[{"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-590":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},1328136,1764,"Chapter 590: Bossrun (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-590",590,"\u003Cp>The essence of a guardian has two key features.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The base stats are 1.5 times higher than those of normal creatures, and they enable the use of all active skills that the normal creature possesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, among the 5th floor rifts, the Rift of Light,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the essence held by the guardian Hell Giant Herja slightly deviates from the usual category.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Emily... now that you’ve rested, try using it once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the original rule, she should be able to use all three active skills of the grade 4 monster ‘Cyclops’...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Herja’s essence has only one active skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, that active skill is not even one that a normal ‘Cyclops’ has.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Amelia Rainwales cast [Wave Link].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the skill is used, a faint line connects between Amelia and me. Only those targeted by the skill can see this connection line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect is simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Amelia Rainwales cast [Abyssal Power].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those connected can share skills with each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the black cluster blossoming on my hammer right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I really researched this essence a lot too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, it seems like an overpowered skill, but upon research, you learn\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it’s not exactly an overpowered skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, except in a few cases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hwoong-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cluster covering my hammer scatters into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia deactivated the skill...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...The soul consumption is extreme.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How bad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not even lasting a minute at its best condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, it’s similar to [Self Replication] in penalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The MP consumption is monstrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then now will you try using it differently?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to move on, Amelia closed her eyes and concentrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are three ways to use [Wave Link].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first is like just now—manifesting your skill through a companion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could call this a support type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second is...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A boss pattern.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attaching the link to an enemy and aggressively using it as a dealer type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hell Giant we just defeated had a pattern of linking to me, sacrificing a handicap for powerful area attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, since no one was nearby and every time it used the link I immediately targeted its eye, it wasn’t too difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Anyway, skip this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia has neither self-destruct skills nor AoEs, so this way doesn’t apply at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the last remaining way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Amelia Rainwales cast [Self Replication].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Amelia Rainwales cast [Wave Link].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A utility type that strengthens summoned units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is practically the orthodox use of [Wave Link].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using it as an attack transfers the handicap to the enemy and lets you use skills at the enemy’s location, which is a big advantage...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that’s a method suitable only for monsters with huge MP pools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Wave Link] shines when used like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really... the soul consumption equalized. What kind of harmony is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, as a gamer I don’t know the principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mage would spout unknown theories about matching mental waves or frequencies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I only know the result after countless experiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When used on a ‘summoned unit,’ MP consumption does not increase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, and clones are obviously considered summoned units too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With this... more diverse battles will be possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia, who has a knack for combat, seemed to instantly recognize the value of this new ability...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, about embodiment abilities... the passive skills you call in your world, I haven’t heard about those yet...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, don’t you know about the Cyclops?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re not commonly seen... it’s strange for someone like you who knows all creature traits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embarrassed by lack of knowledge, Amelia painted me as a strange person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, put this on. Then you’ll know what embodiment abilities are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked and took out the item I had painstakingly obtained before she came in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a question appeared in Amelia’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monocle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So-called the Gungye monocle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「[One-Eyed] activated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s torso vision increases by +200.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「You can see the invisible.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the duo raid with Amelia ended,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>we kept swapping members and challenged the rifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While a tank can always fulfill their role, a dealer cannot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core of [Dungeon & Stone] is ‘affinities.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the affinity doesn’t match, there are enemies you absolutely cannot beat, but conversely, matching affinities makes the strategy much easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’d be a waste to let this talent pool rot.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal family’s elite exploration force included all the talents I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a priest was needed, an archbishop-level priest went with us and obeyed my orders; if a grade 2 fire mage was needed, there was at least one capable mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now I understand why there’s no limit on members.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maze is mainly designed for solo or duo rift clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it doesn’t seem designed for two people only.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of people must enter, be divided appropriately, and steadily progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, it’s a bit disappointing. We’re discarding too many essences even after killing 5th floor guardians.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When mages enter, they can take essences in test tubes, but otherwise, all must be discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The cheapest ones would sell for hundreds of millions of stones at auction...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the biggest regret was Ainard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a graduation-level essence, but among the 5th floor guardians was an essence suitable for a spearman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, he wasn’t easy enough to carry alone, so I gave up bringing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, thanks to this expedition, I fed Amelia a hard-to-get essence, so I was satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For a clone rogue, it’s basically a graduation essence, so no need to feed a substitute...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, the first basement floor is absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s totally different from other parts of the maze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are so many first encounters and huge gains it’s hard to even estimate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly is this place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After meeting the vampire gentleman, when I stay still alone, that thought fills my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver sea, rainy season, dimensional collapse, chief, Hamshik...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recall those things carefully to not forget and review whether I missed anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Sigh, what’s the use of thinking.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling stifled as always, I ended my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to clear my head, I finished resting and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter what you say, the 4th floor is a no-go. It’s too dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of the statue of Calphion, the 4th floor Rift Guardian, I saw an explorer pleading to Raven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The name...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone just called him ‘Big Hammer,’ so I didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, he was a famous grade 3 explorer in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you reconsider? I really need this essence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t look like someone chasing experience points or obsessed with time attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he probably really needed that essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter what you say...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon me, but don’t the Golden Mage not really know my skills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you saying my judgment was wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha... not that... I just wanted him to be tested. To see if he’s qualified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as Raven spoke seriously, the man didn’t back down, and Raven sighed, seeming annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I stepped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I was the one who assigned this troublesome task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to be tested, I’ll help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron Yandel...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I joined the conversation, the man looked surprised, then nodded as if relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I ask you, please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his ‘Big Hammer’ with a hostile gaze right after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I never even said how you’ll be tested.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explorers have been macho for ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I actually prefer this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um... Mr. Yandel? You don’t have to waste strength because of me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is she saying now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not wasting strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m saving time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I activated [Gigantism] and looked down at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re small.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that brief word, the sparring began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fittingly for someone nicknamed ‘Big Hammer,’ his body was quite solid, so the sparring dragged on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About fifteen minutes passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I lost...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he couldn’t damage me at all, he accepted defeat after I repeatedly smashed his jaw with the hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I guess I was greedy. It’s a shame, but I’ll give up on the 4th floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His neat attitude was in stark contrast to how he pleaded with Raven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might seem strange, but macho types usually accept the laws of strength without complaint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whaaaaaa!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Baron’s victory!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crowds cheered, but I felt no particular excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At this point, damage definitely isn’t landing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A recent frequent frustration of a tank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Bellarios essence and Aegis Barrier, I was several times stronger than before, but the damage was the same as before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Yandel, can I talk to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha ha ha, if it’s to say thanks, that’s fine—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, you wasted 15 minutes on something that could’ve taken 5?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind blanked for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven chuckled like it was a joke when he saw me like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, follow me. I have something to tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We moved a few steps, Raven activated a voice control spell, and I changed my expression to serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this a secret?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No? Not really... I don’t know. It’s better you judge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I bowed to match his small stature, ready to listen, and Raven slowly began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you know, I act as a kind of examiner, so I’ve had many chances to hear what happened inside. And I learned...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could say more, Raven summarized the key point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duke Cambormiier isn’t saying anything anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not saying anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t that always the case?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to say that when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, literally no words. No rising murderous intent or anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, he just rushes with bloodshot eyes as soon as you enter... I find it weird. Right after you appeared, he at least ‘spoke,’ didn’t he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand, lost in deep thought, naturally moved to my chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt odd that a perfectly fine man suddenly went mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was sane for three hours, wasn’t he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no change without a cause.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven said with a mage’s tone, looking up at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did the Duke suddenly change?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a barbarian, no matter how much I think, I can’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a gamer, it’s different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, the first hypothesis I had upon hearing that was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Actually... the madness has returned since a while ago.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the gentleman talking normally is an ‘error’ from the maze’s perspective...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hotfix...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might be a real-time patch of an error.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By someone ruling the maze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are 27 types of Rift Guardians from 1st to 5th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And 14 unidentified guardians in the same category as Duke Cambormiier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A total of 41.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the boss run felt overwhelming, but after steady progress, the end is near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One left...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now only one statue remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reference, that statue appears in a ‘unique rift’ that opens very rarely, and it doesn’t match well with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I saved it for last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed while looking at the motionless stone gate despite dozens of lights already lit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like something will happen only after clearing that last one...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It means I have no choice but to kill that one too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least two people can enter, so it might be doable...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought about skipping this run, but there was no suitable alternative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tank is essential for boss fights, but there’s no one reliable enough to fill my place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, there might be someone if I searched...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But I don’t trust them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, better I go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now I have to decide who to bring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Erwen again?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a safe choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s basically a cheat key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen was the one who hunted guardians most with me, second only to Raven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For easy rifts, we brought a mage and collected essences; for difficult rifts, except some exceptions, I took Erwen along...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...No.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current target isn’t a foe you can defeat by brute force alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How about Amelia?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s not bad either...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ainard seems better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his fighting spirit has ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) dropped and presence faded, his luck remains undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’re hoping for luck, there’s a better option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right here, right before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get ready. We’re entering the rift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I said that, he blinked in surprise and asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me? Why... why me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Sven Parab, a paladin of the Reatlas faith.\u003C\u002Fp>",2039,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","0f1422f196c47ee8bbbe0f664431c00b3b0b8957401a17471f16c0162d2213e5","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-770","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-769",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]