[{"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-404":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},1327474,1764,"Chapter 404: Dilemma (1)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-404",404,"\u003Cp>The yellow light from the Traffic Light Ring meant only one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something bad was going to happen, but if we overcame it, it would lead to a positive outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Could there be another traitor?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my first thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pike Neldain hadn't mentioned any accomplices during the interrogation, but there could be another spy from a different faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe we would encounter a negative event if we didn't catch him, and a positive one if we did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Or maybe the ring isn't reacting to a traitor.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was the leader, responsible for the lives of thirty people, so I had to consider the worst-case scenario... but I couldn't dwell on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing was certain yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has entered a special area.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Field Effect - Eye of the Glacier applied.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day after the execution, we packed up camp and entered a deep chasm that seemed to lead to the Earth's core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a giant cylindrical field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We descended a spiral path along the outer wall, like a staircase carved into the ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the final gateway to the 8th floor, and the difficulty was significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monsters themselves weren't much stronger than the ones we had encountered before...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the field effects were brutal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Status Effect [Whisper of Immortality] applied.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vicious curse that resurrected you as an undead upon death, forcing you to attack your former companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Status Effect [Opportunity Denied] applied.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 'countdown', also known as the golden time, was removed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the worst part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Reversed regeneration? What am I supposed to do?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any wounds we received wouldn't heal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would fester and worsen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the faster your natural regeneration, the faster the decay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a tank's graveyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How many shield barbarians have I lost here...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't even want to think about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must have been hundreds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until I finally figured out the solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place is even creepier than before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Erwen, stop chatting and focus on your surroundings. The monsters will be here soon. I told you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be careful not to get hurt? Hehe, I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The passage was narrow, so the expedition force was divided into teams, following each other like a train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranged attackers were crucial in this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost 90% of the monsters here could fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gargoyles...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the 'Gargoyle Statue', the 8th-grade monster we encountered in the Crimson Fortress, but real gargoyles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Death Knights!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death Knights riding gargoyles, wielding spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Keeeheeheeheehee!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banshee Queens screeching and casting debuffs from the air, along with various spectral undead monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a nightmare for melee attackers, but they were all intercepted and turned into light before they could reach us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「James Kala has cast [Piercing Light].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Titana Akuraba has used [No. 1911 Paveler's Broken Pocket Watch].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Cooldown for all skills is removed for 5 minutes.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Elemental Fusion].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Archers, ability users, mages...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expedition force had a lot of ranged attackers, and with four paladins, we had more than enough firepower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Niaro Cambel has cast [Healing Wave].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Benjamin Orman has cast [Emergency Regeneration]...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine spells dealt 1.5 times damage to undead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not all the monsters were undead, but it wasn't a big deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We could still kill them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We couldn't heal our allies anyway, so the paladins were basically ranged attackers in this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Gargoyle defeated. EXP +6」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Ghost Horse defeated. EXP +4」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「White Wyvern defeated. EXP +6」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Blue Flame Bird defeated...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters melted away under the barrage of high-level healing and AoE divine spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The melee attackers focused on defense, blocking the monsters that tried to climb the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Combat over!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"10-minute break, then we move again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We cleared each wave of monsters and quickly descended further into the chasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several hours and countless battles, we finally reached the first checkpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The narrow path ended,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a wide ledge jutted out from the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is insane. We have to fight them without getting hurt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of monsters were swarming the ledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn't be helped, this was the spawning area for the Eye of the Glacier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop complaining. You had your rest, now it's our turn to work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ranged attackers had done their part in the narrow passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was time for the melee attackers to shine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get into formation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus! Unless you want to spend the next week with a rotting arm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We formed a single line, with the warriors at the front, their shields forming a wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We pushed forward, clearing a path through the horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then the chaos began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors held the line, risking their lives, while the ranged attackers unleashed their firepower from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our overwhelming strength made the battle relatively easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, my arm...! Aaaaaargh!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>__________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four explorers were injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three of them had minor injuries, just scratches and bruises. They wouldn't die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We would reach the 8th floor in six days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if their wounds festered, they could endure until we reached a safe zone where they could be healed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was the other one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-am I... going to die...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rick Jugsta.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a melee attacker on James Kala's team, filling the vacancy left by Pike Neldain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was clutching his mangled thigh, his bone protruding from the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Kala stood next to him, his face pale with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't be ridiculous! You'll be fine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were old friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Schuitz! We have to turn back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why? What do you mean? He won't survive until we reach the 8th floor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His desperate plea made me chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he have reacted this way if it were someone else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I doubted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would have been more rational, like Akuraba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We spent the entire day descending. It will take two days to go back up and down again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days wasted to save one person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that wasn't a problem in itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kala, we only have enough food for five more days. Even now, we'll have to starve for the last day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Kaislan said, it wasn't just time we were sacrificing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could endure one day without food, but not three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And it's all thanks to the traitor on your team.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he really a paladin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He's surprisingly good at sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough about the traitor. Just answer me this. Did you really think this expedition would be without casualties?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Kala remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaislan continued, his voice cold and sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what are you going to do if there are more injuries? Are we going to turn back every time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Kala couldn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just gritted his teeth in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality was harsh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about we send him to God's embrace? I can help if you find it difficult.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun's suggestion was practically euthanasia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Kala, his body trembling, looked at me and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Schuitz... do you agree...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kaislan is right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was always like this in extreme situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would be a time when you had to make a choice and sacrifice something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand. I'll do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not time for that yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't let a precious teammate die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, he could die during the expedition...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Kala looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, and I shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're not going back, and we're not abandoning him here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team leaders all looked at me with the same expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What is he talking about?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn't understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're going down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to use the exploit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>__________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 'Eye of the Glacier' was my least favorite field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least until I discovered the exploit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A week-long journey with this insane penalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant only one thing in this game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had to be a way to overcome it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I experimented countless times and finally found the solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was surprisingly simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Distortion magic... you're talking about that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. From now on, we'll use distortion magic on all the monsters we encounter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The mages are already exhausted from maintaining the 'Preservation' spell. Why are you adding to their burden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because 'Distortion' was the key to this exploit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters affected by Distortion didn't drop magic stones or essences, but there was a chance for their bodies to be preserved upon death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wyvern leather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adamantium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Troll blood, the main ingredient for potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were just a few examples of the valuable byproducts obtained through Distortion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'All the monsters in the Eye of the Glacier also appear on other floors.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why it took me so long to figure out the solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Use Distortion to obtain byproducts in a place where we can't even use our subspace pockets?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed incredibly inefficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We could hunt those monsters much more easily on other floors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, this damn game always had a hidden solution for seemingly illogical actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I can't believe there's a way to heal injuries with this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly explained the exploit, and everyone was amazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one questioned it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Marquis's information network is impressive. Or maybe it's the royal family's hidden power. To know about this 'arrangement' that even a seasoned explorer like me is unaware of.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They thought the exploit came from another source, just like when I used the Barbarian Detective Mode to catch the traitor and they assumed there was another strategist on my team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Maybe it's better if they misunderstand...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it's better this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There's no benefit to showing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humility is a virtue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's enough for today. We'll set up camp here and depart again tomorrow morning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We decided to stay on the ledge for the night, believing that James Kala's friend could endure for another two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the next morning, we resumed our journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Liard Ashid has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mckelly Leyaders has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Bersil Gowland has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion]...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We spammed [Greater Distortion], which had a 1.5 times higher success rate than regular Distortion, and by afternoon, we were lucky enough to obtain a preserved corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Schuitz! Is this what you were talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Kala rushed over and found a bead inside the corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly fed it to the injured explorer before it melted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Rick Jugsta has consumed the 'Frozen Trace of Life'.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, one person revived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Um... what are we going to do with the rest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We decided to abandon the other byproducts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were valuable, but we couldn't carry any more weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was better to just leave them behind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach growled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...It's meat, even if it's a bit rotten.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like a good idea, so I ran over to Amelia and shared my plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Emily! I found a way to solve our food problem!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about now...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time, it's not a joke! It's real!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha, just tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I explained my food supply plan to Amelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slapped me on the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Was that really that bad of an idea?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, I thought it was a good idea.\u003C\u002Fp>",1873,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","ae57b79e6a73009d5a2fb5caca7c4b782b0b83006712f7a7dfd90ad98406ae7e","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-405","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-403",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]