Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 224

The goblin forest on the second floor was relatively bright. It was dark, but the starlight provided some illumination. Well, it wasn’t usually this bright, though. Whoosh! Several light orbs floated in the air, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime. It was like watching a night game in a stadium with the lights on. ‘Just how much mana does he have to spare?’ The difference in level was so stark that it made my chest tighten, but… That’s not what I should be thinking about right now. “Yandel, those guys are…” “The Ruin Scholar and the Corpse Collector. I don’t know about the other one.” I shared the information briefly with the warriors who followed me through the portal, while keeping my eyes on the front. “Oh, so you didn’t come alone?” The beastman, whose identity I still didn’t know, chuckled. He seemed to be in a good mood. “This is quite a haul, even if we split it three ways, wouldn’t you say?” His greedy gaze swept over us. It felt like we were just some mob A in a honey pot hunting ground. Ha, I was hoping that maybe he’d let us live since he congratulated us. “How low.” The elderly white-haired mage, ‘The Ruin Scholar,’ clicked his tongue as if he didn’t like it. “Why? Isn’t that why you insisted on staying behind?” The beastman asked, but the Ruin Scholar didn’t answer, as if he was annoyed. Then, the Corpse Collector laughed and chimed in. “Heh, don’t you know that old hag yet? He just wants to go back as soon as possible, regardless of the loot.” “Hmm, is that so? Then, it seems like only the two of us are low-class humans.” “Ha, what are you talking about? Do you think I stayed behind just to get a few pieces of equipment?” “…Then why?” The beastman tilted his head at the Corpse Collector’s, no, the Jester’s words. I also pretended not to listen, but I was all ears. Knowing the individual motives and goals of those who remained here might increase my options. Well, yes, that was the case, but… “Of course! It’s because it seemed fun!” The Jester shouted exaggeratedly, just like he did at the round table. “To be able to kill an explorer who barely made it through that arduous path with just a sliver of hope! Isn’t that the best?” The Ruin Scholar frowned again. “What’s with that tone? It’s like you’re suddenly acting.” “Ah, you mean that? I thought maybe there might be someone I know among you! Heh.” “Someone you know…?” “Well, there is. I’ve wanted to kill them all for a long time, but it’s no fun if I just kill them, right? At least it’s more fun if the dying side knows who I am!” “You’re talking nonsense. Do as you please. I’m going to rest.” The Ruin Scholar looked like he couldn’t understand, but I was different. ‘This crazy psycho bastard.’ He was hoping that if there was a member of the round table among us, they would recognize him. That’s why he even wore a mask to reveal himself. In a way, it was a gesture that showed his resolve. That he wouldn’t let anyone here live. “Hmm, but there are more of you than I thought?” Even as my comrades were entering through the portal in real-time, the beastman, who had been chatting casually, looked at us with a question. However, there was no sign of tension. He must be confident that he can handle any number of the dregs that the royal family’s core forces left behind. ‘Even better.’ I decided to think positively as much as possible. If they had decided to focus fire on us as soon as we came to the second floor, the situation would have been much more bleak. It’s a good thing that the enemy is underestimating us. So… “Heh, it seems like no more are coming, so is it over?” Whether that’s arrogance or not. We just need to take advantage of it. “It would have been troublesome if there were more, so it’s good that it’s over.” “Heh, troublesome?” A high-ranking necromancer, also known as a one-man army. The Jester snapped his fingers. Whoosh-! A huge subspace opened in the air. And… [Ggrrrroooaaarrr!] He unleashed a legion of hundreds of corpses. “Behel—laaaaaaa!!!” The moment we’ve been waiting for. It’s time to start the final battle. *** The corpse legion was charging from the front. They were corpses that had been diligently collected, and they were even properly equipped. The pressure was considerable. But… “Hey, if we win this battle, we can go back, right?” There were no deserters. At least not around me. “Hah, finally, I can fight properly.” The warriors, already exhausted, smiled and drew their weapons. “Finally, I can show my worth. I’m one rank higher than you, after all.” It was different in many ways from when we were breaking through the first floor. Various weapons such as swords, hammers, axes, maces, and flails emitted a bright light. 「Alexandro Bell has cast [Fury of Fire].」 「Ralph Kell has cast [Gale Sword].」 「Milton Teterud has cast [Banner of Struggle].」 「Stamina consumption during combat is greatly reduced.」 Skills that couldn’t be used due to the field effect. “Waaaaaaaah!!” “Let’s goooo!!” As if they had been waiting for this moment, the warriors unleashed their skills without holding back and charged towards the corpse legion. I also joined the ranks, using [Giant Form]. Yeah, we may be out of stamina, but we’re not out of MP. Kwaaaang-! The sound of an explosion erupted as the vanguard clashed with the corpse legion. The sound that should accompany an explorer’s battle. [Ggrrrroooaaarrr…] As soon as the corpse legion’s charge was stopped, support followed from the rear. Arrows flying. Various elemental attack magic. And long-range abilities. Of course, they weren’t just watching idly either. 「Abet Necrapeto has cast [Curse of Stone].」 During the battle, bodies turned into stone statues. 「Abet Necrapeto has cast [Corpse Explosion].」 Corpses modified for self-destruction rushed in and burst into pieces. Boom-! The power of the explosion was about the same as a 6th-grade fire magic. It wasn’t enough to instantly kill the warriors who had become more solid and agile by using active skills. But… Chiiiik. As expected of corpses handled by a poison necromancer, the bodies of those who were splattered with blood nearby melted away in an instant. “Aaaah!!” In the midst of that. “Hey, Barbarian! Are you the leader here?” The beastman, one of the trio, leaped and landed in front of me. He looked completely different from before. Sharp, protruding fangs. Fur covering his entire body and a blue mane. His height and build were comparable to mine in [Giant Form]. He had transformed into a beast form reminiscent of a lycanthrope. ‘No wonder he didn’t have any equipment.’ I quickly analyzed him as I scanned him. ‘He’s an enhancer.’ The beastman’s unique ability, ‘Soul Beast.’ It seemed that this guy was an enhancer like Misha. He must have had a transformation skill among the powers he gained by raising his Soul Beast level. ‘Then what kind of essence did he eat?’ I put aside the question that I would naturally find out later and covered my face with my shield. He was swinging his huge forepaw. Kwaang-! A heavy impact that made my bones vibrate. ‘His strength is greater than mine.’ It was going to be a tough fight— Whoosh-! Just as I was retreating to avoid the power struggle, a sword was swung. Not at me, but at that wolf bastard. “I’ll take care of this one, so you fall back!” It was Melter Pend, the leader of the Nartel Clan. “You’ll take care of it?” “It’s Kyle’s order.” In that case. I willingly gave up my opponent to him and retreated. There’s also the saying about the right person for the right job. Melter Pend is the only 3rd-grade explorer in our expedition. He’s also been conserving his strength with his members for the battle on the second floor. ‘He said he used to be a trainee knight.’ He’s much better at one-on-one combat than I am. [Yandel, can you hear me?] The moment I turned around after entrusting the wolf bastard to Melter, Kyle’s voice came from the message stone. “I hear you.” [I’m sorry. I was late to contact you because I had to divide the troops for a moment.] “Enough with the apologies, just get to the point.” [I want you to focus on leading the people and confronting the Corpse Collector. Melter Pend and his comrades will take care of the Blue Mane.] “Blue Mane?” [Ah, you didn’t know? It’s Jails, who made a name for himself during the Noark subjugation. He was the successor of the Blue Wolf Clan, but after committing a crime and running away, he seems to have been hiding in Noark.] Hmm, he wasn’t an Orculist member. No wonder there wasn’t anyone I recognized right away. “Understood. I’ll take care of this side.” [That’s reassuring. Then I’ll put everything into stopping that old man.] If it’s an old man, he must be talking about the Ruin Scholar, right? Maybe that old man was the target of revenge that Kyle was talking about. “Okay, I’ll trust you on that side.” I said, ending the conversation, and swung my mace at the corpses that filled the area. Then, another voice was heard. [Ah, and one more thing.] “…?” [Your comrades will be arriving soon.] “What?” […] There was no reply. Kwajik-! That was the moment I crushed the head of a corpse that was protecting itself with its shield. Swoosh-! An adamantium greatsword was embedded in the temple of a corpse that was aiming for my side. “From now on, we’ll help too!!” Ainar. And… “Bjorn!” Misha. The close-range combat sisters naturally stood on my rear flanks and took a fighting stance. It was the formation that Team Apple Narac usually used when fighting. “You’re not going to insist on fighting alone again this time, are you?” When I turned around, I saw Raven riding on Woong, the bear uncle’s summon. ‘Wait a minute, if Woong is here, that means…’ When I checked nearby, sure enough, I saw that the bear uncle had come with him. “Why are you guys here in the rear…?” Even if it’s the close-range combat sisters, why did these two come all the way here? It would be much safer in the back. The bear uncle answered as he loaded an arrow into his large crossbow. “Curved shots aren’t my specialty.” Hmm, that’s true. I don’t think that’s the real reason, though. ‘When we go up to the 6th floor later, I should feed him [Leap] first.’ Thinking about the essence I would feed the bear uncle later, I swung my mace. However, the corpse fell before it even touched. Whoosh! A fire arrow pierced its forehead. “Uncle!!” Yeah, you came too. I see that your older sister, Daria, is with you. I thought you were just trying to protect yourself with her, but did you suddenly change your mind? I don’t know, but it’s not bad. “Protect the leader!” Melter Pend and his members were creating their own area within the battlefield and were working hard to take down the wolf bastard. “These dregs…!” Judging by the praise that was pouring out, it seemed like they were making good progress. It’s a little concerning that the Ruin Scholar is still quiet, but… ‘Let’s trust them.’ If something happens, Kyle will take care of it. I just need to do my job. Therefore… “…” I sweep the entire front broadly. In [Giant Form], it wasn’t difficult to find the Jester far away. He was sitting on top of a huge corpse monster, watching the battlefield. As if he was really enjoying the show. ‘There’s a limit to how much you can look down on people.’ I somehow started to laugh. Come to think of it, the Dragonslayer bastard had the same look in his eyes when I first met him. “Misha, Ainar. We’re going to break through now.” I began to advance forward, breaking through the corpse legion. The target is the Corpse Collector. The goal is to smash his head and see if there’s something wrong with his brain. “Yandel! Yandel is going to do something again!” “Could it be, is he aiming for the Corpse Collector?” “Follow the great warrior!!” “Let’s goooo!!” Explorers began to gather around me.