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

The buff from Luvanka had spread to everyone nearby. With Luvanka gone, Shea had blinded Garm. The benefit of a 100% critical chance boost was lost, but Hobah swung his hammer from behind, minimizing the chance of a miss.

'Uooooh!! True Full Body!! Ugh!?'

*Clang*

However, when Hobah's hammer struck Garm's back, it sounded as if it hit metal instead of fur. This was a clear indication of a missed attack. The condition for maintaining a combo was to continue attacking without missing or being dodged.

Yet, someone had anticipated Hobah's attack might not connect.

'I knew it! (14) End of Needle!!'

'Oh no! Again!!'

Before Hobah could even react, magical needles rained down on Garm's eyes. Garm instinctively covered his eyes with his hands, taking a defensive stance.

Archer Beast Emperor Gen, a porcupine beastman, used his back needles in an Extra Skill, turned into a regular Skill due to Shea's divine technique, which lowered the cooldown like in Extra Mode.

While Garm was naturally regenerating his eyesight, the barrage of needles blinded him again.

'Attack now while he's blind! Use multi-hit attacks! Use your former Extra Skills!!'

Zew instructed the Ten Heroic Beasts.

'Uooooh!! (15) Triceratops Rush!!'

*Clang* *Clang* *Slash*

Rhino beastman Lazo wielded his orichalcum halberd, activating his former Extra Skill with a triple thrust. He missed twice but landed one hit, keeping the combo alive.

'(16) True Swift Death Strike!! Everyone, attack together, this is our chance!!''(17) Border Sword!!'

Lazo's wide attacks were prone to misses, so Shea and Sword Beast Emperor Hachi followed up to cover him. Hachi's former Extra Skill [Border Sword] caught up with Shea's swift [True Swift Death Strike] sending a slash charged with Mana from a distance.

'Good, we can do this! Hobah, prepare your attack!!'

'Understood!'

Zew, seeing the combo continue, felt his initial despair at Garm's power fading. Knowing Hobah's former Extra Skill was useful for combos, he directed Hobah to prepare. Senu and Pazu, understanding the plan, responded in sync.

'Leave it to us! (18) Double Sky!!''Let's go! (19) Ripper Chariot!!'

Twin Sword Beast Emperor Senu and Claw Beast Emperor Pazu executed their attacks in unison. The extreme situations of the trials had honed their teamwork over the past month.

Everyone knew there wouldn't be another chance due to cooldown limitations. Now was the time to give everything for the trial's completion.

Senu and Pazu, with similar attack styles, excelled at coordinated attacks. Senu spun like a tornado, cutting Garm repeatedly, while Pazu followed with a vertical spin, crushing the stone floor and slashing Garm.

During Senu and Pazu's few seconds of attack, Hobah readied his hammer, fulfilling the Skill activation conditions.

'Uoooooooh!! Here I go!! (20) Great Volcano!!'

*Boom*

Hobah's massive swing struck the floor, causing magma to erupt through the cracks. The lava spout reached tens of meters high, ensuring damage unless both physical and fire resistance were present.

'Ouch!?'

Garm's giant form, scorched by the intense heat, instinctively leapt up.

*Clang* *Clang*

With the conditions met, Shea and Zew's fists began to glow, signaling the activation of their divine techniques.

'Thank you, everyone! Shea, let's go! Bear God Shattering Strike!!'

*Crash!*

Zew's downward punch activated [Bear God Shattering Strike], reducing Garm's overall stats with the sound of shattering glass.

'Zew... that hurts...'

Despite receiving Zew's attack, Garm's voice carried a tone of amusement.

'Why... is it so easy? Could it be...!?'

Zew realized something was wrong when Garm didn't dodge or defend against his attack. The glint of laughter in Garm's eyes, visible between his fingers, confirmed his suspicion.

Shea's divine technique [Divine Wind Consecutive Hits] and Gen's [End of Needle] had momentarily blinded Garm, but his vision had fully recovered.

Garm had endured the continuous attacks, waiting for an opportunity to counter.

'Here I go!'

Shea poured all her spirit into her fist, crushing the floor as she leaped at Garm.

'Too bad. Dodge or die!!'

*Whoosh*

Garm knew that defeating Shea, who hadn't yet activated her divine technique, would end the trial in failure.

Garm's lethal tail swung at Shea's abdomen as she leaped, ready to deliver her divine technique.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

'Shea?! Dodge, it's a trap!!'

'Shea, what are you doing!!'

Garm's tail, now infused with immense divine power, surpassed the force that had defeated Luvanka.

The tail rushed towards Shea, and if it connected, it would turn her into pieces, a fate everyone, including Zew and the Ten Heroic Beasts, could envision.

Everyone shouted, urging her to prioritize survival over the trial.

As the tail neared, Shea's mind flashed through memories of forming an army to defeat the Evil Cult, the days of adventure with newfound friends, and training with Dogora in the depths of the S-Rank Dungeon.

'...Heh. It can't be helped. Wind God Heavenly Fist!!'

Shea grinned, baring her fangs, and activated [Wind God Heavenly Fist].

Everything around her seemed to move slowly, the shouts, Garm's tail, all felt incredibly slow to her.

The tail approached in seconds, but Shea's smile indicated she believed her punch would land first.

*Thud*

Shea's fist collided with Garm's abdomen. At that moment, Garm twisted his body, moving his abdomen out of Shea's sight, and swung his tail at her.

*Whoosh*

With a sound like slicing wind, the enormous tail passed through where Shea had been.

'No way... Shea? Shea!!!'

Where Shea had stood, only the aftermath of Garm's tail remained, leaving nothing behind.

Zew collapsed in shock, deactivating his [Full Beast Mode]. The powerful strike left the floor shattered for meters ahead, and Shea seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Even Garm, now back in his small, feeble form, looked around as if searching for something.

'Hmm, they did indeed use all their divine techniques on me. As promised, I must give a reward. But look at me, the Beast God beaten up like this. Hey, is my rear okay?'

'What?! Lord Garm?'

Garm, turning his scorched, hairless rear to Hobah, and asked that. His attitude seemingly indifferent to the fact that Shea had been obliterated. Hobah was left speechless.

[Shea's Divine Techniques]-10-hit combo: Ruthless Leopard God Attack-20-hit combo: Wind God Heavenly Fist

[Zew's Divine Techniques]-10-hit combo: Tiger God Soft Destruction Palm-20-hit combo: Bear God Shattering Strike

Shea and Zew's four Divine Techniques were indeed completed, but Hobah felt a sense of anger that only Zew survived.

'Why did you let me live alone?'

Before the trial, Shea defied Garm and allied with Zew. Zew wondered if that displeased Garm, leading him to spare only Zew. Garm had the opportunity to strike Zew instead, yet chose Shea.

'Those who don't listen aren't needed... Hmm? Seems we don't have much time for questions.'

Garm's ears perked up, sensing something, and he grinned with his bottomless black eyes.

'You wretch! How much more will you trample on the dignity of beastmen!!'

Zew's face contorted with anger and hatred, completely losing his faith and respect for the Beast God Garm. He had no time to consider Garm's urgent words.

'Don't be so angry. I said you completed the trial. As a reward, I'll give you a choice, Zew. A final question. Think carefully before answering.'

'A choice?'

'Yes, a reward or Shea's life. Which will you choose? My reward is quite something—Divine Techniques, Sacred Artifacts, Blessings...'

'Of course, Shea's life. Please, save her. I'm begging you.'

Zew answered without hesitation, dropping to his knees and bowing his head to plead for Shea's life, setting aside his anger.

'Lord Zew, you are truly noble...'

Hobah and the others, seeing Zew choose life over rewards, felt a sense of agreement. No one objected; they closed their eyes, accepting his decision.

'You'd give up your reward for your sister and comrades? Seeing your attitude, your *choice* somehow makes a lot of sense.'

Garm appeared puzzled by Zew's answer.

'What are you talking about?'

Raising his head, Zew seemed confused about what Garm was referring to.

'Was my choice wrong? Is this the answer? Tell me, Shea.'

Garm directed his question behind Zew.