Episode 34 Warrior (2)
“Bjorn.”
The moment Einar called my name.
The sun, hidden behind red clouds, completely crosses the horizon. And at the same time, a man with pale skin appears, bathed in red moonlight.
“How strange, how truly strange… … .”
He glanced around the ruined city, then stopped looking at us.
“When I look at you, I feel a murderous urge in me and I can’t hold it in. Do you know why?”
Reason, well… … .
There’s no way you could know.
I don’t really want to know.
I answered sarcastically.
“If you give me some time to think about it, I might remember.”
The decision was made to buy some time, even if it was just for a minute.
However, as soon as I answered, the bastard’s eyes lit up.
“In that case… it’s a desire that’s too hard to resist. Hehehe.”
To be honest, I found it a little absurd.
I never thought a vampire cub would do such a thing.
“Khuh-huh, kuh-huh! Hahahahahaha!!”
The vampire who had been splitting people apart in front of several people as if possessed by a god suddenly became serious…
“Kyaaaaah!”
It let out a roar that sounded like something an alien would make.
Chae-Ang-!
The vampire’s main weapon, the claws, were already extended out, making a sharp sound.
Before I knew it, only madness remained in his eyes, creating a bloodshot look.
‘This is just like a game.’
If you think about it, it was the same in games too.
Even if you have the intelligence to communicate, a proper conversation is nothing more than exchanging a few words like an intro.
“I’m not used to this level of peering.”
The murderous intent emitted by the 5th-grade monster was so intense that it made my flesh tingle, but surprisingly, the dwarf was unharmed.
“Everyone, stand back!”
I was a little impressed too.
You only showed a pitiful appearance during the Corpse Golem period, but are you still a third-year explorer?
As the new vampire form disappears, the dwarf steps forward and raises his buckler.
Kwakwakwang!
A gust of dust blows around with a loud noise.
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Its power was so strong that it could be felt even a few steps behind… … .
“Hahaha! As expected, it’s heavy!”
The dwarf didn’t move an inch.
It’s not like his stats were overwhelming or anything like a vampire’s… … .
It’s all thanks to Jeongsu’s help.
“Hikurod Murad cast [Balance Weight].”
The ability of the 7th grade monster ‘Ianthro’.
A ‘knockback immunity’ skill that prevents you from falling or being pushed as long as your feet are on the ground.
Additional options include shock absorption.
“Tarjin, you stand back!”
As soon as the battle began, I gave instructions.
But, no answer comes.
I glanced over and saw that the carrier was already far away, carrying the wizard.
It’s clear that you did a good job, so why are you upset?
I shouted, deciding to think about the feelings I felt now later.
“Einar!”
“I’ll take the right side!”
Because we were in sync so much, I could tell what he wanted just by looking at his eyes.
I nodded briefly and took a position on the vampire’s left side, then rushed at the same time as Ainar.
“Kyaaaaak!”
A vampire who retreats, his combat-related intellect still intact.
At the same time, the half-crumpled dwarf’s buckle is restored to its original state as if time has reversed.
The buckler didn’t have that feature… … .
“Hikurod Murad cast [Emergency Restoration].”
This is the ability of Living Armor.
Not only does it save on equipment costs, it is a useful skill that greatly increases the performance of magical tools when equipped later.
The dwarf shouted as he finished the repairs in an instant.
“I’ll take the front, you guys help me from the sides!”
There was no disagreement.
I guess I was able to hold out for a few seconds since I was a dwarf. To be blunt, I’m the least helpful here.
Ainar ate the essence this time, but I have nothing except the ‘Immortal Seal’ that I got.
Well, it might help to build a meat shield.
“Kyaaaaah!”
At that moment, the vampire’s body, which had been watching us from afar, split into hundreds of crows.
A flock of crows flying towards us at high speed, flapping their wings.
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“Get as far away as you can!”
Soon the crows flying towards us exploded with their heads hitting the ground.
Kwakwakwak! Boom! Kwakwakwak!
The power of the explosion itself was not great.
However, it wasn’t enough to avoid the blood spewing out in all directions.
‘Shit.’
Of course, it doesn’t have acid mixed in its blood like a corpse golem… … .
This is even more of a headache considering the link behind it.
“Rain, Bjorn! What the hell is this!”
A red tattoo was engraved on our foreheads, drenched in blood, and a bright light scattered.
“The character has been designated as a sacrifice.”
“The physical abilities of the Vampire Duke Cambormire temporarily increase by the number of sacrifices within a 100m radius.”
I gritted my teeth, ignoring the game log that was somehow coming to mind.
The crow burst open and the vampire’s form slowly regenerated among the blood pooling on the floor.
Now that he’s been buffed, he’ll be harder to deal with from now on.
‘Has it been three minutes now?’
It’s still a long way to go before the preparations are ready.
Will I be able to hold out until then?
I shook my head.
There’s no point in worrying about whether it will work or not.
“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Have to hold on.
With the spirit of a wicked barbarian.
***
Buff skill ‘Sacrifice Imprint’.
‘Eternal’, whose regenerative power increases significantly in proportion to the amount of stamina lost.
‘Master of Blood’ who absorbs part of the target’s abilities when directly sucking blood.
Each of the vampire’s three active skills shows tremendous power in close combat.
The problem is, that’s not all.
This insatiable brat also uses various types of black magic in addition to this.
“Bjorn, the crow is flying in again!”
Turning into a crow and exploding, turning into smoke to dodge a sword, using the scattered blood to summon monsters, etc.
The vampire cub personally demonstrated the fraudulent specs of a high-level monster.
‘That’s why everyone quits the game before they can even get to the 6th floor.’
I raised my shield as I realized the crazy difficulty of [Dungeon and Stone] once again.
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The shield was already torn and dented by fingernails, almost like scrap metal… … .
It’s better than nothing.
Kkakagak-!
I bounced back using the recoil, absorbing as much of the impact as I could.
Strength, speed, skill.
A natural talent that was acquired while fighting an enemy that was overwhelming in every way.
[Please hold on for 5 more minutes!]
At that moment, Raven’s voice rang in my head.
I think that if I had saved the magic power to send a whisper, the time could have been shortened a little more… … .
Still, I feel a little better after hearing some hopeful news—
“Hikurod has been hit!”
—What the hell.
The dwarf who had been closely marking the vampire fell, showing the experience of a third-year explorer.
Although Ainar, who was nearby, rushed in and stopped the vampire from sucking the dwarf’s blood… … .
“Hikurod Murad has fallen into a [unable to fight] state.”
The tide turned in an instant.
Ainard and I are already in a state of total bruises.
It would be nearly impossible for the two of them to stop it without the dwarf who took up more than 50% of the battle.
‘Then rather… … .’
I made a quick decision.
“Ainar! Take Murad and fall back!”
“but…….”
“I will stop this guy!”
“Oh, I see!”
The moment Ainar placed Murad on his shoulder, he dashed forward and swung his mace.
Phew!
It’s been a while since I’ve been to Yoo Hyo-ta.
“Aaah!!”
My brain throbs with the recoil of a successful attack.
It’s all because this crazy kid is a superior mutant.
“Vampire Duke Cambormire cast [Share the Pain].”
Even the bastard fully recovered from his injuries just by stepping back once to catch his breath.
Damn, I’m still in pain.
What kind of dog like this dog?
“Kyaaaaah!”
But still, the situation was such that aggro was drawn to me as I wanted.
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I double-checked to make sure the item I’d hidden in my boots was still there, out of habit.
The item name is ‘Tears of the Goddess’.
To put it simply, it is a holy relic.
Although it is disposable, it can be used for healing purposes, and can also be used for attacking evil attribute monsters.
‘… Should I write this now?’
Of course, it’s not a waste to write it.
Even if it is an item that deserves to be labeled as ‘special grade’, it is a special item that can only be used in the ‘Bloody Citadel’.
If you use it on a dwarf, it will restore power immediately, and if you use it on a vampire, it will be able to inflict significant damage.
but…….
‘no.’
I’m done with pointless worrying.
What is the reason for holding on to defense so steadfastly until now?
Because one attack is enough.
No, anything more than that would actually work against us.
There is only one chance.
You have to pour everything out in that one moment.
That’s the only way for the five of us to hunt a level 5 monster.
Click.
He took a bottle of potion from his waistband and opened the cork.
And the moment I poured the potion into my mouth while looking at the vampire running towards me.
Cheeeeeeek!
As the countless wounds accumulated during the battle heal, the pain surges in like a tidal wave.
The strength in my hands completely drained, and I felt like I wanted to collapse at any moment. It was nearly impossible to drink the potion and then fight…
‘It doesn’t matter, I guess.’
What I’m trying to do right now isn’t something like fighting.
Phew!
Within seconds, the vampire’s claws sink into his abdomen.
There is plate armor like this, but it goes very deep as if it were nothing.
“… … !”
When your life is threatened, your nerves send pain signals to your brain like crazy.
My mind turns blank as if I’m overloaded.
‘Fuck, if I had known this would happen, I would have just eaten the corpse golem essence then.’
Leaving behind my belated regret, I poured another bottle of potion into my mouth.
Cheeeeeeek!
An injury that heals quickly as the healing effects of the Immortal Seal and the potion overlap.
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“Kyaak—”
I muttered as I watched the vampire cub flinch as if he didn’t understand the current situation.
To be honest,
I feel like I’m going to die because it hurts so much… … .
“베헬—라다, 개새끼야……”
Pain can’t kill me.
The fact that I am still alive is proof of that.
***
“What on earth is that guy doing… … !”
Raven, who was watching the situation from behind the distant debris, could not help but be astonished.
I’ve seen many explorers’ extraordinary strategies and hunting methods in books, but none of them were like this.
Are you just going to hold out by drinking potions?
“Seo, there’s no way it’ll work. Joo, you’ll die!”
It doesn’t make sense.
She knows, because she’s tried the potion a few times.
The pain is unimaginable, and the severity of the injury increases with it.
But what about that Barbarian now?
Cheeeeeeek!
Instead of the bubbles boiling and releasing steam, smoke is billowing out over the body.
This was the first time even she had seen this phenomenon.
In this condition, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he died from shock rather than injury.
In reality, isn’t it common enough to find cases of people dying from taking potions?
“uh?”
At that moment, her eyes widened as she stomped her feet.
She couldn’t even imagine the pain that barbarian must be feeling right now.
But at least one thing was certain.
In that state, it’s true that you shouldn’t even be able to move.
But what the heck is this?
Kkakagak-!
Blocked.
In a situation where you are lying on the floor.
With the shield now reduced to a piece of scrap metal.
The barbarian blocked the vampire’s claws that were stabbing him from above and below.
As if to prove that it wasn’t something he got by chance while struggling.
Kkakagak-!
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Over and over again.
Of course, it’s not like I’ve blocked all the attacks or anything. Even now, my whole body is being stabbed by the indiscriminately swinging claws.
but…….
Kkakakak!
Attacks aimed at vital areas such as the head or heart are blocked by thrusting a shield like a ghost.
‘Is this possible…?’
It was unclear whether it was his superhuman concentration that allowed him to dodge accurately through the pain, or whether it was simply his body’s remaining fighting instincts that made it possible.
However, a piece of literature I read a long time ago suddenly came to mind.
Isn’t it said that the true value of a Barbarian lies not in his outstanding physical abilities, but in his mental strength?
‘Somehow I think I understand what that means now… … .’
“Raven, I think it would be best for you to get out of here right now.”
At that moment, Tarjin, who had been watching the battle together, opened his mouth in a heavy voice.
Although they say they are leaving, in reality they mean to abandon them and run away.
“If things continue like this, I’m not sure if I can protect you, Raven. This place is that dangerous.”
Seriously, I didn’t even pray.
‘Who doesn’t know that he’s here?’
If she could, she would have done it already.
Although she was often said to be a gentle wizard, she was not naive enough to risk her life for explorers she had just met.
but…….
“Are you out of your mind? You’re out? Where the hell are you going?”
There is nowhere to run.
There is only one way out of the rift: kill the ‘Guardian’ and exit through the portal.
‘… That’s why that man is so desperate, knowing that.’
I felt like my mind was being blown.
Even a Barbarian who has just completed his coming of age ceremony is making a cool-headed judgment and doing the best he can in the current situation… … .
What on earth am I, a wizard, doing now?
“If Mr. Bjorn dies, it’s over. We have to save him somehow.”
Originally, a wizard was not a being who only cast high-powered magic from behind.
One of the wizard’s jobs is to coolly analyze situations using knowledge from various fields and suggest the most efficient way for the team.
“… … .”
Raven checked the current situation once again.
A 3rd year dwarf warrior is incapable of combat.
The barbarian is helping him recover by feeding him potions.
There is no problem up to here, but… … .
The wizard himself is hiding and waiting until his magical powers are restored, with a human inspector guarding him.
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Looking back, this is pretty wasteful.
“Tarzin, go to Mr. Murad.”
“yes?”
“I’m fine. At least you can go over there and let that female barbarian join the fight.”
“…All right.”
“Please leave your backpack here.”
Tarzin followed the instructions without even asking a question, despite the somewhat nervous voice.
She didn’t even look at his back and immediately put her hand into her subspace backpack.
‘The essence of the corpse golem.’
A test tube that fits comfortably in your hand as soon as you clearly conjure up an image.
‘It’s a bit… no, it’s a shame, but it’s nothing compared to life.’
Raven slowly built up his magical power and began to perform his spells one by one.
Phew!
Accuracy assistance.
Projectile range assistance.
Orbit auto-adjustment.
If I add a few more tricks here, I won’t even have to move my arms directly… … .
‘Because I have to save as much magic power as possible.’
After finishing the ritual, she threw the test tube she was holding with all her might.
and…….
Clang!
The test tube flew far away in a smooth curve, shattering as it reached its target and emitting light.
… “The character’s soul is infused with [the essence of the Corpse Golem].”
“Pain tolerance increases by +70.”
“Strength increases by +15.”
“Bone strength… … .”
「… … .」
「… … .」
.
.
.
“Bjorn Jandel”
Level: 2
Physical: 111.4 (New +45.4) / Mental: 95.3 (New +55.3) / Abilities: 23 (New +13)
Item Level: 218
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Overall Combat Index: 284.2 (New +112.7)
Acquisition Essence: Corpse Golem – Rank 7 (New)
