The kings that wanted to sweep Beyond the Heavens Kingdom and the South Korean rankers first before they proceeded with the Battle of the Thrones were all left flustered.
Infighter Anton was sent flying up in the air after receiving an attack from Ares, which was immediately followed by Khan, who punched him down to the ground.
âGiantâs Downward Strike!!!â
Right next to Khan and Ares was Elpis, one of the strongest, charging toward their enemies. The only reason why Lesser Demon Elpis was having a hard time fighting against the other kings was because the kingsâ powers had become 1.5x stronger. Assuming the kings were initially at Level 600, with the special privilege of 1.5x strength, they were able to exert the power of someone at Level 900 during the entire duration of the Battle of the Thrones.
But thanks to the buff effects of the dish that Minhyuk made for them, Elpis had now become 30% stronger.
Elpis grabbed Kentaro, who was trying to escape with a poofâ, by the collar and slammed him on the ground.
On the other side, a tremendous vibration shook the ground beneath Disaster Qigong Master Demetrys, as the young boy Conir and the Divine Beast Owner Kaistra pushed him back with their fierce attack and momentum.
Demetrys tried to manipulate the energy in the air and restrain them, but it was useless. Kaistra and Penrus charged forward, with Kaistra swinging his spear and Penrus snapping his huge teeth and swiping his sharp claws at Demetrys. Of course, the young boy, Conir, was not to be outdone, as he swung his sword and displayed his outstanding swordsmanship.
But the bigger problem that the kings faced was the 10,000 rankers running behind them.
âSummon Spirit! Undine!!!â
After becoming 30% stronger, the rankers were now able to exert the power of someone at around the Level 700 range. Normally, this would not be a problem for them since they were stronger, but the problem here was that there were around 10,000 of such rankers. On top of thatâŚ
âŚMinhyuk joined the battle against them after wiping out the rest of the large army. He sent Calauhel flying back with one of his attacks as he dashed forward and cast his âSword of Frenzyâ toward Master Archer Miao, who was under the onslaught of Rootâs arrows. A tremendous force erupted within Miaoâs body the moment Minhyukâs sword stabbed one of her vital points.
âKyaaaaaaack!â Miao screamed, her body collapsing in a heap.
Minhyuk also took advantage of the âReflector Masterâ, attacking Xu Jiaqi in her flanks while she was busy reflecting the attacks of the rankers in front of her.
Xu Jiaqi and Minhyuk had already clashed once when she drove Ellie to her âdeathâ before. When Xu Jiaqi saw Minhyuk gearing up for another attack, she hurriedly cast her âMiracle Reflectionâ to ward it off.
Miracle Reflection was a skill that Xu Jiaqi recently gained. With this skill, she would be able to reflect 100% of the attacks with 100% of their damage in one minute. However, in return, the skill user would also receive damage. However, that did not matter, especially since Xu Jiaqi was considered to be the strongest ranker and Chinaâs king. Furthermore, Xu Jiaqiâs HP was high.
Minhyuk used Sword of Tempest against Xu Jiaqi.
Sword of Tempest was a skill that could unleash hundreds of blades with 250% speed and indiscriminately slaughter everyone within the radius of attack for six straight seconds! In just a few short seconds, Minhyuk would be able to deal dozens, if not hundreds, of attacks to his enemies.
âMoron! If you use that skill, then you will also⌠Kyaaaaaack!â
Hundreds of blades slashed Chinaâs King, Xu Jiaqi, blood spurting out from each and every cut. The same wounds and injuries appeared on Minhyukâs body. However, Minhyuk just ignored them.
âWhatâŚ?!â Xu Jiaqi could not understand the situation.
In the end, the one whose HP reached zero was Xu Jiaqi; she was the one that died. Yes, Xu Jiaqi had a high HP volume. However, Minhyukâs stats were far higher than any of the ordinary rankersâ stats. No matter how high Reflector Master Xu Jiaqiâs HP was, it was only slightly higher than a mage or an assassin. Minhyuk was just a âchefâ, but his HP had improved tremendously thanks to the skill that he had in the past where he could increase his stats just by eating alone.
Finally, one of the kings had disappeared, triggering the notifications that signaled Xu Jiaqiâs death.
[Verrado Kingdomâs King has perished!]
[Verrado Kingdom has started to shake!]
[The kingdom that hunted Verrado Kingdomâs King has earned a high amount of contribution.]
The notifications came as a huge shock to the kings especially because they never expected that any of the participating people that wanted to push out South Korea and Beyond the Heavens Kingdom first would die. But not long afterâŚ
[Alveir Kingdomâs King has perished!]
[Alveir Kingdom has started to shake!]
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[The kingdom that hunted Alveir Kingdomâs King has earned a high amount of contribution.]
Alexanderâs face turned ugly. At the same time, Spear God Benâs fierce and unrelenting spear continued to thrust at his body and aim at his weak spots.
âIf things continue at this rate, then we will all be in danger.â
Alexander looked around. Their enemy was just one country, one out of the 28 participating countries. And these people were facing 27 of the top ranking kings in the world. However, this small country managed to kill two of the kings as they continued to struggle against them.
In the end, Alexander was forced to give an order that would shock the entire world, âRetreat.â
All of the kings protested. This would be a smear in their names, a disgrace that they should never had to carry! Especially since they had received the support of their countryâs government in this Battle of the Thrones. But Alexander was telling them, the pride of their own countries, to retreat right now.
âWe have to retreat,â Kentaro nodded and agreed, âMore kings will die at this rate if we continue to stay here. Ah, but if you want to stay, then feel free to do so.â
The kings had to choose. Should they escape or should they remain here, let their ranks collapse and suffer more casualties? It was a matter of choosing whether they should die, or protect their lives but swallow their pride.
But then, Alexander drove his point deeper home, âOur 500,000-strong troops are already advancing here. Our job here is done. We have been defeated by Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.â
No, the truth was Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would be wiped out soon. However, none of the kings present could deny Alexanderâs declaration of their defeat. The fact that they were struggling so much against these few people was already a mark in the book of defeat. In the end, they chose to retreat, rushing out as they left behind the 10,000 Korean rankers.
The members of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom and the surviving Korean rankers all shouted loudly, their voices ringing clearly in the ears of everyone watching from all over the world. Even the commentators could not believe the sudden turn of events.
[This is very surprising. The 25 surviving kings are fleeing.]
[This is something that none of us expected. The strongest and greatest people in the world are running away from one small country.]
[This will forever be a humiliation to the kings from all over the world. Once all of the servers have been integrated, no country will think that Asgan Continent is easy to deal with.]
The shouting and screaming Korean rankers had a lot of thoughts flying in their heads during this battle.
âI thought that it was impossible to survive throughout this day.â
âI thought that South Korea would easily collapse.â
âIt was only possible because of Genie, Khan, Locke, Carr and the Beyond the Heavens Kingâ Food God.â
âI want to go to Beyond the Heavens too.â
Many had started to dream of joining Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.
Boom, boom, boom, booomâ
Not long after, a steady and loud beating of the drum resounded in the area. In front of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdomâs castle stood the 25 kings that fled, followed by their 500,000 strong troops. All of the kings were seen gritting their teeth. It seemed like they were trying hard to erase the disgrace that they suffered just a few moments prior, with the majesty of their 500,000-strong troops.
However, none of the South Korean rankers nor the members of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom were afraid of them.
âFight until the very end.â
Minhyuk announced the start of their final battle by pulling his sword out of its sheath. Among them stood Allein, the Spear Knight that willingly became a new member of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. She thought, âIâm not afraid because I am fighting with you,â as she ran together with the guild members of Beyond the Heavens and charged toward the 500,000 enemy troops.
[Beyond the Heavens Kingdomâs King has perished.]
[Beyond the Heavens Kingdomâs King Statue has collapsed!]
[Beyond the Heavens Kingdomâs troops have been wiped out.]
[Beyond the Heavens Kingdom is recorded as the first country to be destroyed.]
South Korea ranked last in the actual rankings of the Battle of the Thrones. However, the 10,000 of them were able to kill 230,000 of the 500,000 troops that came to wipe them out. And in terms of the contribution rankingsâŚ
[Beyond the Heavens Kingdom (South Korea) : 97, 113, 311.]
[Ariot Kingdom (United States of America) : 31, 001, 100.]
âŚthey had completely crushed America, the country that took the Supreme Throne. But the Battle of the Thrones was not yet over. President Kang Taehoon announcedâŚ
[Dear players, if you access Athenae right now, you will be able to enter the âKingâs Banquetâ server. This server will allow you to access the castle of the king that you wish to meet. You are free to meet the kings and congratulate them in person.]
Anyone, no matter their country or nationality, would be able to congratulate the king that they wanted to congratulate by accessing the ceremonial hall where the kings that participated in the Battle of the Thrones are currently located. Just like that, hundreds of millions of players immediately moved to access the game.
Meanwhile, Minhyuk left his capsule after terminating his access to Athenae, a bitter smile on his face as he said, âI lost in the end, Dad.â
âSometimes experiencing defeat is more meaningful than gaining victory,â Minhyukâs father, Kang Minhoo, smiled softly at him.
Minhyuk sighed. After his participation in the Battle of the Thrones had ended, he went for a meeting with Joy Co. Ltd. to talk about the âKingâs Banquetâ and meet with the ordinary players. Minhyuk already predicted that more than 90% of the people would go to see Alexander, the one sitting on the Supreme Throne.
After he freshened himself up in the bathroom, Minhyuk accessed the game again. He thought, âLetâs not look so dispirited! I have to do my best for the people that will be coming to see me.â
Although Alexander would receive most of the spotlight, Minhyuk believed that he did well himself. There was nothing he could do about that. Even though his shoulders were drooping from the thought, Minhyuk still tried to comfort himself as he went back inside his capsule.
Alexander sat on the âSupreme Throneâ, a throne shining with a golden light. However, there was a bitter smile hanging on his face as he looked at the tens of millions of people that were cheering for his victory.
The reason for his bitter smile? It was all because of the call that he received from Joy Co. Ltd. before he accessed the game again. From what he heard, more than 500 million people had accessed the Kingâs Banquet Server. However, only tens of millions of people came to see him.
âI wonât lose next time, Minhyuk,â Alexander smiled bitterly.
A personâs heart was very complicated.
âItâs alright, Iâm proud of myself for doing well enough in this event.â
That was the thought that flashed in Minhyukâs head. However, he still could not help but feel sorry for himself as envy toward Alexander flared up in his heart. Minhyuk wondered if he was already listening to the peopleâs enthusiastic cheers, a crowd that was larger than any of the crowdâs present in the kings of the other countries.
After accessing Athenae once again, Minhyuk reappeared in the castle that he was in earlier. The castle and all of its facilities had already been repaired. The bitter smile continued to hang on the corners of Minhyukâs lips as he thought, âJust like expected, huh?â
Minhyuk could not hear any shouts or even voices from where he was. At this moment, he was already sure that most of the people came to see the Supreme Throne.
Then, Genie, who had accessed the game much earlier than him, appeared and said, âMinhyuk, letâs go?â
âWhy do you look a bit disappointed?â
âWhat do you mean by disappointed? Iâm not. I just think that itâs a bit of a pity,â Minhyuk said bitterly.
Genie walked by his side and consoled him, âYou did well enough, Minhyuk.â
âWe did great but we still came in last place~â
Genie knew that Minhyuk was saying this as a joke but she could tell that there was a huge weight on the manâs shoulders. He looked like he was very sad to have disappointed the peopleâs expectations of him. The two people walked together, their steps bringing them closer and closer to the walls.
âYou are the best king. And many people believe this to be the case.â
ââŚRight. It would be nice if they think so,â Minhyuk said, the bitter smile on his face getting deeper by the second.
The corners of Genieâs lips curled up into a bright smile as she grabbed the handle of the door and said, âReady?â
âAre you ready to sit on the true âSupreme Throneâ, the throne that the entire world is cheering for?â
âŚGenie twisted the handle and opened the door wide to present to Minhyuk the view outside of the walls of the castle.
What greeted Minhyuk was a huge crowd, huge enough to cover the entire area. There were so many people present that not a hint of the ground that they were standing on could be seen from above. According to Joy Co. Ltd., the total number of players that appeared in Minhyukâs castle have reached an astounding 340 million.
Minhyuk stepped forward, confusion evident on his face.
âBeyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens! Beyond the Heavens!â
âFood God! Food God! Food God! Food God! Food God!â
More than 300 million people cheered and shouted enthusiastically, calling for Beyond the Heavens and his character name. Actually, Genie asked these peopleâs cooperation to stage a âsurpriseâ and surprise Minhyuk. She said, âThis is proof that you are a great king.â
Minhyuk felt a shiver run down his spine at those words. At that moment, he realized what he had to do. Minhyuk walked slowly and looked at the people around him. There, in front of him, was an old, shabby throne. The very same throne that was given to the lowest ranking king on the Battle of the Thrones. He slowly sat down on his throne.
This felt new to him. As someone that lived with a rare disease called eating addiction, Minhyuk lived every single day of his life thinking that he would die anytime. He had lived alone in his dark room as if the world had abandoned him.
But he was able to experience the game called Athenae, became the Food God, and made friends in the Legend Guild. Then, he became the king of Beyond the Heavens and came to enjoy the company of many people. Minhyuk was once a loner that suffered from eating addiction. But now, hundreds of millions of people came here to see him and celebrate with him. That was right. Everything that Minhyuk did was enough. It was enough for him to take pride in himself.
Minhyuk looked at the crowd of people, the hundreds of millions of Athenae players, that came to see him and said with a dignified voice, âI am the king of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.â
âUwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!â
A loud roar shook the world as Minhyuk sat on the true and genuine âSupreme Throneâ.