[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian":3,"chapter-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-223":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Surviving the Game as a Barbarian",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1327900,1764,"Chapter 223 Like a Flame (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-223",223,"\u003Cp>Like a Flame (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a Flame (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Floor Master whose actual combat power is lower than the 3rd floor’s Riakis, but whose difficulty is several times higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s because the ‘Abyssal Fog’ is OP.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Active skill and usage effect seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana efficiency reduced by 75%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And 5th-grade Abyssal Monsters that constantly appear as trash mobs and interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of these harsh conditions, it’s difficult to even attempt to defeat him unless it’s in the late game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-grade Numbered Items with permanent effects, not usage effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A top-tier tank capable of solo holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A damage dealer who can use Aura, or someone of a similar level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As many priests as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And several mages who can still be effective even with 25% mana efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s recommended that all participants have at least 5th-tier equipment, and even then, the casualties will be high if you don’t prepare special consumables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even with all that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…it’s practically a guaranteed failure from Day 7 onwards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because additional patterns are unlocked regardless of the phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, it means that it’s impossible for us to defeat him in our current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It seems like he’s finally noticed us. I’ll be there soon.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…we should be able to buy some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I checked the time while waiting for Kyle to arrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[19:34]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Day 5, 7:34 PM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had desperately fought our way through and checked the eastern portal, and we were now only about two hours away from the Goblin Forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a valuable result achieved through the warriors’ sacrifices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it would be a lie to say there wasn’t a bit of luck involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, are you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why wouldn’t I be okay? I expected to encounter him at some point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, it was a stroke of luck that we only encountered him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expedition party that chose a different direction instead of us was probably suffering heavy losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just how many people died needlessly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head suddenly cooled down, but I didn’t feel guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were all in the same situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We agreed to be bait for each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we had encountered him earlier, the other expedition parties would have been able to break through more easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry for making you wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle arrived after about 5 minutes, bringing the forces for Plan B.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six 5th-grade mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three knights and three warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t hide my doubt as I quickly scanned their numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are there so few of you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of mages was the same, but the rest had significantly decreased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rest are all dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, they weren’t just playing around in the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six people short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then who should I fill those spots with?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, for reference, your companions said they wanted to come, but I stopped them. I’ll have to hear them complain later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complain…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But six isn’t enough, is it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, maybe the fairy sisters also volunteered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thanked Kyle and then glanced at the warriors around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I spoke brightly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you all heard, we’re six people short. I’m sorry you’re all in such a state, but is there anyone who wants to come with us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone answered before I could even finish my sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go. With you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexandros Bell, a 5th-grade warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a member of a large clan, but he was abandoned here because he wasn’t a priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was getting bored just stepping on traps, this is great!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karkin, the third son of Tion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a barbarian warrior in his thirties, who was active in a clan with 10 members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was surprised to see a tribesman who was 4th grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t forget your promise to buy me a drink when we get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Milton Teterud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the leader of a clan composed solely of dwarves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they didn’t explore together, they usually lent their clan members to other teams as mercenaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a clan that was closer to a guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was the time for me to express my gratitude…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I didn’t expect this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was different from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were only two hours away from the portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it’s a fleeting hope that will disappear the moment we reach despair, hope is hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those who were clearing the path, treating their lives like straw, wouldn’t want to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought there would be very few people who would volunteer to be bait for the boss monster, especially after suffering this much damage just from fighting trash mobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what was the reality?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, so I can join that drinking party if I follow him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m more interested in something else. If I just close my eyes and follow him once, I’ll have a story to brag about for the rest of my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take me with you. I’ve always been curious about that Verzak bastard’s face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless explorers volunteered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just because they trusted the plan Kyle and I made?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or because their brains were releasing endorphins due to the heated atmosphere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that’s also a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You guys… are all crazy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a choice a sane person would make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But did my words sound strange?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief silence fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re not wrong. I think everyone would say that if we told them this story outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But coming from you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone laughed incredulously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have anything to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just did what I had to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Does that mean they’re the same?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded as if I was also going crazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my head needed to be cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chose six people from the countless volunteers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only criterion was this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would be the best fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t difficult to choose since we had been fighting together all day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew their fighting styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! Why are you leaving me behind?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf clan leader, Teterud, protested as soon as I made my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me, you think I’ll hold you back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why? I won’t let you go until you tell me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geez, he’s so stubborn, even though he’s so small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like the magic circle was almost complete, so I briefly explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone needs to lead this place while I’m gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teterud was a 4th-grade explorer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was skilled, and he knew how to handle people since he was a clan leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the perfect person to take charge of the front lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, I heard that he had been taking the lead whenever I fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t bother me any further, as if he understood, although he seemed dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, we’re ready. It’s about time for him to come anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phew, right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sent them off as soon as I heard Kyle’s words that the magic circle was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s it, you guys go now. The scout Kyle brought will guide you. I heard he’s quite tough, but just in case, make sure he doesn’t die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re talking like you’re a father. Enough, we’ll be going. See you later. Definitely. Got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the one who sounds like a father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do have a child in the city. Alright, let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved to the side so I wouldn’t block their path, and Teterud took the lead, stepping on traps and opening the way, and the warriors followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They each said something as they passed by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, strangely, I don’t think you’ll die. See you later!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them were words of encouragement and support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words continued for a while even after the warrior group passed. Some expressed their gratitude, and some apologized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened over and over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are they doing that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle chuckled at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because your message stone was on the whole time. Everyone knows what’s happening at the front.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, so that’s how it is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My team members also appeared as the procession continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha looked like she was about to cry when she saw my condition. Raven and the bear-like man also had troubled expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t make a fuss and just go. You’re blocking the path if you stay here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, I won’t let you off the hook if you come back injured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, telling a tank not to get injured? That’s practically a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought crossed my mind, but I swallowed my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not bad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s wrong with being scolded a bit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I’m doing all this to have that kind of everyday life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll leave it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll definitely protect our team even without you, Mr. Yandel. Miss Ainar? Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, o, okay! Don’t pull my hair!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven then left, carrying Ainar, who was whining about wanting to follow me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the procession continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked like refugees escaping through a tunnel during wartime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flickering torches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The groans of the injured being carried on their companions’ backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bloodstains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sadness in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat dripping from their limping steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even have to ask Kyle to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like how I had a lot going on, today must have been a long day for them too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, they’re all gone now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first group, which I was a part of, as well as the 2nd and 3rd groups, which were following the marks we left on the passage, had all passed us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, they were running, even if it was just a jog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the number of people had decreased significantly compared to the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s gotten eerily quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surroundings darkened as soon as everyone left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be because the flickering torches were illuminating the surroundings while the procession was passing by?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contrast was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like we were the only ones left in this isolated world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s about time…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised my shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I looked beyond the passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A visibility of 2 meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of eyes were watching us from the darkness of the labyrinth beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>__________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest concern I had when I first made the plan was, of course, Verzak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how I thought about it, it was impossible to escape from this bastard with just a few hundred people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was practically a guaranteed wipeout the moment we encountered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, quite a few people would survive if we scattered and ran away since the aggro would be all over the place…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could we do after being scattered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We wouldn’t even be able to fight on the 2nd floor, let alone break through the trash mobs and reach the portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you use the magic circle right away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…we came up with Plan B.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we could only use this strategy once with the resources we had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry, I’ve checked the magic circle several times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We would all die if Plan B failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even if it succeeded, we would be wiped out if we encountered the Abyssal Watcher again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, for reference, this was also one of the reasons why I set the maximum number of portal searches to two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By that time, countless expedition parties would have disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I judged that the probability of encountering Verzak again was too high, even if we managed to get past him once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Battle stations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone took out their weapons and got ready to fight as soon as the eyes appeared in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew what those eyes meant because of Kyle’s explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These intangible eyes were an effect that appeared around Verzak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reference, the radius was about 2 kilometers, according to the game’s setting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they weren’t just background images.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All those eyes shared vision with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Verzak was already watching us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you all know, our goal is to endure as long as possible. Until the other explorers escape from his line of sight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle, as if he was also nervous, repeated the explanation he had already given several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think we’re idiots? We all remember. You also said we just have to endure for about 10 minutes, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. I apologize. But there’s one more thing. I forgot to mention it earlier… no matter what happens, protect Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Yandel? Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you going to ask why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone knows. That we can only return alive if he survives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone nodded at a warrior’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was going to say that if Yandel, who killed the Abyssal Watcher, dies, he might target the main force, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle laughed awkwardly and stopped talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, whatever. It doesn’t really matter even if I say it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! Right, it doesn’t matter what the reason is as long as the result is the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a very valid opinion. But it seems like warriors and mages are no different in this aspect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light conversation softened the tense atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow shot towards us, sharp as a stiletto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt pain in the back of my hand as soon as I blocked it with my shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a small puncture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Phew, I can’t calculate the damage since this is my first time encountering him in such an unprepared state.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t believe my Moonstone shield was pierced by a normal attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it because I’m not in [Gigantification] state?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors’ expressions hardened as they saw my pierced shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle muttered as if to boost morale,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Just endure for 10 minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It already seemed like an eternity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn’t help but laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you laughing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Warriors laugh when they’re in pain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow was flickering in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the bosses that could only be defeated in the late game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monster among monsters that we could only endure against in our current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But so what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s just one of the many hurdles we have to overcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To end this unusually long day…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…and greet tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>",2365,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","12bbd1d13d54cb84be5453dc9ec1422cb9fefcafa01f1c386970f87f79002a05","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-224","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-222",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]