Hell Mode

“‘Level up even while offline’?! That’s not a game on ‘easy mode’—that’s just an AFK game!” The online game Yamada Kenichi had been playing religiously is shutting down its servers, leaving him with a void in his heart. He looks for a new game to fill it, but everything he finds is way too easy. The kind of game he likes—the kind punishing enough to make players want to spend thousands of hours on it—just isn’t around anymore. “What’s this? ‘You are invited to a game that will never end.’” Kenichi stumbles upon an untitled game, one promising incomparable challenge with unprecedented potential. Without hesitation, he selects the “Hell Mode” difficulty. Lo and behold, he finds himself reincarnated in another world as a serf! Now called Allen, he sets out to unlock the secrets of his mystery-laden Summoner class; without the convenience of walkthroughs, game guides, or online forums, he must grope his way to the top of his new world!

A new adventure awaits Allen as he enters the service of a noble! After climbing up the social ladder from serf to manservant, Allen now finds himself dragged around by the whims of the willful young lady of the house, Cecil Granvelle. Despite this, he is free to leave the city—and immerse himself in hunting monsters! As Allen meticulously grinds on goblins and orcs, both he and his Summons grow stronger by the day. At the same time, he begins to earn the trust of the members of House Granvelle with his diligent work ethic. Just as everything seems to be going well, however, the viscount overseeing the next fiefdom over seems to be up to something. As danger creeps toward Cecil, Allen declares, “I promised to protect you, Lady Cecil. And I keep my promises.” Going all out with his skills and Summons, Allen must resist evil and impending doom!

How is “No-life Gamers” as a party name?! The Academy City arc starts off with a bang! After leaving the service of House Granvelle, Allen enrolls in the Academy together with Cecil, as well as Krena and Dogora who have come all the way from Krena Village. As part of their new life together, they form a party to take on the many dungeons scattered throughout Academy City, keeping in mind their ultimate goal of defeating the Demon Lord. When Allen goes in search of a healer for their party, he encounters Keel, a boy his age with the Cleric Talent. However, Keel comes across as guarded and reticent. Just what secret is he hiding, and how is it related to House Granvelle? At the same time, why is Helmios, the Hero of Giamut, at the Academy, and what does he want from Allen? And what’s this about a martial arts tournament?!

Diving straight into the Rohzenheim War! Rohzenheim, nation of the elves, is under attack by the Demon Lord Army and on the verge of total annihilation. Heeding the requests of his home country and Sophialoneh—crown princess of Rohzenheim and No-life Gamer newcomer—Allen and his companions decide to join the fight and save the elves. When they land on the elven continent, however, they find the capital already fallen, the front line on the verge of crumbling, and one of the few remaining cities overflowing with wounded and refugees. To make matters worse, they learn that the enemy’s top general is a Demonic Deity who has already defeated Hero Helmios before! The Demon Lord Army is far more numerous and much more powerful than anything they’ve ever encountered before! Can the No-life Gamers truly prevail against a force of three million?!

After defeating a Demonic Deity and leading Rohzenheim to victory, the No-life Gamers now set their sights on the Rank S dungeon. Before they head to Baukis, though, Allen uses his new elven connections to arrange for the Gamers to graduate from the Academy early. Allen then brings the gang to Krena Village to drop in on his family and introduce everyone. What’s supposed to be a simple trip, however, quickly escalates into something more. It turns out that when Keel’s family had their House restored, their lands were also returned to them—including the nest of the white dragon that has terrorized the area for centuries! The group eventually makes their way to Baukis and reunites with Meruru with much pomp and circumstance. There, they stand together before the Tower of Tribulations, the Rank S dungeon that no one—not even Hero Helmios nor the champions of ages past—has ever cleared. Challenges and encounters galore await the No-life Gamers where all the world’s greatest fighters gather!

An impossible dungeon versus an unstoppable team—the No-life Gamers are back at it again, this time testing their mettle against the Rank S dungeon. In their latest adventure, Allen and the party are working hand in hand with Helmios and Sacred, Zeu and his coalition of beastkin, and Admiral Garara’s party of golems, this dungeon raid is turning into an international affair! Clearing this dungeon will be anything but a walk in the park, though. Allen and the team are in for a challenge like nothing they’ve faced before, but if they’re the first to clear it, they’ll get a wish granted. With the flame of Fire Goddess Freyja weakening by the day and forging becoming next to impossible, it’s up to the Gamers to play the role of dungeon pioneers and pave the way for other adventurers to find top-quality loot. Everyone’s going to need to be fully equipped for the fight against the Demon Lord Army!

Just when Allen and the No-life Gamers think they’ve finally bought themselves some time to savor clearing of the Rank S dungeon, they receive a call for help from the Holy Land of Elmahl. The execution of the Pontiff of Daemonism has failed, and the capital has gone up in flames. Worse yet, just as the Gamers prepare to depart, reports begin pouring in about multiple invasions by the Demon Lord Army... As Allen embarks on his latest adventure, he also finds himself confronted with the challenge of what it means to be a leader and learning to respect his friends’ wishes—even if it means allowing one of them to knowingly put their life on the line!

With the daemonic incarnations running rampant and turning innocent bystanders into monsters, it’s up to Allen and the No-life Gamers to take care of them and save the people from imminent doom. Beast Princess Shia and her army of beastkin soldiers agree to help, though the princess divulges her struggle to activate Beast Mode. She’s not the only one getting antsy either, as Dogora also bemoans his futile efforts to use his Extra Skill. All the while, Allen and his party find a mysterious floating island where three powerful Demonic Deities—including the Great Pope and Falnemes, the Goddess of Arbitration—await him. Can Allen unravel the secrets of the mysterious island? Just what are the Demon Lord and his army planning? And will the Gamers emerge victorious from this devastating battle?