[{"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-735":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},1327962,1764,"Chapter 735: Clown (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-735",735,"\u003Cp>Whooosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling wind blew fiercely, clearing away the swirling dust, and beyond it appeared the burning skeleton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flare—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse collector, reduced to nothing but bones engulfed in black flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the Staff of the Underworld—unaffected by the flames—was tightly gripped in his bony, marrow-like hand...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Why does he look so weak?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aura he showed when he first unleashed his invincibility skill in Goblin Forest was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minute of invincibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the huge surge of physical stats from the conversion of ability and spirit stats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skill’s performance hadn’t changed since then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, with the blessing of the Underworld, his specs were even stronger than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he chose a different course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, when he had aimed to pierce my forbidden zone with sharp strikes during that one minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat-tat-tat—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned his back and bolted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sight reminded me of a familiar bug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when I lived in the basement, when the kitchen light came on, cockroaches would dash off just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...He’s pretty fast.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Underworld’s blessing and Momentary Immortality combined, his stat boost must have been significant, making his movement speed very high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I hurried after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved my long, thick legs until they ached, but the distance between us kept growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he jump so well on such small leg bones?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s gonna die eventually anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the gap widened quickly, I didn’t feel impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An open plain with nowhere to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how far he ran, I stubbornly followed the direction he fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One minute.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the Momentary Immortality ended, flesh gradually returned to the skeleton’s frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat-tat-tat—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now back to his natural state, holding only his staff, he continued to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Still not closing the distance.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the invincibility ending, he kept up his fast escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt slightly annoyed but knew it wasn’t a big problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Underworld wouldn’t close for quite some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maximum duration is probably 24 hours.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many times he got hit here, it was roughly 30 minutes or so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, over 23 hours were still left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Striding at a steady pace, I grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Let’s see how long you can keep running.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A barbarian never gives up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Have you ever played tag?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, you know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it’s just a game, being chased offers intense tension and thrilling excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even a game feels like that, how intense would real tag be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, Nekrapeto hadn’t known well before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he was always the ‘it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat-tat-tat—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His legs ached from nonstop movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe due to psychological pressure, he felt exhausted faster than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff, huff...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breath caught in his throat as proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...P-please, just give up!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance from the ‘it’ was still great, but he felt no relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from afar, the steady footsteps were audible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tenacity that would never give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I’m going to lose him, I have to widen the gap more...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Growing anxious, he used every means he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept summoning corpses from the pocket dimension, trying to obstruct the barbarian’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Grrrrr—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised a massive wall of corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyaaaak—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swung rotten claws, trying to irritate the barbarian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, stacking buffs, nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware that the barbarian behind him was smiling with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat-tat-tat—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minute, two, three, four...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten, twenty, thirty, forty...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One hour...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he couldn’t tell exactly, it felt that long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man rode his fastest summoned creature, and the barbarian thundered through the corpse horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the distance...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Why isn’t it getting any bigger?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, despite summoning corpses to hinder, it didn’t affect the tank-like barbarian much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Giant form.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian showed no sign of dropping the [Giant Form].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, such transformation powers consume MP per second and can’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If only that ended, I could widen the gap!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it did, he hoped to finally distance himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wish rooted in ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abet Nekrapeto didn’t know—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Bjorn Yandel activated a transformation ability.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Due to the effect of [Primordial Cell], the soul power cost of this skill is halved, and the highest stat is increased by 1.5 times.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shield Barbarian was about 70% complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Bjorn Yandel cast [Soul Dive].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Soul power regenerates in proportion to the amount consumed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless MP drain is forced from outside, the [Giant Form] would never end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reacting to a chilling sensation behind him, Nekrapeto quickly turned—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character used [Aegis Dragon Armor].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive soul warrior appeared, ignoring perspective or distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...W-What skill has its cooldown reset already?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a skill but an item effect, so Nekrapeto had no knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aegis Dragon Armor was a ‘Secret Number’ not in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t have known that his summoned corpse horde rapidly rebuilt his stacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...I was trying to widen the gap because of that...!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a tank keep using such broken skills consecutively?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no time for complaints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diving off the summon, he dodged a giant axe falling like divine punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraaaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He barely dodged the axe, but his mount disappeared without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the Underworld’s field effect, it would slowly restore, but it would take hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch, thought I could break it this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His keen hearing caught the barbarian muttering far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snapping out of it, Nekrapeto got up and started running on his own feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat-tat-tat—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed something wrong after about five minutes of running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dodged the axe’s direct hit but didn’t avoid it completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My... leg...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One leg was fine, but his left leg barely moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced it, but pain crept up relentlessly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain worsened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, his speed slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nekrapeto didn’t look back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saving the time, he focused on running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the sounds behind grew ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how desperately he ran, the sounds neared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the sounds were right behind him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling like his hair was being yanked, his body lifted upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finally caught you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening his eyes, the barbarian appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if mocking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pssst.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughing aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chase was finally over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took just over an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Once this is over, I need to quickly get more movement skills.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the chase ended safely, I reflected on my shortcomings and planned improvements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, the lack of movement skills caused too many difficulties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even just [Leap] would’ve made this pursuit much easier—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha....”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought briefly, the other suddenly gave an awkward smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what about negotiations?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do these bastards always pull that crap when cornered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-But if we talk, maybe we can find a win-win solution—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s just die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my fist, ready to finally put the baby-like opponent to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I refuse to die like this...!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one whose hair was grabbed pulled out a dagger from the pocket dimension and slashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swwiiiiing—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the dagger didn’t aim for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of my skin, which couldn’t be scratched, he cut his own hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rolling like a breakfall, he distanced himself quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still looking for an escape, even now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like last time abandoning Vivian, the desire to live burned strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, no blame there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you wanted to live, you shouldn’t have done stupid things to die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised my hammer and brought it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraaaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rolled aside just in time to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expecting the dodge, I immediately kicked his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what’s this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He backflipped to evade the kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his injured leg, he was surprisingly nimble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just one good hit and it’s over...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing this, he resisted desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swung the hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraaaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another hammer slam, but no hits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn, he’s so damn hard to hit.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like trying to swat a fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not threatening but annoyingly hard to catch barehanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just need to land the finishing blow, but it keeps missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you just die already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting irritated, but the calmer you stay, the better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Hoo, hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even looking at a rolling stone, there’s something to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting aside irritation, I saw him, seemingly in a trance, dodging all my attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then a small realization struck me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason my attacks missed was mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He awakened all his senses to dodge each strike; what about me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did I use every bit of my effort?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ha, this calls for a mental attack.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept swinging my hammer at empty air and said what I thought would best disrupt his concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know, Abet Nekrapeto?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m actually an evil spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils flickered slightly, but he again bent backward to dodge the hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, that’s not enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was born and raised in Korea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly continued, not giving him time to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In Stone Eben, I used the nickname ‘Elfnuna.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a proper reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, Elfnuna was somewhat well-known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I pronounced it properly in English.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His focus wavered, and the hammer barely brushed past his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still dodging?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clown, Abet Nekrapeto.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I called out the name I used only at the round table, and his pupils dilated greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes seemed to say,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...How do you know that name?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, how else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grinning, I felt an inexplicable sense of liberation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A truth I wanted to tell him someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Masked Lion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!!!!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, what a relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his disbelief lifted a huge weight off my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Y-You are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped moving and asked me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Masked Lion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, I am the Masked Lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character cast [Swing].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now just die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a bug.\u003C\u002Fp>",1647,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.959Z",1,"novelbin.me","93c48b14235c1de070bb60002239a14ad93d787a52b7fbdfde8a4f3b609710f5","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-736","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-734",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]