Episode 23 Level Up (3)
Insert the torch into the groove carved into the helmet.
And tie it tightly with a string.
Namely, Bavarian Candle Mode.
… it makes me feel inferior, but it is a practical method that other explorers also use.
Ainar put his hand on the flickering flames and immediately let out an exclamation of admiration.
“Oh, that’s strange! It’s really not hot!”
Of course, this torch is also a magical tool.
It is a useful item that is only about a span long, so it does not hinder body movements, and once it is stretched, it lasts for about three days.
It was an exploration item that the crossbow party had.
Was the average price 10,000 stones?
… I suddenly miss Erwen.
“But where is this place?”
Ainar asks, looking around, as if his surroundings are starting to come into view.
There’s a huge gap between what you see in real life and 2D pixel graphics, but this time it was pretty easy to understand.
A black ground that squeaks with every step.
Remains of stone structures visible everywhere.
Even the faint sound of a sad cry can be heard from afar.
“This is the land of the dead.”
“Ah, this is where the ghouls and death fiends come from!”
For now, that’s it.
If we go into detail, there will be elder ghouls, skeletons, banshees, and even a mid-boss called Dullahan.
“I will take the lead.”
The fighting power of monsters in the Land of the Dead is much higher than in the Goblin Forest.
But if I had to pick something, I’d give the Goblin Forest a thumbs up.
It’s a lot darker here though… … .
At least there are no traps here.
This is much more convenient for two Barbarians to operate together.
“It’s a ghoul.”
Soon we encountered a monster.
The number is small, three.
Of course, on the third day, it will increase by about three times what it is now.
One more reason to move quickly.
“Bjorn, here’s the magic stone!”
“Just collect everything you see without having to report everything one by one. We can distribute it later. I’ll speed things up.”
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Unlike the Goblin Forest, I immediately left the entrance and continued moving north.
Just then, a scream was heard nearby.
“Kkiyaaaaaaaah!”
“Rain, rain, Bjorn?!”
“That’s the howling of a banshee. Just ignore it. They rarely attack first.”
“I, I see… … But is it really okay not to kill him? Isn’t it dangerous?”
well.
What if there was an Erwen who could use spirits?
No matter what the two physics series do, they can’t catch the banshee.
Even if I could catch it, it would be a problem.
“If you attack a banshee first, you will be cursed.”
“curse?”
“It’s a curse called the Mark of Grudge. The banshees will persistently attack you until you escape the labyrinth.”
Unless you’re going to be hunting banshees for ten days straight, it’s best not to touch banshees at all.
If your goal is experience, it’s common to only catch one or two on the last day.
“You are a truly wise warrior. I am glad I followed you.”
I appreciate your compliments.
I don’t want to show it, but I know full well that you’re more afraid of this type of thing than you think.
But that’s that and this is this.
“Kkiyaaaaah!”
“Crack!”
I really wish you would stop clinging to me every time I make a sound.
Putting aside the burdensomeness… … .
Because it felt like my caught arm was going to break.
“Let go, let go… It’s a skeleton.”
Just then, with a thud and a crackling sound, a group of skeletons appeared.
The number is a whopping 10.
Even though it’s only the first day, there are quite a lot of monsters boasting large quantities.
Well, even if you catch them all, you’ll only get three or four magic stones.
“Ahem! I’ll take care of it!”
Perhaps embarrassed by his fear of the sound of the banshee, Ainar leapt forward first.
Tsk tsk, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“Einar! If you look between the ribs, there will be a core. If you want to kill a skeleton with a sword-type weapon, you must aim for that… … .”
Kwajik-!
“Huh? What did you say?”
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“I didn’t say anything. Don’t worry about it and fight.”
Kwajik-! Kwajik! Kwajik!
Weaknesses and all.
Every time Einar swung his enormous greatsword, the skeletons were mercilessly torn apart.
And it never happened again.
***
“Killed an Elder Ghoul. EXP +1”
“Killed a skeleton. EXP +1”
“Killed a skeleton warrior. EXP +1”
“Killed a skeleton archer. EXP +1”
***
After that, we moved north for about 8 hours.
In the process, I was able to naturally encounter various new monsters.
An elder ghoul that is twice as large as a normal ghoul.
Skeleton warriors and archers classified as mutants.
It’s hard to say anything definitively since I haven’t met Mei yet, but so far it hasn’t been too difficult.
Not only is the number of entities small on the first day, but my fighting power has also increased significantly compared to before.
Phew-!
Just looking at the equipment, you can see that.
The old man’s two-handed hammer had to be held short to be used because of its center of gravity.
But, by holding a mace that was about 70cm long, it became possible to strike from further away.
It’s much safer and more powerful.
Above all… … .
Kyaang-!
Armor was also created.
Although the plate armor in the form of a vest leaves the forearms exposed, this alone significantly reduces the area that needs to be blocked by the shield.
This made much more aggressive fighting possible.
It feels like the chains have finally been released.
“Bjorn, watch out! There are skeleton archers too!”
The steel helmet, which was shaped like a T and exposed only the eyes, nose, and mouth, protected the head, the most important vital area.
Of course, it would be dangerous if it was hit directly by something like a crossbow, but it easily deflected arrows shot from a bow that was breaking apart.
And there is another barbarian with similar fighting power to me.
“Behel—raaaa …
We continued the battle that was nothing short of slaughter, calling out to the ancestral gods of the Barbarians together.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
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No matter what kind of monsters appeared, it only took about 10 seconds to destroy an entire group.
Is that why?
At the end of every battle, I felt a sense of exhilaration that I had never felt before when I was with Erwen.
Ah, is this the true taste of Bavarian?
“Bjorn, you’re injured.”
huh?
After listening to Ainar and checking, I found that there was a slight scratch on my arm.
but…….
“Don’t worry. You’ll get better soon.”
There is no need to apply herbs, let alone potions.
“Oh! The flesh is already healing! Is this the power of the soul imprint?”
The first stage of the Immortal Seal Path’s effect is that natural regenerative powers increase noticeably.
Of course, it’s nothing compared to potions… … .
I checked the other day and it took about a minute for a 0.5cm deep wound to heal to some extent.
But this alone increases stability by leaps and bounds. Stamina recovery itself becomes faster, and endurance also increases significantly.
“Get ready now. It looks like we’re almost there.”
I gave Einar some tension and slowed his movement speed.
Before we knew it, the terrain had changed.
The ground was no longer sloppy but hard, and was not flat, with bumps here and there.
The banshee’s howl also became much louder.
“Kihihihihihihi!!”
“Khuhhuh, hwaaaaak!”
Of course, if I had to pick the biggest change, there is one.
The upper class starting from here.
That is, a level 8 monster appears.
“… Bjorn, you’re not really going to attack first, are you?”
Ainar has been chattering his teeth since a while ago, perhaps because he was scared by the sound of the banshee.
They say that when Barbarians are scared, their jaws tighten and that’s what happens…
I don’t know.
Is it because I’ve never been that scared before?
“Koooooooooo—!!”
As we continue to move, a strange roar is heard in the darkness.
Wow, actually hearing that makes me shiver.
“Ainar, prepare for battle.”
“Hey, didn’t you say you weren’t going to catch Banshee?”
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Doesn’t this guy have ears?
“It’s not a banshee.”
Deathfind.
Among the many 8th-grade monsters that have contributed greatly to raising the barrier to entry into the game, this one is definitely the one that is evaluated as the most bastard.
***
Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah!
The sound of heavy footsteps that could be heard from a distance gradually grew louder, and soon the thing appeared before us.
“…You want to fight that thing?”
Ainar asks me a question, and before I can answer he mumbles:
“That sounds fun.”
I know his emotions, but I don’t know how to understand them.
Last time, he said he was afraid of dying too, so how can he laugh when he sees this kid?
Are you afraid of things like banshees?
Kuung-!
As if the light was bothering him, Deathfind stopped walking at the end where the light reached.
“Don’t be nervous.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not nervous.”
Why are you answering? You were talking to me.
Wow, I made plans on the way here, but seeing it in person makes my stomach churn.
Deathfinds are humanoid undead monsters.
No, is it closer to a chimera?
He is over 3 meters tall and carries a sword and shield on both arms.
Not holding on, really.
One hand is long and curved, with a crescent-shaped blade, while the other arm is spread wide from the elbow to the side in the shape of a shield.
Namely Protein Blade and Shield.
“Kuoooooooooooooooo—!!”
Shit, don’t yell like that, it’s fucking scary.
It’s not easy to somehow reduce the fear.
“If you just stay calm and follow the plan, you can win.”
“Of course I trust you.”
That’s great, but it was something I said to myself again.
…let’s calm down.
This is your first try, but as long as you don’t let your guard down, there won’t be any danger.
If things get worse, run away without looking back.
“As I said before, always aim for the head. Anywhere else is useless. Do you understand?”
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“i get it!”
No, that doesn’t mean I should rush in right away.
“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Ainar ran out, holding a greatsword in both hands.
It’s already too late to stop.
As if the aggro had been properly attracted by the shout, the guy who had been watching from the edge of the torch also rushed forward with his sword and shield in front.
“Kuoooooooooooooooo—!!”
Kwaaaaang!
A loud noise emanates as Einar’s greatsword and Deathfiend’s protein blade meet.
“Bjorn, be careful! This monster is no joke in terms of strength!”
Don’t you usually know that as soon as you see it?
“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
First, I shouted loudly and stepped forward.
And after building a wall in front of him with his shield, he struck the side of the one who was trying to attack Ainar, who bounced off.
But is this heaviness coming from the physique?
It feels like I’ve been pinned against a rock.
Chijichichichi.
As he exerts his strength, his body is pushed back while still holding the shield.
There was no reason to hold out, but my pride was hurt.
So I put my toes up high.
And he threw all his weight forward and let out a scream, not a roar.
“AAAAAHHHH!”
Shit! I feel like my muscles are going to burst.
But I felt a joy that was hard to describe.
I felt like I was going to die… but I persevered.
And Einar wasn’t so immature as to just let that gap pass him by.
Phew-!
The greatsword swung with a heavy crash and struck Deathfind in the side of the head.
Not just bare bones, but literally.
Kak!
I cut with that thick sword, but only about 1cm of the blade went in.
The dull sound must have been caused by the skull.
Even within the game, Deathfiend’s defense was notorious.
Well, it’s not the defense but the regeneration that makes many beginners quit the game.
“Koooooooooo!”
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“Step back for now!”
I distanced myself from the enraged Deathfind.
Dark red blood flowed out from where the greatsword had been pulled out, but the bleeding stopped in less than 3 seconds.
The passive skill he has is ‘Physical Preservation’.
“Ainar! Create an opening. This time, I will attack!”
Just as I was about to give the order and rush back in.
Ddddddddddd!
Suddenly the ground began to shake.
This was my first time seeing this effect, but I knew what it was as soon as I saw it.
Deathfind’s active skill.
It is ‘The Call of the Dead’.
“Get out of here, ghouls are coming out!”
As the shaking subsides, ghouls begin to crawl out from under the ground, digging their way out.
The number is exactly ten.
“First, let’s clean these guys up!”
“i get it!”
While Ainar swings his greatsword at the ghouls.
“Koooooooo!”
I only cared about Deathfind and marked him closely.
However, the skin was instantly reduced to a piece of rag because the ghoul cubs kept scratching it with their claws.
Of course, it won’t be a big problem.
I have regenerative powers too.
Not as much as you, though.
“Bjorn! I’ll take care of this guy now!”
After holding out for about 2 minutes, the ghouls were finally cleaned up.
Somehow I found myself laughing.
I’m holding out by literally getting hit by Deathfind’s summoning pattern.
‘I don’t do things like that even in games.’
While Ainar was marking the guy one-on-one with Baton Touch, I took out my mace and moved behind the guy.
And then he smashed it into the back of the head.
Phew-!
It was a good sound with good taste.
In fact, rotten blood was oozing out from the back of his head.
Still, I continued to swing my mace.
Thud-! Thud-! Thud-!
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Each and every blow contained the power that would have made a goblin turn into light and disappear the moment it was hit.
But what the hell, why isn’t it working?
Kak!
When I actually experienced it, I realized that the strength of the skull was beyond imagination. Even while being struck, the flesh was healing.
… What should I do?
Lack of attack power.
If I had known this would happen, I would have bought what the arms dealer recommended.
Should I just give up on catching him and hunt some level 9 monsters?
Knock! Knock! Knock!
He continued to swing the mace while worrying, but it wasn’t enough to destroy the brain.
Phew-!
Eventually, I had no choice but to step back to avoid the swung protein blade.
But at that time.
“Kkuot!”
Suddenly, Deathfind’s body loses balance and tilts.
Upon closer inspection, I see Ainar, who had taken advantage of the gap, grabbing hold of one of the 3m tall guys’ legs and lifting him up.
This is a technique often seen in the UFC.
Could this be… …
‘Single leg tackle?’
“Behel—raaaaah!!”
The muscles are pumped and the veins are bulging as if they are about to burst, which makes this one look even more monstrous… … .
The intention was clear, and even seemed possible.
I immediately intervened.
Phew-!
When I hit one of his ankles, which was touching the ground, with all my might with the mace, the massive body lost its balance and froze for a moment.
and…….
Kuung-!
Soon he falls to the floor.
In technical terms, it’s called a takedown.
It was the first time I learned that this type of fight was possible against monsters classified as medium to large.
… nothing is impossible for a Barbarian.
“Koooooooooo!”
Deathfind appears to be writhing around like an upside-down bug.
We were about to rush in, but at the same time we flinched.
“Koooooooooosh!!”
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You, are you sure you can’t get up by yourself?
“Bjorn!”
“Ouch!”
They could communicate with each other just by looking at each other.
Ainar and I ran towards the fallen man and struck each other with our weapons like madmen.
They placed rice cakes on a mortar and struck them with a hammer in turns, taking turns hitting them together.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Come to think of it, I remember making rice cakes just like this at the folk village I visited when I was in elementary school.
“be pleasant!”
Could it be because I remember my partner crying and asking to be switched at the time?
Seeing Ainar having fun together heals the wounds in my heart.
Somehow, I feel like my soul has become pure.
“You killed Deathfind. EXP +2”
We smiled brightly as we watched Deathfind disappear into the light.
There was no powerful magic from a wizard, no divine power from a priest, no spirit magic from a fairy… … .
“Bjorn! Look at this! The magic stone is huge!”
We succeeded in hunting a level 8 monster.
