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

Chapter 602: Giran's 1st trial (1)

Giran spoke to Shea, who was clearly nervous.

'What's wrong? Hurry and come here.'

"Alright."

Just as Shea was about to take a step forward, Allen rushed to stop her.

"I'm sorry, but could I ask what the trial will entail first?"

(I don't want her to get locked into a duel and get killed all of a sudden.)

Before Shea could step forward, Allen asked that.

'There's nothing for you to be afraid of. Though considering you went through the Great Spirit God Easley's trial I guess I can't fault you for being nervous. But I'm not fond of violence.'

Giran also knew of Allen's time in the Spirit Paradise, where he had to fight against a Spirit Beast, and ended up making the Great Spirit God's Shrine collapse.

(Oh? But how do you explain tearing off Luvanka's head earlier?)

"I appreciate that. So what will the trial be about then?"

Only Shea would be able to participate in the trial, so Allen asked what it would be about.

'The first trial is rather simple. If she manages to strike just one hit against me within my Sanctuary, then I'll grant her my Divine Artifact.'

"Does that mean you'll also be fighting back?"

'No. I'll merely be dodging Shea's attacks.'

(Oh! So she just has to hit him in this small area!)

"Is there a time limit?"

'There is not.'

"Then are there any restrictions on the equipment or buffs she can take…"

'No restrictions. The only condition is that only Shea enters my Sanctuary.'

(So it'll be a radius of around 450 meters.)

The platform had a radius of around 500 meters, and Giran's Sanctuary started 50 meters in from the platform's border. If Shea managed to strike a hit, she would pass the trial.

[Rules of Giran's 1st trial]

-Only Shea can take part

-The condition to pass is to strike a hit on Giran

-Shea can use any equipment, items, and buffs she wants

-Giran won't attack

-The arena has a radius of 450 meters

-There's no time limit

-The reward is Giran's Divine Artifact

Allen wrote down the rules of Giran's 1st trial.

"And there you have it, Shea. Give it a try with your current equipment, I want to see how strong he is."

Allen checked Shea's stats in his Grimoire.

-Shea's current basic stats

[Strength] 34451

[Mana] 11073

[Spiritual Power] 11073

[Attack] 63880

[Endurance] 27651

[Agility] 30955

[Intelligence] 13173

[Luck] 14871

Those stats included what her equipment added, as well as her Skill [True Explosive Punch].

After her long adventures, and gaining all sorts of equipment and undergoing Talent Changes, she had obtained enough stats to be able to beat the Demon General Razel alone.

"O-okay, got it. Sorry for making you step in to clear things up."

"Don't worry about it. Just try to relax and do your best."

Shea turned around and stepped into Giran's Sanctuary, who looked at her from within.

'Feel free to start whenever you feel like it.'

"Let's do this then, hmph!!"

Shea darted towards Giran, closing the 200 meters that separated them in an instant, holding her orichalcum clad fist ready to strike Giran while leaving a long trail behind.

(He got too confident knowing she doesn't have any buffs. But I'll demand a victory if she touches even a hair of him!!)

Allen used the Bird E summon's Special Skill [Eagle Eyes] to watch the fight unfold.

Giran had not specified how much of his body had to be touched, so Allen could not stop grinning about his plan. Giran's size would play against him.

The fighting area had a radius of 450 meters, around 10 times the size of a schoolyard of Allen's past life. But Shea could traverse that distance in the blink of an eye.

'Hm.'

Giran seemed to sigh, seeing Shea close in on him from the front.

Shea noticed that, but she had already gained a lot of momentum, and her fist was closing in on his face.

When there was barely 1 centimeter between her fist and his face, he suddenly vanished.

"Wha-?! How! Where did you go!!"

Shea desperately looked around, having lost sight of Giran.

"Shea! Behind you!!"

(Look out!!)

"When did you-?!!"

Giran was standing in front of Allen, leaving Shea shocked.

He had moved so fast that she had been unable to see any of his movements, dodging her attack and appearing behind her.

'I thought I had picked an easy trial, but I guess it'll take longer than expected.'

Giran grinned as he said that, while Shea was still recovering from the shock of his speed.

(I see, he's really fast. And he used that speed to cut Luvanka's neck too.)

"I see, so this trial won't just be a walk in the park then."

Allen finally understood the overwhelming difference in their stats.

'So does that mean you'll also try in earnest?'

"Shea, come here for a bit."

"Right."

Allen began taking out items from his Grimoire.

"You don't really need Attack, so let's switch your belt into a wind element one for more Agility."

-Shea's equipment (after updating)

[Weapon] Orichalcum knuckle guards: Attack 12000, Attack 6000

[Flying Dragon Armor] Orichalcum armor: Endurance 5000, Agility 5000

[Ring 1] Agility +5000, Agility +5000

[Ring 2] Agility +5000, Agility +5000

[Necklace] Agility +3000. Agility +3000

[Bracelet 1] Cooldowns halved, Dodge Chance +20%, Strength +5000, Agility +5000

[Belt] Wind Element, Agility +10000

[Earring 1] Physical Damage Reduction 7%, Mana +2000

[Earring 2] Physical Damage Reduction 10%, Mana +2000, Attack +2000

[Anklet 1] Agility +5000, Quickstep, Dodge Chance +20%

[Anklet 2] Agility +5000, Quickstep, Dodge Chance +20%

Allen readjusted Shea's equipment trying to compensate for Giran's overwhelming Agility.

"Sophie, use all the Spirit Blessings you have, or at least those that will increase her Agility."

"Understood. I'll use 3."

Sophie manifested the Young Wind Spirit Air, Wind Spirit Gale, and Thunder Great Spirit Jin.

(I'm glad that Sophie has enough spirits with Agility boosts.)

[Blessings from Sophie's spirits]

-Young Wind Spirit Air: Agility +1000

-Wind Spirit Gale: Agility +3000

-Thunder Great Spirit Jin: Agility +10000

[Bird H summon's Awakened Skill [Golden Egg]'s effects]

-All stats +3000

"Alright, we're done with the buffs, Shea. Now use Full Beast Mode."

"Wouldn't Beast Mode be enough?"

"We still need you to gain more Skill Experience with Full Beast Mode."

"I see, I'll do that then. Full Beast Mode! Graaaaaaawrrrrrrr!!"

Using the Skill she obtained from Albahar, Shea's body grew twice in size.

-Shea's stats after buffs, equipment changes, and Full Beast Mode

[Strength] 28451

[Mana] 19073

[Spiritual Power] 19073

[Attack] 43880

[Endurance] 28651

[Agility] 93955

[Intelligence] 19173

[Luck] 20871

After all those changes, Shea's Agility was really close to 10000.

"Grrr! Let's do this!!"

'You say that like I'm the one taking time to prepare… I've been waiting all this time.'

Giran still looked confident, looking at her from the center of the platform.

"Grr!"

Shea instantly began to run, quickly crossing the 400 meters separating them and trying to punch his face.

'It's almost like you only know one move…'

Before Giran could say anything more, Shea's fist was already in front of his eyes.

Leaving an afterimage behind, Giran's body moved away to the border of the arena, not letting Shea hit him.

"Grrrrr!!"

Not even 10000 in Agility was enough to catch up to Giran.

But Shea would not give up, heading to attack Giran again, who calmly dodged everything.

No matter how many times she tried, none of her attacks would connect.

Eventually an hour passed like that and the effects of [Full Beast Mode] wore off.

"*Huff, huff*...that speed is too much."

Shea took deep breaths, looking at Giran who had dodged all her attacks.

"Alright, Sophie, use Spirit God's Blessing."

"Understood, Master Allen. Spirit God Rosen, bless Shea's mobility! Spirit God's Blessing!!"

Sophie's Divine Technique [Spirit God's Blessing] had reached Skill Level 5, while it had only been at Skill Level 2 during the fight with the Demigod Rank ghost Ganiras.

"Graaaaawrrrrrrrrrrr!!"

Shea reactivated her Skill [Full Beast Mode], as Sophie had just reset its cooldown.

(She finally got it to Skill Level 2. And just as I expected, that has increased the stats she gains.)

As Shea used [Full Beast Mode], she gained enough Skill Experience for it to reach Skill Level 2. Now her Agility went past 10000, and the rest of her stats went up by 6000.

[Full Beast Mode's effects]

-Consumes all Mana and Spiritual Power, 10 Mana (and Spiritual Power) equal 1 second of duration

-The total duration is 19073 (Mana) + 19073 (Spiritual Power) ÷ 10 (seconds) ÷ 3600 (an hour in seconds) = roughly 1 hour

-At Skill Level 1, Attack and Agility increase by 5000, other stats by 3000

-At Skill Level 2, Attack and Agility increase by 10000, other stats by 6000

-Shea's stats after buffs, equipment changes, Full Beast Mode Level 2, and Spirit God's Blessing Level 5

[Strength] 55886

[Mana] 43695

[Spiritual Power] 43695

[Attack] 38495

[Endurance] 73144

[Agility] 142142

[Intelligence] 43825

[Luck] 46032

After receiving plenty of buffs again, Shea turned to face Giran.

"Grrrr!!"

'Do you think that's enough for you to win? Let's see just how faster you've really gotten. Come at me.'

Shea went back into the fight.

"