Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Turning the Tables (4)

Turning the Tables (4)

There are a few essences in [Dungeon and Stone] that are specialized for certain races.

[Spirit Transformation], which Erwen just used, is a prime example.

If a human who can’t handle spirits uses it, they just become an elementless spirit.

And the skill coefficient is even based on Elemental and Nature, the resources used to handle spirits.

It’s practically a fairy-exclusive essence.

Rustle.

Dirt crumbles and falls every time I move my arm.

Ah, is it even right to call it a giant?

‘Phew, I want to use [Gigantification].’

It’s a shame that I can’t see that majestic form, but it can’t be helped.

Tadat.

I dismiss my regret and dash forward.

[Gwaaaaaaaaaaaak!]

That’s when the corpse monster the Clown was riding spits poison from its mouth.

I take the hit with my body, without even raising my shield.

Elemental Barbarian (Earth) Mode is immune to poison.

“Ah, so that was the effect?”

As expected, this bastard also cleared the cheat version, as he only realized my status after seeing it firsthand.

But he was still relaxed.

“Well, that’s clever. Pfft.”

The Clown was smiling, even though his main damage, poison, was blocked.

Well, it’s understandable.

He’s not just a Poison Necromancer, but an Agility Poison Necromancer.

Tadat.

He gets off the corpse monster and retreats. Although I’m also running with all my might, the distance between us keeps increasing.

It’s because of the penalty that comes with Elemental Barbarian (Earth).

「Agility is greatly decreased.」

It feels like my body is moving twice as slow.

Honestly, this was a bigger penalty than the doubled water damage or the significantly decreased magic resistance.

“What? You didn’t expect this?”

He starts kiting as soon as his poison is blocked, abandoning close combat.

It’s something a proud person would never do.

But…

‘Why do you think I deactivated [Gigantification]?’

A top-tier explorer with the title of Corpse Collector running away from a 5th-grade barbarian?

I knew you would do that, you bastard.

‘Leap.’

I mutter the skill name inwardly and push off the ground.

[Kyaak!]

Erwen, who’s in spirit form and can’t be more than 5 meters away from me, is pulled along as if her hair is being grabbed.

I feel a bit sorry…

‘The maximum distance seems to be about 30 meters.’

…but I calmly assess the situation.

It’s a ridiculously short distance compared to the 70 meters I jumped while in [Gigantification] state.

It makes me realize how heavy this body is.

It would have been less than half if I were in [Gigantification] state.

But the speed itself is similar.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

The distance closes in an instant, as expected of a movement skill.

Kwaaang!

The ground shakes around the landing point.

Although the effect itself is the same as before, there’s a clear difference.

The corpse monster, which didn’t even budge before…

[Gwaek?]

…is thrown into the air.

「Character’s total weight is over 1,000 kg.」

Right, it seems like I’m heavier than you now.

And the Clown, who looks weak, is needless to say.

“……!”

His body floats in the air, still in his backpedaling stance.

I waddle towards him before he can land and then take a stance as if I’m swinging a baseball bat.

That’s when I make eye contact with him in midair.

He doesn’t seem to be smiling.

Geez, how disappointing.

“Laugh.”

There’s no answer.

Right, if you don’t want to, then I have no choice.

I’ll have to make you laugh.

Whoosh!

I swing my mace as if to smash his head at the right time.

Thick bones sprout from his skin.

「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Bone Armor].」

[Bone Armor].

The one that blocked the bear-like man’s ultimate move without taking much damage when we first met.

But I’m not too worried.

‘Outlaw of the Wasteland’ is still active.

And the blunt weapon destruction bonus from Elemental Barbarian (Earth).

And [Swing], imbued with the Ogre’s soul.

There’s no way he can block this with a 4th-grade skill, even with all the synergy.

Kwagic!

[Bone Armor] shatters like a walnut being cracked with a hammer as soon as my mace hits it.

And his soft flesh is revealed.

“Erwen!”

Erwen, who’s following me in spirit form, shoots an arrow.

The target is, as always, between the eyes.

Kwaaang!

The fire arrow embedded in his mask explodes.

But could it be that even his mask is considered equipment?

The first hit is blocked by the mask and doesn’t deal much damage.

Thud.

The Clown, who was sent flying, regains his balance and lands.

And at that moment…

Crack, crack.

…the mask, which was covered in spiderweb cracks, shatters into pieces.

I chuckle, looking at him.

Ah, so that’s what your face looks like.

It’s a face that would make Pen, the Dragonkin child, faint.

But could it be that this is his weak spot?

“Those damn NPC bastards who don’t know anything!”

__________________

He explodes.

He stopped playing the clown.

He abandoned his exaggerated tone and spoke like an ordinary trash explorer.

“Don’t think this will end with just death.”

Hmm, that’s what the Dragonslayer bastard said.

He babbled on about how even death wouldn’t be able to save me.

“I’ll make you suffer in ways you can’t even imagine.”

Is this kind of line popular in Orculus?

I don’t know, but the battle is progressing smoothly, as expected of the constant compliments.

It’s only natural.

「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Puppet].」

A Necromancer’s true strength lies in numbers.

But most of his corpse army is fighting the main force, and many of them have already died.

He probably doesn’t have much MP left.

And most importantly, I have a type advantage.

「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Stone Curse].」

A curse spell that stops my charge?

It’s meaningless since the skill’s attribute is Earth.

‘Yeah, I’m Elemental Barbarian.’

Even though my magic resistance has decreased significantly because of the penalty, I easily resist it with my Earth Resistance.

「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Bone Armor].」

I counter [Bone Armor] with [Swing].

Kwagic!

Erwen, who’s following me in spirit form, shoots an arrow every time I break the shell.

Thump!

Damage steadily accumulates as the battle continues.

[Groaaaaaaaaar!]

The Clown bastard starts summoning elite corpses with high individual combat power from his subspace pocket and attacking Erwen.

It’s a good judgment.

If Erwen takes a certain amount of damage, Elemental Barbarian Mode will be deactivated.

Then he’ll be able to deal poison damage to me too.

But…

‘Okay, so there’s no mage?’

His summons are all focused on ‘poison + physical damage’. Therefore, it’s impossible for them to damage Erwen, who has a physical damage immunity bonus.

Well, there are some elite corpses with elemental weapons…

Kwagic!

…but I smash them before they can get close.

Of course, it’s difficult for me to block them all alone.

But I’m not the only one here.

“Dertu Tayran!”

Raven pushes the enemies back with the ‘Gale’ spell, or if that doesn’t work, she casts Mana Shield to protect Erwen.

‘As expected, mages are the best for utility.’

For reference, the other members are focusing on protecting Raven from afar.

It’s ideal teamwork where we protect each other.

“How long do you think you can hold out?!”

The bastard spits out a compliment, his voice laced with blood.

But it’s a compliment that’s too sincere to just laugh at.

‘…You slippery bastard.’

Although the battle itself seemed to be going in our favor, we were actually the ones who were in a hurry.

Even if we minimize the damage Erwen takes, Elemental Barbarian Mode will eventually end.

And I don’t know how long Kyle will be able to hold out.

‘Phew, we have to finish this before the Ruin Scholar arrives.’

My impatience grows as time passes.

Although my Physical Resistance has increased significantly after becoming an Earth-type barbarian, my magic resistance has decreased proportionally.

If I get hit by a proper magic spell, I won’t be able to endure, let alone Erwen.

And it would be even worse if it’s a water-type spell, which deals double damage.

In the first place, if it weren’t for the Ruin Scholar, I would have already arrived here with just my team, without having to form a task force of over a hundred people.

“…The corpses are retreating!”

To make matters worse, he starts putting the corpses around him back into his subspace pocket.

It’s a big problem.

Well, thanks to that, the burden on my companions who were following me has decreased significantly…

Kwagic!

…but the [Bone Armor] that used to shatter in one hit is now enduring up to two hits.

Because the damage increase rate from ‘Outlaw of the Wasteland’ has decreased.

“Right, so it was because of that?”

Ha, this is why players are…

He noticed, even though I hid it so well that light couldn’t even escape.

The corners of the Clown bastard’s eyes curl up.

“Don’t laugh. You’re ugly.”

“…I’ll rip your tongue out when this is over.”

Try me.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

I shout and push him back even more aggressively.

His resistance is fierce.

He’s even using an essence that’s not known to the public, as if he’s acknowledging me as a worthy opponent.

「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Momentary Immortality].」

The 3rd-grade monster, Death Lord’s skill.

Whoosh!

His clothes and skin are engulfed in black flames and burned away, leaving only bones.

He looks like a lich.

‘No wonder he wasn’t wearing any armor.’

I thought it might be the case, but I can’t believe he actually has this skill.

The effect of [Momentary Immortality] is simple.

He can’t die for 1 minute, no matter what, and his Mental and Ability stats are converted to Physical stats.

‘A top-tier explorer with all his stats in Physical…’

I gulp but speak calmly,

“You look much better now.”

He doesn’t answer.

He just charges towards me, clicking his bony jaw in annoyance.

Kwaaang!

It’s just a push.

But my body, which was able to throw even a corpse monster into the air with [Recoil], is pushed back.

Phew, just how much did his Strength increase?

But the good news is that I didn’t take any damage because of my Physical Resistance…

‘Damn it.’

…but my companions are different.

It’s obvious that they’ll be easily defeated if he just hits them with normal attacks.

Therefore…

“Everyone, get back!”

The situation is reversed in an instant.

I have to block him now, instead of him blocking me.

Tadat.

The Clown bastard starts charging mindlessly, pushing me aside.

The distance between us widens in a split second.

It’s like a max-level skeleton.

Tadat.

I quickly use [Leap] to catch up.

Kwaaang!

He’s thrown into the air by [Recoil] as I land, but it doesn’t even buy me much time.

He easily breaks free and continues charging even while he’s falling.

A split second is enough for an accident to happen.

“Miss Ainar!!”

Ainar, who blocked his punch, is sent flying with her Adamantium greatsword and crashes into the bear-like man.

And…

Kwaaang!

…Misha collapses after being punched in the stomach.

Raven hurriedly summons a stone wall with her magic, but it shatters with a single punch.

His goal is obvious.

He’s trying to eliminate the mage, who’s the most troublesome, in the remaining time.

“Protect Raven!!”

He charges towards us again, ignoring the unconscious Misha, as soon as I shout and use [Leap].

Thud!

Iron Bear, the tank summon, is unsummoned by a single punch.

“Kyaak!”

Raven’s body, who was riding on Iron Bear, floats in the air. He swings his fist again before she even hits the ground.

“……!”

The bear-like man grabs Raven by the scruff of her neck and pulls her back just in time.

And at that moment…

Kwaaang!

…I land, and he’s thrown into the air again.

I activate [Gigantification] and lie down on top of my collapsed companions.

The bear-like man and Daria quickly get under me, as if they understand what I’m trying to do.

Kwaaang! Kwaang!

He lands and punches my back repeatedly as if trying to crush us.

I wonder if they’re okay?

“Ugh…”

No, it seems like they’re not.

I thought this might work…

‘Plan B.’

I change my mind in less than 5 seconds and quickly get up, punching him in the head.

He’s sent flying, as if he didn’t expect the blow.

Right, the best defense is a good offense.

I dive towards him.

And…

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”

…I pin him down with my overwhelming weight.

He struggles to push me off after a few seconds, as if even he finds the weight of a giant Earth Barbarian burdensome.

But how much time is—

“…Damn barbarian.”

Right, it’s over now.

Ha, I thought we were all going to die.

I chuckle, looking at him as flesh starts to grow on his bones and he becomes naked.

“Small.”

Although it would be a lie to say I don’t feel any pity…

…that doesn’t mean I’ll show him any mercy.

Tadat.

I immediately dash forward and swing my mace at him.

As expected, [Bone Armor] activates.

Kwagic!

It shatters in one hit, perhaps because I’m in [Gigantification] state, and Erwen shoots an arrow in that gap.

“……!”

She aimed for his head, but he rolls and dodges, as expected of an agility-based character.

But the arrow hits his leg.

‘Nice.’

Now that his leg is pierced, he should be slower.

I quickly dash towards him again.

And at that moment…

「Character’s Soul Power is insufficient.」

「[Gigantification] ends.」

My body shrinks as my MP runs out.

Well, it was about time.

I used [Leap] and [Swing] a lot.

But it’s not a problem.

It seems like this bastard is also almost out of mana.

[Mister, the corpses near the portal have all collapsed!]

The corpse army that was maintaining its [Puppet] state while fighting us.

But he deactivated it?

It means he’s cornered.

‘Just a few more times.’

I charge towards him as he runs away like a rat.

Although I don’t have [Leap], it’s similar to the battles we’ve had so far.

He activates [Bone Armor] when he’s caught while running away.

I smash it with my mace, and then Erwen shoots an arrow.

After some time…

‘Just how big is his MP pool?’

That’s when, as I was about to smash him again after catching him and activating [Bone Armor]…

[Ah, Yandel, can you hear me?]

…good news and bad news arrived simultaneously.

[We defeated Blue Mane. We’ll be there soon.]

Melter Pend and his clan members finally succeeded in raiding the wolf bastard.

The disappearance of the corpse army was probably the main reason.

It’s great news.

But…

[And one more thing, it seems like… Mr. Kyle lost.]

Kyle was defeated.

[Be careful, the Ruin Scholar might be heading towards you.]

Melter Pend’s warning was meaningless.

Because he was already here.

“Huhu, Mr. Nekrapetto, you’re also in a sorry state.”

Damn it.