Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Dragon's Mountain Range.

The place where Noark's forces and the royal army were locked in a fierce battle, forming a long front line.

"Traitor! We have reports that the traitor who disappeared for a while has appeared on the western front!"

Eltora Terserion, the 3rd Corps Commander, frowned as he received the report from his subordinate.

"A traitor... I see. You're dismissed."

"Yes, sir!"

The subordinate thought the news of the traitor's reappearance had displeased his superior, but the real reason for Eltora's frown was different.

'The traitor has reappeared...'

Eltora wasn't a fool.

The most likely reason for their movement was to pursue the expedition force that was attempting to escape on their own.

'...Does that mean the pursuit is over?'

Eltora unconsciously clenched his fist.

'Father... No, what is the Marquis thinking?'

Right before entering the labyrinth with his troops, Eltora had received two secret orders from his father.

One was to ignore the expedition force's request for rescue.

And the other...

'If they somehow manage to survive and return, eliminate them quietly.'

He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or not, but Eltora didn't have to carry out the second order.

The expedition force had chosen a different path.

'Did they really all die...?'

It was a conflicting feeling.

He had played a role in abandoning them.

And he would be in trouble if they somehow managed to return.

But...

Thump!

He couldn't believe it.

Were they really dead?

Bjorn Yandel, who had even survived the Crystal Cave incident, would die like this?

"..."

Eltora closed his eyes and thought.

He tried to imagine what he would have done if he were the expedition leader.

'They fled north, not south towards their allies... to mislead the enemy.'

It wasn't a bad move.

They had avoided two powerful forces.

'Did he know and deliberately choose that path...?'

Well, he wasn't sure.

But even if they knew, the outcome wouldn't be different.

Heading north didn't seem like a viable escape route.

They were deep in enemy territory, with no hope of reinforcements.

The encirclement was closing in.

The members were exhausted.

What would he have done in that situation?

No, not him, but Bjorn Yandel... that man with his unwavering determination.

'...Ice Rock.'

That was the only option left, if they were determined to escape.

But...

'Even if they went there, they wouldn't survive.'

No matter how he imagined it, he couldn't see a hopeful future.

He wasn't underestimating Bjorn Yandel's abilities.

Ice Rock?

The Eye of the Glacier?

He would surely overcome those challenges.

Considering what he had done in the Crystal Cave, it was unthinkable that he would be defeated by such a trivial obstacle.

But he had chosen the wrong opponent.

'The Marquis wouldn't be unaware of this.'

Heading to Ice Rock.

It was a bold move, a desperate gamble.

But it was also a predictable one.

And his father, who always prepared for every possible outcome, would he have done nothing?

'Bjorn Yandel won't return alive.'

Eltora Terserion reached that conclusion.

Thump!

He ignored the pounding of his heart.

________________________

Our current formation is simple.

A narrow passage, barely wide enough for four people to walk side by side.

"Schuitz, are you sure this is alright?"

"I told you, didn't I? It's too narrow for everyone to move together."

I'm the only one at the front lines, blocking the enemy.

That's the answer I came up with.

The only way to ensure the survival of as many members as possible.

"Don't overdo it. We're right behind you."

"Yeah, I'm counting on you—"

"Bjorn Yandel!!"

The Dragonslayer's voice echoed through the passage, filled with killing intent.

"You thought you could escape?!"

He still doesn't seem to understand the situation.

But thankfully, not everyone is as naive as him.

"Regal Vagos, calm down."

One of the explorers stepped forward, blocking the Dragonslayer's path.

Crack.

Someone gritted their teeth.

I felt the same way.

"That bastard... he killed Naria..."

Milburn Naria, the troll summoner.

Whether she was an evil spirit or not, she died trying to help us.

And that bastard was the one who killed her.

"Is that you, Bjorn Yandel?"

The explorer who had stopped the Dragonslayer turned to face me.

'Is he the leader...?'

He acted so naturally, as if he were in charge.

The Dragonslayer was just standing there, silently watching.

"Yes, I'm Bjorn Yandel."

I decided to answer him.

I was curious too.

"And you are?"

He answered without hesitation.

"Manua Repeles."

A name that will be added to my kill list.

"I'll kill that bastard..."

No, it should be added to everyone's kill list.

Their eyes were filled with killing intent as they glared at the man.

But they didn't act recklessly.

"Manua Repeles... I've never heard of you."

"Well, that's to be expected. We're a secret weapon, after all."

That confirmed my suspicions.

I had a hunch when I saw their high-grade essences...

They're from the 8th-floor expedition team.

"So, what do you want?"

I asked, ready to add his name to my kill list.

He got straight to the point.

"I have a proposition for you."

"A proposition...?"

"As I said, we're a secret weapon. Even if we succeed in eliminating you all, it would be a huge loss if even one or two of us die."

"Get to the point."

He opened his palm.

"Five."

"...?"

"Just hand over five of your members. Then we'll be satisfied and return. Ah, it doesn't have to be you, Bjorn Yandel."

What the hell is he talking about?

I was speechless.

Sometimes, when you hear something so ridiculous, you don't even get angry.

"Isn't that a good deal? Just give us five, and you can all return alive."

"I think you're the one who should be making that offer. Give me five of your heads, including yours and Regal Vagos, and I'll let the rest go."

"You won't regret this?"

What a fool.

Alcohol is alcohol, no matter how bitter it tastes, and poison is poison, no matter how sweet it is.

"Your mother will be the one regretting it."

"...What?"

He seemed surprised by my blunt response.

He must not have heard such language in Noark, despite their reputation for being vulgar.

"She probably didn't know. That her son would grow up to be a coward who only talks big in front of the enemy."

"..."

"Or are you just scared and pissing yourself? It's hard to tell with all the stench coming from you."

"..."

"Why are you silent? Ah, could it be that you don't have a mother—"

"You bastard...!"

"Oh, you don't? I see. I understand. You must have had a rough childhood, not receiving proper education."

"..."

"All that hair loss... it must be from all the stress you endured—"

"...I'll kill you!!"

Damn it, why does he keep interrupting me?

I'm a bit offended, but I achieved my goal.

After all, the world works like this.

"Yeah, you won't."

"...!"

The one who gets agitated first loses.

________________________

"Repeles! Don't fall for his provocation! You're only playing into his hands..."

Regal Vagos tried to stop his agitated subordinate.

But...

Heh.

Will that work?

His bald head is already red with anger.

Tadat.

He charges at me, his fists clenched.

He's a Pugilist.

It's a rare class in the labyrinth.

It's decent in the early game, but there aren't any good core essences for it in the mid-game.

Well, it does have some good skills in the late game.

Like the one he just used.

「Manua Repeles has cast [Iron Fist].」

[Iron Fist], a skill obtainable from the 8th-floor rift.

Its effects are simple.

Flash!

A short-range teleport, covering about 4 meters.

And...

Crash!

An unavoidable knockback.

And...

「Deals fixed damage proportional to the caster's Strength and the target's Physical Resistance.」

True damage, dealing more damage the tougher the target.

This skill was the reason for our defeat in the previous battle.

I was hit a few times, and my mana shield shattered. I was pushed back, and our formation crumbled. And because I chose to dodge instead of blocking, I couldn't properly hold him down, which is one of the main roles of a tank.

But things are different now.

"...Ugh."

The impact makes my insides churn.

I don't have a mana shield, so I feel the full force of the blow.

But...

「Royta Mamender has cast [Emergency Regeneration].」

I'm healed instantly.

「Benjamin Orman has cast [Moonlight Sanctuary].」

A healing zone is also deployed between us.

Swoosh.

I look down at his fist, embedded in my stomach.

And I shout.

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!"

He flinches at my sudden roar.

He raises his fists to block my hammer.

He's trying to create distance and use [Iron Fist] again.

That skill is good, with no cooldown, but it requires a certain distance to charge.

'You think I'll let you?'

I activate [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm].

I couldn't use this combo in the previous battle because our formation had crumbled, and too many enemies were swarming around me.

Whiiiiiish!

"...!"

He's pulled towards me by the whirlwind, his face contorted with surprise.

I swing my hammer.

But I don't land a clean hit.

He's a tank, after all.

「Manua Repeles has cast [Invulnerability].」

He crosses his arms above his head, blocking my hammer.

And as our brief exchange ends, the others join the fight.

「Ricky Aimond has cast [Thunderbolt Target].」

「Cale Elbad Jeneger has cast [Earth Spike].」

They unleash their skills.

Some of them pierce through my defenses, but I'm quickly healed by the priests.

「Ann Parbella has cast [Lightning Dash].」

A melee attacker dashes past me.

And...

「Ann Parbella has cast [Gather].」

She uses a skill to teleport two of her allies to her location.

「Puran Cullen has cast [Spirit Possession].」

「Marion Trider has cast [Dance of Chaos].」

It's like a raid party.

They must have decided that fighting on our side, even in enemy territory, is better than staying on the other side with the reversed regeneration effect active.

'They really underestimated us, didn't they?'

They think they can break through our defenses with just three people?

"Don't worry! We won't let them pass!"

I leave the raid party to my allies.

They won't die as long as they're in the healing zone, even if they're attacked from behind.

I doubt they'll even get a chance to attack me.

"Kill them! It's time for revenge!"

"We won't be defeated like last time!"

"Waaaaaaaah!"

The battle begins.

The enemies, including the bald guy, try to break through my defenses. The three who crossed the boundary line form a tight formation, their backs to each other, desperately trying to break through our lines.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The priests on the safe hilltop unleash a barrage of divine spells, healing and attacking simultaneously.

"Kill the priests first!"

The enemies try to target the priests, unleashing their skills...

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

But their attacks are intercepted and dissipate before they can reach the hilltop.

We set up a magic barrier as soon as we arrived.

We won't lose this fight as long as we protect the priests.

"A barrier...!"

The enemies realize their projectiles are useless and start looking for other options.

「Mike Roymers has cast [Slime Walk].」

「Leah Andes has cast [Flame Swim].」

They try to climb the cliff using their essences.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Rapid Fire].」

But they're quickly stopped by our ranged attackers.

Time passes...

"...You insignificant ants!"

The battle is going in our favor, as expected.

The three who charged in are struggling against our superior numbers, and I'm holding my ground like a wall, preventing the others from crossing the boundary line.

"Damn it...!"

"Why won't that monster get tired?!"

"Kill him! Kill him, I said!"

The more desperate they become, the more aggressively they attack.

It's simple.

They're all injured.

They know this is their last chance.

"Don't hold back!"

"We'll be rewarded handsomely if we win this battle!"

Their attacks intensify as their injuries worsen.

The Dragonslayer, who's fighting alongside the bald guy, is no exception.

"Hey, let me ask you something."

"...?"

"I'm curious, when will that moment come? The moment when death can't save me?"

"...Crack."

He stops attacking and glares at me.

He seems to have reached his limit.

"You always forced me to sacrifice."

He mutters, his face contorted with determination.

And then he unleashes his ultimate skill.

「Regal Vagos has cast [Dragon Speech: Soul Silence].」

Oh, he's finally using it.

「Character's Soul Power is depleted.」

「[Gigantification] has been deactivated.」

My body shrinks rapidly.

The hammer and shield, which felt light as feathers, now weigh a ton.

「Character has entered a state of Soul Exhaustion.」

「All stats are temporarily reduced by 70%.」

The same state I experienced in Lalkas's Maze.

Ah, that brings back memories.

Back then, I thought it was the end—

"Cough! Hack! Cough...!"

What the hell?

Why is he coughing up blood?

Ah, did using Dragon Speech put a strain on his body?

He's like a bee that dies after stinging once.

"Regal Vagos! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine... Kill him... Heh heh heh..."

He staggers, but his eyes are filled with hatred as he glares at me.

「Character has cast [Soul Dive].」

「Soul Power is regenerated proportionally to the amount consumed.」

I feel a bit sorry for him.

「Soul Exhaustion has been lifted.」

It only takes one skill to recover.

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