Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 481

[Veil of Betrayal] reactivated, and the moment my companions disappeared from view. Zzzzt- The shell encasing Dreadfear shattered, and the monster revealed itself once more. A skin covered in what looked like wax. A face without any features, with one large eye stuck in the middle, ignoring all proportions. And a bone greatsword clutched in both hands. Its appearance was the same as before using [Protection Mechanism], but that was only for a very brief moment. 「The feeling of hatred deepens.」 A buff added the moment the groggy state ended. For reference, luck is important from here on out…… 「The memories engraved in the bones become clearer.」 Whew, is this about average? Srrrrrrk. Sharp protrusions began to sprout from the greatsword Dreadfear was holding. It was the weapon buff, one of the five types of buffs that exist in the third phase…… ‘I really need to be careful from now on.’ Since it’s a damage enhancement buff, I also slightly adjusted my battle strategy for the future. Kwaaaang-! Focusing on defense using the shield is the same, but I will thoroughly avoid taking blows with my body that I couldn’t block. Even for me, a weapon buff is a bit tricky. Just like this. 「Sharp thorns pierce the character’s body.」 「Continuously steals the character’s soul power.」 The buffed sword gained an MP absorption option, and this option stacks in proportion to the number of times damage is taken. However, there is one thing to be careful about here. 「The Dread Lord Dreadfear’s hatred stat increases in proportion to the stolen MP.」 Whether it’s a weapon, armor, or an eyeball. All the buffs in the third phase affect the increase in the ‘hatred’ stat, and if this stat reaches its maximum, a very troublesome additional buff is applied. ‘If hatred explodes, the raid is basically a failure.’ In fact, at that level, it’s not the raid that’s the problem, but survival that you have to worry about. Therefore…… Whooong-! When it’s difficult to block, retreat and evade. Tap. However, rather than just retreating, I circle around him, using the terrain widely, and hold him in the center. 「The Dread Lord Dreadfear has cast [Inner Mirror].」 「Deals fixed damage in proportion to the decreased mental stat.」 I just endure the unavoidable instant skill while spitting blood. 「The Dread Lord Dreadfear has cast [Memory of the Dead].」 The bombs floating in the air like bubbles were dealt with with the help of the mage, Bersil. 「Bersil Gowland has cast 6th grade summoning magic [Puppet of Life].」 If I place dummies everywhere, I can prevent them from being focused on. [Kyaaaaaaaak-!] How long did I continue fighting while diligently following the strategy? ‘…It feels like it’s about time.’ Isn’t it time now? That thought had just popped into my head. 「The light of trust drives out the fear dwelling within.」 「[Veil of Betrayal] is temporarily lifted.」 As a pure white light illuminated the dark cave, Dreadfear screamed as if in pain and covered itself with a shell like before. 「The Dread Lord Dreadfear has cast [Protection Mechanism].」 If I fail to peel off that shell this time as well, the monster will receive another new buff, and the subsequent battle will become even more difficult. However, I wasn’t too worried. “Erwen.” In fact, at her current level, it’s safe to say she’s almost in the graduation preparatory class. 「Erwen Fornacci di Tersia summons [Dark Spirit King Dicloe].」 It’s time to move on to the final phase. *** The Dread Lord Dreadfear. It’s an unfortunate floor boss that doesn’t give any special rewards even if thirty people work hard to attack it, so it’s usually only taken down for clan ranking evaluations. However, this guy has one hidden piece. Well, to be honest, it’s not really a hidden piece, but a very well-known fact in the city through the story of an old hero. [If you succeed in subjugating it with five people, you can get a huge reward.] Of course, there are two errors in that information. First of all, it’s not that you have to have exactly five people, but that you just have to have five or less. ‘The reward isn’t actually that huge either.’ It’s closer to receiving a normal reward. But the reason why the rumor was so exaggerated is probably this. [If you succeed, it will be the tenth achievement after the last Great Sage.] Very few teams have succeeded in clearing it with five people. And all those who succeeded left a great mark in history. Remenin, the Abyss Seeker. Armella, the Fairy King. Mulmarin, the Sea Dragon Slayer. The one commonality that the previous explorers, who are called great explorers, had. This was enough to greatly arouse the challenging spirit of later explorers, and many followed in their footsteps and summoned the Dread Lord. And for most, that was their last appearance. ‘Actually, that’s only natural. How many bosses can you clear on your first try?’ I was only able to figure out the strategy because I had challenged it countless times through the medium of a game. If I had bumped into it head-on, it would have been the same. Reality and games are different. The only chance you have to try is once. If you fail, it’s game over, and there’s no chance to try again through the memory of failure. ‘……I’m actually curious how the people before me cleared it.’ What kind of strategy did they use? Was it the same method as me? Or did they just overwhelm it with overwhelming specs? I have no way of knowing. All ten teams that succeeded in subjugation kept silent about the strategy. ‘This is also a part that I don’t understand…….’ It’s the nature of explorers to not disclose high-level information to the outside and monopolize it. But I don’t know why the people who made the 6th floor map and distributed it for free, and who were treated as great people for generously releasing information about the 10th floor, which was unknown, kept this a secret. ‘……Well, it’s not something to worry about now.’ Hmm……. Or is it? Suddenly, I feel something strange-. Kwa kwa kwa kwang-! While I was pondering the cause of the sensation that I couldn’t quite explain. 「The Dread Lord Dreadfear’s [Protection Mechanism] has been deactivated.」 The thick shell shattered, and black mists began to leak out. So, I gave the order first. “Stop.” There’s no point in hitting it more here, it’s a waste of MP. I need to save as much MP as possible. “Good job. It must have been tough.” “Yes…….” “Everyone, gather around!” Soon, I called my companions behind me and prepared for the subsequent impact. [Kkiyaaaaaaaak-!!] The black mist that was flowing out made a noise like scratching a chalkboard. Soon, the amount of mist leaking out decreased, and a bright red light was revealed through the cracked shell. ‘Geez, look at that vicious glare.’ I took a deep breath and faced the monster. 「The Dread Lord Dreadfear feels a great threat from you.」 The beginning of the 4th phase, which we had finally reached. It’s also the biggest turning point of the raid. Thud, thud. Soon, the monster that had been hiding inside the cracked shell slowly walked out. First, it was a maggot. Then, it was a black mist. The third time, the monster covered in a wax-like shell now had the shape of a proper human. Thud. A pale white skin with blue veins. Ribs and bones that were clearly visible on its thin arms and legs. Its gray hair was also long and hanging down, and now it had eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Unfortunately, they weren’t in the right places, as if they were randomly placed. Yeah, this is a humanoid monster, isn’t it? Roll. The single eyeball under its chin rolls around. Crrrk. Blood is flowing from the nose located where the right eye should be. Drrrrk. Meanwhile, the bone greatsword connected to its hand is dragging on the floor, creating an annoying noise. Thud, thud. The monster, covered in a sticky liquid as if it had just been taken out of amniotic fluid. Thump. Soon, the monster stopped, looked around at us, and then. [Kkiyeeeeeeek!] It opened its mouth wide, which was located where its nose should be, and roared. 「There are 5 or fewer characters within the radius.」 「Special Condition – Old Memories are fulfilled.」 「The feeling of fear that was dwelling within the Dread Lord Dreadfear is revived.」 The prerequisite for clearing with 5 people must have already been met. 「Fragments of memories that have flowed out begin to distort the surrounding space.」 Okay, then, now we just need to go to the 5-person clear-only map and continue the raid to finish it—. Flash-! The moment a fierce flash of light erupted and my vision flickered. “…….” I froze on the spot. “…What, where is this?” A field I had never seen before was unfolding. *** 「The character is poisoned by ‘Goblin Paralysis Poison’.」 「Special Condition – Distorted Memories are fulfilled.」 「The character moves to the Pilgrim’s Cave.」 *** Hans… Hans Delbane…… The more Amelia repeated that name, the more ominous it felt, and she paused her interrogation for a moment to think. Of course, that time was extremely short. ‘……It’ll be fine.’ Isn’t he the guy who has eaten the Essence of Tranquility of the Orculist’s leader more than 300 times? Since that guy confidently said that there was nothing to worry about, there shouldn’t be any major accidents. Yes, so…… ‘Let’s focus on what I have to do.’ She put aside her worries and returned to the interrogation. She had barely opened the floodgates of conversation, and it would be a disaster if he closed his mouth again. “Where do you live?” “……District 9.” “Have you ever met Count Alminus?” “……No.” She continued to ask questions, and if she felt that he was lying, she would simply punish him without saying a word. And how many times did she repeat that? “I, I’m telling the truth……. I just received a request from the black market, that’s all……. I don’t know who the client is, either…….” Soon, she intuitively realized. That this was the truth, and that she would not be able to obtain any more information through interrogation. ‘……In the end, I couldn’t find any connection with Count Alminus.’ That guy……. He’ll be disappointed when he finds out about this. She felt a bit depressed, but she was an expert at controlling her emotions. It’s a shame, but what can she do if it can’t be done? It’s better to find something else I can do than to dwell on it. “…….” Afterwards, Amelia checked her belongings again, just in case she had missed anything earlier. And she noticed one strange thing. ‘……Paralysis poison?’ The weapon that stabbed him was coated with poison. After tasting it, it seems to be a low-grade poison based on goblin poison…… ‘Why on earth would they use this……?’ The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it became. First of all, such a low-grade poison wouldn’t be effective on a high-level guardian like him. But… they’re using this? When there are so many other good poisons? “Why did you use goblin paralysis poison?” “Paralysis poison……?” The man’s answer, as if he knew nothing, made the sense of incongruity even greater. “I… I never applied any paralysis poison……. Why would I use something like that.” Soon, Amelia turned her gaze to the man next to her. He, who had been taciturn from the beginning, was still keeping his mouth shut and staring at the air with a resigned look. “…….” Amelia quickly checked the man’s weapon as well. Surprisingly, his weapon was also coated with paralysis poison. And the moment she realized that fact. Flash-! Light spread from the center where the sounds of fighting had been heard, and then silence fell. It meant that her companions had already moved on to the next stage. Amelia summoned a clone and sent it to the empty chamber. There were four corpses lying in the chamber. After checking their weapons, they were also coated with goblin poison. Is this a coincidence? No, it can’t be. ‘Something…….’ Something ominous is happening. Amelia, who instinctively sensed that fact, grabbed the other man by the collar. “…Tell me. Why did you coat your weapon with goblin poison?” “…….” As expected of a man who hadn’t even groaned under harsh torture, no answer came back this time either. Srrrk-! Amelia drew a dagger and held it to the man’s neck. Press. The moment she pressed down with force, blood began to seep out. However, the man’s expression did not change. Before, he had just looked resigned, but now that expression looked different. “Who are you…?” For the first time, the man’s mouth opened at that question. “Who knows.” The answer that flowed out calmly. The moment Amelia pushed the dagger in a little more with force. Clack-! The dagger was knocked away by an unknown force. Thump, thump. The man who had been lying on the floor got up, dusting off his knees. “That guy has a good woman as a companion. Even though I didn’t have to step in myself, your suspicion reached this far. With this kind of intuition, you’ll be a great help in the rest of the journey.” Words that were impossible to understand. Amelia raised her killing intent and asked. “……Who are you? What is your purpose?” “Seeing that you’re worried about that guy even in this situation, it doesn’t seem like you’ll betray him easily…….” The man, who was looking down at her as if evaluating her, chuckled and continued. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just helping his fate move in the right direction.” “…….” “Do you know? Bjorn Yandel has a truly mysterious fate. He becomes even stronger through trials.” The man patted Amelia on the shoulder. “For example, what if the mage hadn’t died in the labyrinth that day? Do you think the day would have come when he would be called such a great hero? To a guy who prioritized surviving alone?” No, that couldn’t be. The man added with a smile. “So don’t worry. This time too, that guy will come back safe and sound.” Amelia gripped the one remaining dagger tightly, ready to attack at any moment. “So, what’s your intention in telling me all this?” Even as she asked the question, her gaze was constantly moving to find a gap in that man. But. “The reason I’m telling you so kindly is simple.” She couldn’t find a gap in the end. “Amelia Rainwailes.” A clear voice rang in her ears. “You weren’t good at falling for illusion magic in the past either.” “……!” “Rest now.” Even until the moment the man’s fingertips touched her forehead.