Surviving the Game as a Barbarian Chapter 1

Introduction

Games have always fascinated me from a young age.

The cause behind this is straightforward.

As a child constantly confined to hospitals, playing games was my only pastime, and gradually, they integrated deeply into my daily existence.

Yet, prolonged engagement with any activity leads to fatigue and disinterest.

"Oh shit, what's this AI thinking? Why throw a Heal in there?"

Eventually, every game I tried lost its initial thrill.

Genre made no difference—whether AOS, RPG, or FPS, the excitement had vanished.

Yearly releases felt like trash, with predictable stories, standard worldviews, and shallow mechanics.

I craved a title offering something truly distinctive.

That's when [Dungeon and Stone] caught my eye.

It belonged to the single-player RPG category.

An indie production from abroad.

Lacking Korean localization, it featured outdated 2D pixel art.

Frankly, it deviated sharply from my typical preferences.

However, being free, I downloaded it for a test run and quickly became hooked.

"Whoa, that nearly wiped me out like some total beginner."

This game stood out uniquely in various aspects.

Character death meant restarting from zero.

Progress relied heavily on NPC allies, and its freedom level was remarkably high for a vertical scrolling adventure.

The skills mechanics and lore drew me in, while the narrative captivated despite the English-only text.

Most importantly, it evoked a mysterious yet compelling essence.

At that point, freshly employed as a subway station attendant, I immersed myself fully in [Dungeon and Stone].

Progress proved challenging.

Here, battles transcended mere HP and MP management.

A single error, even at max health, could erase months of character development.

"Let's go."

For over two years, I struggled to reach mid-game, eventually swallowing my ego to hunt for guides.

Korean sites yielded nothing, forcing me to translate overseas resources, though they offered little value.

Even internationally, the player base was small, resulting in scarce articles devoid of helpful insights.

Compared to casual players who quit after a couple months labeling it broken, my two years of dedicated study gave me far superior insight.

Thus, I abandoned the search for strategies.

"Up three times, left four times, down once, left twice, up six times, right four times. Dodge that trap at the end, got it."

After all, wasn't this the rare gem I'd uncovered after endless searching for genuine enjoyment? Soon enough, I resolved to persist solo.

And

"Whoa."

Thus, we've arrived at this moment.

Gates of the Abyss

Currently, my character faces the gateway to the ultimate boss chamber.

Naturally, witnessing the conclusion awaits multiple future visits. No simple one-shot victory here.

Nevertheless, tension grips me, evident in my rigid fingers.

"The final boss"

To others, this might seem trivial.

Yet for me, nine years of effort led to this spot.

It's no overstatement to claim it accompanied me throughout my twenties.

From the canceled enlistment notice, to returning to university for readmission after years away, and securing that dream job offer post-graduation.

[Dungeon and Stone] remained my constant companion.

Do you want to enter?

Guiding the character near the portal triggers the entry prompt.

Without hesitation, I select YES.

Yet, for the endgame boss area, an extra warning emerges.

You may not be able to come back.

Are you sure you want to enter?

Players find this redundant.

Who travels this far without intent to proceed?

Yes / No

Confirming Yes shifts the display to loading.

Staring at the blacked-out screen, I sharpen my focus.

What attack sequences does it possess? Any unique traits? Undoubtedly, instant-death attacks lurk. Forget first-try success; prioritize intel collection. Perhaps a full rebuild of stats and abilities awaits.

Excitement and eagerness flood my mind, consumed solely by final boss considerations.

Hence, the anomaly escaped my notice until too late.

You have reached the abyss.

Tutorial complete.

Tutorial complete?

Wait, prior to that—why Korean script? Didn't [Dungeon and Stone] limit to English?

Transmission begins.

A glaring flash erupted just as unease struck me.

Its brilliance ruled out any monitor source.

"Damn, damn it! My eyes!"

Suddenly, pure whiteness enveloped all.

Ears buzzed while unfamiliar warmth erupted across my flesh. Consciousness dissolved rapidly, like swift sedation.

I prided myself on crisis handling, yet here, confusion reigned utterly.

!

As the glow intensified, blackout overtook me.

Upon reopening my eyes

I embodied a barbarian within the game.