Shea and Zew stood side by side, roaring at Garm.
The two beastmen, united in purpose, appeared like a twin-headed beast.
Hobah, leading the Ten Heroic Beasts, shouted. To earn the rewards, including sacred artifacts, they had to fight Beast God Garm, the spiritual foundation of the beastmen's faith.
The condition for receiving the rewards was for Shea and Zew to unleash the divine techniques they had acquired in this temple against Garm. Despite facing a higher god, the treatment of Shea and Zew so far had brought their morale to its peak.
-Shea's stats (simplified ver.)
Thanks to the Ten Heroic Beasts, various buffs were spread. As these spells rained down, Lepe's body shimmered like a heat haze.
"Whew, I'm getting fired up! I never thought I'd get to fight Lord Garm! Crazy Ensemble!!"
Lepe, powered by magic, performed a street performer-like act, playing a trumpet with his mouth, a violin with one hand, and shaking a tambourine with the other. He danced lightly on four timpani that appeared at his feet, using his toes and heels to play them rhythmically.
As he completed the solo performance, musical notes floated around, buffing everyone's stats.
[Lepe's Extra Skill "Crazy Ensemble" Effects]:
Though not a numerical stat increase, Lepe's buff was perfect for the current situation. Thanks to Lepe, the Ten Heroic Beasts had made it through the trials without losing a single member.
'Hohoho, aren't you ready yet?'
Garm, now standing on his hands, looked bored and started bouncing on the stone floor.
'Zew, from the left! Luvanka, join in!!'
With brief instructions, Shea began to run in a curve from the right. Zew, a bit behind, kicked off the stone floor from the left. Luvanka started moving towards Garm, positioned between the two.
Shea, the first to move, reached Garm, who was jumping around in a handstand.
'True Demolishing Punch!!' The source of this content ɪs NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt
With no hesitation, Shea aimed her Skill at the face of the God worshipped by beastmen.
'Hmm? What’s this? Here!'
'Impossible!? Nnghhh!!'
Garm, still on his hands, raised one and deftly caught Shea's "True Crushing Blow" with his fingers. Not only did he nullify all its force, but he also didn't move an inch despite being in an unbalanced position.
Zew and Luvanka, advancing, were stunned by the overwhelming difference in power and froze.
'Your bravado is all talk, Shea. I'm disappointed.'
'Ugh! Such strength!?'
Garm, smiling gently, held Shea's hand, his grip so firm that she couldn't push forward or pull back.
The power gap between a Higher God and a beastman was vast.
'Oh well. Since you won't listen, I’ll use only my tail. This should make the trial achievable, right?'
In front of Shea, Garm wagged his two-meter-long tail, offering it as the sole weapon.
Garm abruptly let go of Shea's fist. Shea pulled her hand back, confused by his sudden action, but this was a battle. She couldn't afford to hesitate.
In an instant, Garm’s tail vanished from Shea's sight. The next moment, the tail struck with such speed that it shattered the bones in her left arm, sending her flying.
Seeing Garm's figure rapidly recede, Shea finally understood the sheer force of the blow, which had momentarily stopped her breath.
'I’ll hold him off! Take care of Shea!!'
Realizing Shea had been blown away by Garm, Zew was concerned but continued tracking her with his eyes during the fight. Meanwhile, Luvanka swung his fist at Garm without hesitation.
'What a simple attack. What have you learned from the challenges?'
Garm jumped up, dodging Luvanka's fist by a hair's breadth, and his tail struck sideways, sending Luvanka’s three right arms flying—one exploding, one torn off, and one severely bent.
The tail then deeply embedded into Luvanka's side, sending the 30-meter giant flying to where Shea lay.
'Zew, retreat! We can't win !!'
Realizing they had underestimated Garm's power, Shea decided to strategize.
Shea ordered Zew to create distance from Garm.
'Hohoho, a strategy meeting, is it?'
Garm hopped on one foot, clearly showcasing the overwhelming difference in power.
Even Lepe, always cheerful and optimistic, felt despair at the power difference. The Ten Heroic Beasts gathered around Luvanka.
"Luvanka-sama, I'll heal you."
'Wait, perfect timing. "Beast Blood"!'
With nearly 90% of his Strength depleted in one hit, Luvanka activated his special skill [Beast Blood] again. Fui healed him to full health at that moment, and crimson blood knuckles appeared on Luvanka’s six fists.
'As expected of Beast God Garm. The legend of fighting the Three Combat God Sisters alone was true.'
Luvanka, clenching his fists, couldn't hide his bewilderment.
'Oh, you know that tale? That was eons ago. I’m not as powerful now.'
A million years ago, Beast God Garm fought against the three Combat God Sisters of the God of Creation Elmea, as the leader of God of Law Axilion's Twelve Beast Gods. His prowess in that battle was legendary.
'It’s too late to tell us that now. We’ve already accepted the trial.'
Shea never expected to defeat Garm easily. Without the powerful buffs from Sophie or Rosalina, or the stat-monster Haku, they had still made it through trials of the Mythical Beast Albahar, Beast God Giran, Beast God Cougar, and Wind God Vess to get here.
If Garm acknowledged them, the trial would end. It wasn't a matter of simple determination or spirit.
'My two Divine Techniques seem to weaken the enemy if they connect. Can we use that?'
'Is that true, Brother Zew?'
'Yes, my [Tiger God Soft Destruction Palm] reduces the opponent’s Endurance.'
Zew explained that he had acquired Divine Techniques and Blessings on the second and third floors. His Divine Technique from the second floor significantly reduced the enemy’s Endurance.
'What are the activation conditions?'
'10 consecutive hits. [Bear God Shattering Strike] activates at 20 hits and reduces all stats.'
'I see. It’s the same as the Divine Techniques I obtained.'
If they attacked 10 times, the activation conditions would be met. Additionally, the divine technique [Bear God Shattering Strike], obtained on the third floor, reduced all stats.
-Shea's Divine Techniques:
Zew's Divine Techniques:
'I see. We weaken him and then deliver a decisive blow. It’ll require many hits, but it should work, right?'
"For Lord Zew, we will."
Hobah answered Shea's gaze. They were vastly outmatched, but they had to fight.
'Please fight for us.'
"We will follow your command!!"
Zew asked again, and Hobah answered with full commitment.
'If you’re ready, raise your speed.'
They equipped the front-liners with speed-focused gear. Defense was meaningless against Garm's overwhelming power.
Holy Beast Sage Fui, Music Beast Emperor Lepe, and Magic Beast Emperor Rato would support and heal, not being part of the combo.
'Are you ready yet? If the effects wear off, there's no redo. I'm getting bored.'
Garm balanced on his head, adjusting his center of gravity with his tail. Shea shifted her gaze from the frivolous Garm to Luvanka.
'Now is the time to use the power granted by Wind God Vess, isn't it?'
'[Storm Beast Mode], huh? Indeed, we don’t know what it will do, but we must try.'
Luvanka responded to Shea's query.
The final trial against Beast God Garm was about to commence, with Shea, Zew, Luvanka, and the Ten Heroic Beasts ready to unleash everything they had.
T/N - Sorry everyone, an error popped up yesterday so I couldn't update in time. I will try to stay on schedule.