[{"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-244":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},1327921,1764,"Chapter 244 Branch Point (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-244",244,"\u003Cp>Branch Point (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans Aiphreya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, the man who attended the title bestowal ceremony, borrowing his name and face, splashed cold water on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time the water touched his skin, the bits of meat stuck to it were washed away and flowed down the drain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was enough to make him gag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…It’s been a while since I felt this disgusted.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had experienced worse things during the early days when he was struggling after falling into this unfamiliar world, but those days were long gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I should just observe from afar without approaching him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He approached a servant and asked a few questions, and it seemed like the barbarian had already left in a carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I don’t really feel like going back to the Magic Tower.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hesitated for a moment and then left the royal palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he flew above the city, using Invisibility and Levitation magic simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Stealth Flight Mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There he is.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon found Bjorn Yandel’s carriage as he looked down from the sky, dozens of meters above ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way he had mistaken the carriage since there were knights on horses guarding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It seems like he’s going home.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man deduced the destination based on the carriage’s direction and then followed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, his expectation that the barbarian might be the person he was looking for had faded…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe he’s acting.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…but it wasn’t impossible yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even he had never seen a barbarian act so mindlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It actually made him even more suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…If he has that person’s understanding of the game, he would have quickly figured out how to act in this world and moved more ‘perfectly’ than anyone else.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be interpreted either way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, he needed more information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of person was Bjorn Yandel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s living with three women…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man diligently followed the carriage, ignoring his envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They must be close if they’re living together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought he might be able to find more concrete clues if he observed his daily life at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when, as he was following the carriage at a distance…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…the carriage exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>__________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an explosion reminiscent of the pillar of fire from that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fortunately…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…its power was incomparable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s health is below 50%.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All resistance and defense stats are increased due to the passive skill [Hero’s Path].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My vision was blurry, as if my retinas were damaged by the heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And my skin was burning and tingling as it peeled off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like my muscles were also severely damaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Assassin! An assassin is here!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I didn’t die in one shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And my body was still moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suppressed my rising nausea and quickly pushed myself off the ground. And I activated the subspace ring I received when I left the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Phew, I should have put on my equipment as soon as we left the royal palace.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret is always too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I first took out my shield and equipped it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when something exploded, emitting black smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it a smoke grenade?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t flustered, as I had experienced vision being blocked many times, and I quickly focused on my hearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kyaaaaaak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams of civilians echoed from everywhere, as expected of an incident that occurred in the middle of the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Insolent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eliminate those evil rebels!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also heard the clash of weapons as the knights fought back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t what I should be focusing on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to distinguish the sound that threatened my life from all the other noises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tadat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my body and lowered my stance towards the direction of the sound as soon as I heard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…an impact hit my shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phew, so you can see me even in the smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no reason for me to stay quiet anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keplo! Are you alive?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shouted with all my might, checking on him, who was right next to me before the explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he dead? Or just unconscious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly reached into my subspace pocket and took out my mace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when I heard another whooshing sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on my experience, this kind of sound usually came from ‘slashing’ attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I trusted my instincts and angled my shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An impact hit the left side of my shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter if I couldn’t see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swung my mace with all my might towards where I thought the enemy was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwagic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt the satisfying impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, so he blocked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought he would be an agility-based character since he’s an assassin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something screamed in the smoke and was thrown back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…a gust of wind, clearly artificial, swept through the area and cleared the black smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Magic? Who?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no mages on our side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was no way the assassins would clear the smoke for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then who cast the spell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dismissed my brief question and checked my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Viscount Yandel! Are you alright?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only four knights were still standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, there were over thirty masked figures surrounding the shattered remains of the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is Amelia… not here?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scanned the masked figures, looking for someone with a similar build to Amelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were about three candidates, but I wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We weren’t told there was a mage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you waiting for! Kill him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassins resumed their attack after a brief moment of confusion from the spell that cleared the smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That they had to finish this quickly since it was an ambush in the middle of the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Protect Viscount Yandel!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights who were fighting individually also quickly approached me and formed a protective formation as soon as they saw me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could understand why nobles were so obsessed with training knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How loyal and reliable they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It seems like there’s no time to put on my armor.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cleanly dismissed my regret and activated an ability, assessing the situation. It was the one I was planning to try out at the training center tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Transcendence.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bion’s ability, [Transcendence].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a unique skill that’s both passive and active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When deactivated, it enhances the performance of all passive skills by 1.5 times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Acidic Fluid] becomes more potent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stat increase from [Hero’s Path] and [Iron Hide] is amplified, and the Manticore’s [Inheritance] is also affected similarly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a good skill even with just that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has cast [Transcendence].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…the true value of this skill is revealed when used as an active skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The next skill used is enhanced.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not just a simple enhancement, but a unique additional effect that’s temporarily added to each skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has cast [Gigantification].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The inherent ability of the skill is unlocked by the power of the Transcendent.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why a 5th-grade [Gigantification] is the core of the Shield Barbarian build.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Size increases proportionally to Strength.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a size bonus that’s applied proportionally to Strength, not a fixed value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘About 5 meters?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s the Gigantification (Transcendence) Mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This should be… about the same size as when I fought Riakis.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I roughly estimate my new size based on my different eye level. It’s about the same size as when I was 1.5 times bigger, using Misha’s brother’s [Unholy One] with the Vampire skill [Blood Master].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although I have the Ogre essence, my setup isn’t complete yet, so I’m not completely satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…there’s no denying that I’m much stronger now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gigantification], which increases physical stats and threat level proportionally to height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And [Wild Release], which further increases physical stats proportionally to threat level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength surges through my body as the two are applied simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Leap.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I push off the ground with all my might and soar into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My intended landing point is where a masked figure is aiming at me with a bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure, still holding his bow, is thrown high into the air as soon as I land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s total weight is over 500 kg.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The special terrain effect [Recoil] is additionally applied to the damage radius.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, my weight met the requirement as I grew taller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was worried because I wasn’t wearing armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure lets out a dumbfounded sound in midair, as if he doesn’t know what’s going on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What, you didn’t expect me to attack first?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swing my mace like a baseball bat, and his neck bends at a grotesque angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwagic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, one down…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I’m about to turn my head and look for my next target, a masked figure jumps out from my lower right side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a blind spot that I wouldn’t have been able to see before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I clearly see it and dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s thanks to the base stat of the new essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bion]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soul Power +100, Soul Regeneration +30, Strength +25, Pain Resistance +30, Bone Density +30, Magic Resistance +20, Field of View +25\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Field of View +25.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This stat widens your field of vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So in the game, it gave a bonus to detailed stats like evasion rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwagic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kick the jumping bastard in the stomach and then get ready to leap again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But did they finally come to their senses?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights shouted in panic at my sudden actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th, this way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geez, who’s protecting whom?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignore them and leap towards my next target. And I take them down one by one with the same combo as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There haven’t been any strong opponents yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwagic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like when I killed that guy in the smoke earlier, their level was strangely low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is there really no one at Amelia’s level?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was even planning to use [Leap] to escape if it got dangerous, but my anxiety soon disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fighting them firsthand, I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were at a level that the knights could have easily handled if it weren’t for the initial explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what’s this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…We, we were only supposed to deal with the knights!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Internal conflict started among the masked figures as I started rampaging and the knights also started pressing them with individual battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said he would die from that one explosion!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going back. We weren’t told he was this strong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one or two of them started to retreat, all the masked figures chose to run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell are they?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t seem to have any sense of purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>____________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Are they really from Noark?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That doubt even crossed my mind, but I diligently moved my body and captured the fleeing masked figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I caught a total of four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the rest all escaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thank you for your hard work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight awkwardly saluted me, as if it was his first time seeing a noble being carried by his escorts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, you guys also worked hard. Are there any casualties?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight answered that three knights had died at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Keplo wasn’t among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was caught in the explosion with me, it seemed like he was durable enough to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would probably regain consciousness soon since I gave him a potion in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then shall we interrogate them?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle was over, and the guards were probably coming, so I grabbed one of the captured guys and took off his mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a man I had never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man trembled, unable to even make eye contact with me, as if he realized he was screwed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached out and shoved my hand into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keu, keugh, keuheok!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I searched thoroughly, but there was no poison capsule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, so reality is different from cartoons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, shouldn’t an assassin have at least one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ah, in the first place, those guys wouldn’t have run away if they had that much resolve.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell were they doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wiped the saliva on my hand on his clothes and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who sent you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a big deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would talk if I beat him up a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when, as I was raising my fist…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…a white flash erupted from the dark sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwoom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…something crashed into the ground like a meteor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought maybe the assassins had escaped and shot a catapult…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keugh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…but it was a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was surrounded by a spherical barrier, and his face was all too familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I had just met him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hans Aiphreya…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, what the hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is he falling from the sky?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was flustered by the unexpected turn of events…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tadat, tadat, tadat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…another man jumped down from the sky where Hans A. had fallen. And he approached Hans A. without even glancing at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one, not even the knights, dared to say a word at the strange sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The changed atmosphere didn’t allow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mister, just make it easy for yourself. Okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, you misjudged—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha, you can’t lie to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barrier around Hans A. was effortlessly torn apart as the man reached out his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans A.’s face turned pale at his overwhelming pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man grabbed him by the collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected, it’s you. GM.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unban me. Or you’ll die here.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2240,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","3db12b50826bfcbd4270a5f0e0a697b2e59fc77467a59e4ed02b306201b0d9d1","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-245","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-243",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]