Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 378: Atlante (1)

Chapter 378: Atlante (1)

The three ships stopped about 400 meters away from us.

They seemed to be wary of Erwen's arrows...

“Erwen, can you intercept them from this distance?”

“Yes, but they’ll probably react at this range.”

Well, they did have a mage.

They would have enough time to counter before the arrow reached them—

Boom!

The magic cannon on the bow of their flagship fired.

Damn it, I thought they would at least try to negotiate first.

Or maybe they were planning to sink our ship and loot the bodies later.

Whoosh!

The magic cannonball flew towards us.

“Schuitz!”

Amelia shouted my alias, but it was Erwen who answered.

“Mister, I can take care of this.”

She drew her bow and fired an arrow.

Kwaaang!

The arrow, imbued with the wind spirit’s power, collided with the magic cannonball and exploded in midair.

“Erwen, how many can you block?”

“About four or five at once.”

Wow, really?

We wouldn’t even need an anti-ballistic magic circle with her around.

“Good job, Erwen. Keep doing that.”

“Okay!”

Erwen, who had been praised for her ability, waited for more cannon fire, but the barrage stopped after the first shot.

“They seem to be surprised.”

I agreed with Amelia.

But they soon made a decision.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

All three ships fired their magic cannons and started closing the distance.

Erwen intercepted them one after another, but she occasionally missed.

Kaboom!

The ship shook violently as a cannonball hit the hull.

Damn it, it was time to get serious.

The distance was perfect.

“Erwen, [Elemental Barbarian].”

Erwen activated the skill without any objections.

But I still had to ask,

“Which element?”

“Water.”

Erwen cautiously held my hand as soon as I told her the element.

Okay, link established.

?Water Spirit has been imbued into the character’s body.?

?Water Resistance increased by 50%.?

?Lightning Resistance decreased by 75%.?

?Melee attack power decreased by 50%.?

?Springwater’s Blessing bonus.?

?Healing and regeneration effects doubled.?

?Soul Power regeneration speed increased…?

?… ?

Hmm, come to think of it, this was my first time using Elemental Barbarian (Water) in a real battle.

Swoosh.

I looked down at my body.

There wasn’t any noticeable change.

My skin was just a bit moist and shiny.

“Emily, I’ll be back.”

“Where…?”

Where else?

The best defense is a good offense.

Well, maybe I should tell them this first.

“Ah, and one more thing. If it’s too difficult to protect the ship, just abandon it and jump overboard.”

“What do you—”

I didn’t have time for a detailed explanation.

And…

Tadat.

…I jumped over the railing and into the churning sea.

It wasn’t a diving posture.

There was no need for that in my current state.

?Springwater’s Blessing bonus.?

A one-line bonus with no explanation.

It allowed the character to breathe underwater and walk on water.

Like this.

Thud.

I stood on the surface of the water, defying gravity.

The…

“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”

…Barbarian Jet Ski (Leap) Mode.

Tadat, tadat.

I landed on the water and charged forward, roaring.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The enemy ships, momentarily stunned, started targeting me with their magic cannons.

Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!

I shielded myself with my shield, but the relentless barrage was powerful.

They were ‘magic’ cannonballs, after all.

My Physical Resistance didn’t reduce the damage.

Every hit made my bones ache.

But…

“Erwen, don’t bother blocking the cannonballs.”

[What…? What do you—]

Erwen couldn’t finish her sentence.

She saw the skeletons rising behind me.

?Character has cast [Risk].?

?The inherent ability of the skill is unlocked by the power of the Transcendent.?

?The damage immunity effect of [Probabilistic Retaliation] is removed, but the activation probability is fixed at 100%.?

Magic cannonballs used mana as fuel.

In other words…

?Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.?

?Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.?

?Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.?

?… ?

…it meant that every hit would be reflected.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Skeletons appeared and fired back as soon as I was hit by the magic cannons.

But their attacks didn’t damage the ships.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

A magic barrier was protecting them.

It easily blocked the weakened magic cannonballs.

So the enemy continued their barrage without hesitation.

And then…

?Powerful Luck.?

?Reflects 300% of the received damage to the enemy.?

Oh, a critical hit.

[Gachaat—!!]

The skeleton let out a hearty shout, and a massive magic cannonball flew towards the flagship.

Boom!

The magic cannonball, much larger than usual, easily shattered the barrier protecting the flagship.

And…

“What the hell is that monster…!”

“Abandon ship! Everyone escape!”

“Come over here!”

…one of the ships started to sink.

‘Damn it.’

It sank with just one hit.

How much would the damage—

Flash!

The ship, its crew evacuated, disappeared in a flash of light, returning to its subspace pocket.

Hmm, I could just repair it later.

“Sink the other ship first!”

They then turned their cannons towards Amelia’s ship.

‘Damn it, I knew they would do that.’

Erwen tried to block them, but she couldn’t protect the ship.

She was too busy dodging the magic attacks.

[Mister, magic!]

“Hide behind me, just in case!”

I shielded Erwen, who was linked to me, with my body. She was intangible while in [Elemental Barbarian] state, but she was much more vulnerable to magic.

If [Elemental Barbarian] was deactivated, she would sink.

?Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.?

?Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.?

?Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.?

?… ?

I tanked the magic cannons, the spells, and the projectiles, my body taking the brunt of the attacks.

The skeletons retaliated with every hit thanks to [Risk], but the enemy didn’t stop attacking.

“Pal-tan is dead!”

“We have to stop him before he reaches us!”

“More! Fire more!”

“He’s dying! Just a little more!”

They were both desperate.

Of course, they thought they had the upper hand.

After all, I would be battered and bruised by the time I reached their ship. They could just overwhelm me with their numbers.

How foolish—

Psssh!

A bolt of lightning pierced through my body.

?Character has been hit by [Lightning Spear].?

The shock was intense, almost making me lose consciousness.

I stumbled, but I managed to stay on my feet.

But my body was in a critical state.

It wasn’t just the injury, but the electricity that seemed to have fried my insides…

‘Damn lightning magic.’

Could it be because of Elemental Barbarian (Water) and [Risk]?

The 8x damage multiplier was enough to put me on the verge of death.

Well, it seemed like the same applied to the enemy.

[Gachaat—!!]

The sound of a critical hit.

?Powerful Luck.?

?Reflects 300% of the received damage to the enemy.?

The skeleton threw a massive lightning spear, like something out of mythology.

And…

Flash!

…it obliterated the second ship next to the flagship at the speed of light.

‘That one… is beyond repair.’

For reference, I couldn’t hear the explosion.

My hearing was temporarily paralyzed.

Beeeeeeeep.

A ringing sound pierced through my brain.

My legs gave out, and I sank into the water.

Well, it was half intentional.

?Character’s body is imbued with the energy of the sea.?

?Passive skill [Origin] greatly increases Natural Regeneration.?

I told you.

I can’t lose at sea.

____________________

Stormgush’s passive skill, [Origin].

Combined with the 2x healing and regeneration bonus from [Elemental Barbarian], my body started to regenerate at a rapid pace, almost as fast as a potion.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

My broken bones realigned, and my mangled flesh regrew.

Unlike potions, there was no pain, so I could clearly feel my body healing.

My hearing also returned.

[Mister, are you okay?]

So you can talk underwater in spirit form.

But I couldn’t speak.

I pointed up with my index finger and shrugged.

[You’re asking about what’s happening above?]

Right.

Erwen quickly gave me a briefing as I nodded.

[The attacks have stopped for now. They probably think they killed you.]

Right, they’re celebrating their victory.

[Ah, I can faintly hear them talking… It seems like the mage is about to use a detection spell.]

Hmm, so they’ll find out I’m alive soon.

I should surprise them before that.

Erwen summoned the water spirit and pushed me upwards as I gestured for her to lift me up.

Swoosh!

I emerged from the sea.

“…He, he’s back!”

They exclaimed in shock as I grinned at them.

“His wounds are all healed…!”

“What a monster…”

Most of them were just dumbfounded, but the leader was different.

He was a leader, after all.

He had to make a rational decision, no matter the situation.

“Captain!”

“…Turn the ship around!”

The remaining flagship quickly changed direction.

That was why he hadn’t healed himself, even though he was surrounded by water.

If they saw me regenerating like a zombie, they would have cut their losses and run away.

I couldn’t catch up to a ship like that, even if I could walk on water.

But…

Tadat.

…I think I can reach it if I push myself.

They started shouting as I started running.

“He’s coming!”

“Faster! Faster!”

They didn’t even bother with suppressive fire anymore.

They had already seen me regenerate.

They probably judged that it would be worse if they were hit by the reflected damage and couldn’t turn the ship.

“We’re almost there…!”

“Magic stones! Pour more magic stones!!”

The ship, its bow finally turned, started accelerating rapidly, as if it had a motor.

The distance between us was about 15 meters.

‘Damn it…’

I ran with all my might.

I couldn’t let them get away.

‘They destroyed our ship and now they’re running away?’

No way.

I’m not letting you leave without giving me your ship!

“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”

I roared and pushed myself even harder, and the distance between us started to close.

It seemed like it took some time for the ship to accelerate.

“We’re going to be caught!”

“More! Pour more magic stones!!”

Fear appeared in their eyes as the distance closed.

They looked like they were being chased by a monster.

Whoosh!

Erwen shot an arrow, and one of the explorers standing near the railing fell into the sea.

It wasn’t a fatal blow since she avoided his vital points.

“H-help me…!”

He screamed and thrashed in the water.

But his companions didn’t even try to save him.

I was too busy running to care.

Tadat.

I took a giant step forward.

9 meters, 8 meters, 7 meters, 6 meters, 5 meters…

The distance was closing.

But that was it.

The accelerating ship was now faster than me.

5 meters, 6 meters, 7 meters, 8 meters…

Relief appeared in their eyes as the distance widened again.

‘Damn it.’

I missed my movement skill.

Shield barbarians usually got a movement skill at level 8, but I had been lucky enough to absorb the Manticore essence.

I would have already boarded their ship if I hadn't removed [Leap]!

‘Am I really going to lose them?’

I slowed down, feeling resigned.

But it wasn’t because I thought I had lost them.

“Erwen, shoot our ship. You can damage it a bit.”

[…Our ship?]

“Just do it.”

Erwen shot an arrow at the stern of the ship…

Kaboom!

…and it exploded.

“…That’s going to cost a bit to repair.”

It was where the mana propulsion device was located.

_____________________

It was smooth sailing after the mana propulsion device was destroyed.

The distance between us quickly closed, and I was able to successfully board their ship.

And…

“Kill him!!”

…they didn’t surrender.

The battle began.

They were a 6th-floor clan, so they weren’t easy opponents.

But…

‘What are they going to do about it?’

The outcome was already decided.

Erwen, in [Elemental Barbarian] state, took them down one by one.

And I protected her.

And when my injuries became too severe…

Splash!

…I just took a dip in the sea and came back up.

I did that three times, and they finally lost their will to fight. They dropped their weapons and surrendered.

Seven of them were left, so over half of them were dead?

“Tsk, tsk, they don’t even know the value of life. Wasting it so carelessly.”

“We’re sorry. Please spare us…”

What the hell, you’re already dead.

Crack!

The leader slammed his head on the deck as soon as he surrendered, and I smashed it with my hammer.

And I tied up the rest and took control of the ship.

“Who’s the navigator?”

“I, I am!”

Phew, so the navigator is alive.

“Hey, you’re a mage, right?”

“……”

“Just nod. Can’t you answer?”

“Y-yes. I’m a mage…”

I separated the mage, who was the only one left.

“You’re the one who was sailing the other ship, right?”

“Y-yes.”

I also separated the guy who owned the other two ships.

And…

“The rest of you…”

“…….”

“Just go.”

“Huh? Where… on a ship…?”

Where else?

Crack, crack!

I took care of the remaining two, who were useless.

I then went to the stern and checked the ship’s condition.

The mana propulsion device was completely destroyed.

“Damn it.”

I was furious.

“You guys destroyed my ship…”

“…S-sorry.”

“Is ‘sorry’ enough to solve this?”

“…….”

They all hung their heads in shame at my mumble.

Damn it, what’s the point of being angry at them—

Splash, splash.

I heard splashing sounds from below.

‘Huh? What’s that…?’

I looked over the railing.

And…

“Ah.”

…I saw Amelia.

Did she swim all the way here?

“…A survivor!”

I said so and threw her a rope. Amelia grabbed it, and I pulled her up.

And…

“Schuitz, you really…”

“Huh?”

“Just take one hit.”

She punched me in the chest.