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

Chapter 567: The God of Earth Gaia's Trial

Merle fell asleep from exhaustion, so Allen had to pick her up.

Somehow she still managed to hold on firmly onto a wooden pole.

(She kept working hard even when the summons were gone.)

While Allen was working on the Spirit Paradise, Merle had been busy with the Earth Labyrinth.

"I'll bring Habarak, so you and your men can rest too, Admiral Galara. We'll give you some food too."

Allen tried to get them to rest.

"Oh, alright. That's a big help. Everyone take a break."

"Aye."

"Aye."

"Aye."

They built up their temporary campsite with magic tents. There was also a magic device that served as a water source next to the entrance, to sustain those trying to get through it.

(This might be the hardest dungeon in the divine realm. That's exciting.)

Allen carried Merle into a big room inside the magic tent.

"Graham, you can prepare food together with Cecile and Sophie."

(The tent is too small for Graham though, they should cook outside.)

Graham's head was hitting the ceiling, so they decided to prepare the food outside.

'This brings back old memories.'

Somehow Graham felt like he had more chances to cook now that he was a summon.

"I'll leave things to you here then. I'll bring Habarak here."

"Alright, take care."

Half a day later someone turned the lights on inside the magic tent, likely from someone who just woke up and was heading out.

"I just woke up… Ohh! There's food, and Habarak!"

Galara's sleepy eyes noticed Habarak enjoying some liquor next to the campfire.

Since so much time had passed, they had cooked quite a feast.

"Oh, sorry I already started on my own. Get over here."

(Galara just woke up and he's already drinking. He really is a dwarf.)

Habarak quickly offered a cup to Galara, who happily took it.

"So you ended up coming here too, Habarak."

"Yeah, I did. I never expected I would end up in the actual divine realm."

This was a world that no one in the human realm ever dreamt of ever seeing.

"I know what you mean… Allen, what are you doing?"

"...I'm using my Generation Skill."

Allen gave a direct response. He was churning through the Spirit Stones Ignomas gave him, Generating a Grass G summon and making it use [Taste of Autumn.]

He also used the Bird H summon's Awakened Skill [Golden Egg] to increase his maximum Mana and Spiritual Power, while also recovering 100 Spiritual Power per second.

Galara had some idle time while Cecile and Sophie warmed up the food, so he checked what Allen was doing.

(The rocks here are crazy solid though.)

Allen was using a small flower bed the size of a tea table to Generate that Grass G summon.

"Right…you've always been an odd lad like that. I remember you acting all weird right after we met on the second floor too. I guess you never changed."

Galara had seen Allen doing that in the S Rank Dungeon too. Back then Allen was keeping his Summoner Talent secret, but by now it was something everyone was used to.

He watched in silence, keeping his cup still, as if trying to gather the courage to say something, or trying to decide on it.

Eventually he frowned a little and spoke.

"Allen, are you going to conquer this dungeon too?"

"Not really, I just want to give you a hand for a bit. I'm already planning on going somewhere else. I just thought I could get information about a strong sword around here."

Allen told him why he was there.

"I see. So you want a weapon…"

Galara looked at Habarak, mulling over something.

"Hey, what's gotten into you? If you're still half asleep drink some more."

"Shut up… Thanks…Phewww!!"

"Hey, Allen, Admiral Galara is acting kinda strange."

"I know. He doesn't seem depressed though, so it should be fine."

Galara was drinking strong liquor without hesitation like it was water.

Cecile and Sophie noticed he was acting strange and were worried about him, but they could not tell exactly what it was.

"Oh, if it isn't Habrak."

After a short time, the rest of Galara's party woke up and gathered there. They all took wooden cups and began to drink like it was the most normal thing to do, while munching on the food Cecile had prepared.

Galara watched them do that.

(Maybe Galara got really tired? Oh, Merle is awake too. I don't think she's slept in an entire day though.)

After Galara's party gathered out there, Allen noticed a light turn on in the tent, in the room where he had placed Merle. She took a shower, then got out while her hair was still wet.

"Morning. Ohh, Habarak! Now we can strengthen the shovel in the forging area!!"

"What are you talking about? Is that the reason why I was brought here?"

"Mhm, that's it. We'll find the forge and the materials and…"

"Now now, Merle. We can discuss the details later. Let me talk for a bit first."

Before Merle could get into much detail, the party leader Allen interrupted her.

"Thanks, this is really good. Phewwwwww!!"

Merle soon was drinking from a wooden cup too.

The food Cecile and Sophie made turned into drink snacks, and everyone ate and drank.

Allen had some fruit juice instead, and when everyone was full he spoke again.

"The labyrinth seems to be pretty harsh."

"Yeah…we only got to floor 18."

"That's still something. Just a little more and you'll get to enter Extra Mode."

Allen had lost contact with Merle when the Spirit Paradise issues became serious.

"Ah! We also got this!!"

Merle took out 3 Spirit Crystal Stones and countless Spirit Stones from her magic bag.

"Oh! That's 3 more pulls from the Divine Compass Lottery!!"

Allen felt like his time to reclaim his soiled reputation was coming.

"Aren't those Spirit Crystal Stones? There's ghosts in the dungeon too then?"

"Yeah, a lot of them. That's why it's taking so long."

"Wait, I'm not really up to date here. Could you explain what Gaia's trial is?"

"In simple terms, it's a time attack mode to reach floor 99 in 24 hours. Basically RTA."

"What? What does time attack mean again…? R…what? I'm so confused. Anyway, we'll get a reward at the end of that then? That sounds really different from the God of Swords."

(But it's literally what the words mean…)

"Yes, the Gaia's rewards actually change depending on how far you get. I actually wrote them down in the Grimoire…"

"Gaia, huh… So what are the rewards?"

Allen had learned some of that through the Wraith A summon, which he later got rid of.

It had different rewards depending on how far one got, though a reward could only be obtained once by person.

[Rewards from the God of Earth Gaia's Trial]

-Reaching floor 20: Enter Extra Mode

-Reaching floor 40: Obtain a Divine Technique

-Reaching floor 60: Obtain Earth's Blessing

-Reaching floor 80: Obtain the Divine Artifact [Earth Hammer]

-Reaching floor 99: A wish from God of Earth Gaia

It was a lot simpler compared to the training milestones of the Divine Arena.

(Though it's still a pretty tricky trial.)

"You can actually switch Modes and obtain Divine Artifacts on certain floors."

Merle and Galara's party had managed to reach floor 18, so they were very close to enter Extra Mode.

"I see, so we actually have to conquer this dungeon."

"Pretty much. You can take Merus to help you go faster too."

'Sure.'

Merus' voice was as emotionless as ever.

(Hm? Is something wrong with Merus too? Was it meeting his sister Lupto?)

Merus looked more pensive, making Allen feel like everyone was acting strange lately.

"I'm sorry we couldn't get through it faster."

"But you've already discovered so much about the dungeon already. We'll get all the way to floor 99 eventually."

"Thanks."

Merle seemed disappointed that Allen had already overcome his trial in the Spirit Paradise, while she only got to floor 18.

There was a Wraith A summon with them for half that time, so Allen had also learned a lot about the dungeon.

They would spend the night next to the entrance, and then challenge it again the next day.

"Merus, you've been here before, right?"

'Of course. But I never attempted to reach floor 99 as an angel.'

(I guess that means he knows about the dungeon, but not how to get through it.)

Allen did not know how long the God of Earth Gaia had lived, but Merus had lived for 100000 years, and he knew about the labyrinth, and had likely met Gaia many times.

Allen decided to ask Allen everything he knew about the dungeon, since it could help them now.

The dwarves celebrated Habarak's arrival by drinking late into the night, and then woke up perfectly fine the next day, as if hangovers were inexistent to them.

"Let's get going then."

"Yeah."

Galara was the first to respond, seemingly reinvigorated to enter the dungeon.

The entrance led down a spiral staircase, which led to an enormous floor with a ceiling 1 kilometer tall, and with a clay sculpture in the center. similar to those on the entrance above.

'So you're challenging the Earth Labyrinth's Trial. The God of Earth Gaia awaits after floor 99. Your courage and strength will be tested before you get there.'

As Allen's group got closer, a voice came from the sculpture, even if its mouth remained still.

Their attempt at overcoming the Earth Labyrinth's Trial was about to begin.