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

Shea's fist shattered the stone pavement, and a deafening roar echoed through the hall. Dust swirled, and the Ten Heroic Beasts wore expressions of despair as they fought.

As the dust settled, the sight of Shea, hunched over and unmoving, appeared in front of Zew, who lay sprawled on the ground. Neither Shea nor Zew moved a muscle.

*Thud**Crash*

Hobah fell to his knees, his hammer clattering to the ground.

"This... This can't be happening... Why did it come to this?"

He had lost the will to fight, and tears streamed down his cheeks. The other Ten Heroic Beasts shared his sorrow.

"I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry."

Holy Beast Sage Fui's staff trembled in his hand. He regretted not prioritizing Zew's life over all his comrades'.

Luvanka didn't attack the despairing Ten Heroic Beasts. Instead, he quietly looked at Garm.

'Ho ho ho, at last, Shea has become a true beastman.'

Garm spoke, grinning gleefully, the only one smiling in this grim situation.

Shea, who had been crouching from the force of her blow, slowly rose to her feet.

'Indeed. We must awaken from this disgusting dream Garm has shown us.'

'What? Who do you think you're talking to...'

Garm reacted, surprised by Shea's audacity, but before he could finish, another voice interrupted.

'Sh-Shea?'

Zew, thought to be dead, looked at Shea with confusion.

"L-lord Zew!?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Hobah, shocked, left Luvanka and rushed to Zew's side.

Zew's body had already fully healed thanks to his Skill [Full Beast Mode]. He lay bewildered, wondering why Shea hadn't delivered the fatal blow.

Shea had stopped herself at the last moment, directing her skill into the stone next to Zew's face instead of killing him.

'So, the answers aren't always things you can see... I see, it was thanks to Vess...'

Shea looked up at the sky, closed her eyes, and understood the meaning behind Wind God Vess's words.

'Oh? Vess whispered something to you, I see.'

'No, you did, Garm. You filled me with this petty hatred.'

'... Perhaps the dream I showed you was insufficient.'

During their trials with Beast God Kuga and Wind God Ves, Shea and Luvanka had been forced to witness terrible events from their pasts through dreams.

'I wouldn't say so. But that was the only dream you could use to make me feel hatred for Zew.'

'You already knew all of that?'

"Lord Zew, what are you talking about?"

Hobah helped Zew stand up, kneeling beside Shea.

'... So that's what I was seeing.'

'Your response was quick. That just saved your life, Zew.'

Zew understood what had happened to him and what Shea had realized.

Shea had likely seen how Zew's decisions had led to Mea's death during the trial.

Zew knew that her mother Mea had gathered weapons to defeat the Evil Cult, but was also thinking of using them to start an insurrection if Shea's claim to the Beast King throne seemed unlikely. This was something Zew had known for a long time and shared with his wife, Rena.

Upon hearing about Shea's training schedule away from the castle, Rena likely advised Zew to inform the Beast King and use the opportunity to gain favor for his claim to the throne. It would also benefit the Albahar Beast Kingdom.

However, Zew had hesitated, and by the time he decided, it was too late, resulting in Mea's death. The internal conflict was quickly suppressed, but Shea had always suspected the timing was too convenient.

'I made the decision. I reported it to the Beast King. Verify it however you like.'

'But the delay allowed me to witness my mother's death. If I hadn't returned, she might have survived. Brother Zew, you're always slow to decide.'

The internal conflict was suppressed in a few hours. Shea had always suspected the timing was too convenient, as it lined up with her training schedule.

'There's nothing I can say. The Beast King loved Mea.'

Despite his reluctance, the Beast King had chosen to capture, not kill, Mea.

'Hmph, you're barely holding on to your life. Say anything more, and I might change my mind.'

Shea dismissed any sentiment about the Beast King's feelings.

'What a bore. I'm disappointed in you both.'

Garm, who had understood everything, looked bored and rested his chin on his hand.

'So you showed Zew the same dream and made him wager his life on my hands. Bad taste.'

Shea turned to face Garm, leaving Zew.

'Oh? Are you stopping the fight and letting go of the hatred? I showed you the dream, Shea. It was your desire.'

'That's right. I did hate Zew. If we're being honest, I also resented Father for his violence and Mother for forcing her dreams on me.'

'Then why?'

'But that's only one part of me. All of love and hate is part of me.'

'Hmph...'

Garm didn't seem convinced.

'Regardless of your acceptance, the trial is complete. Next, I'll fight you, as promised.'

'What? Say that again. You stopped the fight, abandoned the trial...'

'I thought you were watching. I overwhelmed Zew with my strength, made him lose the will to fight, and made him give up. What more do you need to call it defeating him?'

'Well, that's because your hatred towards me...'

Zew tried to speak, but Shea silenced him with a sharp glare.

For Shea, now was the crucial moment for negotiation. She couldn't allow any interruptions.

'Indeed, I said whoever wins, not who kills the other. It's a play on words.'

'But it would be unreasonable to overturn a trial once given. I need your power, Garm, not a tame pet.'

'Fine, fine. Educating children on wordplay seems to be my duty.'

At last, the Beast God Garm stood up, and Zew and the Ten Heroic Beasts, watching Shea's negotiation, held their breath.

'... It would be troublesome to start immediately. Could you reset the cooldowns for *everyone* here? We've fought desperately and used up all our Skills and Mana.'

'What's this? How absurd. Very well. I didn't expect a trial with you lot to take so long... Hmm? Did you say *everyone*?'

Garm questioned, as Shea's request seemed so natural.

'Yes, everyone. All of them are now my subordinates. I need them functional.'

She urged him to reset the cooldowns as quickly as possible.

'Heh. So it has come to this. Shea and I do work well together after all.'

Luvanka chuckled at Shea's words. The nearly month-long trial had given Shea and Luvanka enough time to synchronize perfectly. Luvanka had read Shea's thoughts and spared the Ten Heroic Beasts.

'Indeed. Zew, please persuade the Ten Heroic Beasts to join us in Garm's trial.'

'What? Now? Okay. Don't glare at me like that.'

Unable to withstand Shea's murderous glare, Zew turned to face the Ten Heroic Beasts.

"Hey, seriously? I can't keep up with this."

"Silence! Our spears will strike whoever Zew-sama decides."

Hobah silenced Lepe and patted Zew's shoulder.

'Hobah... Everyone, listen. Never before have I faced such an unfair trial from Lord Garm, and not once have I been taught by the Beast King to be a lion without fangs.'

Zew continued to speak to the Ten Heroic Beasts.

'I will fight alongside Shea against Lord Garm. As you've heard, this may go against the heart of beastmen. We might not survive. Those who oppose, leave now.'

The Ten Heroic Beasts, who had fought alongside Zew for years, understood his honest, kind nature. They knew his compassion was why they had all survived their battles together.

Even in this trial, they had made it this far thanks to Zew. But now, Zew was saying they faced a dangerous trial ahead, for Shea and for his wounded pride, but participation was voluntary.

Zew pointed to the stairs, indicating those who wished to leave.

But no one moved.

Having seen Shea's internal struggle through nearly a month of nightmares, Zew now gave them a choice.

"We'll dedicate our lives to this battle!"

Hobah pounded his chest, declaring his answer to Zew.

"Everyone here desires the trial. We want to recast the support spells. Reset the cooldowns."

Having deactivated her Full Beast Mode, Shea asked Garm again.

'Very well... No turning back now. I've reset them. If Zew is participating, you both will use all the divine techniques you've learned in this temple. Naturally, within a single combo.'

[Conditions for Completing Beast God Garm's Trial]-Both Shea and Zew must activate two divine techniques each.-The divine techniques must be activated within a single combo.-Shea and Zew can activate one divine technique each after a 10-hit combo and another after a 20-hit combo.

"Understood..."

Facing Garm, who only used his tail, Zew felt a new wave of determination.

Upon Zew's agreement, Garm slowly raised his tail. Imbuing it with divine power, it began to shine. As he swung it horizontally, the shimmering divine power fell upon Shea and the others like drops of light.

*Paah*

Shea and the others had their cooldowns reset.

Lepe and Fui of the Ten Heroic Beasts cast their support magic, increasing Attack, Agility, and Endurance. This time, Shea and Luvanka also felt their stats rising. Although nothing displayed the stats, the effects seemed to increase by 1.3x for all three aspects.

'Full Beast Mode!''Full Beast Mode!'

Shea and Zew shouted in unison, activating their skills.

"What!? I feel even more power than before!!"

Hobah felt his stats rise.

The higher the skill level of Full Beast Mode, the more it enhanced the power of surrounding beastmen. Shea's training time had made her skill level higher than Zew's.

'I will activate Beast Claw at the right moment.'

He needed to activate the effective special skill [Beast Blood] that required taking damage.

'Grrrr!''Grrrr!'

The Full Beast Mode lion and tiger, Zew and Shea, bared their fangs at Garm. Everyone felt an illusion of a single entity formed by the two beasts.

'Ho ho ho, come at me, pathetic twin-headed beasts. Taste despair.'

Garm's eyes were filled with pitch-black despair.

The final trial against Beast God Garm was about to begin.