Barbarian in a Failed Game

“Ugh…!”

Despite having a gaping hole the size of a human head in his abdomen, the alchemist did not die. Even more bizarre was the fact that not a drop of blood flowed; just as he had claimed, it seemed that most of his body had been replaced with machinery. So much so that the proportion of machinery surpassed that of flesh and bone.

“Do you think… you can quietly… die now…?”

The alchemist enlarged his red glowing eyes and detached one of his arms. Once again, there was no blood. Instead, a mysterious smoke billowed from the shoulder joint where the arm had been severed.

There was no time to ponder what the smoke could be. The alchemist, who had enjoyed the benefits of his master’s poison so far, was undoubtedly using poison to make his final desperate move.

‘Considering this level of damage, there’s still a possibility…!’

That assumption was accurate. The poisonous fumes emanating from his body were highly lethal to an ordinary human, but not particularly threatening to an alchemist who had replaced most of his bodily functions with machinery.

In the end, his ultimate and secret trump card, unknown to anyone, was the poison hidden within his body. However, the alchemist failed to realize one thing. The reason why Drakes were treated as outliers even among lesser dragons.

Crunch!

Even in the presence of a deadly toxin that could poison a wyvern, Tilly did not flinch. Instead, she tightened her grip on the alchemist even more. The strength was so overwhelming that the alchemist couldn’t even scream, and his expression contorted in silence. But Tilly, who once moved as a comrade, ignored his silent screams.

“Just quietly die.”

The sound of nerves being severed, the ones connecting the mechanical body, echoed chillingly. As she squeezed with her tail tightly wrapping around his torso like a rope, the body, which combined the craftsmanship of the dwarf artisans and ancient knowledge, was crushed almost instantaneously.

Not long after, with a series of thuds, what once was the alchemist scattered to the ground in pieces. Still unable to accept his death, the faintly glowing red eyes looked towards Tilly. As he attempted to speak, his lips barely parted when—

“I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense.”

Crack!

A large foot stomped on and crushed the alchemist’s head.

That was the end of Kur’gel, the alchemist whose machinations once wiped out entire legions of the empire in an instant.

***

“What in the world… is happening…?”

Watching the sudden demise of the alchemist, dwarf William muttered in bewilderment. Of course, his reaction was understandable. After all, when had this monstrous mage been helping to capture them? And now, a sudden a betrayal?

“What is this? Did you two have something going on from the start?! Is that it?!”

The paralysis poison that had incapacitated him had long since ceased its effect. William, who had quickly risen to his feet, asked in bewilderment, and Tilly responded.

“I originally had no intention of doing this. It’s unfortunate that the position I built within the Followers of Truth has now become a waste.”

Of course, the underlying message was directed at Khan. Since Tilly had been cooperating with the Followers of Truth and assisting their operations from the beginning, it was Khan who had initially proposed she monitor the apostle of Truth.

However, the moment she betrayed the alchemist, all the efforts she’d put into that proposition crumbled like a sandcastle. Moreover, her cooperation with the Followers of Truth had been necessary for her personal objectives as well.

“You didn’t just take down the alchemist without reason.”

Despite being in a situation that could provoke such resentment, it was a tremendous favor from Tilly’s standpoint. Still, Khan spoke nonchalantly.

“I don’t think you’re someone I can forcefully exploit. I figured you had a reason compelling enough to sever ties with the Followers of Truth. You managed to put a hole in the alchemist’s torso… isn’t that right?”

It was a startling statement. Since Khan had barged into the place where the alchemist and Tilly were, they had only exchanged a brief glance, without any verbal communication.

Yet, Khan suggested that the agreement had been sealed with just that fleeting exchange of glances.

“Who knows? Maybe I was just blinded by love and wanted to help you.”

“Enough with the nonsense. We don’t have time to waste on that.”

Khan cut off Tilly, who had started to smile more freely.

“You will surely get your due.”

“What makes you think you know what I’ll demand?”

“The way to transcendence.”

“……!”

Tilly’s smile stiffened for a moment.

“You’ll get your reward once this is over.”

Leaving Tilly, who rarely displayed expressions other than a smile, behind, Khan, who had discovered the massive island and the enormous, irrationally large trees breaking through the clouds—thanks to the melted buildings providing a clear view—added softly.

“After we uproot or burn down that damn tree.”

***

『Oh dear… to lose the connection here.』

The Tree of Memories, retracing the memory of the mixed spirit that had perished to the dragon’s breath, furrowed its brows. Its ability to observe was entirely dependent on spirits and elves.

However, with the destruction of the mixed spirit, it could no longer observe what was happening in Gigantus.

『The owner of the Sea Dragon Archipelago. To think you would rampage beyond my domain. Your reaction is quite different from my expectations.』

However, it had long since gathered the necessary information.

The survivor of the Sea Dragon race had abandoned its advantage and left its nest, and the resurrection of the giant was already on track and merely a matter of time.

Once it became apparent that Gigantus could only be incompletely restored as a core, the giant would chase the scent of the stimulant, devour the owner of the Sea Dragon Archipelago, and collect the remnants left on the archipelago.

‘All that remains is to use the awakening giant to tear open the space’, the Tree of Memories thought.

Due to the influence of the “Host”, its ability to exert influence beyond Paradise was mostly restricted. Therefore, it planned to attract the awakening giant to come to it. Even a little dash of chaos within its being would be something the newly awakened giant could not ignore.

The plan was to target that moment to switch hosts. Then it would use the immense power accumulated within the giant to tear open the spatial rift that the ancient mage had ripped apart and patched back together. This would be to embrace chaos and ascend to true divinity.

“Tree of Memories, I will prepare the offering in advance.”

The speaker was one of the few remaining elder elves. Among them, there was one elder who, from the beginning, knew exactly how she would move and thus aided her.

He was the head of a family and one of the Five Branches of Paradise. With unwavering eyes, he glanced at the Tree of Memories.

『Your loyalty will be rewarded. The moment I ascend to divinity, I will appoint you as an apostle.』

The Fifth Branch nodded silently before departing, leaving the Tree of Memories alone in the silent darkness, a leisurely smile forming on its face.

‘The time is truly near.’

It had been an incredibly long time. The Tree of Memories had endured countless years with the singular determination to become a complete entity.

Originally, it would have waited several hundred more years to make its attempt, but with the void’s recent tumult, it felt that fortune was favoring it and thus immediately moved into action. And like a miracle, it was on the verge of success.

Some might say it was a bit premature to be this certain, but who could stop the resurrection of an ancient giant already awakening? It would be impossible unless the monsters trapped in the Great Demonic Realm intervened directly.

‘But I can do it.’

At least within the realm of Paradise. Making a rampaging giant the host was not a particularly difficult task for the Tree of Memories.

『You would be pleased too, I imagine? It’s a chance to end the countless years of your host life.』

In the space where only the mental entity of the Tree of Memories existed, it laughed as if mocking someone. Just as it spoke those words—

In an instant, the Tree of Memories’ laughter ceased, and it focused its gaze somewhere.

『Why is the giant here…?!』

The question, accompanied by a groan escaping through tightly clenched lips, echoed in the empty darkness. Though it was part of the plan for the giant to find Paradise, this was much too soon.

Additionally, it seemed the giant hadn’t even recovered a tenth of its original body; below the elbows, it remained incomplete. In this condition, it wouldn’t have the energy to tear apart the spatial rifts.

『No…!』

The Tree of Memories, in a desperate cry, pulled its mental entity out of the darkness. Although not quite a small continent, the island was as large as a major city of the empire.

As the mental entity of the Tree of Memories emerged into the sky of Paradise, it watched the chaos below with a distorted face resembling a wrathful beast.

“It’s… it’s the giant…!”

“The giant is heading for the island!”

“Where is the Elder?! Where is the Elder?!”

Seeing the elves, who should have been preparing a ritual as part of the Tree’s ascension to godhood, running around in confusion, only compounded her irritation.

More than anything, the presence of ‘someone’ who dared to disrupt her plans infuriated her.

『Alchemist…! After I gave my children to you, you betray me?!』

That ‘someone’ was none other than the alchemist. It was a logical conclusion. The alchemist had sacrificed the mixed spirit, which served as her eyes, and was the mastermind who had taken control of Gigantus.

And now, the floating fortress carrying a giant was rushing toward Paradise? The culprit was obvious.

『Indeed, humans are vile and untrustworthy creatures…! This once again proves that only the elves are truly worthy of being the dominant race on this vast continent!』

The Tree of Memories poured out its intense anger through its will, calming the panicked elves. It then commanded them to resume the ritual preparations.

『That vile human mage cannot afford to abandon the giant! So, do not fear and prepare the offering!』

As the elves quickly settled down, reassured by the resolute will. The Tree of Memories considered this an act of defiance.

Maybe the alchemist— that petty, vile human mage— was trying to claim ownership of the giant he had resurrected with his own hands. Given their short lifespans, humans are petty enough to make such a move.

Thus, she was certain the alchemist would not dare to crash Gigantus into Paradise. That certainty wavered when she saw a fleeing sea dragon and a human with a foolish expression riding on its head.

『What is that…?』

The human, barely holding onto the scales with his entire body, stumbled and raised one hand. In that hand was a red gemstone created by the alchemist.

『No way—』

Before the Tree of Memories could do anything, a bad premonition struck.

“Take this!”

The human, having reached a section of the gigantic tree soaring past the clouds at the border of Paradise, threw the red gemstone. Then, demonstrating near-acrobatic flying skills, he swiftly retreated—

And in the next moment, Gigantus, carrying the giant, collided with Paradise.

CRAAACK—!!!