Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 413

Dilemma (5)

Day 62 in the labyrinth, the Dragon’s Inner Sanctum.

We were about 30 minutes away from the portal connecting to the 8th floor when it happened.

「The ring has detected the character’s fate.」

The light on the Signal Ring turned on.

“Mister, it’s, it’s red!”

Right, that means only negative events lie ahead, doesn’t it?

I was hoping for at least a little bit of green mixed in.

Man, this is so discouraging.

“…What should we do? Shouldn’t we change direction now?”

Erwen muttered anxiously.

Of course, until now, whenever the ring turned red or Sven Parav’s sixth sense was triggered, we immediately changed direction to avoid trouble.

But…

“Erwen, changing our destination now won’t change anything.”

“That’s… true, but…”

We’re surrounded by red flags on all sides.

Even if we try to run away, the flags will only close in, tightening around our necks.

The only way to escape is to push through, putting everything on the line before it’s too late.

“Parav, what’s wrong?”

The goblin, who had approached me, trailed off with an awkward expression.

“I… I feel safest next to the Captain…”

‘Safest’? That’s a little offensive, but I’ll let it slide.

It’s true that he’s been a great help so far.

“So, how do you feel right now?”

“I feel like I’m suffocating. It’s like… like walking into a burning forest.”

“Really? But you’re unusually quiet. Usually, you’d be telling us to run away.”

“Well… I do feel a bad omen, but I also keep thinking that this is the right way.”

I see, so that’s how it is.

“The portal is just ahead. Everyone, pick up the pace!”

I immediately went into a final sprint.

And how much time had passed?

“It’s the portal!”

In the distance, the portal was shimmering, scattering multicolored light.

And…

“…Enemies!”

Enemies were visible in the light from the portal.

A detachment of about 40 people.

They were also heading towards the portal.

“It’s the royal bastards!!”

“They really came this way!”

Just as we saw them, they spotted us and shouted.

How did they know to come here?

The moment I had that thought, a familiar face appeared among the enemies.

“You…!!”

The Dragonslayer, Regal Bagos.

“I knew you’d come this way!”

It seems that you know a little about me, just as I know you.

What a truly tenacious bad relationship—

“Your rat-like escape ends here!”

What is he talking about? They just arrived too.

Anyone listening would think they had completely blocked our path.

‘I’m glad I sped up.’

I praised my decision from 20 minutes ago.

If I had hesitated even a little when the ring turned red, they would have already blocked us.

We would have had to pay a huge price.

“What are you waiting for! Run!”

Beyond the final sprint, I moved my legs with all my might.

The current situation is simple.

The expedition team is heading east towards the portal.

The Dragonslayer and his group are running north towards the portal.

“Runnnnnnn!!”

The first to arrive will gain a huge advantage.

But perhaps they know that too.

The Dragonslayer group was also desperately running, closing the distance to the portal.

But…

‘Good, we’re faster.’

It was obvious at a glance that we were closer to the portal.

“Damn it, what are you all doing! Attack!”

The Dragonslayer group started launching ranged attacks to try and slow us down.

It was a tactic they could use because they had so many people.

They must have decided to have the ranged attackers, who needed to cast in place, provide cover from afar, while the melee fighters, who were good at close combat, would seize the portal.

Whoosh-! Thud-!

Thud thud thud thud.

Man, this feels like a real battlefield.

Numerous arrows and powers rained down from the sky like a storm.

“What are you doing! Move faster! If you fall behind, it’s over!”

“M-My legs… are giving out!”

“Damn it, this is crazy! Damn it, get on my back!”

“But…”

“Hurry!”

I could withstand this kind of area-of-effect damage with my bare body, but not all of my team members could.

“Cough-!”

A team member was injured by a stray arrow.

And…

“Hang in there! I’ll heal you soon!”

Another team member carried the injured one on their back.

‘Damn it, at this rate, a few more are going to die here…’

I was clenching my jaw when a shadow with a female silhouette appeared above us.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia summons the [Dark Spirit King Dicloe].」

The strongest summon that gave me the title of Blood Spirit Lord.

The Dark Spirit King Dicloe.

Dicloe began to pour huge dark spheres onto the enemies.

Boom boom boom boom-!

Overwhelming firepower that even Akurabazo, a burst damage type, couldn’t match.

However, its duration was short.

The usable time when using full power was about 5 seconds.

But 5 seconds was enough.

“Run!!”

“We’re fine, go in first!”

The moment the Dragonslayer group stopped moving to block the counterattack, the leading group started to enter the portal one by one.

And…

Boom-!

Dicloe, who had thrown the last dark sphere, was reverse-summoned, and Erwen staggered.

“Mister, you were here…”

“I wouldn’t leave you behind.”

“…Right. Because you’re you.”

“Good work.”

All the team members except for the two of us had already gone up to the 8th floor.

I picked up the exhausted Erwen and quickly ran towards the portal.

And how much time had passed?

“You think I’ll let you go!”

I heard his voice right behind me.

He’s fast, as expected of a speed-type character.

When did he get here?

Well, it’s too late now anyway.

Tap.

The moment I slid my body, the light of the portal warmly enveloped me.

「You have entered the Land of Dawn on the 8th floor.」

When I opened my eyes after rolling on the floor, I saw the team members waiting in front of the portal.

“C-Captain.”

The team members lowered their weapons, relieved to see my face.

But that was only for a moment.

“T-The portal is glowing!”

No sooner had I stood up than the relieved team members grabbed their weapons again.

Since our expedition team had all entered, it was obvious who was coming through the portal now.

‘Huh, he actually followed us all the way here.’

Is he fearless, or just crazy?

Either way, there’s no need to be intimidated.

What did we run so hard for?

“Prepare for battle!”

“Kill them all as they come in!”

“H-He’s coming.”

“Kill…!!”

Blocking the entrance is invincible.

***

I’m standing in front of the portal.

No, to be precise, I’m standing guard in front of it.

With a hammer in one hand and a shield in the other.

“…”

Along with the team members who were ready to use their skills and swing their weapons at any moment.

“…It’s so quiet, it’s making me uneasy.”

More than an hour had passed since we blocked the portal.

During that time, the portal had only spat out enemies once.

That was right after I entered the 8th floor, when the Dragonslayer and his subordinates came in at the same time.

‘I wish I had killed him then.’

I killed eight of his subordinates, but unfortunately, the Dragonslayer escaped.

He got a good beating from the entrance block, which he had never experienced before, and ran away to the 7th floor, abandoning his subordinates.

Since then, the situation has remained the same.

It’s like the calm before the storm.

‘They’re probably gathering enough forces to push through at once.’

When that happens, we won’t be able to defend this place, no matter how well we block the entrance. Well, I never intended to block the entrance forever in the first place.

What I wanted was just time to reorganize.

Just like this.

“Schuitz, all the injured have recovered.”

“What about food and supplies?”

“We’ve gathered everything we have and everything we need and loaded it onto the sled.”

In short, it means that we can enter Ice Rock right now if we want to.

But I decided to push it a little further.

“We’ll watch this place, so everyone take turns resting.”

“…Understood.”

Kaislan had the team members who were in bad shape rest first, and Akurabazo, who was watching this, approached me.

“Shouldn’t we be leaving soon? Staying here is dangerous.”

Although it was a peaceful time, Akurabazo’s expression was not good.

His eyes kept looking back, as if he was anxious.

It was obvious what he was worried about.

“…Schuitz, you know as well as I do that they could come back at any time.”

The Noark’s elite forces, who were probably in the 8th floor rift right now.

If they clear the rift and come out, we’ll be surrounded on both sides.

‘But we’re lucky right now.’

In fact, what I was most worried about was the situation where the elite forces were waiting when we entered the 8th floor.

It was as likely as being struck by lightning out of the blue, but it was a possibility that couldn’t be completely ruled out.

‘The problem is that we don’t know when they’ll come back…’

It’s like lying on a probability-based instant death trap.

If we’re unlucky, they’ll come out of the rift right now and lead us to a dead end.

But…

“We haven’t been able to sleep properly and have been marching for days. If we enter Ice Rock like this, we won’t last long and will be wiped out.”

There’s no other choice.

Akurabazo, knowing this, readily agreed and left.

And about 12 hours had passed.

Whoosh-!

The portal shimmered and spat out a Noark explorer, who was quickly killed by the troops guarding the front, as he wasn’t even wearing proper equipment.

“Just one…?”

“…Is it a scout?”

It was a typical Noark response.

If the sacrifice they sent dies, it means we’re still blocking the entrance, and if they survive, they can go back and tell them.

‘But even Noark wouldn’t keep sending people recklessly.’

After thinking for a moment, I made a decision.

The next scout would come in at least one to three hours.

Besides, we’ve had at least a minimum amount of rest.

“Everyone, pack your things, get up, and get dressed!”

There are only 13 days left until the labyrinth closes.

“We’re entering Ice Rock!”

It’s time to head to the final chapter.

***

The Land of Dawn on the 8th floor.

A peaceful place with green meadows and hills.

However, the atmosphere there was far from peaceful.

The stench of blood emanated from the explorers who filled the area.

“Say it again. Kyle Elbad Jeneger. What did you just say to me?”

“Give up. Bagos-nim, we’ve already lost them.”

“What!”

The Dragonslayer suddenly rushed in and grabbed him by the collar, but the man didn’t shut his mouth.

“No matter what you do, nothing will change. Following them into Ice Rock without any preparation is suicide.”

“What are you talking about! We have several times more people than them, how can we not do what they did?”

“You’re saying that because you don’t know Ice Rock. No matter how many people you have, they’ll only get in the way in Ice Rock.”

“…”

“If you’re going to ask if we can just pick the elites, I’ll tell you in advance that it’s also dangerous. The reason they’ve been running away so far is because there were enemies everywhere.”

“If we follow them… are you saying we’ll be attacked in reverse?”

“Yes. They are… especially the captain, that man is a monster—”

The man answered firmly despite the Dragonslayer’s angry question, and immediately felt pressure on his neck.

“Cough…!”

“You trash.”

The Dragonslayer’s eyes were filled with murderous intent as he strangled him.

But even if he was reckless, he couldn’t have expected that he would kill him, right?

The man, who was being strangled, spoke urgently.

“I-If the commander finds out about this—”

“The commander, that damn commander.”

“Cough-!”

“Who do you think that commander would choose between you and me? If I killed you, do you think he’d kill me?”

“N-No…”

The blood flow to his head was blocked, and the man’s body went limp. If he stayed like this for a few more seconds, he would surely die.

But…

“Tch.”

The Dragonslayer threw the man carelessly on the floor and spat.

He was angry that he kept trying to get on his nerves, but he couldn’t kill him.

He was useful, except for his talkativeness.

That’s why the commander was so fond of him.

“Damn it.”

The Dragonslayer clenched his fist, still not feeling relieved after venting his anger.

All the other subordinates lowered their eyes, watching him carefully, but the Dragonslayer’s mind was cold.

‘…What this guy said isn’t wrong.’

If we can’t push through with numbers, it’s dangerous to follow them like this.

It wouldn’t be a problem if everyone was at his level, but even the so-called elites were all trash.

The only one who was somewhat decent was the guy who just passed out.

If he had to use Dragon Words because of overexertion, his barely recovered body would be ruined, and he might have to rest for months.

‘The commander would be furious too.’

It was a situation where losses were certain in many ways.

But…

‘So, I have to let that bastard go?’

It still didn’t sit well with him.

It wasn’t just a matter of feelings, it was an emotion that came from experience. Looking back, it was the same in Larcaz’s Maze.

[Do you want to know why you always lose money? You only bet as much as you need at the time. Even in moments where you need to win.]

He gave up one thing at a time to avoid losses, and that’s how he ended up in that state. His body was ruined, and he lost his memories, so he had to live as a cripple for over a year.

And now, he’s supposed to let that cause of his misery go?

The more he calmly organized his thoughts, the more his mind leaned towards not doing so.

It wasn’t just a matter of revenge anymore.

‘He’s become this strong in just that short period of time.’

What would he be like when they met again?

He had destroyed the Eye of the Sky, so if he returned, the royal family would surely give him a huge reward.

If he got even stronger here.

Would he be able to beat him then?

Regal Bagos made up his mind.

‘…I have to do it now.’

He couldn’t give him any more time.

No matter what the cost, he had to end his bad relationship with him.

That was the wise choice.

Clench.

It was the moment he made that decision.

As if the sky was cheering on his decision.

Whoosh-!

A warm wind blew fiercely, embracing them, and at the same time, a flurry of light scattered in the empty air.

The meaning was only one.

“…The rift! The rift is opening!”

The elite unit that Noark was secretly nurturing with all its might.

They don’t even eat essences below 4th grade?

Within Noark, there were even rumors that if they started to operate in earnest, there would be a generational shift even within Orcullis…

‘Lucky bastards who were born in the right era.’

That was the Dragonslayer’s assessment of them.

While others had to go through hell, climbing from the 1st floor step by step, they received a lot of support because they had potential and a lot of empty essence slots.

‘Well, it’s good for me.’

Regardless of his jealousy, the Dragonslayer smiled and stepped forward.

Soon, the portal opened and the assault team appeared.

They looked worn out, as if they had been through a tough battle.

“You are… Regal Bagos? What’s going on here?”

The Dragonslayer smiled and answered the assault team’s question.

“The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed.”

“…What? The Eye of the Sky?”

“And the guys who destroyed it escaped to Ice Rock.”

“Then why are we…”

“The commander ordered you to lead the pursuit.”