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Chapter 299: Siblings Selling Ramyeon
Ellie, the Sword Emperor, was pacing about while listening to the report from her aide, Ruth.
“Count Gedir has collected more taxes than usual and has reigned like a king in the land. If there was anyone that bothered him, he would slit their throat. If he fancied a woman, he would hug her and bed her, even if she hasn’t come of age yet.”
“Call him in and put him in jail right away. If he refuses, then go ahead and cast judgment on the spot.”
“Yes.”
Ellie, just like usual, was living her life as the cold empress. Then, she suddenly stopped walking as she trembled on the spot.
“Im… Impossible…”
The direction where she was looking was in the direction where Minhyuk just used the Berserk Sword. She could feel a vast amount of power from her swordsmanship in that direction.
‘Minhyuk… has reached the pinnacle level…?’
Ellie’s Swordsmanship was not always called Ellie's Swordsmanship before. It was only named ‘Ellie’s Swordsmanship’ after she named it after herself. This was a skill that had always been the framework of the swordsmanship of her ancestors. However, the former emperors had been blocked by their physical limitations.
‘A godly state that is just slightly out of reach, but can never be attained.’
Ellie and her ancestors had called it like that, but the players and the operators had called it ‘Demigod’. However, this swordsmanship was originally a swordsmanship that God had personally left in this world.
According to the sayings, plenty of skills and abilities in Athenae have been born from a God. Aerod, the God of abilities and disasters, created eight Pinnacle Attack Skills and left them on earth. One of these skills was the original form of Ellie’s Swordsmanship. However, no one had ever reached the pinnacle yet. That was the reason why Ellie stopped in her tracks upon feeling the power from earlier.
‘According to the legends…’
Those who had reached the Pinnacle of Ellie’s Swordsmanship were supposed to save the continent. However, the power appeared only for a moment and disappeared quickly. Ellie thought, ‘Was the power unlocked temporarily because of something?’
She took a breath and calmed herself down.
‘It’s still a bit early but perhaps, Minhyuk will be able to reach the pinnacle. Something that even I can’t reach.’
Then, Ellie began to pace again.
***
ATV broadcasting station’s commentator, Lee Dae-Jin, blinked blankly at the monitor before rubbing his eyes. He thought, ‘What, what did I just see…?’
He could not even be certain of what he had just seen. Then…
Badump, badump, badump, badump―
…his heart beat intensely as the hairs all over his body stood up. It was a thrilling sensation. And…
‘The Athenae: World War… I think our country can win…!’
The global experts had said that South Korea was very likely to remain in the 40th place out of the 49 participating countries. There were not even a lot of people who would deny this claim. However, for the first time in a long while, they saw hope in Minhyuk.
Lee Dae-Jin could not help but mutter loudly, “Our country is 40th place? Are there any other players in your country who are as powerful as that?!!!!”
And his voice was transmitted just like that.
[Our country is 40th place? Are there any other players in your country who are as powerful as that?!!!!]
Even if Lee Dae-Jin sounded arrogant, no one could say that he was not qualified as a commentator despite his conceited and arrogant comment.
The comments that had fallen silent began flooding in once more.
[Crazy… shit… that’s completely crazy… so crazy…! This is the best out of all the videos that I have ever watched…!]
[Wow… I think I have to change my underwear. It’s so awesome that I might have peed my pants a bit!]
[I didn’t like Player Minhyuk because he’s a Food God, but I decided to become his fan today!]
[No player in their countries could ever show their best and strongest skill that could rival his.]
[Where are all the members who said that Our Lord, Food God can’t carry others?]
[Everyone, what we need to do right now is certain and has been decided.]
[What’s that?]
[Korea, make some noiiiiiiiiiiseeeee!]
[Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]
[Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]
And on that day, shouts and screams resounded all over Korea. It was as if they had scored during the World Cup. Korea’s stellar performance in Athenae: World War was not that impossible after all.
***
[The duration of Berserk has ended, your HP has now dropped below 10%.]
[You can’t increase your HP with any sort of potion or heal for three minutes.]
[Your defense level drops below 20%.]
The power that Minhyuk felt earlier drained out of him the moment Berserk’s duration ended. What came after was none other than a huge decline in HP, including enormous muscle pain. What was worse was the fact that he could not recover his HP through any potion or heal, so it was safe to say that the Berserk skill was a double-edged sword.
While feeling the strength leaving his body, Minhyuk recalled the countless notifications that he heard earlier.
‘Demon God’s Knight’s Training Room Stone, Demon God’s special parchment, more than 3,000 platinum and 61 million EXP…’
Minhyuk leveled up a whopping eleven times in a row. There were even two class quests created.
‘Was it created because I reached Level 450?’
Minhyuk immediately checked out the quests.
[ Class Quest : Food God’s Warriors]
Rank : ???
Requirements : Level 450
Rewards : The third God’s Dish and the Food God’s Secret
Penalty for Failure : Unable to challenge the fifth and final God’s Dish.
Description : The Food God has the best servants and subordinates all over the world. Raise and collect subordinates and make them into your own warriors. It’s possible to make NPCs and players your own warriors. Can only be fulfilled once they make the ‘Warrior’s Oath’. Have at least 10 legendary people or more.
[ Class Quest : Food God’s Kingdom.]
Rank : ???
Requirements : Level 450
Rewards : The Fourth God’s Dish and the Food God’s Silver Armor set.
Penalty for Failure : Unable to eat the remaining God’s Dishes
Description : Food God is a powerful being that shook the entire continent. Take your first steps, create a kingdom and get closer to becoming a Food God like that. The quest will be completed once the kingdom has been declared.
‘A kingdom?’
How intriguing. No one has ever created a kingdom in Athenae. No, there was no guild that had even declared about owning a great land that could house a kingdom.
‘But you’re telling me to create my own kingdom?’
Still, there was only one reason why Minhyuk was interested in the quest.
‘A kingdom filled with delicious food! Should I create a kingdom like that?!’
Aaaaaah! Just imagining it was making Minhyuk happy. The kingdom that he wanted to build would be filled to the brim with food and no one would be hungry!
As for the Food God’s Warriors, Minhyuk already had warriors.
Kaistra, the Envoy of Incarnation.
Legendary Spear Ben.
Great Sage Aruvel.
Someone who could become a Legend, Haze.
The leader of Talmor Religion, Corr.
Sword Saint Conir.
‘Uhm…’
Minhyuk felt a bit overwhelmed when he thought of it.
‘How come…’
Each and every single one of them were special beings. They were all decent when compared to others.
‘They have distinct personalities too.’
Minhyuk suddenly looked around to check the area.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
All of the people present were looking at Minhyuk and his easy-going expression. One of them, Lee Hosung, fell on his bum in shock.
Minhyuk asked, “...What’s wrong with you?”
“No, nothing. Ho, hohohohoho!” Genie laughed awkwardly.
“Just, just because!!! Ha, hahahahaha!”
“You, you succeeded in hunting Ba, Barach!!!”
“Hahahahahahaha!”
“Hohohohohoho! You’ve gotten a lot stronger since the last time I saw you!” Alicia also laughed.
On this day, Alicia, the Legend Guild, and all the other rankers present were given a huge surprise by Minhyuk. On the other hand, they also experienced jealousy, envy, and yearning to be the one to turn around the situation like that.
‘We want to be stronger too…’
‘Move forward. We have to move forward.’
Minhyuk’s overwhelming power stimulated everyone’s growth vigor.
***
ATV broadcasting station had sent out threats about filing a complaint if the BJs present published the video of Minhyuk killing Barach. This way, they could control the video release. They also briefly stopped the airing of the scheduled reruns. ATV was creating a board right now. They also made sure to give most of their proceeds to Legend Guild and Minhyuk as they obtained another approval from them. It was for the ‘Hall of Fame’.
Right now, ATV’s PD Kim Dae-Guk was standing behind a female employee with his hands in his pockets.
“Upload it.”
“Yes, PD.”
The video that will challenge the Hall of Fame. ATV had also distributed the opening to players in advance.
“It hit 300,000 views as soon as it opened! 350,000! 400,000! 450,000! This is crazy!!! The number of clicks is so unbelievable!!!”
People from all over the world were watching. The players and rankers from Korea, and even in other countries tried to check out this hot scene.
PD Kim Dae-Guk looked out of the window and thought, ‘Player Minhyuk’s video is spreading quickly all over the screens of the viewers.’
Then…
“We’re over 1 million views!!!”
“We’re over 5 million views!!!”
The number of players playing Athenae exceeded hundreds of millions. The number of views continued to soar thanks to these people. And this was just the first day, just one day. The momentum did not stop at all.
“We entered 6th place!!!”
“We reached the 4th place!!!”
And…
“3rd place…!!! Player Minhyuk’s video has stayed in 3rd place in cumulative views!!! Oh?!!! Th… that!!!”
When they clicked on the upper right corner of the video, they saw a small crown shape…
“...Player Minhyuk’s video has been confirmed for the Hall of Fame!!!”
The world had turned upside down. The video had entered the top 10 in cumulative views in just a few days. And, it did not stop there. They originally estimated that it would take a month to reach the Hall of Fame. However, in just a few days, the video had already ranked third in the Hall of Fame.
[Shocking!!! There’s a ranker like that in Korea?]
[That’s a skill that I’ve never heard of!!!]
[Our country’s top ranker Mushashi Kentaro talked about his relationship with Player Minhyuk. He said that he’s the one who enlightened him!!!]
[The number one in the Global Mage Rankings, Alex, stood up and gave a round of applause after watching Minhyuk’s video!]
Meanwhile, PD Kim Dae-Guk took out his cellphone and commented on the Hall of Fame video.
“What did you write?”
“Secret.”
PD Kim Dae-Guk smiled as he placed his hands in his pockets and went outside. Although he did not mean for it to happen, one comment quickly came up as the best comment. And the comment with the most likes and replies was…
‘World, wait for it. Our South Korea is coming.’