Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

Shea had managed to beat up her ancestor Albahar and win.

Albahar was the second piece of worship after the Beast God Garm in the Beast Kingdom of Albahar. Shea respected the Beast King, but somehow not her ancestor.

To her, he was merely an old man she had barely met.

"So I can take that as my victory, right?"

'Of course, though I wish you'd respect your elders a bit more. Here.'

Albahar held his front leg forward, at the height of Shea's mouth, and everyone watched in confusion, even Shea.

There was some silence, until Shea could not bear it anymore.

"...What are you doing?"

(Is he holding his paw out? Though Shea is more like a cat than a dog.)

The way they stood was almost funny.

'Hm? Huh, I guess you don't know this. Ahh, right, the Beast King teaches this only to the eldest child.'

"Is this somehow related to who inherites the throne then?"

(Hm? I wasn't expecting this. Is this some rite of Albahar then?)

Allen took a step forward and analyzed their conversation, as it was related to Shea gaining more power. It seemed like Albahar was doing something related to who inherited the throne.

It made sense for Shea to not know that, as she had two older brothers.

'Yes. Only the first heir of the throne can use Full Beast Mode. I'll have to explain certain things before that, but first, humans, I'm sure you understand…'

Albahar glared at Allen.

"Of course, my lips are sealed. Feel free to keep going."

(So he'll explain how to do it now. I guess he wasn't fighting seriously, and just wanted to measure Shea's strength. I still don't know what position Albahar has here though.)

Allen had been writing everything in his Grimoire's notes, and he noted that Albahar had not used a single Skill, so he had not been fighting seriously.

'...Sometimes being old is painful.'

(This world really is quaint.)

Albahar sighed seeing Allen's brazen attitude, then his ears turned down, disappointed at the way he met his descendant.

"So how's this related to being a Beast King? And is it related to why Bek was killed?"

'I don't know many details of what happened in the human realm. But this Bek was your brother then? And he was likely to be the next Beast King. Hmhmm, that sounds like a tragedy.'

A different emotion was concealed in his words.

"Tell me what you know already…"

Shea frowned more when Albahar mentioned a tragedy, clearly unhappy about it.

'There's a condition for someone to become Beast King, especially for a large country like Albahar.'

"Oh?"

'Certain children are born with the Beast Mode Skill from the Beast God Garm or other Beast Gods.'

"..."

Shea continued listening attentively, connecting the dots in her mind.

She was thinking of the fight between Bek and Gil from Brysen.

'Usually those who can use Beast Mode pass on the Skill, or rather, the Beast King teaches it to their child.'

"That sounds like only Bek was supposed to have the Beast Mode Skill then."

Shea felt like having multiple Beast Princes trying to take the Skill from each other could lead to an insurrection.

(I see, so this explains why it was so hard for others to use Beast Mode.)

Zew had only barely been able to activate it in the S Rank Dungeon, and the same for Shea while fighting the Evil Cult.

'Yes, if all princes can use Beast Mode, then it'll incite fights between them, soaking the Beast Kingdom in blood. You were only able to use it after unusual circumstances, were you not?'

Bek was the only one who could use it at first, but after certain situations Zew and Shea did too.

"So something happened and Bek needed that power no matter what?"

Shea remembered the fight with Gil from Brysen that left Bek as a bloodied mess.

'That's something you'll have to ask Garm directly, as I don't know the specifics. Also, the Beast King has a second Skill, Full Beast Mode. That one is passed on as well, but usually at the time of coronation.'

Allen wrote all of that down in his notes.

(So by concentrating the power on the Beast King, no rebellions can succeed and the kingdom remains stable. And that power is only transferred once a new Beast King is instated. And even if the princes can all use Beast King Mode, only the one chosen by the previous Beast King can inherit Full Beast Mode.)

"So if I bite your paw I'll also obtain that power?"

Shea also understood what was happening.

'Yes. I'll lose some of my power, but I won't die so don't worry.'

"Hmm."

Shea held Albahar's enormous paw, opened her mouth, and bit it as hard as she could.

'That's it, take in all the power.'

(It's been a while since I've seen someone power up by draining power like that.)

"Mghuh?! G-ghraaaaaaaa!!"

As Shea began to transform, Allen checked his Grimoire.

[Name] Shea

[Age] 16

[Blessing] Beast God (None)

[Talent] Beast Fighter King

[Level] 99

[Strength] 7851 + 9600 (True Explosive Punch) + 3000 (Full Beast Mode)

[Mana] 4273 + 4800 + 3000

[Attack] 8280 + 9600 + 5000

[Endurance] 7851 + 4800 + 3000

[Agility] 6355 + 9600 + 5000

[Intelligence] 3573 + 9600 + 3000

[Luck] 5271 + 9600 + 3000

[Skills] Fighter King (8), True Clobber (8), True Swift Death Strike (8), True Hell Hit (8), True Demolishing Punch (8), True Explosive Punch (2), Counterattack Frenzy (6), Inexhaustible Beast King (5), Beast King Mode (6), Kumite (7), Boxing (8), Full Beast Mode (1) new!

Shea turned into a four legged beast, while her Attack and Agility increased.

It seemed like she had properly inherited the power.

"Ohh, you succeeded on the day we came to see you. This is a good omen!"

(I'll have to make her test that new Skill, it might help in the fight against Nestiad, since magic has no effect against him. But Attack and Agility are exactly what I need.)

Nestiad seemed to be invulnerable to magic, so Allen wanted as much Attack as possible in the party. Full Beast Mode seemed to have that effect, but he wanted to know more about it.

Just as he was about to say something, Albahar spoke.

'I see you've properly inherited the power. I was afraid you'd die if you weren't prepared, but that was wasted consideration. You've gotten strong, and this merits celebration. Servants!'

(Oh, he seems really into it. Though I want to ask more questions so badly.)

After all that, Albahar had gotten hungry, so he called for servants, and they immediately began preparing food.

"It seems we're invited too."

"That's just what I wanted. Let's rest."

They also prepared seats for Allen's group, which Sophie and Cecile quickly took.

"Lord Albahar, we received this wine from the next village."

'Ohh, I see. It's good!!'

Some beastmen began treating Albahar's wounds, while another served wine from a large bottle with a tall opening onto a plate.

Albahar looked like a lion, so he began licking the wine like a cat.

(Somehow he looks older than before. I guess it's because he gave Shea some of his power.)

Albahar's body looked older and aged, likely because of the earlier power transfer with Shea.

"Congratulations on overcoming your training."

"Thanks! I'm so tired though. Also, is Dogora coming soon?"

Shea had been looking for someone else, but still let Allen fill her cup with wine.

"Dogora is together with Kiel in his training. Kiel might finally enter Extra Mode too."

Allen quickly informed her what everyone else was doing.

"I see."

Shea looked slightly downcast hearing that.

Meanwhile Allen wanted to ask Albahar something.

"Lord Albahar, Shea needs to get even stronger. Could she receive a Divine Technique, Divine Artifact, or Blessing from you?"

'Hm? I'm just a Mythical Beast, I'm not a God. I'm not in the position to do that.'

Albahar's cheeks were red from the wine, and he lay down on his side as he replied.

He had finished his duties, so he was simply relaxing like a lion in his den.

"So that's why you only passed on the Skill. I appreciate that."

Albahar was limited in how much he could do, but he had helped them as much as possible.

Shea's month of training hunting ghosts was also for the safety of beastmen.

It was clear that Albahar valued keeping his kin safe more than anything.

'But well, I'll keep my neutral position, so don't expect too much from me. Also, usually a beastman that makes it to the divine realm should already have Full Beast Mode.'

"I see. Still, I appreciate your time. I expected no less from the ancestor of Albahar's royal family."

It seemed like Shea had arrived at the Paradise of Primordial Beasts too early, and Albahar had made sure she was in shape for an even harsher trial down the line.

'Flattering me won't get you anything. You'll have to talk with a Beast God to get more. There's actually one more Skill above Full Beast Mode, so keep that in mind.'

"Thank you again."

(So there's a third Skill like that? I guess I can count that as a buff. Then I'd also like her to get a powerful attack to end her Combos, like a Divine Technique.)

Allen wrote notes about that, so he remembered his goals for Shea.

"Thank you very much. We'll depart for our next destination tomorrow then. But before that, I'd like to discuss something, Luvanka."

'Hm? What is it?'

Luvanka was eating next to them, and raised his head.

"Would you like to become my summon?"

Allen wasted no time before talking to Luvanka.

"