Chapter 42: Something only a Barbarian can do

A heavy silence filled the air.

Even the coach, who had reassured me earlier after I rejoined the game, had gone quiet.

During the pre-game preparation phase, everyone instinctively moved to their designated positions, but no one spoke.

It was Ryuah, her voice trembling, who finally broke the silence.

“What do we do…? We can’t request a restart, right?”

Her tone was thick with unease.

Ryuah, being the least experienced in both gaming and broadcasting among us, seemed to have fallen into the deepest panic.

Tex, usually composed, answered in a low voice, clearly trying to stay calm.

“If we restart… it’ll put us at a disadvantage. I think the rule was that our ban cards would be removed or something like that.”

“Then, shouldn’t we at least call for a pause until Molru reconnects?”

I spoke up while quickly adjusting the Barbarian’s settings, turning to face everyone.

I made an effort to sound calm, loosening my tensed jaw as I spoke.

If I appeared panicked, it would only make the team more anxious.

“Can you hear me? I’m back. No need to call for a pause.”

“Oh, you’re here!”

Ryuah’s relief was palpable, but the rest of the team’s mood remained heavy.

It was understandable.

This was an unplanned emergency, completely outside the scope of all the practice and simulations we had meticulously prepared for.

The more effort we had put in, the more natural it was to feel uneasy when things went awry.

“I’m sorry. I spilled water, and my computer temporarily shut off.”

What’s done is done.

Grateful that my computer was back online, I resolved to do my best with the situation at hand.

First, I analyzed our composition.

The original plan was to form a standard team comp with one tank, two damage dealers, and two supports.

However, with me now stuck as the Barbarian, we had transformed into a heavier composition: two tanks, one damage dealer, and two supports.

The advantage was increased durability and the ability to hold positions and focus on area control. The downside? A huge burden on our sole damage dealer.

Tex, the only DPS, had been silent since the mishap.

He wasn’t clueless; he surely understood the pressure now resting on his shoulders.

I sympathized with the weight of his role but decided to carry a bit more of that burden myself.

“The situation is urgent, so I won’t talk for long. But don’t worry. We can still win with this comp.”

“Even as a Barbarian? You think you can manage that?”

“I can handle anything.”

I responded to Cheolwoo’s question confidently, almost nonchalantly.

It wasn’t a lie—I had played the Barbarian plenty in the past.

Although it had been a while since I last used this role, I deliberately exuded confidence and arrogance to erase any lingering doubt and boost morale.

If anyone could lead the team toward victory, it had to be me.

“Cheolwoo, you’ll stay with me at the front line. Just do what we practiced.”

“Stick to practice… Got it.”

“Ryuah, move between Cheolwoo and me and focus on healing whoever’s losing the most health.”

“Understood!”

I carefully issued instructions, step by step.

In a perfect scenario, they would’ve handled this on their own, but this was an emergency.

“Papi, prioritize the enemies pushing in. If you get any breathing room, I need you to put pressure on the enemy team. Since we’re short on damage, your contribution will be crucial.”

“…Do you think I can do it?”

“You’ve been focusing on aim practice all this time, so I’m sure you can handle it.”

Papi Joa, overwhelmed by the noticeably increased responsibilities compared to practice, sounded hesitant.

But I never give impossible orders.

I know my teammates’ abilities well enough to make realistic calls.

Finally, there was Tex—the unfortunate man now forced to carry the game in my stead.

But perhaps it wasn’t all bad.

They say every crisis is an opportunity.

If Tex rose to the occasion under this pressure, the praise he’d earn would be all the sweeter.

And I believed he had the skill to pull it off.

If I could just help ease his nerves, he would deliver.

“Tex.”

“Yeah?”

“This round, I’ll be busier than usual, so I won’t be able to give you precise calls like in the semifinals. But honestly, I think you’ll do just fine without my orders.”

“Even though I’m the only damage dealer?”

“Yep. Just play like you did in practice.”

“Whew, I’m nervous.”

“It’s your chance to be the star. I’ve set the stage for you.”

“The star, huh? Let’s just hope I don’t end up being the fall guy.”

Tex joked with his usual cheeky grin, back to his normal self.

Now, everything was ready.

I looked over my teammates one last time.

Unlike earlier, their hunched backs and slumped shoulders seemed straightened now.

Even though they were just game avatars, not real people, it felt that way.

Leading my massive character to the front line, I shouted, “Alright, let’s do this!”

To the battlefield.

Thunk!

It didn’t sound like a blade slicing flesh but more like a heavy object smashing something.

At the same time, the figure in front of me collapsed.

The incoming assassin’s body crumpled into a heap, crushed beyond recognition.

This game’s overly graphic depictions sometimes felt unnecessary.

Who could look at this and think it was family-friendly?

I input the command to retrieve my axe, readying my stance once more.

The Barbarian’s signature move: the axe swing.

The longer the charge, the more devastating the blow, but stronger attacks came with a long recovery time afterward.

It’s the inherent flaw of blunt weapons—a slow attack speed.

High risk, high reward might describe it, but in reality, it’s just strong and sluggish.

This is why the Barbarian isn’t a common pick at higher levels.

Who would willingly get hit by such a slow attack?

Still, it’s not completely useless, especially in casual tournaments like this one.

With lower-tier players in the mix, it could shine.

Just now, I had exploited an opening to land a massive blow.

The slightly injured assassin was taken out in one shot, sent straight to respawn.

Some players, even in the lower tiers, deliberately pick tank-type characters and use them like damage dealers just for this kind of satisfaction.

There’s something undeniably addictive about the sheer impact.

However, it was undeniable that the game was slowly slipping out of our control.

It wasn’t a significant gap, but it felt like we were being gradually chipped away.

The opposing team steadily exploited our team’s glaring weaknesses.

Their precise targeting of our lack of firepower meant that enemies who should have died survived by a sliver of health, while our low mobility left us unable to respond to their unpredictable plays.

As a result, we found ourselves slowly losing point after point.

We needed something—anything—to turn the tide of this game.

Numerous thoughts raced through my mind, and my decision came swiftly.

In scenarios like this, speed in executing a plan was critical.

With their assassin retired from the match, I saw an opportunity for a bold strategy.

It wasn’t anything overly complicated.

But still, it was a strategy—one that leveraged the strengths of our composition.

“When I give the signal, Cheolwoo, lower your shield and charge right in. Everyone else, follow immediately. Ryuah, focus less on healing and more on taking down the enemies.”

What would happen if two bulky characters charged in simultaneously?

Despite their sluggishness, their high base health and durability made them incredibly hard to kill.

By leading the charge with these two tanks, the rest of the team could follow up.

It might look like a brainless rush, but in reality, the Iron Guardian and Barbarian combination was a classic North American meta during the game’s early days.

The Iron Guardian’s skill “Rush” paired with the Barbarian’s ultimate “Charge Forward!” created a devastating synergy.

Of course, the original composition required faster, more agile teammates to capitalize on the openings created—but since the Barbarian pick hadn’t been part of the plan, we had to work with what we had.

“I’m pulling back for now.”

Feigning a retreat to lull the enemy into complacency, I took a few steps back.

Like a sprinter in the starting blocks, my Barbarian crouched low, then opened his mouth and let out a sudden roar.

“Uwooooooh!”

The enemies flinched momentarily at the intimidating shout.

“Now!”

As my character’s eyes turned blood-red, the screen began to pulse rhythmically, mimicking a heartbeat.

With legs coiled like springs, the Barbarian leapt forward, landing squarely in the middle of the battlefield in an instant.

– Barbarian (Mollru) has activated “Charge Forward!”

Enemies are temporarily struck with fear!

Allies gain temporary bonuses! (Movement speed +20%)

The black-haired Barbarian, last survivor of the nomadic tribes that roamed the plains, could not suppress his primal instincts.

He charged across the battlefield, wielding his massive axe, with memories of galloping through the plains with his brethren guiding his every move.

Instead of reins and a horse’s mane, he relied on his two legs and his colossal weapon.

The Barbarian swung his axe wildly in the heart of the enemy ranks, cutting down foes with ruthless efficiency.

Drenched in blood, the rampaging warrior embodied his namesake—barbaric in every sense of the word.

“Come at me!” I yelled, losing myself in the moment.

“Yeah, come at us!”

“Kill them all! Destroy them!”

Caught up in the excitement, I forgot this was a tournament and raised my voice.

Following my lead, my teammates joined in, shouting as we slaughtered the enemies together.