Hellmode ~Gamer Who Likes to Speedrun Becomes Peerless in a Parallel World with Obsolete Setting~
Vol. 12 - Ch. 715 - Cecil's Extra Mode

Chapter 714 - An Unclearable Quest

Just as Peromas had thought he finally had his freedom, Dogora shattered his dream promptly.

"Peromas. Your skill can make or break any battle moment. So I want you to be capable enough to face them square, rather than trying to squirrel away. Dogora, and Formar. I am counting on you two to train him well."

"I got it!"

"Leave it to me!"

"What?! Put me down! Didn't you say I can go back to Fiona as soon as we're done, so what's the meaning of this?!!"

"Relax, we're doing this for your own good."

Though he might have participated with a very reluctant heart, and almost cried out in my many situations, they did win the battle by his skill's virtue, which easily pushed Allen to make this decision.

«Are you sure? This is a trial of gods, not anyone can...»

«Hmm? I do not mind it. If anything, I will see how they will handle that burden.»

"Yeah, I am a burden, guys!"

Murai was exasperated at the situation, though Sword God just chuckled it off, seemingly letting the mood decide its course. 

Peromas tried to resist still, but Dogora ignored and brought his hand closer to the void space, disappearing within the moment. 

"Hey, Rosalina also doesn't want to go! Rosalina is tired of all the sweaty training!! Let---ah, stop, Haku! Release me!!"

And there went another reluctant person. Rosalina tried to escape, but she had been on hold of Haku.

"Haku."

«Gaaawwwr.»

«No, stop---gh!!»

Rosalina tried to protest, still wrapped on the bedding like a bagworm. At the signal of Allen, Haku covered the mouth of the rolled mattress with one hand, stopping all the noise from Rosalina. 

Then he turned around, and stretched his neck toward the void space, and just like Dogora, Haku disappeared within the fraction of a second along with Rosalina. 

(Hmm, so the Divine Realm's Arena is the entry to God of Armaments divine territory. Beyond that is the domain of War God Ruminea. And further that is the domain of Creation God Elmea. Well, it's already been two months since Hero took his step for the trial. I wonder which has seen more growth, him, or Cecil?)

From the general trend, it appeared that divine territory of Martial God was accessible through the domain of the rest of the gods. And beyond that was War God. Allen had heard from Merus that it was a setup spread out in a protective circle, with Creation God Elmea at the centre.

Though he was curious about the void space, Allen veered his mind to calculate the reward they might get.

With the addition of reinforcement, the trial should meet its end sooner. It had already been two months since Helmios and Commander Garara were cooperating. The result at the end should definitely be lucrative given the difficulty level of the trial.

«So... now do you have the intention to fight our Supreme Father after Nestirad?»

Sword god peered into Allen's gaze as she saw him probing the void space, and inquired. The earlier smile had long vanished from her expression as she sharply stared at him, like she was assessing an enemy.

"Please refrain from such ludicrous jest, Sword God. If anything, I only feel gratitude for the array of trials Lord Elmea has arranged for us."

«Hmm~... whatever then.»

"Thank you for understanding. And please look after Kurena. Kurena, make sure to train diligently and do not waste this precious time of Sword God."

"I know!"

After the small exchange, Allen left the Divine Realm Arena and set his next destination to be the research facility of Magic Goddess. The aqua color divine territory was in fashion of two pyramids, or to be precise, two pyramids adjoined with their base, forming a six-faced structure as a whole.

Of the 6-facet pyramid structure, the lower half had been the divine territory of Space-time god Desperado, meanwhile the upper half was the research facility of Magic God Isiris. 

The two pyramids were connected by a passageway at the mid-section, making it a common zone. The common Zone was where Allen teleported along with his remaining team members.

"Hey, Allen. We wouldn't be able to meet Venerable Magic Goddess if we're heading downward."

On the common floor---or first floor by floor order, many cube-like objects had been placed around, each meant for their respective teleportation zone.

Some of them could be accessed generally, while some were beyond jurisdiction, but within the things that can be used, Luck realized Allen was heading somewhere other than the Magic God Isiris's laboratory.

"I know, but it's about time to push Cecil into Extra Mode. So we need to bring her with us."

"Oh, yeah."

Cecil was training in the divine territory of Space-Time God, which was located on the lower half of 6-facet pyramid structure. Allen took his steps toward the cube that would lead them to Cecil. 

«This is the Teleportation System leading to the Time-Space Management System, overseen by the God of Time and Space. Entry is strictly prohibited for unauthorized individuals.»

A sudden voice warned Allen. Albeit, this was the response he had been waiting for. 

«I apologize. Could you please relay a message to the God of Time and Space, Desperado? I need to request that Cecil, who is undergoing trials, be summoned. And inform him that I've obtained the heart of the Nestirad, the material that Magic Goddess had wanted.»

This was the only way to contact Cecil, who had been undergoing a trial. Since she was the main character, they couldn't do without her.

«...Please wait a moment. ...initiating contact. ...Contact has been made. Cecil is on her way along with the God of Time and Space. They will be here shortly.»

(Hmm? The Space-Time God is coming along?)

*Whoosh!*

"Geh?! What the---!!"

In an instant, Cecil appears in mid-air within the teleportation magic circle behind the cube-shaped object. It appeared he was made to teleport out of a sudden, as it was apparent from her startled expression and stance. The sudden teleportation gave him no chance to adjust his posture, and ultimately, he ended up crashing onto the teleportation circle.

Cecil clutches the Divine Artifact---the Genesis Demon Staff---and struggles to regain his footing like a newborn fawn as she rubbed her bottom.

"The heck was the meaning of it, for crying out loud?!"

Allen quietly watched the event unfolding, stepping not even to lend a helping hand. He was apparently pondering if he had been the reason for his current state. But promptly after, the creator of this space also teleported behind.

«I am really sorry. I couldn't control the teleportation properly.»

Space-Time God apologised to Cecil with a guilty expression.

(Wow, so like, even the god of very space and time can fail in teleportation?)

"U-Uh, it's fine..."

Initially, Cecil was so incensed she had intended to rip apart whoever did that to her, but realising that it was Space-Time God, the same god who offered her the trial, she swallowed the anger within.

«Anyway, I received the message that some sort of quest has been completed. If I remember right, it should be the heart of Nestirad, the last object to complete Isiris's trial.»

"Whoa, what? You really defeated Nestirad, Allen?!!"

However the news instantly dispelled all the dissatisfaction from the face of Cecil as she inquired excitedly.

"Well, we had indeed defeated him. This is the heart of Nestirad!"

"Amaginz! Wait, let me take a closer look!!"

Cecil exclaimed as she saw the still faintly beating heart of Nestirad as he took it out from his grimoire. 

Cecil carefully accepted the heart, gripping firmly within her two hands, a grin tugging on those lips. It was apparent she had already began to fantasize about her Extra Mode now that the final piece of Magic Goddess's trial was in her hands.

"Hey, it was a team effort, alright, Cecil."

Luck quipped from behind Allen, his tone carrying a hint of pride as being one of the members who had achieved the feat. 

"Well, the plan was sketched out by Allen-sama though. Isn't it so, Formar?"

"It's as you said, Sophiarone-sama."

"What about others? They didn't come with you?"

"Rest of the team has gone out to support Hero in his trial. He has helped us so many times, and once he triumphed over the trial of... Martial God...... Is something the matter, Desperado-sama?"

Allen remarked as he felt Space-Time God suddenly sliding up to him within the conversation of their future plan. His words had changed from no honorific for Martial God to suddenly speaking respectfully to Space-Time God.

It was the second time---with the earlier incident being with Sword God---someone blinked to his side silently, so Allen seriously wondered if it was just a quirk unique to Divine Realm. 

«Excuse my action, but would it be possible for me to see Nestirad's heart?»

"Huh? Ah, yes. Of course. ---Cecil."

"Here you go. Space-Time God."

«......»

At his question, Allen promptly nodded, and Cecile passed over the Heart of Nestirad.

God of Space-Time silently received the heart, and he dived into silence, seemingly feeling the heartbeat in his palms. 

The others quietly gazed at him.

"How is it?"

But Allen, unable to hold himself back, ended up breaking that solemn silence.

(It's the thing we need for Cecil's trial reward after all. Can't have anyone get ideas about it.)

«...Unbelievable. It really does feel like the heart of Nestirad. But with my knowledge, it should've been impossible...»

The God of Space-Time, holding the heart in both hands as though cradling it, looks stunned, unable to completely swallow the situation.

"Impossible? Is it really such a big deal? I mean, yeah. He had been a tough nut to crack, and had easily flipped away our normal strategy. It was quite a struggle to come up with a plan."

Noticing the shock of Space-Time God, Allen tried to see what had him astonished. After all, the long-haired, princely looking person was the god that administered the passage to three realms---Human, Divine, and Dark.

«When Nestirad had caused waves in the harmony of the Divine Realm several hundreds of thousands of years ago, the gods had dispatched angels, or even pitted themselves against him.»

Merus empathise with the words of Space-Time God, and spoke inside Allen's mind.

«...It's my first time hearing gods had also participated in his subjugation, aside from angels.»

It was already common knowledge to Allen that Merus had also been forced to participate in the Nestirad Subjugation War, and ultimately, it was judged that Nestirad was impossible to be brought down, as he had iterated. 

Maybe he had heard Merus's surprise through Allen's expression, Space-Time God continued to paint more color on the scenario. 

«The challengers were the best among us, centered around Sword God Sestavinus as she led the other seven god of armaments. Taking place 100,000 years ago, the two sides waged a battle so intense it, in literal terms, changed the map of Heavenly Sandal Kingdom's continent. And even so, they couldn't bring him down.»

(Well, when you face an opponent who could even revive from just heart, even the best may fail. But I am surprised the immortality of Nestirad surpassed the reach of weapons of Divine Realm, No, I think they should've. It's just they had no effective way to stop his revival. ---Ahh, no, hold on. The heck, that means we were pitting ourselves against a scripted quest we could have never managed to defeat without correct circumstances aligning??!)

Now, it all made sense why they had to resort to underhanded tactics, bringing the cooperation of Beast God Garm, however the more he heard, the more Allen realised they couldt have ended up wasting their time for no reason. And moreover, Space-Time God retained his silence despite knowing the true difficulty of the quest. 

Allen stared back at the Space-Time God with a reproachful gaze. Cecil, Sophia, and Luck did the same, their expression scrunched in protest.

«B-But, you have transcended the trial, and Cecil-san can claim his reward. Congratulations, truly. Speaking of, it's been a while, so I think I will accompany you to Isiris.»

The Space-Time God, perhaps trying to shift the subject, conjured a magic circle beneath their feet. The world around them suddenly shifts, and the team feels the world jumping around in their vision.

"Huh, whoa!? You startled me. Why are you suddenly here, Allen!?"

The next thing they know, they find themselves in Isiris's research facility, where the leader of the Larappa Guild, who had been assisting with experiments, suddenly appears before them.

"Ahaha, it appears we did. Anyway, Isiris-sama is......"

Apologizing and suppressing the rising anxiety before receiving the quest reward, Allen helps the fallen Larappa Guild leader to his feet and asks where the Magic Goddess was.

"Wait, wait, Allen?!"

But before Allen could even ask, Cecil, who had been observing from behind, raised his voice to inform him. 

"Disappeaaaaaar!!"

Suddenly, from behind the Larappa Guild leader, a shrill scream erupts as the Magic God Isiris charges toward them.With the robe's hem torn in bits, Magic God Isiris's sharp claw trailing in their direction reflected into Allen's eyes.

(Huh, what? What's with that ridiculous bloodthirst?!)

Magic God was running on her four. She was like a hungry beast pouncing on its prey. 

It didn't take him much to connect dots and realise she was after the heart of Nestirad in Space-Time God's hands, and not to target others.

"Toss the heart to her, Space-Time God! Hurry up and bring rationale to the Magic God!"

«Y-yes?! A-ah, alright, I got it!! Hey, hey! Isiris! Here's Nestirad's heart you'd asked for!»

«Grawwwrrrr!!»

Receiving the hint, Space-Time God tossed the heart. The ceiling of the research room was as high as the Temple, so it drew a big arc in the air.

Magic God channeled her strength into her thighs, and leaped high into the air, catching the heart with her long, clawed hand. She spun once in the air and landed back to the floor, her eyes shining  as she strongly pressed her cheeks against the beating heart. 

Everyone's gaze settled on her, and after listening to the heartbeat for a good while, her eyes snapped open.

«It's beating!!»

«So it is! Yes, the heart is still beating, isn't it?!»

Space-Time God held his wife Magic God and lifted her up, rejoicing in the same joy as his other half. 

"Heh, so this is what it means to be a significant half of each other, sharing joy and sorrow...?"

"Uh, I am sure this is not the normal standard, Allen."

Allen muttered his feeling, which elicited a good ol' retort from Cecil. 

In the end, the spectacle was basically Magic God holding the heart high in the air, and then Space-Time God also raising her up with his arm around her waist. 

To the team, the scenery of a husband and wife rejoicing was akin to the modern art that was trying to convey a message, but it was too difficult for them to decipher. 

"Ahem, well it was quite the gruesome trial, if I must say so. And A just effort should meet with just reward, so..."

He couldn't understand what there was to rejoice about, so he gave up all thought and instead brought up the topic of reward he couldn't wait for.

«Hmm?»

However Magic God just tilted her head in puzzlement, turning only her face to glance at them. 

«Isiris. Didn't you promise about Cecil's Extra Mode?»

Seeing the forgetful nature of her wife, Space-Time God supplemented. 

The trial was to bring out the thing Magic God desires, and she shall grant Cecil the power she sought. And the four things Isiris had required were all critical to research some ancient magic research.

The ancient magic was the magic wielded by Old Gods, and were beyond the principal, and fundamental theories of today's magic. As long as they had the four items, they could use the ancient magic at the end of Magic God's research, and complete their wish. 

The said four items were---

Extra Mode - Nestirad's Heart

Divine Technique - Dragon God Magla's Horn

Blessing - Shards of the Sun and Moon

Sacred Artifact - Beast God Garm's Tail

And the rewards if they could deliver the four items was---Ancient Magic. 

Allen and team acquired the Horn of Dragon God Magla from the Earth Labyrinth in the Divine Realm, while they found the Shard of Sun and Moon from two dillipated Temples in the Forest of Primordial Beasts.

They'd received a huge help from the divination power of Temi, one of the Ten Heroic Beast, and the advisor of Beast King. 

Then they acquired Tail of Beast God Garm after Shea's rigorous trial. 

The last was Nestirad's Heart which they'd just acquired, and was now in Magic God's hand. Now, utilising them, they could unlock Cecil's Extra Mode, and finally acquire the Ancient Magic Commander Lalapa had told them about.

«Come with me...»

Magic God signalled Cecil to follow her, her voice tinged with impatience. It was apparent she just wanted to jump on her research. 

The research room was now more organised, a big applause to commander Lalapa, who made it so that no more things were randomly thrown around. 

To the place Magic God pointed was a chair, and at its foot was a magic circle. So it seems Cecil could unlock her Extra Mode by sitting on it.

"Err, excuse me. Can you please make it so that Cecil's Extra Mode inherits half of his status to LV1?"

«So many demands...... and here I was done with the whole setup.»

Magic God grumbled at the sudden notice, nevertheless her hands moved to prepare for the Extra Mode. But it appeared something different from what Allen had asked.

"Hey, Allen. You can see that Magic God doesn't like it, so you don't have to bring it up."

Cecil was anxious, fretting that if they pushed the mood of Magic God too far, they might have to wash hands away from reward. 

(Oh girl, do you know this is all for you? Your status has to be the lowest among the whole team, since you transferred your job till 5 star without changing to Extra Mode. This was also why I had brought Sophia et cetera along with to help you in faster leveling.)

«Well, it's not that big of a deal. And he's not wrong. Strength is the cornerstone for the humans of the human realm. And it would only be beneficial to the Divine Realm if the invited people are mighty. I will lend you a hand.»

Space-Time God seemed to have understanding of the situation, so he adjusted the magic circle according to Allen's desire.

«I am done. Then Cecil-san, this way.»

Once the magic circle was amended, which was mostly done by Space-Time God, Magic God signalled Cecil to follow her pointed space. 

"So, I just need to sit here?"

«Yes. Alright, I shall begin now. Mm-mu-mu~Babara-baba~!! ---Desperado!!»

«Right, I understand. I do the same, right? ---Babara-baba~!!»

With what sounds like a silly chant, Magic God started skipping around the magic circle. She would raise their hand, and intermittently jump around---the spectacle appeared so much like some bogus snake charmer that everyone else blinked in surprise, even doubting if this was real or a dream. 

Space-Time God saw the situation unfolding with a satisfied expression, however it seemed he wasn't meant to be a bystander in the 'rite.' Magic God urged him to follow, having him copy her movement from the other end of the magic circle.

(Well, err... even Earth God had been like this when he gave the sword. I guess, gods just have different aesthetic sense compared to humans...?)

"Tell me anyone, what am I even watching?"

While Allen's thoughts were reserved, Cecil bluntly thought 'they're trying to pull her leg' or 'they're trick to trick her.' But with the blood of skit master running thick in her, she grabbed the armrest of the chair, just about to stood up and shout about the absurdity of the situation, but---

"Ohh, the magic circle has started to shine!"

"Ah, true! It's like he is standing behind a veil of shimmering air, swaying."

The surprised voice of Sophia and Luck, who noticed the changes, stopped her. Cecil's body had started to flicker under the heat haze, including even the equipment. 

"Amazing! It's like Extra Skill!"

«Please be quiet. Isiris is currently channeling her divine power to turn Cecil-san into Unbound. So, this is the flicker of the soul due to changes. The changes would soon subside, since this is the core of Isiris territory.»

Space-Time God saw the bewilderment of Cecil while performing an incomprehensible dance, and offered an explanation. 

(Oh, yeah. After all, Extra Mode implies beckoning a Normal Mode soul to the divine realm. So this worn-out chair actually belonged to Isiris?)

The confusion still persists, but Isiris's action and the changes in situation had calmed down that perplexment. And just as Spirit-Time God explained, the flickering of Cecil's body had subsided.

«The reward has been transferred. I am returning to my research.»

"Huh? Ah, thank you very much."

Magic God shortly murmured the completion of her end of deal, and immediately trotted to the depths of the research room while holding Nestirad's heart. It appeared she was too excited about her research to stay here any second longer, and ignored Cecil's gratitude.

[Name] Cecil Grandvelle

[Age] 17

[Blessing - 1] Magic God (Enhanced Blessing)

[Blessing - 2] Space-Time God (Enhanced Blessing)

[Talent] Magus Emperor

[Level] 1

[Strength] 1502

[Mana] 2174

[Spiritual Power] 2174

[Attack] 1174

[Endurance] 1159

[Agility] 2025

[Intelligence] 2214

[Luck] 1815

[Blessing - 1] All Stats +30,000, -50% Cooldown, Spell Damage x2

[Blessing - 2] All Stats +10,000, Quick Chant x1.5, Spell Area Expansion x1.5

[Divine Technique] Mana Store, Enhanced Intelligence, Ancient Magic (Incomplete)

[Skill] Magus Emperor (1), Fire (1), Tiny Meteorite (1), Divine Technique Activation, Karate (6)

---Equipment at a glance---

1\. Weapon : Sacred Artifact «Primordial Magic Staff», Strength +10000, MP +30000, Intelligence +30000, Spell Damage +30%

2\. Armor : Grimoire Robe, Resistance +20000, Magic Resistance (Extreme)

3\. Ring (1) : Intelligence +5000, Intelligence +5000

4\. Ring (2) : Intelligence +5000, Intelligence +5000

5\. Bracelet (1) : Offensive Magic Cast Time -50%, -50% Cooldown, MP +5000, Intelligence +5000

6\. Bracelet (2) : Spells Damage +10%, MP Recovery +1%, MP +5000, Intelligence +5000

7\. Necklace : Intelligence +5000

8\. Earring (1) : Spells Damage +10%, MP Recovery +1%, MP +2000, Intelligence +2000

9\. Earring (2) : Spells Damage +7%

10\. Belt : Dark Magic, Intelligence +10000, MP +10000

11\. Anklet (1) : Agility +5000, Teleportation, Recovery Rate +20%

12\. Anklet (2) : Agility +5000, Teleportation, Recovery Rate +20%

※Due to training with Space-Time God in Normal Mode, no Magic with Lv7 or above has been carried over.

"Welp, here I start from zero. And the status is quite low compared to Kurena and others as well."

Cecil took a quick in Grimoire that Allen had been checking out, and let out a disappointed sigh.

"I mean, Kurena had repeated from Extra Mode after all."

Kurena was LV99 Sword Emperor when she switched to Dragon Knight, and then she further changed her job to Celeste Dawn. 

The general thumb of the rule during the job transfer says the target could inherit half of their existing status. And Cecil had only reached the LV60, which was the maximum level limit in Normal Mode, before transferring, while Kurena had gone through the same cycle with LV90 multiple times. The disparagement in the status was natural.

(This is the rule after all. At Least there's the blessing of Space-Time God, but Sacred Artifact and Divine Techniques have much to do. Quick chant, huh? Well, something to expect from god that governs time and space.)

In the one month training Cecil had done under Space-Time God, she had acquired Blessing (large). 

"I see. Anyway, what next? Is the next stop still S-rank Dungeon just as planned?"

No matter the world or the era, there would always be one best spot for farming. And Cecil couldn't wait to get to LV99, so she urged Allen.

"Ah, well, that's in our plan, but we're going to check out the god seed that had sprouted first. Lupto said its name is Pecktan something."

"Oh! So we can meet Fabre?!"

Luck raised his voice in rejoice. It'd been a while---ever since Rosen and Fabre became the Spirit God after the trial at Spirit Garden to be precise---since he met Spirit God and couldn't wait to meet him. 

"For now, this is the plan. The good thing is that I still have that registered as a nest. We can teleport to Spirit Garden."

(Cecil should be able to accept more trials from the Magic God, so I guess I should leave this place's transfer point.)

In the end, there was limitation to teleportation, and beyond limit would burden the so-called 'folder' with all the information.--- It appears I need to sort out this problem too. With that thought, Allen left the Research Institution of Magic God.