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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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『…Pebbles?』
Greed, who had been charging toward Yu-jin, tilted his head.
He was puzzled by Yu-jin suddenly throwing pebbles instead of using his weapons.
Despite his confusion, he quickly scanned the pebbles with his eyes, checking if they were something special. Yu-jin had been using high-grade items, so he couldn’t help but be wary.
But after a brief examination, Greed frowned.
『…They’re really just pebbles?』
He realized that the pebbles flying towards him weren’t anything special, just ordinary pebbles you’d find anywhere.
However, Greed didn’t know that these ordinary, insignificant pebbles, unworthy of being called items… became something completely different when imbued with Yu-jin’s cheats.
──!
The pebbles flying towards Greed vanished.
He felt a powerful shockwave, and the next thing he knew he was thrown 10 meters back.
Normally, he would’ve been slammed into the ground in the blink of an eye, like when Yu-jin was hospitalized… but thanks to the two Aegises he was holding in shield form and the armor he was wearing, he was only pushed back.
Of course, he had used Speed Limit Removal, so there was a price to pay.
Crack, crack, crack…!
The 12 Aegises – the 10 he was wearing on his fingers and the two he was holding – disintegrated…
『…W-what?』
…and Greed, who had lost his body once again, this time leaving only his mouth, fell to the ground.
The weapons that had been floating in the air and chasing after him also clattered to the ground…
…followed by…
…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
…a deafening roar erupting from where the pebbles had disappeared.
‘That’s two.’
Greed now had four death prevention items left.
Yu-jin hurriedly took out 12 new Aegises and put them on.
He then took out Thunderbolt and tried to shoot Greed’s… remains.
Or rather, he tried to shoot…
…if Thunderbolt hadn’t vanished from his hand.
『…I shouldn’t underestimate even ordinary pebbles.』
Greed’s mouth, attached to a fragment of his head, moved.
And in front of that mouth…
…Thunderbolt, which Yu-jin had been about to fire, disintegrated due to the restriction of Infinite Items.
At the same time, the parched earth trembled.
Soil, stones, and dust gathered around Greed’s head fragment and a new body was instantly formed.
Seeing that, Yu-jin knew that the death prevention item used this time was ‘Earth’s Blessing (S)’.
『From now on, I won’t underestimate anything, no matter how trivial.』
Greed, his body fully restored, brushed off the remaining dirt and raised his hand.
The weapons scattered on the ground rose into the air and flew towards Greed.
Of course, Yu-jin wasn’t just going to stand there and watch.
Like before, he used telekinesis to lift 12 pebbles and flung them at Greed.
But as Greed had declared, he wouldn’t be caught off guard again.
The pebbles were stolen before Speed Limit Removal could even activate.
『…To think I’d use Steal on pebbles.』
Greed frowned, as if he had touched something filthy, and tossed the pebbles to the ground.
It was understandable. Greed was someone who always collected high-grade items.
To use Steal on something as insignificant as pebbles, even if they posed a threat must have bruised his pride.
『Lee Yu-jin…』
Greed glared at him with murderous intent and stretched out his hand and an invisible force shot out.
Judging by the energy he felt, it seemed to be telekinesis.
So instead of throwing pebbles, Yu-jin countered with his own telekinesis.
Crackle!
The space warped with a tearing sound as telekinesis clashed against telekinesis.
Greed’s eyes, which had been narrowed with killing intent, widened slightly in surprise.
His telekinesis, even though fueled by intense killing intent was being matched by Yu-jin’s.
…and in a clash of abilities with the same power, victory was determined by the amount of ‘stamina’ and ‘mana’ the user possessed, regardless of rank.
To think his telekinesis was being matched by Yu-jin’s…
『…This is surprising.』
…it was surprising even for Greed, who was the sixth strongest among the 12 Named.
『You’re only mid-high rank… but you have this much stamina?』
‘Well, I have Infinite Stamina.’
He answered Greed’s question inwardly as he slowly pushed back Greed’s telekinesis.
At the same time, he activated an injector containing a mana recovery potion.
Stab.
His mana, which had been depleting rapidly, was replenished as he felt the needle pierce his side.
‘…If I had Infinite Mana, I could overwhelm him.’
Thanks to Speed Limit Removal, his ultimate attack…
…he had managed to eliminate two of Greed’s extra lives.
But during this stamina battle he couldn’t help but wish he had Infinite Mana.
‘Well, I should be grateful.’
He had gotten Infinite Stamina because Speed Limit Removal had been chosen.
He sighed briefly and transferred a box of grenades under the ground where Greed was standing.
『…Hmm?』
Greed looked down, seemingly sensing the flow of mana.
The moment his gaze shifted Yu-jin took out a grenade from his inventory and pulled the pin.
He immediately transferred it into the ground, right next to the grenade box.
And a moment later…
…BOOOOOOOOOOM!
…a massive explosion erupted beneath Greed’s feet.
It was an explosion that should have killed anyone instantly.
But unfortunately, Greed didn’t die.
Amidst the white flames, fueled by holy power…
『…New abilities, new items. Lee Yu-jin, you possess so many things.』
…he stood unharmed, looking at Yu-jin.
Step, step, step.
Greed emerged from the flames and casually discarded the shield he was holding.
It turned from black to grey and vanished like an Aegis that had absorbed a fatal attack.
『You are truly a desirable existence.』
Greed’s red eyes, filled with avarice, glowed with a wicked light.
『Even more so than when I obtained the Giant’s Soul.』
Giant weapons materialized around Greed.
『More so than when I stole the Phoenix’s Flame.』
Black flames erupted from his body.
『More so than when I devoured the Dragon’s Heart.』
Dragon scales grew on his skin.
He exhaled a hot breath… no, a stream of fire… and raised his right hand.
『You are the first being I’ve ever desired this strongly.』
Therefore…
『Please die by my hand.』
Greed gazed at Yu-jin with eyes that had turned reptilian.
The countless weapons in the sky aimed at him.
Yu-jin desperately tried to escape…
…but the damn talent, Demon Slayer (S), wouldn’t allow him to run from evil.
It pierced through the suppressing energies of the elixirs and the divine elixir and flooded his emotions with rage, hatred, and destructive urges.
He gave up on escaping.
Instead, he decided to face Greed head-on, clenching the Aegises in his hands and used telekinesis to lift the pebbles around him.
But the pebbles vanished as soon as he lifted them.
Greed had stolen them.
He switched Speed Limit Removal to ‘OFF’.
There was no need to maintain the cheat now that he had lost his pebbles, his means of attack.
He glared at Greed, his gaze filled with rage and hatred.
Greed’s eyes flashed red, as if even his emotions were desirable.
『Lee Yu-jin.』
『Your abilities, your belongings, your soul… everything you possess…』
Greed swung down his raised hand.
『…give them all to me… to Greed.』
As he finished speaking, all of the weapons aimed at Yu-jin were unleashed.
Yu-jin took in the sight and exhaled.
He then embraced the rage, the hatred, and the destructive urges.
His rationality began to burn.
His heart pounded, supplying his body with hot blood, with power.
Crack…!
His grip on the Aegises tightened.
And when the scenery around him transformed into a sulfurous hell…
…the Demon Slayer began to move.
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BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Greed’s head exploded.
But it was instantly restored, as if it had never been destroyed.
He had evaded death using the ‘Pharaoh’s Hourglass (S)’, a death prevention item.
‘…That’s three.’
He counted the number of death prevention items Greed had used, his rationality hanging by a thread.
He then relentlessly pounded Greed’s body, asking Terra, who must be watching him with bated breath,
‘Terra, how much time is left?’
– …ter! 30… left… Ma… ster!
Her voice was faint and fragmented but thankfully, he could still make out the remaining time.
‘…30 seconds.’
30 seconds left.
Not much time.
He exhaled a hot breath and focused, letting the Demon Slayer guide his movements.
『…Khaha, khaahaha! Lee Yu-jin─! Lee Yu-jiiiiiiiiin!!』
Greed laughed in ecstasy, throwing a punch.
Yu-jin countered with his own fist.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Their fists collided, unleashing a powerful shockwave.
Two Aegises were destroyed by the impact.
The Atlas Armor had a 50% reduction in melee damage received and thanks to Demon Slayer, Greed’s stats were currently reduced by 40%.
Yet, Greed was still incredibly strong.
『If I kill you, that unyielding spirit will be mine!』
Greed’s fist struck Yu-jin’s side, his face filled with avarice.
Three Aegises disintegrated.
Yu-jin, in response, struck Greed’s heart.
BOOOOM!
His heart, along with his chest, exploded.
But it was instantly restored thanks to a death prevention item.
‘That’s four.’
『…Kyaagh─!』
Greed, having evaded death, spewed out a stream of black fire slammed his elbow down on Yu-jin’s head and shouted,
『If I kill you, that tireless body will be mine!』
Five Aegises disintegrated.
All of them were gone.
Yu-jin hurriedly tried to use Transfer to take out more…
『Lee Yu-jiiiiiiiiin!!』
…but Greed’s fist slammed into his chest first.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
“…Ugh!”
Intense pain shot through him, and his body was thrown back.
A system message appeared in his vision.
His health began to recover rapidly as ‘Indomitable’ activated.
He activated an injector containing a health recovery potion and transferred Aegises.
As he saw Aegises being equipped on all his fingers…
『…If I kill you, that indomitable spirit will be mine!』
…Greed charged toward him, consumed by avarice…
…and he heard Terra’s faint cry.
At the same time…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
『…Kyaaagh─!』
…an invisible force, imbued with tremendous power, slammed down from the sky, pinning Greed to the ground.
Bang!
Greed was flattened against the ground like a frog…
…or rather, he was embedded in the ground.
Yu-jin looked up and saw Kali glaring at Greed with anger.
『…Kali──!!』
Greed, realizing what was pinning him down, shrieked her name.
But Kali ignored him and landed before Yu-jin placing her hand on his head and saying in a gentle voice,
“Lee Yu-jin, you did well.”
The rage and hatred that had been surging within him rapidly subsided at the sound of her voice.
It seemed like ‘Demon Slayer (S)’ recognized that the situation was over.
Or maybe it was intimidated by Kali, the Destroyer.
Just as he sighed in relief…
『I… I won’t be captured so easily─!』
…Greed, immobilized by Kali’s telekinesis, roared, channeling his demonic energy…
…and tried to unleash it, like the high-rank Fallen who had self-destructed on the golems…
…but Kali’s telekinesis was faster.
It shattered Greed from head to toe.
A pale mist rose from Greed’s body, which was scattering as black ash.
And after a while…
– Lee Yu-jin!
…the mist coalesced into Greed’s form.
The moment he saw that, he remembered the death prevention item, ‘Marionette’s Revival (S)’.
‘…That’s five.’
Greed had only one death prevention item left.
But unfortunately, he couldn’t kill him today.
After all, the ‘Marionette’s Revival (S)’…
– I will have you! I will have you for sure!
…revived the user in a body that had a fragment of their soul embedded within.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Kali unleashed telekinesis towards Greed’s soul, which was flying towards the Land of Death.
But Greed, in his soul form, was completely unaffected by Kali’s telekinesis. He continued to fly away.
“…He got away.”
Kali muttered in a disappointed voice.
Yu-jin, collapsing to the ground, let out a sigh of exhaustion.
‘Haa… I’m so tired today.’
But it had been a day full of rewards.
He had protected the outpost, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Fallen and destroyed five of Greed’s death prevention items.
And… he had also learned which Named would be attacking during the ‘Duel Season’.
‘Greed, with only one death prevention item left.’
He could hear it…
…the sound of the difficulty decreasing.
‘But I still need to prepare.’
Unexpected variables could always arise.
He organized the plans forming in his mind and deactivated the Atlas Armor, returning it to its bracelet form.
“Haaa… refreshing.”
A cool breeze wrapped around his body.
He savored the wind and took out a Golden Apple from his inventory.
And… crunch!
…he took a big bite.
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[we backkk]
