Chapter 25 - Marauders (Part 2)

 

We ran in the dark. From time to time, I would open the compass to check our direction and run like crazy.

"Gahh!"

Various monsters like Ghouls and Skeletons blocked the way, but that wasn't a problem because they were all slow. However, they were not a problem for our pursuer either.

*Running!*

Has it been about 5 minutes? A psychopath would have already finished looting.

That's the luck.

If we hadn't been dressed as newbies, that bitch would have given up looting and chased us right away. In other words, it meant that she was confident that she could catch up to us even if she gave us time to escape.

Nevertheless. At least we gained some time.

"Bjorn, isn't that a mark?"

The good news continues.

In the Land of the Dead, there were collapsed stone buildings everywhere. Every time I walked past one of them, I left a mark so we could find our way back to the portal to the 1st floor.

"This way!"

Although we only hunted nearby, the marks were closer than I thought.

Maybe luck...

"Who are you?!"

Damn it, I shouldn't have thought so.

Einar and I stopped at the same time. We encountered another group of researchers.

No, maybe it was better?

For researchers, looters were a common enemy. If I explain the situation to them and offer appropriate compensation, we can get their help.

"Barbarians?"

A group of explorers emerged from the darkness and pointed their weapons at us and bowed their heads.

There were 4 of them in total. They were all human, and their equipment looked at least twice as good as ours.

It's hard to trust people, but we have no choice.

"We're being chased by a looter. Help us.

"How do we know you're not looters?"

"By the honor of a warrior. All my words are true.

Unlike the promise of the elves, the warrior's oath had no force.

But, surprisingly, this oath has 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 looter, we'll take all the rewards. Do you agree?

— Of course.

"Great.

When Bald waved his hand, the rest of the researchers lowered their weapons.

Obviously, if I wasn't a barbarian, it would take them longer to weaken their defenses.

"Come here for now." Then we will talk in more detail.

As I approached them, a yellow-haired man who was about 5 feet tall activated his special ability.

"This is a special ability of a dwarf. If you put it on the ground, you will blend in with the surrounding objects within a radius of three yards.

Simply put, it was a Goblin Archer-like ability that could be used within range. In turn, his disadvantage was that he could not move.

"Are you wounded?" Bald asked.

— No, I don't.

"How lucky...

Indeed, everything was as he said.

Did the group of researchers we accidentally stumble upon possess stealth ability? If so, then perhaps it would be possible to avoid a battle...

— ... so that two barbarians would come to us on their own.

Damn, he was talking to himself.

No wonder everything was going so well. Of course.

***

[Character has fallen into a state of [Suppression]].

***

"Haha.

Greed danced in the eyes of the researchers, including Bald. One of them had already rummaged through my backpack and opened a pouch of mana stones.

– You earned a lot in just 2 days.

I wanted to crush his ribs with a mace, but my body wouldn't move. It was the same with Einar.

"What?" Are you so afraid that you can't move?

It was clearly the power of essence.

I could already guess what kind of essence it was. There were many similar abilities, but researchers of their level could only have one.

Is this the [Suppression] of the Stone Golem?

Undoubtedly. We have just been attacked by the active skill of a rank 8 monster, the Stone Golem.

The easiest way to get out was to take even the slightest damage, but...

If those bastards had any brains, they would know to be careful.

"Hey, buddy, don't look at us like that. This is not an ability that can be solved in this way.

"Terrible" wasn't enough to describe the situation.

Damn, I went through all this to live another day, but now I'm going to die like this?

"Look at those fierce eyes. Still not understanding the situation?

"All right, Ramod. Let's end here. If the looter they were talking about gets here, it will be a problem.

"Tc, that's very bad. We've finally caught the woman, but she's a barbarian.

"You're an idiot, isn't it better to have a barbarian?" Do you know how much money you can make from their hearts alone?

Their ugly desires were revealed, and I felt a shiver run through my body.

Soon Bald Man drew a sharp blade.

"Kill them with one blow. Don't cause trouble.

"Tz, don't worry.

*Вуш!*

The killing intent flew forward with the wind. His target was none other than the neck.

... Neck?

Even now, when death was imminent, my brain synthesized the information it received and offered a solution.

Of course, I didn't know if it would actually work. However, this would be much more productive than reflecting on the past.

*Blow!*

Suddenly, a sharp blade pierced my neck. At the same time, there was a tingling sensation and my body relaxed.

I immediately threw my head back, like a boxer who turns his face to soften the force of the blow.

Time passed slowly.

— ... And?

I saw a dumbfounded expression on Bald's face. The hand that held the dagger was empty.

At that moment, I felt an extraneous sensation in my neck.

Oh, he's already half stuck.

As soon as I realized this, my brain made a brief conclusion.

It wasn't that bad. As long as the bleeding is minimal, I can hold out a little longer.

*Sting*

I forced my weakening legs to move and regained my balance.

Then, I waved the mace in my hand... right into the brilliant head of the Bald!

*Crunch!*

With a half-sunken face, Bald collapsed unconscious.

Time seemed to be moving at half speed.

"Darvan!!

Everywhere there are many amazed faces.

Didn't you think that a guy with a knife in his neck could fight back?

"You, f...

Actually, I didn't expect such a development either.

—... Damn bastard...

Something continued to ooze from my throat. My body began to lose all strength, and the light began to blur.

Am I in shock?

Everything tingled from toes to head. I didn't have enough oxygen and blood.

*Clang!*

The mace and shield I was holding fell to the floor as my hands lost their grip.

I wanted only one thing - to fall down and rest, but...

There was still work to be done.

I didn't make all this mess to drag just one asshole with me.

*Sting*

I stepped forward and lifted my wobbly body.

And pulling out the knife stuck in my neck, I threw it in the direction of Ainhar, who was about four steps away from me.

*Blow!*

Ugh, I didn't think he could stab like that.

"Ugh!

I'm sorry, but at least your body is moving now.

*Blow!*

At the same time that the dagger plunged into her forearm, Einar swung her sword and struck the archer at the waist.

Then, combining the movements, she turned her body once more, jumped up, and brought it down on the head of the other guy. The iron helmet he was wearing was useless.

*Crunch!*

Blood was dripping from the helmet, which had turned into scrap metal.

"What the hell...!"

The yellow-haired man who was farther away saw this and immediately started to run. It was a quick decision, like a Goblin.

"Bjorn!"

Ainhar, who had finished cleaning the area, rushed to me and knelt down.

Phew, then I can leave the rest to you...

"Bjorrrrnnnn...!"

Ainar hugged me and called my name in a sad voice.

... It was as if she was hugging a dead man.

Feeling a little ominous, I opened my dim eyes with an effort and said:

"Ze...

"Good!" I will avenge you!

No, don't think about it.

[Achievement]

Condition: Health drops below 0.1%.

Reward: Spirit Stat +1.

I used the last of my strength to open my mouth.

"A potion...

Damn, don't let me die.

***

Björn Yandel

Level: 2

Build: 46

Spirit: 39 (New +3)

Special Abilities: 4

Item Level: 202

Total Combat Strength: 139.5 (New +3)

***

*Chhhhhhhhhh!*

When the hole in my neck began to heal, it was accompanied by pain.

But I was happy. I could clearly feel the life returning to my dead body.

"Ugh...

A burning pain awakened my consciousness, which was dulled.

... I'm alive.

I really thought I'd cross the River Styx this time. It's a good thing that I didn't do anything else with the 1.4 million stones and got the Imprint of Immortality first. If it weren't for that, I would have been dead long ago.

"Ainar."

"Are you okay?"

"Gear, get their gear first..."

As soon as I had the strength to speak, I gave instructions to Ainar.

After that, I forced myself to stand up and tipped the remaining potion down my throat.

*Swallow*

It's all money, but there's nothing you can do.

Even if the wound on my neck seemed to be healing, I couldn't tell what was going on inside. I also didn't know how much damage had been done to my brain as a result of what had just happened. Therefore, it was better to take precautions in advance.

"Ugh...

In fact, soon there was a tingling sensation in the back of his head.

Given the intensity of the pain, it didn't seem serious, but if left unattended, it could lead to a serious problem.

"Let's check?"

— ... Equipment?

"I grabbed everything I saw.

In that case...

When I nodded, Einar lifted my chin and carefully examined the wound.

"There will be a scar."

It was strange. Ervena once said the same thing.

But the feelings were completely different.

"Amazing. You'll be the only barbarian with a scar from a pierced neck!

Does it look like a medal in her eyes?

True, no matter how long barbarians lived like savages, it was probably rare to survive a knife stab in the neck.

"What's next?"

Ainar asked about our future plans.

This woke me up too. Just a few moments ago, I was walking on the verge between life and death...

But nothing was decided.

"How much time has passed?"

— About 5 minutes at most.

5 minutes...

On the contrary, meeting these bastards only made things worse.

How stupid of me.

No matter how urgent matters are, I should know better than asking for help from the bastard researchers.

Anyway, let's regret it later.

"Which way did that guy run away?"

"In that direction.

I led Einar and moved in the direction where Yellowhair had fled.

Although the ground was dirty, there were no traces left, so it was impossible to track him.

But as expected.

"There you are.

Not too far away, I could see yellow hair.

Since it was so dark here, how far could he go?

Perhaps while running, he hit his head on the rubble of the building, collapsed on the floor and lost consciousness. After putting away everything that could be a weapon, I stomped on his back to bring him to his senses, and yellow hair fell over his face.

"Ik!" Spare me!

Compared to what it was before, it was a very polite attitude.

He used to complain that the woman they accidentally caught was a barbarian, but now?

"Oh!"

Ainar grabbed the man by the neck and easily lifted him with one hand. Yellowhair's physique was so small that his feet didn't touch the ground.

!!!

He began to suffocate.

Seeing him being strangled, instead of sympathizing, I thought:

Good riddance of bad rubbish.

That is why you should always aim at the head, not the neck.

If it hit, then regardless of the potions or my Imprint of Immortality, I would be helpless.

"Ainar, let him go."

Despite my doubts about my instructions, Einar freed her hand. I went up to the guy lying on the ground and said in his ear.

"Use your power. If you want to live.

That was the only reason why I didn't tear off the head of this yellow rat right away. The power of the Dwarves that this guy possessed. I need it right now.

"I... I use!

"How long can you do this?"

"30 minutes!" No, I can hold out for 40 minutes! So...!

Too many words.

I wanted him to just answer my question. I squeezed his collar and asked again.

"How long will it take to use it again?"

"I need to rest as much as I use it.

- I see.

I let go of the hand I was holding his neck with and pressed down on his upper body with my legs so that he wouldn't even think of breaking free.

As if I were dealing with a Goblin...

"Wouldn't it be better to just kill him?" I think this woman gave up on us anyway.

I wondered what kind of nonsense it was, but from her point of view, everything could look like this.

Although we managed to escape, it was unknown if we were persecuted from the beginning. Even with the looting time, it was strange that she hadn't shown up yet.

"I refused, huh...

Of course, such a possibility existed. Maybe we weren't even worth being chased by a psychopathic bitch.

Trouble getting back to town to testify?

If the naked face we saw earlier was a magical disguise, then this would explain her brazen murder.

But...

*Smirk*

Things couldn't go that well, could they?

At least for me.