Hell Mode: Volume 5, page 6
The next morning, Allen was making some Blessings of Heaven to leave with his family when Dogora came up to him.
Allen looked up from his work. “Hm? You’re up early.”
“’S not like I have anything to do.”
“Yeah?” Did he manage to tell his parents that he’s become a knight of House Hamilton?
While they were in the royal capital, the rewards for the No-life Gamers had been decided. Keel had his house and title restored, of course, and Krena was granted the title of honorary baron as she had graduated from the Academy. In addition, Cecil had the taxes lowered for the realm of Granvelle and Dogora was knighted in service of House Hamilton. Although he had fought alongside Krena, as Axe User was only a one-star Talent, his achievements in the Rohzenheim war proved insufficient to merit him a title of his own.
However, his reward was by no means trivial. Normally, commoners who wanted to become a knight had to graduate from the Academy then perform numerous noteworthy feats on the battlefield to build up their reputations before even being considered for the knighthood. Dogora’s appointment had led to breaking quite a few regulations. Add to this the fact that the prestige of knights themselves depended on the status of the nobles they served—for example, the royal guards who served the king were considered the most eminent in the country, whereas the knights of a baron were considered the lowest in rank. Given that Dogora was now the knight of a count, it was then obvious that he had indeed been rewarded handsomely.
This particular arrangement had happened largely thanks to Viscount Granvelle; this avoided making Dogora subordinate to a fellow party member as he would have been had either House Granvelle or House Carnel taken him as their knight.
The last Ratashian member of the Gamers—Allen—had turned down any reward for himself. He asserted that Rohzenheim had already more than sufficiently rewarded him.
Which reminds me, has Dogora given his dad the hammer yet?
Back when the party was buying food ingredients and alcohol in the capital, Dogora had also picked up a blacksmithing hammer, calling it a souvenir for his family. It was clearly meant to be a present for his father, a weapons merchant who smithed his own goods.
“Oh, everyone’s here already.”
By the time Cecil finished getting ready and came down, she found the rest of the party gathered in the dining room. They then ate breakfast together before heading out. Krena’s, Dogora’s, and Allen’s parents saw them off at the village gate.
“Be very, very careful,” Rodin warned.
Allen nodded. “I will, father. And you look forward to tasting white dragon meat tonight.”
Rodin fell silent. Seeing the worry on his parent’s faces, Allen wondered if he ought to have just gone ahead without telling them anything.
A short distance away from the village gate, the Gamers mounted Beast Bs and made their way toward the White Dragon Mountains. As they approached, Allen double-checked his holders.
It’s about time I adjust my cards, especially since everyone’s back up to Lvl. 45 now.
* * *
Name: Allen
Age: 14
Class: Summoner
Level: 76
HP: 2,315
MP: 3,660
Attack: 1,284 + 2,000
Endurance: 1,284 + 4,000
Agility: 2,391 + 5,550
Intelligence: 3,670 + 1,550
Luck: 2,391
Skills: Summoning {7}, Creation {7}, Synthesis {7}, Strengthening {7}, Awakening {7}, Expansion {6}, Storage, Sharing, Quick Summoning, Deputize, Deletion, Sword Mastery {3}, Throwing {3}
Equipment
Ring 1: +1,000 Attack
Ring 2: +1,000 Attack
Adamantite Sword: +2,500 Attack
Black Dragon Cape: +3,000 Endurance, Breath Damage Resistance (Mid)
* * *
Name: Krena
Age: 14
Class: Sword King
Level: 45
HP: 2,980 + 1,200
MP: 1,269
Attack: 2,980 + 1,200
Endurance: 2,616 + 1,200
Agility: 1,924 + 1,200
Intelligence: 1,279
Luck: 1,286 + 1,200
Skills: Sword King {4}, Slash {4}, Cosmic Smash {4}, Flowing Slash {4}, Stoutness {1}, Sword Mastery {6}
Extra Skill: Limit Break
Equipment
Ring 1: +1,000 Attack
Ring 2: +1,000 Attack
Adamantite Greatsword: +3,500 Attack
Adamantite Armor: +3,000 Endurance
* * *
Name: Cecil Granvelle
Age: 14
Class: Archwizardess
Level: 45
HP: 1,614 + 900
MP: 2,628 + 900
Attack: 946
Endurance: 1,037
Agility: 1,654 + 900
Intelligence: 2,955 + 900
Luck: 1,624
Skills: Archwizardry {4}, Fire {4}, Ice {4}, Earth {4}, Sapience {1}, Sparring {3}
Extra Skill: Petit Meteor
Equipment
Ring 1: +1,000 Intelligence
Ring 2: +1,000 Intelligence
Rod of the Wise: +4,000 Intelligence, +10% Magical Damage
Robe of the Wise: +3,000 Endurance, Magical Damage Resistance (Mid)
* * *
Name: Dogora
Age: 14
Class: Berserker
Level: 45
HP: 1,805
MP: 1,062
Attack: 2,631 + 600
Endurance: 1,365 + 600
Agility: 1,110 + 600
Intelligence: 813
Luck: 1,184
Skills: Berserker {4}, Full Might {4}, Thunder Strike {4}, Caution to the Wind {4}, Resolve {1}, Axe Mastery {6}, Shield Mastery {2}
Extra Skill: Heart and Soul
Equipment
Ring 1: +1,000 Attack
Ring 2: +1,000 Agility
Adamantite Greataxe: +4,000 Attack
Adamantite Large Shield: +3,000 Endurance
Adamantite Armor: +3,000 Endurance
* * *
Name: Keel von Carnel
Age: 14
Class: Saint
Level: 45
HP: 971
MP: 1,865 + 600
Attack: 743
Endurance: 1,036
Agility: 1,185
Intelligence: 1629 + 600
Luck: 1,491 + 600
Skills: Saint {4}, Healing {4}, Poison Coat {1}, Breath Coat {1}, Belief {1}, Sword Mastery {3}
Extra Skill: Drops of God
Equipment
Ring 1: +1,000 HP
Ring 2: +1,000 Intelligence
Rod of the Saint: +1,000 MP, +1,000 Intelligence, +10% Healing
Vestment of the Saint: +2,000 Endurance, Breath Damage Resistance (Mid), Poison Resistance (Mid)
* * *
Name: Sophialohne
Age: 48
Blessing: God of Spirits
Class: Spirit Wizardess
Level: 45
HP: 1,154 + 600
MP: 2,043 + 600
Attack: 827
Endurance: 813
Agility: 1,170
Intelligence: 2,212 + 600
Luck: 992
Skills: Grand Spirit {4}, Fire {4}, Water {4}, Wind {4}, Aura {1}
Extra Skill: Grand Spirit Manifestation
Equipment
Ring 1: +1,000 MP
Ring 2: +1,000 Endurance
Rod of the Spirit of Words: +4,000 MP
Raiment of Spirits: +2,000 MP, +3,000 Endurance, Breath Damage Resistance (Mid)
* * *
Name: Volmaar
Age: 68
Class: Bow Master
Level: 45
HP: 1,633 + 600
MP: 889
Attack: 1,415 + 600
Endurance: 1,406
Agility: 907 + 600
Intelligence: 599
Luck: 969
Skills: Bow Master {4}, Keen Sight {4}, Drizzle Shot {4}, Aim {4}, Core {1}, Bow Mastery {6}
Extra Skill: Arrow of Light
Equipment
Ring 1: +1,000 MP
Ring 2: +1,000 Attack
Adamantite Greatbow: +3,800 Attack
Garment of the Protector: +3,000 Endurance, +1,000 Agility
* * *
While Allen had not been able to promote his class like his companions, the rate at which his stats increased had doubled ever since he reached Lvl. 61. He was currently focusing on raising his class skills to Lvl. 8, as he had a large stock of Rank B magic stones and could therefore freely redistribute his Summons without worrying about rationing his stones. A certain number of card slots were currently occupied by Dragon Bs and Insect As still in Rohzenheim helping mop up the Demon Lord Army’s last dregs.
The moment Allen had arrived in Rodin Village, he had sent out several Spirit Bs to wipe out all of the goblin and orc villages in the area, ordering them to prioritize saving any hostages they discovered. To that end, he had made all of the Ellies take a few Blessings of Heaven with them.
The Summons were still going around at that very moment, tirelessly searching out and eliminating targets. Back when Allen had been a manservant for House Granvelle, he had almost completely rid the realm of goblins and orcs. However, new settlements had sprung up again during his time at the Academy. There was no good reason to keep them around and plenty of reasons to get rid of them, including the threat they posed to the villagers and the fact that they ate the great boars the villagers hunted.
Looks like the Spirit Bs still need a bit more time, even though they’ve gone through quite a lot already. Oh hey, maybe after we finish killing the white dragon, I can have them do some pest control for all of Carnel too.
The thoughts continued whirling furiously in Allen’s mind as he and his companions approached the peaks of the White Dragon Mountains. They soon flew over and headed straight for the white dragon’s nest, which Allen had already located ahead of time using Bird E’s Farsight. Even now, the Summon was hovering hundreds of meters up in the sky, its eyes trained on the dragon.
Allen, who was Sharing with the Bird E, studied the creature, noting its ruby-red eyes, which stood out starkly against pure white scales, and its powerful, muscular body. He wondered whether it could actually fly with how big and heavy it looked.
We’ve fought dragons before, both in dungeons and the war, but this one’s about twice the size of any we’ve seen so far. Is this normal for wild dragons? Like how wild-caught fish are different from farm-raised? The monsters we faced in Rohzenheim were all roughly the same size as others of their kind. Do monsters created by dungeon masters come in standard sizes? Or do all white dragons grow this large? Or is this one an outlier who got to be this big from living for so long in these mountains?
Allen’s mind was running at full speed as he and his party drew closer to the beast.
It isn’t running away, hiding, or attacking us. Interesting.
The Bird Bs they were riding flew directly above as if to pass over the white dragon, then circled around as they got closer, landing so that the dragon was sandwiched between the No-life Gamers and the mountain. They did this to ensure that no stray attacks would fly toward the capital or other settlements in Carnel once the fighting began.
When the group was close enough to see the dragon’s face with their own eyes, it opened its mouth and said in a low, rumbling voice, “It appears I have some bizarre guests. Who are you?” It apparently found the elephant-sized flying mounts and their riders a mystifying sight.
“It’s talking to us,” Cecil told Allen, whom she was riding with.
Before Allen could answer, the beast cut in. “Is it so strange for a dragon to speak?”
So it’s got incredibly keen eyes and ears. Probably safe to assume that the rest of its senses are just as sharp.
“How about you try introducing yourself?” Allen suggested jokingly.
“Who, me?” Cecil pointed at herself.
“You’re the daughter of House Granvelle, after all. Or I guess Keel could do it too.”
After discussing with Keel who would be going first, Cecil announced in a loud voice, “I am Cecil Granvelle. We have come to slay you, dragon!”
“And I’m Keel von Carnel,” Keel added. “I won’t allow you to continue making a mess of my realm.”
“So, Granvelle and Carnel have joined forces to kill me! I’ve been waiting!” Upon hearing Cecil’s and Keel’s names, the white dragon let out a roar that shook the mountains. It then began charging toward the No-life Gamers with a thunderous gait. At the same time, it began to flap the wings on its back that seemed far too small for its size.
So, it’s capable of speech, but the pacifist route isn’t an option. Is it overreacting to the word “slay”? Aww, and I wanted to introduce myself too.
Swallowing his disappointment, Allen turned to his party and shouted, “Maintain a safe distance and watch out for any Breath Attacks! Especially those of you in the rear!”
“I’ve been waiting! I’ve been waiting for sooo looong!” the dragon growled softly with a toothy grin, rolling the words around in its mouth with a deafening note of yearning as it continued barreling toward the group. The tremors shook the ground and sent flocks of birds bursting from the canopy of the expansive forest that lay at the foot of the mountain. Other monsters made a mad dash for the plains beyond.
Noticing how the dragon was flapping its wings faster and faster, Allen shouted, “Krena! Dogora! It’s trying to fly. Stop it!”
“Okay!” Krena replied.
Dogora nodded. “We’ve got it!”
If the white dragon managed to take to the air, it could begin attacking the Beast Bs and their riders. The vanguard rushed in to prevent that from happening.
It looks like Dogora still isn’t very used to using his shield, but he’s managing thanks to his Griff.
It was taking the boy all he had to handle both his greataxe and shield, the latter of which was still messing with his balance due to his unfamiliarity with it. He was doing admirably anyway, as his Bird B was doing its best to position itself to make it easier for Dogora to attack and defend. The griffin was capable of flying at its usual speed in spite of its increased load and was intelligent enough to doggedly stay in the dragon’s blind spot, making the beast run circles around itself.
“Hmph! Impudent!”
Just as the white dragon started puffing out its chest, the base of its throat swelled up with a bulge that quickly climbed up its neck. Flames then began spilling from gaps between its sharp fangs.
“Cecil, Ice Magic!”
“On it!”
Cecil called forth a shard of ice that ballooned to the size of a Bird B. When she received her class promotion, the four magical elements she was able to wield had been randomly selected again; now she could cast Ice Magic when she could not before.
Man, this promotion just keeps giving and giving.
As a mage raised their level and skill level, they would eventually gain four elemental magical skills. This included those who use spirit magic like Sophie. Back when Cecil and Sophie had been reverted to Lvl. 1, the elements that they started with had been the same as the ones they had before; it was only after they leveled up that it became clear that undergoing a class promotion meant getting to redraw all four elements. There was no way to determine if everything was truly random, but it was clear that gaining access to new elements meant having greater variety in battle strategies.
When Cecil thrust her hands out, the hovering hunk of ice shot toward the white dragon’s face. However, the beast unleashed its Breath Attack with a jerk of its chin, blasting its flames at the icicle and evaporating it in the blink of an eye.
I guess at Lvl. 45, her spells are still too weak to stop the white dragon’s Breath Attack.
All of the No-life Gamers now possessed Talents one star higher than before. They had started over again from Lvl. 1, having inherited half the previously maxed-out stats of their former classes. Now that they were Lvl. 45 with their new classes, they were actually quite a bit more powerful than they had been before the promotion. As it turned out, though, this was still insufficient to completely negate a Breath Attack—at her current strength, Cecil could only delay it for a second. The next moment, the dragon swung its head, redirecting its attack toward Krena and Dogora.
“Dodge!” Allen barked, prompting the Bird Bs that the other two were riding to abruptly evade.
It was not long before the Breath Attack fizzled out, but the white dragon was already gearing up to unleash another one.
“Volmaar, aim Arrow of Light at its mouth!”
“Understood!”
Immediately following Allen’s order, the elf started activating his Extra Skill. If the dragon’s Breath Attack was powerful enough to instantaneously vaporize a massive block of ice, what it was capable of doing to Sophie was too much to bear thinking about. Even had Allen not ordered him to, Volmaar fully intended to use Arrow of Light then and there.
The dragon pulled back its head and arched its neck as the bulge rose to its throat. The instant it opened its mouth, Volmaar’s brilliant, shining arrow flew straight in.
“Gwuah?!”
The impact of the arrow jerked the dragon’s head and made the beast stumble backward a few steps. The Breath Attack died in its throat, with a few rogue wisps of flame leaking from its lips. Taking full advantage of this opening, Krena and Dogora urged their Bird Bs up close and brought their weapons down on their target’s pristine white scales. Sparks flew in accompaniment with loud metallic clangs, but the dragon remained unhurt, only losing a few scales.
The monster then spun around by using its backward momentum to swing its powerful tail at great speed. Dogora, who happened to be in the path of its tail sweep, quickly brought up his shield and braced with both hands. He grunted loudly as he and his Bird B both were blown back all the way to Allen’s position.
