[{"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-352":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},1327522,1764,"Chapter 352: Dark Continent (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-352",352,"\u003Cp>Raven's torment(?) finally ended when we reached our destination after two weeks of sailing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast plain stretched out before us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark purple barrier, as if forbidding any intruders, stretched along the border of the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the portal floating above the sea in front of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Woooo!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explorers gathered on deck cheered as the long-awaited sight appeared beyond the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, the voyage was indeed tedious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't have time to feel bored, what with exploring the islands when I was well and suffering from seasickness the rest of the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as we disembarked, I reminded Erwen of my alias, and she quickly lowered her head, acknowledging her mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would this finally stop her from making those slip-ups?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So why are you here? It'll be a while before we can enter the portal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just... I wanted to be with you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I used to feel incredibly burdened by such direct expressions of affection, but I had gotten used to it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, had I become accustomed to it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What's that ship? I don't think I saw it when we departed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pointed towards a specific ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many ships had already arrived at the portal, and among them were quite a few that were different from the galleon we had boarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that? It's a fast ship. They usually send those ahead with the explorers who arrive at the 6th floor first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To prevent Noark from entering?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, there have been more attempts recently. The ship doesn't have any battle scars, so it seems like there weren't any attempts this time... But I heard that over half of the fast ships were destroyed a few weeks ago. It was a fierce battle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they had taken care of the gatekeeper monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The essence probably didn't drop, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was lost in thought, I felt the gazes of the surrounding explorers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a change that had occurred during the long voyage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's the Blood Spirit Marquis...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But who's the man next to her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No idea. I asked a friend in the Magic Corps, and they said he's a newbie on his first expedition. Apparently, he retired a few years ago and returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, a companion of one of the Seven Strengths... He must be more skilled than he looks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to Erwen's fame, Amelia and I were attracting attention wherever we went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the gazes were filled with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New faces were common in the war, but it was unusual to see someone with the Blood Spirit Marquis from the start. They were curious about our identities and skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was also a hint of hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Schuitz.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, Raven?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She's staring at us again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she was busy talking with the other members of the Magic Corps, Raven's gaze was fixed on us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I... take care of her later...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is she talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I flicked her forehead, and Erwen looked up at me with a wronged expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what if she recognizes you? I'm worried.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been thinking about that too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, not about whether to 'take care' of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether to reveal my identity and ask for her cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It seems like it would only complicate things.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, I would have to convince her that I wasn't an evil spirit. And even if she believed me, there was no guarantee that she would cooperate and keep it a secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven was loyal, but she wasn't the type to prioritize personal feelings over her duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'And if she keeps it a secret, she might get in trouble later on because she's with the royal family.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be better to reveal it myself after everything was settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well... I'll have to tell her if she finds out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...But what if she finds out before then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what I was worried about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boooooo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foghorn blared from the lead ship, and the ship we were on became bustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone to their positions!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was finally time to enter the battlefield after a short wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the instructions of the royal official, the explorers on the deck moved to their assigned positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we didn't have to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our designated waiting area was the deck itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll tie you down! ...Ah, I mean, Lihen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm good at this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We then secured ourselves to the ship with the provided ropes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a safety measure to prevent us from falling overboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foghorn blared again from the lead ship, and our ship started moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a bit nerve-wracking...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry. I'll protect Lihen... no matter what.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh, isn't that my line as the tank?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lead ship entering!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the lead ships entered the portal one by one, I felt my heart pounding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were approaching the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the other explorers, who had been relaxed earlier, were now tense and solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reminded me of the 1st floor incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost got PTSD.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Main force, entering!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to get serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was my first time entering the 7th floor in this body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was a place teeming with explorers, even more dangerous than monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if our goal was to obtain something, there was always a chance of returning empty-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Erwen, and Emily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gripped the railing with one hand and my newly purchased shield with the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay close. Don't stray from my side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our ship entered the portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive galleon, momentarily suspended in the air, slammed into the water, sending a spray of seawater into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a thrilling experience, but we didn't have time to admire it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We weren't in the calm waters under a blue sky anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Entered the Dark Continent of the 7th floor.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea was black, as if covered in oil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick fog had already settled in, obscuring our vision, even though we were only at the edge of the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom! Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loud explosions bombarded our eardrums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a barrage of magic cannons fired from the Noark forces stationed on the cliffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's a warm welcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where did they even get magic cannons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Probably stole them from one of our ships.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as we talked, magic cannons, dark magic, and various abilities rained down on our fleet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer firepower was overwhelming, but the royal fleet remained unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money can buy anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A defensive magic barrier, activated the moment we entered the 7th floor, blocked all incoming attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ship occasionally shook from the impact, but it never sustained any significant damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a measure taken by the royal family after suffering heavy losses during the initial landing. A massive investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It supposedly cost tens of millions of stones per minute to maintain the barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How much would it cost to reach the continent with this barrier active... Ah, well, it's probably a bargain compared to the cost of a ship.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dismissed the thought of worrying about national spending and focused on the present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fleet bravely advanced through the barrage, finally breaking through the enemy's defenses and entering a narrow canyon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ships rearranged their formation into a single file line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Entered a special area.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Field Effect - Ghostly Canyon activated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All healing and regeneration effects are deactivated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Divine power is sealed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghostly Canyon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mandatory route to enter the Dark Continent, where all the coastlines were cliffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As our warship entered the canyon, following the ship ahead, the ominous and gloomy fog intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prepare for battle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead monsters started crawling up the ship's hull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were diverse in both type and rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Deadburn defeated. EXP +3」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Redeye defeated. EXP +4」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Banshee Queen defeated. EXP +6」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Teeth Skeleton defeated. EXP +4」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Cliff Ghost defeated...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over half of the monsters were ones you could hunt on the 6th floor, but we gained experience points much faster since we had skipped the 6th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen's long-range attacks were a huge help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost 70% of the monsters were taken down before they could even board the ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea monsters couldn't even reach us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Chaos Seaman defeated. EXP +6」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mud Elephant defeated. EXP +5」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Skeleton Mermaid Queen defeated...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The experience points flowed in effortlessly with just one hit from Erwen, who was Bound to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it wasn't all smooth sailing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wham!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghost-type monsters, immune to physical attacks, swarmed the deck, forcing us to constantly swing our weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Ghosties defeated. EXP +4」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Souldrinker defeated. EXP +6」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Canyon Wraith defeated. EXP +3」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer number of respawning monsters was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to make matters worse, the Noark bastards continued their bombardment from the cliffs, even as we fought on the deck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, the defensive barrier nullified the attacks, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaaaargh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explorers occasionally lost their footing on the swaying deck and fell into the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why isn't the ship moving forward?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The ship ahead has sunk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?! Why?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems like a Deadlect appeared and damaged the ship's magic barrier!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on the real-time updates, some ships had their barriers destroyed by monsters, leading to their sinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No wonder they're so persistent with their bombardment.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Destroying even one ship would be a significant victory for them. And their constant attacks prevented the fleet from deactivating the barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to keep the barrier active throughout the canyon, consuming a massive amount of mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Amelia, behind you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shouted, and Amelia swiftly smashed the skeleton that was trying to ambush her from behind with a roundhouse kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don't have to thank me. We're companions—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's Emily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just in case anyone heard, be careful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, I'll be careful...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though it was the same alias I had used in the past, it felt strange coming out of my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was I in no position to criticize Erwen's slip-ups?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mister...! Look over there!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's Lihen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh... okay... Anyway, look! We're almost there!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen pointed, but I couldn't see anything through the fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Field Effect - Ghostly Canyon deactivated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We soon exited the narrow canyon, and a vast lake came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs, the water stained red, like blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phew, it's finally over!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now I can finally breathe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The relentless onslaught of monsters ceased, and the bombardment from the Noark forces also stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had successfully passed the first hurdle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Then it starts now...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gulped, staring at the faintly visible shoreline shrouded in fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know if it was just my imagination...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the air already smelled of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>",1765,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.065Z",1,"novelbin.me","44d0282a9b1af2f372d4f570608e867e14a77ecbcfc90e321bf6acf21284dfe4","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-353","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-351",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]