Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~
chapter-436

The prison was quite large, probably made to fit monsters too.

Peromus turned around and noticed a figure looking at him.

"Are you Lord Bek?"

After taking a deep breath, he spoke to the beastman in the cell.

He had no legs or arms, and his neck was tied firmly with a chain, but Peromus had noticed his glance and recognized him.

That was thanks to all the stories Shea told about him.

"So you know of me. Who are you?"

Bek had been watching silently ever since Peromus was brought to the cell.

He felt bad for the merman, but it turned out the merman knew who Bek was.

"I got caught. We were searching for you."

Saying that, Peromus went further inside the cell to where Bek was.

It was clear Bek had been there for a long time.

The wounds on his limbs looked foul, a rotten odor coming from them.

"I see. I guess it makes sense. Who led the search?"

As Bek spoke, Peromus recalled even more of the stories Shea told.

She had described Bek as looking more like an actual beast, than a beastman.

His gaze was just like an animal's, and his mouth lined with fangs that could devour anything.

It was said that Beast King Muza had beget a beast three decades ago.

The palace had been in an uproar due to how beastly Bek looked.

Lud had mentioned that many were also celebrating, believing Muza had brought forth a new age for beastmen.

The founder of Albahar was said to be a descendant of the Beast God Garm.

Founded by a half god and half beast, the people of Albahar believed that the closer to a beast one looked, the stronger they would be.

Throughout its history, the more beastly Albahar's ruler looked, the more satisfied the people were.

There were many beastmen countries in the Garresia continent, and many of their rulers were descendants of Garm.

Sometimes a prince with strong beast traits like Bek would be born.

It was said that Gil from Brysen, who had defeated Bek time and time again, also looked like a beast.

Those rare times someone was born with strong bestial features were considered the best for a country.

There had been many times when countries rose to fame, and then declined the next generation in Garresia.

The beastmen were proud of Bek and Gil's fights, calling it a fight of the Beast God.

"Well, Shea is looking for you."

Bek wanted to know who was searching for him, so Peromus answered Shea.

It would be weird to lie and say it was Prince Zew, so he answered honestly.

"Shea?"

Bek bared his fangs, hearing Shea being called so casually.

"I apologize, Princess Shea is searching for you."

Peromus was also part of Allen's Abandoned Gamers party.

Everyone there considered each other friends.

It was a strange party too, with multiple members of royalty from various countries.

Peromus was a peasant, the son of a small village's mayor, while Sophie and Shea were princesses, so at first he spoke to them politely.

Shea told him there was no need for that.

Peromus was a skilled merchant, so that was a bit hard for him.

At first he struggled talking with Shea, but eventually he got used to it.

In a way, that was a testament to Shea's insistence.

"I see, so it was her... Did Ignomas start his invasion of the surface yet?"

Bek looked at Peromus, and after swatting away some thoughts, he asked what the current situation was.

"No, not yet."

Peromus answered, continuing the conversation.

The guards noticed they were talking, but since they were not making a mess they let them be.

"I see. Ah right, they still had that event."

"Yes, that's happening tomorrow. I have to go back somehow."

Peromus reviewed his situation.

He did not know where he was, but at least there seemed to be air.

That meant he would not die if he turned back to a human.

But Sinorom had mentioned using him as a test subject after the event.

If Kyubel or Sinorom came back, it would not take him long to die.

There had been no windows in the corridors leading there.

There were none in the cell either.

He could not check where he was.

Bek hated humans.

There was a possibility he would see Peromus as an enemy if he turned back to human.

Peromus felt like he would be sent straight to the afterlife if Bek bared his fangs at him.

He was also curious about Kyubel and Sinorom's conversation.

They had mentioned a teleportation spot, and a Sacred Beast Stone.

It was clear the Demon King's Army was planning on doing something tomorrow.

Thinking that, Peromus turned to look at Bek.

He wanted to know what Bek knew.

"Apparently the Evil God is sealed under Patlanta. My blood is needed to undo the seal."

Peromus realized that Bek had also been deceived by Sinorom.

"So that's the resurrection of the Evil God. Do you know what the Sacred Beast Stone is?"

"Sacred Beast Stone? No, I don't know that."

Sinorom had also mentioned something about a Sacred Beast Stone.

"I have to escape, I can't let that happen."

He started checking his magic bag, which had not been taken from him.

That was a special magic device built by Larappa.

[Items inside the magic bag]:

-Adamantite dagger (Attack 2000)

-Gold Bean x100

-Silver Bean x100

-Heaven's Blessing x200

-Mana Seed x200

-Life Leaf x200

-Aromatic Vegetable x50

-Rings and Necklaces of all sorts

-Water and Food rations for 10 days

-A magic device to light fire and torches

-A magic device watch

-Various other miscellaneous survival items.

"You haven't given up yet then. But I see, so Shea came too."

"Yes. Let's find a way to escape, and wait for the right time."

Bek nodded slowly hearing Peromus' whispers so the guards did not notice.

＊＊＊

Peromus spent the night in the cell, and it was 7 in the morning the next day.

He had spent the night pretending to be depressed, and checked the guards' reaction to asking for help.

'I'll go grab something to eat.'

No one knew what demons ate, but one of the guards left the room saying that.

"U-umm, I'm really hungry too. I haven't eaten since yesterday…"

Bek had told him that they only fed him the bare minimum to keep him alive.

'Huh? Shut up idiot. At least try to understand where you are!!'

The guard that stayed back thundered at Peromus.

When he was done shouting, he looked back, not paying any more attention.

Seeing that the guard was not looking, Peromus went back to Bek.

"Let's get started then. I'll use a Heaven's Blessing."

There were two guards, but sometimes one would take a break or go eat.

It was almost 7.

The event would start at 9.

His chances to escape grew thinner by the hour.

Peromus spoke with a very low voice so no one else could hear it.

Heaven's Blessing vanished like a bubble of light, and Bek's lost limbs quickly grew back.

"Is…is this real?!"

Bek knew the plan, but he was still a little doubtful.

He only knew of elves who could perform such healing miracles.

"I'll put the rings and necklace on now. First your hands, now your neck. Try breaking the chains now."

Peromus made Bek wear two rings that increased Attack by 5000, and a necklace that increased Attack by 3000.

A mythril chain was keeping Bek tied to the ground.

The plan was to increase Bek's Attack to break free.

'Hey you two, what are you doing?!'

The demon guard noticed them and quickly began opening the cell.

"Hurry, break the chains!"

"Hum!"

Creak creak

Bek began to stand up, even though he was tied by the short chain to the ground.

The chains were unable to bear that weight, creaking and stretching.

At the same time, the guard that was left hurried to enter the cell.

'Idiot!!'

The guard pointed something at the creaking chains.

"Huh?"

"Wha-?! I can't…move…"

Bzzzzttt

The chains were about to break when something like electricity flowed into them.

Basque fell down with no strength left.

He was still conscious but could not move.

'Professor Sinorom is a genius. Thankfully we had that security device. And you!!'

The guard activated the security device at the last second, paralyzing Bek.

"Ghuh!!"

The guard punched Peromus in the stomach.

He was flung to the cell's mythril bars, and then the guard continuously kicked him.

'I'll kill you! I'll just tell Sinorom that you wouldn't keep still!!'

Thud

Thud

"Gyahhhh!!"

The demon's feet cracked the stone floor as he continued stomping on Peromus.

With each hit Peromus' consciousness faded, and in the end he saw Fiona's smile.

He had come to Prostia so he could see Fiona smile at him for once.

The Sacred Bead was just one step away.

Peromus still wanted to return and see her again.

As his life neared its end, he slowly gathered courage.

While Peromus calmed down and thought of a plan, the guard finally noticed something.

For some reason that flopping merman was not dying.

He had been annoying all the time, but the first hit should have been enough to kill any merman.

"Wh-what is that equipment?!"

Peromus' armor he obtained in the S Rank Dungeon's last floor became visible underneath his tattered clothes.

That and his other equipment gave him an overwhelming amount of Endurance.

He focused to desperately not lose consciousness, taking out an Aromatic Vegetable from his bag.

There was no point in him using a Heaven's Blessing now, even if he was nearing death.

Using an Aromatic Vegetable was more important.

The Aromatic Vegetable vanished in a light bubble.

Peromus and Bek's bodies, the targets of the item, began glowing softly.

Creak creak

Freed from paralysis, Bek silently stood up again, this time succeeding in tearing the chains from the floor.

"Hahah, we won."

Peromus announced through his bloodied face.

'Wha-!! D-damn you!!'

Bek gathered strength in his fist.

"Hmph!!"

The guards' cheek met a fist as he tried to turn around.

His head separated from his neck, flying to the cell's wall and popping like a melon.

All the noise made the other guard that had left return to the room.

'What are you doing!! Rahhhhhh!!'

The other guard rushed into the cell trying to attack them.

"Hmph!!"

Bek jumped at him and kicked him, flying at high speed through the large room.

The demon's body split at his torso, gore flying all over the cell.

His lower body continued running for a while, spilling the recently consumed food everywhere.

"Y-you're so strong. I couldn't even follow your movements."

Peromus was left shocked witnessing that much power, even though Bek was barehanded.

"No, it's all thanks to this incredible necklace and rings. Still, I'm not in my best shape… Do you have any food in that bag of yours?"

The rings and necklaces from the S Rank Dungeon were quite rare in Albahar.

Bek's body had recovered, but he still felt like he lacked some strength.

He had only been fed the bare minimum for months, which had debilitated him.

As he moved around, he could feel some emptiness in his stomach.

"P-please call me Peroniki. You can have this, Lord Bek."

Peromus decided to use his fake name.

Peromus took out a large piece of dried meat from the magic bag, which was promptly devoured by the beast-like jaws of Bek.

"Oh, that's quite an incredible magic device."

Bek quickly understood that it was no ordinary bag.

"Yes, I got it from a friend."

"You have good friends then."

It looked like a regular bag too, which made it even more useful.

A friend that prepared such items had to be an impressive person.

And seeing Peromus, he also realized that Shea had good friends too.

After the long fasting period, every bite Bek ate restored his fighting spirit.

In the end, almost all the food inside the bag ended in Bek's stomach.

Peromus was shocked that he could eat so easily while the remains of demons were splattered around.

"Have some water too."

"Thanks, I should be able to muster all my strength now. I'll make sure to repay this favor, Peroniki."

Bek finished drinking the water from the leather waterskin Peromus gave him, recovering his strength.

Full of vigor, he knew another fight was approaching.

They had spoken a bit about Bek's stripped title of crown prince the night before.

"We'll talk more about that once we get out."

There were no windows, but Peromus remembered coming from a room with a weird device when he was brought in.

It was the same teleportation device he saw in dungeons, so he felt that was the best place to escape.

"Right."

'Wha-?! Everyone, the sacrifice has escaped!!'

Another demon had noticed the situation.

Many footsteps gathered and headed their way.

"Well, let's go then Peroniki. I'll clear the path!!"

"Let's get out of here!!"

Having recovered physically and mentally, Bek rushed out.

Together, they mowed down all the demons in their path.