I Became an Illegal Cheat User

106 – Scheduled Assault (4) (Revised)

Mad Max.

The reason I chose this codename is nothing special.

There are 31 people in total in the arena, including me.

In contrast, the number of monsters and corrupt beings outside the Colosseum is incalculable, utterly impossible to count.

Moreover, it’s a situation where they keep pouring out from the cracks, though I have no idea where they’re coming from.

To be honest, the assault of hundreds of thousands that attacked the First Extermination Unit’s forward base seems almost laughable.

Yet, in such a situation, to dash through the monsters and corrupt beings toward a safe zone?

A safe zone that’s about 2 kilometers away, the Academy’s main building?

It’s truly an act filled with madness, akin to sheer lunacy. Thus, there’s no operation name more fitting than Mad Max.

– Kkiieeek, kkiieeeek!

– Kkiiaaahhh!

Kkak, kkagak!

“Damn golem!”

“Shit! There are prey beyond this!”

“Break! Break already! Damn it, break!”

Bang, bang bang!

A defensive golem firmly blocking the entrance to the Colosseum.

Beyond it, the sounds of scratching and hitting, along with the anguished cries of the enraged and irritated monsters and corrupt beings, can be heard.

The firing sound of the turret minigun is absent.

Seeing that there are still bullets left in the ammo box, it seems the attached Aegis absorbed the damage and was destroyed along with it.

‘Tera, golem damage status.’

– The current damage status of the defensive golem is at 87%, it will be destroyed in approximately 5 minutes.

It will be destroyed in 5 minutes, huh.

Then there’s no need to recover it.

“Everyone, stay ready.”

At my words, the ones lined up behind me nodded with tense expressions.

Seeing that, I activated Astra’s transformation effect.

Clink, clink!

The Atlas Armor enveloping my body began to change.

────────────────────

– Form “Transformation”

[Transforming Form: Atlas Armor (+Thunderbolt)]

[Number of Registered Items: 4]

The angel of death, as if the barrel of a minigun had materialized.

On each shoulder, the Thunderbolt’s muzzle had sprouted two sets of eight, like missile ports.

Crackle!

From the blue and black missile ports, the distinctive blue lightning of the Thunderbolt surged forth.

And since the forms had merged, lightning coursed through the armor as well.

Unlike the bland minigun that only had effects during firing, the Thunderbolt was enhanced with dazzling effects.

Of course, it wasn’t just the effects that were added; the inherent powers of ‘Lightning (B)’ and ‘Pharma (B)’ were also applied to the armor. Thus, unless it was a high-tier corruptor’s magic during the path-clearing process, everything could be blocked by the shield.

With that thought, I activated my clairvoyance.

Whoosh!

With a sensation of my mind floating, my vision soared to the sky.

It was as if I were playing a strategy simulation game; I could see everything happening at the academy.

The reason I used clairvoyance was to check the situation in the safe zone, the main building, and the route to get there.

First, I dispatched drones at regular intervals to the maximum transmission distance.

– Commencing search.

Reading my thoughts, Terra deployed drones into all the buildings along the route.

And when I activated the injector containing the mana recovery potion, Terra informed me of the results.

– No abnormalities on the route. You may proceed with the bombing.

‘Understood.’

Having confirmed that there were no people on the route to the main building.

Now, let’s check the situation in the main building.

– Master, what should we do with the drones?

What to do, indeed.

‘Self-destruct.’

– Yes, understood.

As soon as I gave that command, all the drones visible in my field of vision dove toward the areas densely packed with monsters and corruptors.

──! ──! ─!

True to their nature as drones carrying holy grenades, they detonated with a white explosion.

The monsters and corruptors in the vicinity of where the drones fell were obliterated, while those nearby were caught in the blast, engulfed in white flames.

Before long, all but the high-tier ones turned to ash and vanished.

Passing through such a splendid scene, I confirmed the main building.

‘As expected, the main building. The defenses are thorough.’

The structure, which resembled an ordinary school, had transformed into a fortress specialized for defense.

Towers sprouted here and there, continuously spewing fire.

The surrounding ramparts were holding back the onslaught of monsters and corrupted beings.

And atop those ramparts, the vice-principal and instructors were unleashing attacks through skills, magic, and various methods.

‘Instructor Kang Cheol-soo and Gray are… Ah, there they are.’

A little distance from the ramparts, I could see them fighting amidst the waves of monsters and corrupted beings.

Though he had been downgraded from the highest tier to the upper tier, he was still the Crusher, once known as the nightmare of the corrupted.

Kang Cheol-soo was still grinding down enemies with his overwhelming physical prowess and crushing skills.

Beside him, Lee Yeon-ji was supporting him, darting around with spatial magic, slicing and binding enemies with the fabric of space.

And true to their specialization in hunting the corrupted, Gray and his ten comrades were skillfully slaughtering the corrupted, leaping through the air with wind skills.

The sight of the remnants of monsters and corrupted beings scattering like leaves in a storm of blades was almost surreal.

Yet even they struggled to easily take down the upper-tier corrupted.

But that was hardly a concern.

‘This is definitely home ground.’

Though the vice-principal was of the highest tier, her offensive capabilities were diminished due to her crafting specialization.

However, on the main building, her home ground, the vice-principal was anything but weak.

As she attacked the monsters and corrupted beings from atop the ramparts, she swung the quill pen she held in her hand toward the air.

In response, a ballista positioned on the ramparts fired a massive arrow made of magical energy. The upper-tier corrupted being pierced by that arrow disintegrated instantly.

‘With that level of firepower, we should be safe until we arrive.’

Thinking this, I returned my focus to my current location.

Having confirmed the route and the situation at the main building, it was now time to move.

‘Tera, prepare the protective formation.’

– Yes, Master.

I could see golems moving into view.

As the golems equipped with chain swords and shields formed the protective formation, the armed ones, who had been waiting, knew it was time to spring into action.

Seeing that, I let out a tense breath.

‘Transmission.’

I transmitted the box of grenades (holy).

On the route of movement, at regular intervals up to a maximum transmission distance of 1km.

I confirmed the boxes appearing in the air with a pop, and immediately followed up.

“Transmission.”

I sent a grenade, its pin removed, onto the nearest box.

And then I immediately released my clairvoyance.

At the same time, I transmitted 33 Aegises in front of me and lifted them with telekinesis.

“Everyone, brace for impact!”

The moment I shouted that.

KWA-BOOM─!

With a tremendous roar, the golem exploded.

Simultaneously.

KWA-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM──!!

A chain reaction of explosions erupted.

A wave of scorching heat rushed in, and the ground shook violently.

“Prepare!”

I shouted, channeling my magic into my voice.

And when the trembling ground calmed down somewhat.

“Run!”

I commanded, pounding the ground as I took off.

Thud, thud-thud!

I could hear the kids following behind me.

Thump, thump-thump!

The golems thundered alongside the children, their heavy footsteps echoing.

‘Tera, if the kids start to lag behind or get into danger, let me know immediately.’

– Yes, understood.

I would run as fast as I could to match the kids’ pace.

But just in case, I instructed Tera to keep a close watch.

Then, I moved half of the Aegises I was controlling with telekinesis in front of me.

They charged forward, shields extended like a hooded truck, filling the gaps left by the monsters and the corrupted.

BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG──!!

I crashed right into them.

– Kkiieeeek?!

“Kuuaaak!”

The monsters and corrupted beings blocking my path were sent flying by my shield.

“Wow… that’s insane.”

I heard someone behind me mutter an awestruck curse.

It seemed they were impressed by the sight of me using my shield for a roadkill.

‘Well, it’s not something you see every day.’

It’s not like we’re in some zombie movie.

As I thought this and chuckled to myself,

– Engaging enemy assassination.

– Protecting allies.

It seemed the real assault from the monsters and corrupted beings had begun.

The golems, forming a protective formation, were executing commands while running alongside the kids.

I glanced to the side.

The golem swung its chainsaw, buzzing as it cleaved through the monsters and corrupted beings in front of it.

When they charged at the kids or used skills and magic, the golems would swing their shields or block them, diligently intercepting the enemies.

Of course, the kids weren’t just standing by.

Occasionally, they would slice through the monsters and corrupted beings that managed to break through the golems.

Swish, swish!

With their swords, they would cut them down.

Bang, bang, bang! Bang!

They would eliminate and drive them away with skills and magic.

They responded calmly without losing speed.

Seeing this, I nodded in satisfaction and looked ahead.

And perhaps due to the influence of the Apostle, or maybe I had just lost my fear.

I charged into the monsters and corrupted beings, which were immune to one of the effects of the Demon Slayer (S), ‘Despise the Weak,’ while unleashing the thunderbolts strapped to my shoulders.

Rumbling, crackling, and booming──!!

A total of 16 barrels roared as they unleashed lightning.

The flashes, enhanced by super accuracy, pierced through the enemies rushing in from the side, twisting and turning in their direction.

How long had we been running, cutting through monsters and the corrupted?

The safe zone, 2 kilometers away, began to come into view.

“We’re almost there! Just a little more to run!”

As I shouted this, cheers erupted from behind us.

At the same time, the kids’ running speed increased even more.

Since we were nearly at the safe zone, they began to use the magical energy they had been conserving.

In response, I too released the restrictions I had placed on my speed to match theirs.

“…It’s the students! The students are coming!”

It seemed someone had spotted us from the direction of the main building, and their shout rang out.

And with that shout, it began.

“Yujin─!”

“Haha! Our class really is something!”

“Wow, seniors, your kids are incredible. They’re breaking through that!”

Voices of welcome came from Gray, Kang Cheol-soo, Lee Yeon-ji, and others.

As we heard the instructors’ cheers and entered the area of the main building.

– Hehehe. I’ve been waiting, Lee Yujin.

A sinister voice echoed from somewhere.

At the same time, a small crack, like a fissure, appeared above in the direction I was heading.

I hurriedly tried to change my course at the sudden appearance of the crack.

But I was already being pulled into it.

“No! Yujin….”

“Yujin…….”

A horrified voice came from behind, but it was abruptly cut off.

I had completely entered the crack.

Chiziziziz!

I slowed down, scraping against the ground.

And as my speed decreased, I turned to look back.

“Oh, no.”

The crack that had swallowed me was already reduced to the size of my pinky finger.

It was too late to go back.

So, I had no choice but to confirm what kind of place this inner world was.

An endless plain.

All that could be seen was a flat expanse where nothing existed.

What is this? There’s no theme like this.

Just as that thought crossed my mind.

Crack!

A sword sprang forth from the fissure, which was almost closed.

A magnificent sword made of gold.

The sword that burst through the crack was none other than Arthur’s Excalibur.

Whoosh!

With Excalibur, divine power ignited alongside golden magic.

At the same time, the sword began to shake and twist, forcing the fissure open.

Creeeak…!

A grating sound echoed, like nails on a chalkboard, from the fissure.

As it seemed the crack was widening.

It became just large enough for a person to squeeze through.

And through that crack.

“Y-Yujin…!”

Arthur, drenched in sweat and looking utterly exhausted, reached out to me.

Seeing that, I hurriedly ran towards her.

But—

Thud!

With a fierce rebound, my body was flung back.

It seemed the core hadn’t been destroyed, so I couldn’t be expelled.

Just as I was about to tell Arthur to quickly retrieve the sword.

Arthur gritted her teeth and squeezed through the crack.

“No….”

I tried to ask why she was coming in, but—

Thud.

She had already made it through.

And then, just behind them, Lee Seoyeon and Asuka tried to enter.

Fortunately, or unfortunately.

“No…!”

“What’s going on! Let me in too…”

As soon as Arthur stepped inside, the forcibly opened rift closed immediately.

“Gasp, gasp….”

I watched Arthur, struggling to breathe, his face a mask of shock.

‘No, what is this?’

Is it Excalibur’s power?

Or is it Arthur’s ability?

‘How did he open the rift?’

A power I had never seen even in the game.

While I was taken aback by that ability,

“Lee Yujin!”

Once his breathing had stabilized to some extent, Arthur plunged Excalibur into the ground and pulled me into a tight embrace.

His actions snapped me out of my thoughts.

After deactivating my helmet, I let out a hollow laugh and patted her back.

“No, hey. What made you think you could chase me here?”

“…Don’t say that.”

Her grip around me tightened.

“I can’t… I can’t lose you, not ever.”

“…Is that so?”

This is quite something.

I felt a mix of emotions from her that left me at a loss.

The pain of losing something precious.

And a fierce obsession that I could never lose it again.

With those two feelings swirling inside me, I couldn’t bring myself to scold her for chasing me into such a dangerous place.

So ultimately, the decision I made was:

“Alright, since you’ve come this far… help me out a bit.”

I would accept Arthur’s help.

Her strength, and the sanctity of Excalibur, are of great help to me.

“Yes, leave it to me.”

As if empowered by my plea for help, Arthur released the embrace and forcefully drew Excalibur from the ground.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but chuckle at Arthur’s demeanor.

“Hmm… I could have sworn I only invited Yoo-jin.”

A sharp, feminine voice, characteristic of a fallen one, echoed from above.

I activated my deactivated helmet in response to that voice. Then, as I took a combat stance alongside Arthur, I looked up.

“But why is there an uninvited guest?”

A woman with hair and eyes as red as blood tilted her head in confusion as she descended.

It was a face I had never seen before.

“Well… I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

Yet, I felt I knew who she was.

“Yoo-jin, it’s truly a pleasure to see you again.”

As her feet touched the ground, the woman revealed her sharp teeth in a sly grin.

The gaze directed at me was thick with insatiable greed.

Among the named ones, there was only one who possessed such an aura.

“…Grid.”

It was none other than Greed.