Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

Thanks to the characteristic of “Ugi,” the island where all kinds of monsters appear. The chief spent almost an eternity on this island.

In simple terms, it means infinite farming was possible.

However…

“Not all of them are high-grade essences.”

What kind of game is “Dungeon and Stone”?

It’s a game where you need to grow by collecting lower-grade essences step by step to farm higher-grade essences.

There will certainly be lower-grade essences mixed in each section. And there is no official who can erase the essences on this island.

However, the problem is…

“The highest grade is Grade 1, which is too high.”

From here on, it depended on the chief’s ability.

If he mindlessly consumed lower-grade essences at the beginning and covered them with higher-grade essences in the later stages, he would only become a mediocre player with clear limits…

“There must also be clear weaknesses.”

Of course, the opposite case exists as well.

If, like my [Gigantification], even though it has a low grade, it is a lower-grade essence that can be used in the later stages…

“Well, it’s not that different, right?”

Finding weaknesses becomes a bit more troublesome.

No matter how I think about it, that’s all there is to it.

In “Dungeon and Stone,” there are no invincible characters or the like.

“Ah, except for my Shield Baba, of course.”

Anyway, which side will the chief choose?

He thoroughly observes every action and effect with the purpose of exploration.

So far, we have confirmed the [Universal Protection] of “Tol-Rafupa.”

And…

“For now, it’s a movement skill.”

At the moment when we faced each other, aiming our weapons.

The chief’s body moves as if it splits into two.

Like when the game lags, and the frames overlap.

Tat-ta!

However, since I was deliberately observing, I was able to quickly summarize the information confirmed by my naked eye.

Steam emerging from footprints.

A body entwined with electricity.

And…

Pheww—

Even a yellow light wave emanating from the destination point.

“It’s [Brainstep].”

The skill is Grade 2.

However, it is also an ambiguous skill to classify as a pure movement skill. Although it is characterized by dashing rapidly like a Blink…

Zi-zi-zi-zi!

It spreads wide-area damage that can induce “paralysis” judgment based on the arrival point.

Whoo-o-o-o-ong!

The movement speed greatly increases.

And…

“Ugh…!”

“Bl-Block… Huh?”

You can temporarily gain immunity to damage, too.

Just like this.

Whooo-!

Although one melee dealer nearby swung their weapon in confusion, the weapon passed through the chief’s body without hitting.

“Is he going for Erwen?”

Ha, that disgusting chief.

He really has nothing in mind but to keep us trapped in this village.

Of course, I had no intention of leaving him alone.

“The invincibility release conditions for [Brainstep] are twofold.”

The first is landing the first strike.

Perhaps because of this condition, the chief is charging towards Erwen, ignoring the other explorers.

The second is…

“Three seconds.”

Waiting for the duration of three seconds to pass.

Of course, three seconds seemed like enough time to stab a knife into Erwen’s neck.

“Well, even if I try, it won’t be of much use.”

Even while the chief’s eyes were burning and he rushed towards Erwen, his mind remained calm.

That’s because he is currently in a “focused” state.

“[While concentrating, all damage received is absorbed using Soul Power.]”

In that state, Erwen is invincible.

However…

“Right now, we are investigating you, so to speak.”

Since it is a core ability that has enough potential to be used as a trump card, there is no reason to show this hand already.

Therefore…

[The character has cast [Storm’s Eye].]

[By the power of Transcendence, the inherent abilities of the skill are unlocked.]

By combining [Transcendence] with [Storm’s Eye], I can counter that skill.

That’s right.

“It provides damage immunity, not CC immunity.”

For your information, [Storm’s Eye] does not deal any damage.

It’s not even a projectile.

Who-o-o-o-o-osh!

The gust of wind blowing toward me and heading for Erwen flies towards me in the same posture as the chief’s charge.

And at the same time…

Zi-jijik!

Whether the three seconds have passed or not, a wave with an electric current spreads around the chief.

It means that the state of damage immunity has also ended.

Since I’ve already used [Transcendence], I use it again to cast [Swing].

[The range of impact is tripled.]

Just like a flexible staff, the hammer twisted and embedded itself in the chief’s body.

However, the chief’s body defied the laws of physics.

Instead of flying away, his body stuck to the hammer due to the gust of wind blowing towards me.

“This combo feels nostalgic.”

I smoothly changed the trajectory of the hammer.

And like riding a roller coaster, I spun the chief around on the hammer, making a big circle.

Kwa-a-a-ang!

I slammed him down on the ground on the opposite side.

Not only was he simply grabbed, but he also ended up being thrown even further…

“…!”

The chief, who was embedded in the ground, vomited blood as if bleeding profusely.

Well, his regenerative power is high, so he’ll recover quickly.

But for now, he seemed quite shocked, as his movements were a bit sluggish.

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Oh, did you hear that from someone? I don’t remember telling you.”

“…”

The chief didn’t respond.

He just glanced past me, staring at Erwen in the distance.

Tsk, he still can’t let go of his regrets.

“Snap out of it.”

“…”

“You can’t make it over there, no matter what.”

“Until I defeat you, right?”

“Exactly!”

As I was about to answer with “Yes,”

The chief’s figure disappeared from my sight.

When I found the chief’s body again with my inferior agility stats, he had already assumed a position swinging his sword from close range.

Kwa-a-a-ang!

The sword strike landed on my raised shield just in time.

I could tell immediately from the feeling that I have experienced fighting with a shield every day.

The damage inflicted on the shield was much greater.

Previously, it only left a scratch, but now…

“It feels like it’s almost broken.”

Of course, I didn’t question this phenomenon.

It’s not that the chief used another skill; it’s just that I have become weaker.

“[Transcendence] has a cooldown time of one minute until it returns to its inactive state.”

The sword resistance of the passive skill [Evolved Exoskeleton] is 50%.

It becomes 75% only when I use [Iron Fortress].

And with the effect of [Transcendence,] the passive effect increases by 1.5 times, practically making it immune…

Unfortunately, sword resistance has a limit.

The maximum sword resistance any character can have is 85%.

In simple terms, it decreased from 85% to 75% for the next minute.

“In other words, it means that what used to come in at 15% now comes in at 25%.”

Although it may be a difference of only 10% in simple calculations, the actual increase in perceived damage is nearly double.

Kwa-a-a-ang!

As soon as the chief fiercely swung his sword and I blocked it, reinforcements arrived from behind.

“I’ll help from now on.”

“Ah! Ah! Me too…!”

“Me too! Me too!”

Amelia, Misha, and Ainar, the melee damage dealers of our clan.

“Be careful. He’s not an easy opponent.”

Although I was a little worried, we continued the battle together without retreating.

There are things that we can’t figure out just by getting hit.

“Amelia Rainwhales has cast [Power of the Abyss].”

“Misha Calstein has cast [Soul of the Glacier].”

“Ainar Phrenelin has cast [Beast Control].”

I took on the role of the main tank while the three melee sisters surrounded me and swung their weapons, barely clinging to the line.

In the process, I discovered a new essence from the chief.

Kurr-ur-urung!

A thick mist spread around the chief, releasing electricity.

[Thundercloud]

A Grade 2 skill that inflicts extensive lightning damage around the caster, reducing the skill’s cooldown based on the number of hits.

“Ugh, oof!”

However, since only the four of us, including me, were hit by the lightning, the cooldown probably didn’t decrease significantly.

But…

“The cooldown for [Brainstep] must be over.”

“Everyone, get as far away as possible!”

As soon as I made the decision, I quickly pushed the melee sisters back.

As expected…

Tat-ta!

Just as the chief dashed forward once again, his body became entwined with electricity, entering the state of damage immunity.

And this time, the chief’s target was…

“Ainar!!”

Since the distance was short, it was impossible to block his grab.

However…

[Ainar Phrenelin has cast [Crouch].]

[For 3 minutes, all resistance values are increased by 20 times.]

[For 3 minutes, natural health regeneration is increased by 20 times.]

That’s right, I had this.

[For 3 minutes, all resistance values are increased by 20 times.]

The shining sword struck Ainar’s torso, revealing bones.

As long as it didn’t result in instant death, there would be no problem.

[For 3 minutes, natural health regeneration is increased by 20 times.]

The true value of “Crouching” lies in its resilience.

“Even so, one person is out….”

They hadn’t fought for more than a few seconds, and Ainhar had already disengaged from the battle.

However, there was a profit.

“Now the concept is roughly grasped.”

The village chief is a Lightning Inspector.

Although “Brainstep” is one thing, thanks to the just-used “Thundercloud,” it became certain. While “Thundercloud” can be used publicly without any issues, its accompanying passive is not.

“Conductor.”

A passive skill that accumulates stacks when using skills of the Lightning category and provides additional adjustments to all Lightning-related skills.

Anyway, it was quite important to have found this out.

If the village chief is called a Lightning Inspector, it’s possible to make sufficient conjectures about that shining sword.

“Surely it will be ‘Extreme Thunder.’”

A transformation skill categorized as a weapon enchantment skill, similar to “Power of the Abyss.”

One unique aspect is that it receives synergy from lightning-related elements while inflicting damage itself as physical damage….

One thing leads to another.

Once again, new information is added.

“If he has ‘Extreme Thunder,’ then he must also have that passive….”

It’s as good as having found four essences already.

Was there any way to erase essences?

The average grade level is much higher than expected.

However, if we consider everything and give an overall score….

“5 points.”

Oh, of course, based on a scale of 10.

Although I tried to align the concept with the Lightning category, the synergy doesn’t seem particularly favorable.

“Well, just with ‘Thundercloud,’ there are so many skills that can be comboed.”

Well, even so, thanks to the high-grade essences, the value itself is tremendously high. However, I would have preferred the remaining essences to be high-grade as well.

A character with an unbalanced nature also has many weaknesses.

“Okay, then let’s wrap it up for today….”

One more thing.

The moment I silently counted the last few seconds in my head.

Whoooooosh!

The whole world was bathed in light, and a thunderous noise erupted.

Simultaneously, Bervil, who was at the back, informed everyone of the good news.

“…We did it! The entrance has really opened!”

It was time to leave this tiresome village.

***

The burning village and the shattered entrance of the village.

And the empty space in front, left behind as the adventurers departed. Behind the village chief, the village warriors revealed themselves.

“Chief, all the fires in the village have been extinguished.”

The warriors reported the extent of the damage to the village, the number of casualties, and so on. However, the chief’s expression remained unchanged as he listened.

Of course.

Even if a few of those damned monsters die, nothing will significantly change.

There was only one thing that mattered to the chief right now.

“I don’t know how you figured it out.”

Beyorn Yandel.

The most famous explorer of the present era and the leader of the Barbarian tribe, one of the six races.

And the viscount of the kingdom.

“If only we had a little more time.”

Like a mountain, the rock of his emotions gradually eroded by the wind, ripples spread through the dulled emotions of the passing years.

It was regret.

For once, he let out a human-like emotion that he hadn’t tasted in a long time.

“Chief, we will form a pursuit team.”

“It’s enough.”

“….Excuse me? But…”

“Dealing with the village right now takes precedence. It will… be safe, right?”

“Yes. As you confirmed earlier, it is safe.”

Yes, that’s settled then.

Nothing has changed yet.

Although the situation is a bit troublesome, that’s all for now.

The chief closed his eyes and recalled the barbarian he had fought fiercely with just moments ago.

“Beyorn Yandel….”

In many ways, he was like a beast of a man.

In some aspects, even more so than the monsters of this village.

“When we meet again, he will have become stronger.”

However, in the flickering gaze of the murmuring chief, one emotion gently surfaced.

It was the feeling of joy.