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

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Shea instructed Luvanka to use the new power he had acquired, [Storm Beast Mode].

'No holding back, then.'

'Exactly. There is no next cooldown for you.'

Due to the time taken for the trials, Luvanka would reach the one-month summoning limit without waiting for the next cooldown.

'... Not many opportunities left, then.'

Zew understood well from the conversations with Garm and Shea in the first floor that Luvanka, as a summoned beast, had a limited existence.

'What’s this? Still something up your sleeve?'

Garm noticed that Shea had a strategy. However, due to the overwhelming difference in power, he didn't move towards them. The chimpanzee-like Garm floated on his long tail, bouncing playfully.

Luvanka nodded strongly in response to Shea's instruction.

'... Understood. Storm Beast Mode!'

*Whoosh!*

A storm-like gust erupted from Luvanka's body. The mirage-like illusions from the Awakened Skill [Mythical Beast Mode] were blown away. Moreover, his body itself transformed into wind.

'Wha- what is this power?!'

Luvanka was astonished by the transformation of his body and the tremendous power welling up from within. The seal on the S-Rank Beast summon had been lifted, revealing his true strength.

[Species] Beast[Rank] S[Name] Luvanka[Strength] 50000 + 30000 (Mythical Beast Mode) + 50000 (Storm Beast Mode)[Mana] 40000 + 30000 + 50000[Attack] 50000 + 30000 + 50000 + 160000 (together with Revised Beast Blood)[Endurance] 40000 + 30000 + 50000[Agility] 40000 + 30000 + 50000[Intelligence] 40000 + 30000 + 50000[Luck] 40000 + 30000 + 50000[Blessing] Strength +5000, Attack + 5000, Super Strength Regeneration (4% per second)[Special Skills] Revised Punch Shower, Revised Asura Charge, Revised Complete Defense, Revised Tremor Waves, Revised Beast Blood[Awakened Skills] Mythical Beast Mode, Sacred Bead Creation, Storm Beast Mode*Buffs from Lepe and the rest omitted*Effects of Golden Egg omitted*Critical chance +160% (Effect of Revised Beast Blood's 80% x 2)

[Effects of Awakened Skill Storm Beast Transformation]:-Physical attacks are nullified scaling with Intelligence-All Special Skills become Revised with double effect-Critical chance increases by 100%-Critical chance of allies within 1 kilometer increases by 100%-Strength recovers 3% per second (can add up with Mythical Beast Mode)-Duration: 1 hour-Cooldown: 1 day*Note: Shea and others cannot see this information without a grimoire

Luvanka's body, now a storm, returned to its physical form. The 30-meter, six-armed gorilla's body seemed to be made entirely of wind.

'... Interesting. Let's test this power.'

Eager to test his newfound strength, Luvanka's target was obvious.

Luvanka's body dissolved into wind and accelerated towards Garm.

'What an odd Skill. Take this!'

Garm's tail lashed out at Luvanka's side. Despite the tail being only two meters long, it sliced Luvanka's body in half.

*Slash!*

'Hmm!!'

Thud!

'Hngh!?'

Contrary to appearances, Luvanka took almost no damage. Even while bisected, he could continue his one-sided attack on Garm. Garm spun vertically, landing on his feet to avoid being blown away.

'This is the power of Vess's wind control... Just what did he give you...?'

Garm still felt Luvanka's presence on his tail, similar to the essence of Wind God Vess's power.

'I see, the first strike is mine. I'll clear the way! Execute the combo!'

Luvanka's bisected body reattached itself as a storm, quickly returning to its original form.

'Hoho, just coming straight at me? Take this!'

Garm's tail lashed out at Luvanka's neck. Despite the incredible power behind the blow, it couldn't harm Luvanka. His body dispersed like steam, then reformed to continue the attack.

Luvanka clenched three of his right arms' fingers together and unleashed a special skill.

'(1) Revised Asura Charge!!'

'Huh!? Nngh!!'

Without giving Garm time to react, Luvanka's three fingers struck Garm's abdomen. Despite being a Higher God worshiped by beastmen, Garm was struck.

'Good! The attack landed!! Attack before he regains his stance!!'

With the Ten Heroic Beasts present, they had enough front-liners to continue the combo. If they could unleash Shea and Zew's divine techniques after 10 and 20 hits, they could complete Garm's trial.

'Everyone, now is the time to overcome the trial! Let's go!! (2) True Demolishing Punch!!'

Shea roared and closed the distance to the flying Garm.

With Garm defenseless, Shea's attack hit, sending Garm flying towards Zew.

Despite Garm being only 120 centimeters tall, Shea and Zew handled him like a volleyball, their faith in him shattered by the harsh trials.

'(3) True Clobber! Hobah, it's up to you!!'

Receiving Shea's pass, Zew struck Garm towards Hobah.

"Got it, everyone, don't miss! (4) Explosive Upper Slash!!"

Hobah used his massive orichalcum hammer to strike the flying Garm, lifting him up to make it easier for his comrades to attack.

During the nearly month-long trial, Hobah had learned to create the best environment for combos. Like a finely tuned machine, the Ten Heroic Beasts attacked the defenseless Garm. Sword Beast Emperor Hachi drew his sword from its sheath.

"(5) Bedrock Rupture!!"

The magically charged slash struck Garm's jaw.

'Gah!?'

With Garm still flying, Claw Beast Emperor Pazu and Twin Sword Beast Emperor Senu jumped up.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"(6) Sea Dragon Claw!!"

"(7) Crimson Twin!!"

Pazu and Senu's combined attack hit, and from a distance, Archer Beast Emperor Gen aimed his quills already nocked on his bow.

"(8) Sure-Hit Arrow!!"

He loosed a swift arrow at Garm's throat. As Pazu and Senu landed near Hobah, Zew and Shea closed in on Garm.

Despite their previous animosity, Zew and Shea moved as one. Their movements and skills were synchronized.

'(9) True Swift Death Strike!!'

'(10) True Swift Death Strike!!'

Shea and Zew chose their fastest skills, completing the 10-hit combo. Their fists glowed, signaling the activation conditions for their divine techniques.

'Yes! (11) Tiger God Soft Destruction Palm!! Shea, finish it!!'

*Crash!*

Zew's fist brimming with Spiritual Power struck Garm's abdomen. The Divine Technique [Tiger God Soft Destruction Palm] triggered, reducing Garm's Endurance.

'Right! (12) Ruthless Leopard God Attack!!'

With Garm facing away, Shea's spirit-charged fist delivered the Divine Technique [Ruthless Leopard God Attack].

'Uoooohhhhh!!'

Hobah roared from his throat, filled with tension and hope. If they completed another set of 10-hit combos, they would overcome Garm's trial.

The other Ten Heroic Beasts also began to hope they could achieve victory against Garm.

'What!?'

But Zew, looking straight at Garm, locked eyes with his grinning face. As if he had eyes on the back of his head, Garm dodged Shea's punch effortlessly.

'He dodged it!!'

Zew voiced his frustration. Despite the perfect timing of their combo, Shea's Divine Technique missed. However, Garm's actions did not end there.

'Well, well, that hurt. So close. Here's a consolation prize.'

Thwack!

'Gah!?'

Garm's tail, the only weapon he said he would use, lightly struck Shea's face as she staggered from the missed punch.

The blow peeled the skin off Shea's face, severely damaging one eye and her fangs, breaking her neck bones, and sending her vision into darkness. The impact nearly knocked her unconscious.

'Shea!? Fui, heal her!!'

In less than a second, Zew shouted for Fui to heal Shea.

The power gap was insurmountable and brutally evident.

Shea, with one eye, saw the tail that had inflicted such damage. It slowly swung back to her, about to strike again.

'Shea, what are you doing!?'

'Mother...'

In that moment, a voice from her past echoed in Shea's mind. She instantly recognized it.

Even in darkness, she would never forget her mother's voice. Whether it was a hallucination or a survival instinct triggered by near-death, Shea couldn't tell.

In a mixture of fear, reverence, and unresolved feelings, her mother Mia's voice screamed in her ear.

'Bite harder!! Tear it apart!! Aim to become the Beast Emperor!!'

The combo had ended. The Skill sequence was no longer active.Then again, they were against an opponent far surpassing human knowledge.

However, Mia's voice triggered Shea's survival instincts.

'Grrr!!'

Even though Garm's light strike had shattered the right side of her face, Shea's fighting spirit remained undiminished. Without correcting her unsteady posture, she extended her neck and opened her mouth wide against the force of being blown away.

*Rip!*

'Gyaa!! Wh-what?! My tail!!'

Shea had bitten off Beast God Garm's tail.

'Shea!?'

Zew and the others couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

Still holding the tail in her mouth, Shea was sent flying by the impact of Garm's tail and crashed into the stone floor without being able to break her fall.

'You bit off my tail...'

'Grrr!!'

Garm rubbed his rear with both hands, feeling the loss of his tail, and looked at Shea resentfully. Despite having half her face destroyed, Shea had not lost her will to fight. With the tail still in her mouth, she slowly stood up. Garm's tail twitched as if it were alive, just like a lizard's tail.

*Crack*

From the tail, vibrant divine energy flowed through Shea's fangs into her body. Simultaneously, Shea's body began to throb and surge with newfound energy.

'Hmm? Is this The Beast?'

'Uooooooohhhhhhhhh!!'

The hair all over Shea's body stood on end, and the muscles beneath her fur began to move. By taking Garm's tail, Shea was on the verge of acquiring new power.