Barbarian in a Failed Game

Strength: 90.

It was truly an uncharted territory.

Unlike the mage class, where stat distribution upon level-up was almost fixed at Intelligence +2, warrior or assassin classes were different. Only characters in the late game, equipped with end-tier gear and high-grade passive skills, could see their primary stats even approach 80.

Although it was a momentary enhancement using the blood of a giant, it was still a symbolic moment. The character’s gear and skills couldn’t even compare to those of an end-tier character, but with this level of strength stat, it compensated for the other lacking areas.

‘It’s a bit… hard to control.’

He could tell without even swinging his weapon.

In his current state, even a casual swing of his arm could bring down a fortress wall and alter the landscape. It was possible to replicate the level of destruction that would normally require high-level magic just with punches and axe swings.

『It’s obviously impossible to maintain this indefinitely.』

He replied indifferently to the voice of the Spirit of Resentment. He had known that from the beginning.

The blood of the giant stored in the blood essence was substantial. Considering the amount of blood sucked from that gigantic body, it could fill a huge lake, setting aside the physical feasibility.

Nevertheless, the consumption rate was enormous.

『Blood Essence: 4128 / 9999』

The amount consumed by activating blood manipulation was significant, but the number was also decreasing in real-time as he adapted to the drastically increased stats.

Moreover, the increase in strength stat meant that stamina consumption was also extreme, and the burning pain created by the Blood Fire Technique was another factor that couldn’t be ignored.

“Tenel!”

As the distance to the Chaos-Devoured Blood King decreased, Kurtank was the first to move. It seemed she intended to protect the group by positioning the demonic generals, who were caught in the red storm, at the forefront. However, her calculation fell apart the moment the Blood King’s enormous body revealed its full size.

Thud, thud, thud…!

The long body, easily over thirty meters, was akin to a ten-story building moving. Moreover, the numerous spider legs connected to its back grew sharper towards the ends, making it nearly impossible for even the demonic generals to withstand.

“Dodge!”

Crash!

The Blood King, moving with hundreds of legs, was faster than they anticipated. They tried to quickly create distance, but one of the slower demonkin generals was pierced from the back and sent flying into the air.

It wasn’t even a conscious attack. It was the result of failing to escape the path of the Blood King, who was charging forward, pounding the ground with a thud, thud!

“Don’t try to block it alone!”

There were still more than ten demonkin generals under his command, and plenty of powerful demonkins as well. Yet, seeing a demonkin general helplessly killed just from being caught in the straight-line charge sent chills down everyone’s spine.

But the Blood King’s charge didn’t end. After passing by the group, it continued to charge forward for a while, then made a sharp turn and charged again, pounding the ground as it came.

“My, my skin should…”

“Don’t do anything reckless.”

Vess, who restrained the trembling and terrified Tulkan from stepping forward, positioned Tenel, the Shield of the Blood King, at the front as a shield.

“Using Tenel, we can withstand it.”

“What kind of crazy talk is that…”

“Use this guy as a shield to block it!”

Kurtank’s jaw dropped as she was about to urge Khan to stop Vess from spouting nonsense. She had just noticed Khan, poised as if ready to leap forward at any moment.

“Wa, wait. What are you planning to do-? Kyaa!”

He answered with action.

For some reason, the Blood King wasn’t using his powers, engaging in physical combat instead. Maybe he had forgotten how to use them after being consumed by chaos – whatever the reason, it was a golden opportunity.

Bang!

His second leap in the air sent Khan’s body flying like a cannonball. The wind spirit, who created a foothold in mid-air, staggered from the impact. But there was no time to worry about the spirit’s safety.

‘From the head.’

Like a knight’s lance charge, the most vulnerable moment is before gaining enough speed. Seizing this moment, Khan’s axe flared with fire.

Slash──!

The clear sound of a skilled lumberjack splitting a log echoed through the realm of Espereus. It was a perfect hit. Seeing the centipede’s smooth surface split as if struck by drought, Khan raised his right hand holding Draupnir and spun his body.

Slash─crunch!

Though the sword strike was unstable, using the sloped head as a foothold, it had more than enough power. Without any special technique, the sword blade of the magic sword, driven purely by strength, cut smoothly into the carapace, carving out chunks of flesh.

‘Not yet.’

For a human, it would have been a fatal wound, but unfortunately, this giant centipede’s head was almost the size of a house. Considering the unique regeneration ability of chaos-tainted monsters, it was barely a scratch.

Boom…!

He stomped his foot onto the carved flesh, driving his weight down. The squishy flesh burst, and an unpleasant sensation ran up his foot, but this was no time to complain. Khan stabilized his unsteady stance by embedding his foot into the flesh, and his hands began to trace ashen arcs.

Slash! Crunch!

It was a one-sided butchery. Every time the axe and magic sword traced their erratic curves, chunks of the creature’s head were shaved off.

Uuuuuuuu!

At that moment.

Even as its head was being hacked away, the creature, emitting its distinctive wail, did not cease its charge. Somehow, it recognized the threat posed by the being atop its head even without a consciousness, and several of its legs stabbed relentlessly towards its own head.

Puh-buh-buh-buk!

The legs, sharp as spikes, pierced through its own flesh to target Khan. They came at him from above, from the sides, and even one leg, thrust upwards, emerged from under his feet.

He pulled his foot out from the embedded flesh and dodged desperately.

But the legs, disregarding the physical limitations of its body, bent at grotesque angles and attacked again, piercing the empty air where Khan had just been.

Even though he could create footholds and move, it was impossible to fend off all the spikes coming at him from every direction. Each spike carried enough force that even Khan couldn’t simply ignore.

Bang─!

He succeeded in fending off six or so legs. However, he was struck by a leg that attacked from behind and was slammed downward.

“Damn it…!”

What was that? Khan, who managed to twist the axe blade to minimize the impact, got up. The blow was significant, but not enough to affect his ability to continue fighting.

More problematic was the strange sensation that had overwhelmed him just before.

Even though he had detected the attack from behind in time and moved to parry it, his reaction had inexplicably slowed down as if he had hit a sudden brake.

『Blood Essence: 4077』

Additionally, the gradually decreasing amount of blood essence had suddenly dropped sharply.

‘No way!’

He immediately realized the cause. He had seen this phenomenon in the battle between Espereus and Karyan from Yoro’s memories.

‘Authority…!’

The creature, which had been relying solely on its physical strength, had used its authority. Normally, as it had happened with Karyan, he should have been frozen in place and struck directly. However, the blood manipulation using the blood of the giant had somewhat resisted the authority, causing the sharp decrease in the blood essence.

“Hyungnim! The creature is coming this way…!”

There was no time to remain shocked.

The Blood King, having flung the persistent nuisance away, charged directly towards Espereus, ignoring Khan.

“Damn it.”

Cursing loudly, Khan exploded the ground beneath his feet and leaped towards the back of the giant centipede’s head.

Whether it had eyes on the back of its head, the pointed legs attached to its waist suddenly rose and blocked his way, leaving holes in the ground.

“Get lost!”

Slash─!

Before the slash of strength 90, all the legs were cut in half. Then, stepping on the foothold created by the wind spirit, Khan leaped again, desperately swinging his axe and sword.

Clang!

The spider legs that regrew from the severed ends were even harder and sharper than before. Though the renewed slash split them in two again, it ultimately hindered his advance.

Bang……!

The sound of a collision from below painted an ominous picture in Khan’s mind, but fortunately, a disoriented scream indicated survival.

“Whoa! Hold on a bit longer─!”

“Pu, put more strength into it…!”

It was Tulkan and Vess.

They were using Tenel, the Shield of the Blood King, quite literally as a shield to block the spider legs. However, it seemed they were struggling to block even one leg, and soon, dozens of legs shot up into the air.

Bang─!!

“Huh?”

A tremendous crash echoed from above, and suddenly, the force pressing down on the shield vanished as if it had been a lie. The two demonkins, who had been straining with all their might, looked up in surprise.

“Hyungnim…!”

“Back off!”

Khan, who had rushed in like a lightning strike, had just slashed down on the Blood King’s side. The giant body of the Blood King staggered from the sudden impact. Though Tulkan, filled with admiration, shouted Khan’s name, the situation did not improve.

“This thing hasn’t even shown its real power yet!”

Rooooar!

The Blood King drowned out Khan’s warning with its bellow and began regenerating its head. Purple, viscous fluid bubbled up, filling in the area where Khan had sliced off its head.

Khan wasn’t one to stand by and watch the regeneration. He activated his leap, now almost at A-rank proficiency, intending to obliterate the head completely.

Flinch.

But his body wouldn’t move. Without any warning, he was caught by the creature’s authority again.

『Blood Essence: 3991』

He resisted. He felt the blood essence depleting significantly as he took a step forward.

『Blood Essence: 3987』

It seemed the Blood King, having been consumed by chaos, had remembered how to use its authority again. As soon as Khan took a step, he was halted by the authority once more.

『Blood Essence: 3953』

With every step, the authority halted his movements. The blood essence’s contents were not infinite. Yet, without the power of blood manipulation, even taking a step was impossible.

『Blood Essence: 3928』

『Blood Essence: 3901』

.

.

.

『Blood Essence: 3802』

He struggled constantly to break free from the influence of the authority. Despite his efforts, a mortal was utterly powerless before the authority of a transcendent being.

This was the true power of a transcendent.

It was an exercise of absolute power, on a different level from the fake transcendent beings he had faced before.

『Blood Essence: 3788』

The maximum resistance he could muster was taking a single step each time he regained his freedom through the power of blood manipulation.

Rooooar─.

The transcendent, consumed by chaos, seemed dissatisfied with even that. Its meaningless wail signaled an increase in the output of its authority. It intended to achieve its purpose by crushing all resistance underfoot.

‘What is that…?’

And at that moment. Karyan’s eyes caught a flicker. It was only a fleeting instant, but a ripple that originated from the Blood King appeared over Khan’s head, as if transcending space, and then his movement halted. It meant he had been caught by the authority, evidenced by the significant drop in the blood essence.

『Blood Essence: 3704』

The amount of blood consumed was greater than before. However, unlike previous times, Khan was not the least bit disheartened.

‘Karyan’s eyes…’

It had the potential to observe phenomena caused by a transcendent’s authority.

And belatedly.

A description left by the system about Karyan’s eyes flashed through his mind.

Ultimately, it was said that it could even pierce through the will of the world itself…