Leveling Up Through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

81 Splendid Return

The content Reclaiming the Elven Forest was still being done by the domestic users. They were still struggling to recapture the Elven  Forest from the grasps of the demons. This time, the human and elven coalition worked together to finally reach their final destination.

There, in the center of the Elven Forest, was ‘Lapur’. Lapur was the capital of the Elven Kingdom. Recapturing this area would be the biggest key to solving the war against the demons.

While they fiercely struggled to recapture the area with Legend Guild at the forefront, notifications began to ring in their ears.

[Legend Guild has become the first guild to enter the city of Lapur.]

[You have gained 5,000,000 Guild EXP.]

[There’s not much time left to recapture Lapur.]

[If you tear down the Demon God’s Rock and defend the area for 2 hours, you will be able to recapture the city.]

The Demon God’s Rock was something that Commander-in-chief Rufel had applied in the city of Lapur. This Demon God’s Rock had also turned the city of Lapur into an aggressive city fit for the demons. Extreme pressure and magi were running rampant in the city as the summoned demons glared at the users.

“The end is just around the corner.”

Genie spoke up while the commentators clamored as they watched them through the screen.

[Ah! Legend Guild is the first guild to enter Lapur City!!!]

[There were a lot of people saying that Legend Guild will not do well without their splendid allies, Black Dragon and the Boys and Black Mage Ali. And of course, their guild member, Minhyuk. But look at them now! They’re showing us that they’re the best guild in Korea!]

[The Sun Guild Alliance is trying to speed up and dig inside so they wouldn’t lose against them!!!]

[Ah, they’re going to try and break the Demon God’s Rock and eat a lot of contribution points.]

[They can’t dig into Legend Guild! So, the Sun Guilds immediately went to dig in using their numbers!!!]

Perhaps this was a situation that they couldn’t really do anything about.

Legend Guild had immediately dug in. But as soon as they started, the situation became extremely exhausting. The Sun Guild Alliance tried to take advantage of the gap as they swept the mobs and tried to enter the city.

The comments from the viewers began to appear.

[Ah. Such a shame. Legend Guild entered first but they’re not doing well.]

[But there’s nothing they can do. The Black Dragon and the Boys are missing and even Black Mage Ali is not there.]

[Kgghk! In fact, God Food God-nim will be able to take care of everything if he’s here. Agree?]

[No Agree.]

[Nono. I don’t think so. If Minhyuk-nim came with Black Mage Ali, then the situation may change. But with him alone? I don’t think so.]

[It’s not like he can do the part that dozens of other guilds can do by himself.]

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. No matter how strong Minhyuk was, they had deemed it impossible for a single person to change the situation by himself. He had tremendous wide-area of attack skills, powerful one-shot kill skills, and high stats, but everyone was of the opinion that he would not be able to revive the situation that Legend Guild was in now. This was what the viewers thought to be appropriate.

However, there was one fact that the viewers and the commenters had overlooked. It was the fact that Minhyuk had awakened Kongie and had undergone explosive level ups during his stay in the Demon World’s Tower. He even gained plenty of excellent artifacts during his climb.

Then, at that moment.

A magic circle suddenly appeared surrounding Lapur, the capital of the Elven Kingdom. Lava suddenly blasted out. It was as if an active volcano had just erupted in the area as it swept those who were trying to enter the city.

Puhaaaaaa―

Puhaaaa―

Puhaaa―

“Ugh, aaaaaaack!”

“Keheok!”

“Keuaaaaack!”

The number 1 tanker, Golden Shield Valdar, felt flustered after being hit directly by the lava.

[You suffered from Barach’s Roar.]

[Demon World’s Lava will corrode your armors and weapons and melt your flesh away.]

[Your HP has fallen below 20%.]

“Wh, what…?!”

Valdar’s HP was clearly full earlier. This was possible because he currently had the best HP recovery artifact, Rufad’s Stamina Ring, equipped. However, his HP fell below 20% in just one single attack.

Then, this means…

“Eve, everyone’s already dead?”

It was just earlier that the vicinity was teeming with people but now, almost everyone was forced to log out after being directly hit by the pillars of lava.

And there was also a name included in the skill that hit them.

‘Barach’s Roar? Barach?’

Along with that thought, a huge whip made out of flames swept around him.

Shwaaaaaa!

“Keuaaaaack!”

“Uwaaaaaaack!”

“Keok!”

As soon as the whip of flames touched the users, their bodies disintegrated and disappeared while being forced to log out.

The one in the center of it all was about 6m tall with red skin and muscular body, it had a cow’s head with two horns sticking out and a whip in one of its hands and a steel bar on the other. With it in the center, thousands of flaming demonic beasts surrounded it as they escorted the Demon God’s Rock.

Then, notifications rang for the users in the vicinity.

[The Demon God’s Knight, Barach, has appeared!]

[Abnormal State. You have been subjected to extreme heat.]

[The heat has reduced your physical defense by 30% and your magical defense by 40%.]

[The heat has reduced all of your stats by 10%.]

[The one who successfully hunts the Demon God’s Knight, Barach, will receive rewards.]

The commentators immediately searched for information as they shouted loudly on their microphones.

[Aaaaaaaaaaah!!! The Demon God’s Knight Barach has appeared!!!]

[Commander-in-chief Rufel must have squeezed the last of Verus’ strength in him to summon him!!!]

[The Demon God’s Knight Barach is known to be an existence beyond Lv600!!!]

Then, Barach suddenly roared.

[Knight’s Momentum]

[A powerful explosion kills off all of the enemies in the vicinity.]

“Graaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Loud and violent explosions bloomed under the feet of the elves and the users, swallowing them down and killing them at the same time.

And Genie, who saw all of that happen…

‘C, Crazy……! How can we kill that?!’

Kaistra quickly avoided the explosions and approached Genie.

After he had finished the work with Callauhel, Kaistra had immediately joined the guild to recapture the Elven Forest.

“Noona, I think it’s better if we avoid it and stay at the back.”

“Alright.”

Genie stared at the Sun Guild Alliance and the other guilds that were targeted by the skill. They were trying to push forward with their numbers at the thought of killing Barach. Looking at them, she thought that Legend, a guild that was no match for them in terms of numbers, was better off retreating while seeking other opportunities.

[Guild Master Genie: Legend Guild. Everyone should retreat and continue to watch the situation.]

Then, Genie turned to ask Kaistra.

“When will Minhyuk come here?”

Kaistra thought about Minhyuk’s words before answering her.

“Pretty soon.”

***

[Aruvel has become your vassal subordinate.]

Minhyuk struggled to swallow down his tears as he accepted Aruvel as his vassal.

There was a reason why he accepted him as a vassal despite his obvious intentions. He had received a lot of help from his guild members. His guild members always brought Minhyuk high-quality ingredients as payment for his buffed dishes. And the more powerful the vassal he accepted, the more helpful they would be not only for him but also for them. In addition, he knew that doing this would also help him move forward to some extent and find more ways to eat delicious food.

But…

‘Even though my head knows all of this, my heart still hurts… Sob!’

After sighing deeply, Minhyuk quickly used the second fragment of the golden crown on Kongie.

[You have used the Fragment of the Golden Crown.]

[The Fragment of the Golden Crown is applied to Kongie, the Incarnation of Gluttony.]

[All of the fragments of the Golden Crown must be collected first before the Golden Crown appears.]

[The fragment of the Golden Crown will open up a part of the Sealed Incarnation of Gluttony.]

[Kongie has acquired the Three Great Divine Beast’s  Armor.]

[Kongie has acquired the Passive Skill: ‘Using Master’s Weapon’.]

(Three Great Divine Beast’s Armor)

Rank: Half-God

Restrictions: Incarnation of Gluttony

Durability: 50,000 / 50,000

Defensive Power: 1,287

Special Effects:

― Penrus’ Active Skill: Speed of Light

― Dragon of Destruction’s Active Skill: Dragon’s Shield

― Predatory Snake’s Active Skill: Eye of Domination

Description: This is an armor that the three great divine beasts’ had created with their defensive and special skills. An item solely created for their King, the Incarnation of Gluttony.

Minhyuk was speechless.

Kongie’s Three Great Divine Beast’s Armor had a higher defense than Minhyuk’s Armor of Immortality. It’s rank was even a ‘Half-God’. And there were also the skills that he had seen in the video from before.

The Speed of Light had a cooldown that was only half of the mage’s movement skill, Blink. The distance that it could cover was even farther and the speed was much master. Dragon’s Shield was also tougher than the shields that ordinary mages could use. And lastly, the Eye of Domination was a unique skill that would brainwash the opponent as long as their mental strength was weaker than Kongie’s own.

There was also the passive skill ‘Using Master’s Weapon’ where he could use one of his master’s weapons. However, there was something that he should be cautious about. From what was said, as soon as the weapon was handed over for his use, the weapon’s attribute would completely change to a pet’s weapon and would not be able to be used by the owner anymore.

Minhyuk thought of the efficiency of his weapons. But the answer came quickly.

‘Food God’s Kitchen Knife.’

The Food God’s Kitchen Knife was an auxiliary weapon that belonged to Minhyuk. It was not his main weapon. There was also the extremely lethal wide-area of attack skill, Rain of Kitchen Knives. Once Kongie owned it, he would still be able to use it through him. If Minhyuk casted another skill while Kongie used the Rain of Kitchen Knives then the effect would double. Besides, the Food God’s Kitchen Knife was small and appropriate for Kongie’s size.

[You have handed over the ‘Food God’s Kitchen Knife’ for Kongie to use.]

[The Food God’s Kitchen Knife now belongs to Kongie.]

It was clear that Using Master’s Weapon was a unique skill. After all, most of the pet’s weapons were artifacts that had much lower power than ordinary users’ weapons. But thanks to this skill, this weakness was easily covered and supplemented.

Then, he looked at the Three Great Divine Beasts’ Armor. It was an armor that was made entirely of gold. It was floating in the air just a bit earlier but it had now moved by itself and approached Kongie. Then, the armor suddenly turned into fluid as it covered Kongie’s entire body. After covering Kongie’s body, the armor solidified and protected Kongie’s upper and lower body. The armor looked quite impressive as it covered Kongie from his neck down to his toes. There were even a pair of golden boots that softly glittered and flashed on Kongie’s feet.

“I can tell that this armor is made for Kongie.”

The reason was simple. The armor, as if aware of Kongie’s slightly protruding belly, also had its belly part protruding. It looked a bit funny.

“Oiiiiiink!”

Kongie stared at him confidently. Minhyuk could imagine how cool Kongie would look once the golden crown was placed on his head. He was even cool right now.

‘Come to think of it…’

There were no hints about the third fragment of the golden crown whatsoever.

‘Will a hint appear when the time is right? Or not?’

He didn’t know if it would appear when the time was right but he was still somewhat disappointed that he couldn’t see Kongie’s awakening immediately.

Then, finally, Minhyuk turned to look at the Four Great Heavenly King’s treasures. There was a mandolin, a pipa, a bronze sword and an orb. By collecting the four treasures of the heavenly kings, the user would be able to obtain the artifact with a form that they desired. But the problem was the part that said ‘Instead, the performance of the artifact cannot be expected’. Of course, this was a fact that all of the users knew.

The operators already knew that the users were bound to know this fact one day. But it seemed like it was still a bit hidden. Once the Four Great Heavenly Kings’ treasures were all collected, the artifact that it would produce would be similar to a disaster level artifact. Those were the Authority Artifacts.

In addition, Minhyuk was also doing more with his ‘Half-God Artifact Production Method’. Minhyuk might not know this yet but this was an unimaginable moment where he would create an artifact that was comparable to the Devil Judge’s Sword that he had received from Diablo.

And of course, this artifact that would be comparable to that was already decided.

“I will make an oven using the treasures of the Four Great Heavenly Kings and the Half-God Artifact Production Method.”

Then…

Shwaaaaaaaaaak―

Strong wind suddenly blew. The wind was so strong that it looked like it was swallowing all of the magi in the Demon World. The strong wind sucked up all the black magi in the surroundings as it devoured the four artifacts and the Half-God Artifact Production Method. Then, a huge tornado was formed from the chaos.

Shwaaaaaaaa―

Minhyuk’s cape and hair were blown by the wind. However, he could see that the four artifacts and the production method met in the middle of the tornado. Inside, the production of the artifact began on its own.

Crack, crack, crack―

The strong wind became stronger and stronger as if it was going to devour everything in its path. Then…

Crackle―

A huge black lightning fell down from the sky and struck the artifacts.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Notifications rang loudly not long after.

[You have acquired the Authority Artifact: Oven of Destruction]

[The Oven of Destruction has reached the Half-God rank.]

[The rank of the artifact has changed to Absolute Half-God.]

[Oven of Destruction. Absolute Half-God Artifact that ranked second among all the other Absolute Half-God artifacts.]

At the same time, in the Special Users Management Team…

“This, this is impossible…!”

President Kang Taehoon, Team Leader Park Minggyu and all of the people present in the room were all shocked and astonished.

No, they were more shocked that God of Athenae, a more absolute authority than them in the game, intervened like that. This was a situation that they did not expect to happen.

“Half-God artifacts could change to Absolute Half-God artifacts…?! No, it wasn’t even a Half-God artifact, it was just an authority artifact…”

However, when they thought about it more, the Absolute Half-God artifacts were the ten most outstanding to exist in that world. They could assume that it should not be unilaterally and unconditionally ranked as ‘Half-God’.

While Kang Taehoon was immersed in his astonishment, Team Leader Park spoke.

“The second among the Absolute Half-God artifacts is an… an oven…”

They had no choice but to feel both astonished and appalled again.

***

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