Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 479

There are two types of people in the world.

Those who value results, and those who value the process.

If I had to choose, I’d say I belong to the former.

As long as the result is good, the process doesn’t matter.

In that sense, the current situation isn’t so bad.

‘After all, all the Count has to do is withdraw the lawsuit.’

Simply put, if those guys directly interfere with our raid and we can get proof that they are from the Alminus County, then our goal is achieved.

Because, if they intentionally interfere with a subjugation officially approved by the guild?

With that, we could not only demand the Count withdraw the lawsuit, but also extort money from him.

‘The raid success rate was low anyway, so this worked out well.’

The reason I was secretly hoping for the big fish to take the bait rather than a normal raid was exactly this.

With my strategy, survival is almost guaranteed, but instead, there are quite a few cases where we lack firepower at the end and miss the kill.

‘Actually, if Erwen hadn’t consumed the essence of Liakis this time, I wouldn’t have even dared to try it.’

Anyway, considering all of these things, the success rate of the raid I predicted was about 20%.

Since the possibility of failure is significantly high, it’s a good thing that a higher probability option has emerged.

We can hunt the Floor Master anytime, but the lawsuit from Count Alminus is a quest that must be resolved in the near future.

「Something in the darkness is watching you.」

Okay, it seems like the summoning conditions have been met, as I’m starting to feel a chill down my spine.

“Everyone, don’t relax too much. From now on, it could be summoned at any time.”

We maintained our formation and waited, ready to fight at any moment.

It’s a simple reason.

First, we need to summon it and make it look like we’re really going to succeed in the subjugation, so they’ll rush out.

‘They probably know we’re wearing body cams, so they’ll try to appear at the most decisive moment.’

“Versil, the recording crystal?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve checked several times that it’s working fine.”

“Then I trust you.”

As I was briefing them once more about the situations that would follow, a change occurred around us.

「Something in the darkness harbors feelings of hatred towards you.」

Okay, now the probability has increased again.

“Bjorn… doesn’t it feel colder?”

Surprisingly, it was Ainar who noticed the change first. Well, they say animals are the first to notice earthquakes.

“Get ready. It wouldn’t be strange if it appeared now.”

At my warning, everyone tensed up and adjusted their stances.

And how much time passed in that state?

Thud, thud, thud.

The outer walls of the cave shook violently, and the crystals that had lost their light began to emit an intense red glow.

「Special Condition – The faith of five people is fulfilled.」

「Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, tests the faith of the pilgrims.」

It had appeared.

***

Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror.

A Floor Master of the first floor that is summoned probabilistically when five or more people gather in one place after the third day.

The appearance effect of this guy is simple.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

The ground shakes.

Whooshhhhhh-!

The dark field turns red.

「Creeping Terror.」

「The character’s bond magic is released.」

The bond magic of those who met the summoning conditions is released.

And…….

「The character’s vision is limited to a radius of 2m.」

With the field of vision narrowed, it slowly approaches.

“…That way.”

A dark red illuminated passage.

Squish-

We quickly turned our formation in the direction of the sound.

Squish.

The sound of something sticking and falling off a flat surface gradually gets closer.

Squish-

Vision limited to just 2m.

The moment it appeared at the edge of our vision.

“…Ugh.”

Versil gagged and covered his mouth.

It seems that he, being a mage, had a weak stomach.

“I’ve heard about it… but it’s really gruesome.”

I know, right.

I felt it with the corpse golem, but even the best-drawn illustrations often fall short of reality.

Like that thing that just appeared in front of us.

Squish-

Its height is about 1m 60.

Dreadfear, who has a very small physique compared to Liakis, the Lord of Chaos, is a humanoid monster.

Squish-

Two arms and two legs.

It walks on two legs and uses a greatsword made of bones.

However, being humanoid doesn’t mean it has a normal appearance.

‘After all, a zombie is also a humanoid monster if you think about it.’

Dreadfear was similar.

You could only tell that it had the basic structure of a human, but it was difficult to discern its exact shape.

Because it was covered in thumb-sized maggots.

Squish-

The disgusting sound of its footsteps as it moved.

Thud.

The maggots that fell on the floor, following the shape of the foot that stepped on them, wriggled.

“…I see why explorers avoid it.”

“Hoo…”

Erwen and Amelia didn’t gag like Versil, but their expressions weren’t good.

Should I say they looked like they hated it?

In the end, only Ainar was cheerful in this place.

“Oh! Is that it? It looks weaker than I thought?”

Yeah, we need at least one character like that.

“Hahaha! Why are you all like that! Cheer up! It may look like that, but it doesn’t smell!”

I sighed inwardly at Dreadfear’s appearance, but when I remembered the disgusting smell of the corpse golem, I felt a little better.

Is a greater misfortune the driving force of people?

I don’t know.

“Enough with the chatter.”

It was time to focus on the situation.

Squish-

Dreadfear stopped walking at the edge of our vision. It was small enough for me to look down on, but I felt a great pressure.

Therefore…….

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!!”

I just rushed in first.

The best way to overcome fear is to face it head-on. There are many things in this world that turn out to be nothing once you actually try them.

[Kiyaaaaaaaak-!]

As soon as I dashed in, it opened its maggot-infested mouth and swung its greatsword.

Or should I call it a maggot sword?

Clang-!

The impact was unbelievable, considering it came from that small body.

The physical damage was comparable to Liakis.

But there was something else to worry about right now.

Thud, thud-

The maggots fell like a shaken broom and stuck to my body.

‘Damn it, it was just an aura skill in the game.’

What kind of aura is this?

「The character has been infected with [Gnawing Terror].」

「The character’s mental stat is continuously decreasing.」

「Dreadfear’s rage stat increases in proportion to the damage the character takes.」

The maggots crawled on my bare skin.

My skin was itchy and even stinging.

Well, this isn’t something that can be blocked with physical resistance.

「Versil Gowland cast 5th grade sun magic [Holy Flame].」

As I had ordered in advance, Versil quickly cast a buff on me.

It was the core magic of phase 1.

When Ghost Busters sold the strategy for the first floor Floor Master, they recommended using this.

Well, it’s not like there are no alternatives, but…….

Whoosh-!

This is the easiest to obtain and the most effective.

Originally, when you’re worried about parasites, you should cook them well, right?

「[Gnawing Terror] is removed.」

Okay, then the aura problem is over.

Clang-!

As I was receiving Dreadfear’s normal attacks and getting used to its patterns, maggots the size of human heads began to crawl out of the cave walls.

Typical token monsters of phase 1.

Of course, it wasn’t something I needed to worry about.

Clang-!

Ainar and Versil, who specialize in wide-area combat, were in charge of dealing with the mobs.

Therefore, we now had two people left.

However, I had ordered the two to stand by.

“Emily, what about them?”

Because the Floor Master wasn’t the only one we had to deal with right now.

We needed to keep an eye on the situation for now.

But…….

“…Not yet. They seem to be observing the situation from a distance.”

Huh, so they’re going to watch phase 1.

Well, it’s understandable from their perspective. It’s not clear yet whether the strategy will succeed or not, and…….

The best time to interfere would be later.

Okay, so in that sense.

“Erwen, what time is it?”

First, I checked the current time.

“It’s 7:57 PM.”

About 4 hours left until the first floor closes.

‘Man, it would have been easier for everyone if they had come out a little later.’

I decided to move on to phase 2.

It didn’t seem like those guys were going to interfere in phase 1, and…….

Time management is key to the Dreadfear strategy.

This bastard gets buffs in each phase.

‘Phase 1 and 2 every 5 minutes after being summoned.’

If possible, it’s best to skip the first buff. The buffs in each phase continue to stack until the end of the raid.

“Emily, keep watching them. Erwen, start now.”

Therefore, we began the strategy in earnest.

Although Erwen was the only dealer, I didn’t feel any lack as the raid leader.

Erwen, who had obtained the Floor Essence this time, was now on another level.

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

As soon as my permission was given, Erwen unleashed her ultimate move according to the strategy plan.

And…….

Clang, clang, clang, clang-!

It took exactly 15 seconds.

Until the first phase of Dreadfear ended and the next pattern began.

「The resentment within Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, awakens.」

The afterglow of Erwen’s firepower had not yet faded in the hollow.

Thud, thud-

As if shedding its skin, the maggots that had covered its body stopped moving and fell to the floor.

Of course, even so, it was difficult to see its face.

Inside, where the swarming maggots had been, black smoke swirled, covering its body.

‘Okay, so the first phase is over…….’

I quickly finished the mid-term check.

Last time, I could summon for 30 seconds with full mana, so I used about half of my MP now?

“Erwen, you can rest now. If possible, keep an eye on the guys outside.”

I took Erwen out of the battle to recover MP.

And…….

“Emily.”

As soon as I switched roles with Amelia.

Tap, tap.

The corpses of the maggots lying on the floor shattered like eggs.

And at the same time.

[Kiyaaaaaaaak-!!]

[Kihhihihi, kihhihihihihi!!]

The black mists that emerged from the maggots began to fly around, emitting bizarre screams and laughter.

Ainar shouted in panic.

“U, ugh! Bjorn! W, what is this!!”

That’s right, I remembered.

He’s not afraid of bugs, but he’s afraid of ghosts.

Whoosh-! Whoosh-!

Ainar, in a panic, swung his greatsword in the air.

But the greatsword passed through the mist, unable to inflict any damage on the target.

Because that mist isn’t considered a monster.

「The character has been exposed to [Permeating Terror].」

「The character’s mental stat is continuously decreasing.」

「Accuracy is greatly reduced, and there is a certain probability of attacking nearby allies.」

The aura effect of the second phase.

“Erwen, what about them?”

“…Not yet. They’re still in the same place.”

Hmm, they should have noticed that phase 1 is over, but they’re still there…….

So they’re planning to skip phase 2 as well—.

[Kiyaaaaaaaak-!]

That bastard, I was thinking.

「The character has cast [Iron Fortress].」

「The effect of [Evolved Outer Skin] is increased by 1.5 times.」

Unlike in phase 1, I received the sword while boosting my physical resistance.

Clang-!

It’s a simple reason.

This guy’s physical damage didn’t increase much compared to phase 1, but…….

That’s not the only thing I have to deal with now.

Just like this.

「Amelia Rainwales cast [Abyssal Power].」

「Amelia Rainwales’ attack misses due to [Permeating Terror].」

Amelia’s dagger, which flew towards me, ignoring the laws of physics as its trajectory twisted.

Swish-!

Ugh, seriously.

That damn aura.

“…Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”

In the case of phase 2, the role of the tank is important.

Whether it’s a ranged or melee attack, if the aura activates, the person closest to the boss monster becomes the target.

Therefore, the standard is to have multiple tanks and quickly reduce health with healers.

But…….

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!”

If you don’t have teeth, you have to chew with your gums.

“Yandel, at this rate, it’s better not to use aura—.”

What is she saying?

“It’s okay, keep going.”

I dismissed Amelia’s concerns and stubbornly stuck to Dreadfear.

It didn’t feel good to be hit by my ally’s weapon every time I missed, but so what?

What’s always important is an unyielding spirit.

If I think that the more I hurt, the more that guy hurts, there’s nothing in this world I can’t endure.

「Ainar Pnelin’s attack misses due to [Permeating Terror].」

「Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, casts [Plague Spread].」

Anyway, we were fighting while sticking to it, and when it was time to use skills, we would create some distance and calmly proceed with the strategy.

「The resentment deepens.」

The second phase buff was applied.

「All aura effects are permanently enhanced.」

Huh, has another 5 minutes already passed?

It’s better to receive the aura enhancement buff of phase 2 as little as possible.

「The character’s ability stat is continuously decreasing.」

I’m starting to feel a little impatient.

That’s the tricky part about Dreadfear.

This guy becomes a monster that has no answer if you go for a long battle.

But…….

‘But it’s also a glass cannon.’

As a result of Amelia and Ainar swinging their swords throughout the battle without worrying about the tank.

「The resentment deepens.」

「The character’s physical stat is continuously decreasing.」

「The resentment deepens.」

「The decreased stat is increased by 50%.」

「The resentment deepens.」

「Dreadfear’s rage stat increases in proportion to the decreased stat.」

When the fourth buff activated, we were able to move on to the next phase.

It was a regrettable part.

‘……Hoo, I should have finished it at the third buff somehow.’

With this, the probability of success in the strategy decreased a bit more.

However, I quickly shook off the feeling of regret.

Well, the main thing isn’t the raid anyway.

[Kiyaaaaaaaak-!!!]

The moment Dreadfear let out a painful scream.

Whooshhhhhh-!

The black mists that had been flying around and screeching, sucking into its body.

And…….

「The hatred within Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, awakens.」

At the same time as the third phase began.

“Mister! They’ve moved!”

The fish that took the bait finally started to thrash.