Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 355

The first stage effect of [Evolved Outer Shell] grants 50% resistance to swords.

The second stage reduces piercing damage by half.

So, what happens if the effect is increased by 1.5 times?

The answer is quite simple.

75% resistance to swords.

And, 75% reduction in piercing damage.

For reference, when combined with sword resistance, it essentially becomes immune to piercing damage from swords, even in the base state.

However, the only regret is…

‘If it weren’t for the limit, I’d be getting a sword immunity judgment.’

The limit of sword resistance is about 85%.

Therefore, even with the passive enhancement effect of [Transcendence], it doesn’t reach the immunity threshold.

In that sense, let’s summarize one last time.

‘Immune to piercing.’

Slashing attacks might still work, but the ogre’s passive skill, [Iron Skin], is firmly holding its ground there.

And…

‘With my current physical resistance and [Iron Skin]…’

Well, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I’ve become a nightmare for all knights.

However, perhaps worried because they don’t know the full story.

Tap.

The moment the blood knight’s foot pushed off the ground, someone shouted.

“Dodge…!”.

It was Raven’s voice.

It’d be faster to show them directly than to try and explain, right?

Swoosh.

Thinking that, the moment I blocked his piercing attack with my shield.

Clack-!

It’s been a while since I heard that sound from a sword’s tip.

“…!”.

He looked bewildered as he saw the aura blocked by the shield.

“H-How…?”

How, you ask?

[Unification], obtained from the 6th stage of the Undead Engraving, allows me to become one with my weapon, and that also applies to equipment when [Giant Form] is used.

And this is the same for [Evolved Outer Shell]…

‘Ah, I wonder if that’s not what he was curious about?’

He probably wasn’t questioning such detailed mechanics.

He was probably just curious about this.

How did I block the aura?

There are many reasons intertwined with that…

But in this world of survival of the fittest, it can be explained in just one sentence.

“Because I’m.”

I said, pushing his sword away with my shield.

“Stronger than you.”

What else needs to be said?

In this world where only the winner and loser exist.

Whoosh-!

To engrave that fact into his head, I swung my hammer with all my might.

Tap.

As expected, he quickly retreated.

There was nothing to be particularly disappointed about.

There’s nothing easier than catching a fleeing guy.

「The character has cast [Eye of the Storm].」

「Due to the authority of the Transcendent, the abilities inherent in the skill are unlocked.」

The combination of [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm].

Whoosh-!

A sudden gust of wind grabbed the fleeing guy by the hair and pulled him to where I was. Or rather, to the point where my hammer was being swung.

But unfortunately.

Swish-!

Just before the hammer hit, his body turned blurry like mist and quickly moved in the air to avoid it.

‘So, you’re not just about aura, huh?’

As I was thinking that and readjusting my grip on the hammer, Raven, unable to shake off his old habit, hurriedly shouted.

“…Blood Realm Entry! It’s a 4th-grade ability that temporarily accelerates the body and allows aerial movement!”

I appreciate the thought, but I knew that as soon as I saw it.

Besides, you explained it too briefly.

It’s not just simple acceleration, it’s an increase in agility stats.

And…

‘You also left out the part about the decrease in strength stats and the fact that it becomes ethereal, so physical damage doesn’t work.’

I clicked my tongue as I watched the blood-colored mist moving like a fly in the air.

I got the Demon Crusher, so I thought I’d get to feel its power this time.

‘With that, it’d be more comfortable to leave the damage to the others.’

It’s a shame I couldn’t handle it myself, but I have no intention of being stubborn.

The basic quality of a tank is teamwork, isn’t it?

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Elemental Synthesis].」

Fire, water, wind, earth.

And even darkness, which became Erwen’s main attribute after contracting with the Spirit King.

A single arrow, combining five attributes, flew to chase the blood-colored mist.

However…

‘As expected, aura is a cheat.’

The arrows were all shattered by the sword he swung.

However, was the arrow just now threatening to him?

Pshoo-!

The guy, who was busy running away, turned his body and flew towards Erwen. It seems he thought he should deal with Erwen, the ranged attacker, first…

As if that would work.

It’s upsetting for the tank who’s watching.

“Erwen, behind me.”

The moment he flew in, Erwen hid behind me.

That’s why tanks are important in the labyrinth.

Because they become a wall where damage dealers can safely hide anytime, anywhere.

Whoosh-!

Even though Erwen disappeared behind me, he didn’t give up and swung his sword.

It wasn’t a meaningless retry.

Perhaps thinking that the aura was blocked earlier because of the shield, this time he aimed for the joints of my armor, where the skin was exposed, instead of the shield.

Ah, of course, the result wasn’t much different.

Swoosh-!

It was a slash, not a pierce.

Thanks to that, it couldn’t be completely negated, but [Iron Skin] activated, and it ended with just a slight cut on the skin.

In other words, I endured the aura with my bare body.

“…!”.

His eyes widened at the rare sight.

Come on, are you surprised again?

Did you not believe me when I said I was stronger than you earlier?

“Sheter Evon!”

Raven’s curse magic hit the guy who had stopped for a moment to attack me.

It was a magic I had experienced countless times during exploration, so there was no need to think about what kind of magic it was.

[Materialization].

An 8th-grade curse magic that forcibly cancels the physical immunity of ethereal monsters when hit.

Yeah, that’s teamwork.

When I was in Noark, there were many frustrating times because there were no mages.

Whoosh!

The moment his blurry body became clear, I brought down my hammer.

However, perhaps because my agility stat was low, it was a miss again this time.

Sigh, I’m confident I could make him unable to get up again if I just hit him once.

“I’ll help.”

Soon, Amelia also joined the battle.

For reference, even in the midst of this, she was dealing with the corpses rushing in from all directions with the clones she had summoned earlier…

“…Who are you guys?”

He asked, looking at us.

Even though he couldn’t easily counterattack due to the fierce barrage, it seems he was curious about this one thing.

Of course, there was no obligation to answer.

“About you guys—”

“Waaaaaaaah—!!”

Instead of the name of the ancestral god that I can no longer call, I shouted with all my might and swung my hammer repeatedly, and he swallowed his question and focused only on dodging.

And…

“…”

As the battle continued, he used various skills to resist, but he was quickly pushed into a disadvantage.

It was a predictable result.

After all, [Dungeon & Stone] is a team game, and even individually, the current members were more than sufficient.

Just looking at Erwen, for example.

“Erwen, behind me!”

She hid behind me every time she became his target, but that doesn’t mean she’s weaker than him.

She can create distance with her innate agility stat and various utility abilities using spirits.

Even if she fought one-on-one, she wouldn’t have lost at the very least.

And this was the same for Amelia.

「Amelia Rainwales has cast [Abyssal Power].」

The blood knight’s aura can be blocked with the same aura, and his physical specs are not lacking either.

Well, Raven is a bit different…

“Argen Hale Tun… Kyaaak!”

She’s an exception.

She’s a mage, so it doesn’t make sense to ask her to fight a knight one-on-one.

“Even if you’re scared, stick close behind me. It seems like he’s determined to target only you.”

“A-Alright.”

Erwen and Amelia were skilled enough to take care of themselves, so I focused on protecting Raven and continued the battle.

How much time had passed?

‘…But why isn’t he running away even though he’s in this state?’

I felt a sense of unease.

He should know that he’s going to lose if he continues like this, so why isn’t he running away?

‘Is he waiting for my MP to run out?’

If that’s the case, it’s not bad.

MP is drained every second when [Iron Fortress] is activated, but that’s why I didn’t activate [Giant Form] on purpose.

It’d be faster to have a conclusion than for my MP to run out.

“What about the multiple teleportation magic?”

Feeling uneasy, I checked our last resort.

“It’ll take about 5 more minutes if I start again.”

“If you start again…?”

“Actually… I stopped chanting earlier…”

She thought it wouldn’t be necessary since we were overwhelmingly winning.

“Start preparing it now, just in case. You never know what might happen.”

“…Okay.”

It was the moment I gave the order again.

“Schuitz, it’s magic…!”.

Suddenly, Amelia shouted urgently.

And at the same time.

「Lilan Vivien has cast 3rd-grade black magic [Falling Star].」

A huge black sphere that fell from the sky pierced through the mist and crashed down.

‘Son of a bitch.’

So, he was waiting for his comrades.

***

The moment the magic was activated, and I realized that I couldn’t avoid it, my body stiffened.

That’s because I haven’t finished setting up for magic defense yet.

The aura setup was almost complete, but as a trade-off, my magic resistance was much lower than before.

And yet.

‘It seems like she was late to notice too.’

Raven, who was chanting the multiple teleportation magic, also seems unable to stop it.

But…

‘What can I do? I’ll have to make do with my body.’

In a split second, I made a decision.

That magic is coming towards me.

And Erwen and Amelia are some distance away from me.

However, if I dodge, Raven, who is right behind me, will never be safe.

Therefore, there is only one option to choose.

“…Ugh!”

I hugged Raven’s small body and then lay down on the floor, covering her.

And…

‘Giant Form.’

The moment I grew my body using [Transcendence].

[Ah, Mister…!]

“Schuitz!!”

The magic crashed down, striking my back.

Kwaaaaaaaaang-!

The first thing I felt was a shock that felt like my spine was breaking.

Then, a vibration that shook my internal organs was transmitted through my bones and muscles, and a tingling sensation, as if electricity was flowing through my blood, arose.

Sigh, is it because the corpse golem is gone?

Why does it hurt so much?

“Uh…”

As I was frowning without realizing it due to the unbearable pain, I heard a voice from below.

“H-How… even [Giant Form]…?”

Sigh, is it all over now?

I knew this would happen, so I was saving [Giant Form].

Unlike [Swing], which has almost no effect, this one is obvious as soon as it’s used.

“You, could it be…”

Come on, this isn’t the time for that.

“Let’s talk, later.”

The moment the shock that was transmitted through my back subsided, I hurriedly stood up.

Clatter.

Something fell from my back.

It was a fragment of my completely shattered armor.

Also…

‘Ugh, I’m dizzy.’

My vision was blurry.

It wasn’t mist, it was smoke.

And it was coming from my body.

Chiiiiiiiiik.

Wow, how long has it been since my whole body was this wrecked?

Even as I straightened my back, every joint was screaming that it couldn’t take it anymore.

Tsk, you’ve just become more dramatic.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been in crispy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside mode.’

I tried to think lightly and stood up completely, then put Raven down from my arms.

And sent her behind me.

But was it only then that she properly checked my appearance?

“Your… b-b-back…!”

What about my back? You should finish your sentence.

As I was thinking that, Amelia came next to me and checked my condition instead.

“It’s probably better not to hear about your condition.”

“…Is it that bad?”

“Yeah, it’s a miracle that you’re still standing upright.”

Ah, uh, um…

If that’s the case.

“…Forget it, just pour some potion on me.”

“Potion… I already poured it.”

Huh? I didn’t feel anything at all?

Ah, is the feeling on my back completely numb?

‘Oh, come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve felt any pain since earlier…’

Thinking that it was a positive thing, I looked ahead.

The first thing I saw was the blood knight standing far away from us.

He was in a terrible state, having been beaten 4 to 1.

Well, from what I hear, he seems to be in much better condition than me.

Anyway, that’s not the important thing.

“Grandpa, why are you pushing yourself so hard! I was so surprised when I heard the news from Necrapeto oppa [older brother]!”

A woman in a robe standing next to the blood knight.

She’s holding a staff, so she seems to be a mage…

Then, did she cast the magic just now?

“Ah! Hello! I don’t know how you survived that, but! Nice to meet you!”

Feeling my gaze, the woman waved her hand at me cheerfully.

Erwen was trembling.

“Erwen, I’m fine, so don’t fall for the provocation.”

Even after saying that, I was worried, so I grabbed Erwen’s wrist and pulled her next to me, and then asked Amelia.

“Forget it, who is that Emily woman?”

“The Screaming Witch, Lilan Vivien.”

Ah, so she’s the one.

It’s my first time seeing her in person.

“Then who’s the man next to her?”

I asked, moving my gaze to the man next to the woman, and Amelia answered immediately again.

“The Lighthouse Keeper, his name is unknown.”

Ha, this guy is also a celebrity.

He’s one of the few support-type ability users in Orcullis, right?

“And next to him…”

“Okay, I know who he is.”

I interrupted Amelia and moved my gaze.

The moment our eyes met, I saw his eyes curving long through the gap in his mask.

“Well! Are the numbers even now? Fakey?”

The Corpse Collector, Abet Necrapeto.

Sigh, why does this guy have to be everywhere?