Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 356

The worst criminal organization, Orcullis.

Among them, the infamous quartet.

That’s why it feels so strange.

The change from before is more clearly felt.

“Schuitz, what are we going to do?”

What do you mean, what are we going to do?

In the Goblin Forest battle on the second floor, there were only three of them.

To fight those three, over a thousand explorers had to risk their lives.

But…

“We have to fight. At least until the magic is complete.”

It’s not as hopeless as it was back then.

No, I’m even thinking that with the current members, we can handle it.

And…

“Is that so? I understand.”

Looking at Amelia’s reaction, it seems I’m not the only one who thinks we can handle it.

Erwen doesn’t seem to have any desire to stand out in the first place.

“…Abet, Necrapeto.”

The moment the Corpse Collector appeared in the distance, Erwen’s body began to emit killing intent.

So, I thought about giving her a warning, but…

‘There’s no need for that.’

It’s better than her being scared, anyway.

Besides, she doesn’t seem to have lost her mind, seeing as she’s not running out or attacking first.

“What are you doing? Your magic incantation was interrupted.”

She’s telling the dazed Raven to continue the teleportation magic incantation, so it seems she remembers my words about surviving first…

Somehow… I’m proud of her.

“Ah… Ah, I understand.”

Raven, who had been unresponsive for a while after saying something about my back, came to her senses and started doing her job again.

It seems she decided that it’s not the time to resolve her doubts about me.

‘Tch, she must have noticed.’

I’m worried about how this will lead to future variables, but at the same time, I also have a hopeful thought.

That Corpse Collector guy also called me a fake, didn’t he?

“Hehehe, isn’t that fairy over there staring a bit too much? Even I feel burdened.”

“…”

“Hmm, more than that, I was surprised! I heard you borrowed a lot of money from your clan this time… I never thought you’d use it to make such a fake!”

Even after seeing [Giantification], he didn’t connect it to me being Bjorn Yandel.

Well, he must be convinced that I’m dead.

Erwen’s madness is so famous that it’s more plausible to say she made a fake.

‘I wish Raven would think that way too…’

Ah, whatever. If I’m caught, I’m caught.

Surely, after I risked my life to save her this time, she wouldn’t betray the royal family and tell them everything, right?

I decided to end my worries about this issue here.

Because it didn’t seem like the other side was going to give us more time either.

“Necrapeto, that woman over there is chanting a multi-teleportation spell, right?”

The opposing side’s black magician noticed our insurance.

“Hehehe, then we should hurry and start. A dance of blood, bones, and screams—”

“Ah, can you please stop with that way of talking? You’ve suddenly developed a strange habit, and whenever we go on expeditions, you always put on that mask first…”

“Um… Vivian, other people are watching, so maybe you should…”

“That’s why I’m telling you not to do it! Ugh, you’re a normal person inside, so why do you act like this when you’re outside…”

“…It’s a hobby. A hobby.”

The Screaming Witch scolded him, causing a slight delay, but it didn’t last long.

“Both of you, stop it and get to work.”

The giant man in a robe, the Lighthouse Keeper, cut off their conversation, and the atmosphere naturally became heavy.

Well, is the free teleport gauge filling over now?

“How much time is left until you can use the teleportation magic?”

“…It’ll take about 10 minutes. The magic power scattered when the spell was canceled earlier.”

“Then, is it possible to use other magic while chanting?”

“It’s possible. High-level magic would be impossible, but I can help when needed.”

Okay, that’s a relief.

“For now, focus on completing the magic, but provide support as the situation dictates.”

“Yes, I underst… wait, why are you giving orders?”

Seriously, why are you asking that now?

“That’s a pointless question. Is that important right now?”

I quickly diverted the point and continued with the orders.

“Erwen, Emily. Both of you focus on defense for now. Completing the magic is the priority.”

“Yes.”

Surprisingly, Erwen agreed to my words without a moment’s hesitation, and Amelia asked one thing in return.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to give up on the magic and join forces to fight them?”

That’s not wrong.

But…

“We don’t know when other guys besides those four might come.”

We can’t ignore the possibility of reinforcements.

Also, I’m reluctant to settle the score here, even if it’s not reinforcements.

We have enough chances to win, but it will be a tough fight.

There’s a high possibility that one of us could get hurt or die in the process.

“…That’s true. I understand. I’ll do as you say.”

Amelia didn’t say anything more, as if she understood. Well, to be precise, should I say she doesn’t have the time anymore?

[Grooooooan-!]

The army of corpses that had surrounded us charged at once, and the battle began.

***

First of all, the basic situation is simple.

The army of corpses is charging from all directions, and we are blocking them with a defensive formation.

However, the problem here is…

[Grooooooan-!]

The corpses that used to be blown away with one hit have become much more threatening.

「Lilan Vivien has cast the 5th-grade black magic [Wrath of the Dead].」

「Lilan Vivien has cast the 4th-grade black magic [Dark Baptism].」

A black magician and a necromancer.

It’s a powerful combination that I used to use myself.

Black magic has a lot of high-efficiency buffs for the undead.

Should I say they have good synergy?

「Lilan Vivien has cast the 4th-grade black magic [Netherworld Lantern].」

Ha, yeah, she’s using that too.

Well, this magic can’t be missing from this combination.

Whoooosh-!

The moment the black flames rose into the sky, the corpses that we had been diligently smashing regenerated and rose again.

And in that situation.

「Lilan Vivien has summoned [Erimianne, the Queen of Pain].」

A wraith with thousands of thorns flies through the sky, screaming.

It was the signature summon that earned the black magician Lilan Vivien the nickname of the Screaming Witch.

So, the effect is definitely…

「The character’s pain resistance value decreases by -200.」

Pain amplification.

And.

「When a target who has heard the scream takes damage, the summoner’s black magic power is restored by a certain amount.」

Magic power supply, the most important resource for a magician.

‘Well, this is something we can deal with if we don’t get hurt and are careful.’

Even so, it’s not that difficult of a summon, especially now that we’re fighting with a small elite group.

However…

「Lilan Vivien has cast the 3rd-grade black magic [Voodoo Doll].」

「The hit rate of curse-type magic targeting the character increases to 100%, and its power is greatly increased.」

The Screaming Witch, who had finished her basic preparations from buffing the corpse army to summoning her signature summon, began to use magic in earnest.

「[Advanced Decay] is in effect.」

「The speed at which injuries heal is greatly reduced.」

「[Lethargy] is in effect.」

「Strength value is greatly reduced.」

「[Invisible Threat] is in effect.」

「The probability of not detecting enemy attacks increases…」

No, why is she only cursing me?

It reminds me of Elisa, who used to be a priest of Karui, and I feel like I’m getting PTSD.

But, what can I do?

I have to try my best.

Even if I have to use evil instead of the name of my ancestral god.

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

I shout and swing my hammer.

That’s all a warrior can do in this situation.

Clang-!

I focus all my actions on protecting my comrades, and leave the ranged attacks to Erwen.

Fortunately, Erwen showed more output than what was invested.

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

A sniping shot that condenses great power into one shot.

「Erwen Fornacci di Tersia has cast [Rapid Fire].」

A rain of arrows falling from the sky.

And…

「Erwen Fornacci di Tersia summons [Diclore, the Dark Spirit King].」

The Dark Spirit King, who gave Erwen the nickname of Blood Spirit Queen.

Kwa kwa kwa kwang-!

The Spirit King was summoned for only about 5 seconds, but in that short period, half of the many corpse armies were annihilated.

Yes, literally annihilated.

No matter how much [Netherworld Lantern] is used, it was impossible to revive the corpses that had disappeared without a trace.

“Ah, no! How did I collect them…!”

Even the Corpse Collector was amazed by the overwhelming violence.

However, as a trade-off for summoning the Spirit King, Erwen’s natural power was depleted.

She can still use various skills that use soul power as a resource, but it means she won’t be able to use spirits in the future.

“…You did a good job.”

“No… I didn’t.”

It was as if Erwen’s trump card had disappeared, but the situation was not bad.

A large gap was created in the charging corpse army, giving us much more room to breathe.

Well, unfortunately, that breathing room didn’t last long.

“Schuitz, he’s coming.”

“I’ll take care of him, so you guys step back.”

The Blood Knight, who had been in the rear for a while even after the battle started, returned to the battlefield after receiving healing from the Lighthouse Keeper.

‘So, he’s a support-type ability user, and he also has healing skills.’

That’s a disappointing part.

Erwen’s [Rupture] blew off his left arm a while ago, but how many minutes has it been since it’s already healed?

Even if you use the highest-grade potion to reattach such an injury, there will be aftereffects, and you won’t be able to use it for a long time—

Swish-!

Huh?

“Kuh-!”

I was about to counterattack by roughly using my body to block the attack, as he was aiming for the joints of my armor again, but I froze.

Since my pain resistance has decreased by 200, it’s natural that even a small wound feels like a great pain, but…

“Now, it cuts.”

The wound is much deeper than before.

But the bleeding is relatively less, and it smells like something is burning.

Then, what could be the cause?

The reason was not difficult to find.

‘It’s not aura.’

His sword was still covered in a red aura, but it was different from the aura from before.

A heat that was hot enough to be transmitted through the air.

‘Ha, he enchanted it with fire in the meantime?’

It must be the Lighthouse Keeper’s doing.

He must have changed the Blood Knight’s normal attack into magic damage by using the information that he was fine with aura but was destroyed by magic.

‘Seriously, that smart bastard.’

Of course, even if it was changed to fire damage, the fixed values of a sword, and a ‘slash’ attack, did not change, so it was not difficult to endure.

It was just a slight increase in the difficulty of the battle.

‘I can endure this much.’

As expected, a power struggle ensued after that.

There were moments when my spine tingled, but to sum it up, time passed without either side scoring any significant points.

And…

“I-It’s done!”

Finally, Raven completed the multi-teleportation magic.

It meant that we could end this battle and run away if we wanted to.

Okay, then the insurance is in place.

“Don’t use it, wait and see.”

“Huh?”

What do you mean ‘huh’?

I’ve been getting beaten up for a while, so how can I sleep properly if I leave like this?

Even if we leave, we should at least take one of them with us.

‘Then who should I choose?’

Without much thought, the first target was decided.

“Guys! Their spell is complete, right?”

The black magician is flying on a broom, so pass.

“Vivian! Do something! If we let them go like this, I’ll be the only one who suffers a huge loss!!”

The Corpse Collector is also difficult to catch because he has high agility and an invincibility skill.

Whoosh-!

The Blood Knight, who is swinging his sword right next to me, is the same.

How can I catch a guy who slipped away like an eel even when we were attacking 4:1, by myself?

It’s difficult unless we fight one-on-one in a closed room.

Therefore…

“…Someday, we’ll meet again.”

Looking at the Blood Knight, who was speaking as if it was a foregone conclusion that we would escape, I grinned.

Seriously, did anyone say we were just going to leave?

‘Yeah, he’s the best choice.’

The Lighthouse Keeper, name unknown.

His characteristic is that he is one of the few support-type ability users in Noark.

And…

‘Usually, accessories are expensive.’

He was wearing ten rings on his fingers.