Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

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265th Chapter: Raid (4)

Currently, the true body of Endless is likely fighting Lyman within the dimensional rift.

It resembled the final battle of the main story, with a few key differences.

One difference was that Endless’s vessel wasn’t the corpse of an Evil God but rather Makia herself.

And the fact that there was only one being capable of serving as a vessel: Makia alone.

However, there was one additional vessel now. That being… me.

Since the corpse of the Evil God was completely incapacitated, his true body couldn’t exert its full power.

Lyman’s strength was also reduced to about 40%, but Endless must be at least 20% weaker than that.

‘By now, his true body is probably getting beaten up nicely.’

If things continue like this, it’s clear who will end up suffering.

Moreover, unlike Dantia, whom we faced 300 years ago, her son Lyman was on a whole different level.

Back then, we merely sealed her away, but now, he would undoubtedly be annihilated without a trace.

He was desperately trying to survive, aiming to use my body as a new vessel.

But would that actually go as planned?

『Wow… Is this really the Illusory World I’ve only heard about? I never thought a Spirit like me would step into such a place.』

『Don’t get carried away. Our true bodies exist in reality as well. We could only enter because we have a contract with the Master.』

Muto and Aisha, who ambushed Endless, were bantering back and forth.

They were my top-tier fighters, but there was a reason for their late arrival.

Even though they were in a contract with me, it took some time to summon them to this place.

It might have something to do with the boundary between reality and the Illusory World. It was like waiting for a parcel to arrive internationally.

『Grrr…』

Diora opened her mouth, seemingly amazed.

But why was she only making animal-like noises instead of speaking?

Well, as long as she wasn’t rebellious, it didn’t matter much.

“Radon! Are you okay?”

“As you can see.”

When Jenny rushed over with concern, I emphasized that I was fine.

Maybe it was because I had been in a life-threatening situation before, but she looked psychologically uneasy.

It felt like she was about to scream, but her actions were surprisingly different.

“Thank you so much.”

『What?』

“I’m really grateful for saving Radon.”

『I didn’t particularly save him, though…』

Muto was flustered by Jenny’s sudden gratitude. It was such genuine thankfulness that it surprised even me.

Jenny’s expression looked joyful yet pitiful. If other guys saw her, they’d likely fall for her at first glance, but… the opponent was a Spirit.

『I don’t particularly need thanks from someone like you!』

“What?”

Indeed, Muto was famously sharp-tongued.

『Should I say an icy waste instead? Waste ice cream?』

Jenny’s once cheerful expression instantly stiffened.

I was used to hearing this all the time, so it didn’t bother me, but Jenny, who was not accustomed to swearing, looked visibly shaken.

“Okay, I take back my thanks.”

She already turned serious and spat out a cold threat.

“We’ll see once you’re out.”

『Hehe. Touché.』

As expected, Jenny was sensitive to the Spirit’s remarks.

Muto was clearly enjoying Jenny’s reaction, relishing the moment.

Just then, a multitude of light bullets rained down, and Aisha conjured a black storm to block them.

The black winds created by her flapping pushed back the light bullets.

『Let’s not fight just yet.』

『Tch, good point.』

Muto turned back to face forward and clicked his tongue.

Not only was Endless’s arm that got severed a moment ago restored, but suddenly there were now four Endlesses multiplying.

As a final boss, he possessed all sorts of patterns. Creating those clones was one of his complex abilities.

Given that the Devil Academy game was based on the future forecasted by Dantia, the patterns he wielded would likely remain the same even now.

『They’re coming!』

The multiplied Endlesses each targeted Jenny, Luska, Mary, and Nebia.

This was a pattern that typically emerged when his blood was nearly running dry, so it couldn’t be taken lightly.

If we didn’t take down the four within a time limit, they would gradually turn bright red and explode.

A single self-destruct could severely deplete our health.

“Let’s each take one for now!”

At my command, they acknowledged it and followed suit.

In the main story, Lyman handled this pattern alone, but I was different.

While he might be weakened, I was not alone.

“Let’s take this one first!”

Nebia pointed at the one that was currently targeting her.

I joined Nebia, who was struggling with a sonic attack, and flicked its tentacle away with my fishing rod.

The fishing rod, imbued with black lightning, made the creature stagger from the recoil.

During this time, Nebia leaned against my ear and began to sing.

In that moment, a rush of power surged through me.

Nebia, capable of strengthening as well as controlling the opponent through her spells, made this possible.

With all her abilities enhanced, I was able to rapidly fend off the incoming tentacles.

Tiriring~

The sound of a lute echoed through the air. An invisible barrier encircled the creature.

It was more of a prison to hinder its movements than a defensive measure.

Considering its highly fluid nature, it would surely flee if I tried something like a sushi roll on it.

While the creature was trapped in the sonic prison, Nebia launched her maximum output ultrasonic attack.

I followed up with black lightning to help annihilate it.

“Huff… huff… I cranked up the output, and now my throat is sore.”

Even if it was a clone, Nebia poured in enough power to extinguish it, so it was only natural for her to be exhausted.

“Don’t fall over again, Senpai.”

“Got it.”

Next, I joined up with Mary.

Mary was overwhelming Endless’s clone with her powerful elemental magic.

However, the fluid-like creature didn’t take any physical damage.

Therefore, it would be useless even for my illusion swordsmanship.

“But I have a good idea.”

“Friend!”

“This is a skill I got thanks to you, Mary.”

From my hands, a myriad of bugs poured out.

[Bug Summon Lv20]

It was the skill I had acquired from eating Mary’s bug lunch for the first time.

Since I had no particular use for it, I had only leveled it up, but it did serve a purpose.

Summoning bugs that would suck up liquids to devour the creature.

“Ohhhh! So that’s how it works!”

Seeing this, Mary started to replicate my method.

Since Mary’s mana capacity was the highest, she was able to unleash even more bugs than I could, coming down like a waterfall.

After all, Mary was the origin of this field, so it was impossible for me to keep up.

“Go, my friends!!”

The massive number of bugs commanded by Mary began to gnaw at the creature.

The reason it was immune to physical damage was that it could liquefy its body.

But if I could just consume that liquid, everything would change.

Those countless bugs devoured the creature as it transformed into black liquid.

In the end, it was completely annihilated without a trace.

“Thanks, buddy.”

“You’re welcome.”

Next was Luska.

As expected, Luska was clashing with it using a double-edged sword.

Using a sword or bow against a creature that passed through every attack was naturally a disadvantage.

Unlike Jenny, who commanded elemental powers, Luska was just a perfect physical fighter.

-So foolish! No matter how much you break me apart, I will revive time and time again!

“Ugh!”

Seeing the creature boast even with its severed parts, Luska clicked her tongue.

Then, suddenly, black feathers swirled around it before exploding.

–Ugh!

The creature melted away due to Aisha’s explosive feathers.

Realizing this, Luska finally transformed her double-edged sword into a bow.

“Now do you know how to counter it?”

“Thanks to you.”

Receiving my command through telepathy, Aisha opened her mouth to gather mana while Luska pulled back a powerful heated arrow.

Then, a cursed beam shot from Aisha’s mouth, and Luska’s arrow flew with immense explosive power.

Even without elemental abilities, a skill that endowed weapons with attributes existed.

As a massive explosion occurred, the creature was obliterated.

“One is left now.”

“Don’t let your guard down.”

“Got it.”

Now it was Jenny’s turn to join in.

As expected, Jenny used Silver Age to freeze the creature completely.

Although Endless, who had to break the ice to escape, was significantly weakened due to being split into four.

However, Jenny was still inexperienced.

Just like she had done with Radon, she attempted to split the creature in half.

-So foolish!

“Gah!”

In the end, the creature broke free from the ice and swung its blade-turned-arm, but I blocked it.

“That was close.”

“Sorry….”

“Can you still fight?”

“Yeah.”

Now, the creature was steadily turning red and preparing to self-destruct.

To end this quickly, I began to control Muto.

Muto’s tail and the creature’s blade-arm formed an equivalent synergy.

However, we couldn’t withstand a creature that could liquefy its body, and it shot spikes at us.

-How foolish!

We were pierced all over by the spikes.

Just as I contorted in agony, an arrow flew to pierce my chest.

As I confirmed that, the creature wore a triumphant expression.

Boom!—

Bang!—

-Huh?

The two of us, who should have become pincushions, suddenly vanished from sight.

The reason we disappeared along with the sound of explosions was due to the skill I used.

[Swap Lv16]

When I first used it, it consumed a large amount of mana, but as its level rose, it became the opposite.

Now, it wasn’t tiring anymore, even when cast on Jenny as well as me.

[Chain Silver Style - Bloodshot]

At that moment, a chilling cold surged from somewhere and re-froze the creature entirely.

In order not to make another rookie mistake, Jenny raised her power to maximum.

Blue mana and red mana flowed simultaneously from her body.

Soon, she swung both the blue sword and the red sword in her hands.

Kaboom!—

With overwhelming destructive power, the creature evaporated without a trace.

With that, we defeated all four before they could self-destruct, but the true body was still intact.

-What are you looking away for!?

At that moment, the true body suddenly appeared, attempting to decapitate me.

Normally, after taking down all clones, one would typically take a breather. It aimed to sneak in a surprise attack during that moment.

Of course, I was well aware of this pattern too.

-Ugh!

The creature was suddenly knocked away by a swinging tentacle.

I still had a trump card left.

『Kuhh!』

Diora, wielding tentacles from her back, stared at the creature and opened her mouth.

Sensing the impending threat, it attempted to flee, but suddenly the ground froze, immobilizing it.

Then, ice pillars shot up, lifting Endless into the air.

It was to prevent Jenny from being able to flee.

“Now, finish it.”

“Let’s do this.”

From Diora’s mouth, an indescribable mass of mana began to gather.

Dying in the Illusory World directly correlated to dying in reality.

Of course, it could have chosen to escape the Illusory World, abandoning its vessel…. but, facing reality, only death awaited.

Would it perish at Lyman’s hands or mine?

Only the worst options remained.

In the end, it chose.

-You have won.

Diora unleashed a destruction beam from her mouth.

The violet flash engulfed the Illusory World, obliterating even the ice pillars that had bound Endless.

Indeed, a tremendous explosion surged forth. This time, it released power sufficient to be thankful it had aimed upward.

When it was all over, no one remained.

The Destruction God Endless was completely annihilated.

The reality of Endless was not much different.

And as if the real world was calling us, the body in the Illusory World began to disappear increasingly.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.