Surviving The Game as a Barbarian — Chapter 51

I AM IRAJ MCGRAIN,

THE VICE MASTER OF CLAN DZARWI.

FROM WHOM DID YOU HEAR THAT WE HAVE DEFEATED AN ORC HERO?

...I DEDUCED IT.

DEDUCED? EXPLAIN.

I WAS CURIOUS WHY A HUGE CLAN LIKE YOURS WOULD DESCEND TO THE THIRD FLOOR TO PLACE THE ORC COLONY UNDER YOUR CONTROL.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT AS MANY SUPPLIES AND CONSUMABLES IF YOUR OBJECTIVE HERE WAS TO SLAY SOME ELITE ORC WARRIORS.

THERE HAD TO BE AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE.

TIER-5 MONSTER ORC HERO.

IT CAN BE SUMMONED BY OFFERING 777 MANA STONES DROPPED BY ELITE ORC WARRIORS ON THE ALTAR IN THE CENTER OF THE COLONY.

THIS MONSTER IS A HIDDEN BOSS, IN THAT SENSE.

THEY PROBABLY HAD BROUGHT THAT MUCH SUPPLY WITH THEM...

JUST IN CASE THEY ENCOUNTER THE ORC LORD, WHICH APPEARS EXTREMELY RARELY.

I TAKE IT THAT YOU DIDN'T ENCOUNTER THE ORC LORD, SINCE YOU STILL HAVE SOME LEFTOVER SUPPLIES?

HA. TO THINK YOU COULD FIGURE THAT OUT AS WELL.

ALRIGHT, THEN PLEASE CONVINCE ME AS TO WHY WE NEED YOU.

I AM A BARBARIAN WITH IMMORTALITY IMPRINT.

I'VE CONSUMED ESSENCES OF THE VAMPIRE, AND THE GUARDIAN OF THE RIFT AT THAT...

...AND OF UNDEAD GOLEM, WITH PAIN TOLERANCE PROPERTY.

THAT EXPLANATION SUFFICES.

SO YOU CAN KEEP BATTLING WHILE TAKING POTIONS TO TEND TO YOUR WOUNDS.

ANYTHING ELSE?

...NO.

HMM. YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT TOO SHABBY FOR A THIRD FLOOR ADVENTURER.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,

COMPARED TO THE TWO WARRIORS WE HAVE LEFT AMONG US...

...YOU'D MAKE A FANTASTIC DEFENDER!

BJORN YANDEL. I ACCEPT YOUR OFFER.

V-VICE MASTER? BUT THAT ESSENCE WAS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY HOUSE--

ENOUGH!

WE CAN TELL THEM WE WERE UNABLE TO ACQUIRE THE ESSENCE.

IF WE CAN SAVE ONE MORE MEMBER OF OUR CLAN AT THE EXPENSE OF A SINGLE ESSENCE, THEN IT'S WORTH IT.

KARLSTEIN! BRING THE ESSENCE HERE!

GOOD. THAT TAKES CARE OF THE FIRST OBSTACLE!

51

THERE ARE THREE ORC HEROES THAT CAN BE SUMMONED BY OFFERING MANA STONES ON THE ALTAR.

AND EACH OF THEM IS AN ELITE BOSS, WITH A GIVEN NAME.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE UNIQUE MONSTERS, WITH QUITE ANNOYING SETS OF ABILITIES.

THAT IS WHY A BAND OF ADVENTURERS IS REQUIRED TO HUNT AN ORC HERO DOWN, DESPITE THEIR TIER.

THESE ORC HEROES, ALSO KNOWN AS THE THREE ORC BROTHERS, DROP ESSENCES OF DIFFERENT COLORS DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE IT IS.

DENISH DROPS THE RED ESSENCE, CONTAINING CRY OF FRENZY.

BELTA DROPS THE BLUE ESSENCE, CONTAINING FIGHTING FLAG.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TARUGAS DROPS THE GREEN ESSENCE...

CONTAINING THAT SKILL, WHICH IS CRUCIAL TO MY SHIELD BARB BUILD.

I WONDER WHICH COLOR THEY ACQUIRED.

IT'S GREEN.

THIS ISN'T GOOD. EVERY TIME I GOT THIS LUCKY...

...THINGS GOT WAY OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU HAVE CONSUMED THE ESSENCE OF ORC HERO.

STRENGTH INCREASED BY 70.

AGILITY INCREASED BY 35.

AGGRESSION INCREASED BY 40.

PHYS. RES. INCREASED BY 20.

BONE DENSITY INCREASED BY 30.

MY BODY IS TEEMING WITH ENERGY.

IS IT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED AGGRESSION STAT?

I CAN'T WAIT TO PUT THIS STRENGTH TO THE TEST ALREADY.

TAKE OFF YOUR EQUIPMENT FOR A MOMENT.

AND USE ALL OF THESE.

SCROLLS AND POTIONS...!

THEY'RE PROVIDING LEGIT SUPPORT, AS EXPECTED OF A HUGE CLAN.

MISSHA. PLEASE HOLD ONTO THIS.

YOU USED PHYSICAL DEFENSE AUXILIARY SCROLL.

YOU USED ADVANCED ENDURANCE AUXILIARY SCROLL.

YOU USED ENERGY REGENERATION AUXILIARY SCROLL.

YOU USED STRENGTH ENHANCEMENT POTION.

STRENGTH TEMPORARILY INCREASED BY 10.

YOU USED TEARS OF SPIRIT.

ELEMENTAL RES. TEMPORARILY INCREASED BY 10.

YOU USED BASILISK FLASK.

PAIN TOLERANCE TEMPORARILY INCREASED BY 10.

AARON DEFLAIN USED [BLESSING OF SPIRITS] ON YOU.

YOUR MAG. RES. IS GREATLY ENHANCED.

AARON DEFLAIN USED [REGENERATION FLAME] ON YOU.

AME

YOUR PHYS. REGENERATION IS GREATLY ENHANCED.

TARROTES FIAN USED [COFFIN OF SACRIFICE] ON YOU.

YOUR THREAT VALUE IS GREATLY ENHANCED.

FOR THE MASTER OF BLOOD SKILL...

...KARLSTEIN'S SPECIAL ABILITIES WILL BE THE MOST HELPFUL, REGARDLESS OF WHICH ONE YOU OBTAIN.

YOU USED [MASTER OF BLOOD].

YOU HAVE TEMPORARILY ACQUIRED TAYLON KARLSTEIN'S PASSIVE SKILL, [THE UNCLEAN].

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU OBTAINED THE UNCLEAN, JUDGING FROM THE EYE COLOR CHANGE.

PASSIVE [P] THE UNCLEAN - ALL ACTIVE SKILLS ARE ENHANCED BY 1.5 TIMES, AT THE EXPENSE OF 1 ESSENCE SLOT.

SHALL WE GET STARTED NOW?

YEAH.

I MUST SLOWLY IMAGINE IN MY HEAD...

...THE SKILL I ACQUIRED BY CONSUMING THE ORC HERO ESSENCE.

YOU USED GIANTIZATION.

YOU HAVE ENLARGED AND YOUR THREAT AND PHYSICAL STATS INCREASED ALONG WITH GROWTH.

INTRODUCING, THE BARBARIAN HERO MODE.

O-OH, MY LORRRRRD.

HOLY...

HE'S LITERALLY BECOME A MONSTER.

WHOA... HUMONGOUS...!

...LET'S COVER HIM UP A LITTLE BIT.

CAN YOU GO FETCH A FEW MORE CAPES?

ALRIGHT, I'M READY FOR BATTLE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE THIRTY MINUTES REMAINING. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT?

YEAH.

BECAUSE NOTHING...

...CAN STOP ME RIGHT NOW!!

DON'T FALL BEHIND, AND FOLLOW HIM!!

I AM LEADING 23 CLAN MEMBERS AND MISSHA,

AS WELL AS 40 3RD-FLOOR ADVENTURERS THAT DID NOT GET SWAYED BY OTHERS.

THEY DECIDED TO JOIN THE FIGHT INSTEAD OF HANDING OVER THE EQUIPMENTS.

AS PER THE APPROVAL BY VICE MASTER MCGRAIN...

WHO HAPPENS TO BE QUITE PRAGMATIC AND FLEXIBLE, THEY WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT AS OFFERINGS IN THE BATTLE.

YOU HAVE ACTIVATED [OFFERING IMPRINT].

YOUR PHYSICAL ABILITY WILL BE TEMPORARILY ENHANCED PER NUMBER OF OFFERINGS WITHIN A 300 FEET RADIUS.

I AM BURNING WITH THE DESIRE TO DESTROY THINGS, ALONG WITH ENHANCED STRENGTH!

THANK GOODNESS I HAVE NO REASON TO CONTAIN THIS FRENZY WITHIN!

MINIATURE RIAKIS CLONES ARE JUMPING ME.

ALTHOUGH EACH OF THEM IS NEARLY 7 FEET IN LENGTH...

...YOU'RE STILL NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR ME!!

WRATH OF RIAKIS WAS TRIGGERED.

YOU HAVE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT CHAOTIC DAMAGE.

THIS IS WHY THE ROLE OF THE MAIN TANK IS SO VITAL IN THE EVIL HIATUS PHASE OF THIS BOSS FIGHT.

URGH...!

THESE CLONES SELF-DESTRUCT AND DEAL DAMAGE TO THE PLAYER THAT KILLS THEM, IGNORING EVASIVENESS.

THE PAIN IS ABSURD. IT'S RATTLING MY ENTIRE BODY, DESPITE MY HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE.

FORTUNATELY FOR ME, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS PROTECT MY HEART SOMEHOW THANKS TO THE VAMPIRE ESSENCE I CONSUMED.

YOU WILL NOT DIE UNTIL YOUR HEART IS DESTROYED, DUE TO THE EFFECT OF [SOURCE OF DARKNESS].

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A RENOWNED SWORDSMAN OR AN INFAMOUS SNIPER.

IF YOU'RE A GLASS CANNON, YOU ARE USELESS AGAINST THEM.

THAT WAS DANGEROUS!

DON'T KILL TOO MANY CLONES AT ONCE!

UGH, THAT'S NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS.

IN GIANTIZED STATE, THE SIZE OF THE CHARACTER IS DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO THE INCREASE IN THREAT VALUE, WHICH WILL PULL THE AGGRO TOWARDS ME.

AND BECAUSE BARBARIANS ARE NATURALLY HUMONGOUS, THE TOTAL THREAT OUTPUT IS IMMENSE.

I'M BASICALLY IN PROVOCATION MODE.

THAT'S HOW THE ADVENTURERS BEHIND ME ARE ABLE TO MOVE IN RELATIVE COMFORT.

HI-YAH!

URGH!

REFLECTED DAMAGE...!

IT'S TRUE. THE ATTACKER SUSTAINS EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT HE OR SHE DEALS...!

PRIEST! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? HURRY UP AND HEAL--

STOP TAKING NEEDLESS DAMAGE AND STAY BEHIND ME!!

ARGH, YOU LITTLE...!

CALM DOWN, LORD TAYLON.

I ALONE MUST PULL ALL OF THE AGGRO UP FRONT, IN ORDER TO TRIGGER...

YOUR VITALITY HAS FALLEN BELOW 50%.

ALL DEFENSIVE AND RESISTANCE STATS HAVE INCREASED DUE TO THE EFFECT OF PASSIVE SKILL [HEROIC PATH].

...ORC HERO'S PASSIVE SKILL, HEROIC PATH.

THIS SKILL IS THE REASON I WANTED TO ACQUIRE THE ORC HERO ESSENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT STARTS RAISING ALL FORMS OF DEFENSE ONCE MY HEALTH FALLS BELOW 50%...

AND THIS BUFF MAXIMIZES IF IT'S BELOW 20%.

IN ORDER TO BEST UTILIZE THIS ASPECT...

DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF ME!

I WILL TAKE CARE OF MONSTER ATTACKS BY MYSELF!

OH? SO YOU DECIDED TO FOLLOW FROM DISTANCE AS WELL?

YES, MASTER HERNESION.

GOOD. VICE MASTER HAS MADE A WISE DECISION.

WE MUST KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR SURROUNDINGS, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE OF ATTACKS COMING FROM OTHER DIRECTIONS.

YOU'RE RIGHT, SIR.

URGH...!

EACH TIME I TRY TO SWING MY WEAPON, THAT EXCRUCIATING PAIN RETURNS TO MY ARM.

I ACTUALLY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FALL BACK BECAUSE OF THIS, LIKE A COWARD.

I WAS ONLY THERE FOR A MOMENT, BUT I'M CONVINCED.

THAT ISN'T SOMETHING A LIVING PERSON COULD ENDURE.

JUST WHO THE HELL IS THAT GUY?

I INITIALLY THOUGHT HE WAS ANOTHER RUN-OF-THE-MILL ADVENTURER...

THAT MY INCOMPLETE LOSER OF A SISTER WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH.

HE WAS AN UNREMARKABLE, NOVICE BARBARIAN WARRIOR...

...THAT COULDN'T RAISE HIS VOICE DESPITE BEING TOLD TO BUGGER OFF.

EVEN IF HE HAS HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE...

AND THE ROLE OF A PROTECTOR OF A PARTY...

...HOW CAN HE SHOW NO SIGN OF RELUCTANCE AS HE CHARGES FORTH, IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS?

I HAD HEARD ABOUT BARBARIANS AND THEIR FEARLESSNESS, BUT TO SEE IT FIRSTHAND...

IT'LL BE AMAZING TO HAVE A GUY LIKE HIM IN OUR CLAN!

VICE MASTER WAS SPOT ON ABOUT ENLISTING HIS HELP. I REALLY HAD NO IDEA HE WAS GOING TO DO SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE NAME OF THAT BARBARIAN?

HE HAS TO BE QUITE WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS BRAVERY.

IT'S AS IF HE DOES NOT FEAR DEATH AT ALL.

I DREAD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM!

WAS IT MISSHA, MISS? JUST WHO IS YOUR BARBARIAN COMPANION?

HUH? I-I'M NOT SURE MYSELFFF...

IF THE LEGENDARY BARBARIC HERO...

...VALCAN WAS TO COME BACK ALIVE...

...HE WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT, I'M SURE.

THERE IS NO NEED TO WONDER WHAT THE NAME OF THAT BARBARIAN MAY BE AT THIS MOMENT.

THERE! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!

LET'S PICK UP SOME SPEED!

BECAUSE VIRTUALLY EVERYONE WILL KNOW ABOUT HIM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE DURATION OF FIELD EFFECT [EVIL HIATUS] HAS EXPIRED.

HAS

[BJORN YANDEL] LEVEL: 3 PHYSIQUE: 330.1 (NEW+131) SPIRIT: 168.3 (NEW+62) SPECIAL ABILITY: 152.4 ITEM LEVEL: 782 (NEW+83) GENERAL COMBAT POWER: 846.3 (NEW+1) ESSENCE ACQUIRED: UNDEAD GOLEM-TIER 7 VAMPIRE-GUARDIAN-TIER 5 ORC HERO-TIER 5 (NEW)