Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 279 Whirlpool (5)

"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.

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%.

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