[{"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-795":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},1328172,1764,"Chapter 795: Skull Island (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-795",795,"\u003Cp>The hidden piece of Skull Island is absurdly simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As you continue wandering around the map and hunting, there’s a very small chance you’ll encounter a monster called the “Key Keeper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s basically a kind of mini-boss, though not particularly strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officially, it’s rated as a Grade-4 monster, but it’s right on the edge—combat-wise, it’s closer to high-end Grade-5.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, once you cast a [Distortion] spell on it and ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ kill it, you obtain a “Key” that can open the central cave on the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If you clear everything and push through to the end, you reach the boss room.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature known as the boss of Skull Island has a fairly high difficulty rating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s only a Grade-3 monster, but only one team can enter the boss room at a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Large-scale raids are impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And its patterns are tricky too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the early days, Ghost Busters sold information about Skull Island, and that information? It was exactly how to clear the boss fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I wonder if that woman pulled it off...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that I think about it, I never saw her username again after that—either on the forum or in the Q&A board, even up until Ghost Busters shut down...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, not something I should be focusing on right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, are you sure about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? Sure about what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This situation. You were so confident we’d enter the cave first... but we haven’t even seen the Key Keeper yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, it’s a little disappointing that not a single one has shown up in two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just wait. We’ll be the first ones in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never intended to go about this the regular way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on—what were the chances of twelve people beating ninety to the key by just wandering around the island?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The source of my confidence came from somewhere else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This island has a guaranteed way to get the key—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew, finally found it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable luck, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took two days of nearly clearing the whole map before it showed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was so late I was actually starting to get nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, the other side didn’t seem to have much better luck. They still hadn’t opened the cave either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch, crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stepped forward, my feet grinding against the shards of bone that made up the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A defining trait of Skull Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the surface is littered with every kind of bone—human, monster, doesn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the important thing is...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'There’s one special skull hidden among them.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally approached the skull I’d been searching for and stared down at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More boulder than skull, really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that size wasn’t anything unusual on this island, so it didn’t stand out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Two horns and a square jaw.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the features, I raised my hammer—when Raven spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This skull... I think it’s the Key Keeper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? Doesn’t look like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it does. I’ve actually got an anatomical diagram on me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why the hell do you have that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did some research when I heard we might be heading to Skull Island. Here, look! Don’t you see the resemblance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yeah, it’s an exact match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just similar—identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe some other explorers used [Distortion] and killed it, then left the corpse behind? The Ocean isn’t like other floors—the Labyrinth doesn’t reset each time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm... maybe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 6th floor doesn’t reset, so it’s possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then shouldn’t there be multiple of these skulls lying around?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is there always just one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spark of genuine curiosity stirred in me—explorer instincts kicking in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not my problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I brushed it off with the mindset of a player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mean, come on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamers don’t try to understand mechanics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They just exploit them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like I’m doing now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing that matters to me is one thing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That destroying a particular skull near the island’s center gives you the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beleg. Lead the way back to the cave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once we had the key, we quickly moved toward the island’s center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we walked, I couldn’t stop grinning. Raven eventually asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with the smirk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was just wondering what kind of face that “Gold Ghost” bastard would make when I showed up with the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When we arrived at the cave entrance, it was empty except for one team who looked like they were standing guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tilted their heads when they spotted us but quickly grew visibly flustered as we approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D-Did you... perhaps obtain the key?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what if I did?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-Wait! Could you wait just a moment, please?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I looked like I was about to open the cave and head inside, they desperately tried to stop me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected as much—but still scowled as if I didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should I wait? Looks to me like you don’t have the key, but I do. So that gives us the right to enter first. That was the agreement, wasn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, you’re absolutely right. You’re completely right. But... please, just a moment! Just a moment of your time—would you speak with our clan leader?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... I’ll give you ten minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...? Ten minutes, you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no! Of course not! Thank you for the opportunity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment our talk ended, the quickest-looking member of the team bolted off somewhere—and before long, the “Gold Ghost” arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total time elapsed: about eight minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'So he wasn’t hunting at all. Just hanging around nearby managing people, huh.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not my place to judge leadership styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But personally, I prefer leading from the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew... I’ve been filled in. Thank you for waiting. I heard you obtained the key?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what if I did? You planning to stop me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My tone was sharp, almost accusatory—but the Gold Ghost just waved his hands and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. I just wanted to make you a proposal. I’m already grateful that you’d even hear me out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a clown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t even agreed to listen yet, and he was already thanking me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Spit it out. Time is ticking. And as you know, time is money in the Labyrinth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Since you’re being direct, I’ll get to the point as well. Name your price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’re trying to buy the key?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, we obtained our own about thirty minutes ago. We don’t need the key—just the right to challenge first. Naturally, if we fail, you’ll be next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it because they call him the “Gold Ghost”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment things don’t go his way, he pulls out his wallet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you and I both know how this works. Whoever goes in first is going to succeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which is why I’m asking. Name your price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you keep telling me to name a price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You need to—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I say 10 billion Stones, would you pay it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See? Speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s cut the crap. Just tell me the maximum amount you’re actually willing to pay. I’m not here to haggle. I hate tedious bullshit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...How about 400 million Stones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could sell the boss’s Essence alone for 500 million.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there’s no guarantee we’ll get the Essence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn’t pay that much to go in first either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Essence doesn’t drop, it’s a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Still... it really does feel like he offered his absolute max.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While we talked, word must have spread. Teams from all over the island started converging on our location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what’s your answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pretended to consider it, then replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll accept the offer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, a wise—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On one condition. Hand over Avman Urikfrit to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gold Ghost’s expression immediately shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his ever-smiling poker face to the look of a hunter who just spotted prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you two are closer than I thought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People you can trust in the Labyrinth are rare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha. You’re not wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So? Your answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I decline. As you said—people you can trust are rare in the Labyrinth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trust?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same guy who stood by while Bear Guy got treated like trash in his clan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to clock that smug face, but I held back. I’m a civilized modern man, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t done talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And a man like Urikfrit, willing to sacrifice himself for the group, is even rarer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You bastard...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a threat, wasn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He plans to keep pushing Bear Guy into dangerous missions and treating him like dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With superhuman patience, I held back one more time and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Forget the money—just hand over Avman, and we’ll give up the cave—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, but that’s not possible either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given the amount he owes, that would cost more than 400 million. The tail’s bigger than the body, you see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much did he borrow, for it to outweigh a 400 million Stone deal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea—but the negotiations ended there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we’ll pay the difference—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. We’re not breaking our contract with Urikfrit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, please. Go on in, Viscount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his back on me, no hesitation, like he was even pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Open the cave before the Golden Tree Clan.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main quest was a success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Extract Bear Guy from that scumbag clan.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...the subquest was a failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entrance to the cave was made from massive bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Felt like something you’d see at a Jurassic Park–themed amusement park.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You walk straight into a gaping skull, where a single iron door awaits—complete with a keyhole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I inserted the key and turned it clockwise, an eerie, overpowering roar echoed across the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing? Get in already!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I looked into the open cave, I glanced back—just enough to catch sight of that Gold Ghost bastard watching from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Was he smiling?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously, what a piece of work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have no idea what he’s thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh... Right. Focus on the main quest first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, yeah. I’m going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing the vague sense of unease building in my gut, I stepped into the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entrance slammed shut behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>",1690,"2026-06-05T19:33:19.606Z",1,"novelbin.me","2998c447860e405040559e53467db390c852c127f4b5c3d49d1b38829ce5acff","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-796","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-794",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]