Chapter 1006

Compared to the other nations established by players, the Beyond the Heavens Empire displayed far more power and influence in Athenae. But when compared to the Luvien Empire, an empire standing at the top, they were nothing but shabby.

The Luvien Empire had a total population, including its troops and citizens, of around 800 million people. On the other hand, the Beyond the Heavens Empire only had around 45 million people. The difference in the size of their territories was not that large. However, the huge difference came from their total population.

Some people believed that the only reason the Beyond the Heavens Empire could compete with the Luvien Empire was because of its NPCs, who were doing the work of ten million people. Unfortunately, this was a sad and undeniable truth.

In order for the Beyond the Heavens Empire to continue standing firm and not be pushed back by the Luvien Empire, it had to accept more migrants and expand its territories even further. If it could absorb players belonging to the Luvien Empire, then the gap between the two empires would definitely narrow even further.

When Haze heard Minhyuk say,

‘First come, first served,’

she was in awe.

‘If people hear something on a first come, first served basis, they will often be left in a panic even though it’s not that big of a deal. What if they were left with no seats anymore? And what if those seats get occupied quickly because it’s on a first-come, first-served basis?’

The answer to that was simple.

‘There will be a long line of people wanting to get into the waiting list to get in and be a part of those that would be first served.’

If they kickstart the first-come, first-served system right away, it would create a huge issue and attract more people.

On top of that, countless reporters and players were present at the scene. However, all the reporters had gathered right in front of the Battle God’s Temple entrance so they could cover this completion ceremony better. Because of that, the first ones to enter the temple would be the reporters.

‘What if we collect donations for the temple’s management fund only after the first one million people join on a first come, first served basis?’

The Beyond the Heavens Empire could secure a large amount of funds. Haze was so shocked by her emperor’s incredible foresight.

The soldiers of the empire immediately stepped forward to stop the charging reporters.

“Oho! You’re creating a disturbance in front of the Battle God’s Temple!”

“Please observe proper decorum and maintain order.”

When the soldiers asked the reporters to line up correctly, surprisingly enough, Reporter Go Eun-Ah was the first in line.

Reporter Go Eun-Ah was naturally a player of Athenae. She also wrote good and positive articles about the Beyond the Heavens Empire every time. When Minhyuk saw her standing at the front of the line, a sparkle appeared in his eyes.

The temple visitors would not receive Evangel’s buffs just by entering the temple. They had to see and observe everything inside the temple first.

Go Eun-Ah hurriedly stepped inside the Battle God’s Temple. The first thing that she saw and admired when she walked inside was Minhyuk’s portrait.

‘The reason why Evangel called him “Young Emperor”...’

She seemed to understand why Evangel said those words, too. She also checked the artifact samples lined up in the temple.

‘Aside from the attack power, the defensive power, and the rank of the artifact, there’s nothing else we can see. We can’t check any of the artifact’s special abilities.’

That was only natural. Minhyuk was no fool. He was not the type of person who would carelessly reveal information about his precious artifacts. However, even if he revealed only the bare minimum, it was still enough to evoke admiration and shock from those who would lay eyes on them.

‘There are a lot of artifacts that no other players have ever seen or obtained. And the Sword of Aeon’s attack power is crazy!’

Reporter Go Eun-Ah was genuinely shocked. Finally, she reached the place where Minhyuk’s statue was standing. Standing before it, she could not help but tremble and shake.

“Wow...”

He was just one player. However, this player had become the Battle God. The statue of Minhyuk with an outstretched hand holding his sword was imposing and majestic and could easily make one’s heart feel a deep and great sense of awe.

Not long after, Reporter Go Eun-Ah came out of the temple. What she had seen inside had made her tremble up until now. Then, at that moment, she received Evangel’s buff.

“...!”

It left Go Eun-Ah in a dumbfounded state. Then, a man walked to her. The man greeted her with a slight bow and a gentle smile. Then, he said, “And it’s only at Level 1.”

“...?”

The words brought more tremendous shock to the already dumbfounded Go Eun-Ah. Reporter Go Eun-Ah, who looked like something was hot on her heels, hurriedly logged out. Then, she immediately went to her computer and began to tap away on her keyboard. Like any other reporter, she wrote a provocative title to her article.

[Three Reasons Why You’re Stupid for Not Coming to the Beyond the Heavens Empire.]

***

First come, first served for one million people. This was what Minhyuk declared. Surprisingly enough, it only took two hours for a million people to migrate to the Beyond the Heavens Empire. After that, the Beyond the Heavens Empire sent out an official announcement.

[The Beyond the Heavens Empire will accept 500,000 more migrants.]

Players from all over the world immediately filled in the 500,000 migrant quota. Then, after a meeting with Haze, the Beyond the Heavens Empire sent another announcement.

[It’s becoming difficult for the Beyond the Heavens Empire to handle because of the many migrants.]

[The empire needs to secure more funds before accepting more migrants.]

[Beyond the Heavens’ migrants: the impact of the buff that they had received after visiting the Battle God’s Temple.]

[Minhyuk: ‘It’s only at Level 1.’ Official Statement.]

[The Battle God Religion is requesting a one platinum membership payment to ensure that the Beyond the Heavens Empire can expand its territory and accept more migrants.]

[Beyond the Heavens Empire and its endless stream of new migrants. The players’ loud clamoring forced the Beyond the Heavens Empire to make a decision. The empire is accepting another four million migrants on a first-come, first-served basis.]

[First come, first served: The four million migrant quota is filled within ten minutes.]

[More than five million people have camped out in tents and mats in front of Beyond the Heavens Empire.]

[The explosive impact of the Battle God’s Temple.]

[The Battle God’s Temple is still at Level 1. Experts say that the higher the Battle God’s Temple level, the harder it will be to step foot and join the Beyond the Heavens Empire.]

[Players just starting Athenae’s choice for their starting empire: 66% choose the Beyond the Heavens Empire, surpassing the 62% of the Luvien Empire.]

The reporters constantly sent out articles.

[Can the Beyond the Heavens Empire handle so many migrants?]

Of course, the question of whether Beyond the Heavens Empire could handle these migrants also popped up.

Haze, Minhyuk, and the executives were in the middle of talking.

“We will announce tomorrow that we will receive five million more. But our preparations are more than enough; we can afford it.”

This was all thanks to Minhyuk’s words. Aside from the first come, first served system that he declared, he also announced that he would require a platinum for each member who would join the Battle God’s religion. If they accepted ten million people, then ten million platinum would enter the funds of the Beyond the Heavens Empire. They could use these funds to help the empire develop further.

One platinum was not a small amount. This was something that only intermediate-level players, not novice players, could afford. And because the level of the players was at that level, one could say that they weren’t just filling the numbers.

“After a month, we will introduce a one million gold entrance fee for the temple.”

Once implemented, the Beyond the Heavens Empire could secure money. However, they still had some regrets.

Haze said, “Unfortunately, 95% of the Beyond the Heavens migrants are foreigners.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Locke asked, with tact thrown to the wind.

Haze looked at him and explained calmly, “Most players level up by hunting. We cannot put a tax on hunting.”

If they claimed rights to gold and artifacts that the players hunted and acquired themselves, it would be considered daylight robbery.

“For us to secure more funds, we need more ordinary NPCs. Ordinary NPCs contribute more to the development and growth of the empire.”

The reason was simple.

“They can set up restaurants, stores, and various other businesses. We can put a tax on that. And every time someone buys food? We can also tax them on that. Although we have received a lot of migrants, it is still a very unfortunate situation for us.”

That was right. Although the Beyond the Heavens Empire had encountered a considerable volume of migrants, the only thing that they had reinforced was their military power. Once they released the Battle God’s advertisement video, the rate at which the foreigners would migrate to them would increase exponentially.

“So, that’s why it’s unfortunate.” Locke, who finally understood what Haze meant, nodded.

However, no matter how hard they brainstormed, they could not come up with a single suitable solution.

While they continued to discuss, Ares said, “Even so, it’s still amazing, no? I read from one of the articles that the Battle God’s religion already has around twenty times more members than other religions made by the other gods.”

And everything happened in just two days.

When Haze heard that, she confidently declared, “It would be difficult for any god to obtain members that would go beyond the members of the Battle God’s religion.”

Haze said those words with great confidence. However, she did not know she would have to correct that statement later.

***

Athenae had the power to appoint someone as a new god. Of course, the conditions to become one of the appointed gods were extremely difficult to achieve. However, whenever Athenae looked at

him

, she thought,

‘He’s a great man. A man worthy of respect.’

He was someone who had always healed those who had suffered greatly. With just a single touch from him, a smile filled with happiness would appear on the faces of people who had suffered from immense psychological pain for decades. All of the people who he freed from the pain that had shackled them for years had now forgotten their sufferings and taken a leap further in growth.

Truthfully, Athenae had never seen anyone with such remarkable and shocking healing power in her entire life.

Athenae summoned the Absolute Gods and convened a meeting.

[I... have never encountered anyone who can bring and let the smile and laughter remain in the faces of everyone they touched.]

No one said anything against her when she said those words. Because what she said was the truth.

[They shed tears of joy and rejoiced at his touch. Not even I, their mother, nor the Battle God who rules and leads all armies and the God of Death who governs their death, could accomplish this.]

Although this comment bruised their egos, every single one of them acknowledged this feat. The same was true for Guardian God Obren.

‘A god who can make someone feel joy and happiness like this will never appear again in this world.’

[I will give him a position and name him a new god. The name of the new god is...]

Everyone perked their ears up and listened to Athenae’s divine and holy voice.

[God of Hair Growth.]

***

He was overcome with emotion.

He had already freed them from their sufferings, but they would still come and visit him to express their gratitude. He grew greedy, wanting to save more people. But his powers were limited. At most, he could only free ten people from their sufferings within a day.

But the great and holy God Athenae listened to his earnest hopes and prayers so that he could free more people from their sufferings. He was very thrilled. He knew that he could now save more people. Not only that, but his new followers would come.

His tremendous and divine self walked forward and headed toward the walls of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

At the same time.

Millions of people were camping out with their tents and mats, waiting for the Beyond the Heavens Empire to accept them and move in. As these people stayed, they received shocking notifications.

[A new god has been born to the world.]

[His name is God of Hair Growth, Corr.]

“...God of Growing? What’s that?”

“What’s with the name?”

The players were not that impressed by this new god. After all, Athenae allowed them to set their hair to whatever style or color they liked. Even if they were bald, they could make it so they could have a head full of hair inside the game.

However, they were soon left dumbfounded. The number of people who came in in an hour could rival the Battle God’s Religion members.

“Uwoooooooh!”

“This is a historic moment...!”

“Finally... finally...!”

“Lord Talmor!!!”

“...”

“...”

Those who wished to join the Battle God’s religion all saw the people kneel in front of the walls and scream. As they watched them, warmth started to flood their chests.

“...They must have had a tough time.”

“They must have suffered for a very long time.”

“That’s right. I would react like that, too, if I were bald.

Sob...!

”

Many people started to tear up when they heard the people’s cries. Then, at that moment,

he

finally appeared atop the walls.

He looked at the people sadly, with a holier light than anybody else’s. This was God looking at them with pity and sadness. There was also a kindness and warmth in that gaze as if he had acknowledged all of the sufferings and hardships they had endured.

The new god, Corr, tried to console the wailing people. Using God’s Voice, he let his divine and holy voice resonate all over the place.

[They weren’t guilty of any crimes.]

That was right. They did not do anything wrong!

[They were just born with it. They were lacking in this department compared to others.]

[Their sad and mournful cries echoed.]

[They screamed and wailed, knowing that whatever they were lacking could not be compensated by something else.]

Yes. This could not be cured or filled with something else.

[But...]

[We will help the pitiful and the suffering.]

[I will fight together with you.]

[We will ensure that no one in this department is left lacking.]

They were unnecessary yet kind words.

Corr raised one of his hands as high as he could. And just like a signal, everyone shouted in unison.

“Grow hair! Grow! Grow!”

Their loud and passionate roars almost shook the entire Beyond the Heavens Empire.

[We shall make those lacking take one step forward and grow again.]

Corr raised his other hand.

“Grow hair! Grow! Grow!”

“Uwooooooooh!”

“Ugh! It’s so bright!”

“

Sob!

”

The sun's bright rays touched their shining heads and intensified the light. But then, a miracle happened. With one wave of their god’s hand,

their deficiencies

were slowly being filled. Hair began to grow in the vast desert, which was called their heads.

“

Heuk, heuk, heuk!

”

“L– Lord Talmor!!!”

[You are no longer lacking.]

[You are no longer carrying this sin.]

[And...]

[Now, you are filled with richness and abundance.]

[So, let’s shout together.]

[Grow hair!]

“Grow! Grow!”

[Grow hair!]

“

GROW! GROW!!!

”

Black hair started to grow and fill their clear heads.

Those waiting to join the Battle God’s religion nodded kindly when they saw this scene.

‘You’re no longer bald.’

‘That’s cool... They’re also growing thick and soft hair!’

Meanwhile, an old man appeared standing on the wall. This old man was once at risk of going bald but had long been saved by Corr. His name? Spear God Ben.

“Hoho. I have never seen such a touching sight in my entire life,” Ben said as a tear slowly fell down his cheek.