Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 226

Takelan Arbenon.

He couldn’t understand any of it.

‘What am I doing?’

He swings his sword.

With the last of his strength, he moves his arm to kill the enemy.

Even so, he keeps asking himself.

‘Why?’

His beloved wife is dead.

So why should he keep living?

The Barbarian had answered that question.

[Someone has to deliver the news.]

[Right, there was that…]

Takelan, who had been lost in despair, embarked on this arduous journey after hearing those words.

To deliver the news to his comrade’s bereaved family?

He knew that wasn’t the real reason.

The Barbarian, who, unlike him, had protected everyone.

[I’ll say it again! Everyone stop!]

With a voice full of conviction, he halts the madness-fueled tragedy.

[I am Melter Pend, the leader of the Nartel Clan.]

[I am Lacy Naret of the Heindel Church.]

[I am a war mage from Lapdonia.]

He was receiving recognition from renowned explorers.

[Behel—Raaaaaaaah!!]

The great Barbarian who led the arduous journey from the most dangerous front line and guided them to their destination.

This man was a born leader.

Just as he had been initially drawn to him, he had the power to move people’s hearts.

But that’s why…

He wanted to see this great man lose something precious and wallow in despair.

Then he might feel a little better.

Yes, it was inevitable.

Even this man couldn’t do it, right?

It’s only natural that I couldn’t protect them.

He had followed this journey with a disgusting motive, seeking solace in another’s misfortune.

Yes, that must have been it…

Swish-!

He is swinging his sword.

To save others, not just himself.

“Ah, thank you. You said your name was Takelan, right?”

“…”

“You’re a quiet friend.”

Despite losing a comrade he had been with for years, he was fighting with all his might for someone he had just met.

Takelan couldn’t understand it at all.

Swish-!

Why am I still fighting?

Because I haven’t seen that Barbarian despair?

No, if that’s the case, then why?

“Hah, reinforcements are coming at a time like this.”

“Are we going to die?”

“Ha, this is crazy. How did we even get this far?”

“Stop the chatter and just fight!”

“Yeah, I can’t just die like this, it’s too unfair!”

Are these people fighting to the very end even though they know they might die?

“Waaaaaaaah-!”

Takelan, scanning the eyes of the explorers, soon realized the reason.

Kwaaaang-!

Beyond the continuous explosions.

A man with a huge back was fighting where numerous enemies were rushing in.

“Behel—Raaaaaaaah!!”

Still not giving up hope.

***

The situation is grim.

But the more it is, the more I try to focus on the positive aspects.

‘Their equipment is only at the 2nd or 3rd floor level.’

There are quite a few of them, but their individual combat power is quite low. Well, if they were strong, they would have gone up to the upper floors to hunt long ago.

In fact, the remnants of Noah Arc mixed in with the corpse legion and attacked us, but it didn’t make much of a difference to us right now.

At our level, one corpse summoned by the clown was more threatening.

‘The problem is… it’ll take more time to break through.’

Actually, this is the most troublesome point.

Time is not on our side.

We have to take down the clown as quickly as possible, and then gang up on the wolf bastard or the Ruin Scholar to have a chance of winning.

But then the Noah Arc remnants show up.

‘If this happens, the rear formation will also collapse…’

There is even less time now.

The more impatient I became, the more strength I put into the hand holding the mace.

Crack-!

This time again, they died in one hit.

However, even at this moment when I am defeating the enemy.

“Aaaagh!”

The number of allies is decreasing.

In the face of death, people are more honest than ever.

Some cried out the names of their families and confessed their love, some cursed the king, and some revealed their true selves to the world, something they had never been able to show.

“Look at my expression… hey, I’m a demon.”

“…What? Wh, what are you talking about!”

“Sorry for deceiving you… thank you for everything… cough! Now, go, go home… ah, ah, mom… I’m too, late…”

Right, there’s no way there wouldn’t be a single player among these many people.

Thump-!

I felt it was unfair.

We overcame so many hardships to get here, and is it going to end so futilely?

‘…No, that can’t be.’

I regain my composure.

It’s not too late to break down after you’ve fallen.

My arms and legs are still moving, aren’t they?

Until my breath stops and my blood cools, it’s right to struggle and struggle again.

Yes, so…

Crack-!

I swing my mace and think.

Like the first day I came here.

What do I have to do to survive?

Um, first, let’s figure it out.

“Kyle! How is it on your side?”

[We’re barely holding on, but it’s not good.]

It seems that the rear, where ranged positions such as mages and archers are gathered, is also taking heavy damage.

Well, is it any surprise?

The Noah Arc explorers attacked over there as well. Most of the warriors are on this side, so it would have been difficult to deal with.

‘So, we’re surrounded on all sides.’

However, surprisingly, there is an escape route.

The portal we came up through.

Kyle was just saying it to boost morale, but there must be some who escaped to the first floor using it.

Escape is always an attractive option.

Especially if your life is at stake.

“…Yandel, how about going down to regroup!”

A warrior shouts at me as if advising me.

But did this reach Kyle through the message stone?

[Absolutely not. We’ll have to come back up to avoid him anyway, and then they won’t wait for us to form a formation.]

Kyle says firmly to prevent any foolish thoughts.

It was a meaningless act.

I wasn’t even thinking about that anyway.

0 and 1 are different.

And if my and Kyle’s judgment is correct.

No matter how you look at it, 1 is on this side.

We have to settle the score here somehow.

That’s why.

“How is Melter Pend doing?”

I ask about another battlefield that could be a variable.

However, this time again, there was no positive answer.

[He’s holding on well, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll be over anytime soon.]

Right, that’s what it is.

“…Bjorn!!”

I was surprised and looked to the side, and I saw a suicide bomber approaching within arm’s reach.

“Deltu Teiran!”

Fortunately, Raven used the ‘Gale’ magic in time to push the suicide bomber away.

Poof-!

The suicide bomber bursts, making a sound and splattering bodily fluids.

The same corpses were not affected, but the Noah Arc explorers who came as reinforcements were different.

Chiiiiik-!

Those who were nearby just melted away, and even those who were hit by just one drop turned pale and staggered.

Somehow, it tasted bitter.

Whether it’s Lapdonia or Noah Arc, they all treat people like expendable items.

“Then how is the Ruin Scholar doing?”

Without a moment to catch my breath, I continued the conversation.

Perhaps the most important information in the current situation.

“Can we kill him?”

[Now that the magic circle is complete, I’ll try. But…]

Kyle trails off.

It seems he’s not confident.

[I’m sorry. I thought I had caught up, but the gap has widened even more than before.]

I didn’t feel like saying anything in particular.

In the first place, if this old man had escaped through the dimensional gate, we wouldn’t have even made it this far. Besides, the Ruin Scholar was a mage at a crazy level, even to me.

[But as I said before, I can buy time. I’ll try to land a hit somehow within that time. Even if it costs me my life.]

His words reminded me of Dwarki.

“Are you perhaps talking about that awakening magic?”

[…Something similar.]

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

[If I was afraid of the price, I wouldn’t have stayed here. It’s the moment I’ve been longing for. And I’ve been improving it for a long time, so it’s not necessarily going to cost me my life.]

“…I see.”

I didn’t say that he didn’t have to go that far, even as a platitude.

That would just be hypocrisy, and…

“Aaaagh!!”

Who here isn’t fighting for their life right now?

Even I am.

For example, if I were to fall right now, people would be sad, but not surprised.

That’s the kind of battle it was.

[Then what are you going to do?]

I smiled at Kyle’s cautious question.

Why does this old man always ask these kinds of questions?

[It might be better to come back here and fight together—]

“That’s enough.”

I cut him off firmly.

The Noah Arc explorers have come as reinforcements, and now we are outnumbered in terms of quantity, but…

“Nothing has changed.”

Kyle Febrosk will take on the Ruin Scholar.

Melter Pend will take on that wolf bastard.

“We’ll take on the corpse collector.”

[I knew it.]

I heard a snicker from beyond the message stone.

“Why are you laughing? Do you think we can’t do it?”

[No, that’s not what I meant. I was just reminded of what you said earlier.]

What I said?

[You said that warriors laugh when they’re having a hard time. Now, let’s include mages in that too.]

Well, our warriors laugh a little more heartily, though.

“If you show me a more manly laugh next time.”

[Next time…]

Ah, was it a little too much to joke in this situation?

I regretted it a little, but soon a much lighter voice was heard.

[Yeah, it’s not bad to have a next time. You know what? I’m going to write a book when I get back. A book about my life. It’s been my dream since I was a kid.]

“I’ll read it if I get the chance.”

[That would be an honor. If I write a book, can I put what you said as a quote?]

“A quote?”

[That warriors laugh when they’re having a hard time. For some reason, that phrase keeps lingering in my mind.]

Oh, I just said that casually.

It’s a little embarrassing that he’s taking it so seriously.

But, if we can go back, I’ll allow him anything.

“Do whatever you want.”

Kyle laughed out loud at my answer.

[Haha, is that so? Then there’s no problem now.]

It was a much more hearty laugh than before.

***

The current battle formation is a bit complicated.

First, the expedition’s ranged dealer line is concentrated around the portal.

And the warriors are blocking the area around it.

Originally, we only had to block the corpse legion in front, but the Noah Arc explorers attacked from behind, so it turned out like this.

‘They must be having a hard time too.’

While we were reorganizing the front line, Melter Pend and his clan members were left in the middle of the battlefield, just like when they were raiding the wolf bastard.

I’m pretty sure they’re having as hard a time as we are.

We’ve also been separated from the main force to catch the corpse collector.

You could say it’s a kind of special unit.

Um, in that sense, let’s do a mid-term check.

“Raven! How many people are there?”

“Yes? Ah, I think there are about 40 people!”

Wow, so many have died in the meantime.

I think there were well over a hundred at first—.

Swishhhhh-!

Then, suddenly, light burst out from the ground.

A huge red magic circle that covered the entire battlefield in an instant.

“…It’s a space magic formula!”

Raven was the first to recognize the formula.

However, that’s all she could figure out.

Kyle’s calm voice flowed through the message stone.

[Don’t be surprised. It’s just that the time has come.]

“Then is there anything wrong with the plan?”

[Yes, I thought that old man would definitely use this magic.]

I was relieved at that.

If the Ruin Scholar uses a space magic formula, he’ll use the guy’s magic power in reverse to use another magic, right?

That was roughly the plan, but I’m not a mage, so I don’t know the details.

This kind of thing wasn’t implemented in the game either.

It was a limitation of the 2D game format.

But…

‘I should get ready too.’

I have to move thinking that it will work properly.

Otherwise, there’s no answer.

Swishhhhhhhh-!

The light emitted from the magic circle reached its limit, and my vision turned completely white.

And at that moment.

[I’ll be going now.]

Kyle’s voice was heard once more.

Flash-!

A dazzling flash covered the battlefield.

「Kyle Febrosk has cast the 2nd grade space-time magic [Parallel Realm].」

A ringing sound echoes in my ears.

When I opened my eyes, I could see the same battlefield with a blurry vision.

I muttered briefly.

“Kyle, did it succeed?”

There was no answer.

That means the magic was successful.

By now, Kyle would have started a 1:1 fight with the Ruin Scholar in a virtual space based on the Goblin Forest.

I hope he wins and comes back, but…

‘I have to prepare for when it doesn’t.’

Kyle thought he could at least buy time.

We have to do something here too within that time.

“What are you doing! Run!”

After a brief pause from the white flash, I led the special unit again and continued the breakthrough.

With the Ruin Scholar’s interference, which had been constant, gone, the advance was much easier.

How long has it been?

‘This should be enough.’

I reached the target distance.

There is no need for a life-threatening breakthrough anymore.

Therefore, I entrusted the special unit to Teterud, who had been breaking through the path with me.

“Teterud, now you take the remaining people and go back.”

“Then I’ll leave him to you.”

We had already finished communicating while breaking through the path.

“Okay, you heard that? We’re only going this far and then we’re going back!”

“But that doesn’t look easy either?”

“Well, Yandel will take care of this side!”

“Let’s go!!”

Teterud then led the remaining group and retreated to where Melter Pend was.

Even if it’s impossible to reach the main force from here, they’ll get there.

Once they arrive, it will help to catch the wolf bastard.

“Okay, everyone, get on quickly.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Misha quickly jumped and sat on my shoulder in [Giant] state.

“Are we really going by ourselves, nya?”

Next was Ainar.

“Oh! I think I know why Aruru rides around on you!”

He wasn’t the right size to put on my shoulder, so I wrapped my left arm around his waist and held him up.

“Excuse me.”

Raven, who got off the unsummoned Woong, sat on Misha’s lap.

“…This is a very strange feeling.”

The biggest bear uncle was choking my neck and hanging on my back.

And…

“It feels like we’ve really become a team!”

Finally, Erwen sat on my right shoulder.

Huh, it feels like I’ve really become a means of transportation.

Just as I was about to start.

“Wait a minute.”

Daria grabbed me.

I had a hunch about what she was going to say, so I preemptively put my foot down.

“I said it before, but I can’t send Erwen.”

No matter how much she uses her sister’s position to say something, I can’t give her up.

Erwen is the key to this strategy—.

“That’s not it. I’m going too.”

“What?”

Right, so you do have some shame.

“…What’s with that look?”

“It’s nothing. Come here.”

I quickly reached out my remaining arm and wrapped it around Daria’s waist.

[Ggrrrrrrr…]

The clown’s summoned corpses, as well as the 2nd floor trash explorers from Noah Arc, were gathering in real time.

I bent my knees slightly and checked the front.

There are over a hundred Noah Arc explorers between the clown and me, and even more corpse legions, but…

‘It’s about 60m.’

After checking the distance one more time, I bend my knees even more, like pressing a spring.

And…

“Hold on tight.”

This time, instead of a low jump, I jump with all my might.

「The character has cast [Leap].」

In an instant, my body soared into the air, and the battlefield was visible at a glance.

“I’m flying!! I’m flying!!”

Melter Pend, who is raiding the wolf bastard while forming a siege formation.

Teterud, who started running in that direction.

The main force in the center.

And as the finishing touch, the clown bastard who was just splitting his sides while looking at me from a safe distance.

“O, oh…”

At the moment I reached the highest point.

Someone grabbed my hair with all their might.

Geez, should I make something to grab onto on my armor later?

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaak!!!”

My body, which flew in a parabola, is falling rapidly. The clown sitting on the corpse monster saw me and retreated his summons.

No, is that going to work now?

If you’re going to kite, do it more intensely.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaang-!

My body slams into the ground like a cannonball.

「The character’s total weight is over 500kg.」

「The special terrain effect [Rebound] is additionally applied to the damage range.」

Due to the [Rebound], the Noah Arc remnants and corpse legions around the clown all rise into the air at once.

Ah, the corpse monster the clown is riding on was excluded.

It didn’t budge because its weight was over 500.

Of course, it was a minor problem.

“I didn’t know you ate the essence of the Manticore. Psh!”

The clown, still looking at me with a relaxed gaze.

He even seems happy.

I’d like to have a few words with him if I could, but I quickly ended [Giant].

My body shrinks in a short period of time.

“Eek!!”

All the companions who were hanging on fell off, and the clown, looking at me, said in an exaggerated tone.

“Oh my! Did you run out of MP? You came all this way with such effort, what a pity.”

Run out of MP, my ass.

Well, if he gets hit directly, he’ll stop that stupid way of talking someday.

“Erwen.”

“Ah, yes!”

At the same time as I called her name, Erwen used her ability.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Spirit Form].」

[Spirit Form].

It is the ability of the 5th grade monster Evan, and a skill that had a very unique concept in [Dungeon and Stone].

The effect is simple.

The caster becomes an incorporeal state and becomes immune to physical damage.

And…

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia proposes a ‘contract’ to the character.」

She makes a contract with one person and temporarily shares various powers.

[Mister, hold my hand.]

A voice that sounds like it’s not from this world.

I grabbed Erwen’s outstretched hand as if I were possessed.

It was that moment.

Whirr-!

A fierce flame erupts, engulfing me as if to protect my whole body.

It’s called, Elemental Barbarian (Fire) Mode.

“Erwen, turn off the fire.”

[…Huh? Ah, right!]

Did she finally remember what I said before?

Erwen quickly changed the attribute.

Zzzzzzz.

My already thick skin cracked like dry land and became even thicker.

「The earth spirit dwells in the character’s body.」

「Fire damage taken is reduced by half.」

「Water damage taken is doubled.」

「Poison immunity bonus.」

「When using blunt weapons, a strong bonus is added to destructive actions.」

「Physical resistance is greatly increased…」

「…」

Yeah, a man is a rock.