Chapter 601: First Teacher, First Friend

The notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears after he temporarily inherited the powers of the twelve Gods of the Abyss.

[Wielding the Sword of Life will bring the dead back to life without any scratch or injuries on their bodies.]

[Wielding the Sword of Magic will allow you to use Tier 1~Tier 5 magic. The sword contains the power of Archipelo, bringing its attack power to a ridiculously high level.]

[Wielding the Sword of Animals…]

[Wielding the Sword of the Food God…]

[Wielding the Sword of Blacksmiths…]

All of these powers could only be used once.

Meanwhile, everyone was lamenting the fact that the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, the kings of other races, and millions of troops had fallen and collapsed at this place.

[This is a lesson to us all. No matter how strong we think we are, players are still infinitely weaker than other beings living in Athenae.]

[The legends have all died. Even millions of troops were killed.]

[Perhaps this is also Food God Minhyuk’s final battle.]

That was right. Minhyuk had lost everyone that he cherished and loved in this battle. There was a chance that his mentality would collapse right there and then. After all, this was definitely something that could inflict great trauma to anyone that experienced it. Perhaps, he might no longer wish to access Athenae any more. However, no one dared to mock or curse him after seeing what happened. Because all of them knew that the trials and difficulties that the Food God had faced were so unbearable that even ordinary people would balk at the thought.

Everyone watched as Minhyuk held his sword and prepared for battle.

[Hold on, you can do it. Food God…]

[Fight until the very end!!!]

[Show us why you’re the best in Athenae!!!]

[Don’t back down!!!]

They longed to be like the Food God, yet at the same time, they felt both jealousy and envy toward him. This person that they chased after, the person that they dreamt of fighting with, was now going to fight until the very end.

While everyone shouted and cheered for the Food God, a strange phenomenon suddenly occurred. Twelve stars fell down like a meteor and entered Minhyuk’s body. Then, Minhyuk, with his cloak bearing the symbol of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, the ‘Fork and Knife’, stepped forward as his hair turned golden and eyes turned silver.

The divine voice of all the gods rang loudly.

[The tree that was once dead, has found life, growing leaves and bearing fruits again.]

A blinding light spread out from the first sword and engulfed the cooling bodies of everyone present as Minhyuk wielded it.

My beloved noona.

[Sword Emperor Ellie has awakened and received a new life.]

Minhyuk’s noona opened her eyes and stood right next to him.

[Overlord Raldo has awakened and received a new life.]

The amiable Raldo, the one Minhyuk called uncle, once again opened his eyes after having lost his left arm and dying.

[Sword Saint Conir has awakened and received a new life.]

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

[Elpis has awakened and received a new life.]

[Spear God Ben has awakened and received a new life.]

Conir, who was sometimes like a dear younger brother to Minhyuk, who acted like a friend, sometimes like a fool and sometimes like a genius, once again stood up next to him. The sturdy and powerful shield, Elpis, also stood next to him. As always, Spear God Ben slammed his spear down into the ground and glared at Elizabeth while declaring that ‘he would never back down’.

[Elf King Argon has awakened and received a new life.]

[Dragon King has awakened and received a new life.]

[Roves’ Child Jevis has awakened and received a new life.]

[Roves’ Child Kiari has awakened and received a new life.]

Although they were of different races, the people that have been with Minhyuk for a long time smiled and looked at him, they nodded lightly to express their trust and faith in him as they stood next to him.

The viewers and commentators held their breaths as they watched the scene on their screens. The same was true for the executives and operators of Joy Co. Ltd.

In this world created by players… No. In this world created by both players and NPCs, a blinding light shone behind Minhyuk. Then, the troop that came from Eivelis Empire, as well as the seafolk and elves led by the Dragon King and Elf King Argon appeared once again, each of their groups exceeding a million in numbers.

[Saintess Loyna has awakened and received a new life.]

Loyna appeared next to Minhyuk, while almost a million paladins appeared behind her in a flash of light. The army behind Minhyuk was now close to five million.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

The Food God stood at the vanguard of the millions of troops that howled and screamed. Minhyuk looked back at them and chuckled softly. Ellie, Elpis, Dragon King, Conir, Loyna, Gremory. They were beings from various races, yet they all stood behind him and nodded at him in unison.

At that moment, the Sword of Life slowly disappeared into nothingness.

[I forgot how to breathe for a moment there.]

[It’s truly a breath-taking scene. God, my entire body is even covered with goosebumps.]

[The greatest and most beautiful battle in the history of Athenae is now about to unfold!!!]

The Food God was creating another legend in front of all of the viewers and commentators all over the world. And in front of Minhyuk…

“Impudent…!!!” Elizabeth, who unknowingly took a step back from the momentum of the five million-strong troops, came back to her senses. She opened her arms gracefully and declared, “Die!”

[God of Snakes’ Wrath.]

[A deadly poison covers a fifty kilometer radius and will kill anything and everything within it.]

[Warning! This is a power that cannot be blocked by ordinary Abnormal Status Resistance Ability!]

[The poison will ruin your entire respiratory system once it enters your system.]

Minhyuk held the second sword with both of his hands tightly as he looked back at the five million strong troops and said, “Let’s go.”

Dash, dash, dash, dash, dash—

With Minhyuk at the lead, the troops charged at Elizabeth. As for Elizabeth, her arms gracefully swayed as an eighteen-meter-tall wave of deadly poison appeared. At the same time, Minhyuk swung the second sword.

Fwooooooooosh—

The voices of the Gods of the Abyss echoed once again.

[The One that Connects the Power of the Gods has wielded the Sword of Immortality.]

A red aura exploded from the bodies of the five million charging troops.

“Wooooooooaaaaaaaaah!”

“Haaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Hiyaaaaaaaa!”

The army yelled to expel the fear from their bodies. They were in that state when the voices of the gods rang.

[Never fear, the world will tremble at the majesty of your immortal body.]

[You will not receive any damage from all kinds of abnormal status or attacks for three minutes!]

[All of your stats will increase by 10% for three minutes!]

The army jumped in the tidal wave made of poison. Minhyuk, who continued to run at the vanguard, brandished the third sword.

[The One that Connects the Power of the Gods has wielded the Food God’s Sword.]

[Even if you don’t make it, it will be created. Even if you don’t eat it, the flavor will still linger in your mouth and it will make you feel full.]

Then, the Ingredients that can Unconditionally Make God-Grade Dishes that Minhyuk purchased flashed brightly and floated in the air. Following Minhyuk’s instructions, the ingredients moved and created a dish. And the dish that he was making?

It was none other than hamburger, a dish that an American like Richard could easily eat.

[You have created a God-grade Hamburger.]

[‘Anonymous’ has been announced to the entire continent for your achievement in creating a food closest to God.]

[God’s Cooking Skill’s EXP has increased dramatically.]

[This is the birth of a Fantastic God Grade Dish!]

And…

Gulp—

“…?!”

Richard was very shocked. The hamburger was sucked into his body. And even though he obviously did not eat it, the amazing flavor of the hamburger still lingered in his mouth.

“De, delicious…”

Richard did not eat it and Minhyuk did not make it personally, but there was a shocking notification that rang in Richard’s ears.

[You have consumed a hamburger.]

[You can increase the level of one chosen skill by +5!]

[You can increase whatever skill you want to increase!]

[The buff duration is two days.]

Richard did not hesitate.

[Absolute Monarch’s Stigma’s level has increased by +5!]

[You can now engrave the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma to forty people!]

[Those that will receive the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma will receive a 43% increase in all stats!]

[Those that will receive the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma will receive a +2 increase in all skill levels!]

[Those that will receive the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma will receive a 40% increase in EXP Acquisition Rate!]

“…”

And the first person that Richard pointed to was…

‘It is an honor to fight alongside you, Food God.’

Richard was in complete awe and admiration of Minhyuk. Minhyuk was someone that Richard feared the most as an enemy. However, he also discovered that the man was a very reliable ally.

[Minhyuk has received the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma!]

Black characters fell and got engraved on Minhyuk’s body. Immediately after, a black aura soared from Minhyuk’s body. Minhyuk, who already had golden hair and silver eyes, now had an additional red and black aura swirling around him. The colors showed a stark contrast to his white and fair skin, which made him look both beautiful and cool as he continued to run forward.

Then, immediately after…

[Ellie has received the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma!]

[Ben has received the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma!]

[Conir has received the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma!]

[Raldo has received the Absolute Monarch’s Stigma!]

Black aura swirled around the bodies of the people that ran with Minhyuk. It was a spectacular sight. They looked like they were lanterns guiding the huge army in the thick fog of the green poison. And the man that shone the brightest, the one that acted as a lighthouse in the dark, continued to run at the vanguard.

Elizabeth could not hide how flustered she was by the people that were running toward her. She immediately used another of her powers.

[Elizabeth has borrowed the power of Monster God Beleg.]

[Beleg’s Army has been activated.]

Among the Six Monster Gods, Beleg was considered as the god of all monsters. And the power that has been triggered was the power of the Father Creator. An army of seven million appeared in front of Elizabeth.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaack!”

“Keuhaaaaaaaaaaack!”

“Graaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Each and every single one of the members of the army were gigantic Named Monsters with levels ranging from Level 400~500. Meanwhile, Minhyuk, who was still running toward Elizabeth, held the fourth sword in his right hand and the fifth sword in his left.

[The One that Connects the Power of the Gods has wielded the Sword of Animal.]

[The fierce beasts will bare their fangs and fight for you.]

“Roooooooaaaaaaaar!”

“Graaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Keuhaaaaaaaaaaaaack!”

Almost ten million predators appeared in front of Minhyuk. They were not just any ordinary beasts. They were ‘mythological’ beasts and predators that were raised by the God of animals himself, known for biting off thousands of soldiers; they were God of Animals Ideo’s Beasts! Millions of lions, tigers, leopards and bears appeared on the ground, while three-meter long eagles occupied the skies. The almost ten million predators that dominated the land and air made their way toward the millions of monsters, together with the army led by Minhyuk.

Minhyuk jumped and balanced himself on the back of one of the giant lions. When the lion leapt to the skies, Minhyuk also jumped up while brandishing the other sword in his hand.

[The One that Connects the Power of the Gods has wielded the Sword of Alchemy.]

[Witness the Alchemy Carnival.]

Tens of thousands of purple potion bottles popped up in the skies and started to fall down like rain.

Claaaaang—

And once the bottles made contact with the ground….

Baaaaaaaaaaaaang—

They exploded and engulfed the monsters within a ten meter radius.

Baaaaaang! Baaaaaaaang! Baaaaaaaaang!

Boooom! Booooooom! Booooooom!

Elizabeth stepped back from the sudden and continuous explosions.

‘Impossible…!’

The powers that were being used in front of her were something that a human could never hope to use. Indeed, the man in front of him was close to an ‘Absolute God’ right now. Elizabeth immediately flew to the skies and turned around. She knew that the man in front of her was obviously using the power of the gods, albeit temporarily. This meant that she had to avoid him for now.

But in the cover of the cloud of dust that rose from the explosion, another sword released a bright light in Minhyuk’s hand. Minhyuk charged toward Elizabeth while the gods said…

[The One that Connects the Power of the Gods has wielded the Sword of Creation.]

Vwooooooooooong—

The sword in Minhyuk’s hand disappeared as he swung it down. Then, he immediately pulled out the Continent Destroyer Sword.

[You have combined the skill Overlord Technique and the skill Lightning!]

[Additional damage has been added to all of the skills that you will create!]

[Overlord’s Lightning has been created!!!]

[All active skills will be on cooldown upon usage of Overlord’s Lightning!]

[Each strike of the Overlord’s Lightning will have 14,000% additional attack power. The skill will inflict 200~300 strikes!]

The skies started to darken as heaven and earth turned upside down.

Rumbleeeee—

The sky roared as Minhyuk flew up and brandished his Continent Destroyer Sword, aiming for the fleeing Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s gaze drifted to the skies.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaang—

Hundreds of lightning bolts from the Overlord’s Lightning struck down and devoured everything in sight.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaack!”

Amidst Elizabeth’s ear-piercing shrieks, the voices of the gods rang out…

[He, who has created a new power, will become the god of the new world.]