Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 592: Bossrun (5)

The unique 5th floor rift — the Soul Fortress.

And here appeared the labyrinth-type boss monster serving as the guardian, “Spirit Guardian Housiel.”

In truth, its second phase isn’t very dangerous.

Depending on the character’s luck stat, there’s some variation, but usually opening around five hundred boxes is enough to find the magic stone and move on.

However...

‘No guarantee I’ll be so lucky.’

That was also why I brought Sven Parab along.

What’s needed to clear this rift isn’t the ability to find gold, but the ability to avoid bad luck.

From what I see, this guy is specialized in dodging misfortune.

‘So I didn’t expect much from this...’

But what is this? Some kind of hilarious prank?

Looking at the box glowing with a brilliant golden light made my head go blank.

“Sven Parab...”

“Yes? Ah, yes, Baron.”

“Did you feel anything strange before opening the box?”

“No...? It was just like usual...”

Hah, then it just means he was really lucky?

Even thinking it over, it doesn’t make sense.

A character with a natural sense for misfortune and innate luck combined.

At this point, it feels like this world needs to add a new “Numbers” item.

Something like...

Parab’s Golden Goblin Statue

With the bestowed number 7777.

Or a single-digit single number below 10.

Yeah, that would keep the balance right.

“Um... but what is this?”

I gradually came back to my senses as he asked again.

He stood a few steps away from the box cautiously, looking at me with an innocent expression.

I wanted to give him a kiss, but that would only revive the misunderstanding I’d just calmed down, so I passed.

“It’s a box that can be found with a very low probability when defeating Housiel.”

“Is it a good thing?”

Well, he’s an explorer after all.

“It’s good. Very good.”

I answered firmly, and his expression changed.

His eyes moved into the box, tangled with curiosity and greed.

I wondered what could be inside to make me say that much.

‘But it probably wouldn’t be especially appealing to him.’

The value of items inside the box varies depending on the recipient.

To some, it might have greater worth than a single number item, but to others, it might be completely useless.

Paladin Parab belongs to the latter.

Slowly, he reached his hand into the still glowing box and grasped something round with his fingertips.

“...What is this used for?”

I grinned and explained the use of the item.

I had to pretend to be a local, so my explanation grew lengthy, using words like “merit points” and so on...

But in fact, it could be described in just five letters.

“Experience potion.”

Now level 11 was possible.

「Character has consumed ‘Dreaming Soul.’」

「Upon reaching level 10, gains 10,000 EXP.」

Dreaming Soul.

An ultra-rare item only obtainable during the boss fight with Spirit Guardian Housiel.

It’s absolutely essential to reach level 11, which was the original max level in normal mode.

Because even after killing all kinds of monsters, about 14,000 more experience points are needed to reach level 11.

Even if you kill all the monsters, it’s nearly impossible to fill that experience bar by portal or rift runs...

‘And so it’s eaten like this.’

Honestly, I was dazed.

Getting this item was extremely rare.

In fact, the last time I opened the Abyssal Gate, I was still level 10.

Though things went smoothly early on, allowing me to fully set equipment and essences.

Anyway.

“......”

After gulping down the potion at once, I glanced sideways and saw Parab looking downcast, shoulders slumping.

Well, I could understand that.

It’d feel like winning the lottery jackpot only to find out the number was from the previous draw.

That’s why his next reaction surprised me.

“Well, that’s good. It means the Baron can climb even higher.”

I could tell it wasn’t a courtesy but a sincere comment.

A hint of regret, but no envy or jealousy.

“Haha, don’t think like that. It’s useless for me anyway, and didn’t you say that even if I cast distortion magic, I can’t take it with me?”

“That’s true, but...”

Hearing that first made me feel like I owed him more.

If anything comes up later, I’ll be sure to take care of him first.

“Let’s get moving again.” fгeewebnovёl.com

The longer we dawdled, the harder the boss fight would become, so we tidied up and resumed searching.

While continuing to open boxes, we talked.

“Baron, I’m curious about something...”

“Go ahead.”

“What happens if you open the box you’re worried about?”

Ah, that one.

“Simple.”

As soon as you open the box, 5,000 experience points vanish.

It’s common to lose levels, and when that happens, a corresponding number of essence slots randomly lock.

“What a crazy curse... Losing all the merit points collected so far...”

Parab didn’t doubt my info, just tilted his head confused, wondering why he never knew such a thing existed.

“But the curse is a later problem. The real issue is the rift guardian.”

“The guardian?”

“Yes.”

If you open that box, the guardian absorbs your experience and grows stronger.

And you’re supposed to defeat it with essence slots locked?

Even I can’t guarantee I’ll survive.

“That must be part of why you brought me. The curse is meaningless to a paladin.”

“Well, that’s not the only reason. But don’t worry, if you find ‘Dreaming Soul’ in the box, the guardian becomes much weaker than usual.”

As we talked, while steadily opening boxes, I understood Parab’s intuition better.

‘Looks like it doesn’t activate on minor curses or monster boxes... Only when truly dangerous.’

Still, that alone was a near-miracle ability... or maybe it really was a miracle.

After all, he recently received an oracle.

“Ah, looks like we finally found it.”

After a long search, we found a box containing the magic stone and moved on to the next phase.

Crack!

As soon as I smashed the stone, we moved into a space that felt like the inside of a giant worm’s body.

Thump!

The floor was slippery and squishy, writhing periodically like a living creature.

Also...

「Spirit Guardian Housiel’s [Defense System] strengthens further.」

Sticky liquid began oozing from the ceiling, floor, and walls.

“We have to move fast before it fills up.”

We moved faster than ever to tackle phase three.

Even the best tank has to breathe.

In the game, if that liquid fills completely, it’s game over.

Of course, after completing the map, we’d never had a wipe here.

‘Go straight, turn left at the fork, then go straight twice more, then turn right...’

I haven’t memorized the whole map, but I know perfectly how to reach the magic stone.

Step, step.

Breaking through monsters blocking the way and running over acid up to our calves, we quickly reached the goal.

Thump!

A heart-shaped magic stone pulsed as if alive.

Without hesitation, I smashed it with all my strength.

And...

Whoosh...!

The final phase.

When we opened our eyes, we were greeted by a space reminiscent of outer space.

At the center was a transparent glass staircase shaped like a pyramid, and at its peak floated a giant eyeball-shaped magic stone.

The true body of Spirit Guardian Housiel.

‘No lines again this time.’

As soon as we arrived, its eyes snapped open, and like the underground first floor during the rainy season, monsters began pouring out.

A legion of hundreds of monsters.

「Spirit Guardian Housiel’s [Defense System] strengthens further.」

Because we arrived relatively early and had opened a golden box in between, the monsters weren’t that high rank.

‘Up to grade 4 monsters...’

Oh, by the way, arriving maxed out with experience lost means even grade 2 monsters appear.

The main body’s power is also much stronger.

“Move quickly!”

We hurried up the stairs before the monsters descended, fighting fiercely from the moment they touched us.

Being a 5th floor rift, it wasn’t easy for just two.

If there were a mage with AoE skills, opening the path would’ve been much easier.

Well, what can you do without one?

“Behel—laaaaaaa!!”

We climbed the stairs amid the fierce battle.

More annoying than the monsters was the main body itself.

Pew!

Magic cannon firing straight at me is one thing.

「Spirit Guardian Housiel casts [Target Lock].」

Because aggro periodically drops, the following comrades also need the stamina to survive the waves.

Also...

Whoooosh-!

Every time it emits a pulse, its body, which has [Gigantism] active, is pushed backward.

“What are you standing there for! I’ll open the path somehow, so come up! Don’t act like an idiot!”

“Yes, yes...!”

Though I spoke stronger than usual, it couldn’t be helped.

If knocked back or pushed by monsters to fall down, it’s instant death.

Even if I could solo the boss, I had to stubbornly climb the stairs and endure.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Swinging my hammer wildly, I knocked monsters aside.

Most just lost balance and tumbled down the stairs, but unlucky ones rolled a long way down into the endless darkness.

More would spawn anyway.

‘Damn it.’

As I fought while climbing, Sven Parab fell behind.

Between us and him, monsters had filled the space.

‘Maybe it’s faster to kill the main body than to go save him...’

My game-hardened brain made the most logical choice, removing emotion.

It’s the monster legion that’s tricky; if you can just get close, killing the main body is easy.

Still, he’s my teammate, so I wondered if going back to save him was the right thing.

‘...What to do?’

At that moment of intense hesitation—

“I’ll hold on! Go on ahead...!”

He shouted first, letting me proceed without regret.

And then...

「Character used [Swing].」

「Character used [Swing].」

「Character used [Swing]...」

Finally reaching the main body, I swung my hammer like a madman again and again.

Though the main body was fragile, the tank barbarian’s damage meant hundreds of hits were needed...

Crack!

At last, the giant magic stone shattered, breaking into tens of thousands of fragments scattering everywhere.

And...

「Spirit Guardian Housiel defeated EXP +6」

「Guardian defeat bonus EXP +3」

The legion of over a thousand monsters instantly turned into light and scattered, filling the space with glow.

In the midst of it, I hurried to find Sven.

“Ugh...”

He had rolled down halfway down the stairs, panting heavily, his body battered and bruised.

“I-I'm alive...”

Whew, I really have to take good care of him from now on.

With the boss fight over, the portal opened.

A rainbow-colored essence dropped ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) as well.

‘Ha... I have to leave this behind.’

Words couldn’t express how much I hated to do that.

The essence was that valuable.

All because of one passive skill.

[Soul Contract].

The effect of this passive skill is simple.

You instantly become level 8 but can no longer gain experience.

If you want to reach higher, you must never consume it.

However, this essence sells for an extremely high price.

Years ago, a marquis family reportedly bought it for billions of stones.

‘His wife filled seven slots just with beauty-related essences...’

It’s ridiculous, but such things happen every day in reality.

‘Anyway, I’ve earned enough money here. Let’s prioritize getting out...’

Putting greed aside, I took the portal out with Parab.

Normally, someone would have rushed over to check if I was hurt, but this time was different.

“......”

“......”

In the quiet stillness, everyone around the statue was staring at one spot.

I hurriedly turned to see what they were looking at.

‘The door is already open...’

Maybe because we lingered after killing the boss, the stone door was wide open, revealing what was hidden inside.

“A portal...?”

A red portal that looked ominous just to see it.

A familiar mage muttered.

“This isn’t a normal portal. The mana wavelength is...”

“...?”

“A rift... a rift!”

The rift from the underground first floor had opened.

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