Chapter 1320

Chapter 1320

Joy Co. Ltd. was turned completely upside down.

Many variables contributed to the current situation. The first one was a player entering Hell's Abyss. The second was Obren meeting his evil counterpart. Then, Obren’s Sin met Kronos, who had received Helenia’s help and was already halfway out of his pit in the Abyss. The worst of them all was when Kronos felt threatened and brought out the Calamity hiding in the depths of the Abyss.

There were many creatures living in the Abyss that were not created by the operators of Joy Co. Ltd. How could something like this be? It was because they worked on the principle of whatever happened, happened. They mostly followed the flow.

Since Joy Co. Ltd. did not usually intervene directly in the events happening in Athenae, they neglected and ignored the existence of the Abyss’ Calamity. They had concluded that there was no way that the Abyss’ Calamity would be able to escape the depths of the Abyss for the rest of their lives.

Alas, when reality showed them otherwise, Joy Co. Ltd. fell into confusion and disarray.

“The forced termination will come soon!”

“President, we’re entering the fourth stage of the emergency system!!!”

During the fourth stage of the emergency system, the server would be forced to shut down. Many years had passed since Athenae had started its service. During that time, they had never been forced to shut down any server. Of course, they could close the servers. If Athenae were forced to shut down, there would be severe consequences for the artificial intelligences living in the world of Athenae. The consequences could be dire, and even Kang Taehoon could not predict what would happen next.

“President, are we going to close the server?”

Kang Taehoon had never intervened in Athenae before. But after much consideration, he had finally made a decision. He said, “Close it.”

Although Kang Taehoon had established the four stages of the emergency system, he did not know what might happen as a result. So, he asked, “Athenae. If we completely shut down the servers, will the NPCs and the Calamity stop altogether?”

Unfortunately, Athenae gave a completely different response from what he expected.

[It’s possible for the players since they will be forced to log out. However, that’s not the case for the NPCs.]

“...?!”

[The moment the servers are forced to shut down, there is a high probability that their data in the database will be damaged.]

To put it simply, the NPCs would die once the players were no longer in the world.

Kang Taehoon rubbed his face fiercely. If all of the NPCs died in a world where NPCs and players had to live together, then the world would not exist anymore. This meant that Athenae’s service would have to be terminated too. They suddenly found themselves trapped in a very absurd situation.

Kang Taehoon fell back on his chair with a thud. He closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. The Abyss’ Calamity could not be killed. There was only one way to deal with it, and that was to push it back into the opening connected to the Abyss and seal it once more.

Then, at that moment...

[Claaaaaaang–!]

Kang Taehoon’s expression changed when he heard the loud sound. Opening his eyes, he was met with the sight of the Abyss’ Calamity being pushed back inside the open mouth in the sky after a frying pan hit it.

At that moment, Kang Taehoon realized that Minhyuk had successfully cooked all three Olympus-grade ingredients.

‘The Cooking Pioneer’s quest...’

The Cooking Pioneer quest tasked Minhyuk with creating a dish that went beyond the Pillar-grade. And the reward of that quest was... this.

President Kang Taehoon laughed dryly when he caught sight of the frying pan. The Abyss’ Calamity could not be cut. With its magical defensive power going beyond tens of thousands, the attacks that Evil God Obren had sent were immediately dissolved. Minhyuk’s frying pan was different. It was considered a blunt weapon(?). Although he would not be able to inflict any damage to the Calamity, which has an unlimited HP, he could still make it move with his blunt weapon.

Kang Taehoon knew how important Athenae was to Minhyuk, as it was a place where he had been given the chance to start a new life.

‘That’s why he’s going to do everything in his power to protect it.’

There was only one thing that Kang Taehoon could do right now.

“Share Minhyuk’s perspective to all of the players right now.”

He could only help Minhyuk’s light shine brighter.

***

[You have completed the Nakgopsae.]

[The greatest dish has been born in the world.]

[You have completed the

Pillar Quest

: Cooking’s Pioneer.]

[You can now choose one of your cooking tools and utensils to evolve into a Pillar Artifact.]

[You have chosen Hepas’ Legendary Frying Pan.]

[Hepas’ Legendary Frying Pan has evolved into the Pillar of the Gourmands’ Frying Pan.]

(

Pillar’s Frying Pan

)

Rank

: Pillar

Requirements

: Pillar of the Gourmands.

Durability

: ∞ / ∞

Attack Power

: 2,386

Defensive Power

: 2,831

Special Abilities

:

•A +32% in all stats.

•A +500 in Magical Defensive Power.

•The effectiveness of the Magical Defensive Power will increase by four times.

•There will be a +70% increase in the probability of Magical Reflection.

•When using the frying pan to cook, your buff ability increases by 25%.

•You can use Fourth Tier Magic of all five attributes without casting to cook with the frying pan.

•Active Skill: Frying Pan Strike

•Active Skill: Frying Pan Infinite Gigantification

•Active Skill: Frying Pan Reflection

•Active Skill: Absorption Frying Pan

•Passive Skill: Four-strike Frying Pan

Description

: This is a Pillar Artifact explicitly tailored for you. Be careful when using this artifact. This can be a great cooking tool or a very dangerous killing weapon.

Minhyuk had crossed another wall that limited his growth. Just as he was about to jump in delight, he heard another notification.

[In one minute, all of the players across Athenae will be forced to terminate the game.]

Minhyuk realized through the notification that the descent of the Abyss’ Calamity had brought forth an unprecedented danger to Athenae and all of the people living in it.

He immediately checked the details of the

nakgopsae.

But after realizing that he would not be able to get a proper taste of this dish, a bitter smile flashed on his face.

‘I made it with a lot of effort...’

Overlapping Delight.

The permanent abilities that he could obtain from the dish were instantly transformed and changed into buff abilities. With a loud gulp, Minhyuk began to run forward. At the same time, two dice appeared behind him and rolled to a stop. Then, notifications started to ring in his ears as power began to boil and surge within his veins.

[Overlapping Delight.]

[The die has been cast! You have rolled a six!]

[The Overlapping Delight’s buff effect will last for seven minutes!]

[You have eaten the Greatest Nakgopsae!]

[All of your stats have increased by 83%!]

[Your physical and magical defensive powers have increased by 97%!]

[Your physical and magical attack powers have increased by 75%!]

[Your skill damage has increased by 110%!]

Minhyuk leapt into the sky and raised his frying pan, which promptly grew larger.

In the past, the size of his frying pan was dependent on his mana. The damage that it could inflict would also increase as the frying pan became larger. At the same time, when it became huge, it also became harder to swing and more challenging to operate, simply due to air resistance.

That was no longer the case. The Frying Pan Infinite Gigantification had ignored such restrictions and penalties.

The frying pan in the soaring Minhyuk’s hands almost filled the sky with how huge it was.

[Frying Pan Strike.]

[Your frying pan will have an additional 7,600% damage. Everything that collides with your frying pan will be shaken by the massive shock that they receive.]

“Apply the effects of the black die.”

The number the die showed was four. With the effects of the black die, the additional damage increased to tens of thousands in percentage.

CLANG!!!

The Abyss’ Calamity that was descending from the sky was forced to stop in its tracks.

[...]

The Abyss’ Calamity stared at the frying pan with an incredulous look on its face. Not only that, there was also an obvious flash of embarrassment and confusion in its eyes.

[Your perspective is being shared with all of the players of Athenae.]

This was an unprecedented situation.

Over ten million players were accessing Athenae every day. However, only 20% of these players watched live broadcasts. But with this, every single player, even those who had only heard Minhyuk’s name, shared his perspective.

[MINHYUK LET’S FREAKING GOOOOOOO!!!]

The comments section in Minhyuk’s live broadcast was flooded with comments. There was also a flood of donations, which made Minhyuk’s donation amount reach the top of ZTube’s donation rankings in such a short time.

The viewers were also aware of the danger that they were in. They knew that there was a chance that the precious character that they had worked so hard to build in Athenae would disappear. Even the NPCs with whom they had forged a relationship and friendship would probably also disappear.

“F*ck you,” Minhyuk spat as he looked at the Abyss’ Calamity that was staring at him.

He had struggled for years to reach his current position. He even wanted to taste the best and greatest dish once he finished cooking. Unfortunately, everything was suddenly left on the verge of destruction. And it was all because the bastard in front of him appeared.

With hands that swung the sword hundreds of millions of times, Minhyuk gripped his frying pan. He took out the Ego Chain Sickle and used it to catapult himself into the air once again.

CLANG!!!

He hit the Abyss’ Calamity with a powerful force once again. And just like earlier, it moved back. This time, it moved a bit more than before. Seeing this, Minhyuk kept on hitting the Calamity with his frying pan.

[Four-strike Frying Pan.]

[You have a 15% chance of triggering the Four-strike Frying Pan and inflicting an additional 4,000% damage per strike.]

Thwack!

He swung his frying pan nonstop and pushed the Calamity further back. Unfortunately, even if he could push back the Calamity, they still had no chance of winning.

[In 40 seconds, your game will be terminated.]

[In 39 seconds, your game will be terminated.]

All of the viewers were left dumbstruck. When they saw how little the Calamity was being pushed back, they realized that their victory was a long shot.

[Hyung. I don’t want to shelve Athenae. ㅠㅠ]

[Minhyuk. Come on. You can do it.]

[What can he do? Moron. You bastards! Hey, you Joy Co. Ltd. f*cking bastards, if my character gets deleted, I’ll make sure you’re done for!]

Amidst their pouring comments, Minhyuk said, “Gather here.”

That was it. That was all he said. Minhyuk did not elaborate any further. Minhyuk, who looked too small compared to the twenty-meter-tall monster, just stared at it as it started its descent once again.

The viewers watched Minhyuk tighten his grip on his frying pan, which almost covered the sky.

[Why is he asking us to go there?]

[Anyway, let’s go there first.]

[LET’S F*CKING GOOOO!!!]

There were more than three hundred million people who had registered in the Beyond the Heavens Empire’s warp gate. And right now, there were millions of players watching the scene through Minhyuk’s perspective. With Minhyuk’s call for them to gather, countless lights from both players and NPCs alike began to appear all over the place.

The NPCs have heard the story from the players and have immediately gathered here with the help of the great mages’ Teleport. Among them were the original members of Bender and the Attention Seekers. Luvien Empire’s Emperor Brod, as well as Duke Vakkaman and the other dukes, were also present.

They all looked up at Minhyuk. They did not even ask why they had to gather here. With only a few seconds left for the world, they judged that it was better to come here rather than do nothing. Because of that, the light of the great mages’ Mass Teleport and Teleport continued to flash all over the place.

After coming here, the question,

‘Why did you gather us here?’

flashed in everyone’s mind. And the answer to that question was in the frying pan in Minhyuk’s hands.

[The Frying Pan is getting larger.]

[The Frying Pan is getting larger.]

[The Frying Pan is getting larger...]

The frying pan covered the entire Beyond the Heavens Empire and plunged everyone beneath it into darkness.

[Absorption Frying Pan.]

[You will be able to accumulate 15% of the damage of the attacks colliding with the frying pan for ten seconds.]

[The accumulated damage can be gathered together and released in one breath toward the enemy.]

[All damage will be nullified upon activation of Absorption Frying Pan.]

[In 14 seconds, your game will be terminated.]

Everyone realized what Minhyuk wanted to do. Before even speaking, a powerful spearlight had already soared to the sky.

Bang!

It was none other than Ben’s God’s Pinnacle Spear. Brod’s Emperor’s Pinnacle Swordsmanship immediately followed Ben’s attack. Just like that, the light of hundreds of thousands of ultimate and pinnacle skills illuminated the sky of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

This was a spectacular sight that would never be seen again in Athenae.

[In 7 seconds, your game will be terminated.]

Clang, clang, clang!

Minhyuk held the handle of the frying pan tightly with both of his hands as the attacks landed crazily on it.

[In 5 seconds, your game will be terminated.]

Minhyuk had noticed that the force termination was directly related to the complete shutdown of the servers. That was why he was giving it his all.

[The frying pan has finished absorbing the attacks!]

Rumble!

At that moment, a bright and blinding white light erupted from the frying pan.

[Calculating the damage.]

[...additional damage of 13,313%...]

[Calculating the damage.]

[...additional damage of 17,413%...]

[Calculating the damage.]

[...additional damage of 43,614%...]

[Calculating the damage..]

[Calculating...]

[Calculating...]

[In 4 seconds, your game will be terminated.]

[In 3 seconds, your game will be terminated.]

Minhyuk’s triceps and biceps bulged as he clenched his fists tightly. Then, he looked up at the Abyss’ Calamity that was looking down on him and swung the frying pan with all his might.

[The calculation has been completed.]

[The total additional damage that your attack will inflict is 462,317%!]

[In 2 seconds... terminated.]

CLANG!!!

The Abyss’ Calamity was sent flying up into the sky.

[Kuheeeeeeeeeeck!!!]

A scream filled with incredulity and disbelief rang as the soaring Calamity struggled against the attack. All of the people present watched nervously as the Calamity slowed down. Just when everyone’s sweaty hands were trembling in trepidation...

[In 1 second, your game will be terminated.]

Swoosh!

The Abyss’ Calamity was sucked back inside the opening connected to Hell’s Abyss.

One of the players shouted, “STRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!!!”

[The forced termination has been stopped.]

Ring!

At the same time, a notification rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[The one who sent the Abyss’ Disaster back into the depths of Hell’s Abyss will be given rewards.]