"No...!"
That was the swordsman's last will and testament.
Amelia ignored him and stomped on his head, crushing it like a watermelon.
Squish.
It was a bit anticlimactic.
He had struggled so fiercely, only to end up like this.
"Barbarian."
Amelia turned her attention to me.
"You're badly injured."
What the hell is she talking about?
"You're missing an arm."
"I didn't have time."
Why is she talking about time?
Is this even a normal conversation?
As I was wondering...
"I didn't expect you to still have this."
Amelia rummaged through the swordsman's body and pulled out a severed arm from his subspace pocket.
What the hell is that doing in there?
I frowned, but Amelia calmly placed the arm on the stump.
'Wait, that's not going to...'
"It will take another day for the nerves to fully recover."
'...It's reattaching?'
She just pressed it against the stump for about 10 seconds, and it reattached as if glued. It seemed like it was his arm, judging by the perfect fit.
'She said she couldn't use potions.'
I recalled our previous conversation.
[...You didn't use a potion?]
[I can't.]
Our brief exchange in the sewers.
'She must have absorbed that essence.'
[Fountain of Immortality].
It nullified all healing effects, including potions, but it greatly increased natural regeneration. Even severed limbs would reattach over time, so it was a cost-effective essence—
"Bjorn! Are you okay?! Why are you so injured...?"
Ah, right, now's not the time for this.
I snapped out of my thoughts and pushed myself off the ground. I was dying to know what had happened to Misha...
But that could wait.
"I'm fine. Just help me up."
"Okay, come here!"
I walked towards my companions, supported by Ainar. Everyone was gathered in one place.
"Misha... I'm so glad you're okay. Yandel was really worried..."
"Ah, sorry for being late. Something came up. But who's that lying over there...?"
Misha saw the man lying on the ground and gasped.
"Avman?! Is, is he dead...?"
"..."
Raven didn't answer.
She just stared at the ground with a sad expression.
I let go of Ainar's arm, and Misha rushed over to check Avman's breathing.
"He's... not breathing..."
Misha looked at me with wide eyes and then checked his pulse.
And...
"There's no pulse either. Then, he really..."
She couldn't finish her sentence and lowered her head.
Seeing that...
"...Yes."
Raven bit her lip, as if she was about to cry, and confirmed it.
This was ridiculous.
'Yes? He's clearly alive.'
Ugh, this is going to be the death of me.
"Why are you saying he's dead when he's clearly alive?"
I walked towards Avman, my body aching, and showed them his wrist.
No. 7611 'Deceiver of the Necromancer'.
The item that put you in a state of suspended animation and granted temporary damage immunity when you received a fatal blow.
"It seems like it worked."
Only one of the jewels on the bracelet was glowing.
But Raven didn't know about this item?
"What? What do you mean...?"
I didn't have the energy to explain, so I just opened a potion and poured it on Avman.
Sizzle.
The dried blood started bubbling.
It meant he was still alive.
A potion wouldn't react to a dead body.
"Ersina, heal him."
"Ah, ah... Yes! I'll do it right away!"
Avman's wounds started to heal quickly after receiving the potion and the priestess' healing.
Phew, he'll be fine now.
I was glad we arrived before the item's effect ended.
And that I was still conscious. If I had passed out, they would have thought he was dead and cried over his body.
"Mister, you should also get treated..."
Erwen approached me, but...
"Ah."
Right, I also need healing.
"Huh?"
As I tried to move, the world tilted.
Thud!
That was my last memory.
___________________
When I woke up, it was dark.
Tall trees and dark blue leaves. A small patch of night sky was visible through them.
Crackle, crackle, tick!
The sound of a campfire.
I felt a strange sense of comfort and wanted to stay there a little longer.
But...
'I have to figure out what's going on.'
I pushed myself up and sat up.
My entire body ached, from my shoulders to my waist and calves.
It was a different kind of pain thanks to Pain Resistance.
"Phew."
I let out a deep breath.
Did that wake her up?
A fairy peeked out from the sleeping bag next to me, rubbing her eyes.
"...Mister! You're awake!"
It was Erwen.
"Are you okay?"
"...For now."
I answered and looked around.
There were several sleeping bags, and everyone seemed to be asleep.
'We must be camping.'
I looked around and saw monsters blocked by a translucent barrier.
The effect of [Declaration of Evil's End].
Ah, of course, there was someone keeping watch.
"You're finally awake."
Amelia Rainwales.
I still didn't know if she was an enemy or an ally, but we had met several times by chance.
"...What happened?"
"You passed out, and it's been about a day. That's all."
Hmm, I don't think I asked how much time had passed.
"I meant, tell me everything I need to know. Why were you with Misha, why did your companion betray you, and anything else."
"I see."
Amelia nodded and answered after I explained my question in simpler terms.
"Ask your companion."
Damn, she's being prickly.
"Erwen, tell me."
I turned to Erwen and listened to her story.
"I don't even know where to start... I guess I'll start from when you collapsed."
After I passed out, things were chaotic.
They couldn't heal me or Avman.
Avman was afflicted with the drake's skill, so he couldn't be healed, and I was poisoned by the swordsman's blade.
[He'll die if we don't do something.]
[What? Use magic!]
[Antitoxin magic is versatile, but it's not specialized. It won't work.]
[Then what about divine power?]
[It's a powerful poison. I don't have enough divine power to dispel it.]
[Bjorn won't die here! Heal him!]
Antitoxin magic was useless.
And the priestess was out of divine power.
That's when Amelia stepped in.
[Use this. It should be an antidote.]
Amelia found an antidote in the swordsman's bag and gave it to us. And that neutralized the poison.
"Fortunately, the antidote worked, and after that, the potion started to heal him."
So my health issue was resolved.
But things weren't easy after that. Monsters were still swarming, and everyone was exhausted.
And they had to take care of me and Avman, who were unconscious.
"But thanks to her... we were able to hold out until the priestess could cast [Declaration of Evil's End] again."
"And that's now."
"No, this is our third break."
Erwen said that the atmosphere was tense when they first cast the barrier.
Because of Partslan and Amelia.
[We had to join forces, but she's a looter from Noark. We can't trust her. She's the one who attacked us in the first place.]
[W, what?! She's from Noark...?!!]
[You didn't know? You're lucky.]
Partslan didn't hide his hostility towards Amelia, and she felt the same way.
She didn't initiate the conflict, but...
[You talk too much. Try me if you want.]
She didn't back down, fueling the tension.
And as killing intent filled the barrier...
[Stop it! Even if we didn't know she was from Noark... she's not a bad person!]
Misha defended Amelia.
[What are you going to do if she's gone? Partslan, think rationally. She was betrayed by her companions too, right? She won't attack us with only two people left. If she wanted to, she would have done it already.]
Raven tried to mediate, appealing to logic.
But the two of them didn't listen.
[You're saying we should forget about our grudge because the situation has changed? She not only injured Drowus, but she also sent assassins after us. We would have died if we hadn't been careful.]
[It's a shame you didn't. I wouldn't have to listen to your whining.]
[What did you say, you bitch...!]
Partslan drew his backup sword, and Amelia also drew her dagger.
But...
[Yes. You made the right choice, Partslan.]
Partslan didn't attack.
He wasn't that close to the archer, but he wasn't stupid.
[I'll be watching you. Don't try anything funny.]
After that, we had an uncomfortable break.
We fought monsters when the barrier was deactivated, and rested when [Declaration of Evil's End] was on cooldown.
Avman woke up during our second break.
[Haha... Let's keep this a secret from my wife. She'll make me quit being an explorer.]
As soon as he woke up, he was worried about his wife, but he quickly recovered and rejoined the fight.
And...
"The monsters changed after that."
The third wave had started while I was unconscious.
The mid-boss was a 4th-grade monster.
There were a few close calls, like when the priestess was knocked unconscious by the boss, but Amelia carried the team with her DPS.
"What about the essence?"
"It didn't drop."
Damn it.
So now only the last boss is left?
I hope he drops an essence.
'Wait, should I even be worried about that? Can we even defeat him?'
I suddenly felt anxious, but I finished listening to Erwen's story.
It wasn't that interesting.
They fought, rested, and Partslan and Amelia had a staring contest.
"So that's what happened."
"Did I answer all your questions?"
Mostly.
"Thank you. Get some rest, you must be tired."
"...No, I'll stay here."
Hmm, she doesn't have to...
But it would be weird for me to tell her to leave.
"But mister, should we wake her up?"
"Misha? No, she's fine. Why would we wake her up when she's sleeping peacefully? Let her sleep."
No one had woken up while we were talking.
They must be exhausted from the battles.
We can talk later.
"By the way, Amelia."
I got out of my sleeping bag and sat down by the campfire.
And I thanked her.
"Thank you for helping me yesterday."
"You're being unusually polite. Just ask your question."
Hey, even barbarians can be polite sometimes.
Anyway, I got straight to the point.
"What happened between you and Misha?"
"Didn't you hear from the fairy?"
"I want to hear it from you."
"...Tsk."
Amelia clicked her tongue, but she told me what happened.
How she was betrayed by Carmilla and Belverson.
How she met Misha and received her help.
I was surprised by one part.
"What? She had a [Declaration of Evil's End] scroll? That's a rare item."
Divine scrolls haven't been made for a long time since the crafting method was lost.
They were valuable treasures.
Where did she get it...
'Oh, she must have looted it.'
"Ahem, sorry for interrupting. Continue."
"You look annoyed."
"It's your imagination."
Anyway, thanks to the [Declaration of Evil's End] scroll, Amelia and Misha were able to survive the monster wave.
And after that, Amelia recovered enough to move.
"But I still don't understand. How did you two get here through all those monsters?"
"...There's an essence. It prevents monsters from attacking first."
Ah, she absorbed that essence.
But why?
She could have just brought a priestess...
'Oh, there are no priests in Noark.'
And she was a looter.
That essence would have been very useful for solo exploration.
"So that's all you're curious about?"
"No, there's more."
"Go ahead."
"Do you know why this island is like this?"
Who triggered the event on this island?
I asked indirectly, and Amelia gave me the answer.
"Carmilla and Belverson. They touched Gavrilius' Arrangement. They thought they had to trap me here and kill me after I escaped."
Hmm, so that's what happened.
Maybe one of those two was a player.
Gavrilius' Arrangement refers to a hidden piece.
But the hidden piece on this island was something very few players knew about.
"Did you hear that from the summoner?"
"Yes."
"What happened to her?"
"I don't forgive traitors."
She killed her.
'Ugh, why did she kill her?'
That summoner could control a rare flying summon.
We could have used her to escape the island.
'Well, it's no use crying over spilled milk.'
I didn't want to ruin our relationship by criticizing her.
"Anyway, so you found the item?"
"..."
Amelia didn't answer.
She seemed to be debating whether to tell me or not.
I spoke softly.
"Come on, there's nothing to hide between us."
"Between us...?"
"I'm practically your lifesaver, aren't I?"
"What do you mean...?"
"Do you think Misha would have saved you if she didn't know me?"
"..."
Amelia didn't object.
She seemed to agree.
She just clicked her tongue and answered my question.
"I recovered it. They said it was hidden, but it was in their subspace pocket."
"I knew it. Those bastards wouldn't leave a treasure lying around."
"So that's all you're curious about?"
No, of course not.
"One more thing."
I asked my last question.
"What is that item? I heard it's powerful enough to change history—"
"Stop."
Amelia cut me off.
Damn, was that a sensitive topic?
"Don't ask. I was just curious!"
I hurriedly explained that I didn't mean anything by it, seeing her frown.
But maybe I had misunderstood?
"Monster."
Amelia muttered something strange, staring into space.
...Monster?
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A strong wind suddenly swept through the forest, shaking the trees.
Then I understood what she meant.
Damn it, I wanted to rest a little longer.
"There's a powerful monster nearby. Wake up your companions."
The last wave had begun.
-x-X-x-
The hidden piece on Parune Island, 'Wrath of the Sea'.
The difficulty of this event, triggered by destroying the 'offering' in the center of the island with less than 20 people present, is determined by the number of participants.
5-9 people: Increased number of normal monsters.
10-14 people: An additional fourth wave and a final boss appear.
15-19 people: Some of the final boss's penalties are removed.
'I didn't expect to be raiding a 3rd-grade monster in this unprepared state.'
I couldn't help but sigh.
My original target was the third wave's boss.
The fourth wave wouldn't even start if we had six people.
I wanted to farm magic stones and essences from the trash mobs, and maybe even get a 4th-grade essence for Misha or Erwen.
But nothing went according to plan.
'Why is my life always like this?'
Not only did the event start at the highest difficulty, but our numbers had dwindled to ten for the final wave.
And the Elprott essence, my original goal, didn't even drop.
Well, if the final boss dropped an essence, that would be a minor issue...
'But we probably won't be able to defeat him.'
Survival was our priority now, not loot.
That's what 3rd-grade monsters are in this game.
Even seasoned 6th-floor explorers would have a hard time defeating it with ten people who had never even fought together before.
'Well, we have no choice but to try.'
I got up.
"The divine power will soon be depleted."
The priestess spoke up.
"How much time is left?"
"Ten minutes."
Ten minutes...
I nodded and looked around.
Partslan and Amelia were talking in the distance.
"A 3rd-grade monster? Are you sure?"
"Whether you believe it or not, it's true."
"You're talking like you saw it yourself? [Danger Detection] isn't that accurate. It conveys information through senses, so it's often exaggerated or minimized—"
It was a pointless conversation.
I ignored them and approached one person.
"Bjorn..."
Misha Kaltstein.
My companion who had been with me the longest in the labyrinth...
'I can't call her my lover anymore.'
I smiled bitterly and spoke.
"Are you okay?"
"Shouldn't you be the one asking that...?"
"I'm fine. A bit stiff, but that's probably because I slept for so long."
I talked to Misha for a while.
It wasn't about sharing my secret plans.
I hadn't had a proper conversation with her yet.
We reunited after I passed out, and then the last wave started, so there was no time.
"I was worried."
"I'm sorry... I couldn't leave her behind. She seemed to know you..."
"You should have just told her you wouldn't worry me next time."
"Okay, I won't."
Okay, then that's settled.
What should we talk about now?
"Anyway, I'm glad everyone is okay. I was really worried. I had a bad feeling..."
"A bad feeling?"
"...Never mind. I guess I was just anxious because I was alone without you guys."
Well, that's how humans are.
Negative thoughts are always more vivid.
"...Are we just going to sit here?"
Why not?
The priestess is just sitting there praying.
And Avman is writing a letter.
Did he almost die and come back to life?
As soon as he heard about the 3rd-grade monster, he started thinking about things he hadn't said to his wife.
"Avman! What are you doing?! You can tell her about the baby's name in person!"
"Just tell me what you think. What's a good name for a girl? You're... ahem, a woman, right?"
What the hell? He's writing a letter about the baby's name?
Damn it, stop giving me anxiety.
"...This feels like that time."
"Ah, when we were trapped on the 1st floor?"
"Yeah. It was like this back then."
Like that time?
This is nothing compared to back then.
Raven even left a will, just in case we couldn't return.
Ah, it was mostly about her assets.
"By the way, Bjorn, you're the same."
"You mean I didn't leave a will?"
"Yeah."
I chuckled.
I don't have anyone to leave a will to. And even if I did, I wouldn't want to reveal my identity if I died.
It would be a better memory for them.
"But Misha, you didn't leave a will either."
"Well, that's true, but..."
Misha trailed off.
She seemed to want to say something to me, so I cut her off.
"Let's not talk about depressing things. We all survived back then, didn't we? We'll be fine this time too."
"...Yeah. I trust you."
We then talked about everyday things.
And after some time...
"Barbarian."
Amelia called me.
"It's time."
Peaceful moments always pass by quickly.
"Haha, a 3rd-grade monster! I'm excited!"
Ainar was holding her sword, which she had been sharpening during our break.
"Ainar! Are you really excited right now? We might all die!"
Raven scolded her.
"Alright, alright, stop fighting. Here, take this."
Avman handed out letters to his companions.
"May the light shine upon our path."
The priestess finished her long prayer and stood up.
"Misha."
"Yeah."
I sent Misha back to her spot and stood at the front of the formation, gripping my mace and shield.
The barrier that had been protecting us shattered.
「[Declaration of Evil's End] is deactivated.」
Time to roll the dice.
___________________
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak!]
As soon as [Declaration of Evil's End] was deactivated, the monsters waiting outside the barrier charged towards us. Raven immediately chanted the activation phrase for the magic circle she had prepared beforehand.
"Swaartum Ebehel!"
Military magic that was forbidden to ordinary mages because of its high lethality.
「Arrua Raven has cast the 4th-grade attack spell [Collapse].」
The magic circle glowed, and red targets appeared on the vital points of the hundred or so monsters charging towards us.
And about two seconds later...
Crackle!
They exploded from the inside out. A horde of 6th-grade monsters was wiped out by a single spell.
Of course, it wasn't without a cost.
"...I need to rest for a bit."
Raven had used most of her mana for that one spell.
Her role was to conserve mana and recover MP until the final boss arrived.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
So the rest was up to us.
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak!]
Even though the main force had been wiped out, monsters were still appearing from everywhere.
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
I activated [Gigantification] and focused on tanking so that my companions could deal damage freely.
We had enough firepower to deal with trash mobs.
Whiiiiiish!
Thud!
Kaboom!
Our three ranged attackers, Erwen, Nebarche, and Avman, unleashed their attacks.
「Ainar Frenelin has defeated an enemy.」
「[Devour] is activated, and Soul Power is recovered.」
Ainar, the berserker, was in her element against weak enemies.
Partslan, the 4th-grade explorer, was also pulling his weight, and Misha was using her speed to take down enemies who tried to attack the backline.
And...
'She's really good.'
Amelia was the most impressive.
She had refused my position assignment, saying she would handle things herself...
Slash!
She was living up to her words.
Over ten monsters had already been killed by her dagger.
And if we counted the ones killed by her clone, it would be 1.5 times higher.
I was a bit concerned.
"Shouldn't you conserve your strength?"
I was worried about her mana.
Aura, the symbol of knights, consumed a lot of mana. If she used it too much, she might not be able to use it when we fought the boss.
But...
"I know my own limits. Stop giving me advice."
"...If you say so."
What could I say?
And she would probably know how to manage her mana.
She had much more experience than me.
'Let's just focus on my job.'
I focused on blocking the incoming monsters with my shield. I occasionally swung my mace, but only to push them back.
I had to conserve MP.
If I didn't use [Swing], it took about ten hits to kill them.
"The monsters are thinning out."
As we gathered magic stones, the number of monsters gradually decreased.
"Maybe the priestess' prayer worked!"
Everyone was relieved, but I was calm.
I knew those were just the leftovers from the third wave.
There were no trash mobs in the fourth wave.
Well, it made sense.
It would be impossible to defeat the 3rd-grade boss if there were also trash mobs swarming around.
"Let's finish them off!"
The good news boosted our morale.
And...
"It seems like there are no more left."
We finally cleared the trash mobs.
We quickly gathered the magic stones and reorganized our formation, then took a short break.
And about 10 minutes later...
"He's here."
No one asked where.
Amelia's words were enough.
Everyone looked in one direction.
Kaboom.
Heavy footsteps came from beyond the bushes.
Kaboom!
He was breaking through the trees.
[Groooooooooar!]
The 3rd-grade monster we were about to face for the first time.
The moment he appeared, Raven shouted, sharing the information she knew.
"...I, it's Stormgush!"
He was called the Ogre of the Sea.
_______________________
Stormgush.
A 3rd-grade aquatic monster nicknamed the Ogre of the Sea. To be more precise, it was closer to a crustacean.
But it didn't look like a lobster.
Its massive 5-meter body was covered in thick, hard shells, but its basic form was similar to a lizardman.
Kaboom!
Its long tail acted as a counterbalance.
A protruding snout.
It walked on two legs, and despite its incredible physique, it used a weapon.
Kaboom!
Everyone gulped as it fully revealed itself.
"That's a 3rd-grade monster...?"
A monster that even 7th-floor clans had to hunt with dozens of people.
I had fought many large monsters, but the ominous aura emanating from it was on another level.
Well, it was still nothing compared to a Floor Master.
I shouted.
"Battle stations!!"
What are you guys waiting for?
It's already within range.
[Grooooar!]
It charged towards us, holding a giant harpoon, moving with surprising agility for its size.
I immediately activated Gigantification (Transcendence) Mode.
Yeah, we have to at least match its size.
「Size increases proportionally to Strength.」
My body started to grow rapidly.
The monster's eyes changed slightly.
From seeing us as prey to seeing us as enemies.
Well, I was probably over 5 meters tall in this state. It must have been surprised to see a human at eye level.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I used [Wild Release] to boost my stats and charged forward. I couldn't afford to lose the first exchange.
Kaboom!
Its trident slammed into my shield as soon as I took a few steps.
A heavy blow.
'I'm still weaker, even in this state.'
I was pushed back, even though I had blocked the attack. It was something I hadn't experienced since obtaining the [Unification] engraving.
I had become much heavier since [Gigantification] started affecting my equipment.
"What are you waiting for? Attack!"
As I was pushed back, Ainar swung her Adamantium greatsword.
「Ainar Frenelin has cast [Wild Control].」
「All conditional activation effects of the next attack are converted to Sharpness.」
One of the many 'conversion' skills that changed conditional effects to Sharpness. Combined with the weight of her sword and her strength, it was a powerful blow.
But...
Clang!
Her sword only managed to scratch the shell, leaving a 1cm deep mark.
It wasn't because Ainar was weak, but because the monster was incredibly tough.
It was called the Ogre of the Sea for a reason.
Its Physical Resistance was insane.
Well, we had a dedicated damage dealer, so it didn't really matter.
"Wait, Billy."
Amelia jumped off my shoulder and landed on the monster's shoulder, stabbing it with her dagger.
Her dagger was imbued with Aura, which ignored 90% of Physical Resistance.
Thud!
The dagger sank deep into the flesh, up to the hilt, and then she pulled it out.
Pssssh!
Dark green fluid spurted from the wound.
But it wasn't a significant blow.
The monster wasn't weak enough to be affected by a wound like that, and...
It had incredible regeneration.
Whooosh!
It swiped at Amelia with its sharp claws. It was incredibly fast, at least twice as fast as me.
But it wasn't fast enough to catch a true agility character.
Thud.
Amelia dodged the attack with a backstep, and I immediately closed the distance to prevent it from attacking again.
I was still weaker in terms of strength, so I couldn't hold it off alone...
Crrrreeeak.
But I didn't have to.
"Get away from Bjorn, you shell lizard!"
My companions were there to distract it.
"Misha, Partslan! Help me!"
I quickly gave orders.
"Don't get too close, only attack when it's attacking me!"
The most important rule for melee attackers in a raid. After our frontline was established, the fight finally became manageable.
[Grooooar!]
I tanked its powerful attacks.
When I was pushed back, the melee attackers would distract it.
And I would close the distance again, drawing its aggro, while Amelia dealt damage.
We repeated this process.
"Its wounds are already healing. Raven, cast 'Worsen' first! And tell us everything you know about it!"
Raven cast support spells while briefing us about the monster.
"The ground! Get away from its feet when it stomps! It's about to use its [Eye of the Storm] ability..."
The information wasn't enough to call it a strategy.
But I hadn't told them anything about this monster.
I couldn't tell them how to fight it.
They didn't even know what kind of monster it was.
'Well, Raven knows, so I don't have to do anything.'
If Raven wasn't here, I would have had to do the briefing.
It was too risky to just let them figure it out on their own. One mistake could lead to a fatal injury in a fight against a monster like this.
For example...
「Stormgush has cast [Eye of the Storm].」
Like Raven just mentioned.
Kaboom.
It stomped on the ground, and a whirlpool appeared, sucking everything within a 5-meter radius into its center.
Whiiiiiish!
I could feel the powerful wind pressure even from a few steps away.
"Get back!"
Everyone retreated to avoid getting caught in the whirlpool.
But I did the opposite.
Thud.
I didn't retreat, I charged into the center.
"Bjorn? Where are you going?!"
[Eye of the Storm] is an aura-type skill.
The whirlpool wasn't fixed to that location, it followed the monster for 5 seconds.
In other words, if it charged towards us, someone would get caught.
Someone had to hold it off.
Whiiiiiish!
I entered the whirlpool, and the wind wrapped around me, but I wasn't pulled towards the monster.
「Character's total weight is over 1,000 kg.」
「Character is immune to the [Eye of the Storm] effect.」
Come on, this body isn't going to be blown away by a little wind.
Whiiiish!
The real problem was the trident that was thrust at me in the blinding wind.
Honestly, I didn't even see it.
But...
Kwaaang!
My hand moved on its own and blocked the attack.
I had become so used to fighting that my body reacted before my mind.
'Wow, I actually blocked that.'
Kwaaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
I blocked the trident three more times, relying on my instincts, and then the whirlpool subsided.
Okay, now I could retreat.
Thud.
I stepped back, and Raven's voice, which had been drowned out by the wind, finally reached my ears.
"Yandel, what the hell was that?! I just told you...!"
She was scolding me for not following her instructions.
But as a barbarian, I only had one thing to say. I couldn't say I forgot...
"Ah, sorry. I just felt like I had to do it."
Well, you should have told me beforehand.
That heavy objects wouldn't be pulled in, and that I should go in and hold it off.
Tsk, these local mages.
'Don't they even have that basic information in their books?'
I was appalled.
-x-X-x-
"You felt like you had to do it? What does that even—!"
Ugh, I think I pressed the wrong button.
I cut her off before the conversation could escalate and changed the subject.
"So what's next? What do I have to watch out for?"
I hurriedly approached Stormgush and raised my shield. Raven sighed and continued her explanation.
"His next skill is [Dragon Vein]. The ground will turn red... Ah, now! Yandel, dodge!"
Stormgush's second active skill, [Dragon Vein].
Kaboom!
A marker appeared beneath the target, and a moment later, a pillar of air erupted.
Like this.
Whoosh!
Phew, that was close.
"Everyone get back! A [Whirlpool] will appear from the hole!"
[Dragon Vein] not only dealt a powerful burst of damage, but it also created a hole in the ground that spewed out a [Whirlpool].
It had the same name and effect as the Siren Queen's skill...
Whooosh!
If you got caught in it, you would be suspended in midair, losing MP proportionally to the time spent airborne.
Well, I was immune to the airborne effect because of my weight...
'But it still drains MP.'
We had to avoid it.
Especially those who weren't as heavy as me.
"Spread out!"
The first [Dragon Vein] significantly increased the difficulty of the fight. We had to avoid the whirlpools, which limited our movement.
But there was an easy solution for now.
"We're going to fight while moving!"
We just had to move.
He was the only enemy left on the island.
The entire island was practically a boss room.
There was no reason not to utilize the wide open space.
'...Well, this won't last long either.'
It was one of the reasons why this fight was so difficult, even though we had the damage advantage. If he kept using [Dragon Vein], the map would eventually shrink.
And in the midst of that...
"Huh? Why is the water coming up here...?"
The water level was rising, a characteristic of Parune Island. After the fourth wave started, the entire island would be submerged except for the center.
"Yandel! It's rising! What do we do?!"
What do we do?
We keep fighting and moving.
"Maintain formation and head towards the center!"
Fortunately, no one objected to my order.
They didn't have any better ideas either.
「Stormgush has cast [Tyrant's Roar].」
As we fought and moved, Stormgush used his other skills.
"Ersina! It's that skill! Purify it!"
[Tyrant's Roar], a powerful AoE skill that inflicted a stun for up to 2 seconds within a 10-meter radius. Its duration was affected by Magic Resistance and Mental stats.
The priestess easily countered it with Purification.
「Stormgush has cast [Blood of the Storm].」
A berserk skill that temporarily increased regeneration and physical stats?
"Everyone spread out!"
I tanked it.
My shield, armor, and body were riddled with holes, but...
The priestess could heal me.
'My equipment... It's going to cost a fortune to repair.'
It hurt, but it was a reasonable price to pay for raiding a 3rd-grade monster.
Life is more important than money.
"He's stomping! Spread out!"
Stormgush rotated between his four skills, and my companions gradually became accustomed to his patterns.
But it was too early to relax.
He still had three more skills he hadn't used yet.
'Damn 3rd-grade monster.'
This was the difference between 3rd-grade and 4th-grade.
Not only were their base stats higher, but they also had more skills.
And monsters at this level also had unique abilities, not just essence skills.
Like the Vampire's dark magic.
'This guy's unique ability is Weapon Mastery.'
'Weapon Mastery' increased various combat stats in the game, like critical rate, accuracy, evasion, and block rate.
Stormgush had a high Weapon Mastery level.
That's why...
'He's really good with that harpoon.'
He was using his harpoon with incredible skill.
It wasn't just brute force, it was like he had mastered some kind of martial art.
'Anyway, he'll start using his remaining patterns when his HP gets low...'
"Yandel! Did you hear that? It's dangerous when he starts using that ability! We have to come up with a plan..."
Hey, stop screaming.
I already have a plan.
I was just waiting for the right moment to reveal it. It would be suspicious if I came up with a solution as soon as she finished explaining.
Plan A and Plan B.
I had two plans.
A was the best, B was the backup.
The only problem was...
'The variable.'
This plan wasn't a guaranteed win.
We were about to face a high-level battle, something we hadn't experienced with low-grade monsters.
And...
Someone might get hurt.
Or even die.
I knew it was a selfish thought disguised as altruism, but...
If someone had to suffer...
'Partslan, Ersina, Nebarche, Amelia.'
I hoped it wouldn't be us.
"We're trapped!"
As I was reaffirming my priorities...
Partslan shouted.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
Water was rising from the direction we were heading.
Escaping the island by boat was impossible.
Hundreds of tornadoes had been swirling around the island since the first wave ended.
'...More than half of the island is submerged.'
We were running out of time.
"This way!"
I led the group towards the center of the island, taking the longest detour possible.
And I told my companions.
"We have to deal as much damage as possible."
They had to fight harder.
"Do you have a plan?"
Amelia asked, and I explained it without hesitation.
"...You came up with that plan just by listening to the mage?"
The swordsman looked at me with a strange expression.
"But will it work? It sounds too risky."
The priestess expressed her concern.
And...
"Bjorn is a great warrior! He knows how to fight better than anyone!"
Ainar, never missing an opportunity to brag about me, shouted.
"Are you the only one who's going to do that?"
Misha muttered sadly and said she would join me.
I refused.
I cared about Misha, but this was the most efficient way to allocate our forces.
Then what about Raven, the epitome of efficiency?
"It's a good plan. Especially since you have a backup."
Yeah, you agree too.
"It doesn't sound like a reckless plan. Alright, let's do it."
Amelia also agreed, which was a relief.
I was surprised that she agreed so readily.
I asked her why, and she gave me an unexpected answer.
"Your words have power."
Huh?
"I understand what she means."
Partslan, who had been bickering with Amelia, nodded.
"You weren't afraid at all when the 3rd-grade monster appeared."
Well, that's because I already knew...
"Maybe that's how they felt when they decided to follow you that day."
The priestess mentioned the incident in the 1st-floor Noark battle.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel. The giant who leads the way, the one chosen by fate."
I didn't know.
I just felt a strange mix of emotions.
I hadn't done anything noble in front of them...
"We couldn't be sure, but when we saw you reunite with your companions, we knew. You're guided by fate."
Damn it, these religious people.
"...What are you talking about?"
I sighed.
I knew my true nature. I had been praying that they would be safe, even if it meant sacrificing everyone else.
But...
'Why are they doing this to me?'
My heart pounded.
Was this the barbarian instinct of wanting to live up to expectations?
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Let's just fight.
I cleared my head by focusing on the battle.
「Stormgush has cast [Eye of the Storm].」
Here it comes again.
"Everyone get back!"
I charged towards the monster and held it off.
Whiiiiiish!
A blinding storm.
I suddenly had a thought.
The wind was just wind.
No matter how much I prayed, I couldn't control who lived and who died.
Kwaaang!
It was like this whirlpool.
Only fate knew what lay at the end of this storm.
"Yandel! We're trapped!"
After blocking [Eye of the Storm] one more time, we reached the center of the island.
An open space hidden within the forest.
A white stone tower in the center.
And dark bloodstains on the ground.
The place where I had spent an eternity, praying that everyone would be safe.
"The water! The water is rising from all sides!"
The entire island except for this area was submerged, and the sea was visible everywhere.
「Stormgush has cast [Dragon Vein].」
Whirlpools erupted from the holes Stormgush had created in the ground, mixing with the rising water and swirling around us.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!!
If this were a game, I would have been impressed.
It was a scene befitting a boss battle.
Kaboom!
Stormgush arrived in front of us and slammed its trident into the ground.
「Stormgush has cast [Rain Dance].」
One of the three remaining skills it used when its HP dropped below 70%.
'Okay, we managed its HP well.'
It was time to make our move.
______________________
[Rain Dance].
One of Stormgush's three core skills.
Its effect was simple.
Pitter-patter.
It started to rain.
If it got rained on, its regeneration and physical stats would increase significantly, while we would be afflicted with various debuffs.
But that was a minor issue.
The real problem was the next pattern.
"Everyone, do as we planned!"
As soon as I shouted, everyone except for Misha charged towards the monster.
I did the same.
[Groooooooooar!]
We attacked without holding back.
Our plan was to kill it as quickly as possible after it used [Rain Dance].
So there was no reason to hold back.
The more damage I took, the easier it would be for my companions to attack.
Thud!
Avman's arrow pierced the monster's shell and sank deep into its flesh.
It probably didn't hit any vital organs...
「Avman Urikfrit has cast [Hungry Claws].」
But the arrow dealt continuous damage.
The more arrows he landed, the more pressure the monster would feel.
Misha was next.
「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Enhancement].」
「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Frost Condensation].」
Misha, as always, used [Frost Condensation] with [Enhancement] to increase her Frost Affinity.
And she activated the active ability of her spirit beast, Skadia, contracted through the Frost Spirit Ring.
「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Absolute Zero].」
[Absolute Zero].
Her second ability, obtained after absorbing 'Beast's Blood' with the royal family's reward.
「The character's first attack always inflicts the 'Frozen' status effect.」
Her sword was covered in white frost, and she swung it at the monster.
Her target was its right arm, which was holding the trident.
Crackle.
The monster's arm froze solid.
It had high Magic Resistance and a massive body, so only its arm was frozen...
But that was all part of the plan.
「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Ice Shatter].」
[Ice Shatter], an active skill that increased damage against frozen enemies. And she also used the 5th-grade skill she obtained from the royal family.
「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Mutation].」
「Agility is temporarily converted to Strength.」
A skill that Misha, who lacked Strength, would be able to use until the late game.
Kwaaang!
Misha's second sword, held in her other hand, slammed into the frozen arm.
But only the shell had been frozen.
Crackle.
The ice shattered, but the monster's arm was fine. Well, it would be strange if she could sever a 3rd-grade monster's arm with one attack.
"It's my turn!"
As the monster thrashed, trying to attack Misha, Ainar charged forward and swung her sword at the injured arm.
But...
Clang!
Even with the increased Sharpness from [Wild Control], it wasn't enough. The blade sank deep into the flesh, but it was stopped by bone.
[Grooooar!]
"Ainar!"
The monster spun around, protecting its arm, and swatted Ainar away with its tail.
'Damn it.'
That was a powerful blow, even Ainar wouldn't be able to get up easily...
That's what's scary about 3rd-grade monsters.
Even their normal attacks were fatal...
「Stormgush has cast [Eye of the Storm].」
Damn it, he's using it again?
Thud.
I charged forward as my companions retreated.
And...
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I held it off.
The long 5 seconds passed, and the whirlpool subsided.
"Mister, get back!"
Ah, you're ready now.
I quickly moved aside so I wouldn't be in Erwen's way.
And at that moment...
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Focused Shot].」
The 4th-grade essence she obtained from the royal family.
An arrow that consumed MP proportionally to its casting time, increasing its damage.
Did she use all her MP?
The aura surrounding the arrowhead was ominous—
Whiiiish!
She released the arrow, and it shot forward like a flash of light.
Kaboom!
It hit the monster's upper abdomen.
She was aiming for its heart.
Its head was also a vital point, but it was difficult to hit.
[Grooooar!]
Stormgush roared in pain.
But it was still moving.
The arrow hadn't pierced its heart.
But I wasn't too disappointed.
It wouldn't have died from one hit anyway. 3rd-grade monsters don't die that easily...
"Huh?"
The monster suddenly made a move I had never seen before.
「Stormgush has cast [Call of the Storm].」
The skill it used when its HP dropped below 40%.
-x-X-x-
The monster raised its harpoon high in the air.
My first thought was,
'Already?'
He had taken a lot of damage.
We had pierced his shell, severed his arm, and even stabbed him in the chest with a poisoned dagger.
But 40% HP already?
'Ah...'
I looked up and understood.
Amelia was clinging to its back, her dagger embedded in its neck.
'She should have aimed for the back of its head, not the neck.'
I was a bit disappointed, but Amelia wouldn't have done that on purpose.
It must have dodged her attack.
I focused on something else.
'I've never seen that skill before.'
Black aura was swirling around the wound on its neck.
Wait, is that...?
「Amelia Rainwales has cast [Abyssal Power].」
Aura, Doppelganger essence, and now this? This woman was a monster. It was a miracle we had survived her attacks.
Anyway, I'll think about that later.
"Don't stop!"
I gave the order and approached the monster.
But maybe it was too much for my companions, who didn't know what was going on.
They froze, unable to focus on the fight.
I understood why.
「Stormgush has cast [Call of the Storm].」
[Call of the Storm].
It recovered MP by absorbing the surrounding wind, but if it was used during [Rain Dance], when the area was filled with rainwater, it also recovered a large amount of HP.
Well, that would be the end of it normally...
But there was an additional effect when raiding on this cursed island.
"The water! It's like a wall!"
"It's a tsunami...!!!"
The rising water, pulled by the wind, surged towards us like a tsunami.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A wave of water, growing larger and larger like a snowball rolling down a hill, crashed towards us.
"Oh no!"
It was a terrifying display of nature's power.
Damn it, there's no need to be scared of this.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The violent waves crashed over us.
But...
「A sanctuary has been created somewhere on the island.」
We were unharmed.
"Huh?"
"Wh, what just happened...?"
I didn't know the details either.
It was just a cinematic in the game.
"Raven, illuminate the area!"
The water had plunged the area into darkness, so we needed light. We could see our surroundings more clearly now.
It was a strange feeling.
Like being trapped in a fish tank.
But we didn't have time to admire the scenery.
"Everyone move! Now's our chance!"
I gave the order, and my companions snapped out of their daze and started moving.
The battle had entered a new phase, and it was even more intense than before.
「Stormgush has cast [Dragon Vein].」
Avman was hit by the air pillar that erupted from the ground.
He managed to dodge most of it, so he wasn't blown out of the sanctuary...
"Avman...!"
"I, I'm fine... Priestess, just focus on healing Yandel..."
But he was incapacitated.
He would recover thanks to [Hungry Claws], but it would take a few minutes.
[Wooong...?]
Iron Bear, who had been tanking at the front lines, was also unsummoned after Avman was injured.
And the bad news didn't end there.
The [Whirlpool] that erupted from the [Dragon Vein] hole started swirling around the limited space, harassing us.
"Don't get hit!"
We had to treat the [Whirlpool] as an instant death attack now.
If we got caught in it, we would be thrown into the sea.
Slash!
Amelia severed the monster's arm with her Aura-infused dagger.
Thud.
Its massive arm, still clutching the bone harpoon, fell to the ground.
But even without a weapon, it was still dangerous.
[Groooooooooar!]
It swung its left arm, and Partslan was knocked back, his stomach ripped open.
He couldn't dodge in time because of the [Whirlpool].
'It's not a fatal wound.'
We had lost one fighter, but I remained calm. As long as he was alive, we could heal him with potions or divine power. That was one of the few good things about this world...
Thud.
I had to retreat as the [Whirlpool] approached me.
And at that moment, Nebarche, the archer from Amelia's team, was killed.
He had used [Emergency Escape] to avoid the [Whirlpool], but he landed right in front of the monster.
'Ah, that was a random blink skill...'
Nebarche was devoured before he could even scream.
Crunch, crunch.
The first casualty of the battle.
I didn't feel any guilt.
Who told him to use a trash skill like [Emergency Escape]?
Anyway, as long as my companions were safe—
"...Ugh!"
Misha was injured.
Slash!
She dodged the downward strike, but she lost an arm.
"Misha!"
"Don't worry! I can still fight with one arm!"
She can still fight with one arm?
This girl has become tough after following me.
I couldn't tell her to retreat.
We didn't have time.
I just focused on attacking with more intensity.
「Character has cast [Swing].」
I swung my mace with all my remaining MP.
I aimed for its snout.
Thwack!
The monster flinched and swatted at me with its tail.
Kwaaang!
I blocked it with my shield, but the impact reverberated through my bones.
Did its physical stats increase because of [Rain Dance]?
It wasn't this strong before...
'Damn it.'
My arm was broken, and my ribs ached.
But I was immediately healed.
「Lyrine Ersina has cast [Heal].」
A warm and mystical power reconnected my tendons and pieced my bones back together.
It was telling me.
Don't rest, keep fighting and protect your companions.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!"
A grueling battle.
It was beyond words.
The monster was strong and tenacious, as expected of a 3rd-grade monster.
Thud.
Its flesh was torn by Aura.
Dozens of arrows were embedded in its shell, draining its life force.
Curse magic was stacked on it, preventing regeneration and making it bleed green fluid. And Misha's sword was embedded in its eye.
[...]
But it kept fighting.
As if we were the villains and it was the hero.
It didn't tire, and every time it moved, someone was injured.
Mostly me.
Crack, crack.
Its sharp claws tore through my shield and armor...
Thud!
And sometimes pierced my flesh.
The priestess was out of divine power, so I couldn't even be healed in time.
But what could I do?
Did it think I would fall first?
I endured.
I swung my mace, dodged the whirlpools, and endured.
And after about a minute...
[Groooooooooar!!]
The monster roared and stared at me.
It was asking why I wasn't falling.
Yeah, you feel the same way, don't you?
You're praising me, you monster.
'Just use your next pattern, damn it!'
I smashed its neck with my mace, putting all my frustration into the attack.
Thwack!
It flinched, but it wasn't a significant blow.
But...
Thud.
Amelia took the opportunity and stabbed its temple with her dagger.
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!]
The monster screamed in pain.
And at the same time...
Whooosh!
A thick barrier of wind enveloped it.
「Stormgush has cast [Priest of the Storm].」
Its last resort, activated when its HP dropped to 10%.
I had been waiting for this moment.
"Raven!!!"
I shouted the mage's name.
But she was already casting a spell.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A bright magic circle appeared on the ground.
Thud.
I retreated, not just to the edge of the barrier, but much further. And so did Misha and Amelia.
We knew what was coming.
"Pelz Askar Bier."
One of the military spells Raven had learned, designed to kill a single powerful target, not a group of enemies...
'...Well, it has a pretty wide range.'
I gulped and stared ahead.
「Arrua Raven has cast the 4th-grade attack spell [Divine Retribution].」
A thunderous roar came from the water-covered ceiling.
And a second later...
Flash!
The world turned white.
It wasn't blindingly bright.
The white light, refracted countless times on its way down, enveloped us softly.
And...
Kaboom!
[Divine Retribution], in the form of a lightning bolt, struck the monster's head.
___________________
Stormgush had high Physical and Magic Resistance.
It had strength comparable to an Ogre and was surprisingly agile.
That's why it was called the Ogre of the Sea, but its HP was actually much lower than an Ogre's.
And its skills were designed for a quick victory. The longer the fight dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for us.
That's why I aimed for a quick victory.
We conserved our resources and only used normal attacks until its HP reached 70%.
Then we increased the tempo and started dealing damage, going all out at 40% when it used [Call of the Storm].
And at 10%, we would finish it off with a burst of damage.
It was a classic strategy.
The only problems were that we didn't have any counter skills for its patterns, which increased the risk...
And we had used most of our resources to get its HP down to 10%, so the final blow was up to Raven alone.
Well, it was a decent plan.
Then what about the result?
Kaboom!
[Divine Retribution], in the form of a lightning bolt, struck the monster's head, and I saw the result with my own eyes.
'We failed.'
It was a crushing defeat.
Sizzle.
The monster's shell was steaming, like a well-cooked lobster, but it was still alive.
And the whirlpool protecting it was still there.
The reason was clear.
It wasn't because we missed the timing and hit it while it was invincible.
'We didn't have enough damage.'
Raven's final attack wasn't strong enough.
Not even close.
'I thought that spell would be enough...'
Maybe it was my fault for not considering the terrain.
It would have been different in a normal environment.
But the lightning bolt had lost some of its power passing through the water.
"It, it's still alive! What do we do?"
What do we do?
We go to Plan B.
"Partslan! Get the boat!"
Partslan, clutching his ripped stomach, asked,
"...The boat?"
Hmm, did I not tell them about Plan B?
No, I definitely did.
Maybe he forgot because he was in pain?
I didn't like repeating myself, but I told them the key part of Plan B again.
"We're running!"
We'll all die if we stay here.
____________________
「The spirit of the storm is starting to dwell in Stormgush's body.」
「Stormgush is temporarily immune to all damage.」
「10%.」
「20%.」
「3...」
「...」
____________________
We had to use Plan B, but there were a few positive aspects.
No one had died.
Well, the archer from Noark was dead...
And Misha had lost an arm, Ainar was unconscious, and Avman was seriously injured.
But everyone else had survived.
Yeah, that's enough.
"Ah, the boat...!"
Partslan seemed to have remembered Plan B and hurriedly reached for his subspace ring.
But then he had a thought.
"B, but... how can we even launch a boat in this situation...? Ugh!"
He coughed up blood.
But Raven continued his question.
"Partslan is right. The whole place is flooded, how are we going to launch a boat?"
How?
"Don't you remember? His boat is made of 'Artene wood'."
Artene wood is the best material for shipbuilding.
It was incredibly durable and buoyant. The boat would float even if we just threw it in the water.
"Partslan! Hurry up and get the boat!"
Raven urged him, and Partslan, clutching his stomach, summoned the boat.
It was large enough to comfortably fit ten people.
I carried the unconscious Ainar and the injured Avman onto the boat and tied them to the mast with ropes.
"Tie yourselves down! You might fall off."
"Ah, yes!"
Those who could move tied themselves to the boat.
Misha, clutching her severed arm, asked me, "Bjorn, I have something to tell you." She didn't have to hold it so tightly, I had already tied it securely with a rope...
"We'll talk later."
"But..."
"Don't you trust me?"
Misha hesitated and then shook her head.
"I trust you."
Okay, then we were ready to set sail.
"...But how are we going to get there?"
Raven looked at me, panicked, after everyone had boarded the boat.
'Oh, right.'
How do we launch a boat that's on land?
I hadn't considered this when I made the plan.
But...
'If I didn't think about it, it must be because I didn't have to.'
Yeah, that must be it.
My body was already moving.
"Wh, what are you doing? You're not going to carry the whole boat...?"
Hey, just be quiet.
You're making me tired.
"Ughhhhhhh!"
I groaned and lifted the boat with both arms. And I walked towards the water.
I couldn't hold it for long.
"Everyone hold your breath."
I gave them one last piece of advice and threw the boat into the sea.
"Go."
The boat, made of buoyant wood, quickly rose to the surface.
It would be fine once it was in the water.
[Priest of the Storm] was activated, so there wouldn't be any whirlpools.
The game didn't block escaping by boat at this stage either.
'...It's gone.'
I turned around after the boat disappeared from sight.
Amelia was staring at me with a strange look in her eyes.
"You really care about your companions."
"They're small and precious."
"...I see."
She had a habit of answering most questions with "I see." It was annoying because I could never tell what she really meant.
I just said what I wanted to say.
"You surprised me. I didn't expect you to agree to this."
Our mission was to be bait.
The monster would unleash a powerful AoE attack after charging up, and I couldn't block it with my shield.
The squishy mages, priestess, and injured warriors wouldn't last a few seconds.
So we had agreed to retreat with Plan B.
But we couldn't all leave.
Someone had to hold it off, or it would chase us with its tail.
We couldn't defeat it while on the boat.
"This role..."
Amelia chuckled.
"It's not something I would normally do."
She seemed to think it was strange herself.
Then why did she stay?
"I can't stand being in debt."
Wow, she was serious.
I was truly impressed.
She was risking her life because I saved her once?
'I should remind her about this debt later.'
"What? What's with that look?"
"Ah, did I get caught? I was just thinking how highly I value you because you keep your promises."
"...Spare me the flattery."
Amelia frowned.
"Just don't look at me like that. I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't think your plan would work."
"Hmm, I see."
"Barbarian, what does that 'I see' mean?"
"It means... ah, it seems like it's almost over."
Amelia also stopped talking and looked ahead.
「90%.」
The whirlpool surrounding the monster was subsiding.
The final phase was about to begin.
I gripped my mace tightly.
And as if sensing my intention...
"Wait, the original plan was to just hold out and escape, right?"
Amelia questioned my aggressive stance.
So I also tilted my head.
"...We're trying to endure...?"
"...Then wouldn't it be more efficient to put away your mace and just use your shield?"
Huh? What is she talking about?
What does that have to do with anything?
I said firmly.
"My mace is a great defensive weapon!"
The best defense is a good offense.
Especially when the enemy is almost dead.
"So you should also use your weapon! Don't just dodge and waste time!"
"..."
"You owe me your life!"
"...I see."
She couldn't refuse.
-x-X-x-
[Priest of the Storm].
This skill has three main effects.
1. Temporary Invincibility.
Until the skill gauge is fully charged, the caster becomes immune to damage.
In a way, it's a high-value skill.
Even though the caster can't move while it's active, it's still an invincibility skill. It was possible to pull off some amazing plays with it in the game.
2. Increased Defense Stats.
Once the casting is complete, the caster gains a massive amount of defense stats. Combined with the temporary invincibility, it's practically the ultimate survival skill.
But that's not all.
3. AoE Attack.
An AoE attack that's unleashed around the caster until the [Priest of the Storm] mode ends.
It's not just a survival skill, the damage is incredibly high.
Like the saying, the best defense is a good offense.
"It's coming."
I crouched down, pulling my shield down to cover my face, and the storm barrier around the monster started to expand, engulfing the entire sanctuary.
「100%.」
The effect that signified the skill was fully charged.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A fierce wind swept over me.
It wasn't as blinding as the [Eye of the Storm].
But...
「Character is taking damage.」
「Character is taking damage.」
「Character is taking damage...」
「...」
Like blades hidden in the wind, white, dagger-shaped shadows slammed into my armor and body.
This was why I had sent my companions away.
I couldn't block this kind of AoE attack with my shield.
Clank, clank, clank! Kaboom!
Arms, back, shoulders, waist, thighs, calves.
I couldn't even pinpoint where the pain was coming from, as impacts hit me from all directions.
It felt like dozens of people were throwing snowballs filled with stones at me.
'Well, that's about right.'
After all, my Physical Resistance and Magic Resistance were high.
I barely took any damage from this kind of continuous tick damage, not a single powerful blow.
Then what about Amelia?
Her Physical Resistance wasn't as high as mine...
'What the... she's dodging them?'
Amazingly, she was dodging every single attack.
Wow, what kind of Agility stat and reflexes did she have to be able to do that?
'I told her she could come if she could do it, and she really could.'
Ah, of course, I wasn't jealous.
Why would I be?
"You seem busy."
Amelia didn't answer my question.
Was she telling me to focus on the fight instead of talking?
[Groooooooooar!!]
The shell lizard with its severed arm roared menacingly and charged towards me.
'Threat level' was working.
If it were a human who used that skill, they would have targeted Amelia first.
Kwaaang!
I blocked its massive body with my shield, and my body was pushed back.
But that kind of large movement always creates an opening.
Thud!
Amelia stabbed its back with her dagger.
Its defense stats had increased significantly, so the dagger didn't go as deep as before.
And...
'It's not even flinching anymore.'
The monster didn't even hesitate for a moment after being stabbed and swung its arm at me.
Whooosh!
Like the saying, the best defense is a good offense.
Its defense stats had increased, which meant its attack power had also increased.
Since it could use its time for defense on offense now.
Tadat.
I quickly dodged to the side and created distance.
It would have normally used [Dragon Vein] or [Eye of the Storm] at this point.
But there was no need to worry about follow-up attacks this time.
This world is a cruel place where you have to give up something to gain something.
[Priest of the Storm] also has a penalty.
[Groooar!]
Yeah, roar all you want.
'You can't use skills now, can you?'
Skill Seal.
In this phase, Stormgush could only use physical attacks and that AoE attack.
The duration in the game was about 10 minutes.
'If we can't kill it within that time, we run.'
We would have to retreat without looking back, even if it meant giving up on everything.
As soon as it could use skills again, the raid would fail.
Not only would it start using its other annoying skills, but its injuries would also start to heal.
Amelia's damage alone wouldn't be enough to keep up with its regeneration.
Therefore...
「Character has cast [Swing].」
I used my skills without holding back on MP.
I couldn't even distract it with normal attacks.
"Amelia!"
Whether we could kill it or not depended entirely on how well our main damage dealer performed.
"...Tsk."
Amelia clicked her tongue and swung her dagger again. Her expression clearly showed that she wanted to just stall for time.
'Tsk, these rich kids.'
I don't understand.
We have to fight for 10 minutes anyway, why not just go all out?
If we kill it, we get a jackpot...
'Ah, she wouldn't get anything even if it dropped an essence.'
I finally understood why Amelia wasn't enthusiastic.
She had already filled all her essence slots.
Even if she got a mage to store it in a test tube, it would be difficult for us to sell it and split the profits.
She's from Noark.
She would want to never see us again after today.
"If we kill this, I won't claim ownership of Belverson's equipment!"
I decided to give her a new incentive.
But...
"...You were planning to claim ownership?"
Amelia said something naive.
No, you were going to keep it all for yourself?
After just coming in at the end and landing the final blow?
"...Carmilla's is yours, and Belverson's is mine. That was the agreement, wasn't it?"
Hmm, I did hear about that agreement.
But that was between you guys, not me.
"I don't know about that!"
I shouted while dodging Stormgush's claws, and Amelia quietly muttered.
"...I see."
I think I know what she meant this time.
She probably saw through my barbarian-style logic.
Thanks to that, her eyes sparkled with a bit more enthusiasm.
A very desirable situation for an employer.
Kaboom!
The battle continued.
We were already drinking victory soju and splitting the loot in our minds...
But realistically, the odds were still 50/50.
Would we be able to kill it within the time limit?
Or would we fail and have to run away, accepting all the losses and pain we had suffered?
The outcome is still unclear.
I just had to do my best and hope for the best.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Sweat and blood flowed down my skin.
But there was no time to rest.
The more I harassed the monster, the easier it would be for Amelia to deal damage.
Thud!
Stormgush's claws slammed into my shoulder.
Clank.
The shoulder armor, which had already been cracked, shattered and fell to the ground.
'Damn it, the repair costs...'
My hands trembled, but I tried to think positively.
It was already broken beyond repair anyway.
The cost wouldn't be that much different...
"Amelia!"
Stormgush ignored me, who had been knocked back, and swung its tail at Amelia.
Tadat.
Fortunately, she jumped up and dodged.
But...
Thud!
A dagger hidden in the storm pierced Amelia's body.
It was a familiar attack.
But this time, it was different.
"Ugh."
The location was bad.
It wasn't her arm or shoulder, but her thigh.
Blood gushed from the wound, staining her white pants red.
But the real problem was something else.
Tadat.
Amelia's mobility was limited.
'Damn it.'
As I had feared, Amelia couldn't move as freely as before after being injured.
And that meant our DPS had decreased.
'We can't kill it at this rate.'
My mind was racing.
Should we change our strategy?
Should we just focus on surviving and run away?
No, but then what about my repair costs?
Who's going to compensate us for all the pain we've suffered?
'...Let's try a little longer.'
I quickly made a decision and dismissed my negative thoughts.
We were in a bad state, but the monster was also cornered.
Its HP was almost depleted...
[Human.]
That's when the monster spoke for the first time.
With bloodshot eyes.
[Humaaaaaaaaaaan—!!!]
It roared.
I flinched at its strange aura.
'That line... No, wait, was this monster even capable of speech?'
I couldn't remember anything like that.
Was this a new feature added in the real world?
Whatever.
I'll think about it later.
「Character has deactivated [Gigantification].」
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
I quickly switched to normal Gigantification mode.
I couldn't use [Transcendence] while in Transcendence Gigantification mode.
「Character has cast [Transcendence].」
It was a close call.
I had to make up for that difference with this.
「The next skill used is enhanced.」
Of course, I didn't have many skills.
Then what should I use?
'Leap.'
This was out of the question.
It was useful against squishy ranged attackers, but it wouldn't even scratch the monster's HP.
'Swing.'
This was also useless.
Even with [Transcendence], the range would just increase, not the damage.
An essence that never existed in my build.
But I had obtained it by chance, and ironically, it had been a huge help throughout my journey.
「Character has cast [Flesh Explosion].」
Yeah, this might work.
「The inherent ability of the skill is unlocked by the power of the Transcendent.」
I cast the skill and dashed forward.
It wasn't an instant-cast skill anymore.
「Explodes after 3 seconds...」
A 3-second delay.
But in return...
「Explosion damage is greatly increased.」
The damage increased significantly.
'Hmm, it was about 35 times stronger, right?'
I had calculated it a few times while researching [Transcendence], but I think my memory was correct. Even in [Dungeon and Stone], there weren't many skills that increased damage this much.
Ah, of course, the base damage itself was still low.
It was originally a skill for spraying [Acidic Fluid], not for dealing explosion damage. Even with a 35x multiplier, it wouldn't even scratch 3% of a 3rd-grade monster's HP.
Well, it was enough for now.
Tadat.
I dashed forward and grabbed the monster's neck with both arms.
The Barbarian Suicide Bomber Mode.
[Humaaaaaaaaaaan—!!!]
The monster roared, trying to shake me off.
Oh, you're even opening your mouth for me?
Swoosh.
I quickly shoved my hand into its mouth, letting go of the mace.
Crack!
The monster immediately bit down on my hand, trying to crush it with its thick teeth.
But it was wrong.
I'm a barbarian.
Not a human.
'Yeah, time's up.'
I counted down the time limit in my head, and then my hand exploded.
Although...
There were no flames, which usually accompanied an explosion.
Kwaaang!
Yeah, what else could this be but an explosion?
_____________________
The moment the explosion occurred, my body was thrown into the air.
It was that powerful of an explosion.
Kaboom!
My heavy body crashed to the ground, and I quickly looked up to check on the monster. I already had a hunch from the wind subsiding...
Swaaaaaaaaaa.
Stormgush's body was disintegrating into particles of light.
「Stormgush has been defeated. EXP +7」
Yeah, we killed it.
「Achievement Unlocked」
Condition: First 3rd-grade monster kill.
Reward: Mental stat permanently increased by +1.
I've been living as a barbarian for so long that I felt a sense of mental satisfaction from winning the battle.
But sadly...
"...!!!"
That satisfaction didn't last long.
An indescribable pain engulfed my entire body.
The reason was clear.
「All defense stats are temporarily sealed.」
The side effect of Flesh Explosion (Transcendence).
Damn it, I didn't think about Pain Resistance disappearing.
'This, this...!'
I couldn't even scream from the pain, my mouth just opened and closed.
"Barbarian, are you okay?"
Amelia peeked at me through my blurry vision.
And...
"You're lucky."
She said something meaningful.
It didn't seem like she was just saying that because I had survived or because we had defeated the monster.
Ah, maybe...
"Es, es, sence..."
"Yeah, it dropped."
Really?
I looked up.
And I saw a navy blue essence floating in the air.
I must have missed it because my vision was blurry...
'...Hallelujah.'
I immediately crawled towards the essence.
My entire body was in pain?
So what?
Humans are greedy creatures, no matter the situation.
"...Shouldn't you get treated first?"
Treatment could wait.
It wasn't my first time losing an arm.
"Es, sence..."
"You're a funny one."
I ignored Amelia and crawled towards the essence.
「The essence of 'Stormgush' seeps into the character's soul.」
「Strength increased by +90.」
「Agility increased by +55.」
「Physical Resistance increased by +75.」
「Natural Regeneration increased by +50.」
「Lung Capacity increased by +40.」
「Lightning Resistance decreased by -30...」
「...」
A powerful force surged through my body.
I was savoring that pleasant feeling when...
"Then have a potion first."
Amelia opened her subspace bracelet.
That's when it happened.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A brilliant light emanated from the entrance of the subspace.
Even I, who knew nothing about magic, could tell it was strange.
This kind of thing didn't happen when you put a glowing object in your subspace.
Then what was it?
"..."
Amelia also seemed to feel something was off, as she hurriedly rummaged through her subspace.
And she took out an item.
"Why is this appearing now...?"
It was a stone emitting a white light.
-x-X-x-
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
Could the stone in Amelia's hand be the 'treasure' of the Noark Lord?
Of course, it was just a baseless hunch for now.
"...What's that stone?"
I asked straightforwardly, like a barbarian.
But Amelia's answer was merciless.
"Don't worry about it."
Well, if you don't want me to worry about it, then don't show it to me.
'Judging by her reaction, it seems like it really is the 'treasure'...'
I didn't think she would answer even if I asked again.
So I decided to focus on something else.
There were more important things to worry about than my curiosity.
Pssssh!
A crack appeared in the barrier that was blocking the water like the glass of an aquarium, and water started pouring in.
「The sanctuary will disappear soon.」
It was time to prepare.
I first picked up my mace and the shattered pieces of my chest armor from the ground and put them in my subspace pocket.
And...
"What are you doing? Come here. Unless you want to be swept away."
I took out a rope.
Amelia frowned as she realized what I was trying to do.
"You're not going to use the scroll?"
"Ah, you mean the Mass Teleport scroll?"
The core item of Plan B, the Mass Teleport scroll.
I had asked Kyle to make it after experiencing the Verzak incident.
But it could only teleport two people.
It couldn't even designate coordinates, and it could only teleport to the location of the 'Coordinate Transmitter' registered when the scroll was created.
'Well, if it wasn't nerfed like that, it wouldn't even exist as a scroll.'
Ah, for reference, Raven had the 'Coordinate Transmitter'.
She usually kept it in her subspace pocket, but I had told her to take it out this time.
So if we just tore the scroll, we would be teleported to Raven.
But...
"We already killed the monster, and it's not even dangerous. Why would we use such an expensive item?"
It would be crazy to use it just for convenience.
Kyle had said he could make another one if we got him the materials, but...
When would we be able to gather all those materials?
Most of them were rare items, not just expensive.
"So come here and sit down. Our companions will come and rescue us once the water recedes."
"Then what about until the water recedes?"
What a stupid question.
We just have to hold our breath and wait.
You can't even do that for a few minutes?
"...Fine, I'll tie myself down."
Amelia took out a nail from her subspace and hammered it into the ground. And she took the rope from me and tied herself to it.
"Hey, can you help me? I only have one hand."
"...You're a handful."
What the hell.
She would help me anyway.
I raised my remaining hand, and Amelia tied me to the rope.
That's it, we're ready.
Pssssh!
We chatted for a bit while watching the water pouring in through the holes in the sanctuary.
Surprisingly, Amelia was the one who initiated the conversation.
"The pain seems to have subsided."
Ah, I was trying to forget about it.
"...Ugh."
The more you focus on pain, the more intense it becomes.
So I quickly changed the subject.
"Enough about me, can you tell me now?"
"...?"
"About that stone. What is it? I can tell it's the 'treasure' those bastards were after."
"Barbarian, I told you not to worry about it."
Amelia drew a line with a cold voice.
But a barbarian's characteristic is that they can't control their curiosity.
"No, but it's glowing right next to me, how can I not be curious?! I'm not asking for much, just tell me why it's glowing. You also seemed surprised earlier."
"That's..."
Why is the stone glowing?
Amelia hesitated and then clenched the stone in her hand.
"I don't know."
"Huh? You don't know?"
Amelia clicked her tongue as I stared at her incredulously, and then she glared at me.
"That's right, I don't know. What's wrong with that? I don't know much about this item. But if I have this..."
Yeah, if you have it?
I was listening intently when...
「The sanctuary disappears.」
The barrier that was blocking the water shattered, and water rushed in like a scene from a disaster movie.
Damn it, at this timing?
'I almost had her...'
It was a shame, but what could I do?
"Hold your breath! Hold onto the rope!"
I took a deep breath and shouted, and the cold seawater engulfed us.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
Time to hold out.
We just had to hold our breath and wait for the water to recede. Then our companions would come back and find us.
But thanks to Stormgush's essence, which increased my Lung Capacity...
'I can hold my breath for at least ten minutes.'
I wasn't uncomfortable, even though I was holding my breath.
In the game, Lung Capacity was a useless stat.
When you had to fight underwater, you would prepare beforehand, so there was no need to increase your breath-holding time.
'But it might actually be useful...'
Unlike the game, this world was a place where you had to fight with your real body.
Lung Capacity would be helpful in battle.
I'm not Lee Hansu, who just sat in front of a keyboard anymore. I know how important breathing is in real combat.
'My body is also healing.'
I felt a tingling sensation throughout my body as my injuries started to heal.
It wasn't because the seawater had potion-like properties.
It was just the effect of the new skill.
「The character's body is imbued with the energy of the sea.」
「Passive skill [Origin] greatly increases Natural Regeneration.」
Stormgush's passive skill, [Origin].
The effect was simple.
When in contact with seawater, Natural Regeneration increased, and the longer the contact, the greater the increase, like compound interest.
It would even regrow a severed arm in about ten minutes.
'Well, it's useless outside the 6th floor.'
I had tried storing seawater in a bottle and using it like a potion, but it was a complete failure.
The skill didn't activate after an hour.
What the hell was this 'energy of the sea'?
'Anyway, I finally have regeneration again.'
I couldn't help but smile.
The most frustrating part of losing the Vampire essence was finally resolved. It was a 3rd-grade essence, and it wasn't just focused on regeneration.
[Origin] had other effects.
'I'll switch it out when I start farming 2nd-grade essences...'
I was savoring the feeling of my body healing when...
'Huh?'
I belatedly realized something.
The torch I had lit while fighting Stormgush had gone out when the water rushed in.
And my vision was blurry from the seawater.
But...
'Why can I see?'
The reason was Amelia's mysterious stone. It was emitting a brilliant light, even though it was in her subspace pocket, acting as a light source.
I had a question.
How could light escape from a subspace pocket, which was supposed to be a separate space?
'But why is it glowing even brighter...?'
I tilted my head and pointed at Amelia's subspace bracelet.
It was a gesture with this meaning.
'Hey, is that okay?'
Amelia didn't answer my question.
She just stared at the stone, as if mesmerized.
'This is making me even more anxious...'
I felt something was wrong.
Flash!
The stone suddenly erupted with a white light, blinding me.
And that was the last thing I remembered.
Like the day I was first summoned to this world.
'My eyes!'
I passed out.
____________________
「Error Occurred.」
「Character location cannot be found.」
「Character log transmission temporarily suspended.」
「Administrator, please investigate the cause of the error...」
「...」
____________________
When I opened my eyes, there was light.
The red glow of the sunset as the sun dipped below the horizon.
"Damn it."
I realized how much time had passed and quickly sat up.
"A whole day has passed?"
It was nighttime when we fought Stormgush.
But the sun was setting?
It meant I had been unconscious for at least a day...
'...Wait, what the...?'
I soon faced a much bigger problem than the lost time.
'My equipment, where the hell is it?'
I felt a sense of emptiness and checked my body.
My equipment was gone.
No, it wasn't just my equipment.
My subspace ring, my earring, even my magic-enchanted underwear were all gone.
I was completely naked.
'Did someone loot me while I was unconscious?'
Hmm, but if they looted me, they would have killed me, right?
No, wait, there was no one else on this island besides us.
What were those guys who we sent away on the boat doing all this time?
Damn it, what the hell is going on?
"This is driving me crazy."
It was beyond just confusing.
My common sense couldn't explain this situation.
Therefore.
"Hey."
I shook Amelia, who was lying next to me.
Ah, of course, I looked away.
She was also naked.
"...Amelia, wake up."
Hey, please wake up.
You were the one who had that stone.
What the hell happened?
"Ha..."
I tried to wake Amelia up, hoping for an answer, but she didn't respond.
She was breathing, so she wasn't dead...
'Damn it.'
I gave up on waking her up and checked my surroundings.
It had been strange from the moment I opened my eyes, but there were many things I hadn't checked yet.
'My arm.'
Yeah, my severed arm had regrown thanks to the seawater.
'The nail and rope.'
The nail and rope I had used to tie myself down were gone.
We hadn't moved to another island.
We were still in the same spot where we fought Stormgush.
But...
'The ground is already dry.'
The entire island had been submerged, but the sand beneath my feet was dry.
Was this physically possible in just one day?
I didn't know, but the most important thing was something else.
'But I'm still wet.'
If the ground had dried naturally from the sun, why was I still wet...?
Whiiiiiiiing-!
I heard the sound of insect wings flapping in the distance.
'Here we go again.'
The 8th-grade insect-type monster, 'Krungbi'.
The main monster that appeared on Parune Island.
'Why the hell is it appearing now?'
It was baffling.
The event had ended yesterday.
They shouldn't have respawned until the next labyrinth cycle.
'Whatever, I'll worry about that later.'
I quickly got up.
And I picked up a sturdy-looking branch from the ground.
It wasn't as good as a mace...
'It's good enough for a one-time use.'
It would be enough to deal with an 8th-grade monster.
Tadat.
I dashed towards the insect monster that had emerged from the bushes.
And...
'Swing.'
I swung the branch with all my might.
Thwack!
There was no system message, but the satisfying impact made me feel a bit better.
Yeah, at least my essences are still working.