Chapter 1172

Chapter 1172

Joy Co. Ltd.’s Meeting Room.

President Kang Taehoon and his executives watched Minhyuk and the guardians become ashes, scattering with the wind. Their faces were colored with surprise, but they also felt respect and admiration for the players.

“The players are chasing after Minhyuk.”

Minhyuk was the person who possessed the most titles in Athenae. Not only that, he was also the owner of the most remarkable artifacts and was the one who possessed the highest level.

As someone who was over Level 700, Minhyuk was on an entirely different level from them. But through this battle, the high-rankers had proven they had grown as much as Minhyuk.

Of course, the battle was a battle of hundreds versus one. But ultimately, it could be considered fair. After all, Minhyuk had also received help from the mission’s unique items. Furthermore, the high-rankers, who had taken on the form of guardians, were subject to a 10% decrease in their abilities and skills.

What would happen if they were all in their original state?

‘Perhaps Minhyuk couldn’t deal with forty people alone.’

And what if they reached Level 700?

‘Then, Minhyuk wouldn’t be able to deal with fifteen people alone.’

The high-rankers, growing at an insane speed, were closing in on Minhyuk.

Nevertheless, some guardians still survived, albeit only a few.

“What about Alexander and Alex?”

“The two were forced to log out earlier.”

Alexander and Alex were at different locations. Although many of the guardians had flocked to where Minhyuk was, not all had gone there. More than forty of them remained.

At that moment, Brod woke up and stepped out of the crevice of the cliff. He could not help but blame himself for Minhyuk turning into ashes and disappearing.

“What should we do?”

“...”

The high-rankers invited to become guardians would suffer a drop in level if they failed to eradicate the Exploration Team. And it was even a two-level drop. Of course, they could increase their level by three if they complete the task successfully.

And the Exploration Team? They would win the honor of exploring a part of the Gaia Continent if they annihilated all guardians.

Based on the situation, they could tell that Brod would be able to take the Exploration Team deeper into the Gaia Continent. Of course, the same was true for Emperor Cardin and Duke Laghman. Even though the two looked like they were on the brink of death, Brod could easily lead them deeper.

But the question remained, would this be the correct conclusion?

“Brod also played a huge role, but Minhyuk’s performance was outstanding. After all, he could eradicate more than 400 guardians by himself.”

“That’s not all. Duke Laghman and Emperor Cardin were both able to survive because of Minhyuk.”

This was undoubtedly the case. Following the rules, both Duke Laghman and Emperor Cardin could reap all the benefits. But after watching the process, it seemed like this result had completely excluded Minhyuk.

The same was true for the guardians. As mentioned before, they could increase their level by three if they succeeded. Unfortunately, after their wonderful performance, their reward still left much to be desired.

Nevertheless, the answer that President Kang Taehoon gave remained the same.

“We can never change the rules and standards we have already set.”

This situation could be considered separate and tightly blocked from the rest of the game. But if they dared to touch it just once, most Athenae might collapse. The executives were aware of this fact, so even if they wanted to speak, they did not say anything anymore.

At that moment, changes appeared on their monitor. The still very much alive Emperor Cardin stood up and helped the already tattered and bleeding Duke Laghman. Even though Duke Laghman was in a very messy and imperfect state, they could still move on with Brod’s help. But then, Emperor Cardin spoke,

[We’re returning.]

“...?!”

“...?!”

This was very unexpected. The Great Luvien Empire was filled with greed. Its members hoped to lead the expedition and explore the Gaia Continent, and they could do that well. After all, Brod did not despise the Luvien Empire; he only despised Nerva.

[Duke Laghman is severely injured, and I am also not in good condition. Sir Brod, please continue the exploration on behalf of Emperor Minhyuk.]

Emperor Cardin’s expression was complicated. He had felt and experienced many things when he watched Brod and Minhyuk earlier. He also realized a lot of things after watching Brod ignore the fact that he would suffer from immense pain if he tried to enter another member’s five-meter radius. Cardin knew that they did not deserve to continue forward.

Brod did not even bother to stop them. Emperor Cardin, who had already turned around to leave, looked back at Brod.

[I think I know why my father has acknowledged and recognized you.]

Cardin and Laghman smiled bitterly when they saw Brod ignore them.

Now, the only survivor of the Exploration Team was Brod. The problem was that he did not move. He kept on kneeling at the place where his emperor had disappeared. Nevertheless, the surviving guardians did not dare approach or attack him.

Things were flowing in a very unexpected direction. At that moment, the ones who stepped up and solved this situation were not Joy Co. Ltd. but Gaia’s ???.

[Gaia Continent’s ??? has started a discussion after witnessing a very unexpected result.]

[Gaia Continent’s ??? were amazed when they saw the final light the guardians had shown for their sake.]

[Gaia Continent’s ??? removes the penalty that they will incur.]

“...!”

“...!”

This was no longer a story of “them” changing things. This was the story of the beings of Athenae changing stuff themselves.

Immediately after that, another notification rang.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

[Gaia Continent’s ??? has begun a discussion with the Exploration Team’s sole survivor, who had killed many of their guardians.]

Brod looked like he was murmuring to himself. But Kang Taehoon knew that he was talking to Gaia Continent’s ???.

In the end, Brod stood up and turned around. Just like Cardin and Laghman, he chose not to enter the depths of the Gaia Continent. He decided to return home.

President Kang Taehoon predicted the outcome in his head. Surprisingly enough, his prediction was correct.

[Gaia Continent’s ??? has finished their discussion.]

[The Exploration Team has been given the authority to explore one area of Gaia Continent.]

[However, the three remaining members of the Exploration Team chose to give up their qualifications.]

[Gaia Continent’s ??? seeks the opinion of the two members of the Exploration Team, who have already left.]

The two, who had already left, talked about Emperor Cardin and Duke Laghman.

[They have gathered all of the opinions and have come to a conclusion.]

[Gaia Continent’s ??? has given the member of the Exploration Team with the name “Minhyuk” the authority to explore the Gaia Continent.]

[If Minhyuk agrees and accepts the authority to explore, he will receive three times the original penalty.]

[Gaia Continent’s ??? sends back all of the guardians.]

A thick fog began to cover the Gaia Continent. Now, the new continent was no longer visible to anyone.

The camera panned away, revealing the Gaia Continent hidden behind a thick cloud of fog. Then, the video ended.

Now that it was over, they had to coordinate something.

“Release the update notice and open the servers.”

Originally, the update would be completed once the Exploration Team started pioneering an area of the Gaia Continent. Then, they would open the servers and allow the players to explore the already pioneered area. After that, the players would gradually explore and pioneer the rest of the Gaia Continent.

But things would take longer than expected. It seemed like they had to finish the update first and open up the Gaia Continent after Minhyuk had pioneered the area.

Even though the situation had taken an unexpected turn, President Kang Taehoon and the executives were smiling widely. They were pretty happy that things were moving in the direction they had hoped for.

Team Leader Park Minggyu, smiling widely with them, said, “It seems like everyone’s going to work overtime again today.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

The corners of their upturned mouth slowly went down.

***

Athenae’s update ended not long after Minhyuk was forced to log out. Idle as he was, Minhyuk immediately checked the update notice posted on the site.

There was nothing special. According to the notice, the drop rate of the legendary and God-rank artifacts would increase. There were also new ranks of artifacts and new grades of ingredients and ores added to Athenae. But of course, most of them could be found in the Gaia Continent.

The information in the update notice was too little. Since that was the case, it was more appropriate for the players to explore the site.

Minhyuk tilted his head.

‘I wonder how far Brod has pioneered in the Gaia Continent?’

This question was solved as soon as Minhyuk accessed the game. When Minhyuk opened his eyes, he was greeted by the vast forest.

“...?”

He thought he would appear in the Beyond the Heavens Empire once he accessed the game again. But now? He had appeared in a very unfamiliar place. Thankfully, the answer to his confusion had been resolved with the following notifications that rang in his ears.

[All of the surviving members of the Exploration Team have given up on exploring the Gaia Continent.]

[After discussing with the surviving members, Gaia Continent’s ??? had decided to bestow the authority to explore the continent to the one who made the most significant contribution during the expedition.]

[You have been granted the sole authority to explore the Gaia Continent.]

[You can enter the small country of Gorodis in the outskirts of the Gaia Continent.]

[The one who possesses the authority to explore the Gaia Continent will temporarily be unable to use their gold, consumable items, cooking ingredients, scrolls, and everything else in their inventory.]

[The one with the authority to explore the Gaia Continent will temporarily be unable to use all their artifacts.]

[The restriction placed upon you will only be released if you achieve a certain percentage of the Exploration Rate.]

[Please proceed to Arghan, the capital of Gorodis, and receive your quest there.]

[If you fail to complete the quest, the direction of exploration the players will take in the Gaia Continent will be different.]

[If you fail the exploration, you will receive three times the standard penalty.]

Minhyuk understood what Brod was thinking, but he was very shocked to learn that the rest of the Exploration Team had also chosen to give up their right to explore the new continent.

‘He must be unable to move forward from this spot because he’s being consumed by the guilt of being unable to protect me...’

Of course, even if he knew that moving forward was the best way, not everyone could go against their principles. Perhaps this was the best way. Minhyuk died, but in the end, he was the only one who received the authority to explore the new continent. He might feel less guilty if he told Brod about this once he returned.

‘I wonder how many delicious delicacies I can find in this new continent?’

The first exploration was critical because whoever received the authority to explore could monopolize the continent.

Minhyuk waited long without seeing an arrow or notifications indicating where he should go.

‘Ah. Is this what they meant by “exploration”?’

Gaia Continent’s system seemed to be very unkind. Minhyuk had to rely on his two strong legs to search for the Gorodis Kingdom. But even after walking for days, he still failed to find it.

But there was something even more ridiculous. When Minhyuk tried to pick and eat the delicious fruit growing from the trees in the forest, the system took control of him and restricted him from doing so.

[There are many restrictions placed upon you inside the Gaia Continent.]

[You cannot eat anything from the Gaia Continent.]

“I’m... I’m hungry...”

This was the first time that Minhyuk had experienced something like this. The Gaia Continent took control of Minhyuk itself and prevented him from using anything. Even the dishes he had saved in his inventory were sealed away from him.

Just like that, a week has passed since he started his search for the Gorodis Kingdom.

Minhyuk, wandering around another mountain, almost burst into tears. Why? Because he had found another person! His entire body vibrated with excitement.

The Gaia Continent’s system had restricted him from eating the mushrooms growing on the roots of the trees, the fruits hanging on their branches, and even their livestock at will. But after thinking about it, Minhyuk realized a loophole.

Minhyuk realized that he would be able to eat it as long as the food was given to him by the people of this continent. This was because the food did not belong to the Gaia Continent but to the person who gave it to him.

Minhyuk was delighted as he looked at the man's broad, reliable back. He wanted to ask the man for food to fill his stomach.

“Hello! My name is Minhyuk!” Minhyuk greeted the man with as much cheerfulness as he could muster. He was even courteous because this was the first person from the Gaia Continent he met.

The man, who heard his greeting, slowly turned around. The expression on Minhyuk’s face crumpled when he saw the face of the man.

[You have encountered the God of the Directionally Challenged.]

[This is a surprise!]

[Shockingly enough, the God of the Directionally Challenged was able to meet the “someone” who he was looking for after going out to find them.]

[You have encountered a miracle!]

[You have gained 100 REP.]

Minhyuk watched as the God of the Directionally Challenged cried desperately, just like him.

“Why did you appear here...?”

The last time that Minhyuk saw him was after the Supreme Monarch’s hunt. Back then, Minhyuk told the God of the Directionally Challenged that he would treat him to a meal if he ever visited the Beyond the Heavens Empire. When the God of the Directionally Challenged heard that, he immediately set off.

“No, wait. Are you saying you got lost and ended up in the Gaia Continent?”

“Lord Minhyuk...” The God of the Directionally Challenged has always lacked tact and sense. “Do you have anything to eat?”

“...”

Minhyuk felt frustrated, but he wondered how often this man had searched for him.

“How long have you been looking for me since we last met?”

“Today marks the 209th day,” The God of the Directionally Challenged cried.

Minhyuk also cried.