[{"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-486":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},1327706,1764,"Chapter 486: Pilgrim (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-486",486,"\u003Cp>Several bodies lay scattered across the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old man slowly approached the center and gently caressed the monument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In memory of Diflun Groundel Gavrilius, the Last Sage, and his first giant step.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stone tablet erected long ago to commemorate the achievements of a great hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…We’re almost there…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man muttered softly and then withdrew his hand from the monument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a book from his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The book floated in mid-air, its pages flipping open without any support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The book flipped through its pages, reaching the final chapter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…The pilgrim, his heart gripped by fear, abandoned his convictions and fled for his life. But at the end of his escape, he found an even greater fear awaiting him.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The terror of being alone.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The fear of solitude consumed him. It was a terror he could not escape. Anger and hatred towards himself twisted his body and soul. Even the Earth Mother's care could not save him.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[As the pilgrim's soul perished, a new power and authority was bestowed upon ———. And so, the insignificant human gained a cursed power.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[One who sows terror and hates faith. The birth of Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The book closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an old story, forgotten by time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just… one person…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil’s question made my breath catch in my throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to yell at her, to ask her what the hell she was talking about, but my body was frozen. I couldn’t do anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Kill just one, and the Empire will welcome you back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded almost… happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil’s voice trembled as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought she was going to apologize, to try and lessen her guilt… but her words were completely unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I think I understand now. Yandel… you suspected me earlier… didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suspect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she talking about—?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have another ability. Besides hiding and healing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know which monster it’s from, but… I can feel your emotions clearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t anticipated this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tersia too… you were thinking about killing me earlier. You didn’t do it, but it wasn’t because you trusted me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Frenelin… she didn’t suspect me at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded as she continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way to stop this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t even speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t felt this much despair, even when Dreadfear used his Aura and AoE stun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. It’s hard to trust me. We’re not as close as you and the others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil’s trembling hand, clutching the dagger, steadied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So I’ll do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I don’t, someone else will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I closed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I kept thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could I do? How could I stop this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…There was no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t take it anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had tried to stay positive, to believe that there was a way out, even when they had sealed my skills and stats and given me this ridiculous boss fight…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Fuck.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unfair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too unfair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t dying because I was weak. I hadn’t made any mistakes. I hadn’t failed to complete the objective within the time limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stab, pilgrim. Cleanse the dagger with their filthy blood and prove your purity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, one of us had to die?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even a chance to talk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She approached me and bent down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could finally see her face clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were filled with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re going to fail… aren’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she had chosen me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had decided to sacrifice herself so the others could survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I closed my eyes tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t let them die in vain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft hand caressed my cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil was holding the dagger to her own throat, her back to Dreadfear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve made a lot of wrong choices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought it was the right thing to do. That anyone would have done the same. That I was being smart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to speak, but I couldn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it always ended badly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She withdrew her hand from my cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not going to make the same mistake again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, you could have just waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that was the solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did you do this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you. If I don’t do it, someone else will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That one sentence made me understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And besides, I think this is a 'no betrayal' scenario.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puk-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were the ones who pushed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The first pilgrim has perished.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All stats of the surviving pilgrims increased by +400.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body collapsed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight looked down at her and muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What a fool.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My blood ran cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like something inside me had snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'She's... really...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dead...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a wave of nausea, as if I had drunk too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BEEEEEEEEP—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed through the ringing in my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll give you another chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black aura started emanating from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Centurion Dreadfear has cast [Hour of Execution].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Target's Fear greatly increases.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was similar to killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It clouded your mind and made it difficult to think rationally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body screamed in protest, and my mind was filled with the urge to run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Run.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice whispered in my ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But another thought surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pick it up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if Bersil had made a different choice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would we have been able to resist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Maybe...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had probably anticipated this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a true [Dungeon and Stone] player, she had prioritized the developer's intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood pooled on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzt-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the blood touched the statue...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「An unknown entity embraces the noble pilgrim's soul.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The altar has been activated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire cave shook, as if a rift was opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bright light emanated from the statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The light of trust dispels the darkness of fear.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power that had been binding me vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ttadat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed the fallen dagger and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight looked annoyed, but not wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think that changes anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I didn't know yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we had cleared one pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What a ridiculous skill...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a disgusting ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make people betray each other with a single word...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's still time. There's only one way for you to escape this cave alive. Prove your purity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would believe him now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mister, my strength has returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, so I wasn't the only one who received a buff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ainar, take care of Bersil.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ainar collected Bersil's body...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight charged at us, his sword a blur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whiiiish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was much faster than the Imperial soldiers we had encountered before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thanks to the altar's activation, my reflexes had improved significantly. I could see the trajectory of his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He's aiming for my legs...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still wanted us to betray each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of blocking his attack with my shield, I jumped over it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then I swung my mace at his temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't expect my agility and couldn't dodge in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was tough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn't be able to defeat him in my current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had only managed to land a hit because he was caught off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Not yet...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suppressed my desire to fight and shouted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Run!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't the time to confront him yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the stat boost, the Imperial soldiers surrounding the chamber were no longer a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uwaaaaaah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar charged through them like a rhinoceros, scattering them like leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We quickly escaped the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't let them escape!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight, who had been hit by my mace, quickly recovered and started chasing us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His speed was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Slightly faster than ours.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant we would be caught eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to find a way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ran with all my might, my mind racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had our stats increased?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it just a buff from the altar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was there another condition?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What's the clear condition?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it a game of tag?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe our stats would increase as we ran away from him, and eventually we would be strong enough to defeat him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn't sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I set a goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...W-Where should we go...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're leaving the cave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe escaping the cave after activating the altar was the clear condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wouldn't be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Mister, we can't keep running forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would catch up to us eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar and Erwen each suggested a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bjorn, let's fight him! We have to avenge the mage!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, we can't win. I'll lure him away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fight, or flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren't bad ideas...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Alright. I'll be the bait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I should do it. I can move faster alone... And I have an ability.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An ability?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can sense where everyone is. I didn't know what it was until we reunited here...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it like the Guide's ability to detect portals?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would make regrouping easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trust me. I'm the best choice for this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the best option?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, I didn't have much time to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Don't get hurt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen didn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just smiled and slowed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>___________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff... Huff...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused on my breathing as I ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been about two hours since I parted ways with Erwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'We're almost halfway there...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had covered more than half the distance in two hours. It had taken us almost eight hours to reach the central area from the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'My Physical stats are probably about a third of what they normally are...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was just based on my stats. I didn't have any skills, so I was still no match for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But my stats aren't increasing anymore...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it a one-time boost?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't know, but I continued running towards the entrance with Ainar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a while...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'When is Erwen coming back? I hope nothing happened...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was starting to get worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The second pilgrim has perished.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All stats of the surviving pilgrims increased by +400.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stats increased again.\u003C\u002Fp>",1674,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","83a8963182b63699667adc95975cd69c17f5a7128c684dec050e93f8cb8bc74e","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-487","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-485",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]