[{"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-797":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},1328174,1764,"Chapter 797: Skull Island (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-797",797,"\u003Cp>In truth, the Skull King isn’t a boss that always spawns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one kill, on average, the labyrinth has to open about seven more times before it respawns—and during that interval, the cave entrance remains accessible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bare-minimum quality-of-life feature for players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, every attempt would’ve required hunting down a key, entering, and finding an empty boss room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? The tremors stopped!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vibrations that had flared up after killing the Skull King had quietly subsided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant the path to the next chapter had opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conditions to encounter the hidden boss are: the Cursed One must kill the Gravekeeper and then defeat the Skull King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drrrrrkk—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As combat ended, the previously sealed boss room entrance reopened, and the teammates waiting outside entered the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...It’s already over?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Barely three minutes passed...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of them could hide their disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, to be fair, the Skull King was infamous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There weren’t many teams out there who could take down a Tier-3 monster with just six people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant everyone here was a Tier-3 explorer or higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although, before the team-binding magic got upgraded, the requirement used to be five—so the current threshold is a bit more lenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So no Essence drop, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you can see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the chest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not yet. Time to look for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Treasure hunting was best done together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, treasure is what explorers live for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before moving to the next chapter, I joined the squad in searching for the treasure chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That, too, was a hidden piece of sorts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You only find it by combing the floor after killing the boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh...! Why do they have to hide it so well? Why not just hand it over!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps it’s Gavrilius’s design. Meant only for those destined to find it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh... that Gavrilius guy, he’s gotta have a really messed-up personality!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, this one’s pretty well-known. Anyone aiming to defeat the Skull King would know about it. The Golden Tree Clan outside probably knows too—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooh! Found it! I found it!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainard’s triumphant shouting made me a bit suspicious, but upon checking—it really was a treasure chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Feeling lucky today...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Ainard’s luck is absurdly good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of person whose plate always fills itself even when they’re barely trying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Different from Sven Parab, who’s secretly known as the “Golden Goblin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That guy’s lucky too, but in a tragic way. Like he’s always stuck in desperate situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjoooorn!! Can I open it? No—I'm opening it! Let me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled and nodded, and Ainard smashed the chest’s latch—no, guess I should say latch-bone?—with her fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowly opened the lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The item inside was small, far smaller than the size of the chest, and Raven quickly shoved Ainard aside to delicately lift and examine it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is extremely rare... If Gold-Ear finds out, he’ll be pissed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Aruru, what is that? A letter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, this is a charm-type item.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A charm slot item, shown as “Charm” in-game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things like Ainard’s No. 9999 Beginner’s Luck or the No. 1001 Alonso’s Travel Bag that I gave to Auyen—those belong in this slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooh! So this one’s a Numbers item too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It’s No. 444 – Deadrius’s Invitation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Triple numbers! Impressive! But uh... what does it actually do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainard tilted her head as she examined the wax-sealed envelope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing it was a Numbers item piqued her interest, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understandable. Charms are often like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’d never guess their effects just by looking at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you carry this, monsters classified as undead won’t attack you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh-huh, and?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh? Didn’t you just say it was extremely rare? Alonso’s bag sounds way more useful than this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha looked visibly disappointed upon hearing the effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can’t blame her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You don’t grasp the value of a one-liner like that until you’ve used it yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It really is rare. Unlike Alonso’s bag, this charm’s effect is absolute. If you’re holding it, undead won’t attack you—ever. Even if you attack them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, there’s a Rift on the 8th floor called Necropolis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s 99% undead. If a damage dealer equips this, they can clear it solo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even some Tier-1 monsters are undead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, that’s kinda amazing... Can I take a look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure. Just don’t break the wax seal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? What happens if I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...HIIIK!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven’s blunt, dry explanation made Misha instantly yank her hand back. I chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'She always knows only half the story.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, you don’t always die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you open the seal inside the labyrinth, you get dragged into a hidden field called Hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difficulty? Just assume returning alive is impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how well-built your character is, once you open it—you’re not coming back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless you open it at a very specific point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So who’s going to hold onto it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, well...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s definitely not something I should be carrying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanks in labyrinths are supposed to take hits, and an item like this should never be anywhere near them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought for a moment, then made my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Emily Raines, you carry it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To me, she seemed like the best option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She inspires more trust than anyone else here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s always something about the others that doesn’t feel quite solid, but she? She’ll never break the seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Snagging a triple-digit Numbers charm before even reaching the main dish? Not a bad omen.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or is it...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time something good happens, something bad seems to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nah. Probably not...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Though, given everything I’ve been through, I can’t just brush it off anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I should check just in case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Check what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Golden Tree Clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm... Didn’t they already leave? They probably never thought we’d fail anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what I think too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ainard, sorry, but you’ll have to wait a bit before we hunt that thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re heading back out to check, then we’ll re-enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next chapter after the Skull King isn’t accessed via portal. It’s just directly connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no door shutting behind it, like at the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning a second group could follow us in anytime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re heading out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t ignore the weird sense of unease I felt and retraced our steps to the cave’s entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front of the cave was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They really did leave without looking back...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Or they’re hiding and waiting.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it’s the second one, then we split again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they could just be planning to ambush and loot us—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that’s unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they managed to kill us all, how would they shut all those mouths?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Secrets leak. And someone like Gold-Ear couldn’t possibly handle the fallout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it bothers you that much, we could check the coastline. If they left by boat, there should be some trace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia suggested, but I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evidence can be faked, and we don’t have the skills to sniff out hidden enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re going back in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I returned to the cave in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I did nothing, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marone, Raven. Set detection spells at the chokepoints. I want to know the instant someone enters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think it’ll work? Their stealth is no joke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll work. Their stealth is all gear-based.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless they had the specific item, anyone entering this cave in a large group would trigger the spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because true stealth requires absolute stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long will it last?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Easily twelve hours. But I’m sure they’ll realize a detection spell is here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Figures...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doesn’t matter. Even if they disable it, we’ll know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I led the group quickly—not toward the boss room, but along the earlier passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nice that all the torches are lit now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And all the annoying mobs are gone too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But... when does my curse go away? I heard killing the Skull King removes it... Is this related to what we’re doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll explain later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wandering a while, we hit a dead end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven asked, but I said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the blocked wall was a long, straight corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Alright, this should work...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait here. Opening the path requires a bit of special prep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave the order, then walked up to the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pretending to inspect it, I ran my hand along the stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I covertly passed Raven a note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d scribbled it earlier behind my shield during our walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven scanned the note quickly, tucked it away, then gave me a subtle nod that only I could see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...So this is what it takes to open it? Got it. I’ll get started right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He got it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the strength of old-school players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’ve been through enough that words aren’t needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Raven, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel asked for a special spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooh? What kind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a secret. If Prnelin finds out, she’ll blab to the whole world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wh-what are you saying! I’m an honorable warrior with a tight-lipped reputation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re that curious, I’ll tell you later. You wouldn’t care anyway, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, true. If it’s gonna take a while, I’m gonna go eat jerky over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While everyone waited, Raven drew a magic circle on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, I pretended to keep inspecting the wall while checking with Marone about the status of the detection magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven finished the spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my signal, Raven poured mana into the circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light burst out, and the world shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the spell I’d asked for wasn’t some petty reveal-the-door incantation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Arua Raven has cast Tier-4 spatial magic: [Mass Teleportation].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mass Teleport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destination? A junction deep within the corridor that had extended behind the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why? Simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I believe—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if we can’t see them right now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behell—RAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s definitely a rat tailing us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has cast [Transcendence].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has cast [Giant Form].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the teleport ended, I enlarged myself until the narrow corridor was filled wall-to-wall with nothing but me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So cramped I could barely move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which also meant no one could slip past me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THOOM—! THOOM—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised my shield to block the path behind us and charged toward the dead end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t feel anything catch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No one was really there...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought crept in—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I’d just done something stupid again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn’t mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to be a fool who caught no rats than a genius who let them slip by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THOOM—! THOOM—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So no matter what, I kept charging with my shield raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THOOM—! THOOM—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, as I slammed into the wall—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) what I heard wasn’t a crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something getting crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thought so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Got you, you bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>",1809,"2026-06-05T19:33:19.606Z",1,"novelbin.me","a542893eb22f2b37a55ec1630df0f40ae97b7087de855462a7164530b6cb51a1","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-798","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-796",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]