Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Rift Guardians dropped Guardian essences.

They also dropped Rift Stones and Numbered Items.

And they gave a bonus EXP for defeating them, making them the most valuable monsters in the labyrinth.

The problem was their difficulty…

'The difficulty of a Rift Guardian is usually determined by the field.'

The Glacial Caves, a 1st-floor rift, was a prime example.

You had to fight while suffering from [Hypothermia], a field effect. The White Temple, a 3rd-floor rift, was similar.

The debuffs and other field effects made the battles much more difficult.

But this wasn't the Radiant City of Kalheum.

It was the most favorable condition, and I had been disappointed when he ran away last time.

But he had followed us here.

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

I charged forward, my shield raised.

Kwang!

He tried to stop me with a spear thrust, but it was futile.

He was pushed back and landed on the beach, tumbling head over heels.

Okay, the battle formation was set.

Swoosh.

I lowered my shield, not bothering to pursue him.

My hammer and [Swing] would deal a lot of damage, but…

That's what DPS dealers were for.

「Mul Armin has cast [Hypersensitive Skin].」

「Mul Armin has cast [Eternal Weakness].」

「Mul Armin has cast [Wraith Bomber]…」

Starting with Mul Armin's curses, a barrage of ranged attacks rained down on Mirayel.

「Jackson Janbil has cast [Moving Target].」

「Charlotte Amblot has cast the 4th-grade Attack magic [Spiral Drill].」

「Nua Merbochi has cast [Precision Shot].」

「Garton Cultner has cast [Catapult]…」

Mages, priests, ability users, archers…

All sorts of projectiles flew through the air.

Mirayel, surprisingly durable, continued to attack while being bombarded, and I kept pushing him back, creating openings for the ranged attackers.

And after about a minute…

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has cast [Blessing of Light].」

A bright light erupted from his body.

The first phase, where he only used [Return], was over.

'It's so much easier without the Guardian Angels.'

Well, the second phase was more troublesome.

[Blessing of Light] significantly increased his HP, Resistance, and Physical stats while also reducing his cooldowns.

And he started using this combo.

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has cast [Return].」

Finally, that OP skill.

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has cast [Comet Split].」

「All projectiles are duplicated.」

The single spear he had thrown into the sky split into dozens of smaller spears, raining down like a meteor shower.

It was a powerful projectile skill with an unavoidable damage increase effect, and it had become an AoE attack.

But if the aggro was properly managed…

Whoosh!

…all the spears would target the tank.

But I wasn't worried.

Clang, clang, clang!

The spears bounced off my shield harmlessly.

「Blocked.」

「Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.」

That's why [Unification] and [Gigantification] were so important.

A larger shield meant a larger blocking area.

And the shield's only weakness was that it couldn't block AoE attacks or projectiles larger than itself.

'Anyway, I blocked the first attack…'

The same pattern repeated.

He picked up a spear, charged at me, and I pushed him back.

And as he retreated…

Kaboom!

…the ranged attackers unleashed their attacks.

Normally, this kind of focused fire wouldn't be possible because of the monsters and Guardian Angels…

But this was a normal field.

Swaaaa—!

As we were fighting…

The spears that had been scattered across the beach disappeared.

That's why [Comet Split] was so troublesome.

It was a duplication skill, so there were countless ways to abuse it.

Like this.

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has retrieved the Verdant Spear.」

「The power of [Return] increases slightly until the battle ends.」

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has retrieved the Verdant Spear.」

「The power of [Return] increases slightly until the battle ends…」

「….」

「….」

He had stacked dozens of buffs with a single skill.

And then he threw his spear into the sky again.

It was at least twice as powerful as before.

But I wasn't impressed.

So what if it was stronger?

「Blocked.」

「Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.」

Against the ultimate shield, the power of his attack didn't matter.

'…This shield is OP.'

I could solo tank attacks that would normally require multiple tanks and healers.

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has cast [Comet Split].」

「All projectiles are duplicated.」

After he repeated the combo three more times…

We entered the third phase.

'It's been four minutes…'

We might even be able to clear it in six minutes.

_____________________

Mirayel's pattern in the third phase was simple.

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has cast [Descent].」

It was a berserk mode.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

Wings of light sprouted from his back as he crouched down, emanating a bright light.

It was similar to Ainar's [Wings of Greed], but there was a key difference.

Besides the fact that his wings were much more flashy…

Whoosh!

…he could actually fly.

"Whoa! Wings!"

Ainar stared at him with envy as he ascended into the sky.

But maybe it was because we were on an island…

'…It doesn't feel that impressive.'

In the Radiant City of Kalheum, the walls would crumble, and an army of Light Spirits would appear—

「Light Spirits gather, sensing the sacred energy.」

Huh?

So that part was the same, even if the field was different?

I had assumed it was a field effect, since normal Titans didn't have that…

'…Do Rift Guardians have special properties?'

I didn't know, but it was a good thing I had sent the melee attackers to the back.

Well, it wasn't because I had anticipated this. I had just wanted to focus our firepower.

"Everyone, get into formation!"

"Just endure! Don't overexert yourselves!"

Bersil seemed to be handling the rearguard well, so I wasn't worried.

I looked up at Mirayel.

[…The time of judgment has come.]

He was in no position to be saying that, considering his current state, but it wasn't like he had a choice.

He seemed to be just reciting his lines.

'…What are these guys…?'

A fundamental question arose.

What was this world?

Countless people lived their lives in the city, but the monsters in the labyrinth all acted like NPCs in a game—

'Ugh, this is annoying.'

As I was thinking, Mirayel, who had ascended into the sky, started throwing his spear downwards.

I couldn't afford to be distracted anymore.

"Erwen, how much longer?"

I called Erwen. It was almost time.

I had been saving her for the final phase.

"Erwen, get ready!"

"Yes!"

As soon as we entered the third phase, I had Erwen prepare her ultimate combo.

Mirayel's evasion rate increased drastically once he took to the skies.

Therefore…

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia summons [Dicloe, the Dark Spirit King].」

…we had to overwhelm him with AoE attacks.

Kaboom!

Hundreds of dark orbs, summoned by Dicloe, exploded in the sky like fireworks.

It was a destructive yet beautiful sight.

And Erwen, while creating this spectacle, was still charging [Focused Fire].

And after a while…

「All accumulated energy has been consumed.」

「An unknown energy fills the empty vessel.」

It was time for [Chaos Circuit] to activate.

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, has cast [Shellshock].」

Mirayel's cracked and broken skin shattered, revealing a pure white light beneath.

Well, 'skin'… was that the right word?

His entire body glowed with an intense white light.

Swaaaaaaaaaa.

Enveloped in a brilliant light, his spear in hand, he slowly descended.

He looked like an absolute being.

Well, he was about to die anyway.

[Mortals.]

He looked down at me and spoke calmly.

[Your greed has sown the seeds of destruction.]

Did he have new lines?

[And your arrogance has brought ruin to this world.]

I will judge y—

[I will judge you.]

Right, that was his only line.

'…Well, it's not the first time the game has been different from reality.'

I didn't dwell on his words.

I focused on the changes in his appearance.

Or rather, the changes in his spear.

「Verdant Spear regains its true form, answering the call of Mirayel, the Last Celestial Spearman.」

Just like Mirayel had shed his outer shell…

…the spear also shed its outer layer, revealing its true form.

A spear of pure, turquoise light.

Crackle, crackle—

It crackled with electricity, exuding an aura of power that no ordinary weapon could match.

And it wasn't just for show.

Spear penetration damage increased by 1200%.

Natural Regeneration increased proportionally to battle duration.

Immune to Holy damage and indestructible.

50% of the consumed resources refunded over 1 minute when using a skill, and reflects Mental attacks.

And if he activated its active effect, three more options would be added.

Triple spear damage.

Triple healing effects.

And lastly…

'Super Penetration.'

A spear that pierced through everything.

If such a weapon existed, the Verdant Spear would be the prime example.

But there was one problem.

Crackle!

An unstoppable spear and an unbreakable shield.

What would happen when they collided?

[…Perish!]

I already knew the answer.

「Blocked.」

「Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.」

The shield would win.

I asked Mirayel, whose ultimate attack had been nullified,

"Do you know what the most creative weapon in the world is?"

As expected, he didn't answer.

But it didn't matter.

I continued,

"The answer is…"

[…….]

"…a shield."

Unfortunately, I couldn't explain the reason.

"Ah, too bad."

The casting was complete.

—————!

A sensation, not quite a sound, brushed past my ears.

Flash!

A white light filled my vision.

'…Let's see… the time…'

6 minutes and 17 seconds.

Damn, I failed the 6-minute clear.

_____________________

「Mirayel, the Celestial Spearman, slain. EXP +8」

「High-Grade Guardian Kill Bonus. EXP +5」

_____________________

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

A bright light enveloped the area, signaling the monster's death.

Dozens of explorers watched, their eyes wide.

They had been briefed beforehand.

They knew he wasn't an ordinary monster, but a Rift Guardian from the 8th floor.

'…I wonder…'

What would he drop?

As everyone watched with anticipation…

Thud.

…a Rift Stone didn't appear.

And…

"Damn it…"

…neither did a Rainbow Essence.

I had been hoping for [Comet Split]. It would have been a great essence for Erwen.

And we even had Beginner's Luck.

It was disappointing, but it wasn't a complete loss.

I couldn't believe it…

"…That's…!"

…but Mirayel had dropped a Numbered Item.

And the important thing was…

'Rift Guardians have a 33% chance of dropping a Numbered Item.'

And among those Numbered Items, there was a 3% chance of getting this specific item.

"It's the spear he was using…!"

No. 7, Mirayel's Verdant Spear.

But instead of joy, I felt a strange sense of unease.

I had just obtained the Aegis Barrier.

And now a single Numbered Item?

'…Am I really this lucky?'

I had been hoping for it, but now that it had actually happened, I felt a sense of dread.

It was a veteran jinx survivor's intuition.

But humans had both a left brain and a right brain.

While my heart pounded with unease, my mind started racing with happy thoughts.

'The Verdant Spear…'

None of us used spears.

But in [Dungeon and Stone], adapting to new equipment and finding the optimal build was part of the fun.

"Hmm…"

Who should I give it to?