Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 222
Like Fireworks (2)
I wasn’t always like this.
Then, what was I like?
Little Lee Han-soo, who spent most of his childhood in hospitals, was an ordinary boy.
He idolized heroes.
He believed that someday he would become someone special.
However, as he lived, that boy learned.
Emotions are just emotions.
Ultimately, it is those who think and act rationally can live with a smile on their face.
Therefore…
‘Misha, Eynar, Raven, Mr. Bear.’
I etch my priorities into my mind once more.
No matter what happens, I will make sure these people return alive.
But even with that resolve.
Clang!
I raise my shield to block the beast’s claws targeting my comrade.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, ah! Thank you…”
I don’t want to let go of this burning desire that heats my heart and mind—the desire to save as many people as possible.
My head is hot.
As hot as the breath I’m exhaling now.
Was I always such a passionate person?
“Davers, if it’s too hard, go to the back and rest.”
“…That won’t happen.”
“…?”
“Not until you go to rest first.”
Why are all warriors so stubborn?
Even as I think I shouldn’t have asked for his name, I find myself glad that we exchanged names.
Thus, I abandon my doubts.
I let go of regret too.
As if I were really a game character, I focus on one thing only.
Shield Baba, created to protect my comrades.
Following the exact training method of Bjorn Jandel.
What is the thing he can do best?
No, what is the thing he must do?
I know the answer.
「Due to the high-level recovery effect, your body regenerates quickly.」
I’m still in rags, walking a tightrope with only potions to keep me going.
I know that I could be much safer with the priest’s care.
Yet, I don’t ask for healing instead of potions.
Orc Hero’s passive skill [Path of the Hero] increases defense stats as health decreases.
“Bethel—Raaaaa!!”
The more I burn my life force.
The tougher I become.
Then, I can save more people, and those who survive will help overcome the challenges ahead.
Yes, so…
“We’re almost there!!”
This is a rational choice.
Trust and move forward.
***
It’s been about nine hours since we left the central area.
The first two hours were spent sprinting with all our might, and the remaining seven hours were spent clearing a path through the ‘Mist of the Abyss.’
There were many losses.
There were horrific events that are difficult to summarize in just a few sentences.
But…
“We’ve arrived.”
In the end, we reached our first destination.
Yes, the first destination.
[How is it, is the portal open?]
I swallowed hard and answered as calmly as I could.
“No, the portal is destroyed.”
What greeted us, after traversing over countless bodies and blood, was a scene of destruction.
Nothing existed where there should have been a monument and an open portal.
Crack.
For the first time in a long while, anger surged within me at the absurdity of it all.
So many warriors had died.
Each one of them had families and held precious things that couldn’t be discarded.
[It was a wasted trip.]
“…”
[Get a grip. There are still two portals left. We need to choose where to go next.]
I forcibly suppressed my overflowing emotions and cooled my head as much as possible.
Then I thought.
North, or south.
[Make a decision quickly.]
There’s no time to think leisurely.
The battle is still ongoing.
“Jandel, don’t feel pressured. How could you choose? It’s just luck.”
“Haha, a warrior judges with their heart, not their head!”
“No matter which choice you make, we will follow.”
“Even if it’s the wrong choice, no one can blame you. And if anyone does, I’ll split their head with my axe.”
The warriors, who had crossed the line of life and death with me several times in a short period, offered words of comfort.
They are truly fascinating people.
Despite their battered and worn-out appearances, they can still smile.
I let out a small laugh.
I closed my eyes.
‘We only have one more chance.’
Realistically, it’s impossible to check all three portals.
We judged that we only had the time and strength for two attempts, and chose the east as our first destination.
There were several reasons.
- Choosing the east allows us to still choose between the north and south if the first attempt fails.
Additionally, if we gain new information during the exploration, we can change our route.
2. The Abyssal Blade Wolves are less troublesome compared to other monsters.
It’s also the path with the least damage.
And…
3. In the beast’s den, the Noark bastards cannot easily form a siege formation.
We considered it better for battle.
With walls on three sides, we could hold out and hold on until the end of the seventh day, then descend to the first floor.
‘…Shit.’
After organizing my thoughts, I realized one thing belatedly.
‘It was a flawed judgment from the beginning.’
From my perspective, choosing the east was reasonable.
But what about from the enemy’s perspective?
‘I was short-sighted.’
I made plans only in a direction favorable to me.
If it succeeded, it would be the best for me.
I acted with the best-case scenario in mind.
Even though it’s clear that everyone would think the same way.
‘Where would they choose?’
I asked myself again.
Where is the most advantageous portal for the Noark?
The answer came quickly.
‘North.’
The Goblin Forest.
No place is a better choice for them.
There are three reasons.
- Abyssal Goblins are the most troublesome among the four monsters on the first floor.
Overcoming this path would inevitably require many sacrifices.
2.The terrain lacks natural barriers, making it possible to surround us and engage in battle advantageously.
Most importantly…
3.The Goblin Forest is the shortest distance to the third floor.
This is the most crucial part.
The bastards who halted their labyrinth exploration for six months would be struggling with food shortages. After this operation, they would plan to go up to the upper floors to mine magic stones.
After all, everyone in this world is efficiency-minded.
‘Foolish idiot.’
I already knew about their food shortage.
So I thought there wouldn’t be many people waiting in front of the second floor.
That’s why I trusted this plan.
However, I didn’t connect it to the Goblin Forest.
Despite running simulations over and over again.
‘It wasn’t one out of three. I just wanted the easy way.’
I cursed my own stupidity.
But rather than self-reproach, I took out the message stone and held it in my hand.
Tightly.
This is no time to collapse alone.
The die is cast.
What matters now is the next move.
“We’re going north.”
When I conveyed the decision through the message stone, Kyle’s voice came through.
[The Goblin Forest…]
“Do you have something to say?”
[No, actually, if you hadn’t chosen, I was planning to recommend that place first. Now that I think about it, it seems suspicious.]
Yeah, the old man had the same thought as me.
If only we had realized it a bit sooner.
Both me and this old man.
‘Enough whining.’
I resumed leading the group that had come this far.
“Prepare. We’re moving out again.”
Our destination is the Goblin Forest in the north.
“Hah, so much for rest.”
“Let’s go. We can rest enough once we’re out of here.”
Instead of retracing our steps and breaking formation, we moved by veering off slightly to the side.
“Grrrr…”
“Gyaaaah!”
The beasts inevitably appeared again as we moved away from the portal.
We fought fiercely, opening a path through them.
And how much time had passed?
“Gruk, gruk!!”
Abyssal goblins began to appear gradually.
It meant we had traveled a significant distance from the east sector where the Blade Wolves appear.
“Gruk.”
A small figure, no different from usual.
But its skin was ominously dark, as it stared at me.
“Kruk, kruruk!”
It was laughing.
Just like when I first fell into this cave.
“Prepare for battle!”
From now on, we would be walking a difficult path.
***
Level 9 monsters, goblins.
These guys are nothing special.
Just be careful of traps, and even those can be neutralized with good boots.
But…
「You have defeated an Abyssal Goblin +EXP 5」
An Abyssal Rank 5 Goblin is different.
These damned creatures transform into beings more troublesome than trolls.
「The Abyssal Goblin has cast [Random Trap].」
The active skill [Random Trap].
Its effect is simple.
Click.
When stepped on, a random skill below level 5 is cast on the target.
Oh, and buffs are excluded.
Only attack and curse-type skills are activated.
Fwoosh-!
The moment I heard the trap activate, one of the warriors was engulfed in flames.
I recognized it immediately.
[Annihilation]
One of the highest single-target damage skills among Level 5.
“Damn it!! Priest! Priest, priiest—!”
The priest was already casting a heal as soon as the flames appeared, but it was useless.
Thud.
The warrior who had been breaking through the front lines for over two hours collapsed, charred black.
A truly pointless death.
This is the irritating thing about Abyssal Goblins.
No matter what training method you use, there’s always a counter, but a random attack?
If you’re unlucky, you could die in one hit.
And in such a situation…
“Damn it, this is driving me crazy.”
Abyssal Goblin traps cannot be detected visually or magically.
You just have to step on them.
“I can’t go any further. I’m sorry.”
The warrior who had returned laughing even after having his arm torn off by a Blade Wolf was now retreating.
I don’t blame him.
If he had been injured because he was weak and couldn’t avoid the enemy’s attack, that would be one thing.
But to die just because of bad luck?
Even a warrior who has overcome countless hardships would find it difficult to overcome psychological fear.
So…
“I’ll go first.”
I step forward.
It’s not that I’m without fear.
Nor do I have a noble heart willing to sacrifice myself with a smile for everyone.
“Follow me.”
If everyone is scared, there is no solution.
In the end, that choice would lead to the death of everyone, including me.
Therefore, in such a situation, it’s necessary.
Click.
To have someone who can overcome fear and take the first step.
Yes, there must be at least one person.
“Bethel—raaaa!!”
I overcome my fear and pick up speed.
Click.
The trap activated at twenty-step intervals.
「The character’s stamina greatly decreases.」
A curse-type debuff.
「Character’s body burns hotly, temporarily sealing regeneration abilities.」
A continuous fire attack [Leechfire].
「The character takes significantly increased frost damage temporarily.」
A dousing of water and…
Boom!
A real lightning strike.
All sorts of skills stack on me.
But I kept moving.
Trusting in the +200 magic-resistance from my Manticore gear.
Believing that the first step I took would never be in vain.
Click.
I kept taking steps.
At some point, I heard the voices of people from far away.
But that time wasn’t long.
“I, I…”
“Stop the nonsense and step back. I’ll go next.”
“Damn it, why… why am I…”
Those who stopped and fell were bypassed by those following behind me.
“We follow the great warrior!!”
“Bethel—raaaa!”
It started with the barbarian.
“Haha! Didn’t you say you have a family? Someone like me, who is alone, should go.”
A leader who lost his team.
“…This too is a duty of the royal family. I’ll go next.”
An abandoned knight.
“This is driving me mad. I’ve never faced an enemy like this.”
“Hah, how are we supposed to get out of here?”
“I’ve been feeling it for a while, but you’re really crazy.”
The murmuring grew louder.
I felt the presence of comrades behind me.
But I didn’t look back.
The one needed here today is not someone who doubts and hesitates.
But someone who silently moves forward.
“Are you all crazy! Do you think someone will acknowledge you for this?! Huh? As a hero?”
Without blaming the one who sat down.
“Damn it… But I will go. Because someone has to do it.”
Together with those who rose again.
Click.
We moved forward.
To avoid losing anything more.
****
When I came to my senses, I was being carried by Eynar.
I didn’t ask what had happened.
This was the third time.
The third time I had stepped into a trap, over and over, until I couldn’t bear it anymore and passed out.
“How long has it been?”
“Please… rest a little longer, Bjorn… okay?”
Ignoring Misha’s concern, I got down from Eynar’s back.
I saw Kyle.
If anyone would tell me, it would be him.
“How long has it been?”
“We’ll arrive in two hours.”
“I see.”
I must have passed out for about 30 minutes.
The priest’s divine power had long been exhausted.
I wonder how many more died in the front while I was out.
“Mister…”
Just as I was about to move, Erwin grabbed my wrist.
“Can’t you not go…?”
“…”
“Others are clearing the path now anyway. Right?”
A terribly selfish yet captivating argument.
It was also something my former self would have considered rational.
But…
“I have to go.”
“Why… do you go to such lengths?”
“Because I’m sick of people dying.”
I have a high level of anti-magic resistance.
That’s why, even after stepping on hundreds of traps, I only passed out.
They’re just Rank 5 skills, after all.
Even without [Gigantification], my body was extremely durable.
I realized that at least in this mad endeavor, I wouldn’t die.
So…
“Step aside.”
I pushed Erwin aside and moved forward.
My comrades no longer tried to stop me.
As I increased my speed, I quickly rejoined the front line.
“You’re back again, relentless as ever.”
The passage was blocked by nearly 200 warriors.
We had gathered warriors indiscriminately, without dividing them into groups of three.
This isn’t like the Blade Wolf sector.
As long as someone disarms the traps ahead, the enemies from the side paths aren’t too dangerous.
The requirement is Rank 5 or higher.
Among them, those with high defense stats.
Oh, we did accept close-combat warriors, but strictly excluded non-warrior professions.
The Abyssal Goblins’ traps are not their only threat.
They use thrown weapons.
The name is ‘Monster Pouch.’
When thrown, it bursts, summoning a random monster of Rank 5 or lower.
Right in front of you.
It’s an environment that fragile spellcasters and archers can’t withstand.
“…Is that a priest over there?”
“Ah, I told him to stay put. He keeps passing out from using his holy power.”
By the way, it’s not just the priest being carried.
Warriors who suffered severe injuries and retreated to gulp down potions were also carried on the shoulders of other warriors.
When they regain consciousness, they’ll likely get up and carry another wounded warrior.
“I see. Stop him if he wakes up. We need to save him for when he’s really needed.”
“But this priestess is so stubborn, she never listens to us.”
“Then knock her out beforehand.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
Despite suggesting blasphemy against the priest, the warrior nodded as if it made sense.
They understood that this wasn’t a situation where we could afford to be picky.
“Well, I’ll go first.”
I nod and start to move forward, but the warriors shove me with their shoulders.
Wait, did I just get shoulder-butted?
It was the first time I experienced this since I woke up in this body.
“…What’s the meaning of this?”
I asked, and the warriors shrugged nonchalantly.
“Can’t you see the line here?”
“No matter if you’re the leader, you have to follow the rules.”
“Bjorn Jandel, do you think you’re some kind of hero?”
What?
What kind of nonsense is this?
It was absurd, but the warriors’ expressions were sincere.
“Rest a bit more, Jandel.”
“You deserve it.”
I couldn’t decide whether to feel grateful or frustrated with the situation.
I decided to watch for a moment.
“Stop, hold!”
A commotion came from the front.
Stopping in this situation?
Something must have happened.
“Move aside.”
I urgently pushed through the warriors to the front.
This time, they didn’t stop me, surprised by my urgency.
“Oh, oh?”
“Wait a minute!”
“Jandel? Why are you here?”
“We said you should rest…”
Familiar explorers greeted me at the front line. But I had more pressing matters to address than their questions.
What was the commotion about?
I didn’t need to ask. The answer was right in front of me.
“Anyway, good to see you, Jandel. Is that what the mage mentioned?”
Beyond the passage.
A massive eye blinked at me from within the darkness that swallowed light.
“Yes, it looks like it.”
I sighed and nodded.
There was no point in denying it.
Meeting that eye meant we were bound to encounter the Abyssal Lord Berzak.
Well, it was a miracle we hadn’t met it until now.
“So, what’s the plan?”
What else? We proceed as planned.
“Everyone, fall back.”
I stepped forward, gripping my mace.
Even as I approached with my weapon, the giant eye blinked but didn’t retreat.
Its gaze was intensely unsettling.
So…
‘Haven’t you seen a barbarian before?’
I swung my mace with all my might into the eye.
Crunch-!
The eye, a Level 9 token monster, vanished into light with a single hit.
「You have defeated the Abyssal Watcher +EXP 1」
「The Abyssal Lord Berzak has taken a keen interest in you.」
Sigh, how long has it been since I woke up, and now I have to go through this again.
I took out the message stone and reported to Kyle.
“I just killed the Abyssal Watcher. Hurry and get over here.”
Time to switch to Plan B.