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

Hunting the ghost provided both Levels and Talent Change Points.

Allen was pleased seeing his stats going up, while Digragni's voice became louder in shock.

Kurena and Haku also went to look at the Grimoire to see their own stats.

"Eheheh, I've also gotten stronger!"

'Gyau!!'

Kurena and Haku looked happy to see they had gained 10 Levels.

"Yeah, though if I knew we would gain so many Levels I would've let you get a head start from hunting Iron Golems first."

Hunting Iron Golems until they were at Level 90 would've allowed them to reach the max of 99 in one go. Now they were only at Level 52, so Allen felt like it was a bit of a waste.

Dogora and Shea had already reached Level 99 though, so they did not gain as much.

"Dogora, Shea, good job."

"So we won."

"Was I of any help?"

(They've really gotten strong. Shea even parried the ghost's attacks without issue.)

[Name] Dogora

[Age] 16

[Blessings] Goddess of Fire (Large), Fire Resistance

[Talent] Barbarian King

[Level] 99

[Strength] 8729 + 10000 (Blessing) + 9600 (True Fighting Spirit)

[Mana] 4007 + 10000 + 4800

[Attack] 8988 + 10000 + 9600

[Endurance] 8235 + 10000 + 9600

[Agility] 6213 + 10000 + 9600

[Intelligence] 3845 + 10000 + 4800

[Luck] 6028 + 10000 + 9600

[Skills] Barbarian King (8), True Full-Body (8), True Bombing Defeat (8), True Peerless Slash (8), True Wicked Blow (8), Body and Soul (7), True Fighting Spirit (2), Formation Break (7), Furious Twin Barrage (5), Axemanship (8), Twin Axemanship (5), Shield Technique (4), Divine Technique Activation

[Divine Technique] Explosive Attack (6)

-Skill Level:

[Barbarian King] 8

[True Full-Body] 8

[True Bombing Defeat] 8

[True Peerless Slash] 8

[True Wicked Blow] 8

[Body and Soul] 7

[Formation Break] 7

[Furious Twin Barrage] 5

[Explosive Attack ] 6

-Equipment

[Weapon 1] Divine Artifact Kagutsuchi: Attack 20000

[Weapon 2] Orichalcum battleaxe: Attack 12000, Attack 6000

[Armor] Orichalcum armor: Endurance 12000, Endurance 6000

[Ring 1] Attack 5000, Attack 5000

[Ring 2] Attack 5000, Attack 5000

[Necklace] Attack 3000, Attack 3000

[Earring 1] Physical Attack Damage +7%, Strength 2000

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

[Name] Shea

[Age] 16

[Blessing] Beast God (None)

[Talent] Beast Fighter King

[Level] 99

[Strength] 7851 + 9600

[Mana] 4273 + 4800

[Attack] 8280 + 9600

[Endurance] 7851 + 4800

[Agility] 6355 + 9600

[Intelligence] 3573 + 9600

[Luck] 5271 + 9600

[Skills] Fighter King (7), True Clobber (7), True Swift Death Strike (7), True Hell Hit (7), True Demolishing Punch (7), True Explosive Punch (2), Counterattack Frenzy (4), Beast King Mode (5), Kumite (6), Boxing (7)

-Skill Levels

[Fighter King] 7

[True Clobber] 7

[True Swift Death Strike] 7

[True Hell Hit] 7

[True Demolishing Punch] 7

[Counterattack Frenzy] 4

-Equipment

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

[Armor] Orichalcum armor: Endurance 10000, Endurance 5000

[Ring 1] Attack 5000, Attack 5000

[Ring 2] Attack 5000, Attack 5000

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

[Necklace] Attack 3000, Attack 3000

[Earring 1] Physical Attack Damage +7%, Strength 2000

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

Dogora had reached Talent Level 8, and Shea Talent Level 7. Dogora learned the Skill [Furious Twin Barrage], and Shea learned [Counterattack Frenzy].

[Furious Twin Barrage] was an attack of 4 consecutive swings from his axes. It consumed a decent amount of Mana too, so it dealt a lot of damage to a single enemy. Its cooldown was short too, so he could use it on repeat.

Allen could always use his summons when fighting multiple enemies, so he was glad his allies had powerful Skills to deal with single enemies.

[Effects of Furious Twin Barrage]

-Four consecutive attacks on a single enemy

-Each hit deals 1% extra Physical Damage than the previous one (the last hit deals 4% more)

-It has no Attack Element, and the cooldown is 10 minutes

-Each hit consumes 1000 Mana, 4000 in total

-Each Skill Level increases the Mana consumed by 1000

-The attacks stop once Dogora runs out of Mana

[Effects of Counterattack Frenzy]

-Boosts Agility by 3000 and Dodge Chance by 5%

-Enemy attacks sometimes get evaded

-Enemy attacks sometimes get parried

-Costs 1000 Mana to activate for 1 hour, has no cooldown

-Each Skill Level adds 3000 Agility and 5% Dodge Chance

-Each Skill Level increases the chance of evading or parrying an attack

-Each Skill Level increases Mana cost by 1000

That had helped Shea be strong enough to destroy Danies' claws and stinger, which allowed Dogora to unleash his strongest attack. It was a good combo between the two.

Soon after Helmios, Merle, and Galara also arrived, seeing the ghost had been defeated.

"Ohh, it seems I also got 2 Talent Change Points."

"I got 3 myself. That makes it 10, enough for a Talent Change."

(Hmm, maybe I should let the Admiral undergo a Talent Change before Merle.)

Defeating a Demigod Rank ghost granted 10 Talent Change Points in total, enough for a Talent Change.

[Points needed for Talent Changes]

-1 Point needed to gain a 3rd Talent Star

-3 Points needed to gain a 4th Talent Star

-10 Points needed to gain a 5th Talent Star

(I see, the Talent Change Points were split between the 3 parties.)

"Yes, good job everyone. We have 10 Points, so we'll have to go to the Talent Change Dungeon later."

[The two Talent Change Dungeons in the Academy City]

-The Talent Change Dungeon, can give Talents with up to 4 Stars

-The Updated Talent Change Dungeon, requires Talent Change Points but can grant 5 Star Talents

"That sounds good."

Talent Change Points were always granted to the leaders of parties.

Galara had gotten to 10 Points, so he was thinking of getting a 5 Star Talent.

Allen had already investigated how to beat the Talent Change Dungeon, so that would be easy.

He also wanted to help both Helmios and Galara to keep them as allies for the future.

"Anyway Allen, you have a lot of Talent Change Points too. Don't you think it's a waste to not use them?"

Cecile wanted Allen to start using the 28 Talent Change Points he had.

"Well, I guess that's true. Hmm…we'll probably get a lot more here, so I guess I can change my plans a bit."

Allen had more than 20 Talent Change Points he had not used. Most of his party still had 4 Star Talents, but some of them could get 5 Star Talents if Allen used his points.

He had wanted to prioritize crafters like Larappa first, and seeing how many points he was getting in the divine realm, he decided it was time to do something.

"Alright, I'll get Larappa to undergo a Talent Change."

(Apparently there's other ghost swarms too.)

This was just one of many ghost swarms, so there had to be plenty of Demigod Rank ghosts out there. It was a good way for Allen to farm Talent Change Points.

"Huh? You'll let Larappa go first?"

"Yes, that's indispensable to strengthen the army. I guess after that it'll be Luck's turn."

Allen wanted to prioritize getting magic devices to defeat the Demon King's Army efficiently.

"Hmph…I see. It'll be my turn after that though."

Cecile really wanted to undergo a Talent Change herself, but she also understood Allen's reasoning. Allen wanted Dogora and Shea to get more Skill Levels first, he really wanted to see what would happen once they reached Skill Level 9 first.

While that happened, the other party members who had been maxed out would undergo Talent Changes, like Luck who still had a 3 Star Talent.

"...I see."

(Hm? Maybe I'm just hearing things.)

Formar seemed to mutter something, he had been acting strange ever since his attacks had no effect earlier. But he was one of the quietest party members, and did not say anything more.

"So you even defeated Danies. Those who get through the Gate of Judgement really are strong."

"Your guidance was also helpful, Abigayle. It was all a group effort. Anyway, let's get that Spirit Crystal Stone."

Allen headed to collect the Spirit Crystal Stone from Danies. He started carving at the ghost's chest with his sword, eventually pulling it out. It was many times bigger than a Spirit Stone.

'You stored 1 Spirit Crystal Stone.'

He put it in his Inventory just in case, and it showed the correct name.

At the same time, Danies' body was quickly engulfed in blue flames and vanished.

"Anyway, are there any other Demigod Rank ghosts around here?"

"Wha-?! You still want to hunt? You just defeated a Demigod Rank ghost!!"

Abigayle could not believe what he had just heard.

"Yes, we'll keep hunting. But it'll be in a few days."

(I didn't say we'd do it right now. Kurena should Level Up a bit more first.)

Appraiser Eyes only worked on entities within 100 meters of Kuwatoro, so Allen needed Abigayle's help to know where to find the strongest ghosts.

They had gotten there to find a Spirit Crystal Stone for Shandar's king, which Allen hoped would give him permission to use a ship to travel to the Spirit Paradise.

But now that he found out he could get Talent Change Points, he wanted to hunt more.

He would let Kurena and Haku reach Level 90 in the S Rank Dungeon, and then they would hunt more Demigod Rank ghosts.

'Yes, hunt as much as you want. I'll become a God next!!'

Digragni was still there for some reason, and he seemed to agree with Allen's decision.

"...I see. If you hunt ghosts it'll also help us."

Abigayle was still shocked, but he did not stop them. All dragonkin would benefit from Allen's party hunting down ghosts.

"And so, more or less how many Great Angel and Demigod Rank ghosts are there?"

"This swarm has around 10 Great Angel Rank ghosts, and 3 Demigod Rank ones."

(Great Angel Rank ghosts should be more or less as strong as Graham from earlier.)

"Alright, we'll continue hunting Demigod Rank ghosts in 3 days. And some Great Angel ones too. Kurena, Haku, you two go to the S Rank Dungeon and get Levels as fast as you can."

Maybe Great Angel Rank ghosts would also give a set amount of Levels.

"Okay!!"

'Gyau!!'

Allen was already planning everything. He also had to find the holy water for Graham.

(And then I also have the Admiral and Larappa's Talent Changes to worry about.)

He could do that while Kurena worked on getting Levels.

"So we'll be leaving the forest now then, right?"

"Yes, Cecile. We'll send Kurena away, and then we head to see the king. I left a [Nest] by the Gate of Judgement."

Allen could not teleport from the divine realm straight to the human realm, they had to go through the Gate of Judgement. That was why he left a [Nest] next to the gate.

He would send Kurena there, so she could travel to the S Rank Dungeon.

"Hm?"

Suddenly they heard a distant thump, which made Abigayle and the other warden go pale.

"Huh? What was that sound?"

Kurena also noticed, just as another, even louder one was heard.

"Th-this is bad!! We just heard Nestiad's palpitations, and they're getting louder. He's coming here! We need to run!!"

Bongora started shouting in desperation.

Thump!!

THUMP!!

The sound did resemble loud beatings of a heart. As it got closer, the trees began to shake wildly, and Allen's friends also understood that was no mere foe.

"So Nestiad is this swarm's boss then? Is he strong?"

It seemed like Nestiad was a God Rank ghost, above Demigod Rank.

"Wha-?! Y-you can't be thinking of-!!"

"No, I'm just curious about Nestiad's strength. Can I just get a quick look?"

(Demigod Rank ghosts give 10 Levels, I wonder how many God Rank ghosts do.)

Allen was very curious about Nestiad.