Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 379, 380, 381

   

C379, 380, 381

Chapter 379: Atlante (2)

After Amelia joined us, we first looted the bodies.

After all, one of them had fallen into the sea.

You'll be punished if you waste money like that.

“Navigator, sail the ship.”

“Where to…?”

“Pione Island.”

We returned to Treasure Island after the naval battle ended.

It was practically impossible to continue sailing without repairs. It had been a close call even getting here.

‘The ship is in worse shape than I thought…’

We had to constantly bail water as we sailed back, using the sails and oars since the mana propulsion device was destroyed. It seemed like it wasn’t the only thing that was damaged.

“…Finally, some rest.”

“It was a fun experience.”

Huh? Fun? She has strange tastes.

But it was a good experience, regardless of whether it was fun or not.

Erwen had even figured out how to use the water spirit to reverse the flow of water and bail it out.

We wouldn’t have to go through trial and error next time.

‘Right, that’s how you become a veteran explorer.’

Anyway, we returned to the island, unsummoned the ship, and then went inland and summoned all the damaged ships.

And this time, I checked their condition properly.

None of them were intact.

“…Emily, what do you think? Would it be more profitable to repair them and sell them, or just sell them as they are?”

“Well…”

Even Amelia, who was usually good at buying and selling, couldn’t give me an answer.

It meant that it was difficult to estimate their value.

“They’ll still be worth something. The materials alone are expensive for ships like these.”

“That’s true, but… Hey, navigator!”

“Yes!”

“Repair the ships.”

It wasn’t a question, but an order.

The navigator tilted his head, confused.

Damn it, he’s hopeless.

“Can’t you do it?”

The navigator flinched and then shook his head frantically.

“I’ll try… No, I can do it!”

His answer was filled with determination. He must have thought he would be abandoned like his companions if he was useless…

“Good, tell me if you need anything.”

“…Thank you!”

The navigator then ran towards the ships and started examining them carefully.

He seemed to be figuring out how to repair them.

I left the ships to him…

“Mage.”

“…Yes?”

“I want to transfer the ownership of the ships. Can you use that magic?”

“I can…”

Oh, really?

I had a hunch, seeing him hanging out with those pirates, but I didn’t expect him to actually be able to use it.

It was a rare magic.

“Good, then get ready.”

“Alright…”

“Wow, that tone… You don’t want to do it?”

“No! I want to!”

You should have just said that from the beginning.

I transferred the ownership of the ships after persuading the mage.

The first one was the flagship, whose owner had died, and then the two ships owned by the other two men.

But…

“I can’t transfer this one.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s too damaged…”

It was the ship that was hit by the ‘Lightning Spear’ that was amplified by 300%.

“The core magic circle is broken. It’s impossible to—”

“The magic circle is broken? But summoning and unsummoning worked fine.”

“Honestly, I don’t even know why those functions are still working…”

“Then we have no choice.”

I had to give up on one of the ships since the expert said it was impossible. We needed materials to repair it anyway.

The navigator, who had been looking at the flagship with a dejected expression, suddenly ran towards us.

“Um… can I take some planks from this?”

“Go ahead.”

“And… can I also have some help…?”

“You can have all three of us.”

“Thank you…!”

The navigator then started repairing the ships after receiving manpower support and consulting with the mage.

And we…

Swoosh.

…started organizing the loot we had dumped on the ground.

“This is… a jackpot.”

I wouldn’t know the exact amount until we sold it in the city, but the equipment was all high-quality.

Well, he was a 6th-floor explorer, so it was only natural.

Anyway, this should be enough to pay off the debt and even buy another mansion…

‘Is it… really this easy to make money?’

It felt surreal, remembering the days when I mined magic stones worth a single rock by killing goblins.

I felt a strange mix of emotions.

“Mister… then we don’t have to sell our house?”

“Of course not! Let’s get a better bed too.”

“A, a bed?”

Beds are important.

They improve your quality of life.

“Then can I get a new weapon too? There’s something I’ve been wanting…”

Amelia also mentioned something she wanted to buy, sensing an opportunity.

“…Of course.”

“This was worth it.”

“But… how much is it?”

Amelia glanced at Erwen and then whispered in my ear.

“…stones.”

It was double what I expected.

“……!”

I gasped but didn’t take back my words.

“Okay, buy it.”

It wasn’t a waste to invest in my companion…

“Huhu, so you’re going to forget about leaving me behind on the ship.”

…and I owed her a lot.

____________________

It took two days to repair the ships.

I didn’t know if it was fast or slow, but they were repaired perfectly.

Having a mage to assist with the repairs and the fact that the navigator had experience working at a shipyard were big factors.

‘He even has some repair skills…’

He seemed like a decent asset.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“A-are you talking to me?”

“Who else?”

“It’s Auyen Lokrob…”

Okay, at least it wasn’t Hans.

He passed the screening.

“That’s a good name. Good work, Nguyen.”

“It’s Auyen…”

“Ah, is that so?”

I patted the navigator’s shoulder, praising him for his work, and then we launched the repaired ships.

And…

“What are you waiting for? Get on board.”

“…Yes.”

The navigator boarded the ship with a look of dread.

The mage was next.

“You too.”

“…Alright.”

The remaining two looked at me nervously after the mage boarded.

I had brought them to the island alive because they had the Ship Summoning engraving. I couldn’t kill them on the ship because their ships would be released.

But I had only taken their equipment and left them behind because we needed help with the repairs…

“We’ll get on…”

“Yes, me too…”

They sighed and headed towards the ship as I stared at them.

But…

“Stop.”

“…?”

“You two can’t come with us.”

They weren’t skilled enough to join us.

Thud.

They stopped, blocked by my shoulder, and looked at me with a strange expression.

“So… we’re staying here…?”

They looked conflicted, as if they didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

But one of them was quick-witted.

“…Please take us with you. We’ll be useful.”

Hmm, maybe he would be…

But I didn’t change my mind.

“Just rest here.”

“Damn it…!”

Damn it, how common.

It was probably the most common last words I had heard since coming to this world.

Crack, crack!

I crushed their heads and threw their bodies into the sea. The sea monsters would take care of them.

Now, let’s go.

Splash, splash.

I walked through the blood-stained water, climbed the rope ladder, and boarded the ship.

Everyone else was already on board.

“…!”

The navigator, who had witnessed his former companions being abandoned, trembled as our eyes met.

Geez, he’s so easily scared.

‘Well, it’s good to be a bit tense.’

I patted his shoulder and then took out the map of the eastern sea that they had.

I pointed at a spot with my finger.

“We’re going here—”

“Of course!”

He answered immediately before I could even finish my sentence.

It was a satisfying attitude for a subordinate.

Right, a subordinate should be positive.

Well, I’ll have to fix his habit of interrupting.

Thud, thud.

I walked to the bow of the ship after seeing the navigator take his position at the helm.

And I shouted,

“Set sail!!”

I’ve always wanted to do that.

____________________

The navigator was like a bed.

He improved my quality of life.

“You’re saying we don’t have to stop at any islands?”

“Yes! Only unskilled navigators island-hop to confirm their location!”

He answered enthusiastically, not forgetting to promote himself.

“But I want to stop at these islands.”

“Then I’ll create a new route!”

“Oh, you’re useful.”

“Thank you! I’ll engrave your words in my heart! Forever!”

The navigator quickly created a new route and started sailing.

But could it be that the mage didn’t like it?

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue, looking at the navigator.

What, is he saying he’s different?

Mages always have to be superior.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The ship sailed through the vast ocean, cutting through the wind.

Erwen and I set up folding chairs and a parasol on the deck and relaxed.

‘This is how you sail.’

Our previous ship didn’t have this kind of space, and I had to constantly check our location and help Amelia.

A navigator made a world of difference.

“Emily, why don’t you come and rest?”

“…I’m good.”

“Why?”

“…Just…”

I tried to call Amelia over, but she just went back to her spot without even answering properly.

For reference, her spot was next to the navigator.

I watched them for a moment, and Amelia was observing the navigator as he steered the ship.

“Wait, why did you turn the wheel like that?”

“Ah, the sail is slightly tilted, see? It’s called an angled wind, and you have to slightly adjust the wheel when…”

Amelia was asking questions and actively engaging in conversation with the navigator.

She even had that look in her eyes.

She was listening intently, nodding her head.

I chuckled.

‘No wonder she looked a bit disappointed when I said I would let her sail the ship from now on.’

It seemed like she enjoyed steering the ship.

Well, she would deny it if I asked.

She would probably say she was just learning the skills for emergencies.

Anyway, time flew by.

It was a peaceful journey.

We sailed with the wind, stopped at islands when the navigator said we had arrived, killed monsters, and then moved on to the next island.

Amelia diligently learned navigation, and Erwen and I fished to kill time.

I found some fishing rods on the ship.

It’s good to experience everything.

You never know, we might have to rely on fishing for food someday.

“Oh! I got a big one!”

Surprisingly, you could catch something even on a moving ship if you left the fishing rod out.

“Wow… you’re amazing, mister.”

Most of the things we caught were ordinary fish.

Well, to be precise, they were 0-grade monsters, like the Deadmen we hunted in the Crimson Fortress.

They didn’t drop magic stones or essences when killed, and their bodies didn’t disappear.

But…

“It’s a Sea Horned Lizard!”

…occasionally, we would catch a monster.

That was why I couldn’t stop fishing.

[Sea Horned Lizard defeated. EXP +4]

Monsters that only appeared in the sea were difficult to encounter, let alone hunt.

It was a profitable hobby.

Anyway, we continued our peaceful journey east and left the starting area.

I heard Amelia and the navigator talking.

“Do you know why the compass stops working from here?”

“Well, there’s a story about a Sea God who plays pranks on explorers who enter his territory, but it’s probably just a myth.”

Hmm, is the Sea God Leviathan?

I would have to kill him someday…

“Anyway, it’s difficult to navigate from here, so the navigator’s skills are crucial. This is where most novice navigators hit a wall.”

“Then how do you find your way?”

“The stars, the sun, the temperature, the weather… they’re all clues. Of course, experience is the most important.”

“That’s fascinating. Can you tell me more?”

“Of course. Ah, we’ve caught the wind. Do you want to try steering the ship?”

“…Is that okay?”

“Of course. I’ll help you if you need it.”

“Okay…”

When did Amelia get so close to the navigator?

Is she trying to recruit him?

‘…Amelia wouldn’t do that.’

I chuckled and then took a nap. When I woke up, the wind had stopped.

We were in a windless zone, one of the special areas in the Great Ocean.

“It’s most convenient to use the mana propulsion device here.”

We passed through the windless zone using the magic stones we had accumulated, without having to row.

Ah, for reference, we had replaced the propulsion device Erwen destroyed, not repaired it. The other three ships also had propulsion devices.

We took all three of them and installed them on our ship.

It seemed like we needed three small propulsion devices to match the original output since our ship was a mid-sized vessel.

“There’s wind!”

After two days of sailing through the windless zone, we reached an area filled with reefs.

The Grand Rock, the easternmost region of the sea, where 99% of the islands were either rocky or volcanic.

I smiled, looking at the sea, which had its own unique charm.

‘We actually made it here after finding a navigator.’

It was time to explore the Submerged Island, Atlante.

---------------------------------

Chapter 380: Atlante (3)

The Submerged Island, Atlante.

It was located in the Grand Rock, the easternmost region of the 6th floor, and it was the place where I could obtain my second core essence after [Gigantification].

It wasn't difficult to reach.

You needed a ship that could sail to the Grand Rock.

The ability to freely dive deep into the sea, whether it was through magic, spirits, or skills.

And most importantly, the patience to endure repetitive tasks.

Those three things were all you needed to reach Atlante.

‘Time to grind.’

We entered the Grand Rock and carefully navigated the ship, avoiding the reefs and searching the area.

There was something we had to do before we could reach the Submerged Island, hidden beneath the easternmost region…

“Um… do you happen to know where we’re going…?”

The navigator couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked, and I hesitated for a moment before answering.

I didn’t see the point in hiding it anymore.

“Huh? A red rock island…?”

The navigator tilted his head at my answer.

“Yes, big enough for about twenty people to stand on.”

Three red rock islands were randomly generated in the Grand Rock every time the labyrinth opened. And we had to complete the unlock event on all three islands to reveal the hidden Submerged Island.

“…Okay.”

Surprisingly, the navigator didn’t question my orders.

“So that’s where we’re going.”

It seemed like he knew about the Submerged Island event.

He must be an experienced navigator.

“Then I’ll focus on searching and create the most efficient route.”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

The navigator, who now knew my goal, steered the ship with a more proactive attitude, and we found the rock island we were looking for on Day 4.

Splash.

A flat rock island, partially submerged in water.

We went to the center of the island and checked a crevice, and there were ostrich egg-sized eggs neatly arranged inside.

“Eggs? What do we do with these?”

Erwen, who was right behind me, asked curiously, and I chuckled.

That’s how hidden elements in [Dungeon and Stone] work.

Crack!

If it looks suspicious, you break it.

That’s what exploration is all about.

____________________

「The character has destroyed the Mermal’s nest.」

____________________

After smashing all the eggs, we waited.

“Something’s coming.”

“Huh?”

“Prepare for battle!”

As soon as I shouted, sea monsters started emerging from beneath the rock island.

Well, were they really ‘sea monsters’?

Splash.

I scanned the monster that was glaring at us, holding a trident.

It was bipedal and had human-like proportions.

But its blue skin resembled scales, and its shiny skin was covered in glowing tattoos.

And it was wearing clothes and had various hairstyles, unlike the other monsters, which all looked the same.

Well, its intelligence was probably no different from other monsters.

[Kyaaaaaaaaaak!]

A savage howl that sounded like gibberish.

The monsters, which had surrounded us, all charged towards us at once.

And…

「Mermal defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Warrior defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Archer defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Shaman defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Great Warrior defeated. EXP +4」

We gained a lot of new experience points, thanks to their diverse classes.

The battle itself wasn’t that difficult.

Hundreds of monsters were attacking, but their average level was below 6.

Crack, crack, crack!

I attracted most of the aggro with [Gigantification], and we were able to clear them all without any casualties.

But could it be that our performance was impressive?

“To think you did that against these monsters… It’s no wonder you’re in that state.”

The mage muttered in disbelief, and the navigator nodded in agreement.

Damn it, there’s no point in regretting it now.

“Mage, gather the magic stones if you have time to talk.”

“…Alright.”

We used the mage to gather the magic stones scattered around after the battle ended.

“An essence dropped. What should we do with it?”

“Leave it. It’s not worth much.”

“…….”

A Mermal essence had dropped, but we didn’t bother taking it.

We had a mage, and he even had a test tube, but it wasn’t cost-effective.

We couldn’t waste our two test tubes on this—

Rumble.

What the…

Why is the ground shaking?

“Mister?”

“Wait a minute.”

We stopped and observed the situation as we were about to board the ship. The tremor, which was traveling through the water, lasted for about a minute and then stopped, as if nothing had happened.

But I think I knew the reason.

「An underwater city has emerged from the depths of the sea.」

Someone had already cleared another rock island.

Then we didn’t have to waste time finding the other two.

“Is this good luck or bad luck…”

I couldn’t tell.

We had saved time, but the fact that the events on the other two islands had already been completed meant only one thing.

There was another competitor who was after the Submerged Island.

Of course, it wasn’t 100% certain yet.

Maybe they just cleared the event on their way to another location.

But…

‘I’ll find out when we get there.’

I decided to think about it later.

I had no intention of changing my plans, even if there was another competitor.

‘So, what about the members…’

I thought about it one last time, but I concluded that it was best to take everyone.

We needed someone to store the essences in test tubes if they dropped.

I had to take the mage.

And I also had to take Erwen, who could breathe underwater, and Amelia, who was a Guide.

Well, I didn’t need the navigator…

‘But it would be unsettling to leave him alone.’

“Mage, you said you could use underwater breathing magic, right?”

“Yes, but…”

“How long can you maintain it?”

“For how many people?”

“Three, including you.”

Erwen and I could breathe underwater with [Elemental Barbarian], so we just needed to cover Amelia.

We could also use the water spirit to help her breathe, but it was better to conserve our resources.

“About four hours, if I don’t cast any other spells.”

“That’s shorter than I expected, but it should be enough. Everyone, get ready. We’re going down.”

“…….”

The navigator and the mage nodded, gulping nervously.

Geez, they’re so dramatic.

They’re not even going to fight.

Splash.

I jumped into the water first.

I didn’t feel any discomfort, even though we were underwater, since I was linked to Erwen through [Elemental Barbarian].

And my vision was clear, as if I was wearing goggles.

Whoosh.

My body, which was naturally buoyant, quickly sank to the bottom.

I looked up and saw Amelia following us.

She had tied a rope to the navigator and the mage and was holding it like reins.

Ah, for reference, the navigator’s feet were shackled with heavy iron chains.

Thud!

My feet touched the ground after about ten minutes of descending. Amelia and the others soon arrived.

Click.

It was pitch black, so I activated the Light Gem and attached it to my helmet.

I hadn’t turned it on before because monsters would attack if they saw the light while we were descending.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The light only illuminated a small area.

Whoosh, whoosh.

I couldn’t speak, even though I could breathe, so I gestured for them to follow me.

We were in the dark depths of the sea, where even compasses didn’t work.

But finding our destination wasn’t difficult.

We had Amelia, the Guide.

「Deep Diver defeated. EXP +4」

「Sea Worm defeated. EXP +3」

「Shell Armor defeated. EXP +4」

「Mad Clopter defeated. EXP +5」

「Marimore defeated… 」

We killed various sea monsters as we traveled, and after about two hours…

…we reached our destination.

A submerged and ruined city.

We entered the city, and the remaining pillars emitted light, illuminating the surroundings.

Swaaaaaaaaaa…

[Wow…]

Erwen, the only one who could speak freely, gasped.

I felt the same way, even though I couldn’t express it.

‘It’s really magnificent in 3D.’

It felt like a real adventure. It would have been even more thrilling if I had stumbled upon this place without knowing anything about it.

Whoosh, whoosh.

We passed through the deserted ruins and climbed the stairs, entering the temple.

And…

[Huh…?]

…we arrived at a small room at the top of the pyramid-shaped temple.

Erwen’s eyes widened in surprise.

[It’s a portal…?]

Ah, didn’t I tell you?

I had expected her to know, considering I had Amelia, the Guide, lead the way.

I just shrugged and entered the portal since I couldn’t answer anyway.

「Character has entered Atlante.」

I hope the essence drops on the first try.

____________________

The Submerged Island, Atlante.

A hidden island you could reach by diving into the deep sea after clearing the rock island event.

Unlike ordinary islands, you had to go through a portal, but that didn’t mean it was a ‘rift’.

There was no Guardian.

The drop rate was the same as outside.

And there were no rift stones or Numbered Items.

So I called it a hidden field.

Lalkas’s Maze, where I first encountered the Dragonslayer, and the Otherworld, which I entered with the mirror I obtained after killing Milalorden on the 5th floor, were prime examples.

「Field effect - Atlante activated.」

「Status effect [Hyperventilation] applied.」

「Character is not affected by water, but all resource consumption is doubled.」

「Status effect [Challenger] applied.」

「Character cannot escape during battle.」

As expected of a special field, changes occurred as soon as we entered.

A red aura shimmered on the ground beneath my feet.

‘That’s the ‘Challenger’ effect…’

And although [Hyperventilation] didn’t have a visual effect, it was already active.

I could talk properly now.

“You can deactivate [Elemental Barbarian] now.”

Phew, I can finally breathe.

It was frustrating to communicate with hand gestures.

[Huh? But…]

Erwen hesitated.

[Huh? Mister, you can talk underwater?]

“I told you, didn’t I? You can deactivate it.”

[This is a strange place…]

Erwen deactivated [Elemental Barbarian], and the mage, after glancing at me, also dispelled his underwater breathing spell.

“This feels strange. I’m clearly underwater, but I don’t feel any discomfort. And I can move freely, just like on land.”

Amelia, as always, started examining her condition as soon as the environment changed.

“This is the Submerged Island, Atlante…”

“I’ve been on the 6th floor for over ten years, but this is my first time here…”

The mage and the navigator also expressed their admiration.

But then they seemed to get nervous.

“Um… what should we do now? We won’t be much help in battle…”

The navigator cautiously asked for my opinion, and I chuckled and gave them an order.

“All four of you, wait here and then slowly follow me in five minutes.”

“…Huh?”

The navigator tilted his head, confused, and the mage frowned.

And…

“Schuitz, you said 3rd-grade monsters appear here, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. Even you… can’t handle it alone…”

Amelia and Erwen expressed their concerns.

It was an understandable reaction.

The Submerged Island was one of the most difficult areas on the 6th floor.

And there were so many monsters that it was usually cleared by an expedition force.

But…

“Just listen to me. Have you ever seen me do anything dangerous?”

“…No.”

“You would be hard-pressed to find an example.”

…Damn it, that’s embarrassing.

“Anyway, I’m saying there’s no need to worry. Just because we can breathe and talk doesn’t mean we’re not underwater.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“Call me if you’re in danger! Okay?”

Erwen and Amelia finally let me go after I gave them a plausible explanation.

Okay, persuasion complete.

Thud, thud.

I slowly descended the stairs from the portal.

And the moment I stepped off the last step…

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

…dozens of red eyes gleamed in the darkness beyond the Light Gem’s reach.

They were Sea God Stones, monsters that appeared in the early stages of Atlante.

For reference, they were 5th-grade.

They were tower-type monsters that couldn’t move from their designated location, but they had high Physical Resistance and a slow but powerful long-range attack…

Thud.

…but I just stood there in the middle of them.

There was no need to draw my weapon.

This was much more efficient.

「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」

「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」

「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」

「Natural Regeneration has reached its maximum due to the passive skill [Origin].」

「Powerful Luck.」

「Reflects 150% of the received damage to the enemy.」

[Gachaat—!!]

「Sea God Stone defeated. EXP +5」

Now, let’s start the free exp grind.

-------------------------------------------------

Chapter 381: Atlante (4)

The Submerged Island, Atlante.

In fact, this was the most difficult part of raising a Shield Barbarian.

It wasn't called the second core essence for nothing.

Usually, by the time you reached this point, you would only have 4th-grade or lower essences.

It was impossible to obtain Stormgush's [Origin], Bion's [Transcendence], and Gachabon's [Risk] beforehand.

So, it was impossible to solo this area, even after dying and being reborn. You had to gather suitable companions and prepare thoroughly before entering.

Only after absorbing the essence from this area would your combat power increase dramatically, allowing you to start looting 3rd-grade essences.

'But somehow, the order has been reversed.'

Looking back, it all started with the Ogre essence.

I was lucky enough to obtain a high-grade essence early on, and that accelerated my growth like a snowball.

Like this.

「Mermal Priest defeated. EXP +6」

「Ravitor defeated. EXP +5」

「Underwater Guardian defeated. EXP +4」

「Nagakullos defeated...」

「...」

I just had to run and attract the monsters' aggro, and the experience points flowed in. It felt like I was practically speedrunning the area.

Of course, I had to take breaks in between.

Even I couldn't have infinite MP.

Especially not in this area with the [Hyperventilation] status effect, which doubled resource consumption.

"Mister!"

After a short break, my companions caught up to me, having gathered the magic stones.

"There's an essence here. What do you want to do with it?"

"Leave it."

The Mermal Priest was a 4th-grade monster, so it would be valuable if it dropped an essence... but I had already confirmed that it didn't.

There was no reason to waste our two test tubes on an unknown essence. It would be a slight gain if it was 5th-grade, but a loss if it was 6th-grade.

"Schuitz, how far have we come?"

"We're over halfway there."

"We've been moving in a straight line since entering this area. Is there a reason for that?"

"We can take care of the outer monsters later."

While I was talking to Amelia, Erwen chimed in.

"Ah, you're doing this because of the competitor you mentioned, right?"

It was a bit ambiguous.

Usually, I prioritized solving the most important tasks first.

But...

"Yeah, it's a possibility."

I couldn't deny that it had influenced my decision.

Atlante wasn't a rift.

Once the portal was opened, it remained open until the labyrinth closed, allowing explorers to freely enter and exit.

"What will you do if you encounter them?"

"Well..."

I answered instinctively and then continued,

"If they attack, we fight. If not, we just pass by."

"I see..."

Amelia nodded with a dubious expression.

I was about to move on, but I couldn't help but ask,

"You seem to have something to say."

"I was just thinking about what you would prefer."

"Prefer?"

"It's exactly what it sounds like."

"...?"

I stared at her, demanding a clearer explanation, and Amelia cautiously asked,

"Schuitz, aren't you hoping that they'll attack first?"

As soon as she said that, I felt a strange sense of recognition. And countless reasons to defend myself came to mind.

But I held back and asked again,

"Why would you think that?"

"It's not sudden. I've been thinking about it for a while, seeing how you act."

Amelia shrugged and glanced at the navigator and the mage.

I followed her gaze, and they quickly looked away, pretending not to have heard.

I couldn't understand.

"Why would you say that? Are you saying I should have let those guys who attacked me go?"

Amelia shook her head frantically at my slightly offended tone.

"That's not what I meant. It's just..."

"Just?"

"...Never mind. It was a silly thought."

Amelia dismissed the conversation and stepped back, and I didn't press her further.

Of course, I wasn't completely uninterested.

What was the unspoken thought hidden behind her words?

I couldn't know since she didn't answer.

But...

[Have you ever thought about it? You kill anyone who gets in your way, you kill anyone you suspect, and whenever you meet someone new, you're worried they might attack you. Human lives... they feel like game characters to you. You're a complete psychopath.]

I suddenly remembered a conversation I had with Lee Baekho.

It was a relatable statement back then, but it felt different now.

Especially the part about human lives feeling like game characters.

[Crack!]

One swing of my hammer, and a person dies.

Of course, the targets were always those I deemed worthy of death.

But...

[I-I'm sorry! Please spare me!]

The man I first killed.

When I killed Hans A, it wasn't like this.

Back then, I felt a psychological resistance. I had to constantly convince myself that it was something I had to do.

It was the same for a while after that.

I no longer hesitated, but I still felt a lingering unease.

It was the same even after returning to the city.

The expressions and gazes of those I killed would come to mind, forcing me to take cold showers and deliberately clear my head.

Yes, that was me back then.

But now?

'What did the captain of that ship look like?'

I couldn't even remember the face of the man I had killed just a few days ago.

The only things that came to mind were his equipment, the valuables he had, and the thrill I felt when I obtained them.

Was I getting used to it?

Or was I slowly changing?

"Mister, what are you thinking about?"

"It's nothing. We'll move again in about 30 minutes, so you should rest too."

I lay down on the muddy ground without hesitation and looked up.

The endless darkness of the labyrinth, stretching beyond the reach of the Light Gem's glow.

It was strange.

7th floor, 8th floor, 9th floor, 10th floor.

Only four floors remained.

If I just passed through them, I could return to the modern world through the Gate of the Abyss.

But...

Even though I had climbed much higher than when I was struggling to survive on the 1st and 2nd floors...

That place felt even further away.

_______________________

After a 30-minute break to replenish our MP, we continued our exploration of Atlante.

I would go first and clear the area, and then the others would follow behind and gather the magic stones.

'If we kill all the outer monsters, we'll make a fortune just from the magic stones.'

I chuckled to myself.

It was a bit funny.

No matter how much we earned from the magic stones, it wouldn't compare to the loot from the previous battle.

Three ships, albeit damaged, and over ten sets of high-grade equipment. It was a level of profit that could never be achieved by just hunting monsters.

「Powerful Luck.」

「Reflects 150% of the received damage to the enemy.」

The last monster that had been persistently following me finally disappeared into particles of light after a critical hit.

And...

'We're already at the boss room?'

We had reached the heart of Atlante.

A vast open space with dozens of massive pillars arranged in a circle.

And in the center of those pillars lay a giant egg.

A blue egg, several times larger than my [Gigantification] form.

'It looks exactly like the egg in the game.'

I chuckled at the thought.

「Character has witnessed a part of the myth.」

Suddenly, my heart pounded, and a sense of fulfillment filled me.

「Achievement Unlocked」

Condition: Mythical Discovery (1/5)

Reward: Soul Power permanently increased by +10.

What? My MP increased?

If this was real, it meant the 'achievement' system was also active...

'Then I must have unlocked quite a few mental achievements by now.'

I wasn't sure because mental stats didn't show any noticeable changes, but I would have to start achievement hunting next time.

There were some useful achievements from the 7th floor onwards.

'...I should have brought the others.'

I briefly regretted it, but I decided to confirm it next time.

The essence drop rate was low on the first try anyway.

I could do it next time.

Besides, I didn't even know if the achievement system applied to the natives.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

As I stepped inside the circle of pillars, a giant whirlpool appeared, blocking the exit.

It was a pointless effect, in my opinion.

With the [Challenger] status effect, I couldn't even think about escaping.

Thud.

As I walked towards the egg in the center, the whirlpool outside the pillars raged even more fiercely, as if the sea itself was angry.

And...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground shook with deafening roars at regular intervals.

The roars were getting closer...

Boom!

As soon as the tremors stopped, I looked up.

Two piercing blue eyes glared down at me from the darkness.

A 3rd-grade monster, the Deep Sea Giant.

You could only encounter this monster on the 9th floor, except for Atlante. Of course, by then, they would be roaming in packs, their weaknesses hidden, making them much more difficult to hunt.

[Serkima Dio Merder.]

Just like in the game, the giant spoke in an incomprehensible language.

I couldn't tell what it meant when I just read the text...

But I could feel the disdain in its voice.

Therefore...

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

I activated [Gigantification] and charged forward, shouting my ancestor god's name.

There was no one else here anyway.

Tadat.

Ah, of course, I wasn't charging towards the giant.

I was heading for the egg in the center.

That was the key to defeating this monster.

Thump!

The egg pulsed, as if it were alive.

Or rather, was it a heart that looked like an egg?

Boom!

I swung my Demon Crusher at the heart with all my might.

The giant roared and slammed its hand down, but I quickly dodged.

[Risk] only reflected damage from skills that consumed resources.

There was no reason to tank a normal attack.

「Deep Sea Giant has cast [Blade Torrent].」

As soon as its attack missed, the giant cast a skill.

Hundreds of water jets, sharp like bullets, shot towards me in a straight line.

I had to tank this...

「Powerful Luck.」

「Reflects 150% of the received damage to the enemy.」

What? A critical hit from the start?

[Gachaaat!]

I shielded my vital points and took the hit, and a skeleton appeared behind me, shouting triumphantly.

And...

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

A torrent of water, much thicker than the one the giant had unleashed, shot back at the giant.

[Groaaaaar!]

The giant staggered, as if it had taken significant damage.

It then swung its hand again.

Normally, I would have dodged...

Boom!

But I had already absorbed several 3rd-grade essences.

'I can tank this.'

I blocked the attack with my shield.

The damage transferred to my bones was quickly healed by [Origin].

「Deep Sea Giant has cast [Life Spring].」

The giant then used one of its signature skills to heal itself.

It drew life force from the heart to replenish its HP.

On the 9th floor, the Deep Sea Giants didn't have their hearts exposed like this.

This allowed them to boast incredible regeneration, making them worthy of their 3rd-grade status.

Well, it was meaningless here.

There was a reason why I always chose this monster as my first 3rd-grade essence.

Thump.

The heart pulsed weakly, much smaller than before.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

I didn't even bother dodging its attacks anymore and just hammered away at the heart.

The giant retaliated with various skills, but they were all reflected back at it, dealing even more damage.

And...

「Deep Sea Giant has cast [Life Spring].」

The cycle repeated.

The heart transferred life force to the body, and its defenses weakened.

After several repetitions...

Thump.

I swung my hammer at the heart, now several times smaller than before.

And right after...

Crack!

I experienced both good and bad news simultaneously.

「Deep Sea Giant defeated. EXP +7」

The good news was that I had easily defeated a 3rd-grade monster.

And the second good news was...

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The essence had dropped on the first try.

But this is where the bad news started.

'Damn it.'

The essence had dropped, but it wasn't the color I wanted.

Well, it didn't really matter in this situation.

I looked past the disappearing whirlpool and saw a figure standing there.

"...?"

Impeccably dressed in casual clothes, a stark contrast to the usual labyrinth attire.

Pale skin and a slender build, exuding an air of sophistication.

And platinum blonde hair, neatly styled in a pompadour.

"Wow, you really killed it alone?"

An unexpected encounter awaited me.

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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