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

Magra squinted and looked at the blazing ball.

It was bigger than 1 kilometer, and Tam-Tam, Haku, and Matildora were ready to sacrifice themselves to keep Magra still.

'Hmph, you were making so much noise I almost got my hopes up, but it's just a burned rock! Groowwwwwwwwrrrrrr!!'

He raised his head and opened his jaws, creating a small ball of light inside.

The blinding ball of light gradually grew bigger.

"I won't let you!"

Merle shouted as she piloted Tam-Tam to crush the ball of light, but Tam-Tam's hand instantly began to melt from it. The ball of light was immensely hot.

'Ghmhm?!'

'Hellfire Flames!!'

Cecile's Extra Skill [Small Meteor] was just 100 meters away, but it would not get closer.

The ball of light Magra shot was not even 10 meters wide, but it collided with the large rock and got inside it, and once it reached the middle the whole rock exploded.

Magra's breath burned the pieces of rock, turning them to ash before they reached the ground.

"No way… My Extra Skill…"

Cecile was so shocked she fell on her knees. Rocks created with Mana or Spiritual Power could only be destroyed by someone with more Intelligence than the caster.

That made the difference between Cecile and Magra evident.

'Weaklings! How long are you going to cling onto me.'

"Woah?!"

Magra shook his hips which made his tail swing and hit Tam-Tam, which shocked Merle.

After being sent flying into the air, Tam-Tam turned on his engine, coming to a stop in mid-air.

'New stone slab confirmed, body and arm regenerated.'

The dungeon had already claimed golem stone slabs, Allen's sword, and Merus.

"We can keep going! We're barely getting started!"

Merle switched out the stone slabs of her Magic Cube, quickly regenerating Tam-Tam's arm.

'Allen, Shea, get behind me!'

'I know! Grrr!!'

Luvanka tried to help Allen and Shea who were in the frontline.

*Blink blink*

Allen glanced at the mini-sculpture and saw it was blinking red.

(Luvanka is trying to sacrifice himself again. But this isn't the time to think of that. Only 7 and a half minutes left.)

[99th floor, 0:07:28 left]

There was very little time left now.

'Gyauuu!!'

'What's this ridiculous power?! Didn't you just steal my Divine Artifact?!! Don't get carried away.'

'Ugyau?!'

'Haku! Asura Charge!!'

Magra had shattered Cecile's Extra Skill [Small Meteor], but he was shocked by Haku's power.

So he switched targets to Haku, trying to tear him off his shoulder.

While protecting Shea, Luvanka used a Special Skill while using his increased stats from his Awakened Skill [Mythical Beast Mode].

Joining all the fingertips from his 3 pairs of arms together and putting strength into his back, Luvanka used the Special Skill of Garm's cheek, [Asura Charge].

'Ghah?! Damn you!!'

'Mghuh!!'

Magra's back bent from the hit, so in retaliation he swung his claws at Luvanka.

"All Heal."

"All Heal."

Gretta and Ingrissa quickly healed Haku and Luvanka back to full health.

(All of Rosalina and Sophie's buffs should be active, so their healing is also faster.)

"Everyone, let's do this!!"

"Yeah!"

"Yeah!"

"Yeah!"

Galara's party had not given up either.

They quickly went into formation to attack Magra, looking like planes fighting a monster in a movie.

'Impudent fools! You will never defeat me! I'll defeat you and be free!! Burn awayyyyyy!!'

'Gelid atmosphere, become a wall and protect us!!'

"Thank you, Lady Iruza."

The Ice Great Spirit made a wall of ice to block Magra's powerful breath.

Even when exhausted, the Great Spirits were still fighting.

(If we keep going we can defeat him. We're healing quickly enough, and Magra doesn't seem to have any way to heal. Though at this rate…)

[99th floor, 0:05:12 left]

Allen looked at the mini-sculpture and saw there were barely 5 minutes left.

Magra was fighting fiercely, and it seemed he had an agreement with the Earth God that if he defeated those challenging the Earth Labyrinth like Allen's group, he would be free.

This was an important fight for Magra who had waited for 10000 years.

Allen was starting to feel like it was better to just try again, since it was their first time there.

"It might be too hard this time. We can just come back and try again! I don't think we should risk a dangerous fight!!"

Sophie, who was covered in wounds, also suggested they retreat.

If they continued fighting, they could end up with casualties.

While they had strong defenses, there were frontliners like Shea who had little Endurance and would die instantly from a direct hit. And Kiel, who had a revive, was not there.

(That's true. And if we come back we might have Merus too.)

They knew how to get to the 99th floor now. Sophie's suggestion that they could not risk anyone dying was correct too.

"You'll never break your record if you just think you can try again or you can throw away a run. Only those who run with all they have can get records."

(We're RTA runners. Changing our methods will give us a new record. The goal is so close.)

"Huh? Master Allen, do you have a strategy…"

Sophie was confused by that response. But she started to feel like maybe Allen could find a way for them to move forward.

'Everyone, this is our last chance. I want to increase the odds as much as possible, so run to the exit!!'

"Oh? Wait are you serious?!"

'Hurry up!! The rear lines will go first, and then the golems behind them!!'

Allen shouted loudly through the Bird F summon.

Admiral Galara could not understand, but he followed the orders since Allen was the leader.

'Huh? Me too? Grrr.'

'Yes. Retret together with Luvanka!!'

Shea, who was walking on four legs, Luvanka, Cecile, and Sophie also moved.

'Hm? What are you planning now! I have the key…I won't let you run away!!'

Allen had no way to open the door without a key.

Magra could not understand why they would go there, but felt like it was part of a strategy.

He had waited for 10000 years for this, so he could not let them get away.

(We ran here because we don't have time and the room is too big.)

Allen's group arrived at the door with the relief of a dragon. Then Galara and the golems arrived, and Matildora a bit later. Haku was the last one to arrive, and then Allen gave the next orders, while looking at Haku.

"Master Allen, are you thinking of…"

Sophie understood Allen's strategy.

"We're running out of time."

'Gyau?'

Haku tilted his head.

'Haku, use Dragon Soul. Turn this situation around!!'

'Got it! Gyau!!'

When Allen shouted, Haku stood still.

'Hm? What's this? A small dragon like this… Move out!!'

Magra tried to break through Haku who was in the way, but he could not do it.

There was a vessel inside of Haku's body.

A vessel without form.

A Divine Artifact granted by the God of Creation Elmea.

No one in Allen's group or even Haku could see it.

Something like black flames or an aura began to overflow from that vessel.

That black aura began to fill Haku's body and soul, and eventually showed outside.

Haku's white body began to get covered in the black aura.

Then his eyes seemed to glow red, and his body began to grow bigger.

In an instant he became 100 meters long, and his wingspan became 300 meters wide, turning into a fully grown dragon.

Haku had used his Awakened Skill [Dragon Soul], which he had never used before.

Haku grew as big as Magra, and looked at him with a terrifying face before lunging forward.

'Ghah?! What's this power!! It's like a Higher God's!!'

A single attack from Haku tore off Magra's arm, and left a deep gash in his stomach.

Looking at his severed arm on the floor, Magra began to tremble.

"H-hey, are you sure about this?"

"I don't know. Kurena isn't here…"

-Haku's stats (Dragon Soul mode)

[Strength] 401686

[Mana] 320342

[Spiritual Power] 320342

[Attack] 524458 + 60000 (weapon)

[Endurance] 520483 + 60000 (armor)

[Agility] 510941

[Intelligence] 458818

[Luck] 383307

*Might be changed later

'D-damn you?! I see! That's the soul of the Dragon God Gefon..?! What is Elmea thinking!!'

'Grwaaaaawrrrrrrrrr!!'

Haku's voice drowned Magra's words.

Haku no longer looked like a puppy that looked like a dragon.

He tore off Magra's arms one after the other, and moved forward to deal the finishing blow as Magra bled profusely.

'Hellfire Flames! Don't get carried away! I'll burn you to ash!!'

'Grwaaaaawrrrrrrrrr!!'

The same attack that had destroyed Cecile's Extra Skill [Small Meteor] hit Haku from point blank. But Haku also began spewing flames.

The fire from both dragons collided, and Haku's fire quickly overwhelmed Magra's.

'Ghah?!'

Magra's scales burner, his skin was set ablaze, and his entire body was scorched.

'Grr!!'

'W-wait?! Gwahhh!!'

In terror, Magra watched as Haku opened his jaws wide.

Biting down, Haku tore off Magra's head from his body and ate it whole.

"