Hell Mode: Volume 9, page 24
“Beast Princess Shia. Good day,” Giru said. “It seems you didn’t give your brother a Beast God’s Guardian Cord. How very unfortunate.”
Shia paled upon hearing those words, and for the first time today, Giru was confused.
“You’re cruel!” Shia shouted, wiping away her tears.
“Cruel? I haven’t the faintest clue what you’re talking about,” Giru replied. “But should your brother die, you two will be next.”
“What did you say?!”
As Shia yelled back, Giru noticed Zeu staring at him with frightened eyes. The Brysen royal huffed and walked past them.
“Brother!” Shia and Zeu cried.
In the shadows, Giru turned around and watched the two young Albahalan royals head for Beku, who had had every bone in his body shattered and was lying in a pool of his own blood.
And so, the winner of the spiked knuckle division was decided. Giru proceeded to fight against the victors of other divisions, but no one stood a chance against him. General Hoba, the one who had defended the title of Beast King for the overall tournament for a decade, was no exception.
“Hngah?!” Hoba grunted as he slammed against the wall of the arena, his massive body having been blown back by a roundhouse kick.
“This is the one who defended his title for a decade?! Beku put up a better fight!” Giru roared triumphantly.
“And the winner...is Beast Crown Prince Giru of Brysen. He has claimed the title of Beast King this year,” the judge announced, their voice filled with despair. It sounded as though they were sentencing someone to death.
The following year, Albahal’s land would surely be seized.
＊ ＊ ＊
As he had promised, Beast King Oba gave up his throne to his son, Giru, who had been victorious in the Beast King Martial Arts Tournament. The first thing Giru did after accepting his new role was declare that he would enter the tournament the following year. He also stated that he would continue to enter until he had recovered all of Brysen’s land that had been taken by Albahal.
Beku had left the governing to the chancellor and ministers, practically abandoning his duties and post as the crown prince to go on a journey. He wandered around Albahal as part of his training to become even stronger, defeating powerful monsters along the way. Rank As were the norm for him, and he even risked his life to challenge Rank S monsters as a way to test his skills.
Another year passed in the blink of an eye, and he finally returned to the royal capital the day before the deadline to announce his entry into the tournament. Just as he had done last year, he hardly met with anyone other than Romu and Kei, spending the rest of his time holed up in his room. When the tournament began, he silently won his way up from the preliminaries.
“Prince Beku is once again the winner of the knuckles division!” the rabbitkin announced.
The crown prince turned his back to the crowd and returned to the waiting room. Normally, he would fight with the previous year’s winner for his next battle, but since Giru had become the Beast King, Beku would need to fight all the other division winners before he would get the chance to face the Beast King.
Captain Kei and Romu were waiting for the royal in the waiting room. As usual, Beku lay on the bed as Romu used his special ointment blend to massage any stiff muscles. It was then that there was a loud banging on the wooden door, so intense that the door looked like it would crack at any moment. Beku furrowed his brow and stared at the source of the noise with suspicion.
“I shall get the door,” Kei said.
The moment he grabbed the handle and undid the lock, Shia barged into the room, pushing past the captain.
“Brother! I’ve brought a good luck charm for you!” she cried, clutching a Beast God’s Guardian Cord. “This year, I had Lady Temi weave her special art into the cord, so...”
She stuck out her arm to offer it to her brother, who was lying on the bed.
“Princess Shia, please stand back,” Kei said, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. “Prince Beku does not want to see anyone—”
“Do not touch me so casually!” Shia roared.
She shook him off her as a sharp pain ran through Kei. One of the claws on the princess’s free hand had the dogkin’s blood dripping from it. Shia could not hide her shock at what she had just done.
“Your Highness, please forgive me,” Kei apologized.
“N-No, I’m the one at fault here. I’m sorry,” Shia replied.
When the captain knelt down to ask for forgiveness, the princess looked down at him, completely at a loss for what to do. She felt her older brother’s rugged hand gently rest on her shoulder. When she turned around to face him, her shock from hurting Kei dissipated.
“Please take this with you,” Shia said. “If you don’t, Giru might kill you this time, brother.”
Beku gazed down at the Beast God’s Guardian Cord and slowly shook his head. “Do you think that I will lose?”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry. That’s all I’m saying.”
“But those worries may become shackles when I risk my life in battle. Over the past year, as I fought against monsters, I learned that as long as I’m arrogant enough to believe I can escape with my life, I will never stand a chance against Giru.”
Beku gently patted her head, and she looked up at him, anxiety plaguing her heart.
“I will gratefully accept Zeu’s and your thoughts, but I will fight with the gear that I have been using,” Beku said before he noticed Romu toying with the equipment on the table. “Hmm? What’s wrong, Romu? Ah. I knew that you were no normal pharmacist, but did not think that you could polish weapons and armor.”
Romu turned around with surprise. “I-I can! As I journeyed around, I learned to do practically everything by myself!”
Beku nodded and headed for the table where Romu was. The crown prince wore the necklace that increased his Agility, and Kei hastily helped him put on an adamantite breastplate.
“Ah, and the increased tax for those with Talents, which I created thanks to your advice, has been rather popular. I hope you’ll continue to...” Beku trailed off as he tried to don his adamantite knuckles.
“I-Is something the matter?” Romu asked worriedly, peering into the royal’s face.
Beku tightened the belt to fasten his weapon and stared intently at the goatkin. “Ever since I met you three years ago, you have served me well.”
“O-Of course. I have only wished to serve you. I have thought that even after meeting Princess Shia.”
Shia recalled when Romu had come to serve Beku. It had all started three years ago, when the goatkin had simply shown up one day. He was being questioned in front of the castle gates when Shia and General Rudo had appeared. The elderly Romu had then spoken with them, and the rest was history.
“Yes. Without your medicine, I never would have been able to get back on my feet,” Beku said. “As proof, my will hasn’t shattered even after suffering my second defeat last year. I shall offer you a reward, Romu. Let me see... Ah, you have served other beastkin kingdoms, have you not? And the time has come for you to serve another one. I shall write you a letter of recommendation.”
Shia and Kei shuddered at the thought. The crown prince was practically saying that he had no need for Romu anymore. But the goatkin shook his head quietly and kept his usual smile on his face.
“That won’t be necessary, Your Highness,” Romu said. “As you can see, I don’t have much longer left. You are favored by Beast God Garm, and the special blood of Albahal’s founder flows through your veins. I would like to serve you until the day I die.”
“Hmph. You still choose to flatter me, I see,” Beku said as the tournament’s messenger stopped behind the closed door. “Ah, it’s time.”
“Prince Beku, preparations for the next match are complete,” the messenger announced.
“Very well. I have just finished my preparations as well.”
As the royal headed for the door, Kei once again shouted as loud as he could.
“Prince Beku, I wish you luck!”
“Brother...” Shia said, clutching the cord in her hand.
Beku opened the door. Before he left, he whirled around to face his little sister with a smile. “Shia, don’t you worry. As one who carries the Albahalan royal blood in his veins, I shall win this time.”
“I-I believe in you, brother.”
He turned back to head to the arena, the smile vanishing from his face. His expression transformed into that of a warrior’s, prepared to risk his life for the harsh battle. When he emerged from the damp, dimly lit corridor, the sun’s brilliant rays shone upon him. The cheers of the citizens sounded brighter still.
“Whoooo!”
“Prince Bekuuu!”
“Please win this tiiime!”
Beku closed his eyes. He felt the warmth of the sun on his face and the cheers of his citizens echo throughout his body.
“Everyone trusts that Prince Beku will win this time,” a staff member murmured.
Were the crown prince to lose this year, much of Albahal’s land would be seized. And a third loss would mean the end of his life. Even if Giru allowed him to live, he had sworn on his pride as a member of the Albahalan royal family that he would sooner die fighting than live with that humiliation.
Beku opened his eyes and gazed at the crowd. Many citizens from remote areas all over Albahal had rushed to the tournament to cheer for the crown prince. They were people he had met, who had celebrated his victory over monsters, over the last two years as he journeyed across the country.
“I will win even if it costs me my life,” Beku said. “I believe that is my duty. You should do yours.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” the tournament staff member replied.
The battle would be meaningless if it was not fair. Beku told them to cast aside their personal feelings and focus on their work as he headed to the center of the arena. He was all by himself, but the deafening cheers reminded him that Albahal was on his side. He stopped and turned to the nobles’ seats. Two Beast Kings, Muza and Oba, and their families were sitting side by side. Beast King Oba had his wife and his daughter, Princess Rena, beside him. Beast King Muza had Beku’s mother, Zeu, and Shia sitting close to him.
“The whole family is here. How the tables have turned,” Beku muttered. “No, it is because our strength made us complacent. That is why we find ourselves so tripped up.”
Before he knew it, he was bowing to them. He displayed his gratitude to his parents and his affection for his siblings, and he sent a challenge to the Brysen royal family. When he looked up, he locked eyes with a worried Shia.
“Prince Beku, this year’s overall division winner, has emerged!” a rabbitkin announced. “The entire kingdom is waiting with bated breath for your battle against last year’s Beast King! Is there anything you’d like to say to the citizens before the big match?”
Beku took the mic and said, “I promise to win this time.”
He then bowed toward the audience stands as the cheers grew louder.
“Splendid words from our crown prince!” the rabbitkin shouted. “Ah, and last year’s Beast King is entering the arena!”
Beku turned around, looking between the nobles’ seats and the audience’s, where a special seat reserved for the prior year’s Beast King was located. Giru stood up from that seat, removing his golden cape and crown. He crouched down and then leaped, forming a gentle arc before landing in the arena.
THUMP. Sand flew into the air as he landed, and when it settled, his slender yet muscular frame stood in the ring. He slowly walked toward Beku. The audience was shocked by his grand entrance, but they soon gathered themselves and started booing the man. Giru did not seem to care. He merely smirked while standing in front of Beku.
“It seems the residents of Albahal can only chirp like insects, but when they’re all gathered in one place, I can hear them rather clearly,” Giru remarked. “What’s wrong? Don’t stand there silently with a frown on your face. Why don’t you say a word or two?”
Beku remained silent and observed Giru. The Brysen royal, who had become the king of his nation, was wearing the same adamantite gear as last year. His necklace and rings also had not changed much.
“It seems you let being king go to your head,” Beku said.
“Do I seem that way? Or do you just want me to be that way?” Giru inquired. “You’re just jumping to conclusions to suit your viewpoint. Did you perhaps down a pint before the match to hide your fear? You look disoriented.”
“I’ll only drink after I beat you.”
“So you’re sober? You have foolishly chosen to stand in front of me not just twice, but thrice. Perhaps the beating I gave you made you slightly crazy.”
“No. Quite the opposite, actually. You opened my eyes. I admit that I lacked the resolve last year.”
“This again? I’m tired of hearing about your resolve. And your younger siblings will surely spout the same silly nonsense. But don’t you worry. I’ll send you and your siblings to hell so that you can keep showing one another your resolve like the friendly family that you are.”
“What a cheap provocation.”
As the two chattered, the finals to choose this year’s Beast King proceeded. Analyzers stepped onto the field and swiftly checked the two combatants, sternly checking for any signs of cheating.
“No Support Magic detected.”
“No usage of healing items detected.”
“No healing items found.”
Once their reports were made, the judge nodded and raised their arm high. As they did, Beku gripped his knuckle-dusters.
“Begin!” the judge roared.
GOOONG!
A leopardkin swung his mallet, filling the arena with a metallic ring. Right away, just like last time, the two fighters activated their skills.
“Beast Mode! Graaar!”
“Beast Mode! Raaah!”
A massive Giru charged at his foe. “Why don’t we review last year’s program? Super Heavy Blow!”
Beku had also turned colossal, and he, too, threw a punch at his opponent. “Super Heavy Blow!”
The deafening clash of fists drowned out the sound of the gong before the two mighty forces leaped away. They whirled through the air and landed back in the ring.
“Your skills have improved quite a bit. I’m impressed with your training,” Giru smiled.
While both fighters were blown back, it was clear that Beku had been pushed back farther than Giru. Beku had spent the last year training hard, and he knew that he had become stronger, but it seemed Giru still had higher Attack and skill levels. The wolfkin had more power. But that did not deter Beku as he charged in.
Much like in their past two battles, they launched a barrage of skills at each other, and once again, Beku found himself on the back foot. He crouched to dodge a kick that was aimed for the side of his head and tried to utilize that opening to land an attack. He aimed for his opponent’s chest, but Giru whirled around and swiftly used a spinning back kick.
“Super Pulverizing Kick!” Giru roared.
“Gh!”
Beku crossed his arms in front of him and jumped back to minimize the impact. He was blown back, but he still managed to land on his feet. Giru rushed in and unleashed a flurry of attacks, preventing Beku from striking back.
“Prince Beku has been blown back again, but he stands right back up!” the rabbitkin reported, trying their best to encourage the royal. “The future of Albahal rests on his shoulders, and he refuses to give up!”
Unfortunately, Giru possessed greater Agility as well, and he continued to attack. Beku had used up much of his energy, so he could not do anything but take the blows. Despite having trained so hard that he had often been drenched in his own blood, sweat, and tears, he felt like he had not shortened the gap between him and Giru.
“It seems you’ve been training every year, but it’s just not enough!” Giru roared. “Your so-called resolve will be the perfect stepping stone to allow Brysen to prosper!”
“Hah, hah...” Beku panted. “I won’t lose!”
The Albahalan crown prince stepped back, but he was clearly staggering.
“You spout the same words not once, not twice, but three times!” Giru exclaimed. “You are a fool! I shall hammer reality into your body!”
He raised his fist to land the final blow on the staggering Beku. As he rushed in, Beku stood in place, gazing at his enemy in a daze as the wolfkin’s massive body drew near.
“I am one who wishes for Albahal to prosper. Farewell...” Beku said under his breath.
“Die!” Giru shouted, having heard his opponent’s words. He cut through the air and swung his mighty right fist, burying it into Beku’s left side.
Crack! Crack! Beku had not defended himself at all, and his left arm shattered to the point that it was almost completely severed from his body. His ribs also snapped.
“You!” Giru spat, realizing he had fallen into a trap.
Beku practically flung his entire body at his foe and mustered the last of his strength to swing his right fist at Giru’s throat.
“Beast King Zen Punch.”
Realizing that Beku was using his own life as bait in order to land his counter, Giru used his left fist to gouge out Beku’s right side.
“Lupus Death Blow!” he roared.
His fist was ever so slightly faster than Beku’s.
“Gah?!” Beku cried as blood gushed from his mouth, dyeing his breastplate red.
The two-pronged attack from Giru destroyed the clasps of Beku’s armor, causing both the front and back pieces to fall off him. A moment later, Beku himself collapsed, landing face-first on the ground.
“You’re not the only one with an ace up your sleeve. And that’s precisely why you’re so naive.” Giru grinned, wiping the blood away from the wound where Beku’s Beast King Zen Punch had scratched him.
Beku tried his best to get up. Despite his best efforts, however, he could not get to his feet. It was all he could do to hold himself up on his hands and knees.
“D-Damn it...” he grunted. “Hmm?”
While Beku was down on all fours, a bright red pill fell from his chest. He widened his eyes and gasped.
