Cheats Feel Great for a While; Keep Cheating, Keep Feeling Great Forever

Roar—!!! (I've returned from hell!!!)

The Ape King unleashed its first roar since returning at the Lava Giant. The sound waves shook icicles loose from the cave ceiling.

But soon, its roar gradually shifted from initial fervor to a low rumble... until it became one of utter disbelief.

It slowly raised its head and looked at the opponent, who was half again as tall as itself.

Then it looked back at its "masters," its eyes filled with confusion.

Roar...? (I'm fighting that?)

"Third!" Second ignored the Ape King's hesitation and immediately shouted.

"Lend me your power... no, lend it to him!"

Third paused slightly. "How?"

"Just like how you enhanced the vines and the Shadow Wolf! Your skill is fundamentally just a manifestation of your own energy!"

"Since that's the case, try applying your enhancement effect directly to the BOSS!" Second spoke rapidly.

"I'll transfer control of it to you! Make it your temporary summon!"

"Wishful thinking..." Third commented instinctively, then sharply nodded his deer head.

"But I'm in!"

Bzzzt—!

Dense shadow energy surged from beneath the Wendigo's feet and swiftly spread into the King Snow Ape's shadow.

At the same time, Second immediately sensed a familiar consciousness intruding upon her connection with the Ape King.

Without the slightest hesitation, Second proactively severed her own link.

The Ape King, suddenly disconnected from its "master," did not even have time to feel confused before an unprecedented torrent of power flooded every part of its body!

[Frost Ash Wolf Assault] effect applied!

—Giantification! Strength boost! Attack speed boost! Ice-and-fire enchantment!

Innate talent [Pet and Retainer Enhancement] activated!

Rumble rumble rumble—!!!

The Ape King's body swelled wildly like an inflated balloon. Explosive cracks of stretching bones and dull booms of bulging muscles rang out without end.

It excitedly pounded its chest with both fists, producing thunderous boom-boom sounds like war drums.

Its shadow rapidly expanded along with it, nearly covering the entire visible area of the cave.

When its growth finally stopped, it had reached a terrifying height of fifty meters.

At that moment, it could only sit cross-legged in the vast cavern to avoid punching straight through the rock ceiling above.

"It's not over yet!"

Second's voice rang out again, brimming with excitement.

"Fourth!"

"Huh? I'm here!"

Fourth, who had been stunned speechless by the spectacle, was jolted back to his senses by the shout.

"Lend me your power too!"

"Osu! Order me as you please!"

Fourth instantly got into character and puffed out his chest.

The corners of Second's mouth curled upward as she spoke words that made Fourth's soul tremble.

"Do you want... to pilot a Gundam?!"

"M-Masaka?!"

Fourth's eyes instantly widened, and his body trembled with overwhelming excitement.

"That's right!"

Second swung an arm forcefully and pointed at the fifty-meter ice-and-snow giant ape.

"Go, Fourth! Use—Fusion Upgrade on the Ape King!!"

"OOOOOOH—!!!"

Second's wild command sent Fourth's blood boiling, and he cried out excitedly.

"What do I do?!"

A kind smile appeared on Second's face. She bent down and gently picked up chibi Fourth.

For a moment, Fourth did not react. He was still thrilled at the prospect of "piloting a Gundam."

The next second, Second unhesitatingly handed Fourth, whom she held in her arms, toward Third while shouting.

"Third! Throw him over there!"

Fourth:?

"Oh!"

Third responded instinctively. Without even looking, he reached out and caught the "thing" Second handed him.

It was unexpectedly light in his hands, and... squishy?

His hands instinctively tightened, and Third fiercely hurled the "thing" toward the giant ape.

The motion was smooth, and the force behind it was tremendous!

Only after the "thing" left his hands and flew through the air did Third see clearly what was flailing about and screaming in terror—

It was Fourth, shrunk into chibi form, his face currently screaming, "Holy shit"...

"[Wendigo profanity!!!]"

At that moment, Second's voice still echoed from behind him as she clearly added the rest of her command.

"...Third! Have the Ape King open its mouth and eat him!"

Fourth, Third:???

"Stop it—!!! Aren't we brothers!?"

Fourth let out a miserable accusation in midair, his little legs kicking desperately, but he could not alter his trajectory toward the Ape King.

"Don't be afraid, Fourth! Fly into the Ape King's mouth! This is a necessary step for fusion!"

Third hesitated for a moment, but his long-standing trust in Second's decisions ultimately won out.

Gritting his teeth, he issued the command to the giant ape.

"D-Don't blame me, Fourth," Third said, his voice trembling slightly.

"I don't want this either! I... I'm heartbroken too!"

"You're lying! The corners of your mouth never went down!! I saw it!!!"

With one final mournful cry, Fourth flew precisely into the King Snow Ape's open maw.

"Gulp..." A clear swallowing sound stood out sharply amid the brief silence.

The ice-and-snow giant ape instinctively smacked its lips, a flicker of confusion passing through its eyes.

What just went inside?

"Third! Immediately release control of the BOSS and hand ownership over to Fourth!"

"Understood!" Third did not hesitate. He completely severed his connection to that enormous body.

"Fourth! Now! Fuse!" Second's voice rang out like a starting pistol.

Roar—!!!

Almost at the exact same moment Second gave the command, the Lava Giant's roar erupted again.

Aside from a fleeting moment of confusion when it first saw its dead opponent reappear, its instinctive urge for destruction had soon driven it to attack again.

Without further hesitation, a giant fist of lava struck ruthlessly toward the giant ape's head with enough force to crush mountains.

However—

Smack—!!!

A crisp, dull sound rang out.

The devastating fist, capable of reducing a skyscraper to rubble with a single blow, was effortlessly caught by a blue-black giant palm just meters away from the Ape King's head.

It had not merely been caught.

The anticipated earth-shattering shockwave, the scattered splashes of molten lava... none of it happened.

That destructive force seemed to vanish into the sea like mud, unable to stir even the faintest breeze. The silence was terrifying.

"...What is this?" Second and Third held their breath at the same time.

The giant ape's massive body began trembling violently out of control. Its snowy-white fur was tinged with blood, and its previously lowered head suddenly snapped up!

"Wryyyyyyyyy—!!! Saikou ni high tte yatsu da!!!"

It was [Immortal Body]!

Fourth! He had successfully used the King Snow Ape's body to unleash [Immortal Body]—an ability capable of absorbing all damage!

"Just as I expected!"

Second looked at the completely unscathed giant ape, an excited expression of everything-going-according-to-plan appearing on her face.

"Since Fourth's own body doesn't have the capacity to withstand the enormous energy generated by the conversion, all we have to do is give him a sufficiently large container and raise the limit of how much energy he can hold!"

At the center of the battlefield, the Lava Giant was puzzled by the bizarre scene before it, but that confusion was swiftly replaced by even greater fury.

Rapid Strikes! It used Rapid Strikes again!

Its four lava arms turned into afterimages, fists pouring down like rain. Every blow was enough to pulverize rock into dust.

Yet before this terrifying barrage capable of boring through mountains, Fourth, controlling the Ape King's body, stood firm and unmoving!

He even made the giant ape put both hands on its hips and thrust out its chest at the dense assault. (The Ultraman chest thrust.)

The attacks landed continuously, yet there was still no expected thunderous impact—only strange, soft sounds, like strikes against leather.

All kinetic energy was absorbed and converted by [Immortal Body].

"Weak! Too weak!"

The giant ape shook its enormous head as Fourth's smug voice came from within.

"Boss, as you are now... do you not even have the power to make me feel the slightest pain?"

As if it had fully understood the naked provocation, the Lava Giant let out an enraged roar. The speed and force of its attacks rose once more.

That terrifying speed left crimson afterimages, making Second and Third, who watched from behind, feel their scalps tingle.

Second said, "Hey! Fourth! Can you still hold on?"

"Hold on? Heh heh!"

The giant ape suddenly clenched both fists. Frigid frost instantly condensed over one fist, while concentrated flames ignited around the other.

"Now—it's time for my counterattack!"

"Boss! You're not the only one with cheats anymore!"

Its enormous body leaned back slightly, its ice-and-fire fists poised to strike. Fourth's voice brimmed with unparalleled excitement.

"Take my Friendship Face-Breaking Punch!"

"Stop!!!"

Fourth:?

The poised fist froze in midair. The giant ape turned around in confusion, completely ignoring the Lava Giant's futile attacks continuing behind it.

It stuck out a pinky and dug at its ear, then lowered its head to look at Second, the source of the voice.

"What's your problem, Four-Eyes? Can't you see this handsome guy's big moment is about to arrive?"

Veins bulged on Second's forehead. Resisting the urge to throw her cursed staff at him, she roared.

"You ■■! Our goal is to let him exhaust himself and regain his senses, not clash with him head-on!"

Second's roar instantly cooled Fourth's overheated blood. The giant ape scratched its head.

"Hehe★, I forgot~"

Before Second could continue scolding him, Fourth waved a hand.

"Don't worry, don't worry! You just want me to be a punching bag until Boss recovers, right? No problem at all!"

With that, Fourth turned back toward the Lava Giant and made the giant ape stretch both arms forward, curling its fingers in a highly taunting beckoning gesture.

"Boss, didn't you eat? Put some more strength into it!"

Seeing Fourth's provocative gesture, Boss's attack abruptly stopped. Its body of lava began trembling unnaturally.

An enraged roar burst from the Lava Giant's mouth. Under the stunned gazes of the others—

The scorching lava on its four raised arms rapidly stretched, reshaped, and solidified...

In the blink of an eye, four enormous lava battle axes were firmly gripped in its four massive hands.

The lava axes reflected the cave's light, their sharp blades gleaming with scorching radiance.

Fourth froze. The giant ape's enormous eyes blinked, filled with disbelief.

"Wait... Boss, you got cheats too?!"