We ran through the darkness. Every now and then, I opened the compass to check our direction, and I ran like a madman.
"Gahhhk!"
Several monsters, such as ghouls and skeletons, blocked the path, but it wasn't a problem because they were all slow. However, they weren't a problem for our pursuer either.
Hop!
Had about five minutes passed? The psychopath would have finished looting by now.
That's the lucky part.
If we hadn't been dressed like novices, that vixen would have stopped looting and chased us right away. In other words, it meant she was confident she could catch us, even if we had time to escape.
Even so, at least we gained some time.
"Bjorn, isn't that the brand?"
The good news continues.
In the Land of the Dead, collapsed stone buildings were everywhere. Each time one had passed, it had left a mark so we could find our way back to the first-floor portal.
"Here!"
Although we had only been active in the surrounding area, the markers were closer than I had thought.
Maybe luck—
"Who are you?!"
Damn it, I shouldn't have thought that.
Ainar and I stopped at the same time. We had run into another group of explorers.
No, maybe this was better?
For the explorers, the raiders were a common enemy. If I explained the situation to them and offered them adequate compensation, we could get their help.
"Barbarians?"
The group of explorers that had appeared from the darkness pointed their weapons at us and tilted their heads.
There were four of them in total. They were all human, and their equipment seemed at least twice as good as ours.
It's difficult to trust humans, but we have no choice.
"We are being pursued by looters. Help us."
"And how do we know you're not the looter?"
"I swear on a warrior's honor. All my words are true."
Unlike a fairy's promise, a warrior's oath held no authority. But surprisingly, this oath always worked.
The bald man, who seemed to be the leader among them, thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.
"If we catch the looters, we'll get all the rewards. Do you agree?"
"Of course".
"OK".
When Calvo gave a signal, the other explorers lowered their weapons. Obviously, if I hadn't been a barbarian, it would have taken them longer to lower their guard.
"Come here for now. We'll talk more later."
As I approached them, a yellow-haired man who was about five feet tall activated his special ability.
"It's a gnome's special ability. If you throw yourself onto the ground, it will camouflage you with the surrounding objects up to a radius of three meters."
Simply put, it was the goblin archer's stealth ability that could be deployed within a radius. In return, he had the disadvantage of not being able to move.
«Are you hurt?» calvo asked.
«No.»
«How lucky...»
Indeed, it was as he said.
Did the group of scouts we stumbled upon have a ranged stealth ability? If this was the case, it might be possible to avoid the battle entirely
«...so that two barbarians could enter on their own.»
Damn, I was talking to myself.
No wonder things had been working out so well. Of course.
***
[The character has fallen into a state of [Suppression].]
***
«Jaja».
Greed danced around the eyes of the explorers, including Calvo. One of them had already rummaged through my backpack and opened the bag of mana stones.
«You have gained a lot in just two days».
I wanted to crush his ribs with the mace, but my body didn't move. And the same thing happened to Ainar.
«That? Are you afraid because you can't move?»
This was clearly the power of an essence.
I could already guess what kind of essence it was. There were many similar abilities, but there is only one thing these scouts of our level could have.
Is it the «Deletion» of a Stone Golem?
Without a doubt. We had just been attacked by the active ability of a rank 8 monster, a Stone Golem.
The easiest way out was to take the slightest damage, but...
If these bastards had any common sense, they would know to be careful.
«Hey friend, it's no use looking at us like that. It is not a skill that can be solved like this».
«Frightening» was not enough to describe this situation.
Damn, I went through all that to live another day, but now I'm going to die like this?
«Look at those fierce eyes. Still don't understand the situation?»
«Okay, Ramod. Let's finish here. If the looter they mentioned gets here, it will be a problem».
«Tsk, what a shame. We finally caught a woman, but she's a barbarian.»
«Idiot, isn't it better to have a barbarian? Do you know how much money you can make with just their hearts?»
His ugly desires were revealed and I felt a chill run through my body.
Soon, Calvo took out a sharp blade.
«Kill them with one shot. Don't cause problems».
«Tut, don't worry.»
¡Latigo!
The killing intent flew forward with the wind. The point he was aiming for was none other than his neck.
... The neck?
Even now that death was imminent, my brain synthesized the information given and suggested a solution.
Of course, I didn't know if it would really work. However, it would be much more productive than pondering past regrets.
Stab.
Suddenly, a sharp blade pierced my neck. At the same time, I felt a tingling sensation and my body relaxed.
I immediately tilted my head back, like a boxer turning his face to let out the power of his punch.
Time passed slowly.
"... ¿Huh?»
I could see the shocked expression on Calvo's face. The hand that had been holding the dagger was empty.
That's when I felt a strange sensation in my neck.
It's already half nailed.
As soon as I realized it, my brain made a brief conclusion.
It wasn't that serious. As long as the bleeding is minimal, I can last a little longer.
Dive.
I forced my weakened legs to move and found balance.
Then, I swung the mace in my hand...
Right up to the bald man's shiny head!
¡Crunch!
With his face half sunken, the bald man collapsed.
Time seemed to move at half speed.
«¡Darvan!»
There are many shocked faces everywhere.
Why, didn't you think a guy with a knife to his neck could defend himself?
«You, f....»
Actually, I didn't expect this to happen either.
«...here, bas...»
Something kept oozing from my throat. My body began to lose all strength and the light began to fade.
Am I going into shock?
Everything from my toes to my head was tingling. I was lacking oxygen and blood.
¡Clang!
The mace and shield I was holding fell to the ground when my hands stopped grabbing them.
All I wanted was to collapse and rest, but...
There was still work to do.
I didn't cause this mess just to take some jerk with me.
Sting.
I took a step forward and lifted my wobbly body.
And after taking out the knife stuck in my neck, I threw it towards Ainar who was about four steps away.
Stab.
I didn't know I'd stab you like that.
«¡Ugh!»
I'm sorry, but at least your body is moving now.
Stabbed!
At the same time as the dagger stabbed into his forearm, Ainar brandished his greatsword against the nearby archer's waist.
Then, in a connecting motion, he turned his body once more, jumped up, and slammed it against the other's head. The iron helmet he was wearing was useless.
¡Crujido!
Blood dripped from his helmet that had turned into scrap metal.
«What the hell...!»
The yellow-haired guy who was further away saw this and immediately ran away. It was a quick trial, like that of an elf.
«¡Bjorn!»
Ainar, who had finished clearing the surroundings, ran towards me and knelt down.
Ugh, then I can leave the rest to you-.
«¡Bjorrrrnn...!»
Ainar hugged me and shouted my name in a sad voice.
...As if he were hugging a dead man.
Feeling somewhat sinister, I forcefully opened my dark eyes and said,
«After ... »
«Okay! I will avenge you!»
No, eso no it matters.
[Achievement]
Condition: Health falls below 0.1%.
Reward: Permanently increases your Spirit stat by 1.
I used the last of my energy to open my mouth.
«Po-tion.....»
Damn, don't let me die.
***
Bjorn Candle
Level: 2
Physical: 46
Spirit: 39 (New +3)
Special ability: 4
Item level: 202
General Combat Power: 139.5 (New +3)
***
¡Chhhhhh!
When the hole in my neck began to heal, it was accompanied by pain.
But I was glad. I could clearly feel life returning to my dead body.
«Ugh…»
The burning pain awakened my consciousness that had been dulled.
...Lived.
I had really thought that this time I was going to cross the Jordan River. I'm glad I didn't do anything else with the 1.4 million stones and got the Immortality Imprint first. If it weren't for that, he would have died a long time ago.
«Ainar.»
«Are you okay?»
«Gear, get your gear first.....»
As soon as I had the energy to speak, I gave instructions to Ainar.
After that, I forced myself up and threw the remaining potion down my throat.
Trago.
This is all money, but it can't be helped.
Although the wound on my neck seemed to be improving, I couldn't tell what was going on inside. I also didn't know what kind of damage my brain had suffered from what had just happened. So it was better to take precautions beforehand.
«Ugh…»
In fact, before long, a tingling sensation began in the back of my head. Considering the intensity of the pain, it didn't seem serious, but if left unattended, it could lead to a bigger problem.
«Can I check it?»
«... The team?»
«I grabbed everything I saw.»
In that case...
When I nodded, Ainar lifted my chin and carefully inspected the wound.
«It will leave a scar».
It seemed strange to me. Erwen had once said the same thing.
Well, the feeling was completely different.
«Amazing. You'll be the only barbarian with a scar from a neck piercing!»
Does this look like a medal in your eyes?
True, no matter how many barbarians lived as brutes, it was probably rare for one to survive after being stabbed in the neck.
«And now what?»
Ainar asked about our future plans.
This woke me up too. Moments before he had been walking the line between life and death...
But nothing had been resolved.
«How long has it been?»
«Maximum, about 5 minutes.»
5 minutes...
On the contrary, meeting those bastards had made the situation go from bad to worse.
How stupid I am.
No matter how urgent things are, I should know not to ask scout bastards for help.
Anyway, we'll regret this later.
«Which direction did that guy flee?»
«Over there».
I guided Ainar and moved in the direction the yellow-haired guy had escaped. Although the ground was muddy, there were no footprints left, so it was impossible to keep track of him properly.
But just as I expected.
«There you are».
Not far away, I could see the yellow hair.
Since it's so dark here, how far could it go?
Perhaps while running, he had hit his head on the rubble of a building, collapsed to the ground, and fainted. After taking anything that could be a weapon from him, I stomped on his back to wake him up, and his yellow hair fell face down on his face.
«Eek! T-Have mercy!»
Compared to before, this was a very polite attitude.
He had previously complained that the woman they had caught by chance was a barbarian, but now?
«jaAhh!»
Ainar grabbed the man by the neck and easily lifted him with one hand. The blond-haired man was so small that his feet didn't touch the ground.
"!!!" He began to choke.
When I saw him being strangled, instead of feeling compassion, all I thought was "good riddance."
That's why you should always make sure to aim for the head, not the neck.
Had I done so, regardless of the potions or my Imprint of Immortality, I would have been defenseless.
"Ainar, let it go."
Despite doubting my instructions, Ainar let go of his hand. I approached the man slumped on the ground and spoke into his ear.
"Use your powers. If you want to live."
That was the only reason I hadn't ripped this yellow rat's head off immediately. The gnome power this guy had. I need it right now.
"I did it!"
"How long can you keep it up?"
"30 minutes! No, I can last 40 minutes! So..."
Too many words.
I wished he would just answer my question. I squeezed his neck and asked again.
"How long will it take you to use it again?"
"I need to rest my yo-yo during the time I use it."
"I it."
I released the hand that was holding him by the neck and pressed my feet down on the upper part of his body to prevent him from even thinking about escaping.
How to deal with a goblin…
"Wouldn't it be better to just kill him? I think that woman has abandoned us anyway."
I wondered what kind of nonsense that was, but it might have seemed that way from his point of view.
Although we had managed to escape, it was unclear whether we had actually been pursued in the first place. Even considering the length of the looting, it was definitely strange that she hadn't shown her face yet.
"Giving up, huh..."
That possibility certainly existed. Perhaps it wasn't even worth chasing a psychopathic bitch.
The problem with returning to the city to testify?
If the naked face we had seen before was actually a magical disguise, that would explain his brazen, open murder.
But...
Smile.
Things couldn't be going that well, could they?
For me, at least.