[{"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-410":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},1327480,1764,"Chapter 410: Dilemma (7)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-410",410,"\u003Cp>Once, twice, three times, four times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each attempt to contact the main force, a sense of dread washed over me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was nothing else I could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, sir...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We could only keep trying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how many times we tried, we couldn't reach them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...What's going on?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our original plan was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2. Contact the main force at the Dragon's Mountain Range using the Sky Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3. Destroy the target and escape, rendezvousing with the main force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main force would create a breach in the enemy lines and meet us at the rendezvous point. They would then escort us back to safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not working.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We couldn't contact the main force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Did they abandon us?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would they really abandon a force this large?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something must have happened to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even if they had abandoned us, there was only one thing I could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leader! How long do we have to hold out?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Priest Cambel says he's at his limit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was running out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had to make a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the best course of action for our survival?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might not be the best choice...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was the only one I could think of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akuraba.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remove the communication coordinates.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had been trying to contact the main force at their designated frequency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir? That means our messages will be broadcast across the entire continent...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's what I want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in leaving unanswered calls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akuraba hesitated, but eventually agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's done. I've set the bandwidth to maximum.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She handed me the message stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed the button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a bit nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was like broadcasting on a radio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone with a message stone, friend or foe, would hear our message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Listen up.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message echoed from every active message stone in the vicinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the main force's fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren't answering our calls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Sky Eye is destroyed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The Sky Eye is destroyed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to force them to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A barren plain, shrouded in a gloomy haze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shattered remains of the Sky Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man removed his robe, revealing his disfigured face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skin was scarred and blistered, as if it had been burned by acid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What happened here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's gaze swept across the area, and those who met his eyes quickly looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed the nearest explorer by the throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"G-g-guh! P-please spare me! Regal Vagos, sir!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to live, tell me what happened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I'll tell you everything! Everything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explorer's desperate plea made Regal Vagos loosen his grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to hear his story before punishing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I repeat, the Sky Eye is destroyed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We're heading to the rendezvous point.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message stone went silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had rushed back with his troops after receiving the message, but he still didn't know what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're telling me... they attacked, destroyed the Sky Eye, and escaped with mass teleportation, and you just stood there and watched?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a surge of anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Th-they... they outnumbered us... Regal Vagos, sir... you took most of our troops...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you blaming me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-no, sir! I-I just meant... they ambushed us with monsters...! W-we were overwhelmed...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Useless fool.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regal Vagos tightened his grip, and the terrified explorer blurted out a name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-Titana Akuraba!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Titana Akuraba...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was one of the most famous explorers of his generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That old woman was there...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-not just her! J-James Kala, the Golden Mage! K-Kaislan! There were too many famous explorers! Please have mercy...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explorer begged for his life, his voice trembling, and a man approached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vagos, calm down. They did their best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cale Elbad Jeneger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Regal Vagos's advisor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they received the news about the royal expedition infiltrating through Ice Rock, he had advised caution and suggested they defend their base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regal Vagos felt a pang of regret, but also a surge of defiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cale, stay out of this. I'm just disciplining them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why him? Everyone is responsible for failing to protect the base. It's unfair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I'll punish them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other explorers flinched, and Cale sighed, playing his trump card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...The Captain won't be happy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader of Orculus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Traitor, Ricardo Liuhen Praha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regal Vagos grabbed Cale's collar, but that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't ignore that name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Captain will be back soon. He'll want to know what happened. We should wait for his orders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Tsk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regal Vagos calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already disobeyed the Captain's orders by leaving the base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't want to cause any more trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Blood Spirit Marquis's man? Lihen Schuitz?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-yes! I'm sure! He was the expedition leader! I heard them call him Schuitz! And... he used [Gigantification]!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regal Vagos flinched as he investigated the one who had tricked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gigantification]...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a strange sense of familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cale!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, sir?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bring me the message stone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cale obeyed without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regal Vagos snatched the stone from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He played the recording.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your backyard.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You'll find out if you come here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yeah, good luck with that.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar voice that made his blood boil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He replayed the recording over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click, click, click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...No wonder it sounded familiar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I repeat, the Sky Eye is destroyed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We're heading to the rendezvous point.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy he had forgotten for over three years, thanks to Amelia Rainwales' betrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief who had stolen his precious sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought he was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal family must have known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or they wouldn't have appointed him as the expedition leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bjorn Yandel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered the name, his voice filled with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cale! Gather the troops! We're going after them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the Captain isn't back yet—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll take responsibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time for a rematch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deadwood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A field located in the western region of the Dragon's Mountain Range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was firmly under Noark's control, and the royal forces had never breached its defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our rendezvous point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We waited in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We believed that the main force would come for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We hid among the branches of giant, withered trees, our hearts filled with anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They should have arrived yesterday if they left immediately after receiving our message.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why... why aren't they coming?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kaislan, keep your voice down! We can't use the voice control magic anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had been encouraging each other, hoping for a swift rescue... but the mood was starting to turn sour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That morning, we had our first casualty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Philip Aintropy.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an explorer on Melend Kaislan's team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A navigator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had specialized in navigation skills like [Current Control], [Weight Reduction], and [Over Supply].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had died during a battle that morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had enough mana to maintain the stealth magic... but the mages were exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell had momentarily deactivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noark explorers, who were searching the area, had spotted us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had been forced to fight, and Philip had been killed instantly. His skull had been crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Schuitz, this place isn't safe anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team members were panicking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew that Noark would eventually realize that one of their members was missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would intensify their search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had already noticed an increase in enemy patrols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have to make a decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, what do you mean? A decision?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can't stay here forever. If the rescue team isn't coming, we have to leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?! Are you saying the royal family abandoned us?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't say that. But... they're not responding to our messages... If something happened to them, we have to adapt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That makes sense, but I disagree. We're exhausted. How far can we go in this state? We'll be wiped out if they find us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're saying we should just wait here? For how long? The mages' mana will run out in two days! We'll be wiped out then!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team was divided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Damn it...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had to make a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is driving me crazy.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had three options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, stay here and wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best-case scenario was a swift rescue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the worst-case scenario...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'We'll die here.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, break through to the royal faction's territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deadwood was less important than the Dragon's Mountain Range, so the enemy defenses would be weaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why we had chosen it as the rendezvous point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't a completely impossible plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'We're outnumbered.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if 10% of us survived, it would be a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the worst-case scenario would be the same as the first option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Should we go somewhere else?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third option was a waiting game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like their base was empty while the main force was at the front lines... there might be a safe haven somewhere else in the Dark Continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'We destroyed the Sky Eye, so they won't know our exact location.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was the riskiest option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We would be exposed to countless variables for a longer period of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if everything went perfectly, there would be casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'We're all dead if it goes wrong, no matter what we choose.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't help but laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we were all going to die anyway...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouldn't we choose the option with the best chance of a good outcome?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal family was responsible for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They should take responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?! No! We can't just give up! The main force will come for us...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored Kaislan's protest and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I wasn't sure about the choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get ready. We're leaving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're not waiting for the main force?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. We've waited long enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at Kaislan and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry. I'll take responsibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1668,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","30b4876f86b29ecf3d3d68c7547335586d3b3179b9d9bf238d24c9929c288868","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-411","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-409",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]