A dire situation.
He couldn’t just let the rear be exposed.
[Sacred Weapon]
A golden dagger. It resembled Karin’s dagger.
Turning immediately, he slashed off the heads of a few Crawlers that had gotten into the formation.
It was the best move Jeong Yusin could make without a weapon, but it wasn’t enough.
Amid the scattering golden particles, he saw it.
The last remaining Crawler was just about to bite into the frog Demihuman’s neck.
Jeong Yusin instinctively reached out his arm.
Crrrrk!!!
The Crawler’s sharp fangs mercilessly chomped down on Jeong Yusin’s arm instead of the frog’s neck.
Muscles were torn, and chunks of flesh fell off.
“Gghhh!!!”
How deep were the bites? The sight went beyond the yellow fat, revealing the bone.
He gritted his teeth to endure the pain, but his body shuddered once due to the horrifying agony. An animal-like groan escaped his clenched teeth.
[Revenant]
Blue flames ignited in his eyes.
[Sacred Weapon]
What appeared was a knuckle.
A golden Knuckle Duster enveloped his fist.
He spun and delivered a straight punch.
Whoosh!!!
The Knuckle Duster shattered the Crawler’s nosebone, brow, temples, and plunged deep into its skull.
The eyeballs popped out and dangled. He grabbed them, tore them off, and burst them open.
Squish.
The gooey remains of the eyeballs trickled down his hand.
The bull Demihuman stared blankly at Jeong Yusin.
“…This mad cow son of a…”
Jeong Yusin’s eyes glinted.
“Barbaroy! I’m fine! Calm down!”
Iron Mask raised his voice. His voice was crackling, indicating he was quite confused.
Jeong Yusin glared at the bull Demihuman, shook off the dust, and quickly turned his head.
Crawlers were flooding in endlessly from all sides.
There was no time for looting, let alone killing them all.
Jeong Yusin spotted a mace someone had dropped, picked it up.
Crack! Whoosh! Crack!
Relying on his brute strength, he swung wildly.
The Crawlers’ heads exploded like firecrackers.
Because of the attacks from the fangs and claws coming from all directions, his leather armor was already shredded to rags.
Even his linen shirt had been sliced to pieces by the claws, leaving his upper body completely naked.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes burned brighter than ever before.
But the rate of his body healing was slower than the rate of him getting wounded.
Jeong Yusin’s mace smashed into a monster’s arm.
Whoosh!!!
The Crawler’s arm bent grotesquely.
“Kheeeeeek!!!”
Jeong Yusin smashed the mace down, crushing its skull.
“We have to retreat!”
Jeong Yusin yelled. But the party could only hold their ground.
The situation grew increasingly grim.
Even Boulder Fist and Iron Mask were exhausted by the overwhelming number of demons, and their movements became increasingly sluggish.
The roughly fifteen guards also seemed strained, and their formation was gradually disintegrating.
Another wave of over a hundred Crawlers surged forward like a tide.
Jeong Yusin gritted his teeth.
No matter how strong a warrior Jeong Yusin was, he couldn’t resist the endless tide of monsters.
It was different from simply blocking the entrance in the labyrinth. After all, this was a wide-open plain with no obstructions in any direction.
“Skreeeeeeek!!!”
“Kreeeeeeek!!!”
“Hold on!!!”
He shouted as the wave of Crawlers, red like blood, surged forward.
Despite Jeong Yusin’s cry,
The half-ogre Boulder Fist, Iron Mask, and the frog Demihuman were all swept away by the Crawler wave.
Overwhelmed by sheer numbers, the party collapsed.
Jeong Yusin was also tossed and crushed by the Crawler wave, rolling across the ground.
The Crawlers’ long nails and teeth tore into Jeong Yusin’s chest, shredding and hacking at it.
Dammit.
Am I dying here?
No.
How could we have survived this long only for this?
Jeong Yusin flailed his fists and kicked amidst the Crawlers, gnashing his teeth.
It was a pitiful struggle, hardly worthy of the name ‘battle’.
Despite the glowing vengeance blue flames becoming even brighter, the light of life began to fade.
His body was shredded—chunks torn, muscles ripped—making it hard to find any unharmed part.
“Scath-sama!!!”
Someone far away called his name as he was buried in the mass of Crawlers.
Thud.
A shining red single-edged sword flew between the Crawlers and landed.
It was Aldein’s single-edged sword.
Jeong Yusin crawled worm-like through the Crawlers, opening his mouth to bite hard onto the hilt.
Swish.
Clutching it between his teeth, he pulled it out with great effort.
Swinging his head violently, he severed the head of a Crawler that had been gnawing on his arm.
“Krrrrrr!!!”
Jeong Yusin’s eyes burned fiercely.
Irrespective of the teeth breaking, he shook the sword violently. The gooey mix of blood and saliva soaked the hilt of the single-edged sword.
Slowly, healing began, thanks to the Revenant brand effect.
“Kff.”
Spitting out the sword hilt he was biting, he grabbed it with his relatively less injured right hand.
Swoosh!!!
Lying on the ground, he swung the sword wildly.
He chopped off the ankles of the Crawlers, crawling to the fallen ones and tearing out chunks of flesh with his teeth.
“Kweeeeeck!!!”
The Crawler flailed its arms, then ripped the leather strap securing its cattle helm. The helmet flew off somewhere.
His wet, black hair spilled out, damp from sweat.
He plunged the sword into the creature’s brow, halting the frantic movements.
Jeong Yusin rose slowly, chewing on the Crawler’s flesh.
He brushed his hair back once.
Blood—from someone he didn’t recognize—flowed down his black hair.
“Keerrrrrr!!!”
One of them spotted Jeong Yusin and charged at him.
The single-edged sword gleamed under the moonlight, flashing once.
Swoosh!!!
The Crawler’s head soared high into the sky.
That was the signal.
“Kieeeeeeeeck!!!”
Crawlers screamed from all sides and lunged at Jeong Yusin.
Swoosh!!!
Chooaaack!!!
He blindly slashed and tore at the mass swarming around him.
It was a wild dance of a madman, devoid of any form or dignity.
Crash!!!
He stomped on their skulls and bit into their necks with his feet.
Finally regaining his senses after indiscriminately killing, he found no opponents left around him.
“Scath-sama!!!”
Scath?
That was his name.
No. It was his alias.
Jeong Yusin turned his head toward the voice. In the distance, a boar Demihuman swung a halberd, fighting off the Crawlers.
“…Delnaco?”
“Yes! It’s me, Delnaco!!! Please help us!”
Jeong Yusin sprinted over and swung the single-edged sword.
In an instant, the heads of three Crawlers flew off.
Jeong Yusin glanced at Delnaco, who was panting heavily.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was sent by Aldein-sama!”
“Tell him I’m fine.”
Jeong Yusin turned away.
Based on the squirming of Hans’ body, it seemed another wave of Trollers or Crawlers, or some zombie horde, was about to come.
He couldn’t save anyone else but had to prioritize rescuing his party members who had helped him.
“Hans-sama’s defensive brand has a major flaw!”
“What is it? And why are you telling me this in the first place?”
Delnaco seemed anxious, repeatedly gripping and releasing his halberd.
“We don’t have time. While there are indeed several guards gathering behind us, they haven’t fully formed their lines yet. If the Crawlers attack again, there might be civilian casualties in the Western zone.”
“In any case, understood. Wait a moment.”
Jeong Yusin left Delnaco with his jaw dropped and sprinted toward his comrades.
In the distance, Half-Ogre Boulder Fist and Iron Mask were struggling fiercely. It was evident from their giant size; the Ogre’s being enormous.
Keeeerrrr!!!
The crimson flash of the single-edged sword severed the Crawler’s head, soaring skyward.
Amid the fountains of spurting blood, he chopped the Crawlers into pieces.
“I’ve come to rescue you.”
“Grrgh… Thank you.”
Half-Ogre, his entire body shredded and battered, expressed his gratitude. On the other hand, the man in the Iron Mask seemed relatively unharmed.
“That’s unnecessary. Do you see that bewildered boar Demihuman over there? Head towards him.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Just go. You don’t look entirely well yourself.”
Surveying the surroundings, not far away, were Crawlers feasting on a corpse.
A long staff caught his eye—it was Crog the frog Demihuman’s.
“Shit.”
Jeong Yusin rushed over and severed the Crawlers’ necks in one swift motion.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes sank coldly.
The corpse they were devouring belonged to the bull Demihuman.
Not only his face was skinned, but his body had been gnawed through to his internal organs.
So, it ended like this, did it?
Even an iota of sympathy failed to stir within him.
“Cough.”
Something came from beneath the body of the bull Demihuman.
“Crog?”
“Barbaroy?!”
The voice of the frog Demihuman Crog brightened.
Jeong Yusin flipped the body of the bull Demihuman.
Crog wriggled his body and emerged.
“T, thank you.”
“How’s your body holding up?”
“My back hurts a bit, but it’s not fatal.”
Jeong Yusin carried Crog and rushed toward where Delnaco was located.
Boulder Fist, Iron Mask, Crog the Frog Demihuman, Barbaroy—all had gathered at one spot.
Jeong Yusin glanced over his party members once before looking at Delnaco.
“Now tell me. How do we defeat that snail-like creature?”
“It’s not about defeating him.”
“Then what?”
Delnaco explained quickly.
“…In my opinion, Scath-sama is the only one capable of breaking that red barrier.”
Jeong Yusin glared at Delnaco.
“Delnaco, we’ll have a talk later.”
“Y-yes. Yes?”
Ignoring Delnaco’s open-mouthed expression, Jeong Yusin turned his gaze toward Ingrid.
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!!
Ingrid tirelessly swung her great sword, severing tentacles and pounding against the blood-red barrier.
His head throbbed. How could he possibly intervene in the superhuman fight between Ingrid and the demon?
It seemed easy to say, but attempting it was akin to a suicide mission.
‘Aldein, what are you thinking with this guy?’
Jeong Yusin clenched his throbbing head in thought.
There was no time.
Hans’ body began to spasm violently.
How many Crawlers would he summon this time?
There was no way to guess.
The western area had Ainhover and Boron, so it was not possible to simply retreat leisurely.
He’d heard they were forming an encirclement at the rear, but how effective it would be was uncertain.
He didn’t want to even give the possibility of tragedy a chance.
‘Absolutely not.’
It had to be done. He couldn’t let others sacrifice themselves for his sake.
Jeong Yusin raised his head.
“Boulder Fist, can you throw me to that spot over there?”
Jeong Yusin pointed toward where Ingrid and Hans stood.
“What?!”
Upon hearing Jeong Yusin’s words, the half-ogre’s eyes widened like lanterns.
“Can you throw me?”
“It’s impossible. I’m too exhausted. Besides, my strength is not that great.”
“That’s where I can step in.”
The frog Demihuman Crog interjected.
“If I apply the Physical Enhancement Blessing and Weight Reduction Blessing to you and the ogre respectively, it should be manageable.”
“Here, I have gauntlets enchanted with Strength Amplification and Durability Enhancement.”
Iron Mask took off the gauntlets and handed them over.
“Thank you all.”
Jeong Yusin paused mid-sentence and tilted his head.
“Why should I be grateful for this? I’m practically heading to my death.”
“…”
Those words left everyone speechless.
“Sorry, my head is a bit scattered. Let’s give it a try.”
Taking the coppery-smelling gauntlets from Iron Mask, he hefted the single-edged sword on his shoulder.
[Strength Enhancement]
[Weight Reduction]
The magic of the frog Demihuman enveloped Boulder Fist and Jeong Yusin.
The Half-Ogre carefully lifted Jeong Yusin.
“Scath, you’re a fine Barbaroy.”
“You have a good eye. You could join under me.”
“Let me think it over.”
The Half-Ogre chuckled lightly and extended his arm backward.
It was like the stance for throwing a sling.
Jeong Yusin stared at the moon hanging in the dark night sky and spoke.
“Let’s rethink this for a moment.”
“Barbaroy, and you’re refusing now? Cowardice.”
Boulder Fist dispassionately responded to Jeong Yusin’s words.
Jeong Yusin glared at Delnaco and asked,
“Delnaco, isn’t this assassination? Am I the only one who can do it? What haven’t I done for you?”
Delnaco ignored Jeong Yusin and looked at the Half-Ogre.
“Scath-sama seems a bit confused right now. Since he’s such a warm-hearted person, you shouldn’t worry and throw him. With full force.”
“… I understand.”
The Half-Ogre’s arm muscles bulged and tensed.
“Go, Barbaroy.”
With all his strength, Boulder Fist hurled Jeong Yusin skyward.
Whoosh!!!
Jeong Yusin’s body shot towards the moon.
His black hair flared like a lion’s mane, and the breaking of the air around his ears created a strange hum.
At some point, his rising body suddenly stopped.
He intuitively realized—soon, he would plummet.
He floated in the air for a brief moment, gently brushing through the fading star cluster.
Somewhere far off, was his home perhaps?
He didn’t know.
Jeong Yusin lifted the single-edged sword that hung on his shoulder high.
The stance for a downward slash.
Jeong Yusin’s body began to fall.
Down below, Ingrid and Hans were locked in battle.
BOOM!!! BOOM!!!
Ingrid, as if Jeong Yusin didn’t exist, persisted in pounding the red barrier.
‘Shit!’
He should have at least consulted with Ingrid.
Regret filled his chest.
He had to divert their attention; otherwise, he might get sliced in half by that great sword.
Jeong Yusin took a deep breath and yelled loudly.
“ZANGMONIIIM!!!”
Ingrid froze.
Looking up, she saw the black-haired Barbaroy descending with the moonlight.
“Remove those tentacles immediately!!!”
“That, that madman!”
After a moment of shock, Ingrid swung her great sword, cutting off the tentacles flying towards Jeong Yusin.
‘Good!’
Jeong Yusin tightened his grip on the single-edged sword.
“Hmm?”
His eyebrows slightly furrowed. He was certain he had felt a small vibration.
Was it an illusion?
The object to strike was quickly approaching.
The target was Hans’ barrier.
“HEEEEEEAAGGGH!!!”
From top to bottom.
The downward slash he’d practiced thousands of times collided with Hans’ red barrier.
Screeeech!!!
A massive crack was etched into the red barrier.
Crack!!!
His wrist bones shattered and twisted.
A shockwave erupted in his head.
“GGGGGHHH!!!”
Cursing and using every ounce of strength, he held on.
Crack!!!
The crack in Hans’ barrier grew larger.
In an instant.
Ingrid swiftly leapt up, plunging her great sword into the gap Jeong Yusin had created.
Clanggggg!!!
The barrier shattered.
Jeong Yusin’s body, drained of strength, plummeted toward the ground under the force of gravity.
Whoosh!!!
“Kreeeeeek!!!”
Ingrid’s great sword moved like a streak of light, slicing through Hans’ body when the barrier disappeared.
She didn’t stop there, hacking him into even smaller pieces with dozens of cross slashes. No screams were heard anymore.
The shattered Hans did not return to his previous form.
Jeong Yusin gazed blankly at the ground getting closer. He would surely be pulverized if he landed this way.
Pfft.
He was embraced in a kind and fragrant bosom.
Through blurred eyes, he saw it was Ingrid.
“Who even calls someone ‘mother-in-law’? You crazy half-blood Barbaroy.”
“…I just called out randomly.”
Thud!
Ingrid gently landed on the ground with Jeong Yusin in her arms.
Even amidst the excruciating pain of broken bones and shattered body, a sense of relief rose in his heart.
He had protected them.
He had protected his party.
And perhaps, he had preserved the bonds within the Labyrinth City from any unknown threats.
“Please put me down.”
Leaving Ingrid’s embrace, Jeong Yusin hit the ground and immediately collapsed.
The pain from the shattered wrist bones grew worse.
Raising his head, he saw countless guards rushing in from far away in numbers exceeding hundreds.
Where did they all come from so suddenly?
He saw neither the stars nor Hans while flying through the air—had they been witnessing his bravery?
He swallowed dryly.
‘No, they couldn’t have. Ah, please no.’
“Numerous people saw your valor. Who would have thought you could break that ‘brand’?”
Ingrid patted Jeong Yusin on the shoulder, continuing her words.
“I admit it. You truly were a ‘pure’ Barbaroy, weren’t you?”
The first dawn of dawn rising in the eastern part of the city illuminated Jeong Yusin’s face.
A single stream of tears trickled down Jeong Yusin’s cheek.
He was certain he had protected everyone.
So, why did he feel so sorrowful?
