Hell Mode: Volume 6, page 24
“This is my true form. Now it’s time to meet your maker. Hyah!” A bright beam of light shot out from its eyes, surrounding the parties.
“What?!” It did not exactly hurt, but it still left them with a strange sensation, as if all their strength were leaving their bodies.
Oh no, is that what this is? This kind of annoying attack is a pretty standard strat for bosses.
“What do you think? Now you have nothing left to protect you. Fear me, and learn the true meaning of despair!”
The ring above True Goldino’s head began to spin as its body floated up into the air.
Allen quickly whipped open his grimoire to check on his friends’ stats and was stunned at what he saw.
“All the buffs are gone! Recast all the support magic and skills on the double! Prioritize spells and skills that boost Endurance!” Allen shouted out commands to his teammates as he called forth his Fish Summons and began using their Abilities and Awakened Abilities.
“Bwa ha ha ha! You’re the first to ever lay eyes on this form. You should be proud of yourselves...in the moments before your deaths!” True Goldino let out a shrill laugh before a shield and sword of light appeared in its hands. It then swooped through the air directly toward Allen. The party was still in the midst of recasting their buffs, but it was clear that Goldino would arrive before they were through.
“Waugh!”
One of the supercombined golems stepped in the way, blocking True Goldino’s path. Alas...
“Heh, what an irritating little pest!” True Goldino swung its light sword and cleaved the supercombined golem’s arm clean off. It failed to even slow down in the slightest upon colliding with the supercombined golem, but rather sent the golem five times its size flying.
“Hngyah!” the dwarves inside all cried at the moment of impact.
True Goldino once again bathed the party in the light from its eye blast, robbing them of all their buffs. “You can do this as much as you’d like, but the result will always be the same!”
We’re in a pretty tight spot. It can wipe out our buffs in an instant, and cover a large area at that. There’s only one option available to us, then.
They could either continue the battle or retreat. Allen took no time in making his decision.
“Swell! You’re up!”
“Pii pii!”
Allen Summoned a large number of Bird As and sent them off to their target. Then, using Bird A’s buff, Fly, Allen himself took flight.
“All right, we’re going to split the group up into three parties, and each party will recast their buffs on their own members. Return to Nest!” Allen used Return to Nest three times in a row, splitting up the party into three groups that formed a large triangle. In a flash, Allen found himself in his new surroundings. The reason for teleporting three times was that this allowed him to break the groups up into three distinct parties that could form up under their own initiative as soon as they got their wits about them.
This method shuffled the parties and struck a balance between the vanguard, the rear guard, and those holding up the center of the formation. As for the healers in each party, considering there was only one Keel to go around, the other parties were paired with one of Sacred’s Saintesses and either Fui or Sara. Considering the healing role of the Saintesses and those of the beastkin were different, their effects could be stacked.
It appeared that True Goldino had temporarily lost track of Allen and the rest, giving them a brief window to prepare themselves. Allen called out to the group. “Now Goldino will need to split its attention in order to use its debuffing attack. I want you all to recast your buffs now!”
Everyone nodded in agreement and began recasting their buffs just as True Goldino caught sight of Allen.
“It can no longer heal itself, so all we have to do is bang away at its HP and we’re practically guaranteed victory!” Allen called out to the rest of the party using his Bird F as he flew through the air toward True Goldino.
“You can do whatever you please, but you’ll still lose!”
True Goldino swung its light sword as it and Allen crossed paths, the blade of light severing Allen’s left arm from his body.
“Gah!”
“Allen!” Helmios shouted, concerned.
“Don’t worry about me; just focus on casting your buffs!”
Allen used a Blessing of Heaven, causing his left arm to regenerate, and began to fly in a lazy circle around True Goldino, as if to draw his enemy out. Meanwhile, Merus was calling forth Fish Summons and using their Abilities and Awakened Abilities on their allies.
True Goldino, picking up on what Allen was trying to do, instead ignored Allen and began moving forward. However, Allen quickly gave chase, forcing his enemy into taking action. True Goldino struck back at Allen, only for the black-haired boy to once again escape. It struck again, this time lopping off Allen’s leg, but that, too, was quickly healed up.
Each blow takes away over half my HP, so I’m going to need to have Keel cast a buff on me once I get some breathing room here. I’ll die if this keeps up.
While Allen was busy using yet another Blessing of Heaven, True Goldino took the opportunity to lunge toward the nearest group, a party with Dogora in it.
“Get over here! Hyaaah!” Dogora swooped down on his Bird B toward True Goldino, ready to strike.
“Heh, you little weakling!”
“Gyah!” Dogora’s greataxe was blocked by the light shield while his own shield was pushed back by True Goldino’s light sword. True Goldino pressed on after knocking Dogora out of the way and closed in on the party.
The vanguard counterattacked, but since they had prioritized defensive buffs, they lacked the offensive power needed to break the attack through the light shield. True Goldino moved easily through the air, reminiscent of the mithril golem, and easily evaded arrows and other long-distance attacks.
However, each party had in it one supercombined golem, which did not need any buffs or support magic. Their job was to protect the rear guard and prevent True Goldino from getting close enough to overrun them.
Allen managed to catch up to the enemy and strike at it in an attempt to draw it away from the party, locking them in a stalemate. True Goldino would attack one party, Allen would close in to attack while they were under siege, and True Goldino would move on to another party. Around and around they went.
Each party tried every possible attack available to them, but they had hardly even made a dent in True Goldino’s HP. Not even the gigantic Ten Heroic Beasts—nor any of the other party members, for that matter—could deal much damage due to their focus on short-range attacks. Long-range attacks like those from Stone B were simply dodged.
Finally, the supercombined golems, who had taken the brunt of True Goldino’s attacks, had used up all of their spare slates. Moreover, the time limit on staying in their combined form was running out. With the golems no longer able to play the role of barrier, True Goldino would be able to directly attack the party members at the middle and rear of the formation.
Looks like we’ve got to make a choice now.
Allen had already placed a nest near the entrance of Floor 5 in case they needed to make an escape. In the worst-case scenario, he could always return and send his friends to safety.
Their supercombined form is gonna break up in just a few minutes. We still haven’t used the Blessing of the Sovereign of Spirits, so maybe we should give that a shot? Then again, it’s likely that some people will die before we can pull it off.
Blessing of the Sovereign of Spirits would grant all members a thirty percent boost to all stats and allow them to use their Extra Skills again. That was still an option available to them, but it would also make it harder for them to time their escape. Rather than letting anyone die, Allen figured it would be best to take some time and evaluate their shortcomings in the battle today and then try it again.
Just as Allen had made up his mind, however, he heard Rosetta’s voice coming from the Bird B he had left with her party.
“All right, looks like it’s my turn. I really didn’t want to do this in front of you all, but it seems I don’t have much choice considering how this battle’s going. I’m going to use my Extra Skill now, so I want you all to make the most of it.”
What’s she talking about?
“Isn’t your Extra Skill for stealing treasure?” Helmios had fought alongside Rosetta for some time and already knew about this. All the other members in the group turned their attention toward her as well, curious as to what she intended to do to True Goldino.
“Just you watch, Helmios. You guys are really gonna owe me for this one. Listen up, Allen, I’m going to steal a great deal of its power, so I want you to make the most of it!”
True Goldino swooped in as a fiery haze formed around Rosetta, who stood directly in its path.
“Gya ha ha! What do you think you’re going to do, you wannabe pirate scum?! Not that it matters, because I’m going to wipe you all out anyway!”
“That’s fine. In fact, I think I’d like that skill of yours for myself, if you wouldn’t mind. Robber Hands!” Rosetta stretched her hands out toward the oncoming True Goldino and seemed to grasp something right out of the air. She then pulled her arms back, and something was shimmering in her hands.
“Hmm, what’s this? Looks like I’ve got something pretty important to you, no? Seems your eyes won’t be able to twinkle like they used to anymore. Tee hee.”
“Huh?!”
Allen, Helmios, and even the rest of the party were in complete shock.
She stole its skill?! No way!
“You wench! How did you steal my skill?! You’re not going to get away with this!” True Goldino quickly realized just what Rosetta had managed to do with her Extra Skill. It picked up speed and launched itself like an arrow straight toward her.
This seemed to draw up a forgotten memory for Helmios. “So this was the future Elmea said awaited Rosetta...”
“H-Helmios, there’s no time for you to get lost in your own little world. Help me!” Rosetta shouted at Helmios in annoyance as she tried to dodge the incoming attack. Suddenly, someone leaped over her head and took True Goldino’s attack head-on.
“Guard Break!”
It was Dverg the Sword Lord, who had been with another party until moments prior. When Allen was not paying attention, he had made his way to Rosetta. Figuring that she would try using her Extra Skill on True Goldino, he had probably come to deal with the aftermath in the event that she failed.
True Goldino headed straight forward and found itself completely unable to take any evasive action. It quickly held up its light shield, but Dverg’s greatsword chopped off that entire arm.
“Gyagh!”
Having lost its balance, True Goldino crashed down to Rosetta’s left. It slid along the floor for several dozen meters, leaving a large, deep rut in its wake.
We’ve stolen its skill and knocked out its defense! Looks like things are going our way!
Allen quickly planned their next move.
“Return to Nest! Everyone, cast all your buffs! Sophie, use Blessing of the Sovereign of Spirits!”
He teleported all three parties back to one place so they could all assist one another simultaneously. He then asked Sophie to put all her MP into her Extra Skill, Grand Spirit Manifestation.
“Certainly, Lord Allen! Spirit God Rohzen, please assist us.”
“Ha ha, I see the battle is about to come to an end.”
The Spirit God, who took the form of a flying squirrel, appeared atop Sophie’s shoulder and began to swing his hips. Moments later, shining raindrops began to fall from the sky over the gathered party members.
“You can all use your Extra Skills again! Hurry up with the buffs!”
Allen had already explained to the members of the group just what Blessing of the Sovereign of Spirits was capable of. When it was used, it granted them all the chance to use their Extra Skills once more.
“Like hell! Do you really think I’m going to sit by and let you make preparations?!” True Goldino rose up from the ground and rushed toward the party, ready to strike. However, two supercombined golems quickly stepped in to block it.
“We’ll buy you some time!”
The golems were in pretty bad shape, but they were not about to back down, so they pushed themselves back to their feet and made their way toward True Goldino.
“I’ll leave it to you guys, then! Hang in there, Meruru!”
“You got it!”
Admiral Garara’s supercombined golem soon followed after those of his comrades.
“Don’t overestimate yourselves!” True Goldino rushed straight toward the three supercombined golems. One of the golems, now without any arms, tried to ram itself straight into True Goldino’s torso, but it took the light sword straight to the stomach and immediately fell apart. The next one tried to fend off True Goldino with its only remaining arm, but the light blade cleaved through it from the fingers and all the way to the shoulder, sending the golem crumpling to the ground. The dwarves on board hurriedly escaped from the crystals in the golems’ chests.
Admiral Garara’s golem stepped forward to protect them as True Goldino swung down with its light sword. This last supercombined golem was knocked back and had one arm destroyed. However, inside the crystal in its chest, Meruru manipulated the remaining right arm and tried to unleash a return blow.
“Megaton PUUUUUNCH!”
A huge fist slammed into True Goldino’s light sword. Meruru was desperate to do anything she could to buy even an additional second for her friends to be able to cast as many buffs as they could.
For a moment, the powers of the two seemed to rival each other, but the light sword soon knocked the arm away and sent the supercombined golem tumbling backward, where it landed on its rear. Just then, they reached the time limit for their supercombined form. Admiral Garara, Meruru, and the other dwarves were sent flying out of the crystal cockpit located in the destroyed supercombined golem’s chest.
“Hmph, and now it’s time for you to die. Your battle ends here! Hey... What?”
Suddenly, the dwarves all disappeared from True Goldino’s sight as Allen sent them back using Return to Nest.
“You’ve all done more than enough. Thanks, everyone.” After thanking the group for their efforts, Allen readied his adamantite sword.
“He’s right; there’s nothing left for you to do. We’ll take care of the rest.” Helmios spoke in a relaxed tone as he also readied his beloved sword.
“All right, now I’m really pissed off! Grr!” The gigantic Zeu squeezed the metal knuckles in his hands so hard that he nearly crushed them. He then leaned forward and prepared to leap.
The three were surrounded by a dazzling light as all of their allies cast buffs on them.
“Sophie, I want you to stop him from moving.”
Sophie deeply nodded in acknowledgment. “Certainly, Lord Allen. Wind Spirit Gale, please lend me your strength.”
“Okay, mama.”
A wind spirit in the form of a young boy appeared before Sophie and took her hand. For some reason, the spirit always referred to her as “mama.” He absorbed all of Sophie’s MP, which had been boosted by the two rings that increased her MP by 5,000 each, the support from the Sovereign of Spirits, and the other stacked buffs.
The wind spirit turned around and let out a long breath toward True Goldino. The exhaled wind turned into a semitransparent white rope in midair and wrapped itself around True Goldino’s body.
“What the hell is this?!”
True Goldino tried to shake off the wind restraints. The moment its light sword made contact with them, they stretched out and looked as if they would break at any moment. Even using all of Sophie’s MP, they still could not hold it back for more than a few seconds.
But that was long enough. All the members of the vanguard attacked True Goldino as it stood frozen in place. Allen was the first to attack, flying in at high speed and slamming his adamantite sword into True Goldino’s face over and over again.
Thanks to the support of the Sovereign of Spirits, he managed to smash both of True Goldino’s eyes with a wet thud, all the while ignoring the hihiirokane golem’s impressive Attack stat.
“Gwaaargh!”
“Now you’re not gonna be able to use your eye beams anymore!”
Next up, the giant beastkin, Dverg, and Dogora attacked, hammering True Goldino’s body with various melee attacks.
“God Strike!”
“I’m up next. Supreme Ruling Blade!”
Helmios used his Extra Skill, followed by Krena using Limit Break. They both jumped high into the air and slammed their swords into True Goldino’s chest.
“Gyah! As if...I’m going to lose...to the likes of...” True Goldino sounded almost dumbfounded as the two swords were drawn from its chest. Then, it dropped to the floor like a rag doll, making a heavy thud.
A line appeared on the cover of Allen’s grimoire.
It played the role of a cartoon villain to the very end.
Allen looked up from his grimoire and toward the rest of the group.
“It looks like we beat it.”
The whole group let out a cheer.
“Yeah, we won!”
Allen and the assembled parties had finally defeated the final floor boss.
Chapter 13: The Reward for Slaying the Final Floor Boss
Allen moved toward Goldino’s lifeless body and looked into its beat-up face. He had really done a number on it when he gave the golem a thorough thrashing with his adamantite sword.
I can’t believe how strong it was; things got pretty dicey there for a moment. It’s hard to imagine what they were thinking when they made such a crazy powerful boss. But I guess that doesn’t matter anymore.
They had been a hair’s breadth from failure before being saved by the beastkin’s Beast Modes and Rosetta’s special skill. There was something about beating his first raid in this world since being reborn here that really warmed Allen’s heart.
