Butterfly (3)

The Siege Slaughterer is an exceptionally good item.

Its performance is solid, but what makes it especially valuable is its relatively high price compared to other weapons of similar rank.

‘There are quite a few mace warriors in this world.’

Swords, hammers, maces, polearms, spears…

There are countless weapons in the world, and in most games, ‘maces’ are considered non-mainstream weapons.

But here…

“It’s actually not a bad weapon.”

In Dungeon & Stone, mace-type weapons were quite decent.

Although they have the disadvantage of slow attack speed, when it came to raw damage output, nothing else really compared.

It made sense, really. Assuming everything else was equal, no weapon could compete with an iron mace when it came to using centrifugal force in its attacks.

Ah, of course, that’s for beginners.

‘I often raised them in the early stages of the game…’

I eventually switched to another weapon because of the iron mace’s limitations, but that was just my circumstance.

People here don’t get second or third playthroughs.

The more you use a weapon, the more proficient you become with it. For explorers whose livelihoods depend on survival, switching weapons is not something they can do lightly.

Meaning, it’s common to use the weapon you started with even later on…

Because of that, plenty of players carried their early-game weapons all the way to the late-game.

The problem is that supply just can’t keep up with demand.

This was because there weren’t many mace types among the Numbers weapons in the first place.

‘For them, this is effectively their endgame weapon.’

Even if it’s only in the 600’s, if you use a mace, there is no better choice than this.

The mace users know that well, too.

That’s precisely why it sells for a high price as soon as it’s listed in the auction house.

But that wasn’t the important part right now.

I shook my head and forced myself to stop thinking about it for now.

No.687 Siege Slaughterer.

A precious item that I can either sell or use as a swap weapon.

That item was now in my hands, even if it was supposedly thanks to a “lucky” roll of the dice.

Badump—!

I couldn’t tell if my heart was pounding because I was happy, or because I was anxious.

But as time passed, I realized.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump!

This feeling had never meant anything good for me.

Even when I had got my Aegis’ Wall, my heart hadn’t pounded like this.

If the question was whether this could be called “joy,” then the answer was now obvious.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Still, it would’ve felt strange to just stand there doing nothing. I snapped out of it and picked up the Siege Slaughterer.

「The character has equipped No.687 Siege Slayer.」

「Overall Item Level has increased by +2,800.」

The moment I held it in my hand, I could feel the change in my physical stats.

This item granted a flat stat bonus, along with an additional percentage bonus on top of it.

「Strength value has increased by 40%.」

「Agility value has decreased by 80%.」

Agility decreases and Strength increases.

Although the overall specs are nothing compared to the Demon Crusher, this was the biggest reason I decided the weapon was worth using. I can use it to boost my strength whenever I need to.

My body really does feel heavy.

There were benefits too, of course.

But I’d need to test them.

Swing.

I tested a skill in the air, iron maces are still considered blunt weapons after all.

“Eh? Baron, why are you swinging so sl—”

Like this.

PAAAAAAAAANG—!!

The air was ripped apart as the mace sliced through it.

Everyone, including me, flinched at this.

“Huh?”

Seeing their faces, I made my decision.

Yeah. Better to keep this than sell it.

I have a new weapon now.

Of course, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with it.

The more I liked the Siege Slaughterer, the more uneasy I felt.

But…

Badump-!

…Yeah, I’d rather think of it as compensation.

Compensation for the months of hell I endured in that dream world.

Badump-!

Um… Still, I should be careful.

This might be a sign of the next misfortune. I need to stay focused in case any danger comes our way.

Yes, so then—.

“Ev, ev, ev…!”

The archer suddenly shouted urgently.

“Everyone Dodge!!”

…Huh?

It’s happening already?

What on earth is going on?

Out of habit, I immediately scanned our surroundings, assessing the situation for myself. However, with my Agility lowered, my senses had dulled, and I couldn’t detect any danger.

But—

“…Shit.”

Everyone else’s expressions were way too urgent.

No — not just their faces.

They were already running.

“Jayna!!”

The archer grabbed the slow-moving priest.

“Gramps!”

Baek-ho grabbed Ruin Gramps.

“Get on!”

Rex Aures, who was nearby, quickly grabbed the dazed GM and pulled him away.

Up until that point, I still didn’t know what was happening, but one thing was crystal clear to me.

Badump-Badump!

This place is dangerous.

I needed to run too.

I tried to move—

“…dammit.”

But equipping the Siege Slaughterer had slashed my Agility by eighty percent, and my body was far too slow.

I tried to store it back in subspace, but…

I had already missed my chance.

“What are you doing!? Look up!!”

Baek-ho shouted, still carrying Ruin Gramps.

Up…?

I tried to store it back in subspace, but…

But equipping the Siege Slaughterer had slashed my Agility by eighty percent, and my body was far too slow.

I had already missed my chance.

“What are you doing!? Look up!!”

Baek-ho shouted, still carrying Ruin Gramps.

Up…?

Only now did I understand.

[KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!]

A massive flying creature descended from the sky with a piercing screech.

Most of the enemies in the Dragon Bone Mountains were relatively easy. This one was the only exception.

The infamous “Graveyard Trio.”

A Level-1 Undead.

Bone Dragon.

Even though it had “bone” in its name, it wasn’t a drake or a dragonian.

「The character is within the range of [Dragon Fear].」

It is a true dragon, possessing that signature passive of the dragon race..

The passive was simple:

「There is a difference in class.」

If you are under Rank 10,magic resistance means nothing.

Rank 9 = Paralysis.

Rank ≤5 = Instant death.

Rank 6 = Stun + Soul Exhaustion.

Rank 7 = Flinch + Soul Exhaustion.

And for Rank 8 — my level:

「Your character enters Petrified state for 10 seconds.」

I was locked in place for ten seconds, and that wasn’t even the worst part of this broken skill! Petrification doesn’t just happen once; it triggers again after a certain time, and as the battle prolongs and the stack count increases, special effects are activated.

This is why Dragon Raids require a minimum rank of 10 and a recommended rank of 9.

Still, now was not the time for that kind of thought.

Transcendence.

I quickly cast my skill while in my petrified state.

「The character has cast[Gigantification].」

First, I used Gigantification (Transcendence) to boost my raw stats.

「The character has cast[Iron Fortress].」

Then my Physical Resistance.

「The character casts [Scale of Greed].」

Then Magic Resistance.

And at the same time.

Boom-!

The monster came crashing down on me, pinning my rock-stiff body beneath its front legs.

The physical damage was manageable.

“Gah…!”

I coughed up blood, but I was still alive.

The real problem came next.

「The character has suffered physical damage.」

A common passive shared by all Dragons, just like [Dragon Fear].

「The condition for [Dragon Claw] is met.」

「Magic damage equal to the physical damage taken is applied.」

If it deals physical damage, it adds magical damage.

If you deal magical damage, it adds physical damage.

In short, it’s hybrid damage, so it’s impossible to defend against.

It felt as if something had exploded inside my body and my ears began to ring.

The Shield Barbarian I worked so hard to raise was nearly brought to the brink of death in one hit.

But, honestly, that wasn’t strange at all.

Because this was Dungeon & Stone.

All Level-1 monsters were absurdly strong, and among them, dragons were especially vicious

「Jayna Flyer has summoned [Healing Leech].」

「Jayna Flyer has cast [Curse of Regeneration].」

「Jayna Flyer has cast [Emergency Blood Transfusion].」

「The cursed blood…」

Nevertheless, it seemed that our healer had already started casting, as I received her healing the moment I was hit.

Hmm… maybe it was too early to call that lucky.

「The body is rapidly regenerating.」

「The body is rapidly regenerating.」

「The body is rapidly regenerating.」

「The body is rapidly regenerat…….」

Injuries that could have been fatal began healing instantly, but that didn’t change anything.

I had counted the seconds since petrification began.

“Four seconds.”

Four seconds until I could move.

And if that bone dragon bastard lands even two normal attacks or one proper skill in that time…

‘I’d die right there. That’s just what a Grade 1 monster is.’

No matter how well-raised your character is, if you get hit by a Level 1 monster while defenseless, you have no choice but to die.

Just like this.

Booom-!

The dragon took that moment to strike at me again with its front legs. Its movements were light and casual, like a cat toying with its prey.

But from my perspective, it felt anything but light.

“Ghh—!”

I felt like two-thirds of my HP was gone.

Even in the midst of that, the dragon moved its front foot again.

However, it didn’t seem like it was going to stomp down again.

‘Seeing its wings spread.’

Shit.

「The Bone Dragon is casting [Bone Breath].」

So it’s going to shoot that.

Knowing what was coming only confirmed how bleak my future was.

‘If I get hit…’

I’ll die 100%.

The certainty was absolute.

“That son of a—!!”

A voice shouted from behind.

Tatat!

What? Is he coming to save me?

Tadat-tat!

But how is he running here?

As if he isn’t affected by [Dragon Fear]…

‘Ah… He’s already level 10…’

I gained another piece of information about Baek-ho Lee.

Given the situation, I wonder if this even has any meaning—

‘…Like hell it doesn’t.’

My mind, which had grown hazy after taking a few hits, snapped back into focus.
Even though the 9th floor was a place where you could die at any moment, I refused to let myself die such a pathetic death.
Whoooosh—!
The bone dragon spread its skeletal wings and pulled its head back.
And then—
FWOOOOOOOOSH!!
A black, beam-like breath erupted from its mouth.
But I didn’t close my eyes.
Well, technically, I couldn’t since I was still stuck in a stun, but still.
Crack.
I mean, think about it.
I’d walked away from that dream world with my heart full of determination, so giving up here would be beyond pathetic—
“Safe!!”
I heard Baek-ho’s voice nearby, and something yanked me backward.]
That’s actually kind of touching.
I didn’t think he’d come to save me while the dragon was breathing fire.
‘Zero seconds.’
The moment I finished the last count in my head—
「‘Petrified’ status has been removed.」
My stiff body loosened instantly.
At the same time, Lee Baek-ho, who had pulled me back, shouted:
“What are you doing! Raise your guard!!!!”
What the—was he thinking the same thing I was? He counted the remaining duration on the status condition too?
I’ll have to ask him about it later. For now, I immediately raised my shield to cover my entire body.
「Defense successful.」
「Aegis’s Barrier absorbs all damage.」
Hah, I really thought I was a goner.

Continue reading more chapters at henprogressive.com

Please join here, I need supporters to help me continue translating Surviving game as a barbarian and Lee Gwak
If it doesn’t work support me here buymeacoffee.com/hennoveltranslations. There are advanced chapters for supporters as well.