Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 586

The space I entered through the portal that opened next to the troll statue.

It didn’t take long to figure out where this was.

The cold seeped through the soles of my shoes.

Ice walls reflected a white light like transparent glass.

‘…It’s an ice cave.’

The place where I met Bear Ahjussi [a friendly term for an older man] and killed Zensia, a player from Noark.

However, I didn’t feel particularly sentimental.

That’s because I’d already processed all those emotions when I came in to catch Tyrant Tarunbas earlier.

‘Anyway, so this is the first floor rift…’

Thanks to that, the number of samples increased.

Just like how Duke Cambormier, a hidden boss, appeared with an extremely low probability when entering the Crimson Citadel.

Some rifts might have hidden bosses.

The guardian troll I have to catch now is probably one of those cases.

“Let’s see his face first and then think about it.”

After finishing my thoughts while standing still at the starting point, I moved and passed through the passage. Soon, the narrow path widened, and a huge cavern appeared.

There were no trolls in sight.

‘As expected… the boss room is a bit different.’

Before the boss appeared, I quickly scanned the surrounding terrain.

Just like how there were coffins instead of death knights in the Crimson Citadel where Cambormier appeared.

There were also changes here.

The ice orc triplets trapped in ice pillars.

It was the same with Tyrant Tarunbas; these guys, who appear like appetizers right before the boss fight, were missing, but….

‘What happened here?’

The frozen cavern was full of corpses.

There were piles of human corpses, their arms and legs torn and crushed beyond recognition.

However, it wasn’t difficult to recognize that they were ‘Imperial soldiers.’

It was thanks to the emblem engraved on the flag, stained and discolored with blood.

The same emblem I saw in the Forest of Doppelgangers and in the cave where I fought Centurion Dreadfear.

‘The Empire is everywhere.’

Is it like England on Earth?

Anyway, besides the corpses of Imperial soldiers, there were also monster corpses in the cavern.

Ice orcs, frost wolves, yetis, etc.

Not only monsters that appear in the ice cave, but also individuals that had no connection at all were seen everywhere….

‘Isn’t that Tarunbas…?’

I could also find the corpse presumed to be Tyrant Tarunbas, the guardian of the original ice cave.

The club he used to carry was nowhere to be seen—.

Creak, creak.

What is that sound?

I looked around for a moment at the strange sound that arose in the silence, and soon I was able to find the source of the sound.

Creak, creak.

The unusually large pile of corpses in the center of the cavern was shaking.

When I focused my hearing, I could hear another sound from inside.

Gulp—

This time, it was the sound of something being swallowed.

I felt a sense of unease and was about to approach the direction when it happened.

[Gwaaaaaaah!]

Something that had been covered under the pile of corpses let out a shriek and rose up.

***

A physique well over 5 meters.

Fangs of a ferocious size protruding from its mouth.

Except for the fact that it was much larger than a normal troll, it had all the characteristics of a troll.

‘Well, his skin is black, though…’

I was a K-Barbarian [Korean Barbarian] who lived in the modern era, where you’d be labeled a racist for saying anything about skin color.

Therefore, I focused more on other things than skin color.

‘He’s holding a club too.’

The guy who was holding a piece of a human arm in one hand and crunching on it like a snack was holding a club in the other hand.

It was the club that Tyrant Tarunbas used to carry.

Ah, by the way, it also has an official name.

No. 9712 ‘Snowfield Club’.

As an item with a much later number, it was a blunt weapon with a simple effect of adding frost damage to normal attacks.

Thump-!

The guy who had gulped down the ‘snack’ he was holding in one bite took a threatening step towards me.

However, I calmly tried to talk to him.

“I am Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

Thump-!

When I spoke, indicating that I had no intention of attacking, the guy stopped walking.

And he tilted his head, looking down at me.

[Grrrk… ?]

Could it be that I can communicate this time?

It took only a second for that expectation to be shattered.

[Gwaaaaaaah!]

Just by revealing my name, the troll started charging at me, letting out a ferocious shriek for some reason.

The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

“Ha….”

So, it doesn’t understand me after all.

I had a hunch that it wouldn’t, seeing it chewing on human limbs….

Well, it’s too early to give up.

Whoosh-!

I nimbly dodged the swinging club and tried to talk again.

Just in case, this time in ancient language.

[Calm down. I don’t want to fight you.]

[…….]

[My name is Bjorn, son of Yandel—.]

[Gwaaaaaaah!]

Ugh.

That doesn’t work either?

Then there’s not much left….

“Gwaaaaaaah!”

After that, I tried talking to him in his language, but communication still failed.

Therefore, I took out the last resort.

Since neither Laphdonian, ancient language, nor the words he was uttering worked, there was no other choice.

I had to try communicating through physical means.

Whack-!

I smacked the jaw of the guy who was rushing at me mindlessly with a hammer.

After all, people with anger management issues could easily be found even in modern times.

Just like their characteristics, I thought that if I showed a clear difference in power this time, the guy might come to his senses.

But….

‘So he wasn’t a complainer.’

I didn’t even use [Swing] out of concern that he might die in one hit, but the guy got even angrier and rushed at me.

The same behavior as ordinary monsters that express aggression until their life force is extinguished.

‘Okay, then I’ll cleanly give up on the conversation.’

Having judged that the main goal was impossible to achieve, I focused on the sub-goal.

That was to gather information about him….

Whoosh-!

At that moment, the guy’s club cut through the air, creating a tearing sound. In the process, there were no flashy effects like light shining on the weapon or lightning erupting.

But even so.

No, precisely because of that, at least I could recognize it at a glance.

‘…[Swing]?’

The troll guy used [Swing].

I was quite flustered, but my head calmly deduced the cause of this phenomenon.

‘Superior variant…’

The trolls of the ice cave are superior variants.

So they use the essence of other individuals.

Just like how the vampire Cambormier used Nightflar’s [Pain Sharing], this guy can use the ogre’s skill.

Of course, that’s not the important thing.

‘…Wow, it really existed.’

It was a curiosity I had since a long time ago.

What would it feel like if there was a monster with the power of an ogre and the regeneration of a troll?

Now, that monster from my imagination has become a reality.

But….

‘It’s not that special, though.’

It might be different if an ogre had the troll essence, but the opposite, a troll, was more bland than expected.

Well, to be precise, should I say that I’ve become too strong?

In fact, if I had encountered this guy instead of Cambormier in the first rift, Bjorn Yandel’s journey would have ended that day.

‘Then shall I start checking?’

After that, I gradually dealt damage and explored the troll’s entire combat style.

I judged that gathering as much information as possible would make it easier for those who challenge it later.

Of course, even so, the battle ended quickly.

Did it take about 30 minutes?

Except for the fact that the cave darkened at the end and the troll’s cooldown disappeared, there didn’t seem to be any particular points to be careful about.

「You have defeated the corrupted beast, Kirdy.」

「Superior variant kill bonus. EXP +1」

「Guardian kill bonus. EXP +3」

Soon, when I smashed the troll’s head with a hammer, a portal opened, and as always, I came out without even looking at the rainbow essence.

***

After catching the troll, I killed all the unidentified guardians that were 5th grade, but there was no particular gain.

Duke Cambormier was the only one who could communicate.

‘Something… there must be some reason…’

No matter how much I pondered, I couldn’t even come up with a plausible hypothesis.

Why was that ahjussi able to communicate?

What was the difference between him and the other unidentified guardians?

Just luck?

I don’t know, but I also ended my secret digging here and resumed the strategy.

I cleared the White Temple, which was the 3rd floor rift, which I had put off.

[…….]

It was strange, but the Knight of the End that appeared in the White Temple rushed at me without even saying the lines he used to say in the game.

And it was the same with the 4th floor rift, which I challenged with borrowed equipment that would be helpful for the strategy.

[You, too… came to kill me… ?]

The doppelganger, who should have said those lines, started the boss fight without saying anything.

Ah, by the way, the structure of the boss fight was different from the original.

You had to attack simultaneously from the inside and outside, and I was curious what would happen when the doppelganger changed into a team member in solo play.

‘They made this… to be cleared?’

He transformed into me and fought, and he also gained a numerical advantage by using [Self-Replication].

However, it wasn’t such a desperate situation.

The doppelganger can’t copy Numbers items.

The Aegis Barrier.

Krauhl’s Demon Smasher.

Not only the two core items, but also ‘Outlaw of the Wasteland’, a counter item for humanoid monsters.

And many other pieces of equipment borrowed from outside.

After using them to the limit, I was able to defeat the doppelganger.

It took about 7 hours.

「You have defeated the doppelganger.」

「Guardian kill bonus. EXP +3」

The doppelganger’s seal, which originally had to be blocked somehow, was already released, and in that state, I saw the [Crystallization] pattern a total of 13 times.

No matter how much their numbers increased, it was a strategy that was possible because my fully equipped self was not taking any damage.

‘Ugh… I thought I was really going to die.’

After coming out, I shared the entire battle process with the doppelganger with everyone, and everyone was speechless at the fact that I had fought for 7 hours.

Perhaps impressed by my fierce battle, thankfully, no one was showing off their bravado by saying they would try it.

They were just gaping and admiring.

“The doppelganger’s essence… I’m tempted, but I guess I have to give up.”

“It’s not a type of monster that can be caught alone.”

“I’m amazed that Baron was able to catch a guardian of a rift above the 4th floor alone.”

“But… it seems that the Baron didn’t eat the essence this time either?”

Ah, the question I heard at the end was also something I had been thinking about.

The value of the doppelganger’s essence is quite high.

It can be used quite usefully no matter what job eats it.

But….

‘There’s not enough space.’

How much stronger would I get if I became two?

It’s not like Numbers items are copied when I use clone magic.

Besides, [Self-Replication] only synergizes if you eat an essence like [Dual Rule] that Amelia ate, so I coolly gave up.

‘I have to keep one slot empty no matter what, since I don’t know what will come out in the future.’

Anyway, after the fierce battle with the doppelganger, I just lazed around and spent the day, but the atmosphere of the exploration team was very unique.

“Oh! You’re back! That’s a relief!”

“P, Priest! Please look at my wounds!”

The explorers who chose to challenge were showing off their passion by going in and out of the portal day and night, and the knights, priests, and mages were taking a step back and killing time by doing their own things.

That’s because they don’t need experience or essence.

The mages with academic passion seem to be the only ones who are interested in the current situation….

“Baron, you will also challenge the Golden Ruins tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, I will.”

“I’m curious… what the Golden Ruins will be like. And what will be beyond that closed door.”

Those mages were just waiting for my actions, and they didn’t pay attention to the statues that had already been cleared.

The next day, after resting like that.

「You have defeated the Golden Fang Calphion. EXP +6.」

「Guardian kill bonus. EXP +3」

After finishing breakfast, I challenged the Golden Ruins, which was the 4th floor rift, as planned, and returned after clearing it in about 3 hours.

However, it wasn’t as urgent as it was with the doppelganger.

It was just the fate of a tank.

‘Ha… I want an attack skill.’

[Swing] and the Demon Smasher.

I managed to catch it somehow because I had these two, but it inevitably took a long time to peel off Calphion’s shell one by one.

This time, it wasn’t a humanoid monster either, so it was impossible to boost damage with Outlaw of the Wasteland.

‘…Still, it’s because I’m a tank that I caught it.’

In fact, it’s a common occurrence in RPG games.

A well-grown tank can catch bosses that other classes can’t catch alone if the compatibility is right.

Ah, of course, under the premise that there is no time limit.

‘Then, if I exclude the unidentified guardians, only the 5th floor is left…’

As my gaze turned to the 5th floor guardians, people’s attention began to gather.

Most of them were curious glances, but the members of Anabada, for example, had slightly nervous eyes.

“Surely… from the 5th floor rift, two portals opened, right?”

“That is correct. I’m curious who Baron Yandel will enter the rift with.”

I looked around.

“…….”

Amelia with a blank expression and Erwen with expectant eyes.

‘Is she thinking this is some kind of picnic?’

Misha looked nervous, and Aynar avoided my gaze as soon as our eyes met.

He seemed even more unmotivated today for some reason.

Well, the person I’m going to take is already decided anyway.

Thud, thud.

I passed by the people and stopped in front of one person.

“Arua Raven.”

“…Yes?”

She had an expression that she had not expected to be chosen at all, but there was no need for long words.

“I need you.”

It’s the essence of a 5th floor guardian, after all.

Of course, I have to put it in a test tube.