Barbarian in a Failed Game

In the original story, Paradise….

Elves were frequently depicted as a source of calamity across the continent. Especially in the current world, it was Paradise that significantly contributed to accelerating the Empire’s downfall which began with Darkin Perayas’ invasion, prematurely ended by Khan.

In the current timeline, Khan had neutralized Paradise Bank early on by seizing its ledgers and eliminating it.

In the original history, however, Paradise Bank had survived until the mid-to-late stages of the plot, wreaking havoc.

As the Empire weakened from external invasions and internal turmoil, the bank gradually increased its influence, eventually corrupting the Church and bringing about the rise of the ‘Apostate Leonir’.

But that was as far as it went. Thanks to the players’ efforts, Paradise Bank’s plans were crushed, and eventually, all the elves were expelled from the continent, just like the dwarves.

Naturally, the arrogant elves couldn’t accept this fate; they rallied forces alongside southern beastmen to strike back when the Imperial capital crumbled.

‘Then, they got annihilated… The Empire’s monsters swept all of Paradise away… That’s the original history.’

In no timeline did the plot suggest the Tree of Memory would resurrect a giant. If it had, players might have questioned the sanity of the game developers when the elves showed up in the character creation screen.

“…This is insane.”

Khan had to crane his neck until it ached to see the giant’s fingertip piercing through the clouds. No, the fingertip extended far beyond that, obscured from view.

The sheer magnitude was daunting, impossible to fully grasp. If just a fingertip was that large, what would happen when the palm emerged? When the entire wrist and arm were complete?

“Damn it, am I dreaming…? No, it has to be a dream… I must have taken a severe hit to the head while fighting…!”

Ron’s dazed muttering echoed in Khan’s ears, a sentiment shared by most of the group, who were half out of their minds.

“How about it? The majesty of a race that once vied for dominance over the continent against dragons!”

The alchemist’s ecstatic voice snapped the group back to reality.

“Although no records remain of the giant kings, there are records of their vassal warriors. One of them is Gornarius, battling the last of the sea dragons in the sky. This Desegonos was another vassal, a vanguard oppressing mortals across the continent.”

Eager to boast of his achievements, the alchemist generously explained his methods.

“This right hand of Desegonos is both a spell and a ritual to recreate that magnificent being. Of course, it’s impossible to resurrect a being as grand as a giant with a simple spell. But with the top-tier materials abundant in Gigantus, the ancient knowledge bestowed by the Apostle, and my exceptional alchemy─!”

『Ignorant mortal─』

The alchemist’s speech, tinged with madness, was abruptly cut short. The monster battle in the sky ended suddenly as Natrix revealed her full form.

A dragon covered in blue scales roared, biting and tearing apart ‘Gornarius’s Left Arm’, which was charging at her.

If it were real giant hide, a hatchling like Natrix wouldn’t be able to claw and bite through it. But her opponent was merely an ancient spell mimicking a giant’s form.

It was no match for the full power of a true dragon.

Rrrt─!

Having severed the hand and wrist, Natrix’s throat swelled. Then she unleashed her breath.

『A pathetic creature who learned about ancient beings through scribbles dares to deceive a dragon’s eyes.』

The liquid metal that continuously repaired the giant’s left arm was useless against a dragon’s breath. The speed of regeneration couldn’t keep up with the rate at which the breath incinerated.

Natrix’s overwhelming victory declared that she had been holding back to conserve strength for her future confrontation with the Tree of Memory.

“Haha…! Indeed, no imitation of a giant’s form can withstand a dragon’s breath! But what about this right hand of Desegonos? Crafted from the best materials, ancient knowledge, and supreme alchemy, this masterpiece!”

『A worthless fake could never replace a true giant. Know your place.』

Once again, Natrix’s dragonic command cut off the alchemist’s speech. But this time, her warning wasn’t merely verbal. Natrix’s throat swelled even more dramatically.

The sharper curve indicated an even more powerful breath than before. The alchemist had just witnessed how her breath had turned Gornarius’s left arm to ash.

Even the alchemist, who had been acting with blatant madness, recognized the severity of the situation and wiped the smile off his face.

Against a dragon’s breath that could incinerate a metal mass the size of a dragon’s body, even regeneration wouldn’t grant extra lives.

“This could be a bit problematic….”

The alchemist quickly swallowed an elixir from his belt pouch and began casting spells hastily. He planned to use the elixir’s power to exponentially increase the potency of his spells for protection.

『Vanish along with your counterfeit creation.』

Natrix’s merciless dragon breath rained down. As the blue flames cascaded down like a waterfall upon the alchemist, the high-level spell he cast to block the dragon’s breath was rendered impotent.

The mechanical red eyes flickered as if displaying an emotion of surprise. Despite his best efforts, Desegonos was beyond his control. Faced with the full might of a transcendent being, even a mage on par with a tower master could only concede to death.

Fwoosh──!!

The dragon’s breath surged, aiming to incinerate both the alchemist and the giant’s hand behind him. The breath’s onslaught began to engulf everything in its path, including the corroded liquid metal formed by the mixed spirit. The sheer force jolted the half-dazed companions into retreat.

After an agonizingly long few seconds, Natrix retracted her breath and, with a flap of her wings, landed gracefully on the ground.

“Was it sheer luck? Or perhaps a twist of fate?”

Greeted by an all too familiar voice, the alchemist’s voice echoed despite everyone thinking he was nothing more than ashes by now.

“Fortunately, she managed to secure the core of Gigantus and the dwarf king.”

The elf elder—Kenaz—once held by the alchemist was nowhere to be seen as the alchemist, now appearing before them, smiled. Thanks to securing the ‘core’ in time, he had survived the dragon’s breath by sacrificing the mixed spirit.

Of course, this meant the demise of the mixed spirit, a combination of three high-ranking spirits and hundreds of other spirits.

“But now that I no longer need to rely on the spirits’ power for alchemical materials, it’s all good.”

Grrr—

A low growl escaped from Natrix. Khan turned to see what had provoked this unfamiliar reaction from her when, the gigantic finger that pierced through the clouds moved for the first time.

To a human, it would resemble the tiniest twitch. But given the finger’s magnitude, even a slight movement was noticeable. In a vision beyond ordinary sight, the consciousness emanating from the giant’s finger extended to claim dominion over Gigantus.

『Where do you think you’re going─!』

The consciousness, which seemed poised to enshroud the entire Karius Sea, clashed with Natrix’s, halting its advance. Watching the invisible struggle between the two transcendent forces, Khan couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the current situation.

‘A spell could emulate a transcendent’s consciousness?’

Consciousness is tantamount to proof of a soul’s existence. But could a magical creation possess a soul? If so, that wouldn’t just be conjuring magic—it would be akin to divinity─

『The secret to recreating a soul! Could it be…!』

“With the profound knowledge bestowed upon us, we have ventured into the realm of creation! Ah…! To what heights has that being ascended? My feeble mind can scarcely comprehend such transcendence─!”

Natrix’s shocked realization and the alchemist’s trembling voice, soaked in ecstatic reverence, overlapped almost simultaneously.

Ironically, the words of a dragon and a deranged mage pointed to the same individual.

The Apostle of Truth.

‘No way!’

What truth had they uncovered?

Khan’s eyes widened in realization. But there was no time to ponder the shocking truth, as the giant’s finger began to move.

『Come here!』

Natrix’s dragonic command ensnared the group. Khan accepted the invisible force calmly, and with the others, landed on the dragon’s nape.

『Hold on tight!』

There was no need to ask what to hold on to. Grasping the dragon’s scales—perhaps the toughest material in existence—everyone held on as Natrix took off at an incredible speed.

“W-Where are we going?”

Dwarf William, unable to comprehend why they were fleeing with the enemy at their doorstep, shouted in protest. But Natrix either had no intention of answering or didn’t have the luxury to, as she flew at breakneck speed in the opposite direction of Gigantus.

And then,

Rumble—Rumble—Rumble.

The sky began to fall towards them. This wasn’t a mere figure of speech; it was literal.

“This is insane….”

A shadow loomed over the blue ocean. The shadow blanketed everything in sight. It was cast by the giant’s palm, which emerged through the clouds. The enormous hand descended toward Natrix, who carried the group.

Natrix flew with all her might to escape the shadow cast by the giant’s hand. But the giant’s hand, despite its immense size, was incredibly swift.

『Bind!』

At the edge of the shadow’s boundary, Natrix turned her head and used her wings to shield the group, bracing for the impact.

And then,

Boom──!

The giant’s hand, as if leaving its fingerprint on the ocean floor, split the sea.