Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 188

Doppelganger clones are different from the main body. They can only use the abilities of the imitated target, and the ones just summoned in the boss room have lower intelligence. Or, should I say, lower proficiency? Unlike the real HansG, who summoned all his summons at the start of the battle, these clones were stuttering, summoning one at a time. “One down for now.” Before the clones could even do anything, Bear Ahjussi’s crossbow pierced one of them right between the eyes. The rest soon followed a similar fate. “All of them are taken care of!” A victory report came in less than 30 seconds. I was worried that something terrible might happen since there were four HansGs, but for now, it was easily resolved. Therefore… “Everyone, now’s our chance!” Before it summons more clones, we need to quickly pour damage into the main body. Well, it won’t be easy though. “Kkyaaaaak!!” As everyone’s damage focused on it, the main body started thrashing around, screaming. [Leap], [Swing], [Giantification]. And… 「The Nameless Plunderer has cast [Flesh Explosion].」 Even that skill, which it rarely used after losing its regeneration ability. The guy, with my physical abilities plus the average stats of a 5th-grade monster, showed off a truly monstrous presence, befitting a boss monster. “Everyone, fall back!” In the end, Raven pulled the melee DPS line back. It wasn’t a bad decision. With two mages and one archer, we already had enough damage. There’s no reason to risk pushing the melee DPS to the front line. Besides, while the Doppelganger is in my form, the efficiency of physical damage is reduced. “The three of you, protect us!” Misha, Ainar, and the blunt weapon warrior. As the three melee DPS changed their positions to guard the damage dealers, the team’s backline was able to unleash ranged attacks more confidently. ‘Hey, where do you think you’re going?’ As high-powered ranged damage continued, the main body tried to ignore me and rush to the back, but each time, I managed my threat level with [Wild Outburst] and drew its aggro. How much time had passed since then? Crackle-! A ‘Lightning Spear’ pierced the head of the monster, which was tattered from repeatedly using [Flesh Explosion], and the Doppelganger turned into a black, slimy substance. ‘I guess we got through the first hurdle.’ Of course, the first phase is far from over. The first phase ends only after all the characters who entered the boss room have transformed in order. But… “Oh! It’s my turn this time!!” Whoever comes out next, it won’t be as difficult as it was for me. In fact, the battle with Ainar, who was designated as the next in line, was over before we even experienced the clone summoning pattern twice. Now, the melee DPS didn’t need to stay in the back anymore. “Kkyaaaaak!” That’s when we defeated the Doppelganger that had transformed into Ainar. Thud thud thud-! The magic circle drawn on the floor began to glow, and the entire cave began to shake. Ah, it’s not like it’s a special move pattern or anything. It just means the seal release rate has increased by 10%. 「Seal Release Rate 20%.」 It hadn’t even been a few minutes since the boss fight started, but… This is something I can’t control. Once the battle starts, the speed at which the seal is released increases rapidly. ‘It was about 5% for every 10 clones summoned, right?’ This is the most annoying part of this strategy. No matter what we do, we can’t prevent the summoning pattern in advance, so the increase in the seal release rate is inevitable. Well, if there was a second team outside to activate the seal stones, the burden would be a bit less, but we don’t have that. ‘We have no choice but to finish it before then.’ If it reaches 100% and the seal is released, it’s game over. Because from that point on, each clone becomes as strong as the main body. They even multiply with [Self-Replication]. “It’s my turn this time.” The next in line was Raven. Surprisingly, there was a slightly dangerous moment at this point. Since magic requires casting time, I was planning to finish it off with rapid-fire attacks, but… The clones that were summoned in the middle were the problem. Two out of the four were me. “Behel—laaaa!” “Behel—laaaa!” I don’t know what kind of magic the Doppelganger was trying to use. However, Raven, sensing the concentration of magical power, shouted that we would all die if it went on like this, so if the magic had been completed, it would have been a big problem. Well, I did blow its head off before that, though. Crack! After that, the Doppelganger transformed into Misha, the blunt weapon warrior, Parteian, and Bear Ahjussi in that order, and we did our best to defeat them as quickly as possible. Finally, the first phase was over. Thud thud thud-! Looking at the magic circle that glowed once more as soon as the phase ended, I clicked my tongue. ‘40% seal release rate in the first phase…’ It was exactly the number I expected. Tsk, I still wanted to reduce it as much as possible if I could. “Everyone, take your positions as we discussed!” I shook off my disappointment and gave the order. The Doppelganger, having finished the first phase, was shrinking and expanding in the center of the cave, transforming. “If, if it’s something, no one, knows…” The Doppelganger’s voice echoed throughout the cave. It meant the next phase was about to begin. “What’s, the difference, with the truth?” The Doppelganger finished transforming. 「The Nameless Plunderer has cast [Switch].」 It was time to start the second phase. *** One of the Doppelganger’s abilities, [Switch]. Its effect is quite straightforward. This skill switches the positions of the clones created with [Self-Replication] and the main body. But… That’s only when you get the skill with essence. “…Why is it me from the start?” “…Why is it me from the start?” Raven had doubled. Their faces were identical, and there was no sense of incongruity in their speech or expressions. By the way, it’s impossible to distinguish them by their positions. ‘I remember a mage I worked hard to raise died because of this before.’ I think it was the first mage I ever successfully recruited while playing [Dungeon & Stone]. The shock was quite big back then. Swish. I moved my gaze and scanned the ‘Stone of Truth’ rolling around on the floor like a toy. Originally, using this to distinguish whether it was a Doppelganger or not was the standard strategy. Well, it does increase the seal rate, though. We, without external support, absolutely cannot use this. Then how do we distinguish the real one? Heh. I smiled and stared at the two Ravens. At first, their lines were identical, but here, their words and actions diverged. “D-don’t, don’t shoot!” “What are you all doing! That one’s the fake!” One was defensive, while the other was defending herself with a somewhat aggressive stance. I muttered briefly. “What are you doing? Shoot already.” The sound of Bear Ahjussi pulling the trigger came from behind. And… Bang! A large arrow, like a siege weapon, was fired, smashing Raven’s small head to pieces. Thud. The small body fell limply. “Oh, could it be… was that the real Aruru…?” “Murderer!!! You killed Aruru!!!” Everyone, including Misha, froze in shock. But… “There’s no way. Everyone, calm down.” Soon, Raven’s body, which had fallen to the floor, turned into black slime and floated into the air. It meant we got the answer right. Ah, by the way, the aggressive Raven was the real one. “Now then, you go to the remaining spot.” I sent Raven, whose position had been switched with the Doppelganger, to the wall, then approached the slime that was transforming. “It’s your turn this time.” I raised my mace and waited for a moment, and the Doppelganger finished transforming. “Heeik! P-put that down, you barbarian geezer!” Whatever. Whack-! Without needing to see more, I smashed its head with my mace. Again, as expected, it was the right answer. Actually, it was obvious. The Doppelganger can’t copy Numbers items. “Oh, but still, shouldn’t you have hesitated a little since it was me…?” Misha is the owner of the No. 5991 Viper’s Fang. “Mr. Karlstein, what are you expecting from a barbarian?” Raven had received the ‘Misaligned Trust’ from Parteian after using up all its charges, and had been holding it in one hand throughout the boss fight. “Finally, it’s my turn. I’ll take care of it.” Bear Ahjussi has the ‘Deception of the Necromancer’. “Behel—laaaaaa!!” Ainar is wearing a ring called ‘Foxfire Knot’ that he got from the elven archer. It’s not a very useful option, so he’ll probably sell it later. Crack-! Like this, the Doppelganger’s second phase can be easily cleared if you have the right gear. And have they finally realized that? 「The Nameless Plunderer has cast [Switch].」 The Doppelganger, transformed into a blunt weapon warrior, didn’t say a word and immediately launched a surprise attack. The target was the mage with the lowest defense. If we had been in a tight formation like before, it would have been difficult to avoid that attack, but… “I’ll block it!!” As soon as we entered the second phase, we each moved away from each other and stuck to the walls. In short, it meant we had enough time to react to a surprise attack. Clang-! Ainar’s greatsword collided with the Doppelganger’s blunt weapon and exploded. In that gap, Misha stabbed it with her sword from behind. After that, it was finished off by Bear Ahjussi and Raven’s interception. “Everyone, go to your positions!” After finishing one turn, I gathered the team members who had transformed once and had them form a tight formation. “What are you doing, not going?” The blunt weapon warrior, as if snapping out of it, hurriedly moved to his position. There was a faint glow coming from his shoes. It was a cheap 9000s Numbers item called ‘Footsteps of Abundance’. It had a decent option for a warrior. It wasn’t something I lent him from the loot, he originally owned it. I heard he bought it after saving up diligently. 「The Nameless Plunderer has cast [Switch].」 Anyway, next was the middle-aged mage, Parteian. He was the one who lent ‘Misaligned Trust’ to Raven, but there was nothing particularly problematic. The magic staff that this old man carried around was a Numbers item. Crack-! Since the imitated target was a mage, it didn’t take long to defeat the transformed monster. Now, the only one left is me. “Mr. Parteian.” “That thing, right? I’ll prepare it right away.” The mages, who had suffered greatly from the Doppelganger that had transformed into me earlier, were already preparing the most powerful magic spells. “Behel—laaaaaaaa!!” As soon as the Doppelganger finished transforming, I pushed it back with my shield. “The one in the back is the fake!” The mages, who had quickly identified it, focused their prepared magic on one point. Of course, as a tank, I didn’t die in one hit, but… Since there were no summons in the second phase, there was no interruption of the magic in the middle. Fizzle! Bang! Whoosh-! High-powered attack magic was poured down, literally. Eventually, the monster couldn’t withstand it and fell. Looking at that, I felt somehow bitter. ‘I need to get my magic resistance set up soon too.’ There’s still a long way to go as a tank. *** The Doppelganger’s third phase. That is, we had reached the final phase. “Everyone, come here!” Without me even needing to give the order, Raven quickly led the people and formed a new formation. And at that moment. Thud thud thud thud-!! The cave shook violently as if there was an earthquake. With a rustling sound, grains of dirt fell from the ceiling. “Kkihihi, hihi, kkikk, kkihihihi!” The Doppelganger, which had returned to a form similar to a slime, burst into a bizarre laugh. Honestly, I don’t even feel creeped out anymore. I just had this question. How is it talking when it doesn’t even have a mouth? “Be careful! If Yandel gets hit—” “Don’t worry. That won’t happen.” I quickly dismissed Raven’s anxiety. It wasn’t because I was completely confident of victory. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous either. It was my long-standing habit to always assume the worst and be wary of any possible variables. However, sometimes, showing a confident demeanor and leading the team is also a leader’s quality. Clench. Maintaining just enough tension to warm up my body, I put strength into the hand holding the mace. The final phase is a kind of ‘berserk mode’. From now on, every minute and second is important. Because it summons clones on a scale that is incomparable to the first phase. Bang-! The black slime, which had expanded to the point where it made you think there was a limit, exploded. Black particles spread throughout the cave. The two mages, as if they had been waiting, unleashed flames to erase them, but… They couldn’t even erase half of them. Even in the midst of that, the explosions continued. 「The Nameless Plunderer has cast [Self-Replication].」 「The Nameless Plunderer has cast [Self-Replication].」 「The Nameless Plunderer has cast [Self-Replication].」 The particles gathered and took shape, soon imitating our forms. The number was easily in the dozens. HansG, as well as the elven archer, the dwarf, and other guys we’ll never see again after today, appeared everywhere. The wide cave was filled in an instant. “Don’t be too afraid. The clones that come out here aren’t as strong as before!” As Raven said, these guys are much weaker than the ones we saw earlier. I could probably make them disappear into smoke with just one or two hits. However, the scary thing about the ‘berserk’ state is something else. 「Seal Release Rate 50%」 「Seal Release Rate 60%」 The magic circle on the floor, constantly emitting light, indicated that the release rate had been updated. If this continues, the seal will be broken in a few minutes, and the Doppelganger will regain its full power. Therefore, it was time to take that out. 「The character has used [Outlaw of the Wasteland].」 「The amount of melee physical damage is temporarily increased in proportion to the number of humanoid monsters.」 It was the item that gave me the confidence that I could take down the Doppelganger bastard, and… 「Current increase rate 112%.」 「Current increase rate 157%.」 「Current increase rate 278%.」 「Current increase rate 342%.」 「Current increase rate 4…….」 The thing that gave us a whopping 90% chance of winning. “Behel—laaaaaaaa!!!” Items are also a skill.