Greed (2)

Greed (2) 『…A rock?』 Greed, who had been charging toward me, tilted his head. Even while puzzled why I had suddenly thrown rocks instead of using a proper weapon, his eyes quickly scanned the stones flying at him. He was checking whether the rocks hurtling toward him were something special, just as I had been using high-grade items.

After a brief moment, his face twisted in irritation. 『…Real rocks?』 He had realized that the stones flying toward him were nothing special—just ordinary pebbles scattered along the roadside. But he didn’t know. Even though they weren’t items at all, once my cheat took effect, those common rocks would no longer be ordinary.

──! The rocks that had been flying toward Greed vanished. At the same time, I felt an enormous shockwave, and before I knew it, my body had been pushed back roughly ten meters. Normally, I would have been slammed into the ground in the blink of an eye, just like when I was hospitalized last time. But thanks to the two Aegis shields I had switched into and the armor I was wearing, I only ended up being pushed back. Of course, that came at the cost of using Speed Limit Release.

Crack, crack, crack…! The twelve Aegis I had been wearing on my fingers and holding in my hands all vanished. 『…Wh-what?』 Greed’s body had disappeared again, leaving only his mouth lying on the ground. At the same time, the weapons that had been floating in the air chasing after him clattered loudly onto the floor. And right after that—

……Kwaaaaaaaaang──!! A tremendous roar erupted from where the rocks had vanished. “That makes two.” Now only four death-avoidance items remained on him. I quickly pulled out twelve new Aegis and equipped them while firing Thunderbolt at the remnants of Greed. Or rather, I tried to. If Thunderbolt hadn’t disappeared from my hand, that is.

『…Even common rocks can’t be underestimated.』 The mouth attached to Greed’s head fragment moved. In front of that mouth, the Thunderbolt I had tried to fire was vanishing due to the Infinite Items restriction. At the same time, the dry ground began to tremble. Soil, stones, and dust gathered around Greed’s head fragment, instantly forming a new body. Seeing that, I realized the death-avoidance item he had just used was “Blessing of the Earth (S).”

『From now on, I won’t let my guard down even for the smallest things.』 Greed, now fully restored, brushed the dirt off his body and raised his hand. The weapons scattered around him rose into the air once more and gathered around him. Of course, I didn’t just stand there watching. Just like before, I used telekinesis to lift twelve rocks and hurled them at Greed. But true to his boast that he wouldn’t let his guard down, the rocks were stolen before Speed Limit Release could even activate.

『…Never thought I’d end up stealing rocks.』 Greed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grimaced as if he had touched something filthy and flung the rocks he had grabbed onto the ground. After all, he had always collected only high-grade items. Even if they were threatening, using Steal on worthless pebbles must have wounded his pride.

『Lee Yoo-jin….』 Greed glared at me with eyes full of killing intent and stretched out his hand. An invisible force shot out from his palm. Judging by the energy, it seemed to be telekinesis. I responded in kind, firing my own telekinesis instead of throwing rocks.

Kwa-jijijijijik…! When our telekinesis collided, space distorted with a tearing roar. Greed’s eyes, which had been glaring at me with murderous intent, widened slightly in surprise. It made sense. Even though our telekinesis was warping space, a clash between abilities of the same type was decided by the amount of “energy” and “mana” the users possessed, regardless ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of rank. Yet my telekinesis wasn’t being pushed back by Greed’s, who ranked sixth among the twelve Named.

『…This is surprising.』 Even while his killing intent surged, he couldn’t help but be shocked. 『I can clearly feel you’re only mid-upper rank… yet you have this much energy?』 “That’s because I have infinite energy.” I answered him inwardly and slowly pushed his telekinesis back while activating the injector containing mana recovery potions.

Whoosh. I felt the needle pierce my waist, and the mana that had been rapidly depleting began to refill at high speed. “…If only I had infinite mana, I could overwhelm him.” Thanks to Speed Limit Release, I had managed to destroy two of Greed’s extra lives, but in moments like this when we were clashing with pure energy, I couldn’t help wishing for infinite mana. “Still, I should look on the bright side.” I only gained infinite energy because Speed Limit Release had been drawn. I let out a short sigh and teleported a box of grenades into the ground beneath Greed’s feet.

『…Hm?』 Sensing the flow of mana, Greed looked down. The moment his gaze shifted, I pulled a grenade from my inventory, yanked the pin, and immediately teleported it into the ground where the box was. A moment later—

……Kwaaaaaaaaang─! A massive explosion erupted beneath Greed’s feet. It was the kind of blast that would have been instant death for anyone. But unfortunately, he didn’t die. After all, within the white flames filled with holy power—

『…New abilities, new items. Lee Yoo-jin, you really do possess a lot.』 He was standing there casually, looking at me. Step by step. Greed emerged from the flames and casually tossed aside a shield he must have pulled out at some point. The Aegis that had taken instant-death-level damage turned from black to gray and slowly vanished, just like before.

『You are truly a being worth coveting.』 Greed’s red eyes scattered a sinister light filled with greed. 『More than when I obtained the Giant’s Soul.』 Enormous weapons that a giant might have used appeared around Greed. 『More than when I stole the Phoenix’s flames.』 Black flames rose from Greed’s body. 『More than when I swallowed a dragon’s heart.』 Scales like a dragon’s sprouted across Greed’s body. He exhaled a hot breath—no, hot flames—and slowly raised his right hand.

『You are the first being I have desired this intensely.』 Therefore— 『Die for me.』 Greed looked into my eyes with dragon-like pupils. The countless weapons filling the sky were aimed at me. I tried to dodge in a hurry, but—

Slay evil. Thus prove your purity. …That damned talent, Demon Slayer (S), refused to allow me to flee from evil, pouring rage, hatred, and destructive instinct into my emotions and piercing through the effects of the elixirs and divine medicines. In the end, I gave up on running. Instead, gripping the Aegis in both hands tightly, I resolved to face him. At the same time, I tried to lift nearby rocks with telekinesis. But the moment I did, the rocks vanished one after another. Greed had stolen them with Steal. I switched Speed Limit Release to “OFF.” Since I had lost even rocks as an attack method, there was no need to maintain the cheat. I glared at Greed, channeling the rage and hatred rising from deep within me. Seeing that, Greed’s eyes flashed with red light, as if even that sight was something he coveted.

『Lee Yoo-jin.』 『Your abilities, your belongings, your soul… everything about you.』 Greed swung his raised hand down. 『Give it all to me, Greed.』 With those words, the weapons aimed at me rained down all at once. I took in the sight and exhaled sharply. Then I accepted the rage, hatred, and destructive instinct. My rationality began to burn hot. My heart pounded violently, supplying hot blood and power. Crack…! I gripped the Aegis even harder. And when the surrounding scenery once again transformed into a hell filled with the smell of sulfur—

I will slay evil. Demon Slayer began to move.

Countless weapons rained down like a storm. All kinds of melee weapons flew in to cut and crush my body. All kinds of ranged weapons launched projectiles to pierce me. Demon Slayer scanned the incoming attacks with his eyes. He identified which ones he could take with his body and which ones he needed to deflect with his shield. The moment recognition ended, he moved without the slightest hesitation. First, he swung his shield at the enormous sword falling as if to split him in two.

Claaaaang─! With a deafening crash of metal on metal, the massive sword was deflected away. At the same time, Demon Slayer activated the mana recovery injector and grabbed the projectiles, hurling them back at the incoming ones. Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang! Projectiles collided with projectiles. But there were far more incoming. Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud! Projectiles hammered Demon Slayer’s body. Still, thanks to Atlas Armor’s effect of reducing ranged damage taken by 40%, the absorbed damage wasn’t much. Weapons and projectiles that struck the shield occasionally broke and flew toward Greed in the form of mana. It was Aegis’s “30% chance to reflect 50% of damage” effect. But the reflected damage never reached Greed.

Thud, thud-thud! The defensive items circling Greed blocked the reflected damage. Demon Slayer glared at Greed, filled with rage and hatred, while deflecting incoming weapons with his Aegis and taking projectiles with his body. Thud. Demon Slayer took one step toward Greed. Thud, thud! Then two steps. To stop him, enormous weapons came crashing down. A giant morning star struck Demon Slayer’s body. One Aegis was destroyed. Demon Slayer advanced. A bloodstained greatsword slammed into his shield. Two Aegis were destroyed. Demon Slayer advanced. A menacing giant axe struck his torso. Three Aegis were destroyed. Demon Slayer advanced. Boom! …He was hit. An Aegis was destroyed. Yet he advanced. Boom-boom! …Destroyed. Yet he advanced. Boom, boom-boom! ……… He advanced.

『…Ahh.』 Greed gazed at Demon Slayer in ecstasy. 『…I covet it.』 That steel-like spirit. 『…I want it.』 That tireless body. 『…I want to take it!』 That indomitable soul! 『Lee ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yoo-jin, Lee Yoo-jin…, Lee Yoo-jin─, Lee Yoo-jin─!』 Greed, who had been firing weapons, kicked off the ground. 『Lee Yoo-jin──!!』 And he charged toward Demon Slayer, who was sending him deep, profound rage and hatred.

“Greed.” Demon Slayer stopped in place. He tossed aside the two grayish shields and pulled ten Aegis from his inventory. He slipped them onto his fingers and clenched his fists tightly. He stomped the ground and twisted his waist. 『Lee Yoo-jin─! Give me everything─!』 And toward Greed’s repulsive face— 『Give it all to me…….』 He unleashed a full-powered right hook.

……Kwaaaaaaaaang─! Greed’s head exploded. But it returned to normal as if nothing had happened. He had avoided death through the death-avoidance item “Pharaoh’s Hourglass (S).” “…That makes three.” With his rationality on the verge of melting, Demon Slayer counted the death-avoidance items Greed had used. Then, while fiercely pounding Greed’s entire body, he asked Terra, who was anxiously watching him.

“Terra, how much time left?” - …Sir! 30…, remain…, ing…! Her voice came through sporadically. But fortunately, he could still make out the remaining time. “…30 seconds.” 30 seconds left. Not much time. Demon Slayer exhaled a hot breath. He steadied his mind and moved his body as Demon Slayer guided him. 『…Keh-heh, keh-heh-heh! Lee Yoo-jin─! Lee Yoo-jin──!!』 Greed burst into ecstatic laughter and threw a punch at him. Demon Slayer answered with a punch of his own.

Kwaaaaaaaaang─! Fist met fist, unleashing a powerful shockwave. The impact destroyed two Aegis. Atlas Armor reduced melee damage taken by 50%. On top of that, Demon Slayer’s effect had lowered Greed’s stats by 40%. Even so, Greed remained powerful. 『If I kill you, that steel-like spirit will be mine!』 Greed struck Demon Slayer’s side with a face full of greed. Three Aegis were destroyed. In response, Demon Slayer struck Greed’s heart. Boom! Greed’s chest and heart exploded. But he returned instantly thanks to the death-avoidance item. “That makes four.” 『…Keh-haaah─!』 Greed, having avoided death, exhaled black flames. He slammed his elbow down on Demon Slayer’s head and shouted. 『If I kill you, that tireless body will be mine!』 Five Aegis were destroyed. All Aegis were destroyed. Demon Slayer hurriedly tried to teleport new Aegis from his inventory, but— 『Lee Yoo-jin──!!』 Greed’s fist struck his chest first.

Kwaaaaaaaaang─! “…Guh!” With tremendous pain, his body was pushed back. At the same time, a system message appeared in his vision.

The moment Unbreakable activated, his body’s health began recovering at high speed. Demon Slayer activated the injector containing recovery potions and proceeded with the Aegis teleport he hadn’t been able to do earlier. Seeing the Aegis now equipped on all ten fingers, he pulled shield-form Aegis from his inventory. 『…If I kill you, that indomitable soul will be mine!』 Just as he was about to strike the charging Greed with his shield—

- …Arrived! Terra’s faint shout reached him. At the same time—

Kugugugugugugugugung──!! An enormous invisible force fell from the sky and crushed Greed. Kwaaaaaang─! Greed was flattened against the ground like a frog. No, he was driven into the floor. Demon Slayer looked up. He saw Kali glaring down at Greed with an angry expression. 『…Kali──!!』 Realizing what was suppressing him, Greed screamed her name. But Kali ignored him completely and descended in front of Demon Slayer. She placed her hand on his head and spoke in a gentle voice. “Lee Yoo-jin, you’ve worked hard.” At that voice, the rage and hatred rising from deep within his body quickly subsided. Demon Slayer had also recognized that the situation was over. Or perhaps it had been intimidated by the majesty of the Destroyer, Kali. Just as he was feeling relieved at that thought—

『Do you think I’ll be caught so easily─!』 Greed, who had been unable to move under Kali’s telekinesis, shouted with a voice filled with malice and drew up his demonic energy. He tried to detonate it like the higher-ranking Corruptor that had self-destructed after clinging to the golem. But before he could, Kali’s telekinesis tore Greed apart from head to toe. Black ashes scattered over Greed’s corpse, and a pale mist rose above them. Not long after—

- Lee Yoo-jin! The mist transformed into Greed’s shape. The moment Demon Slayer saw it, he recalled the death-avoidance item “Marionette’s Resurrection (S).” “…That makes five.” Now only one death-avoidance item remained on him. But unfortunately, he could no longer kill Greed today. After all, “Marionette’s Resurrection (S)” allowed resurrection in a body that had a fragment of his soul embedded in it. “Where do you think you’re running!” Kali fired telekinesis at Greed’s soul flying toward the Death Continent. But in soul form, Greed was completely unaffected by her telekinesis and flew away. “…I let him get away.” Kali muttered in a somewhat hollow voice. Watching her, Demon Slayer slumped to the ground and let out a tired sigh. “Ha… Today was really exhausting.” Still, it had been a day that yielded great rewards in proportion to the exhaustion. He had defended the forward base. Slaughtered tens of thousands of Corruptors. Destroyed five death-avoidance items that Greed possessed. And… he had learned which Named would invade during the upcoming “Duel Season.” “Greed with only one death-avoidance item left, huh.” He could hear the difficulty dropping. “Still, I should prepare.” Unexpected variables might occur. Demon Slayer organized the plans forming in his mind and returned his armor to bracelet form. “Whew… ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That feels refreshing.” A cool breeze wrapped around his entire body. Feeling that wind, he pulled a golden apple from his inventory. And chomp! He took a big bite.