Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 381

Atlante (4)

The undersea island, Atlanté.

In fact, this part was the most difficult part in the development of my Shield Barbarian character.

I didn’t call it the Second Core Essence for nothing.

Normally, by the time I reached here, my setup would only consist of Level 4 essences or lower.

Stormgush’s [Origin], Bayon’s [Transcendence], and Gachabon’s [Risk Burden]. Assembling this combination beforehand was obviously impossible.

Therefore, attempting a solo clear here was impossible. The only viable option was to recruit the right allies and ensure full preparation before entering.

It was only after I had consumed the essence here that my combat power increased, and grinding for a level 3 essence could officially begin.

‘But somehow, the order got reversed.’

Looking back now, it all started with the ogre’s essence.

By sheer luck, I obtained a high-level essence early, and from there, my growth snowballed.

Just like this:

『You have defeated the Mummel Priest. EXP +6』

『You have defeated Ravitore. EXP +5』

『You have defeated the Undersea Guardian. EXP +4』

『You have defeated Nagakulos…….』

『…….』

All I did was run forward, drawing the monsters’ aggro, and my experience points piled up. At this rate, it felt almost like a speedrun.

Of course, I had to take breaks in between.

Even I don’t have unlimited MP.

Especially here, where I had to endure the status ailment ‘Hyperventilation’, which doubled the resource consumption.

“Mister!”

As I took a short break, my companions, who had been following behind and collecting mana stones, caught up.

“An essence dropped over there. What are you going to do with it?”

Huh? An essence dropped?

I hadn’t noticed while running and getting hit.

After a brief thought, I replied.

“Just leave it.”

If it were from a level 4 monster like the Mummel Priest, it would be incredibly valuable, but I’ve confirmed first-hand that it doesn’t drop essences.

There was no reason to waste one of my two test tubes on an unidentified essence. If it’s Level 5, it’s slightly profitable, and if it’s Level 6, it’s mostly a loss.

“Schuiz, how far have we come now?” 

“We’ve passed the halfway point.”

“We’ve been moving in a straight line since entering—any specific reason for that?”

“We can hunt the monsters in the outskirts later.”

As I was conversing with Amelia, Erwin chimed in.

“Ah, Is it because of the competition you mentioned earlier?”

Actually, this is a bit ambiguous.

My nature is to prioritize solving the most important issues first.

However, I couldn’t say the competition had no influence at all.

“Yeah, just in case.”

Atlante is not a rift.

Once a portal is opened, it remains active until the labyrinth closes, allowing explorers to freely enter and exit.

“What if we run into them?”

“We’ll fight if they attack; if not, we’ll just pass by.”

“Hmm…”

Amelia nodded with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

I considered letting it go but decided to ask.

“You seem like you have something to say.”

“I was just wondering which option you’d prefer.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

“…?”

As I looked at her, expecting a more detailed answer, Amelia cautiously asked me.

“Schuiz, are you secretly hoping that the other side will attack first?”

The moment she said it, something clicked, and countless reasons to defend myself came to mind.

But I held back and asked instead,

“Why do you think that?”

“It’s not sudden. It’s just something I’ve thought of while watching you.”

Amelia shrugged, glancing at the sailor and the mage.

I turned to look at them as well, and they hurriedly averted their eyes, pretending not to have heard anything.

I didn’t quite understand.

“Of all people, I didn’t expect you, Emily, to say something like that. So, are you saying I should’ve spared the ones who attacked me first?”

I didn’t even realize how sharp my voice had become.

Amelia flinched and quickly shook her head.

“That’s not what I meant. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“…Never mind, forget it. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

With that, Amelia ended the conversation and stepped back, and I didn’t press further.

Though, I couldn’t help but be curious.

What exactly was she going to say?

Since I didn’t ask, I had no way of knowing.

But for some reason…

[Have you ever thought about it? You kill if they get in the way, kill if you’re suspicious, and whenever you meet someone new, your first thought is, ‘Will they try to harm me?’ People’s lives… it’s like they’re just game characters to you. Isn’t that insane?]

A conversation I had with Lee Baek-ho in the past flashed through my mind.

Even at the time, I could relate to it somewhat, but thinking about it now, its weight felt different.

Especially the part about human lives feeling like game characters.

[CRACK-!]

One hit with a hammer, and a person dies.

Of course, that person was always someone who, by my standards, deserved to die.

But…

[“I did wrong! Spare me!”]

The first man whose blood stained my hands.

Back during the Hans A incident, I wasn’t like I am now.

Back then, there was resistance in my heart, and I had to constantly persuade myself it was necessary as I swung my weapon.

Even after that, it took a while to adjust.

Though the hesitation in my hands disappeared, a lingering unease stayed with me.

Even when I returned to the city, it was the same.

I would cool myself down with cold water, deliberately emptying my mind because their faces and expressions kept popping into my head.

Yes, back then, I was definitely like that.

But now?

‘That captain on that ship… What did his face look like again?’

Now I can’t even remember the face of the man I just killed.

All I can remember clearly is the equipment and expensive valuables he was carrying, and the intense stimulation I felt when I got my hands on them.

Is this what they call getting used to it?

Or has something slowly changed within me?

“Mister, what are you thinking about so deeply…?”

“It’s nothing. We’ll rest for about 30 minutes and then move again. You rest too.”

Without hesitation, I lay down on the damp ground and looked up.

Beyond the light surrounding us, the endless darkness of the labyrinth stretched on.

It was strange.

Floors 7, 8, 9, 10.

Now, there were only four floors left above.

Once I pass through that path, I can go through the Abyss Gate and return to the modern world.

But still.

Even though I’ve climbed much higher than when I was struggling on floors 1 and 2.

That goal felt even further away.

***

After resting for about 30 minutes to replenish my MP, we resumed the same process of conquering the undersea island.

In simple terms, I would go ahead and clear everything, while the others followed behind, collecting mana stones.

Later, when I hunt all the monsters in the outskirts, the mana stone income alone will be substantial.

The thought made me chuckle.

No matter how high the income, it couldn’t compare to our recent battle.

Even though there was some damage, three ships and over ten sets of high-level equipment—it’s exploration income that can’t be matched by just hunting monsters.

『Powerful Luck.』

『You reflect 150% of the damage received back to the enemy.』

A critical hit triggered, and the last monster, which had been stubbornly following me, vanished into light.

And then…

‘We’ve already reached the boss room.’

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the heart of Atlante.

Towering pillars as tall as a skyscraper formed a circular space.

In the center of these pillars lay a massive egg.

It was blue and easily three to four times larger than me, even if I used [Gigantification].

‘It looks exactly like the egg from the game.’

The thought made me chuckle.

『Your character has witnessed a part of the myth.』

My heart pounded as a sense of satisfaction surged within me.

『Achievement unlocked.』

Condition: Mythical Discovery (1/5)

Reward: Permanent +10 to Soul Power.

Wait, did my MP just go up?

If that’s true, it means the ‘achievement’ system is working properly…

‘If that’s the case, I must have unlocked quite a few mental-related achievements too?’

Mental stats don’t show up as clearly, so I wasn’t sure, but with this, I should start going after achievements.

There are some useful ones starting from floor 7.

‘…Wait, should I have brought the others along for this?’

That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I decided to check next time.

The chances of an essence dropping on the first try are low anyway.

I’ll see when I return next time.

Besides, I’m not even sure if achievements apply to the locals.

Whoooosh—!

As I stepped into the pillars, a massive vortex of water swirled around, blocking the way back.

To me, it looked like a pointless effect.

Well, with the status ailment ‘Challenger’ anyway, even if I think about running away, my legs won’t move.

As I walked towards the egg in the centre, the vortex that raged beyond the pillars sent out even stronger vibrations, as if the sea itself was angry.

And then…

Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!

A rhythmic, booming sound echoed as the ground trembled.

And the heavy sound got closer and closer…

Boom—!

As soon as the shaking stopped, I looked up.

In the deep darkness, two piercing blue eyes were looking down at me.

A Level 3 monster, Deep Sea Giant.

Aside from the underground island of Atlante, this monster can also be found on floor 9. Of course, by then, these guys roam around in groups like normal mobs, and their weaknesses aren’t exposed like now, making hunting them several times harder.

“[Serkima Dio Merder.]”

Just like in the game, he muttered an incomprehensible line while looking down at me.

So…

“BETHEL—RAAAAAA!!”

After activating [Gigantification], I charged forward, shouting the name of my ancestral deity for the first time in a while.

After all, there’s no one else here but me, right?

Thud.

Oh, and of course, I charged straight toward the egg in the center.

This is the strategy to beat this thing.

Thump.

The egg pulsated, almost as if it were alive.

No, perhaps I should call it a heart shaped like an egg.

Boom!

As I struck the heart with all my might using the Demon Crusher, the monster let out a wail and slammed its palm down. I quickly stepped back to avoid it.

With [Risk Burden], only resource-based skills can be reflected.

There’s no reason to take a basic attack that can’t be reflected.

『The Deep Sea Giant has cast [Blade Torrent].』

As soon as its basic attack missed, the monster unleashed a skill.

Hundreds of water currents shot out in a straight line like bullets, forming sharp trajectories through the underwater space.

I guess I’ll just have to take this one…

『Powerful Luck.』

『You reflect 150% of the damage received back to the enemy.』

Whoa, a critical success from the start?

[Grraaaargh!]

Just as I braced myself and defended my vital points, I heard the exhilarating cry of a skeleton echo from behind.

And then…

Whoooosh!

A much thicker stream than the one that came at me flew toward the sea giant.

“[Graaahhh!]”

Perhaps because it took a lot of damage, the monster staggered unsteadily, not matching its large frame.

As it stumbled, it slammed down another basic attack.

Normally, dodging is the standard procedure, but…

Boom!

Maybe it’s because I came here after stacking up on Grade 3 essences?

‘This isn’t too hard to block.’

I raised my shield and held my ground, and I managed to withstand it without much trouble.

Any damage to my bones was instantly healed thanks to [Origin].

『The Deep Sea Giant has cast [Life Source].』

The monster drew life force from its heart to heal itself.

It was one of its main skills.

The Deep Sea Giants on the 9th floor don’t have their hearts exposed like this.

Based on this, it boasted immense regenerative power and displayed the monstrous strength befitting a level 3 monster.

Well, it didn’t mean much here.

There’s a reason why I always chose this guy as my first Level 3 essence.

Thump

The heart, smaller than before, pulsed weakly.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Since I no longer needed to dodge its basic attacks, I clung right onto the heart and swung my hammer repeatedly.

And then…

[The Deep Sea Giant has cast [Source of Life]

The vicious cycle repeated once more.

The heart transferred life force to the body, and with each transfer, the heart’s defense weakened.

How many times did this process repeat?

Thump.

The heart, now several times smaller, beat faintly as I brought my hammer down one last time.

And then—

Crack!

I was hit with both good news and bad news at once.

『You have defeated the Deep Sea Giant. EXP +7』

The first piece of good news was that I had easily defeated a Level 3 monster.

The second?

Whoooosh!

An essence appeared on the first try.

But now for the bad news.

‘Damn it.’

An essence dropped, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the color I wanted.

Well, not that it matters much in this situation.

I glanced past the now-defeated Deep Sea Giant and toward the vortex that had vanished without a trace.

“…….”

Standing there, dressed in casual clothes that seemed utterly out of place for a labyrinth.

Pale skin, a slim build, exuding an air of sophistication.

And platinum blonde hair slicked back in a pompadour style.

“Well, well, did you seriously take that thing down on your own?”

An unexpected encounter was waiting for me.