Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 382

“Hey, mister!!”

Just as I finished checking the essence, Erwen appeared in the distance, leading the others. They were coming towards me.

It seemed they were worried because I hadn’t returned for so long…

Even though I told them to wait quietly until I came back.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Erwen quickly reached me and looked me up and down, her expression full of worry.

Amelia, perceptive as always, kept a distance with the mage and the navigator, far enough so they wouldn’t overhear our conversation.

But why was it?

‘She really wants to keep them alive as much as possible, huh.’

I could sense that kind of thinking from Amelia’s actions.

Sometimes, is it better not to know?

If they knew too much about us, the chances of that guy returning alive would be even lower.

She’s being careful so they don’t hear anything at all.

She probably noticed that I made them follow from a distance for that reason.

‘Anyway, looking at their expressions, it seems like they don’t know that Lee Baek-ho or the Mad Scholar came here.’

Fortunately, it seemed they hadn’t disobeyed my order to wait because they were aware of their approach.

No, should I say it’s fortunate that they disobeyed in this case?

If a fight had broken out, the side with more allies would have had a better chance of winning. Because of the field effect ‘Challenger,’ it’s impossible to run away even if a battle breaks out.

Now, Erwen and Amelia are no longer just people I have to protect like my old companions.

They are now forces that can hold their own in any situation.

“But… I felt some magic power on the way here, what was that?”

Still, Erwen cautiously asked, as if she had noticed the multiple teleportation magic.

I hesitated for a moment before making an excuse.

“Well, I’m not sure about that either.”

“Is that so? Well… I think I heard that special magic waves occur periodically in rifts or places like that.”

As expected, Erwen accepted it without much doubt.

She probably thought it was possible since it was a special field with little known information. Or maybe, she firmly believed that I had no reason to lie.

Because of that, I felt a bit complicated.

But…

‘Still, this is better.’

The Mad Scholar is the guy who killed Erwen’s sister, Daria.

He didn’t just assist like that clown; he was directly involved in her death. But if I talk about Lee Baek-ho, I’ll inevitably have to mention meeting the Mad Scholar…

There’s no need to shake her mentality, which is just starting to stabilize.

‘If I’m going to leave out the Mad Scholar, there’s no reason to talk about Lee Baek-ho either.’

After exchanging a few more words with Erwen, Amelia joined us, leading the navigator and the mage.

And she asked, without a subject.

“Schuitz, did you get what you wanted?”

“Yeah, luckily.”

Let’s wrap it up for now and tell them about the deal later.

***

After the conversation ended, we resumed our exploration.

After all, we came straight here and didn’t stop anywhere else.

Other areas would be swarming with monsters.

Among them, there are monsters we haven’t defeated yet, and some with essences that sell for a very high price.

Therefore…

Thud.

I took the lead and moved forward.

“I’ll go first, so follow behind.”

For reference, the hunting method was the same as before.

I would clear the path and kill all the monsters, and they would follow behind and collect the magic stones.

However…

‘I should try some experiments while I’m at it.’

Since I got a new essence, I’m planning to test its performance as well.

I haven’t fully adapted to the increased stats yet either.

‘It definitely feels like the stat increase is significant, probably because it’s a Rank 3.’

The Deep Sea Giant’s essence also had unique stats, making the feeling even more foreign.

[Deep Sea Giant]

Strength +55, Physical Resistance +35, Natural Regeneration +35, Magic Resistance +35, Dark Resistance +55, Endurance +40, Adaptability +70

The physical stats were evenly distributed at the Rank 3 level, and most of them had high value.

However, it’s hard to see them as having high scarcity.

They are good stats, but most of them can be easily found in other essences.

Unlike ‘Adaptability,’ which is at the end of the stats.

‘In the game, it just reduced the effect of debuffs in proportion to their duration.’

In reality, it felt a bit different.

Of course, the aforementioned effect was definitely being applied…

Thud, thud.

As the adaptability stat activated, it became a bit easier to walk in the water.

It wasn’t like there were any restrictions on my movements from the start, but now, if I didn’t concentrate, I wouldn’t even feel like I was in the water.

Well, if it was just diving in the sea instead of this place with the characteristic of not being affected by water, it definitely wouldn’t be like this.

‘Then, should I check the passive now?’

I used [Giantification] to utilize the passive that I hadn’t properly tested earlier.

The Deep Sea Giant’s passive skill only reacts to ‘Transformation’ abilities.

「The character has cast [Giantification].」

「The character’s physique increases, and the threat level and physical stats increase in proportion to the size.」

[Giantification], which increases the ‘threat level’ that helps attract monster aggro as the physique increases by about 1.77 times.

「The character has used a transformation ability.」

「Due to the [Primordial Cell] effect, the soul power consumption of the skill is reduced by half, and the highest stat increases by 1.5 times.」

The [Primordial Cell] effect is added here.

For reference, the highest stat in my growth method is…

「Due to the power of the Transcendent, the [Primordial Cell] effect increases by 1.5 times.」

「The character’s strength increases by 2.25 times.」

This is different from the Shield Barbarian I often raised.

Since the Ogre’s essence replaced the Steel Giant (Rank 4), somehow my strength became higher than my physical resistance.

‘Tch, it’s going to be harder to break through [Adaptive Outer Skin] stage 3 like this.’

Of course, that’s just for now, and it won’t be a big problem in the final growth stage.

Once I eat the Bellarios essence, I can focus on statting for physical resistance.

「The physique increases in proportion to strength.」

On a whim, I activated [Transcendence] and used [Giantification].

Swoosh.

When I lowered my head to look down, I could clearly see the ceiling of the ruins building that I had to look up at before.

‘It must be over 6 meters.’

I’ll have to measure it accurately when I get back, but that’s what it looks like at a glance.

Even considering the height reduction due to the Gacha Bone essence, my physique has become much larger than before.

However, even though my physique had grown so much, my strength stat was similar to before I used [Transcendence].

That’s because the 2.25 times strength was reduced to 1.5 times.

‘Still, it seems like the other stats have increased uniformly, so there’s nothing to lose…’

The disadvantage of using [Transcendence] as an active skill is not the stats, but the soul power reduction effect.

75% and 50% are very different.

‘Well, even with my current total MP, the [Giantification] state will be maintained infinitely with [Transcendence] deactivated.’

In [Dungeon & Stone], the regeneration speed of MP is proportional to the total amount of MP. And currently, I’m level 7 and have pulled a lot of soul power from various places, so my total MP is similar to that of most ability users.

‘Is this finally on track?’

I maintained the [Transcendence] state to adapt to the increased height.

Even though it was underwater, the 6 meters of air had a certain charm that resonated with a man’s heart.

‘…I wonder how big I’d get if I removed the Gacha Bone essence?’

It’s still early, but I imagined it once.

My appearance using [Giantification] with my base height increased from 185 to 225.

I don’t know for sure, but wouldn’t it be at a level where I could wrestle with the 3rd floor’s floor master, Liakis, barehanded without feeling out of place?

Crack, crack, crack-!

I swung my hammer repeatedly, imagining that future in my head.

Because [Transcendence] only applies to one skill at a time.

In the first place, in my current state, the speed of catching them with the reflection damage of [Risk] or catching them directly is similar.

「The character has cast [Swing].」

Since I’ll regenerate soon anyway, I ignored defense and focused only on swinging my hammer.

「You have defeated a Liumobidic. EXP +6」

The monsters, unable to withstand the ultra-large demon crusher swung with increased strength, disappeared into light.

However, I could feel my MP draining rapidly as I spammed [Swing].

Therefore…

「The character has cast [Soul Dive].」

I used an active skill.

[Blade Current], [Source of Life], and [Giant’s Blood], which belongs to the transformation category, among the seven active skills of the Deep Sea Giant, the one corresponding to the green essence.

This skill is also quite unique.

It doesn’t consume MP, even though it’s an active skill.

No, to be precise, is it the opposite?

Siiiiiiiiip.

As I took a deep breath, the empty senses began to fill.

「Soul power is regenerated in proportion to the soul power consumed.」

An MP recovery skill that doesn’t consume MP.

Instead, this skill has a cooldown.

It was probably about 30 minutes in the game.

It might not seem like much, but it was a very good skill.

I could use it in a hurry, and the time I spent resting to recover MP while hunting was greatly reduced.

‘Above all, it’s also a counter to that bastard…’

The Dragonslayer, Regal Bagos.

The dragon language he had, the silence of the soul.

With this skill, I can respond to his dragon language.

It means that even in a state of soul exhaustion, I can return to my original condition with one skill.

‘Then, the preparations are more than enough.’

I smiled as I crushed the heads of the sea monsters swarming from all directions.

The vow I had engraved in my heart long ago came to mind clearly.

[Can… you win?]

That day, when I woke up in the body of a warrior with a cold heart and felt a deep sense of loss for the first time.

That day, I swallowed my powerlessness and vowed.

To survive desperately.

So that someday, when I no longer need luck.

[We will meet again, dragon.]

I will definitely find him.

Crack-!

That time had finally come.

***

It was the fifth day of hunting on the underground island.

I had completed hunting the individuals that only gave experience here. However, I continued hunting on the underground island even after that.

There were many islands to conquer outside, but…

‘The magic stone earnings are quite substantial.’

Since I came to a special field anyway.

Most special fields are difficult, but the rewards are also substantial. But for me, hunting here was easier than on the 5th floor.

‘Still, I won’t go back to search for the rock island event and waste time.’

Anyway, as I continued my high-speed hunting, I was able to see quite a few essences, and as a result of being a bit more greedy, I was able to put one Rank 4 essence in one of the two test tubes.

‘It would have been better if a Deep Sea Giant one had come out.’

One Rank 4 essence is a sufficient achievement, but it’s still a bit disappointing. There isn’t just one Deep Sea Giant on the underground island.

If I just wander around, I might encounter them with a low probability, but none of them dropped an essence.

In fact, this was a natural thing.

Unlike the one I met in the swirling underwater temple, normal field mobs don’t have a drop rate bonus—

“Schuitz.”

As I was briefly reviewing the past few days, Amelia approached and sat next to me.

It looked like she had something to say.

However, she probably didn’t come to tell me to rest more…

“The labyrinth closes tomorrow.”

Ah, that’s what she came to talk about.

It was a short sentence, typical of Amelia, but it wasn’t difficult to understand the hidden meaning.

She also glanced at the sleeping navigator and mage while saying that.

“What are you going to do?”

A much more direct question than before.

It seemed like she was frustrated with me for not answering and just staying still…

“The mage dies.”

This conclusion came too easily.

I didn’t plan to keep him alive in the first place.

That’s because mages are stubborn.

They are arrogant, and they don’t easily forget grudges.

And above all…

“Since they have the Mage Tower as their background, it’ll be difficult to control them when we return to the city.”

“I see. Understood. Then?”

Amelia glanced at the navigator once more, and I immediately got up from my seat.

And…

Whoosh-!

I stood at the head of the sleeping mage and raised my hammer high.

It was a situation I had experienced once before.

When I woke up from a nap, Hans A, who was my night friend, was doing this above me.

Ah, of course, that guy and I are different.

In that I didn’t fail.

Crack-!

The mage’s body slumped, unable to even utter a death cry while sleeping.

“H-hic!!”

The navigator woke up with a start, probably from the sound.

And…

“I-I’ll keep my mouth shut for the rest of my life! I-I’ll quit being an explorer too!”

The navigator prostrated himself and lowered his head.

Considering that my blood-stained hammer was raised high, it was quite a bold act.

‘…It’s definitely a waste to kill him.’

I then looked at Amelia.

She didn’t say anything, as if she would follow whatever decision I made, but I could see greed deep in her eyes.

Therefore…

“Emily.”

“Speak.”

“Can you keep a close watch on him so he doesn’t do anything else when we return to the city?”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“What’s the basis?”

“I’ve already mixed poison into his meals and have been giving him the antidote for just one day.”

It was too calm, but that’s why it felt more trustworthy.

On the other hand, the navigator, who didn’t even know that his life was being completely controlled, flinched greatly.

“Hic…!”

Watching that, I pondered once more and made a decision.

“You’re Nguyen Locrov, right?”

“…Yes!”

“Listen to her from now on. Understand?”

“Yes! Of course!”

A veteran navigator (unpaid) has been added to the team.