[{"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-592":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},1328140,1764,"Chapter 592: Bossrun (5)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-592",592,"\u003Cp>The unique 5th floor rift — the Soul Fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And here appeared the labyrinth-type boss monster serving as the guardian, “Spirit Guardian Housiel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, its second phase isn’t very dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Depending on the character’s luck stat, there’s some variation, but usually opening around five hundred boxes is enough to find the magic stone and move on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No guarantee I’ll be so lucky.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was also why I brought Sven Parab along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s needed to clear this rift isn’t the ability to find gold, but the ability to avoid bad luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I see, this guy is specialized in dodging misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So I didn’t expect much from this...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what is this? Some kind of hilarious prank?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the box glowing with a brilliant golden light made my head go blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sven Parab...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes? Ah, yes, Baron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you feel anything strange before opening the box?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No...? It was just like usual...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hah, then it just means he was really lucky?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even thinking it over, it doesn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A character with a natural sense for misfortune and innate luck combined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, it feels like this world needs to add a new “Numbers” item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something like...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parab’s Golden Goblin Statue\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the bestowed number 7777.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or a single-digit single number below 10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, that would keep the balance right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um... but what is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gradually came back to my senses as he asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood a few steps away from the box cautiously, looking at me with an innocent expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to give him a kiss, but that would only revive the misunderstanding I’d just calmed down, so I passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a box that can be found with a very low probability when defeating Housiel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it a good thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, he’s an explorer after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s good. Very good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answered firmly, and his expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes moved into the box, tangled with curiosity and greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered what could be inside to make me say that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But it probably wouldn’t be especially appealing to him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The value of items inside the box varies depending on the recipient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To some, it might have greater worth than a single number item, but to others, it might be completely useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paladin Parab belongs to the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he reached his hand into the still glowing box and grasped something round with his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What is this used for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grinned and explained the use of the item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to pretend to be a local, so my explanation grew lengthy, using words like “merit points” and so on...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in fact, it could be described in just five letters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Experience potion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now level 11 was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has consumed ‘Dreaming Soul.’」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Upon reaching level 10, gains 10,000 EXP.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dreaming Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ultra-rare item only obtainable during the boss fight with Spirit Guardian Housiel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s absolutely essential to reach level 11, which was the original max level in normal mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because even after killing all kinds of monsters, about 14,000 more experience points are needed to reach level 11.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if you kill all the monsters, it’s nearly impossible to fill that experience bar by portal or rift runs...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And so it’s eaten like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I was dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting this item was extremely rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the last time I opened the Abyssal Gate, I was still level 10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though things went smoothly early on, allowing me to fully set equipment and essences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After gulping down the potion at once, I glanced sideways and saw Parab looking downcast, shoulders slumping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I could understand that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’d feel like winning the lottery jackpot only to find out the number was from the previous draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why his next reaction surprised me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s good. It means the Baron can climb even higher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could tell it wasn’t a courtesy but a sincere comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hint of regret, but no envy or jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, don’t think like that. It’s useless for me anyway, and didn’t you say that even if I cast distortion magic, I can’t take it with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true, but...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that first made me feel like I owed him more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything comes up later, I’ll be sure to take care of him first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s get moving again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer we dawdled, the harder the boss fight would become, so we tidied up and resumed searching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While continuing to open boxes, we talked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron, I’m curious about something...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happens if you open the box you’re worried about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, that one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as you open the box, 5,000 experience points vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s common to lose levels, and when that happens, a corresponding number of essence slots randomly lock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a crazy curse... Losing all the merit points collected so far...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parab didn’t doubt my info, just tilted his head confused, wondering why he never knew such a thing existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the curse is a later problem. The real issue is the rift guardian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The guardian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you open that box, the guardian absorbs your experience and grows stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And you’re supposed to defeat it with essence slots locked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I can’t guarantee I’ll survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That must be part of why you brought me. The curse is meaningless to a paladin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s not the only reason. But don’t worry, if you find ‘Dreaming Soul’ in the box, the guardian becomes much weaker than usual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we talked, while steadily opening boxes, I understood Parab’s intuition better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like it doesn’t activate on minor curses or monster boxes... Only when truly dangerous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, that alone was a near-miracle ability... or maybe it really was a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he recently received an oracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, looks like we finally found it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long search, we found a box containing the magic stone and moved on to the next phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I smashed the stone, we moved into a space that felt like the inside of a giant worm’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The floor was slippery and squishy, writhing periodically like a living creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Spirit Guardian Housiel’s [Defense System] strengthens further.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sticky liquid began oozing from the ceiling, floor, and walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have to move fast before it fills up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We moved faster than ever to tackle phase three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the best tank has to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, if that liquid fills completely, it’s game over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, after completing the map, we’d never had a wipe here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Go straight, turn left at the fork, then go straight twice more, then turn right...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I haven’t memorized the whole map, but I know perfectly how to reach the magic stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step, step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking through monsters blocking the way and running over acid up to our calves, we quickly reached the goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heart-shaped magic stone pulsed as if alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, I smashed it with all my strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When we opened our eyes, we were greeted by a space reminiscent of outer space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center was a transparent glass staircase shaped like a pyramid, and at its peak floated a giant eyeball-shaped magic stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true body of Spirit Guardian Housiel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No lines again this time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as we arrived, its eyes snapped open, and like the underground first floor during the rainy season, monsters began pouring out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A legion of hundreds of monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Spirit Guardian Housiel’s [Defense System] strengthens further.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because we arrived relatively early and had opened a golden box in between, the monsters weren’t that high rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Up to grade 4 monsters...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, by the way, arriving maxed out with experience lost means even grade 2 monsters appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main body’s power is also much stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Move quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We hurried up the stairs before the monsters descended, fighting fiercely from the moment they touched us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a 5th floor rift, it wasn’t easy for just two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there were a mage with AoE skills, opening the path would’ve been much easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, what can you do without one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—laaaaaaa!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We climbed the stairs amid the fierce battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More annoying than the monsters was the main body itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pew!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic cannon firing straight at me is one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Spirit Guardian Housiel casts [Target Lock].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because aggro periodically drops, the following comrades also need the stamina to survive the waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time it emits a pulse, its body, which has [Gigantism] active, is pushed backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you standing there for! I’ll open the path somehow, so come up! Don’t act like an idiot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I spoke stronger than usual, it couldn’t be helped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If knocked back or pushed by monsters to fall down, it’s instant death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I could solo the boss, I had to stubbornly climb the stairs and endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swinging my hammer wildly, I knocked monsters aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most just lost balance and tumbled down the stairs, but unlucky ones rolled a long way down into the endless darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More would spawn anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I fought while climbing, Sven Parab fell behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between us and him, monsters had filled the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe it’s faster to kill the main body than to go save him...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My game-hardened brain made the most logical choice, removing emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s the monster legion that’s tricky; if you can just get close, killing the main body is easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he’s my teammate, so I wondered if going back to save him was the right thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...What to do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment of intense hesitation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll hold on! Go on ahead...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted first, letting me proceed without regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character used [Swing].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character used [Swing].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character used [Swing]...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally reaching the main body, I swung my hammer like a madman again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the main body was fragile, the tank barbarian’s damage meant hundreds of hits were needed...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, the giant magic stone shattered, breaking into tens of thousands of fragments scattering everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Spirit Guardian Housiel defeated EXP +6」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Guardian defeat bonus EXP +3」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The legion of over a thousand monsters instantly turned into light and scattered, filling the space with glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of it, I hurried to find Sven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had rolled down halfway down the stairs, panting heavily, his body battered and bruised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I'm alive...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whew, I really have to take good care of him from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the boss fight over, the portal opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rainbow-colored essence dropped ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ha... I have to leave this behind.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Words couldn’t express how much I hated to do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The essence was that valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All because of one passive skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Soul Contract].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect of this passive skill is simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You instantly become level 8 but can no longer gain experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want to reach higher, you must never consume it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this essence sells for an extremely high price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years ago, a marquis family reportedly bought it for billions of stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His wife filled seven slots just with beauty-related essences...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s ridiculous, but such things happen every day in reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Anyway, I’ve earned enough money here. Let’s prioritize getting out...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting greed aside, I took the portal out with Parab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, someone would have rushed over to check if I was hurt, but this time was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the quiet stillness, everyone around the statue was staring at one spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hurriedly turned to see what they were looking at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The door is already open...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because we lingered after killing the boss, the stone door was wide open, revealing what was hidden inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A portal...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A red portal that looked ominous just to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar mage muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t a normal portal. The mana wavelength is...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A rift... a rift!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rift from the underground first floor had opened.\u003C\u002Fp>",1986,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","a160869dac431fffcf80bd61d3469603a5c3f20757c997a87116998c0e30da16","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-772","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-771",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]