.

Even if I was a damage tank, I was still a tank first.

It was similar to how a fight between trolls would never end.

‘Since it’s come to this, I guess I’ll just watch.’

I half-gave up and entered spectator mode.

To be honest, it was quite interesting.

“Damn it, why won’t my sword pierce him!!”

“As expected of Bjorn!! A great warrior!!!”

He was overwhelming two melee dealers by himself.

Bear Uncle’s ranged support?

Even the arrows fired with the insane tension of the oversized crossbow couldn’t pierce the shield.

Raven’s magic wasn’t much different either.

Chwaaaaaaa-!

A barrage of flames was unleashed in the gap between the melee sisters retreating. It was such a perfect timing that even the doppelganger couldn’t avoid it and was engulfed in flames.

But….

“Behel—raaaaaaaaa!!”

Another me, running through the flames and swinging his mace.

They chose the wrong magic.

My fire resistance was the second highest after physical resistance, and I had already finished setting up my magic resistance to some extent.

“……I didn’t expect him to be this strong.”

Bear Uncle let out a sigh, not quite a lament.

We had been fighting together all along, but it seemed like it felt different when facing him directly.

Raven felt the same way.

“Why is someone like this still a 6th rank!”

From 5th rank onwards, you have to accumulate guild contribution points.

Even though my companions were getting beaten, for some reason, my shoulders were slowly rising.

I’ve really become strong.

“Yandel, don’t just watch, say something. Don’t you have any weaknesses?”

It wasn’t exactly a weakness, but there were parts to target.

How to fight Bjorn Yandel, I guess?

While continuing to wrestle with the doppelganger I was marking, I pointed out the key points.

“Misha, Ainar! Don’t slash, just stab!”

[Iron Skin] increases physical resistance four times against slashing attacks.

In fact, it was practically immune at similar levels.

“Abman, you just target his legs!”

Also, his lower body was more vulnerable than his upper body.

I hadn’t gotten the lower body equipment yet.

His arms were also set up with bare skin showing, but it was easy to cover his upper body with his shield.

“So, you’re saying to bind his feet first. It’s like hunting a really large monster.”

“Yeah. He doesn’t have regeneration, so don’t think about killing him at once, go for a long fight. Raven, use lightning magic instead of fire magic!”

Cold prevents bleeding, and wind and earth have many spells that deal physical damage.

On the other hand, lightning is elemental damage, and it has a lot of spells focused on penetration and instant firepower, so it’s the most suitable.

‘…To think I’m telling my companions how to fight me.’

It felt strange.

Still, perhaps because my advice worked effectively, the tide of the battle slowly turned, and the doppelganger knelt down.

There were seven crossbow bolts stuck in his legs.

“……He’s truly a monster.”

“I agree. I don’t want to fight him again.”

Even though they had secured the victory, my companions shuddered as if they were disgusted.

It made me feel a little awkward.

Their reaction was largely due to the doppelganger inheriting my personality.

He fought like a real madman.

“Look at him. He’s still trying to get up. What kind of person is he?”

If he bled, he would spray blood, if both hands were blocked, he would bite with his teeth, and if an exchange opportunity came, he would catch it like a ghost and rush in, giving bone and taking flesh.

He did anything to survive, and it was still ongoing.

“Mi……sha…….”

The doppelganger looked at Misha with a desperate gaze.

Since it was impossible to win by fighting, he was now trying to throw a last-ditch effort at the other side.

I chuckled without realizing it.

No, you idiot, would that work—

“Oh, uh, uhm?”

“I… li, ke… you….”

“R, really?”

Oh, it works….

A move that vilely exploited Misha’s emotions.

I sighed deeply, tightening my grip on the neck of the doppelganger I was marking.

“Haa… What are you hesitating for! Just kill him!”

“W, wait a minute! I have something to ask!”

Misha waved her hands in a fluster and then looked at the doppelganger seriously.

And she asked one thing.

“B, but, why did you reject me back then…? You said you liked me.”

Misha, embarrassed while asking, only looked at the floor.

“Oh my, oh my!”

Raven’s eyes lit up at the sudden development of a love triangle.

But, was it because of this that the aggro was pulled again?

The doppelganger looked at Raven instead of answering.

“R, Raven…….”

“What, is it my turn now? What do you want to say—”

“I… li, ke… you….”

“……?”

Raven’s face twisted grotesquely at the second love confession.

“Um, Yandel…?”

Self-loathing washed over me.

How much more pathetic could I become?

“……Ignore him. He’s just saying that because he wants to live.”

“So, you’re saying that if Yandel wants to live, he confesses to anyone?”

Uh, that’s not it….

No, is it?

I just admitted it.

“……I guess so.”

I judged that admitting it would prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.

However, even while we were having that conversation, the doppelganger bastard’s gaze was moving elsewhere.

It was in the direction of Bear Uncle.

“A, Ab, maan…….”

That crazy doppelganger bastard!

“I, li—”

Fortunately, the sentence didn’t finish.

Bear Uncle pierced his forehead with a crossbow.

Pook-!

The final blow that protected my last remaining dignity.

“Let’s pretend we didn’t hear that… No, I didn’t hear anything.”

Bear Uncle and my friendship will be eternal.

***

The first doppelganger battle was over.

After defeating one, we all ganged up on the remaining one and killed him.

Oh, for the record, Misha got the last hit.

[Mi…sha…?]

The doppelganger bastard, cornered, tried the same trick again, but Misha’s mental barrier, filled with anger, was firm.

[Die, you damn barbarian old man!!!]

Misha, stabbing her sword into the face of the doppelganger that looked just like me, had a look as if she was relieved of stress.

[…….]

I just kept my mouth shut.

If you think about it, I didn’t do anything wrong, but….

Originally, when something feels strange, it’s best to keep quiet.

Then, at least you won’t step on a landmine.

One of the survival methods I learned while dating my ex-girlfriend.

[Urakburak!! No magic stone!!]

The doppelganger, who disappeared into light along with his equipment, did not drop a magic stone.

The doppelgangers in the doppelganger forest are only the final boss, just one of them.

The ones we caught now were all lower-level entities summoned by [Self-Replication].

[Then let’s keep moving.]

After that, we continued our exploration while hunting doppelgangers.

Usually, one or two.

There was only one time when three appeared at the same time, but it was easier than the first time.

It was because I wasn’t there at all.

[We’ve finally reached a fork in the road.]

After moving for about half a day, the single-path pattern ended.

A five-way intersection.

This meant that we had finally reached the center.

[From now on, you can meet other teams, so be careful.]

To add an explanation, from here on, you can meet not only doppelgangers transformed into our appearances but also doppelgangers from other teams.

It was safe to say that the difficulty had increased significantly.

There was no more troublesome opponent than an enemy you didn’t know about.

‘…I hope they’re at our level.’

Thinking that to myself, I moved forward through the fork in the road that Raven had chosen.

How much time had passed since then?

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the hidden piece room we were looking for.

However, instead, we encountered a strange explorer.

A man with a small physique of about 160 cm in height.

“State your name. Or I will consider you a doppelganger and eliminate you.”

At Raven’s request, the man took off his hood.

It was difficult to distinguish properly because of the distance and the darkness around, but I felt a sense of déjà vu as soon as I saw him.

And a strange sense of unease was a bonus.

‘Why?’

While I was pondering, the man’s mouth opened.

“…S, Scri… Sen……”

The doppelganger’s characteristic stuttering, broken speech.

I had guessed it from seeing him alone, but this confirmed his identity.

“This one, Yandel, please handle it alone.”

“Is it for analysis purposes?”

“Yes. We don’t know what kind of people they actually are, right? We need to figure it out in advance. I’ll help you right away if it’s dangerous.”

I was thinking the same thing, so I followed the instructions without saying anything.

Even in the meantime, the doppelganger was muttering something like a broken tape.

“I, am… not, a… doppel, ganger……”

I covered my upper body with my shield and slowly approached.

“C, Cri… Sen.”

There were no visible weapons.

He wasn’t a priest, so he was a power support type—

“Han, S… Cri, Sen……”

“……What?”

“Th, at… is… my name….”

My whole body was covered in goosebumps.