Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~
chapter-493

The Dragon King Matildora and the hero Astel disappeared inside a column of light.

"They used their Divine Technique."

'Gyau.'

Kurena understood what happened. They had found Divine Techniques for Cecile and Kasagoma, but none for Kurena. Allen had been searching for more, but had not found any yet.

'...Yes, we were the strongest once. Let's win, partner, and we'll visit the divine realm together.'

The Dragon King spoke with Astel.

"Yeah, let's do so."

The Dragon King spread his enormous wings and began flying, talking emotively with Astel.

"I won't let you!"

If they got higher than Haku it would be harder to attack, so Kurena attacked before they got too high. But Astel instantly noticed that.

"Hmph! True Phoenix Spear!!"

'Gyau?!'

The shockwave from the spear hit Haku tens of meters away, but he managed to regain his balance.

"I see, so new dragons and riders are weak to ranged attacks. Matil, use your breath while we gain distance."

Astel had determined their abilities with that interaction. The Dragon King was large and had heavy movements, while Haku was smaller and had to get close to attack.

'Don't think you can beat us just because you defeated Lord Megadeth!! Grahhhh!!'

The Dragon King used his breath attack. Haku tried to hide behind a column, but the breath was so powerful it began to melt the stone.

"Haku, stop their movements."

If they kept trying to defend, the Dragon King's breath would kill them.

'Gya grahhhh!!!'

Haku also unleashed his breath attack, using [Dimension Breath].

The Dragon King and Astel were caught in it, but Astel's earring began to glow purple.

"So that's the power you gained by defeating Megadeth. Are you okay Matil?"

"Hmm…I wouldn't say I'm okay, I'm just slower."

Astel's equipment protected him, and the Dragon King had a Resistance.

"The Dragon King is slower, go around and try to evade the spear attack."

'Gyau! I'll do that!!'

Kurena gave orders to evade the Dragon King's breath while firmly grasping Haku's reins.

Astel got ready to attack while Haku flew around to evade the Dragon King's breath.

"Yahhhh!!"

Clink

Haku moved skillfully to bring Astel to Kurena's reach. and soon her greatsword was locked with his orichalcum spear.

"Ghuh?! S-so much pressure!!"

After all her training and equipment strengthening, Kurena's power overwhelmed Astel.

He grit his teeth as Kurena pushed back on him.

'Hm? Astel, are you alright?!!'

The Dragon King twisted his body to move Astel out of the way, and made Kurena lose balance.

Astel used that opening to swat her greatsword away and kicked her, sending her flying back.

'Mama!!'

She was sent flying a large distance and Haku desperately flew after her.

"Kurena is a mighty Rider, we can't let the fight get drawn out."

He already understood how powerful Kurena was.

'I see. Let's end the fight then!'

Even after 3000 years the Dragon King still understood what Astel wanted to do instantly.

Their bodies began to glow and multiple geometrical shapes appeared on his spear.

All the light then concentrated on the tip of his spear.

"Dragon Spear!!"

'Dragon Spear!!'

The two activated their Divine Technique at the same time. Astel firmly grasped his reins and aimed his spear, throwing it at Kurena with all his force.

The spear reached Kurena faster than Haku did.

"...Ghuh."

Kurena knew an attack would come, so she held her greatsword ready to block.

The spear traveled in the blink of an eye, and when it hit the blade a crack appeared on it.

Clink

The orichalcum greatsword Habarak had empowered could not resist the attack, and the spear went through heading closer to Kurena's torso, shattering her armor and impaling her.

Her body flew back even more and stopped moving.

The impact was too harsh and her vision started to dim.

'Mamaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!'

Haku continued flying towards her, noticing she was only barely breathing now.

'Hm? She's still alive!'

The Dragon King noticed that had not been enough to kill her yet.

"I guess she dodged. I'm sure I aimed at her heart though…"

Astel was shocked to see she was still alive.

'But it won't be for much longer, I'll finish her!! Grahhhh!!'

The Dragon King did not stop his attacks, using his breath again.

'Mama!!'

The columns and floor became red hot while Haku wrapped Kurena in his wings.

She was still under the effect of [Limit Break] so her Strength was recovering.

If she lasted just a bit longer she would revive, but the Dragon King kept attacking.

Haku's wings began to burn and break apart. Meanwhile the Dragon King spread his wings and began flying higher.

'I'll crush you and your Rider, weak dragon!!'

The enormous Dragon King closed his claws around Haku and Kurena to crush them.

He would not relent until they stopped moving completely.

'Ngyuahhh!!'

Haku cried loudly as he kept protecting Kurena. His arms and legs started cracking.

The Dragon King kept stomping on them, crushing Haku's bones, but he did not leave Kurena.

"...Ha-Haku?"

Kurena woke up as Haku's tears fell on her face.

'Dragon Beat…'

In his suffering, Haku used the Skill Kurena told him not to use.

Haku's eyes snapped open with a red glow. His gentle nature vanished and his body quickly recovered, before his muscles started swelling up.

'Hm?'

The Dragon King noticed the change instantly.

"What? Matil, the dragon is getting bigger!!"

Astel also noticed it. Haku was being crushed under the Dragon King, but now he grew larger and larger until he became the same size as the Dragon King.

"H-Haku! Stop! You'll run out of control!!"

He could no longer hear Kurena's voice.

"Matil, step back!"

'I-I know. Ghuh?!'

The Dragon King tried to fly away, but Haku bit his tail and shook his head, sending the Dragon King's body flying away while tearing off his tail.

'Graaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwrrrrrrrrr!!'

Haku threw the torn off tail, his mouth filled with blood, and then his throat began to glow.

He used his breath attack, which looked more like a light beam. It hit the Dragon King, who shouted loudly as his body was sent flying further back, crashing through two columns and the impact being felt in the entire temple.

Haku's Awakened Skill [Dragon Beat] changed Haku's appearance and power.

[Name]: Haku

[Species]: Dimension Dragon

[Form]: Adult

[Rank]: Demigod

[Level]: 90

[Strength]: 61246 + 40000 (Dragon Claw)

[Mana]: 44846 + 40000

[Attack]: 77646 + 40000

[Endurance]: 61256 + 40000

[Agility]: 77646 + 40000

[Intelligence]: 41726

[Luck]: 41748 + 40000

[Special Skills] Dimension Turbulence, Hellfreeze, Flames of Demise, Chewing, Tearing, Stomping, Presence Sensing (9), Dragon Eye (4), Breath Resistance, Magic Resistance (9), Physical Resistance (9)

[Awakened Skill] Dragon Beat

Even with his tail torn apart and burnt by the breath, the Dragon King's spirit did not waver, charging at Haku trying to tear him apart.

'I've been amassing my power for 3000 years for this day alone! I'll win graaaaahhhhhh!!'

The Dragon King continued trying to kill Haku, his claws tearing through columns and cracking the floor. But their difference in strength was clear, Haku's claws easily tearing the Dragon King's wings and ravaging his body with cuts.

Meanwhile Kurena began pulling out the spear from her torso.

"Gh…ghuh?!"

Astel jumped off the Dragon King's back and approached her.

"I'm sorry, we surrender. Please stop your dragon."

Astel realized they had no way to win against Haku in that state.

'Wha-?! Why do you give up? We can still win, I've been waiting for-'

The Dragon King had noticed what Astel was doing, even while he fought.

"We already lost so many lives, why would you waste yours as well?"

Astel felt like there was something more important than winning or the divine realm now.

The Dragon King's body was bathed in blood, barely in a state to fight.

"Yeah, we need to end this."

Kurena understood what she had to do. She climbed on Haku's back and ran all the way up his neck.

'Grrrr!!'

"Haku, I told you to not do this!!"

Haku's crazed eyes shifted from the Dragon King to Kurena.

As he watched her standing on his nose, the red glow slowly vanished, returning to his usual gentle eyes.

He consciously deactivated [Dragon Beat].

'I was so close. Just a bit more and I was there…'

The Dragon King hung his head, realizing he had lost.

"I know. We said we'd go look at the world together, but our dream already ended back then."

'This is ridiculous. There's no way we can win against such a foe.'

The Dragon King looked terrified, wondering why Megadeth had allowed this to happen.

"...Matil."

'I just wanted to gain power from the divine realm and bring you back…'

Astel was shocked hearing what the Dragon King really wanted to accomplish.

Large tears formed on the Dragon King's eyes as he realized his dream was no more.

And so the battle came to a close, with Kurena and Haku being the victors.