[{"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-726":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},1327953,1764,"Chapter 726: Limited Time (5)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-726",726,"\u003Cp>“The wheels creaked, creaked...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage rumbled forward as it entered the road of Hwangdo Karnon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually as clean and well-maintained as modern times, Karnon’s roads were different now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road was deeply damaged and sunken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rocks rolled about and broken wood littered the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, no matter how chaotic it was here, it was nothing compared to other zones that had become actual battlefields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Karnon roads simply deteriorated because heavy military supplies and construction materials passed through daily, but no personnel remained to maintain the roads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the war ended, it would be clean again as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other zones... or more precisely...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unlike District 7.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t seen it myself yet—only heard of the situation—but I already realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of state District 7, my base, must be in now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I’ll think about that later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the money and effort I had put into District 7 made my stomach ache, but issues of ‘loss’ could be sorted after everything ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To District 5.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after arriving at Karnon’s military platform, I moved on to District 5—the frontline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nia Lapdonia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I passed the soldiers who stiffened at the sight of Astarotta’s royal emblem and stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud explosion echoed from quite far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, the soldiers patrolling near the platform looked relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, “relaxed” might be a stretch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hollow eyes looked like they could collapse any moment, but they busied themselves with their duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone made the situation clearer than any explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bwoooooong—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was their everyday normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll look around first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many times you hear about something, if you never see it once, you don’t really know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I walked around to take in District 5, which had become a battlefield, and asked Astarotta whenever curiosity struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place seems fairly safe. Sounds of explosions only come from far away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s because it’s strategically important. Compared to other areas, much more effort has been put into building formations here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, because of the military platform?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suppose if I were commander, I’d have done my best to defend the military platform too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we had that, all the zones not occupied by Noark could still receive supplies and support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the worst case, retreat would be possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, wandering like a noble on a stroll, people started noticing me and whispering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, that’s Baron Yandel...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard he went missing after that building collapsed...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the fact the baron’s here could mean the tide is about to turn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would we know what the higher-ups think? We just have to do our jobs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tch... Maybe I should have covered my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Though those who needed to know probably already recognized me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuing to look around, I reached the outermost perimeter of the fortifications centered on the military platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marta Brothers Armory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place Erwen had introduced me to when disposing of equipment after the first reconnaissance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the once bustling shop was now dark, closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} went for the roads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wide roads that once handled the large floating population of District 5 were barricaded high, with soldiers standing guard atop them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So beyond here is Noark’s territory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard Noark’s forces had been pressing so strongly that the barricades were steadily pushed back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Going outside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m still thinking about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some inspection, I checked the sewers last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d heard Noark had completely destroyed the sewers, making them unusable as a passage, but I decided I needed to see for myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This won’t do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far down from the sewer entrance, stairs were blocked by debris, preventing further entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearing the rubble might be an option, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too time-consuming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, to reach my comrades, we’d have no choice but to break through the enemy’s center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Astarotta, how’s District 4?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard it’s the fiercest zone. Noark’s main force is stationed there. The Orculus commander has also been appearing there constantly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh... that bastard’s there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a bit tricky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I met him twenty years ago in the past, I managed to handle him by trickery, but if he’s not an idiot, he won’t fall for the same trick twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Plus the main force is there...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, no way I’m setting foot in District 4.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about District 8?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quiet since the rebels took over. The royal army tried to retake it for days, but failed repeatedly because key members of Orculus defended it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Key members?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I pressed for details, familiar names spilled from Astarotta’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood Knights, Black Claw, Witch of Screams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Corpse Collector...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? So those are the key members?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having fought with the ‘Lighthouse Keeper’ there before, District 8 looked the easiest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I heard some rookies just debuted who hadn’t even earned their titles yet, so it might not be that simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the path from District 5 to District 7?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“District 5’s frontline is commanded by Maan, and District 7 is supported by the Third Army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Third Army...? You mean the one led by Eltora Terserion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Due to information control, civilians believe the Third Army was wiped out, but in fact, it joined the rebel forces with the prime minister a few days ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening further, most of the Third Army was forced into rebellion by Eltora Terserion, so internal conflicts could arise at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, according to information, Eltora Terserion didn’t know about this plan and reportedly refused when the incident happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh? Then why is he there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The prime minister must have used some coercion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Makes sense... The prime minister’s son is a ‘devil.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t willingly follow his father into burning straw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Maybe this will become a key later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, I took some time alone to organize my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s the optimal route to get to the barbarian sanctuary where my comrades are, bypassing District 7?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer came quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“District 9, then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distance-wise, leaving from District 5 was shortest, but also most dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Maan is commanding District 5, it borders District 4 where Noark’s main force is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That commander might jump out at any time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this decision, Astarotta shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Going to District 9 means passing through District 8.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just smirked at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beware the Corpse Collector. He’s been active in this war for a very long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sounds like she’s genuinely worried about me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not very helpful advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s just another of the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve reached the point where I wouldn’t lose even to a poison-necked bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before taking the military platform to District 9,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Astarotta to prepare some things needed for the plan, and she readily agreed to all, even if excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, everything was ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just waiting for the signal now...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I waited by the tightly closed fortress gate, I noticed Raven looking tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raven, why so nervous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I not be? I didn’t expect you to be so reckless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looks like Raven thought I would mobilize troops and just break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long do you think that would take?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry too much. Sometimes it’s better to move with fewer people than a half-hearted crowd.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah... that’s supposed to comfort me...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re really uneasy, you can stay behind—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I’d be more nervous if I didn’t go. Besides, we’re not strangers...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite everything, he’s a loyal guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling at that, Astarotta approached with a strangely pleased expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You got news?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The command in District 5 contacted me. Your requests will be fulfilled by tomorrow morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...That late?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t whine. They need time to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... you said news. More to tell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I almost forgot. Two of your missing comrades were found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were four I hadn’t heard from, away from the clan at the sanctuary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sven Parav, Lilis Marone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Auyen Rokrov and Amelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Tell me quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be serious. The two found are Auyen Rokrov and Emily Raines.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are they now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In District 4.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In District 4?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the report from spies, there was a violent incident in District 4, and they were the culprits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened to them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t know. But fortunately, they escaped safely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whew...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did those separated from the group in District 7 end up in District 4?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious, but deeply worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry too much. They’ll definitely take care of themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I hope so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I couldn’t rush to District 4, I tried not to think about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking only brings worst-case scenarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, uneasy premonitions grow like seeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raven, since it starts tomorrow morning, get some rest anywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would be our last rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow, grueling days would begin at dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I thought to rest, an unexpected sound arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak, creak, creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of the fortress gate opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wh-what? Why is the gate opening all of a sudden? Are they invading? If so, this would ruin the plan from the start...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It can’t be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe a soldier made a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There hasn’t been a single battle here yet, and Noark wouldn’t spread sideways instead of attacking the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly discarded those hopeful thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s not how my luck works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had I said that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something fell from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not once, but many times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk, tutuk, thunk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too heavy to be raindrops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when it landed right in front of me did I realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Human corpses...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bodies so mangled it was hard to recognize their shape, like torn off from a corpse golem. They had fallen over the high fortress walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raven, fall back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krazzzzzt—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpses exploded simultaneously, spraying poisonous liquid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s an ambush!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouts from soldiers on the walls and alarms ringing out everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng—! Deng—! Deng—! Deng—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the chaos, I quietly checked my gear and glanced toward the half-open gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Grrooooorrrk!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gate wide enough for a carriage was filled with a familiar-looking army of corpses entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Block them!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nia Lapdonia...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garrison responded immediately but was overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the corpses we needed to worry about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A meteor fell into the soldiers’ midst, shattering the front lines instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Grrooooorrrk—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barricade broke, and the corpse horde surged in like a tidal wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Yandel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You stay here. Astarotta, protect him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Raven safe, I smashed the skulls of corpses with my hammer and headed for the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the fully open gate, I saw a figure riding a chimera proudly entering the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, this is it! Opening one damn gate and they act like it’s the end of the world! They must have been really careless! Pshhssht!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bastard strolls around alone like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From today on, District 9 officially declares itself under our Orculus control...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he suddenly stop speaking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn... Yandel...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, our eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>",1831,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.959Z",1,"novelbin.me","3ff4ceca98842b4e1bf8faf3c73bd3f3a699e2bda071fbba709d32d3838291c7","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-727","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-725",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]