Chapter 1313

Chapter 1314

When Minhyuk saw Hephaestus rank so high up in the rankings, even though he had only become a Pillar recently, he had similar thoughts as the majority of the community about the influence rankings in Athenae. He believed that it was released so that the will of the players who would become Pillars in the future would burn brightly.

Even though Minhyuk had already become a Pillar, he judged that he couldn't be at the top of the rankings right now. After all, he was no match for Athenae or Hephaestus, who had lived for thousands of years when it came to influence.

‘If I want to increase my influence as a Pillar, then I will need a lot of ingredients.’

Even that required a lot of money. It was by no means easy to do. Regardless, he still wanted the reward that would be given to the person who would rank in the first place: the Pillar Creation Authority. Based on the name, it seemed like it was a special item that could allow him to create artifacts, skills, or anything that he wanted.

‘I found a way.’

Just like what the best comment written by a player said, Athenae’s influence would remain high even if she just breathed. The same was true for Hephaestus. If Jack-of-All-Trades Rocado were alive, Minhyuk believed that he would also be at the top of the rankings. Why? Because he made artifacts, too.

From what Minhyuk had gathered, influence was determined by how much change they had brought to the world of Athenae. This got Minhyuk thinking.

‘Come to think of it, my influence is much higher than I imagined.’

Minhyuk did not do much but eat. He was fully aware that he had not done anything actively to change or influence Athenae. Yet even after doing almost nothing, his influence still reached nearly 3%. Why was his influence that high? That was when he realized it.

Minhyuk had forged countless relationships in Athenae. He had also made food and fed innumerable people during his time in the game.

‘Ellie noona is the prime example.’

Because of Minhyuk’s cooking, Ellie was able to take a step forward and become the Hegemon King. However, that begged the question: if Ellie, who had become the Hegemon King, had already eaten the dish and made it disappear, would the ripple of effect and influence also disappear as time went by?

The answer to that question was surprisingly no. The influence would not disappear. Why? Because even after the dish that Minhyuk made had disappeared, the fact that it helped Ellie awaken and reach new heights would remain unchanged. If that was the case, then there was still a way to increase Minhyuk’s basic influence. He would be on the same starting line as the other Pillars. And perhaps...

‘It will be easier to get a higher influence,’

Minhyuk thought, confident that he could make it happen.

A single God-grade artifact was equivalent to ten dishes of the same grade. This was true considering the time, effort, ingredients, and materials, as well as the scarcity of the item. Unlike the single God-grade artifact, these ten God-grade dishes...

‘They can change the lives of ten different people.’

A single artifact could change the life of one person. That was not the case for Minhyuk’s dishes. His dishes could change the lives of many. Of course, the influence that he would have would be much less compared to creating an artifact that would last forever, but the influence that Minhyuk would gain from these people might not be lacking compared to Hephaestus.

When the viewers heard Minhyuk’s remarks, they said...

[Huh? Lolololol. He’s going to make a hundred God-grade dishes.]

[Hyung... no matter what, that’s still a bit...]

[You crossed the line...]

Alas, they didn't know that Minhyuk had gained a new power when he became a Pillar.

Minhyuk quickly ate a dish from his inventory.

[You have eaten Stir-fried Pork Bowl.]

[The dish is God-grade.]

[Your DEX has increased by 37%.]

[All of your cooking skills’ level has increased by 1.]

[The buff will remain in effect for three days.]

Minhyuk, who had now become a Pillar, was completely different from when he was still just the Food God. This was mainly because of the effects of his Pillar of the Gourmands title.

The title had increased his chances of creating higher-grade dishes by 50%. Even his chances of creating God-grade dishes had risen by 80%. Furthermore, the title also increased his DEX by 20% and reduced his cooking time by 50%. Even the grade of the dishes that he made would always be at least legendary, regardless of the ingredients that he used.

Of course, Minhyuk wouldn't rely on just this one title. Standing right next to him was Archangel Aemira. Aemira raised her hands and immediately created an auspicious site.

[The One Releasing Sacred Power.]

[The area around Angel Aemira has been transformed into an auspicious site.]

[The effects of the auspicious site will remain for an hour even if the one who entered the auspicious site has left the area.]

[Your DEX has increased by 8%.]

[Your rate of creating higher-grade dishes or artifacts has increased by 15%~25%.]

He also drank the potion with effects that could overlap with others that the God of Alchemy Mandala had given him.

[Potion of Apex of Dexterity.]

[Your DEX has increased by 14%.]

[Your chances of creating higher grade dishes have increased by 11%.]

The main reason Minhyuk decided to start a cooking spree like this was to cook the three ingredients that represented the gods of Olympus at the same time. Before he attempted to do so, he wanted to make sure that he had already brought his power to the maximum.

The ingredients grown in the fields of the gods of Olympus were mainly special ingredients that could increase stats permanently. There were still quite a few ordinary Gaia God-grade ingredients. The total number of Gaia God-grade ingredients that he had acquired was 132. Minhyuk had been saving them for a day like this. Minhyuk began cooking a hundred bowls of ramyeon using these ingredients.

[...?]

[...?]

[Ramyeon? So suddenly?]

[Is Minhyuk hungry?]

Minhyuk knew that Athenae had set up a system that gave rewards when someone accomplished something deemed impossible. If he cooked all 132 ingredients, then he would be able to obtain something. Even if others deemed it impossible, it did not mean that no one could do it. Sometimes, the impossible was very easy for someone else to achieve. After all, the dishes made by the Pillar of the Gourmands would always be at the legendary grade regardless of the type of dish or the ingredients used in it.

And in just an instant...

[You have completed 132 bowls of Ramyeon.]

[All of the dishes are Legendary-grade.]

[However, the effects cannot be guaranteed.]

[You have achieved the

Easter Egg

: Making Legends a Hundred Times in a Row.]

[Your DEX has increased by 10%.]

[Your rate of creating higher-grade dishes or artifacts has increased by 40%. The effect will last for five days.]

[Your DEX Acquisition Rate has increased by four times.]

Things unfolded as he expected. Now, Minhyuk has finished all preparations. He could finally begin cooking in earnest.

[But is it really possible to break through one’s limits just because they ate a single dish? Is he saying that they will be able to become God class just because they ate a single ordinary dish? That’s impossible. Lololol.]

[It seems like Minhyuk has been watching too many movies these days...]

[If we follow Minhyuk’s hypothesis, then the players from all over the world can just eat God-grade dishes and break through their limits, no? Lmao.]

Minhyuk remained calm and unperturbed despite the viewers’ criticisms and skepticism. He just stood there and said, “The first dish I'll make is for Conir.”

His words left everyone in a buzz.

[What bullshit...]

[Conir is hailed as the greatest Sword God. Is there even a way for him to grow even further...?]

[No. How would you even break through his limits? Lololol. Conir is already complete. Lmao. He’s the only one who can use the Heart Sword.]

[Hey. Where’s Conir?]

[Conir isn’t even present. Lolololololol.]

Minhyuk ignored the viewers’ comments. He could see Conir’s status window, and he knew something they didn't know. So, he began cooking for his dearly beloved younger brother.

***

Knowledge was the gift that kept on giving. This was something that everyone knew. Even Conir knew this. Although Conir was known as the greatest Sword God, his calloused palms continued to be torn apart and healed as he swung his sword a million times over to gain more knowledge.

Sword God Valen had already crossed the River of Reincarnation. However, there was a small fragment of his soul that he had left behind solely to help Conir grow further. This fragment, although small and incomplete, was as strong as Valen in his prime.

Conir had challenged the fragment of Sword God Valen a hundred times. Every single time, he came out defeated.

‘I am Conir... Conir wants to become the greatest Sword God.’

Despite what everyone said, Conir was not yet the greatest Sword God. This was what Valen had told him.

–

Perhaps the reason why you can complete the final chapter of the Heart Sword is because you have the purest heart that wishes to protect someone.

The reason he was able to reach the end of the path of the Heart Sword was that his heart and mind were pure. But despite being able to wield the Heart Sword, a sword that no one else could use, Conir still could not defeat Valen, as he lacked the strength and the power.

If one was too hard, then they were bound to break. The problem was that Conir was too flexible and lacked enough sturdiness. This was an explicit physical limitation on the young boy’s part.

Conir, who was stumped by his limitations, was feeling extremely frustrated. It had been a week since he left the Beyond the Heavens Empire to fight with Valen. Unfortunately, during that time, he was not able to win even once. In fact, he could not even reach the man. Now, if he lost five more times to Valen, then he would have no choice but to watch Valen’s remaining fragment disappear.

While he was stewing in his frustration...

[Pillar’s Dish Distribution.]

A pillar of light fell from the sky. With his palms all torn apart and bleeding, Conir stared at the dish that appeared in front of him.

‘It’s a gift from Minhyuk hyung.’

Conir’s desire to become strong stemmed from the purest of reasons, and that reason was to protect the Beyond the Heavens Empire. He had no other reason. It was just that. At the same time, he had this blind and stubborn belief in himself that he would be able to do it on his own and did not need anyone’s help. He even pondered for a moment if he should eat this dish in front of him.

The fragment, no, Valen himself said, “Conir. I have had this conversation with Minhyuk.” He smiled faintly. “I told him,

‘Conir is young. Because of his youth, he’s stubborn. Not only that. He also carried this blind faith that he can do everything on his own.’

I told him that your path will not be easy because the stubbornness that has been created will be very difficult to break.”

This was Valen’s evaluation of Conir. He believed that the boy was far too young to become the greatest Sword God. His youth was the most significant factor.

Conir admitted the fact that he was stubborn. He had been fighting against Valen with the firm belief that he would be able to win against the man without asking for someone else’s help. That was why Conir could understand why Valen would evaluate him in that way. After all, it was the truth.

“I told him that this is the reason why you, Conir, have your limits.”

Valen was Conir’s master. He was fully aware of Conir’s progress and limits.

“When Minhyuk heard me say that, he said,

‘So what if he’s stubborn? So what if he doesn’t listen to us? So what if he’s young? That’s why we’re here. We’re here to protect Conir and watch over him and lend him a helping hand when he needs it.

”

At this moment, Conir realized that everyone had been looking out for him. If it were the usual Conir, he would have thought,

‘I don’t want to borrow someone else’s power for something that I can do on my own,’

or something along those lines. This time, his thinking had changed.

Conir ate the dish that was sent to him. The dish was the most delicious dish that he had ever eaten. The dish helped Conir untangle the tight knot that his stubbornness had left in his heart.

[The dish is God-grade.]

[All of your stats have increased by 29%.]

It gave him the power and strengthened his still young and weak body. Conir finished up his meal and held his sword.

“Come, Conir. There are three more chances left.”

Conir swung his sword to get used to the power surging in his veins. Yet despite the increase in stats, he was still unable to defeat Valen.

“Two more chances left.”

Conir charged forward. Finally used to the jump in his stats, he obtained a power that allowed him to push back Sword God Valen. Regardless, he was defeated by the man’s experience.

Then there was only one chance left. Conir stared at Valen’s fragments that were slowly recovering after they had been torn apart.

“Conir, you passed. From this point on, you will become a much stronger Sword God,” Valen said, aware that the young boy had broken down the walls that stumped him once again.

Now, Conir had finally truly reached the end of the Sword God. With all of this over, Valen tried to turn around and leave.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

“The Heart Sword’s final chapter is the Ten Thousand Li Sword!”

“...?”

Valen turned to look at Conir. He saw Conir holding his sword and waving it to create a new set of movements.

“Master Valen! You said that the Ten Thousand Li Sword is the end of the Heart Sword?!”

Valen nodded.

“Then, does that mean that the Ten Thousand Li Sword was created by someone else?! Does that mean that I’m using something that was created by others?!”

“...?!” Valen’s eyes grew wide as he realized something.

Alas, Conir was not someone whom he could judge carelessly. He watched the boy wave his sword and said, “Then, I will make the final Heart Sword now!”

Valen had underestimated the young boy, thinking his path of growth was finally over. He realized that the boy still had the power to grow further. He stood there, watching the young boy wave his sword and create a new form of swordsmanship, in a stunned daze.

At this moment, the young boy was slowly deviating from common sense.

***

Beyond the Heavens Empire.

Minhyuk had just sent the first dish that he had made to Conir.

[Tbh, isn’t this just too freaking over the top... lolol. Breaking the limits with just a single dish? Bs.]

[Agreed... what kind of God-grade dish is so versatile?]

Nonetheless, Minhyuk was confident in his choice. This was what was written in Conir’s status window:

‘If Conir throws away his prejudice and bias, he will be able to grow infinitely.’

That was why he sent the dish to the boy.

It was true. A single dish would not change a person. However, it could help change their thinking and mindset. And for a genius, a change in attitude would bring about massive changes.

Then, at that moment...

[Sword God Conir completes his final awakening.]

[Sword God Conir has proven that he is the greatest Sword God in the world.]

The notification that rang in their ears left everyone speechless.

[It can be done like this?!]

[Huh...? He really did it...?]

[The influence rating of the Pillar of the Gourmands has increased by 3%.]

[...?]

[...?]

Ring!

[Sword God Conir is creating the final chapter of the Heart Sword.]

[He is not inheriting the final chapter but creating his own. His actions are leaving behind a huge impact and influence on Athenae’s Swordsmanship.]

Ring!

[The influence rating of the Pillar of the Gourmands has increased by 1.1%.]