Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 138



Episode 138: Awakening (1)

Dragon Slayer Regal Vagos.

The Dragon Man clan was cursed by a dragon after killing the ancient dragon of the clan that served as the tribal leader.

A bastard who disappeared after the incident but began his activities as a member of Orculis about 10 years ago by carrying out a terrorist attack on the sacred site of the fairies alone.

The main weapon is an Arch-made longsword nicknamed the Dragon Slayer Sword and the number confirmed so far is said to be a total of six…

‘Three grade 5s two grade 4s and one grade 3.’

If you only look at the known integers it is close to a typical gang stat test.

Since all of the skills are self-strengthening it is a class that has no compatibility as long as you provide the equipment.

Well this is information from 10 years ago so it may have changed to some extent but…

As expected the possibility of that happening is low.

How can a criminal bastard erase his essence?

‘So I guess I crawled all the way here just because of this one thing.’

For reference this is the verb I was most worried about. In other words it is said that the dragon race’s unique skills are sealed due to the ‘dragon’s curse’.

It was good news to hear.

To be honest I was really scared when I found out they were from the Yongin tribe.

“This is all I know.”

“Okay thank you. “It was of great help.”

After familiarizing myself with the enemy’s information through Rotmiller I calmly organized my thoughts.

Oh of course while running towards the destination.

Ta-da-da-da-!

First of all dragon slayer Regal Vagos.

It was an unexpected giant.

If it weren’t for the ‘Guardian of Balance’ his head would have been cut off before he even realized it was a gem.

Ta-da-da-da-!

I check the time feeling somewhat cold.

[08:57]

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About three hours had passed since I encountered him.

In other words the game of tag begins in 9 hours.

Of course this is assuming that he keeps his promise but anyway.

‘Twelve hours….’

This is something I regret not being able to do.

My confident attitude accompanied by the warrior’s oath.

Accordingly he also agreed to the deal out of caution or with the thought that he would get his money back at a loss.

but….

‘If it weren’t for that damn ring he might have been cool and waited another day.’

24 hours and 12 hours are very different.

It would have been time to pack the necessary supplies and take a break at the end.

‘Well nothing comes easy.’

A sigh comes out of his mouth but he gathers all his will.

Goblin trap psychopath blood castle witch’s forest hierarchy lord etc.

Recalling the hopeless past and erasing distracting thoughts

Only one goal is engraved in its place.

Survive.

Everyone together if possible.

certainly.

“Bjorn has arrived.”

When the thoughts reached that point Rotmiller stopped walking.

Before I knew it there was a dead end road ahead.

The corner point at 11 o’clock closest to where the boss room was.

Simply put this is the location of the second mid-boss.

Click click click.

As Lot Miller operates his mechanism the wall pushes aside revealing a hidden space.

Grumbling.

As he stepped in the stone room lit up with a torch.

There was only one difference from the 7 o’clock corner where ‘Baphomet’ appeared.

“Ugh I think it would be better then and there.”

A stone chamber filled with mountains of corpses with their eyes removed instead of their heads.

I walked through the stench and dropped a drop of blood on the magic circle.

“The demon in the labyrinth senses blood.”

Okay first of all I got one.

***

“Argos has been defeated. EXP +5」

「Bonus for killing high-ranking mutants. EXP +1」

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***

In Larkaz’s maze there are many hidden spaces in addition to the mid-boss room.

Each reward is different.

One-time consumables may be hidden or rare monsters may appear.

Well there are other things I need.

‘Is this a failure again?’

After defeating ‘Argos’ we searched the area and focused on finding hidden rooms.

Not only was there not enough time to go catch another mid-boss…

For my plan I need to find ‘that room’.

‘Well I’m still finding it pretty well.’

With Rotmiller in the lead I decided to look for hidden rooms and found them once every two hours.

This was thanks to the sixth sense stat that went up significantly when the dragon slayer party entered. Rottmiller found something that he had previously passed by without notice like a ghost.

The problem is that the room I want hasn’t appeared yet.

[05:30]

As time passed the 12 hours I had promised with him were coming to an end.

“Stop for a moment. “I feel something strange.”

Rotmiller stopped the group and searched the surrounding walls to find a hidden room.

Slurp.

A three to four pyeong stone room with no monsters or hidden treasures.

After only checking the inside I closed the stone chamber.

‘I found it.’

Finally the first pieces of the plan were assembled.

Therefore I stopped my group and took a break.

“Everyone take a break. “I will be on watch.”

“Take a break? “What on earth is this room?”

“If I survive I will explain everything. So just follow what I say.”

“…I understand.”

Even the dwarf gave up his doubts at my firm voice.

No rather than throwing away doubts it would be closer to deciding to trust me and not ask questions for now.

“after….”

As my tired colleagues closed their eyes I let out a long breath.

Even though other kids are like that the thought of yelling at Rottmiller already gives me a headache.

Starting from dropping a drop of blood on the magic circle to summon the mid-boss to this moment. There were too many parts that I couldn’t understand just because I read it in a book.

‘Anyway I’ll think about this later…’

I take another long breath and erase my worries about the future.

You’re just fooling around something will work out.

Yes if only I could return alive.

I decided to focus only on this moment and organized my thoughts one last time.

[I heard there seems to be a portal in the center? Are you not going there?]

The reason I didn’t head to the portal is simple.

He’ll be there for 12 hours anyway.

If you think you’ll just go and run away even the 12 hours you gained will be useless.

I decided that it would be better to prepare at that time.

but….

‘He must have set out to find us soon.’

Now the promised 12 hours are over.

Fortunately the first preparations were completed on time and thanks to that I was able to get some rest until he arrived.

But the situation is still grim.

‘The success rate is less than 10%.’

This is the only possibility I can think of calmly.

That’s because only six of his essences are known. Two or three mysterious essences remain as variables and the biggest obstacle the High Priestess of Karui remains the same.

Therefore…

Wow.

He took out a brilliantly red jewel and placed it in his hand.

He swallowed it and took it hostage but as soon as it was safe he used [Giantization] to spit it out.

It is the final reward of the Larkaz Maze and the very item that the worst criminal known as the Dragon Slayer has been desperately looking for.

‘Restrained hope.’

If possible I didn’t want to write it now.

This item must be applied to level 4 Guardian Essence for maximum effectiveness.

However it is something that cannot be used when you die anyway.

‘I guess I have no choice but to use it.’

I made a decision.

I also don’t know how things will progress in the future.

And this item cannot be used except now.

“….”

This time of silence like the calm before the storm will soon come to an end.

It is better to prepare in advance if possible.

Even if I wanted to write it then I wouldn’t have time.

‘It’s a bit of a waste but…’

Put strength into his hands.

Kwasik-!

A jewel that splits and emits brilliant red light.

When I soon came to my senses.

“The character used ‘moderate wish.’”

“The character moves to the Room of Balance.”

I was standing in an unfamiliar space.

***

Grumble-!

A flame rises and lights up the space.

I took a step forward and looked around.

Trudging.

A stone room reminiscent of a tower in the sky.

The flames floating in the air flicker brightly illuminating the three stone gates at the edge.

‘It’s fascinating.’

In reality it was like this.

In the game all you had to do was use the keyboard to choose what to choose.

“Select the water purifier you wish to replace.”

I closely observed the unique murals painted on each stone gate. Although it wasn’t colored it wasn’t difficult to recognize.

Trudging.

A terrible monster with rotten arms and legs moving tightly together.

‘This must be a corpse golem.’

Something human-shaped with sharp fangs and sharp nails with red eye glow expressed in red-hot jewels.

‘This is a vampire.’

A muscular warrior shouting a battle cry behind a huge flag.

‘This must be an Orc hero.’

Each statement represented the three essences I had absorbed so far. There were no instructions but it was clear what to do.

If you open the desired door the corresponding essence will be replaced.

Because ‘Restrained Hope’ is such an item.

A gacha-type item that changes essence of grade 4 or lower into a random essence of the same level.

Trudging.

Without hesitation I headed toward one of the doors.

Well I’ve already decided what to choose.

‘Orc Hero.’

Of course this is not the case.

Even though it is grade 5 it is a core essence that is also included in my final combination.

‘Corpse golem.’

Pain tolerance was surprisingly useful but if you look at the ability alone it doesn’t really help me much.

So I was saving it to erase it later when the number was full.

But this one also passes.

Why would you do such a wasteful thing by applying ‘Restrained Wish’ to a grade 7 essence?

‘Vampire.’

Soon I stood in front of the stone gate with the image of the monster drawn on it and stretched out my hand in front of it.

Skill set and abilities suitable for a tank.

In addition since it was obtained by defeating the Rift Guardian it is a rare essence with all three skills attached.

Because there is a hidden element in ‘moderate wish’.

“I chose the essence of a vampire.”

“It is the essence of the guardian.”

“The level of selectable essences increases.”

When you sacrifice the guardian’s essence the grade of the essence you can choose increases.

Simply put it is possible to obtain a grade 3 essence by offering the essence of a grade 4 guardian.

‘Maybe that bastard is in this case. ‘Seeing as I came all the way here just because of this one thing.’

I was like that too when I was playing games.

When I consumed the Guardian Essence which was of a high grade but did not suit my character I went to Larkaz’s Maze and aimed for the gacha.

But a level 5 guardian. I never thought I would use this item as a useful essence for me.

“Whoa….”

I tried to erase my regrets and went beyond the open door.

Before I could take a few steps the straight passage ended flames ignited and three stone gates appeared.

Grumble!

As an item with the concept of balance each of the three stone gates had a physical and mental supernatural type monster drawn on them.

Up to this point it was no different from the general case.

But what on earth is this?

“It is an essence that no one currently possesses.”

“The Guardian of Balance recognizes scarcity and presents new options that fit the value.”

As I was looking at the mural I froze.

First of all this was the first option.

A skeleton wizard holding a staff in one hand and a box containing a red jewel in the other.

Level 4 Monster Lich.

A typical ‘otherworldly’ monster that possesses a passive skill called [Soul Chest] and several destructive active skills.

There is no problem up to this point.

I just don’t understand the jewel on the door.

‘…Rainbow colors?’

Previously the corpse golem had a black jewel and the orc hero had a green jewel. So I thought this meant the color of essence.

But rainbow colors?

Isn’t it the same color as the jewel embedded on the door of the vampire who was the guardian essence?

‘Then the true guardian’s essence has appeared?’

I quickly checked the remaining doors.

A grade 4 monster soul colossus.

A spirit monster with no stats such as strength or agility but with poor mental stats.

Likewise the color of the gem signified a guardian.

Of course I could have passed this point because it was just luck.

Although it’s very rare Guardian Essence does appear as an option.

but….

‘This can’t be a coincidence.’

The last option given to me.

After confirming that it was a body-type monster I accepted it.

This is by no means something like ‘luck’. It’s just that there are still elements in this game that I don’t know about.

Grumble-!

The gem reflected in the flickering flame was red.

In other words it is not the essence of the guardian.

But what does it matter in the current situation?

Trudging.

I walked towards the door like a man possessed.

It’s hard to believe but the mural on the door meant only one thing.

Trudging.

Level 3 monster.

It’s also a boss-level monster that acts alone.

To put it simply this is a monster that can only be defeated through a raid made up of level 3 and 4 explorers.

This is the monster that boasts the best specs among ground monsters in terms of hand-to-hand combat ability.

‘Ogre.’

I opened the door without hesitation.

hallelujah.