Chapter 156: The Real Cheat

I use wind magic to calm the swirling dust and dirt clouds.

The air above churned, sucking up dust like a whirlwind, then pouring it back down to the ground like falling water.

A deeper hole had opened within the massive crater forged by the Demon God King. Cracks split the earth, and parts of the rim were collapsing, tumbling into the hole or the fissures below.

The Demon God King slowly rose from the hole, back to his original size.

The armor and clothes I was wearing remained exactly as they were. Probably... that wasn't equipment. More like part of the Demon God King's body transformed somehow?

Can fix it in a flash, no problem. On the other hand... my clothes are falling apart.

The Demon God King glared at me, biting his lower lip like he was in pain. He didn’t look like he’d taken much damage at first glance, but he had to be exhausted.

I watched her land on the ground as silently as a falling leaf, and I too stepped down onto the earth.

You... what the hell are you? No human should have power like this...

Just a regular human. But Lazus helped me take you down.

"Lazus...?"

"Can't you remember? The alchemist who challenged us to battle alongside Ajax... to bring you down."

Ah… right. The guy who ran into the Dimensional Labyrinth… sneaking around like a sewer rat, trying to take me down… really pathetic.

You’re gonna lose to that scornful human, you know.

I aimed the tip at my opponent and kicked off the ground, lunging straight ahead. The Demon God King, in response, raised a hand, gathering demonic energy.

"Wind Hookclaw (Hastūr)!!"

The released magic came at me like a storm of wild wind blades, countless and relentless. I kept moving forward, ignoring the cuts slicing through my body.

Arms. Legs. Cheek. Wind blades tore into me. But I wasn’t stopping. This was it—the final blow.

Breaking through the windstorm, I reached the Demon God King’s face. My sword pressed toward his heart. He blocked with his arm, but the blade pierced right through—through arm and heart alike.

‘Gahh!’

Dark magic flowed through the blade, dissolving the flesh it pierced. The Demon God King spat out dark blood, his face losing all color.

“This is it—the sword of the strongest hero you killed… Aias!”

‘N-no… stop…’

The sword glowed black, vibrating violently, tearing through my body.

“—— Dimension Slash ——!”

The Demon God King’s body split into square-shaped chunks by the grid-like black slash. But I didn’t stop. I slashed again—once more with “Dimension Slash”—reducing him to even finer fragments. So fine he’d never regenerate.

The scattered pieces were swept away by the wind, scattered across the ground.

“………It’s over.”

The golden aura covering my body slowly shrank, fading away.

The strain from the divine armor had worn me down—exhaustion crashed over me all at once. Bones ached. Limbs went numb. My heart pounded like a drum.

I drove the sword into the ground, leaning on it for support, then dropped to my knees.

Breathing ragged, I’d need time to calm down. Just then—faint reaction from “Enemy Detection.”

A tiny ripple of magic. I lifted my head. The pieces I’d shredded should’ve been dead. Should’ve stayed scattered. Yet… they were moving. I’d torn them apart so completely, even [Super Recovery] couldn’t bring them back… so how—?

I try to get back up, but my body won’t move.

While I’m frozen, that meaty mass twists and swirls into a human shape with the dust. The dust settles, and there stands the Demon God King—golden armor gleaming with authority, long black hair, fully restored to their original form.

“Ah, well… finally the cursed magic’s effect wore off… I knew it couldn’t last forever.”

But the Demon God King’s form was already gone.

Before I even realize it, they’re standing at my side, a faint smirk on their face. Without a word, they draw their sword and swing it sideways—no warning, no hesitation.

I barely yank my sword free from the ground, trying to block—but the impact sends me flying, sword and all. I spin like a chess piece, slammed hard into the ground.

“Aaah… kuh….”

“Still, without magic, you’re nothing.”

My body’s healing fast thanks to [Super Recovery]. The backlash from the Divine Garb (Kamui) will fade soon too. I need to buy time… somehow…

“…Why? Why come to this world? If you’re that powerful, you could’ve ruled your own world without a problem.”

They snort at my words, slowly stepping closer.

“Invasion? Expanding your territory?”

“Fufu… no interest in such things. There’s a reason we came here—real reason.”

“A reason?”

The numbness in my limbs is fading. But even if I can move… can I still fight like this?

“In my world, there’s a seer who reads fate. They said soon, an asteroid will collide with our planet… and wipe us out completely. Too bad—this seer’s never wrong. We had no choice.”

"So you tried to take everyone from your world and escape?"

"Everyone? Don't be an idiot. Only the useful few were brought along."

The tone was so matter-of-fact it was like she was stating the obvious.

"Then… you left the others behind? You're the Wang of that world, right!?!"

"Exactly because I'm the Wang, I have to make choices. You, a nobody like you, couldn't possibly understand what it means to stand above others."

"What happens to the ones you left behind?"

"Lower lifeforms? Who cares if they die. All that matters is me—and those who serve me."

"...If you had that kind of power, couldn't you have just destroyed the asteroid?"

"It's not just a planet. It's called the 'Star-Eater,' a cosmic monster that devours entire stars. No one can stop it."

She said it with calm detachment—yet that calm made me want to punch something.

"What kind of 'choice' is that! You just ran away! You don't even deserve to call yourself a Wang!"

"Someone weaker than me? You don't get to speak like that!"

Our gazes clashed like wildfire, my sword rising, the Demon God King's sword descending—impact.

Sparks flew from the locked blades, a thunderclap echoing through the air.

"Damn it!"

I forced my blade back with all my strength—but still, I was outmatched. Her sword pushed mine aside, forcing me to step back.

But… was her power weaker than before?

"I've overused my magic. And you—you've nearly run out too. I'll crush you completely."

"What?"

...What did you just say?

Said I overused my magic... I was startled for a second, but seems like he thinks my magic’s nearly gone too.

"Impossible..."

Then, like a flash, I remembered Lazus’s words.

—‘What you need to defeat the Demon God King is twelve summoned beasts. And not just any—A-rank or higher, stronger ones.’

—‘Yeah, they’re there. The monster most needed to defeat the Demon God King… is in this “Dimensional Labyrinth.”’

—‘Most of the skills I gave you mimic powers of demons and such, but some… were original creations I made myself… use them well.’

Lazus had planned for this day.

And the original skill Lazus created—

"You... don’t have... Infinite Mana... do you...?"

The Demon God King frowns at my words.

‘Infinite Mana?! There’s no such thing!’

It finally clicks. Why Lazus said I needed twelve summoned beasts. Why he said I needed Agarilrept’s power.

I release all my magic energy outward, from every part of my body.

"Uoooooooohhhhhhhhh!!"

Magic becomes visible—rising like steam, shooting straight up into the sky.

‘What?! Why do you still have this much magic left?!’

“You used it all up. Dragon Blast, time reversal—both drain massive amounts of magic. You shouldn’t be able to use any powerful skills or spells anymore.”

This is it—the once-in-a-lifetime chance Lazus spent centuries crafting.

“Unique Skill Activated! 【Black Iron Erosion Armor】!!”

Black metal wraps around my entire body. Arms, torso, waist, legs—covered in black armor. Finally, black metal attaches to part of my head and face.

From empty air, a glowing greatsword appears. It floats in place—three blades at my back, one on each shoulder, five total—sticking to me as if equipped.

“【Battle God Qi】!!”

The overflowing magical aura shifts into a yellowish “Qi,” the battle spirit. It reshapes itself freely—flame-like, or like a furious dragon.

I swing 【Wang’s Sacred Sword (Excalibur)】—the sword pulsing with battle Qi—horizontally behind me, shouting at the top of my lungs.

“Come on! Phoenix!!”

A single spark of fire floating in midair ignites into a blazing inferno—and from within, the phoenix emerges. The bird, wrapped in divine flames, lets out a piercing cry and glides straight toward the sword.

It vanishes into the blade, dissolving into it—then bursts into pure, radiant white flames, infusing the sword with power.

‘What… what is this form!?’

“Let’s settle this, Demon God King.”