Chapter 35 - Warrior (3)

My mind is blank, my vision blurred.

The pain? That goes without saying. It feels as if my entire body has been slashed to ribbons and left soaking in salt water.

I want to let everything go right this instant, but...

'Bullshit.'

I force myself to cast aside that weakness.

At a crossroads, a person has to choose. What will they abandon, and what will they protect in exchange?

SHUNK!

Something sharp plunges deep into my thigh.

It's fine. A wound there won't immediately threaten my life.

But perhaps the sight of prey that won't die no matter how much he tears it apart has infuriated him.

"Kyaaaagh!"

The vampire bastard's movements grow even more vicious.

But my job hasn't changed: raise the shield that's been slashed and shredded to half its size, and somehow keep my vital spots covered.

CRACK!

Unable to withstand a rank-5 monster's attack, the shield is torn away, leaving only its handle.

Without a moment's hesitation, I raise my arms in its place to protect my head.

At that instant—

CRASH!

Something other than claws strikes my head and shatters, showering me with sharp fragments.

「The Corpse Golem's Essence seeps into the character's soul.」

The pain dulls in an instant.

「Pain Tolerance increases by +70.」

Fresh vitality fills my body, pushed to its limits.

「Strength increases by +15.」

My vision, hazy as if shrouded in fog, clears.

The first thing I see is the vampire's sharp claws sweeping toward the arms covering my head.

The sight makes me instinctively picture my own arms being severed whole, but...

What actually happens is entirely different.

SLASH!

The claws sink all too easily into soft flesh.

But that's as far as they are allowed to go.

CLACK!

They hit bone and stop dead.

Only then do I realize what this mysterious power is.

「Bone Hardness increases by +55.」

「Poison Tolerance increases by +12.」

「Perception decreases by -5.」

「Appetite increases by +9.」

「Weight increases by +21.」

「The Passive Skill [Acidic Bodily Fluid] makes the character's blood acid...」

Relief and regret wash over me at once.

'They gave me the Corpse Golem's Essence...?'

This means I'll have to make enormous revisions to my build.

Still, if I take a shortsighted view of the present for the first time in a very long while...

It's a very positive development. My chances of survival have improved.

TAP!

I roll backward across the ground and get to my feet.

Is it thanks to Pain Tolerance? With the pain somewhat under control, moving is no longer impossible.

'But what happens to the Guardian's Essence? Now that I've absorbed the Corpse Golem's Essence, is that deal off?'

I let the fleeting thought pass. I can worry about that later.

"Kyaaaagh!"

Apparently intrigued by his suddenly revitalized prey, the vampire eagerly lunges at me.

I move to evade him, but what follows isn't much different from before. Of course absorbing a single rank-7 Essence isn't going to let me overpower a rank-5 monster.

The meat shield that was getting the shit beaten out of it on the ground can now stand and move around.

'That's about all that's changed.'

Despite that self-deprecating assessment, I give a small chuckle.

SHUNK! SLASH! CLACK!

Claws gouge my flesh and tear through my organs.

My regeneration is slow, perhaps because all the potion I swallowed in advance and stored in my stomach has been digested.

But it doesn't matter. The mage, who'd been holding back, has apparently realized her own life is in danger and started pouring her fortune into this.

CRASH!

A glass bottle flies over and shatters, spilling its contents over my body.

「The body rapidly regenerates due to the Recovery (High) effect.」

Could that be a high-grade potion? No matter how I look at it, it's more effective than the potion the blond gave me.

HISSSSS!

My wounds start closing even faster than before.

I charge straight at him. So what if my flesh is cut and my muscles torn? It'll all heal in a few seconds anyway.

"Kyaaaaagh!"

"Waaaaaagh!!!"

Roaring back so I won't be outdone, I engage the vampire at point-blank range.

I don't have a choice. My hammer is far away, and my shield is a pile of scrap.

"Kya, kyaagh?!"

Perhaps he's never encountered an explorer who uses grappling techniques. As I cling to his back like a cicada and squeeze his neck, he becomes thoroughly flustered.

Hmm. Is that distress rather than bewilderment?

"Kyaaagh!"

Smoke rises where our flesh touches.

HISSSS!

I can't tell for certain whether it's caused by the acid in my blood touching him or the potion healing my body...

But it doesn't matter.

'Probably both.'

Even as we struggle, another potion bottle flies over.

CRASH!

「The body rapidly regenerates due to the Recovery (High) effect.」

So there really is only a fine line between potion and acid.

The instant the potion shatters, the vampire in my chokehold screams even louder and flings me away with ridiculous ease.

The overwhelming difference in Strength is painfully clear.

But...

"Fuck, you're nothing special, asshole."

I'm starting to see a way forward.

In this state—Invincible Barbarian Mode—I can hold out against this bastard for minutes on end.

I'm certain of it.

"Bjorn! I'll help!"

Even Aynar rejoins the battle.

"What about Murad?"

"The porter is looking after him!"

Her return makes things even better. I take potions and serve as the main tank, while she swings her greatsword whenever things get dangerous, buying me a moment to breathe.

The fight becomes much easier.

"Kyaaaagh!"

"Aynar! Dodge! The crows are coming!"

The moment she leaps back at my shout, his body turns into hundreds of crows that swoop at us. But they fail to reach us, since we've moved first.

"You're incredible as always, Bjorn! How did you know that was coming?"

Well, he always squints one eye before using it. It feels less like a racial trait of vampires and more like a habit peculiar to this guy.

It really does feel as though the end is in sight.

"My apologies! You've all held out splendidly! Hahaha!"

Soon, the dwarf rejoins the battle too, his injuries healed with potions. He's even brought the porter along.

"I'll help from now on."

"We'll support you from the flanks!"

Naturally, I end up continuing as the main tank.

It's not as though they're all trying to save their own skins. They really seem to think this is more efficient.

The third-year dwarf warrior tells the second-month barbarian,

"Bjorn, son of the great warrior Jandel! I'm sure you can do this! Hahaha!"

He probably means it as a compliment, but...

'So I have to work like a fucking dog right to the end.'

Am I really fated never to have an easy ride for my entire life?

Not that this is anything new by now.

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!"

As the four of us fight the vampire in a formation centered on me, the moment I've been desperately awaiting finally arrives.

["I'm ready."]

If that means she's recovered her mana, finished chanting Sunspot Sphere, and even completed Elemental Enhancement...

Then everything is finally in place.

In other words, it's time to end this fucking endless fight and get out of here.

["I can cast the spell whenever you need."]

The moment I hear that confirmation, I roar,

"Murad! Now! Use Lightning Unleash!"

We haven't arranged this. I haven't even mentioned it once.

But the dwarf obeys immediately without a word of protest.

BZZT! BZZT!

Yellow light gathers over his hammer, and sparks begin to fly.

「Hikurod Murad has cast [Lightning].」

It's the ability of the rank-7 monster Elatreck. Its effect is to send a powerful electric current through part of the body.

With it active, the dwarf lowers his hammer, taking a stance as if preparing an upward swing.

"You'd all best stand back a moment! Hahaha!"

After that brief warning, he swings his hammer through empty air with all his might.

The fact that he's far from his target, the vampire? A trivial detail like that isn't a problem.

「Hikurod Murad has cast [Unleash].」

Unleash is one of the rare conversion-type abilities in [Dungeon and Stone]. Its effect lets the user expel energy acquired through another ability.

WHOOOOSH!

The current gathered around the hammer shoots out in a sphere like a cannonball...

And literally explodes.

KABOOM!

Its physical force is unimpressive compared with the noise. It doesn't leave a crater or tear the stricken vampire's limbs off. Nothing like that.

However...

「Vampire Duke Cambormir has been [Stunned].」

Raw power was never the point of this combo.

Leaving the dwarf, who has instantly staggered a rank-5 monster, behind me, I signal toward the rear.

In a very analog fashion.

"RAVEN!!!!"

Thankfully, the signal seems to get through. An intense light immediately gathers on a rooftop some two hundred meters away.

I hurriedly retrieve the item hidden in my boot.

Goddess' Tears, a little gem the size of a fingernail. The very thing I've saved through crisis after crisis for this moment alone.

TAP TAP TAP!

Clutching it tightly, I sprint forward and shove it into his maw.

THWACK!

Then I slam his mouth shut with an uppercut, putting all my strength into it.

CRUNCH.

Something breaks. A moment later, brilliant white light bursts from his mouth.

「Goddess' Tears has been destroyed.」

「[Grace] descends upon the location of its destruction.」

「[Grace] temporarily seals all of Vampire Duke Cambormir's resistances and inflicts heavy damage.」

Blood pours like mad from the vampire's mouth. He looks intact on the outside, but his insides must be completely fucked.

It's startling all over again. So this alone really won't kill him.

「The powerful impact changes Vampire Duke Cambormir's [Stunned] status to [Paralyzed].」

His fingers twitch, as if the stun has worn off.

'Not yet? We can't afford any more delay...'

Just as I turn to look behind me with that thought—

「Allua Raven has cast the rank-6 attack spell [Sunspot Sphere].」

A dazzling sphere, rippling pitch-black, flashes right past my nose.

Regret hits me too late.

KABOOOOM!

Ah, fuck. I should've run sooner...

* * *

「The character is caught in the explosion of [Sunspot Sphere] and is [Stunned].」

「Vampire Duke Cambormir has cast [Pain Sharing].」

「Hikurod Murad is [Stunned].」

「Aynar Pheneline is [Stun...」

* * *

BEEEEEEP.

A piercing tone rings in my head, like a broadcast channel after the national anthem has ended.

Through that ringing, I hear people talking. Their conversation sounds like a comedy routine on TV.

["How can you sell cooked meat at a butcher shop?!"]

["No! This is fresh meat!"]

["How is it fresh meat when it's cooked?!"]

["But..."]

Listening to their exchange, I open my eyes.

["It's still alive, isn't it?"]

I see a dark sky. The smell of roasting meat fills my nose.

Is that coming from me?

"Ghuuurgh..."

When I open my mouth, a rasp escapes my parched throat.

My hearing works fine, too. I decide to focus on the positives as much as possible.

"Khurgh! Blegh!"

Sunspot Sphere is an attack spell with the solar element, a combination of fire and holy elements.

Naturally, it's less powerful than Fireball of the same rank.

That's one small mercy for me. Otherwise, I really might have died on the spot.

'But why is it so quiet...?'

I was caught in Sunspot Sphere and briefly knocked unconscious. That much is clear, but I don't have enough information to understand the present situation.

Why haven't I been treated yet? And why can't I hear anything around me?

"..."

Planting my fluid-oozing hands on the ground, I push myself up. Then I force my eyes to focus and look ahead.

First, I see the vampire bastard.

"Fuck."

Why is that thing alive?

Of course, he's a complete wreck too. Both arms have been torn off, and his upper chest has been gouged open deep enough to expose bone. He even seems unconscious.

But...

「Vampire Duke Cambormir's regeneration increases dramatically due to the effect of [Immortal].」

Even now, his wounds are closing.

Considering that it scales with lost HP, it won't take long for the flesh on his chest to heal and both severed arms to regrow.

"Mother...fucker..."

Looking around, I see several people collapsed on the ground. The dwarf, Aynar, and that porter bastard.

For some reason, I suspect the mage on that distant rooftop is in the same state...

I'm confused.

What kind of fucked-up situation is this? We've practically finished him, so why is everyone unconscious? What the hell happened while I was out? It doesn't even look like much time has passed.

Questions well up, but I decide to set them all aside and take a step with feet that barely obey me.

THUD.

I still can't make sense of the situation. But one thing is perfectly clear.

What do I have to do right now?

THUD.

Vampire Duke Cambormir.

I have to finish him before he wakes up. There's no other answer.

No matter how rich the mage is, her potion supply can't be infinite. It's safe to assume that surviving on potions like before is no longer an option.

THUD.

So I keep walking, even as I stagger.

The pain piercing even my Pain Tolerance? I pretend not to feel it and extend a leg that smells like steak.

THUD.

Pain is a signal to live. At least, that's what I believe.

There was a time when I believed the opposite, but this is what I believe now.

So I keep walking.

THUD.

Up close, this vampire bastard smells like roasted meat too. I let my knees give way and all but collapse astride him.

"You...fugging...bastard..."

The chest wound that exposed his bones has already filled in with a considerable amount of flesh while I walked over.

I can't possibly keep myself from swearing.

THUD!

So I slam my fist into his chest.

A vampire's weakness is the heart. These bastards can revive even with their brains smashed, as long as their hearts are intact.

'Oh, so that's why his arms were torn off. He blocked Sunspot Sphere with them?'

Belatedly, I picture that instant I didn't witness, but as always, I let the thought pass.

THWACK!

I bring my fist down again.

I've never felt the absence of my equipment more keenly. But without teeth, you still have to chew and swallow with your gums.

THWACK!

I have no idea where my mace is, and I tossed the shield somewhere nearby after it turned to junk ages ago.

Of course, Aynar's greatsword and the dwarf's war hammer are lying on the ground...

'Didn't think to pick those up.'

Not that I'd have had the strength anyway.

As I keep pounding away, the joints of my crumpled, punctured half armor tear apart, and it falls to the ground.

'My 360,000 Stones...'

Looking at the half armor, spattered with acidic blood and corroded all over, I doubt it can even be repaired.

Though something else is really wearing on my sanity.

"Fucking hell."

This is like pouring water into a bottomless jar. No matter how much I pound him, nothing changes.

Why are his ribs so damn tough? I'd thought that if I kept hitting them, they'd break and pierce his heart.

'Fine. I'll give up on this plan.'

I've always liked having a plan B. Because plan A has almost never worked.

Maybe it's my wretched fate, but no matter what I do, some fucked-up thing always happens at the end.

'Come to think of it, I've never tried this before...'

... Is this how I do it?

Erwin said a precise mental image was important.

'Flesh Explosion.'

Huh. It really works.

BOOM!

The hand resting on his chest explodes.

The blast isn't particularly powerful, but the acid mixed into the flesh and blood gouges a small hollow in his chest.

Even that regenerates quickly, but...

'I never expected once to be enough anyway.'

I cast [Flesh Explosion] repeatedly.

After about ten uses, perhaps?

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

My left hand is completely fucked.

Maybe thanks to the increased Bone Hardness, its bones are intact and only the flesh is gone. I look like some kind of skeleton.

Anyway, I can't use my left hand anymore.

'The right hand's turn, then.'

Even as I think no sane person would do this, I keep repeating the words in my head.

I place my right hand on his chest.

'Flesh Explosion, Flesh Explosion, Flesh Explosion...'

And keep setting it off.

I ignore the pain as best I can as it climbs to new heights without limit.

It feels like I'm going to die, but I'm not doing this to die.

I will survive.

BOOM!

After about eight more uses, my body sways.

I feel as though just a few more will do it, but...

「Warning: The character's HP is below 1%. Failure to receive prompt treatment may result in the character's death.」

I can feel it instinctively. I've reached a point where willpower alone can't sustain me anymore.

I have to stop, even now. Otherwise, I might kill the vampire bastard, but I'll die too.

Even as instinct tells me that, reason delivers its verdict.

'If I'm going to die either way, even if I stop...'

I mustn't stop.

It's certainly not because I want to sacrifice myself for my companions.

BOOM!

Some people might think I'm a crazy bastard for doing this, but...

In that split second, I'm certain.

This is the one path that gives me even the slightest chance of surviving.

BOOM!

The moment I detonate my flesh once more—

「Warning: The character's HP has reached 0%.」

I feel something change.

How do I describe it? It feels like something is draining from my entire body, yet somehow my body is growing lighter.

Soon, I understand.

「Beginning countdown.」

Ah. So this is it.

The thing I called the final rally before death.

「Consumes 3 Willpower per second. (43/46)」

「Consumes 3 Willpower per second. (40/46)」

「Consumes 3 Willpower per second. (37/46)」

Even with death seemingly pressed against my back, I explode my flesh again.

BOOM!

Another hollow is gouged into his chest.

Is this a barbarian's battle instinct? Somehow, I can sense it more clearly than ever.

'Once.'

One more time. Just once more is all it'll take.

So...

'Flesh Explosion.'

Instead of my right arm, which has barely any flesh left, I press my chest tightly against him and trigger one last explosion.

At the same instant—

「You have defeated Vampire Duke Cambormir. EXP +5」

The vampire bastard's body turns into particles of light.

Yeah. So you can die after all.

「Advanced Mutant variety defeat bonus. EXP +1」

「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」

My chest swells.

Not figuratively. Literally.

Having experienced this before, I know exactly what's happening.

「The character's Level has increased.」

「Magic Power increases by +10.」

「The maximum number of absorbable Essences increases by +1.」

I've leveled up.

I'm not particularly happy. It was about time anyway...

And [Dungeon and Stone] isn't the kind of game that refills your HP when you level up.

「Consumes 3 Willpower per second. (16/46)」

How many seconds do I have left to live?

I can't say for sure, but five seconds or so at most.

'... So I have to leave the end to luck after all.'

No matter how many times I reconsider it, I can't possibly like this situation.

Still, I decide not to regret it.

'In the game, a Guardian has roughly a thirty-three percent chance of dropping an Essence in a rupture.'

33%.

Far too low a chance to stake my life on.

But incomparably higher than 0%.

'Even thinking it over again, there's no reason not to do it.'

I grin, as if shaking off my lingering regrets.

I struggled to the very, very end.

Now all I can do is wait for the result.

「Consumes 3 Willpower per second. (13/46)」

「Consumes 3 Willpower per second. (10/46)」

「Consumes 3 Willpower per second...」

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

As time passes, my eyes slowly close.

'Did I fail...?'

Not because of a mistake. Luck simply wasn't on my side.

'Maybe this is the ending that suits me best.'

I close my eyes, surrendering to the current.

Hoping that when I open them again, I'll be Lee Hansoo, a twenty-nine-year-old office worker.

"Heh."

Well, that's not going to happen.

...「[ Vampire's Essence—Guardian] seeps into the character's soul.」

「Natural Regeneration increases by +45.」

「Strength increases by +15.」

「Agility increases by +15.」

「Mana resistance increases by +30...」

...「 The Passive Skill [Source of Darkness] prevents the character from dying until the heart is destroyed.」

「The character's regeneration increases dramatically due to the effect of [Immortal].」

「The character's HP has recovered to 1% or higher.」

「Ending countdown.」

「Achievement Accomplished」

Condition: Survive after the countdown begins.

Reward: Mental permanently increases by +10.

「Bjorn Jandel」

Level: 3 (New +1)

Physical: 199.1 (New +87.7) / Mental: 105.3 (New +10) / Ability: 152.4 (New +129.4)

Item Level: 114 (New -104)

Overall Combat Index: 485.3 (New +201.1)

Obtained Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7, Vampire (Guardian) - Rank 5 (New)

「Abnormal growth rate detected.」

「The Moderator is watching this character.」