Barbarian in a Failed Game

Authority was not simply a special ability that transcendent beings possess. It is entirely different from aura or spells. It’s not just about a different system or the resources used; it’s a more fundamental difference.

A transcendent’s authority is about imposing their will upon the world. Authority is closer to mixing paint on the canvas of the world, coloring it with one’s own hue. For mortals, resisting it is nearly impossible.

No, for ordinary mortals, it’s simply impossible. Even among transcendent beings, an absolute superiority is determined by the difference in their levels of power. A similar example is the dragon’s dragon word.

Dragons mold their enormous mental images into the form of language, causing phenomena. This, too, can be considered a power of the same nature as authority, overlaying one’s will upon the world.

In contrast, giants do not project their will but rather contain it within themselves.

Gods, demons, dragons, and giants—each transcendent race claims superiority in their own methods. Esperus and the Spirit of Resentment, who explained this to Khan, both claimed their race’s method was superior, but Khan’s conclusion was slightly different.

Ultimately, it’s only a difference in method. Utilizing the world’s will to bring about ‘a certain result’ is the same. It’s hard to determine which is superior.

For example:

The authority of the Goddess of Justice is highly lethal to demons and their minions.

The authority of the holy flame, wielded by apostles, has the concept of burning dark magic itself.

However, this holy flame is not fatal to the Scion of the Arch Demon or the Arch Demon himself.

This means the rank of authority matters more than its compatibility, and the superiority among transcendents is absolutely determined by ‘rank’.

Thus, mortals who do not possess any rank are utterly helpless against authority. While Khan managed to resist the authority using blood manipulation derived from the giant’s blood, it was a method practically impossible for ordinary mortals.

After all, how many mortals possess a relic imbued with demonic authority and have the soul of a dubious dragon residing in their minds?

Moreover, it was true that despite being forced into a one-sided depletion, he did not see much practical effect.

‘Esperus…’

The ‘help’ that Esperus promised seemed to require more time. Unexpectedly, the Blood King, tainted by chaos, had caused a delay….

So, should he be forced into a war of attrition until the blood essence is depleted?

That was neither his style nor his preference. In games or reality, he always preferred to use the knowledge gained from Midland Quest to seize and shake the initiative.

But now, no amount of game knowledge was helping him. An unknown enemy, a Scion of the Arch Demon tainted by chaos. Due to the loss of its ego, even Karyan’s authority didn’t work, and its authority affected him directly without any prior sign.

There was nothing to actively turn the situation to his advantage.

‘Then, the solution is simple.’

His knowledge was not omnipotent, and there had been similar situations before. Each time, Khan had used a very simple and straightforward method to shake things up.

Creating a new variable.

***

Bang!

Crack-crack-crack─!

The Blood King, having regenerated its head, that had been split in half, by the power of chaos, hadn’t drastically changed its attack style. It had only become slightly more cunning and efficient.

Just as Khan moved to strike down the charging legs, the authority struck, suddenly halting his body, and the power of blood manipulation pushed the authority back. This brief interval forced him into clashes where he couldn’t exert his full strength.

“Ugh.”

Instead of completely shattering the legs, which grew harder and sharper with each regeneration, he could only fend off the attacks with awkward movements.

‘It’s getting better at fighting!’

It seemed the Blood King had learned that using its authority at the moment of contact was more effective than simply increasing its output.

Several times, this led to dangerous situations for Khan, but he had yet to sustain any serious injuries. The problem was that the blood essence’s remaining quantity would soon drop below 3000.

‘Moreover, this thing is only targeting Esperus!’

After several clashes where he clashed against its authority, Khan was able to roughly assess the Blood King’s current state. Lacking an ego, it pursued only the goal imprinted in its instincts.

It would eliminate anything that got in its way but wouldn’t go out of its way to confirm kills unless it interfered with its objective. This alone had led to the deaths of half of Kurtank’s subordinates….

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

“Uwaaaah!”

Thanks to the efforts of Vess, Tulkan, and the shield, Tenel, Esperus had not been captured. Another fact learned was that the Blood King didn’t use its authority on targets it didn’t perceive as a threat.

Logically, it would make sense for it to stop everything with its authority and then capture Esperus. However, it behaved like a monster programmed with specific patterns, much like those in typical RPGs, repeating predetermined actions.

‘I need to force it to use its authority more actively.’

Screech──!

Khan, continuously attacking to ensure the Blood King perceived him as a threat, was thinking rapidly. He needed to see that ‘ripple’ again. Just like Karyan, he needed to be able to see the cursed will of the world!

Boom-boom-boom!!

An explosion erupted from the back of the Blood King’s head, instantly engulfing its massive head. The explosion, originating from a small point, didn’t end there. The sphere of flames coalesced again, unleashing a more powerful explosion than before.

Bang────!!

Despite the distance, the shockwave was enough to make his ears ring. Immediately following, the scattered embers settled on the Blood King’s body, triggering a series of explosions.

This was the moment when the signature spell of the Red Tower Lord, known as the pinnacle of large-scale destructive magic, was recreated through Khan’s possession of the ‘Essence of the Five-Colored Bird.’

‘Only one use left.’

The Blood King’s head, caught in the explosion, was melting into a sticky, mucus-like state. It was a near-lethal damage by any measure. Yet, the Blood King’s regeneration ability, which had withstood even the flames of the Red Tower Lord, was slowly restoring its original form.

The next move from the Blood King was predictable.

“Damn it!”

The number on the blood essence sharply decreased. The figure now lingered in the 2000s, and the will trying to invade his body was becoming too powerful to easily push back even with the power of blood manipulation.

This was a clear crisis, but also an opportunity.

‘Now…!’

Time seemed to stretch out. The melted flesh bubbled and reformed. Despite lacking supporting flesh, the hollow eyes suspended in mid-air turned towards him.

Amidst the slow-motion world, over the rushing spider legs, he saw the small ‘ripple’ forming around the Blood King’s eyes!

Time slowly resumed its normal pace. By then, the power of blood manipulation had regained freedom in his limbs, and he once again drew out the vision contained in the Essence of the Five-Colored Bird.

Boom!

The sinister legs, radiating a chilling aura, stopped just inches from him. The rainbow-colored barrier that had appeared out of nowhere blocked all the attacks completely.

『Absolute Protection of Estelle』

This was the only defensive signature among the powers contained in the Essence of the Five-Colored Bird, belonging to the Gold Tower Lord.

Despite its name, ‘Absolute Protection’, the seven-colored barrier seemed on the verge of shattering. But once was enough.

He was certain.

The potential of Karyan’s eyes could not bloom immediately due to a lack of ‘stimulus’. The Blood King could not fully wield its authority, and Khan, who had just realized the potential, lacked experience.

“Esperus-!”

In that case. He needed to provide the missing stimulus and experience.

“Stop hindering them!”

“……”

Despite being immersed in something, he seemed to understand well enough. Khan opened Aecharis’s pouch. What he took out wasn’t a secret weapon to turn the tide or a potion to temporarily boost his abilities, but rather, pieces of shattered flesh.

“Because of you…! Because of you…!”

“You’re still going on about this.”

Darkin Perayas.

A dark mage who had pledged his soul to Aecharis and was reunited in hell. Khan carelessly scattered the pieces of flesh on the ground, where they started to coalesce, attempting to regenerate but left unattended.

Bang!

Before it could fully regain its form, the Blood King crushed it underfoot, then lunged at Khan. Seeing it change direction from Esperus to Khan indicated that its perceived threat level of Khan had significantly risen.

Of course, the Essence of the Five-Colored Bird could no longer be used.

Using Giant’s Strength could indeed instill fear in the Blood King, but it would leave no backup plan. Giant’s Strength should only be unleashed when there’s a certainty of taking down the Blood King.

The right moment was clear.

When Karyan’s eyes have bloomed with their new potential.

Crash!

The Blood King, using its massive body, shattered the signature of the Gold Tower Lord and slammed into Khan. His body was flung into the air like he got hit by a truck. As the heavy impact rattled his skull, Khan’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light. The Heart of Predation began to beat heavily.

『Finally found you!! You worthless mortal scum…!』

A gigantic demon tore through the dimensional fabric, emerging in the sky of the Blood Domain.

Familiar faces.

These demons, having roamed the Blood Domain under Esperus’s influence, had entered the red storm, following the signal emitted by Darkin Perayas after Esperus ceased its interference at Khan’s request.

They were Augrabes and Kereaktu.

『I’ll kill you, and then rip you apart again! Until those treacherous lips beg for mercy──!』

Augrabes, with a dragon-like head, roared, while Kereaktu silently stirred up the chaos.

Their presence was electrifying.

They were demons contending for the second and third positions under Aecharis. Even though they had suffered when their avatars and consciousness were sealed by the Goddess of Justice due to some mortal, their rank was still exceptionally high even in hell.

In Midland, they might have been mocked. But here in hell, they could wield their true power. Even the most arrogant mortal would feel fear in this situation…

“Wow. You got here fast.”

『……?!』

But they didn’t know. The very fact that the two demons had arrived here was evidence that they had fallen into Khan’s trap.

“Seems even he’s glad to see you.”

Rooooar──!!

The meaningless wail from the Blood King’s eyes was now directed at the two newly arrived transcendents. A wicked smile spread across Khan’s face as he stood on the wind spirit’s foothold in the air.

Seeing that smile, Augrabes and Kereaktu couldn’t help but think.

He was truly like a demon.