I Became an Illegal Cheat User

107 – Greed Raid (1)

“…Grid.”

Her appearance was different.

But the aura and gaze emanating from her were unmistakable.

The deep-seated greed contained within her confirmed that she was indeed Grid.

“Ahh… how long I have awaited this moment.”

Grid trembled with excitement, her breath hot and heavy.

Yet her gaze remained fixed on me.

The crimson light spilling from her eyes was so thick with greed that it felt almost viscous.

It was truly a repulsive sight.

Arthur, watching from the side, grimaced in disgust.

“…How revolting.”

Even though he was already a loathsome degenerate.

Perhaps it was the repulsiveness of his actions that finally made Arthur, usually quiet in battle against enemies, blurt out a word.

I deeply resonated with Arthur’s reaction.

“Grid, that crazy b*stard.”

Has his greed intensified even more with this self-transformation?

How can he display such a grotesque form?

Now, it’s beyond just feeling chills; my stomach churns.

So, to calm both my and Arthur’s minds,

I donned the Aegis on all ten fingers.

I switched the Aegis to a shield and sent it around Arthur, embedding it into the ground.

Then, I transformed Astra, which had changed into Atlas Armor, into Thunderbolt.

Swoosh.

The missile ports that had been on my shoulders slid down, and the Atlas Armor reverted to its original form.

At the same time, Thunderbolt was gripped in my empty right hand.

“…Hmm?”

Grid tilted his head.

He looked at the gun in my hand with a puzzled expression.

From the look on his face, it seemed he had used ‘Steel.’

But unfortunately, what I was holding was merely a Thunderbolt in appearance.

In reality, it was an S-rank weapon, Astra. So, unlike the first time he saw it, Steel was impossible.

“Haah… Yujin.”

Grid called my name in a sticky voice.

“You are not only a presence but everything you possess is so desirable.”

Wow… that’s truly disgusting.

I grimaced at Grid’s display of obsession that surpassed mere greed.

This won’t do. I can no longer keep him in my sight.

As soon as I thought that, I activated Live Focus.

Ding-dong.

Next, I activated the speed limit release.

I attacked Grid with the best combination of moves I could muster right now.

Krrrrrrrrr Kwaaang……!

The thunderous sound echoed slowly, and the world was drenched in a blue hue.

At the same time, a flash of lightning traced a trajectory from the muzzle.

Pursuk, pursuk!

The Aegis, caught between my fingers, began to vanish one by one at a rapid pace.

‘As expected of an S-rank weapon.’

Even if Astra is a weapon that changes form, perhaps it’s because the item itself has high damage.

The damage absorbed by the Aegis is tremendous.

Thinking this, I replenished my Aegis through teleportation.

……Pajijijijijijijik──!!

The sound that should have accompanied the flash came belatedly.

At that sound, I saw the grid where my last remaining death-evading item would soon be used, as if I would vanish like dust.

But then… what was going on?

‘……?’

The creature was unharmed.

Despite the blue trajectory connecting to it, the death-evading item was not used, and it stood there perfectly fine.

What is this? Why hasn’t it turned to dust?

Feeling the strangeness, I fired my weapon once more.

As a result, the world, which had been regaining its original colors, flashed again, turning blue.

Simultaneously, a massive thunder rolled slowly, and a new trajectory was drawn beside the blue one.

‘…What the hell is going on?’

Yet the creature remained unscathed.

Even though the new trajectory had reached it, it still hadn’t disintegrated.

Instead of firing again, I shifted slightly to the side to observe it.

And then I could see.

The two trajectories were not piercing the creature; rather, they were being drawn into the crystal orb it held in its hand.

And in this world where everything moved slowly, it accurately recognized me.

Thud.

The grid moved nonchalantly.

「From the look on your face, you seem quite surprised.」

Grid chuckled mockingly.

I ignored his taunts and turned my head to look at Arthur.

‘…So slow?’

Arthur was moving, bit by bit, very slowly.

Seeing that, I realized the live focus was still active.

But how was he moving like that?

I questioned the sight of Grid, who was moving normally, as if he had activated a speed limit release like I had.

‘Has his ability changed, not just his appearance?’

Or perhaps the abilities of the body he had stolen?

‘…No, there’s no superhuman or fallen one who looks like that while using time-related abilities.’

Then… there could only be one explanation.

An Apostle.

The one who had trapped me in an illusion, and was now fighting the god in the dimensional rift.

The Fourth Apostle—there was no other possibility than that he had done something to Grid.

「Heh heh, I can hear the gears turning in your head from here.」

Grid flashed a sharp-toothed grin, his expression infuriating.

In response to his demeanor, I activated the injector filled with mana recovery potion and pulled the trigger of my gun.

Boom! Boom! Boom…!

With a slow rumble echoing, a flash shot toward him.

But once again, the flash merely traced a trajectory, getting sucked into the crystal sphere he held.

I clicked my tongue at the sight.

Well… I hadn’t expected much.

That was because the crystal sphere Grid was holding was an S-rank item known as the ‘Void.’

Once a month, it absorbs all damage within a 10km radius for ten minutes.

Thus, players, including myself, collectively referred to that item as the Pearl of Peace.

「Oh dear, don’t get so worked up.」

He shrank back as if frightened.

But contrary to his actions, his face was filled with mockery.

‘…What on earth is he plotting?’

What could he be aiming for, using the Void from the very beginning without even fighting?

He must surely realize that attacking would be pointless.

“Cough, cough.”

I glared at Grid, who was smirking while stroking the crystal ball.

Then, with a sigh, I ended the live focus.

The world, which had slowed down, regained its original speed.

Ding.

Speed limit lifted [ON / OFF]

I also deactivated the cheat.

Since I had ended the live focus, there was no need to maintain the cheat, as I couldn’t move except to shoot.

Of course, the guy’s void was still active.

“Hmm? Is it already over?”

Grid tilted his head.

“Why not keep using your time ability?”

…What is going on, really?

I was perplexed by Grid’s behavior, which made no sense at all.

The time ability, specifically the live focus that rapidly accelerated my perception.

Why is he suggesting I use that ability?

And what did the Fourth Apostle do to Grid?

‘Ha… I don’t get it.’

No matter how much I racked my brain, no answers emerged.

Instead, questions piled up, shrouding my mind in fog.

‘…Then I’ll find the answers later.’

I should resolve the simpler matters first.

‘After all, attacking each other is pointless because of the void.’

I decided to check for the core that must be somewhere in this alternate world.

Just as I thought that and was about to activate my clairvoyance.

“Ah, Lee Yu-jin. If you’re thinking of finding the core, just give up.”

“…What?”

How he knew, Grid suddenly brought up the topic of the core.

“Oh, were you really planning to do that?”

Grid chuckled softly, a mischievous laugh escaping him.

I let out a deep sigh at his antics.

Then, I aimed my gun at him with a click and asked,

“Why are you telling me not to search?”

In response, Grid placed his hand dramatically over his heart and said,

「It’s because the core that maintains this alternate world is right here.」

“Oh, really?”

「Yes, so you don’t need to bother looking for the core…」

No, I don’t believe it.

Even if it were true, I still wouldn’t believe it.

Ignoring Grid’s words, I activated my clairvoyance.

My vision surged, and the landscape of this alternate world unfolded before me in an instant.

‘There’s nothing here.’

No mountains, no rivers, no rocks, no living beings.

Not a single thing was visible.

It was a barren wasteland that didn’t fit any theme I knew.

As if it were not naturally formed, but artificially created.

‘…No, really, there’s nothing.’

Just as Grid said, neither the sub-core nor the main core could be seen.

Could it be hidden somewhere?

The thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.

‘The core isn’t small or anything.’

Even if it were small, where could it possibly hide in this vast emptiness?

As I pondered this, I heard Terra’s voice whispering in my ear.

– Then, isn’t it hidden underground?

‘It’s not that there’s no alternate world, but this place definitely isn’t it.’

Momentarily taken aback by my assertion, Terra’s voice faltered.

But soon enough, she asked for clarification.

– Why is that?

I kindly explained to Terra.

‘The magic isn’t visible.’

– Ah… that’s true.

In a typical shadow realm, perhaps.

But the core of a shadow realm interfered with by a Fallen must always harbor ‘magic.’

And to open a rift to Earth even a moment sooner, it spews forth magic.

So much magic is released that even if the core is buried underground, it can still be found.

Yet in this shadow realm, where Grid has taken me, not only is magic invisible to my clairvoyance, but I can’t even feel its presence…

‘…Wait a second.’

I can’t feel any magic?

‘No, could it be… Grid, you b*stard.’

From the very beginning, using Void was suspicious.

Encouraging the use of abilities was also strange.

Is he waiting for my magic to deplete?

Because I can’t recover my magic in this shadow realm?

As I pondered this, Terra added:

– There might also be a depletion of stamina or energy.

Ah, right.

That could be a factor.

‘But… that’s completely irrelevant to me, right?’

My energy is infinite due to my cheat.

I can just take a magic recovery potion for my magic.

And for stamina, I can also take a stamina recovery potion.

Plus, if I get hungry, I can drink elixir juice.

Of course, excluding energy, this applies to Arthur as well.

‘And if it’s Arthur, he should manage his energy just fine.’

As that thought crossed my mind.

‘…Grid, you b*stard.’

Is he an idiot? I wonder.

But that only applies if my suspicions are correct.

I can’t believe that a top-tier Fallen, especially one with a name, would think like that, and I ended my clairvoyance.

Then, with a smile that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, Grid, who was still taking Arthur’s attacks head-on, spoke.

“Do you believe me now?”

“Uh, yeah, you were right. There is no core.”

I said this as I halted Arthur in his tracks.

“Arthur, attacking right now won’t deal any damage, so just hold on for a moment.”

“…I see.”

Arthur, who had been striking at Grid’s vital points with incredible speed, furrowed his brow slightly and stepped back.

“It must be because of that item.”

I nodded in agreement at Arthur, who pointed to the crystal ball in Grid’s hand.

Then, with a short sigh, Arthur withdrew the magical energy he had infused into his sword.

“Yoo-jin, what should we do?”

Arthur asked, as if seeking an answer.

I reverted Astra, which had transformed into Thunderbolt, back to its basic form and replied.

“If we wait for about 10 minutes, no, now it’s about 6 minutes, that crystal ball will deactivate. So we can attack then.”

“6 minutes, huh… Luckily, it’s not too long.”

Arthur said this as he plunged Excalibur deep into the ground.

Then, placing both hands on the pommel of Excalibur, he fixed his gaze on Grid.

Following his lead, I turned to look at Grid.

“…Yoo-jin.”

I could see Grid’s face, which had been filled with mockery, hardening slightly.

“How do you know the duration of this item?”

“Do you think that’s all I know?”

I spoke, using my clairvoyance, voicing a thought that had crossed my mind.

“I also know that you were trying to exhaust as much of our magical energy as possible during the item’s duration.”

At that, the smirk that had lingered on Grid’s face vanished completely.

“…Did you catch on?”

Oh, was it really true?

I looked at Grid, who had such a foolish thought, with disdain.

“No, did you really think that would work when you used the item?”

“…….”

Grid fell silent at my sarcasm.

But only for a moment.

“…If it can’t be done, then we’ll have to make it happen.”

As Grid said this, he stomped the ground.

The creature, keeping its distance from Arthur and me, lifted itself into the air, arms spread wide.

Kugugugugugugugung….

The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.

At the same time, the earth beneath Grid began to tremble violently.

Bang, bang! Bang!

With a deafening roar, the ground erupted, creating gaping holes.

And from those holes emerged—

– Kieeeeeeeek!

– Kyaaah!

– Kiki-gik, kiki-gik!

A staggering number of monsters surged forth.

Yet, despite the appearance of such creatures, I looked at Grid with a nonchalant expression.

“Hey, while that crystal is active, our attacks won’t work on each other. So why are the monsters?”

I asked him with a hint of sarcasm.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Grid opened his mouth wide. It was a gaping maw that no human could ever achieve, and he stuffed the crystal inside.

Then, with a snap, he closed his jaw.

Gulp.

He swallowed the crystal whole.

For a moment, I was taken aback by such a grotesque act.

But soon, I let out a hollow laugh, activated the speed limit release, and fired my gun.

Kurururur KWA-aaaNG──!!

With an immense roar, a flash of light shot forth.

And this time, I was certain to consume his death-evading item…

……Crackling──!!

Swoosh─!

…I couldn’t do it.

It was only natural, considering the greed that I thought would be defenseless while swallowing the crystal sphere.

“…When did they manage to gather those?”

There were hundreds of defensive items laid out around.

“Looks like they really meant business.”

As far as I remember, Grid doesn’t collect many items solely for defense.

The sheer number suggests that he had been grinding for items to catch me.

“Ha… you crazy b*stard.”

I feel it once again.

Grid, you really are a disgusting piece of work.