[{"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-602":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},1327979,1764,"Chapter 602: Third record (5)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-602",602,"\u003Cp>Gripping Elwen tightly in preparation for the fall—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground beneath our feet collapsed, and a sensation of floating surged through my whole body. But it was distinctly different from the feeling of falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooooosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defying gravity, my body rose above the crumbled earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a levitation spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly scanned around and saw Gahun and the Chief also floating in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, I praised sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to you, we survived. Well done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was so flustered that I couldn’t even give orders properly, yet they reacted like this on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...It’s not something to be praised for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha, the old man is embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because we were bickering just a moment ago and now he feels awkward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know, but first things first—I needed to confirm something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long can the magic last?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It should be enough until we land safely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, that means...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Then from now on, descend slowly... no, descend quickly enough not to get seriously hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided this because if something happened while levitating, proper resistance would be impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once I gave the order, Gahun finally regained his senses and began descending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ka-BOOM! Crash! Rumble rumble rumble...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surroundings were literally like a hellscape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything visible was collapsing and crumbling, with huge falling rocks threateningly rushing past us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now it finally feels like an exploration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief, while descending like falling, looked around with eyes full of curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was probably the first time I’d seen such lively eyes on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That guy always seemed a bit off his rocker, but I had no time to care about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hierarch had grabbed the Archbishop moments before a massive explosion and dove underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That guy, who I thought was our enemy, somehow acted like he was helping us...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elwen, did you control him? Tell him to hold the Archbishop and fall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first possibility I checked was this, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I tried, but it didn’t work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh, so the Hierarch acted on his own?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe that monster wasn’t our enemy after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief must have heard our conversation because he muttered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it wasn’t entirely wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I saw the Hierarch, I thought he must be the boss monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thinking back now, maybe he was an ally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Hamshik we met in Chapter 2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than that, higher beings seemed to show favorable behavior toward Elwen, which was a hint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ka-BANG! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I mulled over this during the descent—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ka-Booooooooooom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A giant boulder slammed down on Gahun’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a dizzying situation, but thanks to the protective shield we’d spread out in preparation for falling rocks, not a scratch was made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That ‘ah’ sounded so ominous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, bad feelings rarely miss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-the levitation spell’s formula just broke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The formula broke? Explain that in a way I can understand—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to say more—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our descent stopped, we briefly hovered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kyaaaaaaah—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And we fell straight down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head aches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My lungs feel stabbed by something, suffocating, and my spine won’t move properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m alive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what about the others?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last thing I remember was seeing the ground while falling, clutching Elwen, and taking the impact on my back...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ah, ah... damn it! Damn it! My words... Riese...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen’s urgent voice crackled like a broken radio inside my ringing ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also heard the Chief’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t move... wait... I’ve given you potions, so soon...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir! Sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re not responding at all...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling voices gradually becoming clearer, I slowly lifted my eyelids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m... okay... stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, ah! Sorry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Elwen get off me, making it a bit easier to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold on a bit more. Judging from your recovery, you’ll be able to move soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long was I out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About five minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Gahun...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to grasp the situation, I asked, and the Chief pointed somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning my stiff neck # Nоvеlight # sideways, I saw Gahun lying with broken legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not dead. Looks like he used magic at the end to slow the speed as much as possible. I gave him potions, but I don’t know when he’ll wake up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, that’s what I thought...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. Kept my senses until the end and minimized the impact properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only my defense stats had been intact, my body wouldn’t be this wrecked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...The enemies?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, no one’s around, so focus on recovering without worries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. But your tone...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I’m older and higher rank anyway, aren’t I? We went through a life-or-death situation together, so I can speak comfortably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that’s true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if his tone changed suddenly, no one around would really suspect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll rest a bit more...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, I closed my eyes and lay down, and before long, I recovered enough to move on my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want some water?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I drank a glass and got up. The Chief asked like he’d been waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what’s the plan now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Halfwit Team days to the Anavada Clan, whenever something happened, that was the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People always ask me for answers. It used to be frustrating, but now I just see it as my fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also don’t want to pass all responsibility to others and just follow orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will we wait until Sir Vesilrus wakes up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I don’t know what’s best either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s the first time this kind of rift has appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From its unusual progression to the Hierarch priest Karui...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, it’s headache-inducing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, first I’ll take care of Gahun and start searching the surroundings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s do what we can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we drag things out, the situation might get worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take care of Elwen and Gahun, Count, you lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was the most dangerous mission, the Chief obediently followed my order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because he thought he was most suitable for the task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep your promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For helping in this rift, I promised to bring ‘Karui’s Heart’ to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. I have no intention of breaking my promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a relief. Also, if things go wrong later, check your notebook.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Notebook?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I put it in your backpack when I gave it to you. It has everything you might be curious about, so it will help on the journey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know there was a notebook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got the backpack just before entering the rift. I even left it outside because the Chief suggested, just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll check the notebook as soon as we get out of here...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We moved for quite some time over the broken ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, the sounds ceased, and silence arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, no one was unaware of the reason for this phenomenon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The character has entered the [Silent Curse]’s range.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All essence skills are sealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Hierarch is nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should we avoid it then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know the answer, but I gave a signal to the Chief, who seemed to be waiting for orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Continue.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I knew nothing about this chapter, we had to get information by direct encounter...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It might even be an ally.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if an enemy, it was unlikely normal after hugging the Archbishop right before the explosion and falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After continuing straight without changing direction, we found the Lord of Silence, Silierat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the suffocating silence, the creature was half-buried in rock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, it was not in good condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of its three exposed arms, two had bones showing, and it had no strength to move, blinking its eyelids weakly while buried in the debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relieved that it posed no threat, yet a chill ran down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew its power, but to have a Hierarch reduced to such a state with one blow...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we’d been caught in that explosion head-on, what would have happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Archbishop... isn’t here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scanned the area, then gently put Elwen down and slowly approached it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord of Silence, Silierat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t move even as I neared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It just looked at me with tired eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching out cautiously, I touched its face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It remained quiet even on contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it had no reason to be hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why did you help us?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to ask, but no voice came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I could speak, I doubted it would give a proper answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I answered myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Yeah, you must have your reasons too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I know something about this labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rift guardians, Hierarchs, were real beings with their own stories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe not just them, but all monsters here are the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, they’re even more pitiful than me, dragged into this strange world and causing havoc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I withdrew my hand and stepped back; the Chief gave me a signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Kill it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A simple gesture with that meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quietly shook my head and made a gesture to step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief looked puzzled but obeyed, perhaps because of our promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as we left its territory—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you kill it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seeing it like that, it didn’t seem dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did I make that choice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because it helped us for now. Killing it hastily might cause problems. We can kill it after getting more info.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I told the Chief wasn’t a complete lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, that could be true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the Chief who accepted easily, I was confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hierarch’s essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hierarch’s relic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hierarch’s stone used to open rifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe killing it would have given us those rewards easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s definitely not sympathy...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can only say it was an impulsive decision—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Come here...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, once again, an unknown voice echoed, ending my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound came from the exact opposite direction from where the Hierarch was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So one thing was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That sound wasn’t from it...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weird dialogue that called us like a pervert to lure us wasn’t from the Hierarch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it was odd since the in-game character had no lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we just head toward where the sound is coming from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded; the Chief took the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following with Elwen at some distance, soon we saw the source of the voice directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Right...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, come here and hold me...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a completely unexpected existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soul Eater...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Grade 5 rare species.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one spawns in the Great Demon Mirror when the labyrinth opens, granting between 100 to 200 experience randomly when defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I will grant you the wish you desire...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t this supposed to be the boss monster or something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soul Eater has summoned [Soul Cavalry].”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the skill was basically the same as the original...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyaaaaaaah—!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Soul Eater was cut in half by the Chief’s roughly swung sword and defeated immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soul Eater defeated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up to here, it was surprising but no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a MacGuffin in a novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something that looks important but actually is just a normal mob.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could interpret it that way and move on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell is this now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The following scene left me dumbfounded again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Guardian Defeat Bonus. EXP +3]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rainbow-colored essence meaning ‘guardian’ floated in the air where it had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A portal appeared, indicating the rift was cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red and blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, there were two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>",1925,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.084Z",1,"novelbin.me","eef039f6519ff1db010879d218af0fd2ab432c9bb0820f73a9837d54c08ff91b","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-603","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-601",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]