I Became an Illegal Cheat User - Chapter 109



109 – Greed Raid (3)

– Kieeeeeeeeeek─!!

The monsters, staining the gray earth of the plains black, charged forth with ferocious roars and momentum.

The sight was like a black wave crashing toward us.

Yet, the number standing against such an overwhelming tide was a mere 32.

No, to be precise, 2 humans and 30 golems.

Honestly, it was an absurd battle.

The disparity in power was so extreme that it was clear to anyone that a fight could not even be established.

It was akin to facing a natural disaster, a situation of utter despair.

But in the face of such an unreasonable circumstance, I had no thoughts of defeat. To be exact, I wouldn’t allow it.

The reason was simple.

Cheat.

An external being like me, yet a usurper.

Moreover, the power of those who had become foreign entities.

But taken from Gaia by some means, and now it was my power as well.

With such an abnormal ability, what was there to fear?

The cheat applied to me was so overwhelmingly powerful that if it were a game, it would be subject to immediate sanctions, and I would have no words to say.

Especially in a battle of sheer numbers like this, it exerts an even more powerful force.

Kwaaah, Kwaaah──!!

The turret minigun mounted on the defensive golem and the minigun gripped in my hands.

A total of 21 shredders whirl fiercely, unleashing white and blue flashes of light.

Pervabervabervung, Pervabervabervabervung──!

The flashes collide with the oncoming waves, triggering explosions.

The turret minigun on the golem, the effect of the Angel of Death: ‘Special Explosive Shell (B+)’.

And thanks to the ‘Sungtan (7.62×51mm)’ crafted specifically for the minigun.

– Kkiieeeek, Kkiieeeek!

– Kkaaahhh!

Monsters struck directly by the flashes disintegrate, while the bullets explode, inflicting massive damage on nearby creatures.

Moreover, the minigun in my hands is enhanced by Astra’s transformation effect, adding the Thunderbolt’s ‘Lightning (B)’ effect.

Pervabervabervung, Pajiijijijijik──!

– Kkegegegegegegek!

– Kkiikikik, Kkiikikik!

Not only does it trigger divine explosions, but it also spreads lightning over a radius of about 10 meters.

In the midst of those flashes raining down upon the black waves.

– Eliminating enemies.

– Eliminating enemies.

– Eliminating enemies.

– Eliminating enemies….

Twenty iron golems, their cameras glowing red, swing their chain swords and shields with relentless fury.

Sergogak, Sergogogak!

With each whip of the chain sword, at least 10, and at most 20, monsters are sliced apart.

Bang, Kwaaak!

With every swing, strike, and thrust of the shield, 3 to 5 monsters burst apart.

It feels like watching a pack of wolves dive into a flock of sheep.

Of course, these monsters are not sheep, but ferocious beasts.

Kwaduk, Kwaduk, Kwaduk!

Countless monsters cling to the iron golems, sinking their sharp teeth in.

Crack, crack!

With claws enhanced by magic, it scratched and struck, damaging the golem’s body.

Each time, steel shards flew in all directions.

Yet, the golem demonstrated why it was said to be a difficult opponent to face.

Using its self-repair ability, it absorbed the detached fragments and restored its form.

However, that was only possible when the core remained undamaged.

Creak, creak…!

– Core damage… Self-repair impossible.

– Body damage rate 52%…, 67%…, 78%….

A golem with a damaged core could not self-repair and would collapse in an instant.

Of course, there were contingency measures for such situations.

– …85%.

– Combat continuation deemed impossible.

– Executing input command.

That was none other than.

– Initiating self-destruct sequence.

Self-destruction.

It meant detonating the golem’s core.

And applying what had been learned at the forward base of the First Strike Force.

– Confirming allies within explosion range.

– Concentrating all remaining energy on defense and movement.

– Moving to a location suitable for self-destruction.

The golem’s chain explosion was, of course, prepared to mitigate any damage it could inflict on allies.

Whooom!

A magical barrier materialized from the body of the golem with a damaged core.

As a result, the monsters clinging to the golem were severed by the magical shield.

Simultaneously, jet engines sprouted from various parts of the golem’s body, lifting it upward. Then, its red camera blinked, flickering.

Boom!

It launched itself toward a location densely packed with monsters, ensuring it would not harm its allies.

And at the moment the golem’s body collided with the horde of monsters.

Kwaaahhh──!!

With a tremendous explosion, it obliterated all the monsters in the vicinity.

Starting with that golem.

– Self-destruction sequence activated.

– Self-destruction sequence activated.

– Self-destruction sequence activated.

– Self-destruction….

Golems with damaged cores began to emerge one after another.

Puhwaak, Puhwaak!

The golems soared into the sky, repeatedly zooming in and out with their red cameras, searching for a place to self-destruct.

After scouting for a location,

Kwaaahhh─! Kwaaahhh─!! Kwaaahhh──!!

They crashed into the horde of monsters, causing a massive explosion.

Each time, an overwhelming number of monsters were annihilated.

「…Lee Yoo-jin, I want to see your limits, not a golem’s self-destruction show.」

Grid, who had been quietly watching with a displeased expression, slowly raised one hand.

At that moment, enormous weapons appeared above the creature’s head, just as seen from the outpost.

「So, the tricks end here.」

As Grid said this, he lowered the hand he had raised.

Buuung!

The massive weapons floating in the air fell like meteors.

True to the words that the tricks were over, the targets were the golems.

Swords, axes, maces… various forms of colossal weapons rained down upon the iron golems, as well as the defensive golems firing turret miniguns.

But before the weapons could embed themselves in the golems’ heads,

Bang! Kwaang! Kwaaang!

He transmitted Aigis, manipulating it with telekinesis to change direction.

Thud, Kwoong! Kwooong!

The massive weapons struck the ground instead of their intended targets.

At this sight, Grid released the hand that had been propping up his chin and let out a short, impressed exclamation.

「Lee Yoo-jin, your technique of dropping shields is quite impressive.」

“How about this?” Grid added, lightly waving the hand that had just been propping up his chin.

At that moment, the space above his head split open with a loud crack.

A void filled with darkness.

From within, weapons began to pour out.

Not just the massive weapons that were embedded in the ground.

From standard-sized melee weapons to firearms, and even siege weapons.

All kinds of armaments filled the crimson sky below.

“Can you stop these too?”

Curiosity glimmered in Grid’s eyes, filled with greed.

But that curiosity, true to his fallen nature, was not pure; it was saturated with malice.

In response to such a Grid, I fired the minigun.

KWA-aaahhh──!!

The blue flash that had been grinding down the monsters shot toward Grid.

At the same time, shields that had been flying around him blocked the path.

Crack, crack, crack…!

The shields disintegrated at an astonishing speed.

Then, perhaps realizing that mere shields wouldn’t suffice,

Swooosh!

A crystal orb intercepted in front of the shields.

Certainly, unlike the easily shattered shields, the crystal orb was designed to absorb a strike with the speed limit lifted, and it held firm.

But that was only for a moment.

Crack.

A fissure appeared in the crystal orb.

Though it was meant to absorb lethal damage, the continuous accumulation of damage had reached its limit.

‘About ten seconds of concentrated fire should do the trick.’

But contrary to my thoughts, I didn’t proceed that way.

And rightly so; it was far too inefficient.

One shot with the speed limit lifted could shatter it in an instant, and wasting time on ten seconds of concentrated fire felt foolish.

Besides, my enemies weren’t just Grid.

– KIEEaaaH─!

The monstrous legion had almost closed in.

It was just a moment of turning the gun towards another direction, yet the distance had shrunk in an instant.

And seeing that the golems were nowhere to be found in the black wave, it seemed they had all self-destructed.

‘The numbers have significantly decreased.’

Just a moment ago, I couldn’t even count them.

Now, they seemed to number in the hundreds of thousands.

Of course, that’s still a lot.

‘Now I can start thinking about what I had in mind, right?’

– Yes, at this level, Greed must be letting his guard down.

Just as Terra and I thought this, without hesitation.

“I understand that you think you can stop it.”

Grid, having regained his composure, raised his hand.

Then, the weapons that had been hovering in the sky aimed their tips towards the ground.

“Now, Lee Yoo-jin.”

Grid wore a childlike expression, as if he were burning ants with a magnifying glass.

Then, with a sly grin, he said,

“Go on, try to stop it.”

With that, Grid swiftly brought his hand down.

Shushushushushushushushush—!

The weapons began to fall towards the ground.

Sharp and heavy armaments, engulfed in demonic energy, surged towards me and Arthur at a furious speed.

Arrows, bullets, cannonballs—projectiles from ranged weapons sliced through the air.

It was as if the world itself was turning against us.

‘Well, it’s not entirely wrong.’

From noble mtl dot com

The place where Arthur and I stood was the reverse world.

And since this was a world where Grid was the core, it made sense to say it was hostile towards us.

Thinking this, I transformed Astra from a minigun into a Thunderbolt.

At the same time, I sent out 32 Aegises around me and Arthur, lifting them with telekinesis.

While Arthur was unleashing a storm of sword energy towards the monsters and Grid’s weapons, I spoke to him.

“Arthur, could you set up a barrier for me?”

“Understood.”

At my request to unfold the divine fortress, Arthur halted the arc of his sword.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he plunged his blade into the ground, unleashing a vast amount of magical energy.

A dome-shaped barrier of golden magic formed around me and Arthur.

Though it was a sudden request, I could have felt a hint of doubt.

Yet, the unwavering way Arthur complied with my request filled me with deep trust.

‘Then I must repay that trust.’

With that thought, I recalled the defensive golems.

At the same time, I transmitted a box of grenades above Grid’s head.

「…Hmm?」

Grid tilted his head in confusion.

As he did, he stealthily snatched the box of grenades hovering above him.

I watched this unfold and sent another item.

This time, one above Grid’s head and one below.

「…What are you doing?」

Grid, still tilting his head, expressed his puzzlement.

Yet he didn’t forget to steal the boxes of grenades I had sent.

‘Transmit.’

This time, I sent a box of grenades below, one that could be stolen.

And above, I sent an Aegis that couldn’t be stolen.

「…Yujin, what are you up to?」

Grid frowned, his expression shifting from confusion to irritation.

He continued to steal the grenade boxes while striking the Aegis down as a weapon.

‘Almost there.’

Seeing his patience nearly depleted, I couldn’t help but smile inwardly as I activated the injector filled with mana recovery potion.

Feeling my mana replenishing, I used the transmission again.

This time, a box of grenades above.

And below, the Aegis.

「…Stop this foolishness, Yujin.」

In the end, Grid, whose patience had run out, shouted in frustration.

As soon as I saw that, I executed the plan I had prepared.

‘Transmission!’

My restored magical power was depleted in an instant.

‘…Ugh!’

In a rush, I activated the injector, feeling a pain that felt like my heart was about to burst.

Whoosh, whoosh!

With the sound of two activations, I could feel my magical power rapidly recovering.

As a result, the pain in my heart began to fade away.

At the same time, Grid shot up from his chair as if he could no longer hold back.

“Lee Yoo-jin─!”

He then sent a weapon soaring above his head.

In response to that action, I spoke with a voice full of mockery.

“Idiot, you fell for it?”

“…What?”

At my words, Grid momentarily wore a look of confusion, unable to comprehend what I meant.

But that was only for a moment.

“……!”

He raised his head with a sense of urgency.

But it was already too late for him to do anything.

And no wonder, as the tip of the weapon he had sent forth was—

Kwah-chik.

It had pierced through a box of grenades, to be precise.

“How could that be…”

Unfortunately, his words could not continue to the end.

Kwah-aaang─!

Of course, the box of grenades pierced by his weapon exploded.

– Self-destruction sequence activated.

– Allies confirmed within explosion range.

– Moving to a location where self-destruction is possible…, impossible.

– Command: Self-destruct here.

This was due to the shock delivered to the Iron Golem, which was heavily equipped with grenade boxes.

And of course, the shock meant something else.

Flash.

It signified an explosion.

───────────────!!

As the world turned white, a massive explosion erupted.

The shockwave spread, sweeping the explosion across every corner.

That explosion reached the remaining nine Iron Golems I had sent to the monster legion.

Just like the one that had just detonated, the Golems, laden with grenade boxes, were engulfed in the blast.

And as the Golems exploded all at once—

───────!! ─────────!!! ───────────!!!!

It felt as if the world was collapsing, the shock energy filling the entire alternate realm.

Amidst that shock, I opened my inventory, pouring all my strength into retrieving and sending out Aegis.

I covered both the inside and outside of the barrier with Aegis for the sake of my and Arthur’s survival.

Pursue, pursue, pursue, pursue, pursue, pursue, pursue──!!

The Aegis sent outside the barrier was vanishing at an incredible speed.

To keep up with that pace, I activated the injector, pouring mana recovery potions into my mouth and chewing them down repeatedly.

With each gulp, a horrific pain surged through my body, as if my nerves were twisting from the excessive mana recovery.

‘Send, send, send!’

I didn’t stop retrieving Aegis.

I had no choice.

If I stopped, both Arthur and I would vanish without a trace.

Thus, an eternity seemed to pass.

Of course, it was merely a perception; the actual time that had elapsed was likely short.

But the pain I felt was immense enough to make it feel that way.

Enduring that agony, I held on until the end.

The explosion that had filled the world began to subside, the shock energy waning.

The rate at which Aegis was vanishing also slowed.

And before long.

“Ha… I’m alive.”

Thud.

The explosion had vanished.

And everything, except for the small area where Arthur and I stood, had disappeared.

The sky, once stained red.

The desolate gray expanse.

Everything that maintained the Underworld had vanished without a trace.

Yet, the Underworld did not collapse. Only a void filled with darkness remained.

“Is it true that I can only escape by destroying the core?”

I let out a deep sigh and rose from my spot.

Just then.

“…Yoo-jin.”

Arthur, who had been gasping for breath beside me with a pale expression, called out to me with a tense face.

Then, with trembling hands, he raised his sword and pointed to a specific spot.

“…There’s something over there.”

Seeing Arthur, filled with tension and fear, I reverted Astra to its basic form in my hand.

I prepared to activate the mimicry effect at any moment, pulling out a handful of Aigis in front of me.

In that moment of solid preparation.

Grrrrrrrrr…

A deep resonance, characteristic of a massive creature, echoed through the void.

“Yoo-jin…”

Simultaneously, a voice emerged, elongated and grating, as if scraping metal.

And then, following that.

A flash.

A vertical pupil, glistening with greed and malice, appeared.

Degururur.

The pupil darted around erratically.

As if it were moving something unfamiliar.

But that was only for a moment.

The erratically moving pupil settled into place. Then, it began to move slowly.

“Chaaahhh…aaahhh…aaahhh…”

With the words “I found it,” they fixed their gaze upon me.

At that moment, something slid into view from the void.

“…Insane.”

Arthur spat out a curse with a look of horror on his face.

It was the first time.

The first time she, who always showed nothing but honesty, uttered a profanity.

But the situation warranted it.

After all, what had emerged from the emptiness was—

Visible to both Arthur and me.

Gigantic.

Covered in scales of a deep, dark red.

And known to be extinct on Earth.

“A dragon…”

The apex predator.