Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 425

It’s distinctly different from the Glacier’s Eye, where four people would fill an entire path. This is closer to an open field with all sides exposed. The range the front lines need to cover has greatly increased, but the expedition’s front line numbers have actually decreased.

‘Me, Jun, and the goblin.’

The pure tank line is now just the three of us.

And on top of that, Jun has a crippled leg, making it difficult for him to perform at his best.

Therefore…

‘Puta Ricaben, Kislan, Lavien, Amelia.’

The front-liners who are close-range damage dealers are also spread out, forming a barrier. Of course, there are too many gaps to call it a barrier…

This is an issue that can’t be changed by complaining.

We chose the best we could do.

Now, all that’s left is to see the results.

Swoooosh-!

Black mist spreads in all directions, covering the open space.

It’s the work of a black mage.

It has a debuff effect, but its real purpose is probably to obscure our vision.

‘The visible range is about 1 meter.’

The warrior’s body, with its narrowed vision, becomes keenly alert.

And in that situation,

[Groooaaan]

Various undead monsters appear from the darkness, baring their teeth and swinging their claws.

They were all summoned by Karui’s priest.

In the Glacier’s Eye, the narrow paths made a numbers game useless, but that’s not the case now.

Crack-!

I swing my hammer around, pushing back the approaching monsters.

It was then.

[Mister…!]

Immediately after Erwen’s warning, in her spirit form, pierced my ear.

Whoosh-!

A sharp blade, accompanied by a brief tearing sound, aims for my neck from the darkness.

Clack-!

My reaction was slower than usual due to the narrowed vision, but I managed to block it with my shield.

But at that moment.

Whoooosh-!

A pure white light emanates from the area where my heart should be.

At first, I was confused, wondering what it was, but I quickly figured out what was happening.

「Periton Eriabosti has cast [Unfading Lamp].」

It’s one of the priest’s buffs.

In the game, it only increased mental stats and wasn’t very useful.

However…

‘Did she use it for vision? Smart.’

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Swoooosh-!

The white light emanating from my heart pushes back the darkness.

The visible radius is now about 3 meters.

Of course, the darkness still fills the empty spaces.

I can barely see Sven Parab and Amelia on my left and right.

But…

Clack-!

Even though their faces are hidden by the darkness, the light flickering from their hearts is clearly visible.

Like fireflies swimming in the dark.

“Uwaaaaaaaah!!”

I deflect the blades flying at my shield, swing my hammer wildly, and check the lights that appear around me in real-time.

Swoooosh-!

The lights flicker and surge, indicating a fierce battle.

They might be easy targets for the enemies hiding in the dark, but they are markers for us.

Proof that my comrades next to me are still alive and fighting.

Proof of that belief.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Concentrated Fire].」

Arrows are fired, pushing back the darkness.

「Benjamin Orman has cast [Purifying Moon].」

Light particles fall from the sky, seeping into our bodies.

And as that time passes.

Thud-!

Wounds accumulate on my body.

The woman who introduced herself as Six or something says to me.

“…You’ve become much weaker than before.”

Well, I can’t use [Iron Fortress] right now.

Even with the Elibaba (Earth) mode activated, the ability to block aura has greatly decreased.

No, is that all?

There’s no strength bonus from [Giantification].

I can’t use [Swing], my only attack skill, or [Eye of the Storm], which I used to occasionally catch enemies off guard.

But.

As I always say.

“So what?”

I said with a smirk.

“If you think I’ve gotten weaker, try killing me.”

“……”

“I will never fall.”

To be precise, I was determined to do so.

In this kind of fight, the one who stands last is the winner.

“…Do you trust the priest?”

Well, she’s not wrong.

If it weren’t for the healing coming in right now, it would be difficult to hold on.

But…

‘Why are you picking a fight?’

She’s a funny woman.

“Is it wrong to trust my comrades?”

[Dungeon & Stone] is a team game, after all.

Clang-!

I slam my hammer down in the direction of the sound.

Of course, there was no unique impact of hitting a skull that travels through the hammer handle to my fingertips.

“You seem impatient for someone who trusts their comrades.”

Ah, she’s really talkative.

“Are you anxious? That I’m the only one facing you here?”

This woman’s intentions are obvious.

To provoke me and make me reveal even the slightest opening. If that wasn’t her goal, this ice-cold woman wouldn’t be running her mouth like this.

The problem is… it worked a little.

Whoooosh-!

I swing my hammer once more.

Even so, the questions and unease don’t subside.

Where are the others? I expected several of them to swarm me. I thought that if I held out, my comrades would have an easier time.

“Aaaaaaack!!”

Amidst the sounds of clashing weapons, someone’s scream catches my ear.

“Bjorn Yandel, you’re the last one.”

Whose scream was that?

“I already realized back then that you don’t fall easily.”

An enemy? Or an ally?

I don’t know.

But…

“So, until then, I hope you don’t fall—.”

I forcibly cool my head, which is heating up.

I can’t just run off to check right now.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!”

I have no choice but to trust and do my part.

***

When he was young, the archbishop who took him in said.

[You have no parents now. Your parents are only the glorious sun, Lord Tobera.]

[Worldly affection is meaningless to the agent of God, so abandon the human heart.]

[Now, from today, you are Jun.]

Jun, the former inquisitor of the Tobera Church.

The day he abandoned the surname Archen.

From that day on, he lived a beast-like life, not as a human, but as an agent of God.

[It is something that must be done. Aren’t you a man?]

He castrated his desires while reciting prayers,

[Ah, it hurts…!]

[You still have a human heart left.]

He endured daily training that was close to torture.

[You can stand up. As long as the light of the sun is with you.]

There were times when he wanted to break down, but the warm light of the sun forcibly healed him.

By the time he became an adult, he was no longer a being that could be called human.

There was no doubt.

He simply did as the church ordered, doing things for the world in the name of God.

But…

‘Why was it…’

There was no special trigger.

That day was an ordinary day.

The sky was cloudy, yet the sunlight touching his skin was warm. But that day, Jun Archen, while staring blankly at the sky, had a question for the first time.

‘Am I right?’

A question that was far too late.

Even thinking about it again, I don’t know why that question suddenly arose. Well, maybe the family of three I saw on the street that day looked too radiant.

But one thing was clear: that day marked the end of his beast-like life.

[…What, what! How could you do that!]

He stepped down from his position as an inquisitor and returned to being an ordinary member of the church. The order of events was reversed, but only then did he become disillusioned with the church.

It wasn’t hatred towards God.

From that question that came like a revelation, he felt the presence of God up close for the first time.

Rather, his faith became even stronger.

‘I… was not right.’

Frustration came before anger.

The weight of the sins he had committed under the guise of God’s name finally began to bind his whole body.

It seemed that an ordinary life would not be allowed.

But that’s why he longed for that life even more.

Yes, maybe that’s why.

[I will ask you one last favor.]

Jun Archen accepted the last mission to sever ties with the archbishop… no, the old man who had now become a cardinal.

It wasn’t a mission to create a false sinner as usual, but a mission for the world, or so he thought.

He thought it might be a small atonement.

And time passed…

Kwaaaaaaaaang-!!!

And now he has arrived here.

“Punishment.”

Maybe this is a punishment.

For punishing a foolish child who misinterpreted God’s will and was manipulated by the wicked human heart.

Yes, there were times when he thought so at first.

But now he could say it.

If this is truly his punishment.

“You… are wrong.”

It was clearly wrong.

Even if it was him who pulled him out of his beast-like life.

This… is not right.

“Aaaaaaack!”

“H-how did they get here…!”

The lamp in his heart goes out.

The lamp of those who wanted to move forward to the future.

Swoosh.

His right leg, which doesn’t move at all, as if not allowing him to move forward.

Swoosh.

He drags his leg, staggering forward.

Even if it’s a precarious movement that looks like he’ll fall at any moment, little by little.

Swoosh.

Only after moving forward did he realize something.

Maybe it’s a bit of wordplay, but…

Swoosh.

Those who want to move forward can move forward.

No matter what the situation.

‘Maybe I would have never known if it wasn’t for that man.’

Then, a voice came from behind.

“Jun! W-what are you doing!”

Periton Eriabosti.

A woman who has lived a life so bright, unlike his, and has upheld pure white justice. A woman who was burning with the will to live for her beloved child.

It’s not just her.

“Barhatun Wiar!”

The bearded mage had a beloved wife.

「Ghold Aldidi has used [Nullification].」

The old man who lost his child had a long-standing wish to fulfill.

「Titana Akuraba has cast [Blood Sucker].」

The dwarf had a firm cause.

Suddenly, Puta Ricaben’s words before the battle started flashed through his mind.

[The more I hear, the more miserable I feel. If I had to pick the most insignificant person among us, it would be me.]

His words were wrong.

Out of the eighteen who have survived so far. No, even if you add all thirty who started in the beginning.

The most insignificant among them is probably.

No, definitely…

‘It’s me…’

Jun soon realized his role.

“Come this way quickly!”

Born with only his parents’ names.

Becoming an inquisitor.

After wandering, arriving at this cold place.

All the moments he saw, heard, and felt on this journey.

“I’m just doing my part.”

It was all for this moment.

It was like a revelation.

The moment he realized it, his mind cleared.

There was no more fear.

He didn’t even think that this moment was a trial.

Even the fact that one of his legs wouldn’t move was considered a necessity to stand in this place.

“I didn’t expect a front-liner to be here.”

“He can’t use his leg.”

“So that’s why he was here?”

“Eliminate him quickly.”

The enemies emitting a crimson aura rush towards him in unison.

Jun raised his shield.

Clack clack clack-!

Two daggers pierced through the shield.

And…

Thud-!

Two daggers pierced his lungs.

There was no pain.

For the first time in his life, he felt grateful. For the harsh training he received in his childhood.

「Jun Archen has cast [Holy Body Descent].」

The power of God dwells in his body.

A feeling that he could truly do anything.

Then he shouted.

It might not be a shout befitting a paladin.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!”

Since he can’t repay all the sins he committed anyway, it would be okay just this once.

Yes, just once.

Even just to let out a shout he wanted to utter.

“We have to help Jun!”

The rear lines, who had retreated behind him, began to do their best to help him, using their respective skills.

But even so, Jun Archen’s life flame was quickly extinguished.

Clunk.

The shield falls from his arm, where the tendons have snapped.

Thud, thud, thud-!

Daggers lacerate his upper body.

Jun Archen no longer thought of blocking or dodging.

He was only focused on standing without falling.

Seeing him, the Rose Knights exchanged opinions as if they didn’t understand.

“Injuries that should have killed him a long time ago.”

“…But why isn’t he falling?”

“He’s been wasting our time for over 3 minutes. Finish him off quickly.”

The offensive intensifies.

Thud!

The blood he spilled on the floor forms a puddle, and his mind becomes hazy.

How many minutes had he been standing?

His sense of time is distorted, and even the faces of the enemies become blurry and difficult to see properly.

But there was something that was clearly visible.

Swoooosh-!

Lamps flickering in the darkness.

Surely, he must be among them.

Bjorn Yandel.

Perhaps he is doing his part and steadily moving forward at this very moment.

“Clan…”

He said he would make one when they went to the city.

Death was not frightening, but a sense of regret suddenly arose.

When those words came out, he didn’t say anything because he thought it wasn’t his place.

“It would have been fun…”

It certainly would have been.

The royal family and the Noark, and many other organizations that abandoned us. Even if all of them were hostile to us.

Thud-!

A sharp blade tears through his lungs.

Jun Archen intuitively realized.

That his flame had burned out completely.

“……”

“……”

The noisy surroundings become quiet, and his vision turns black. The flickering lights in the distance move away, leaving marks like stains.

And…

Swoooosh-!

The darkness recedes, and all sides are filled with light.

As if… to welcome a child who has finished his mission.

Light that warmly embraces his whole body.

“Puh, puhehehe…”

Jun Archen smiled.

Even if this is just a hallucination before death.

Even if it’s just a vain belief and expectation.

“Save me, who has been wandering…”

Without punishing a foolish sinner with a whip.

Please, the tired and exhausted soul.

“Please, embrace me…”

It was the moment he had been longing for.

***

There is no strategy, no tactics.

Just a continuous struggle to survive.

Kwaaaang-! Slash, thud-!

A chaotic battle where explosions, the friction of weapons, and shouts and screams all mix together.

How many minutes had passed in such a situation where it wouldn’t be strange if anyone died or survived after the battle?

Swoooooooooosh-!

The mist that surrounded us began to disappear.

The black mage’s magic couldn’t have run out already…

‘Who killed the black mage?’

Well, I’ll find out soon enough.

Soon, the mist completely clears, and the narrowed vision returns to normal.

The first thing I see is a woman with a frown.

And…

‘When did he get over there?’

Far away in the front, a knight is swinging his sword diligently in the area where the enemy’s rear lines are gathered.

Melrand Kislan.

Around him, a frail figure in a robe is lying on the ground with his neck cut.

‘It’s a rash move, but nice.’

After that, I looked to my left and right.

First of all, there were no casualties among the front lines.

But everyone is a mess.

The most serious one is probably Lavien.

He said he was confident in punching earlier, but without a sword, he’s completely wrecked.

‘Good, no one has died yet.’

Then how about the rear?

That’s where I heard the screams earlier.

‘It sounded like someone was shouting our ancestor’s name.’

I’m not sure.

The explosions around me were so loud.

Tap.

Taking advantage of the gap where the woman slightly distanced herself from me, I quickly checked behind me.

Contrary to expectations, that place was the most miserable.

Three Rose Knights standing in front of the rear lines.

“……”

A corpse lying on the floor.

My heart sank as soon as I saw it, but upon closer inspection, it was a Rose Knight.

And…

‘Jun blocked it.’

Jun is standing in front of the rear lines, as if protecting them.

The moment I found him, a conversation we had before the battle suddenly flashed through my mind.

[Am I supposed to… hide in the rear?]

He didn’t seem to like my request.

However, I persuaded him that the real fight would be after we returned to the city, and that I would need his strength later, and he reluctantly nodded.

But…

‘A guy who couldn’t even walk properly, until he became like that…’

I sighed bitterly as I checked Jun’s appearance.

His body, completely covered in blood, was in such a state that it was more difficult to find a place that wasn’t damaged.

Maybe this guy also made a judgment.

That it wasn’t the time to save his body for the future.

‘If it wasn’t for this guy, the rear would have been completely destroyed.’

That fact is both chilling and reassuring.

Thanks to Jun’s fighting spirit, the rear lines were able to achieve the result of killing one of the Rose Knights—.

Thump-!

The sense of unease came late.

“Why…”

Jun was standing upright.

Even though he wasn’t holding a shield in his hand.

It was definitely like that.

But…

“The light is off?”

Unlike the other members, his lamp is not lit.

And unlike my heart, which was only pounding, my head immediately derived the answer.

Yes, he’s dead.

“……!”

I wasn’t the only one who was late to notice his death. The Rose Knight who was fighting right in front of him also belatedly realized Jun’s death and dashed forward, ambushing our rear lines.

However, their daggers did not reach their intended target.

Clang-!

Amelia, who moved her body as soon as she checked behind her, deflected the two daggers with her clone…

“The damage is greater than I thought.”

Six, who glanced at the dead member with indifferent eyes, muttered something strange.

And then…

Tap.

She immediately kicked off the ground and bounced away.

Not towards me, who was supposed to be marking her.

‘This bitch…!’

Towards another place.

Specifically, towards the rear lines that Amelia barely managed to defend.

[Mister…!]

Taking Erwen’s shout as a signal, I chased after Six.

I knew what was going on in this woman’s head.

‘That bitch must have realized that I can’t use active skills anymore.’

A barbarian tank with active skills sealed.

Of course, thanks to [Spirit Form], my body is still tough and difficult to catch, but in a multi-vs-multi situation, I’m not as threatening as before.

And on top of that, the members are showing poor performance.

Based on this, Six must have made a final judgment.

That it’s more efficient to leave me alone and focus on the other side than to hold me down now.

“Erwen…!”

As soon as I shouted for help, an arrow imbued with the spirit’s energy was fired.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Concentrated Fire].」

The arrow’s goal is to stop Six’s charge.

Whoosh!

Six nimbly jumps and does a somersault in the air, achieving the arrow’s goal.

Not missing the opportunity, I quickly closed the distance.

At the same time, I quickly gave an order.

“Erwen, change the attribute.”

[To what?]

As soon as I recited the desired attribute, a change occurred in her body.

Swoooosh-!

The attribute is not water, fire, earth, or wind.

It’s Erwen’s main attribute, called Blood Spirit.

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

A dark aura, so ominous that it rises above the skin.

It’s called…

「All resistance values are fixed at 0.」

「Holy resistance is fixed at -200.」

「Dark resistance is fixed at +800.」

「Abyss Blessing bonus.」

「Receives immunity to all types of status ailments.」

「All types of attacks receive an unavoidable hit bonus…」

「…」

Elemental Barbarian (Dark) Max Damage Mode.