Surviving the Game as a Barbarian Chapter 806: Doomsday (3)
Previously on Surviving the Game as a Barbarian...
Eighth-rank and ninth-rank.
Comparing a goblin to a death fiend, one might expect a vast difference; however, the reality is that the gap between these two ranks is not as immense as one would imagine.
It pales in comparison to the chasm between the first and second ranks.
Typically, a group of five ninth-rank explorers can defeat an eighth-rank monster without significant difficulty.
The same principle holds true for the seventh rank.
Five eighth-rank explorers are more than sufficient to hunt a seventh-rank monster, and this pattern continues...
Up to approximately the third rank, this is generally the case.
Beginning with the third rank, even if the entire party consists of fourth-rank adventurers, it is advisable to deploy a raid party of at least twelve individuals. For the second rank? A full expeditionary force of thirty or more becomes essential.
So, what about the first rank?
Frankly, each first-rank creature is so unique that making any general statements is nearly impossible.
But if you recall our hunt for Kashan, the Wolf of Prophecy, on Library Island, and how we mobilized hundreds of people yet still lost numerous elite explorers...
It defied standards.
That much, I can state with certainty.
First-rank monsters are not merely a level above second-rank; they inhabit a completely different tier.
This is why simply possessing a first-rank essence is enough to garner immense fame and set the entire town abuzz.
That Eye bastard was precisely one such instance...
Regardless, that is not what demands our attention at this very moment.
Creeeeak, eek, screee—
Was it all the spatial warping from Sniktura?
Unlike its previous smooth operation, the door now opened with a loud, grating sound.
My heart pounded as I watched the gap gradually widen.
Thump—!
Did it drop? Or did it not?
Creeeeak, eek—!
Perhaps it was the surge of adrenaline, but each passing second while the door opened felt agonizingly protracted.
Thud—!
Finally, the door swung fully open, and the answer to my question was revealed through Raven’s quivering voice.
“T-That... uh...”
“...”
“That’s... an essence, right...?”
Her eyes were distant, and her voice barely audible as she posed the question.
I blinked once before responding.
“Behell—yeah...”
Sniktura’s essence had indeed dropped.
***
The shockwave that a first-rank essence sends through a group... is truly incredible.
“Wow...”
“So that’s a first-rank essence...”
“Adnus, don’t even consider anything foolish.”
“Ahem, I was merely admiring its magnificence.”
“Truly, even its luminescence feels fundamentally different...”
Everyone stared, mouths agape, completely overwhelmed by the potent aura emanating from the essence.
And it was hardly surprising.
Even dedicating one’s entire life to the path of an explorer, the actual sight of a first-rank essence is an exceedingly rare occurrence.
Furthermore, as someone astutely observed, its appearance is indeed markedly different from ordinary essences.
“It possesses two distinct colors...”
Sniktura’s essence hovered in the air, emitting a brilliant effulgence—two distinct colors swirled harmoniously within it.
It wasn’t merely a blended hue.
The colors were divided with striking clarity—resembling an almost perfect yin-yang symbol.
“Oh, right. I have heard that some first-rank essences exhibit this characteristic.”
“If it has two colors, does that imply it holds two distinct powers?”
“Yes, that’s what I’ve gathered.”
“Then that essence...”
“Who can say for certain... Honestly, I’ve never had the opportunity to study one myself. Information regarding first-rank essences is so scarce... they are virtually mythical.”
“Still, haven’t there been individuals who possessed one in every generation?”
“Certainly, but consider this—would you be forthcoming if you possessed something of that magnitude?”
Raven uttered this while casting a sideways glance in my direction.
Clearly curious if I possessed any secret knowledge about the essence.
Not an entirely unreasonable assumption.
But still...
“Raven, please prepare the vial first.”
Let’s attend to the immediate tasks at hand.
We have ample time, but come on—everyone does this, don’t they?
Even if it’s not strictly necessary, when a rare item drops, the ingrained gamer instinct takes over—you drop everything and rush to claim it.
“But wait a moment.”
As Raven produced the vial, she turned and inquired,
“It’s not the color you were hoping for, is it?”
Ah, that?
It’s... rather complicated.
However, the color itself isn’t the primary reason we collect essences in the first place.
“That essence is intended for Emily.”
“Oh ho? You’re going to prioritize the girl who wasn’t even present?”
Uh...
Is that... how it appears?
I suppose from the perspective of the others, who risked their lives in the recent battle, that could indeed seem somewhat unfair...
“...It was just a jest. Don’t take it so seriously.”
“Ah... no, I didn’t intend...”
“Seriously, how does a man like you end up establishing rules like ‘the leader holds as many votes as there are members’?”
“....”
Yes, saying anything further would only deepen the predicament, so I chose to remain silent.
Fortunately, Raven was too engrossed in the task of bottling the essence to continue probing me.
Time flowed onward.
“All finished.”
Raven presented me with the vial containing Sniktura’s essence, and with that, all necessary actions at this location were completed.
And at that precise instant—
“U-Urghhh!!!”
Sven Parab, who had been lying unconscious, suddenly jolted awake.
“Hup!”
He cried out as if he had just escaped a harrowing nightmare, snapping into a defensive stance as though prepared to confront an immediate threat.
Completely understandable.
His last recollection was undoubtedly his fierce struggle against Sniktura.
Frontline combatants frequently lose consciousness during clashes, making such occurrences more common than one might assume.
“W-Where... are we...?”
Upon surveying their surroundings and detecting a pervasive sense of safety, his apprehension gradually subsided, replaced by a dazed bewilderment.
“D-Did we win?!”
“Yeah. We won. Calm down.”
“N-No one died?!”
“You can see for yourself.”
As I offered a shrug and gestured for him to look around, he exhaled a profound sigh of relief.
“Whew...”
That palpable release of tension, the sudden buckling of his knees—
Is that how I appear to others?
I do not know.
But even if it is, I do not mind.
Witnessing a comrade’s legs give out from sheer relief after confirming everyone’s safety paradoxically made him seem dependable. And I found that rather appealing.
“But... what happened?”
“How much do you remember?”
“Well... you told us to say our last words because we were all gonna die, and... I was despairing, thinking, ah, so this is how it ends...”
As his words trailed off, a spark seemed to ignite, and his tone shifted to one of excitement.
“Oh! The authority! I used that new authority I got, grasping at straws! And... it worked, right?!”
“...”
“Eh? Why aren’t you saying anything? It did work, right?! That’s why everyone’s alive, right?!”
His voice, brimming not only with hope but also a desperate yearning for affirmation, deepened the weight pressing upon my chest.
“What did it do? Was it defensive? Offensive? Wait... did I take Sniktura out in one blow or something?!”
“...”
“Eh? Why’s no one saying anything?!”
He tilted his head, scanning the faces around him. Yet, each time his gaze met another's, they quickly averted their eyes.
Or rather—they glanced towards me, awaiting my lead.
“Uh... can you guys hear me...?”
“....”
“Kaislan? Miss Marone? Kalstein...?”
“....”
Tch. It seems I am compelled to assume the role of the antagonist.
Though it feels akin to bullying him, and that is an unpleasant sensation...
Sigh...
It was a necessary action.
The goddess herself had descended to impart this warning.
Sven Parab must remain ignorant of the truth behind that authority.
Yes, therefore...
“What authority? What are you talking about?”
“...Huh?”
“...Nothing happened.”
Even with the pang of guilt, this was the correct course of action.
***
Ascending the ladder, we returned to the original bunker. Upon entering, Auyen hurried towards us.
“Captain! I’m so glad you’re safe...!”
“Thanks. You really came through this time.”
“No, not at all! It was just coincidence! I didn’t do anything special!”
“Don’t say that. We’re all alive thanks to you.”
As I offered my sincere praise, Sven Parab’s expression shifted to one of confusion.
“Wait... we’re alive because of Rockrove? What do you mean?”
“....”
“Didn’t we all just work together to defeat Sniktura?”
“....”
“Why’s everyone suddenly quiet again...?”
As the atmosphere grew frigid, Parab looked around, utterly bewildered.
Come on, man. If people are acting strangely, perhaps it’s time to take a hint?
Fortunately, I did not need to devise a way to divert the conversation.
For someone else intervened at precisely the opportune moment.
[...We were watching the whole thing. You did it, heroes of the Empire!]
That booming voice from the speaker, branded «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t», belonged to Arta, the overseer of the clandestine base.
He sounded as if he were bestowing a heartfelt benediction upon valiant adventurers—yet considering his recent tirade against selfish imperialists, I could not help but roll my eyes.
Furthermore, a particular statement of his could not be simply overlooked.
[When you suddenly began destroying the lab, I wasn’t sure what would happen—but in the end, my decision was the right one.]
“...Right?”
[Think. If I had opened the door when you asked, what would’ve happened? This world surely would not have been saved.]
Seriously... what in the world.
I had a myriad of responses I wished to voice, but engaging in an argument with an AI seemed utterly futile.
The only thing that mattered was obtaining what we required from him and moving forward.
[Thanks to your actions, we’ve taken a great step forward on the path to salvation. If you help me a little more, we can surely stop this world’s end. Of course, we’ll have to rebuild the lab first...]
Rebuild the lab, you say...
That detail was not present in the original game script.
But I suppose it is logical, given that we demolished it out of sequence.
“So?”
[Heroes of the fallen Empire, I have one more favor to ask.]
“Say it.”
Frankly, there was no need for me to listen.
The fundamental structure of this quest remained unchanged. Only minor details had been altered.
To encapsulate: he would provide assistance, and in return, we were obligated to journey to the genesis of the apocalypse, vanquish the final boss, and retrieve the spoils.
“Fine. We’ll do it.”
[I knew you would say that—champions of humanity.]
Now we had transitioned from being “heroes of the Empire” to “champions of humanity.”
Not that it particularly concerned me. What captured my attention was something entirely different.
[Oh, and I recently detected a human at the origin of the apocalypse—with the same symbol as you.]
“You mean this?”
I presented the Anabada Clan insignia.
Arta confirmed it.
[Yes. That symbol.]
“Was it a woman? Red hair?”
[Indeed. Is she an ally?]
“Yeah. She’s one of ours.”
Arta’s response was laced with a foreboding mystery.
[Hurry, then. It would be wise.]
“...?”
[She faces imminent death.]
Suddenly, a new quest materialized before him.
