Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 223

Like Fireworks (3)

The Lord of the Abyss, Berzak.

Although its actual combat power is less than that of Chaos Lord Liakis on the 3rd floor, but the difficulty of defeating him is several times greater.

That’s because the creature’s Abyssal Mist is a cheat.

It seals active skills and various usage effects.

Mana efficiency is reduced to a quarter.

Throughout the battle, Level 5 abyssal monsters appear as nuisances.

Due to these harsh conditions, attempting to defeat it is almost impossible until the later stages.

Too many prerequisites are needed just to challenge him.

Upper Numbered items with passive effects, not active.

Top-tier tanks that can hold their ground alone.

Dealers capable of using aura or something equivalent.

Priests, the more the merrier.

Several mages, who are powerful even at a quarter of the efficiency.

All participants must be equipped with at least level 5 equipment, and even then, special consumables are required to minimize damage.

But even with all this preparation, on the seventh day it’s practically a failure.

At that point, additional patterns are unlocked regardless of the phase.

Simply put, it means that with our current abilities, it’s impossible to defeat him.

However…

[Looks like we’ve caught his eye. He’ll be here soon.]

We can at least buy some time.

I checked the time while waiting for Kyle to join us.

[19:34]

Day 5, 7 PM.

After fiercely breaking through, we verified the existence of the eastern portal, and now only about 2 hours remained until we reached the Goblin Forest.

A precious outcome achieved through the sacrifices of warriors.

Though, it would be a lie to say that luck didn’t play a part.

“Jandel, are you alright?”

“What’s there to not be alright about? I figured we’d run into him eventually.”

In fact, it’s a stroke of luck that we met him only now.

Other exploration teams that chose a different path likely suffered severe casualties.

“……”

How many more lives were lost in vain?

Suddenly I felt a chill, but I wasn’t sorry.

The situation is the same for both sides.

We’re each other’s bait.

If we had encountered him earlier, the other explorations might have had an easier time.

“You’ve kept us waiting.”

About five minutes later, Kyle arrived with forces for Plan B.

Six Rank-5 mages.

Three knights, three warriors.

As I quickly scanned the forces, I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“Why are there so few?”

The number of mages was unchanged, but the rest had significantly decreased.

Why?

“The rest are all dead.”

Yes, they weren’t just idling at the back.

Six people are missing for the plan. 

Then, who should fill those spots?

“Oh, by the way, your comrades wanted to come along, but I stopped them. You’ll have to hear some complaints later.”

Complaints, huh…

But even so, aren’t we still short six?

Maybe the fairy sisters also wanted to come along.

“…Thank you.”

After thanking Kyle, I glanced at the surrounding warriors.

Then I spoke as brightly as I could.

“As you’ve heard, we’re short six. I’m sorry, but does anyone want to come with us?”

Before I could finish speaking, someone answered.

“I’ll go. I’ll follow you.”

Rank-5 warrior, Alessandro Bell.

Once a member of a major clan, he was abandoned here after being pushed down the priority list.

“I was getting tired of stepping on traps. This is perfect!”

Karkin, the third son of Tion.

A barbarian warrior in his thirties, active in a 10-member clan.

It was fascinating to see a Rank 4 fellow for the first time.

“Make sure to buy me that drink when we get out!”

Milton Teterud.

Leader of an all-dwarf clan.

Though his clan don’t usually join explorations, they often lend clan members as mercenaries.

It felt more like a guild than a clan.

“……”

It was the right time to say thank you, but I found myself speechless.

Honestly, I didn’t expect this situation.

After all, this is different from before.

Only 2 hours to the portal.

Even a glimmer of hope at the brink of despair is still hope. These people might have wanted to survive despite fighting through hordes of monsters.

But volunteering to be bait for a boss? Almost no one would do that.

But in reality…

“Oh, can I join that drinking party too?”

“Something else interests me. If I follow you just once, I’ll have a legendary feat to brag about for life.”

“Bethel—laaaaaa!!”

“Take me. I was curious about what Berzak looks like.”

Countless explorers voiced their willingness to volunteer.

Because they believe in the plan Kyle and I devised?

Or perhaps their brains are releasing endorphins in this heated atmosphere?

Well, that’s likely part of it.

But even if that’s the case, one thing is certain.

“You all… have something wrong with your heads.”

It’s not a choice anyone sane would make.

But did my words sound strange?

A brief silence fell.

“…You’re not wrong. People outside would probably say the same thing.”

Some accepted it.

“But really, coming from you?”

Some laughed in disbelief.

I had nothing more to say.

I did what had to be done.

But…

‘That means it’s the same for them.”’

My heart was racing, like something was really wrong with my head.

However, I needed to keep my head cool.

I chose six from the many volunteers.

There was only one criterion.

Who would best fit with the rest?

Since we had fought together all day, it wasn’t difficult to choose.

I already knew their combat styles well enough.

“Why leave me behind?”

When I finished my selection, Teterud, the leader of the dwarf clan, protested.

“Do you think I’ll hold you back?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why? I won’t let you go until you explain!”

Man, this little guy is stubborn.

Seeing that the magic circle was almost ready on Kyle’s side, I gave a brief explanation.

“I need someone to lead here in my absence.”

Teterud is a rank-4 explorer.

He’s skilled and, as a clan leader, he knows how to handle people.

If anyone should hold the front line, it’s him.

I heard he took charge every time I was unconscious.

“…Tch.”

Though dissatisfied, he seemed to understand and didn’t bother further.

“Jandel, we’re ready. It’s about time he shows up.”

Right.

As soon as I heard Kyle say the magic circle was ready, I sent the rest of them away.

“Alright, you guys move out. The scouts Kyle brought will guide you. I’ve heard they’re quite reliable, but make sure they don’t die.”

“You talk like a father sending off his kids. Fine, we’re going. See you later. Make sure of it.”

“You sound like a father yourself.”

“There’s a kid waiting for me back in the city. Let’s go!”

Sticking to the wall to clear the path, Teterud led the way, stepping on traps, and the warriors followed.

Each one had a word as they passed by.

“Don’t die.”

“Strangely, I don’t think you will. See you later!”

Most were words of encouragement and support.

These words continued even after the warrior group had passed. Some expressed gratitude, others apologized.

It wasn’t just once or twice, it kept going.

“Why is everyone acting like this?”

Kyle chuckled at my question.

“Well, isn’t your message stone still on? Everyone’s aware of the situation up front.”

Right, that makes sense.

“Bjorn…”

The team members of Apple Narak also appeared in the procession.

Seeing my state, Misha looked like she was about to cry. Raven and Mr. Bear had similar complicated expressions.

“Stop looking so pitiful and move on. You’re blocking the path for those behind.”

“If you come back hurt, I won’t let it slide.”

Hmm, telling a tanker not to get hurt is practically saying she won’t let me off, isn’t it?

I kept that thought to myself.

‘Not bad.’

What’s the harm in getting scolded a bit?

After all, all this effort is to gain that everyday life.

“Take care.”

“Don’t worry. Even without you, Mr. Jandel I’ll protect our team. Let’s go, Aynar?”

“Ugh, alright! Don’t pull my hair!”

Then Raven dragged Aynar, who had been whining to join.

And still, the procession continued.

Like refugees escaping through tunnels during a war.

A flickering torch.

The groans of an injured comrade on someone’s back.

Broken equipment.

Bloodstains.

Sadness in their eyes.

Sweat dripping from limping steps.

I didn’t need to ask Kyle to know.

Just as I had a tough day, so did they.

“Well, everyone’s gone.”

Not only the first group I led but also the second and third groups following the markers we left all passed us.

It didn’t take long.

They were moving at a jog, after all.

They were running at a fast pace, after all.

“It’s gotten gloomy.”

When everyone left, it suddenly became much darker.

Was it because the flickering torches lit up everywhere as the procession passed?

The contrast was now strikingly clear.

It felt like we were left alone in an isolated world.

‘By the way, the guy should be here soon…’

I raised my shield.

And stared beyond the corridor.

“It’s here.”

Visibility of 2 meters.

In the darkness beyond, hundreds of eyes watched us.

The Lord of the Abyss, Berzak.

He had arrived.

***

When we first made the plan, the biggest concern was Berzak.

No matter how I thought about it, escaping from this guy with hundreds of people was impossible.

 

If we encounter him, it’s practically game over.

Sure, scattering might help some survive since the aggro would spread out, but…

What could we accomplish scattered?

We’d never make it to the portal through the mobs, let alone fight on the second floor.

Therefore…

“Is the magic circle ready to use?”

We devised Plan B.

But we can only use this strategy once with the resources we have.

“Don’t worry, we’ve checked the magic circle multiple times.”

If Plan B fails, we all die.

Even if we succeed, if we encounter the Abyss Watcher again, we won’t survive.

That’s why I set the maximum number of portal searches we could check to two.

By that time, many exploration will have disappeared.

Even if we manage to get through once, the chances of encountering Berzark again are too high.

“Prepare for battle.”

As soon as the eyes appeared in the darkness, everyone drew their weapons, ready to fight.

Kyle explained it.

Everyone knew what those eyes signified.

“……”

These incorporeal eyes are an effect that appears around Berzak.

In the game, their radius is about 2 km.

But they’re not just a background effect.

All these eyes share Berzak’s vision.

In other words, Berzark is already watching us.

“As you all know, our goal is to hold out as long as possible. Until the other explorers can escape beyond his sight.”

Kyle, clearly nervous, repeated the explanation once more. But the warriors retorted back.

“Do you think we’re fools? We remember everything. You predicted we’d need to hold out for about ten minutes, right?”

“Yes, sorry. But I need to add something. I forgot to mention it earlier… no matter what happens, protect Jandel here.”

“Huh? Jandel? Of course.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“No need to explain. We all know that if he survives, we have a chance of making it back alive.”

At the warrior’s words, everyone nodded.

“I was going to say that if Jandel, who defeated the Abyss Watcher, dies, Berzach might target the main group…”

Kyle laughed awkwardly and trailed off.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter. The result is the same.”

“Haha! Right, as long as the result is the same, who cares about the reason?”

“Indeed, warriors and mages aren’t so different in this regard.”

The light-hearted conversation eased the tense atmosphere slightly.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

Whoosh!

A shadow shot out like a sharp needle.

Bang!

The moment I blocked it with my shield, pain shot through my hand.

It wasn’t deep.

Just a minor puncture on my skin.

‘Damn, I’ve never faced him so unprepared. I can’t gauge his attack power.’

I didn’t expect my Moonlight Stone shield to be pierced by a basic attack.

Was it because I wasn’t in [Gigantification]?

The warriors’ expressions hardened as they saw my damaged shield.

Kyle spoke, trying to boost morale.

“…Just hold out for ten minutes.”

It already seemed daunting.

Yet, for some reason, I laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Warriors laugh when things get tough.”

I looked ahead.

A shadow flickered in the darkness.

The Lord of the Abyss, Berzak.

A boss only conquerable in the later stages.

For now, he’s a monstrous beast we can only endure against.

But so what?

“Bethel—raaaaaaa!!”

This is just another hurdle.

To end this exceptionally long day.

And to greet tomorrow.