Chapter 654: Banquet with the Gods

The Gods’ hierarchical system could be simply described like this: Athenae was at the peak, above the Absolute Gods, who were akin to emperors. Spear God Aerdes was like a king below that. Although they were all Gods, their world followed a strict and indisputable system.

Among the Gods, Aerdes could be considered to be the one that had remained in her position for a very long time. She remained steadfast and firm in her throne and was one of the candidates of becoming an Absolute God. But one day, she left her position and entrusted it to a human legend before disappearing.

Rumors circulated among the Gods. Some said that the human had defeated Spear God Aerdes. There was also speculation about how Spear God Aerdes was left dying from an unforeseen accident, which forced her to relinquish her seat and entrust it to the human.

However, there was one thing that everyone was sure of. All of them firmly believed that the one that inherited the position of the Spear God was a great person. Otherwise, it would not make sense for them to inherit Spear God Aerdes’ powers.

At this very moment, the new Spear God, an old veteran, knelt on one knee and paid his respects to the Continental God that they were mocking, the very same Continental God that liked to eat and was a mere king of men.

“Your Majesty, you called for me?”

Vwooooooooong—

Ardees’ fire golem had been instantly knocked down the moment the old man appeared, a feat that revealed his greatness as the Spear God.

‘Did, did he just say Spear God?!’

‘The Spear God that we have heard about from the rumors is that man’s vassal?!’

‘What the hell? What kind of ridiculous bullshit is that? How can a God be the vassal of a mere human’s… no, the recently ascended Continental God?!’

Everyone was in disbelief. Of course, it was only natural. After all, it was rare even for the Gods to have other Gods serving under them.

The one that was most surprised was Ardees. He knew best about the fire golem’s capabilities and powers. Its HP volume was ridiculously high, and that was not all.

‘An ordinary God’s attack would never be able to pierce through its defenses.’

Of course, it was only proper to categorize these so-called Gods below someone at the Spear God’s level. However, there was one thing that Ardees was certain of, if that Spear God remained standing there, then he would never have a chance of defeating the one hailed as the Food God.

‘This can’t be happening… are you telling me that I won’t be able to touch that trivial man just because of his subordinate?’

Ardees turned despondent. The vassal was preventing him from beating the shit out of the weak and trivial human.

“Your Majesty, do you have any orders for me?” Ben asked politely, still kneeling down on one knee.

Ben had been Minhyuk’s vassal for the longest time. As such, he was very quick in deducing what the boy wanted to do. He quickly glared at all of the prying eyes that surrounded them. Everyone that met his gaze all shuddered and turned away.

Then, Ardees said, “This fight will be considered void. I summoned the fire golem to show our true worth. But you summoned the Spear God? Don’t you think that’s beyond ridiculous?”

Ardees tried to get out of the situation to the best of his abilities. However, Minhyuk just looked at him as if he found it funny and scoffed, “You can do it, but I can’t? There’s nothing more ridiculous than that.”

“I clearly said that I will fight you. I never mentioned that I will fight the Spear God.”

Minhyuk frowned, “Ho, that sounds like you’re telling me that you can win easily if the Spear God is not with me.”

“Isn’t that only natural?” Ardees sneered. He was sure that this was the reason for the man’s confidence. Ardees was very confident in his assumption. The man in front of him was only able to be so arrogant because the Spear God was by his side. Perhaps it was the Spear God that helped him reach the realms of the God.

“Is that so? Ridiculous. I’m pretty confident that I will be able to knock you down in just one hit.”

“So, you’ve gone mental.”

“You have started to talk arrogantly just because you summoned a God.”

“As expected of a human. Such arrogance…”

It was not just Ardees, even the other Gods clicked their tongues at Minhyuk.

At the same time, a brilliant idea came upon Minhyuk.

“Hoo… Hooo… Hoo… Hooo…”

Minhyuk began to breathe heavily, his feet stomping heavily on the ground.

Crack! Crack, crack, crack!

“You’re belittling me?!!! The great me?! The king of a nation and a human that became a God?!!!”

Then, Ben, who was quick on the uptake, quickly scrambled up. Having seen Minhyuk’s wink that the others failed to see, he said, “Your, Your Majesty… please, please calm down. You can’t grow angry like last time. The last time you got angry like this, you killed plenty of your subordinates, did you not?”

“Don’t stop me, Ben. I won’t let any of these people that have belittled me go!”

“Your Majesty, I beg you. Please calm yourself down!”

At that moment, Ardees and the other Gods realized that Minhyuk had an anger-management issue. When they thought back, they realized that he had also punched Ardees in the face just because Ardees flipped his plate over. No matter how they looked at it, it was definitely an anger management issue.

Finally, unable to hold his anger back, Minhyuk raised his voice, “All of you! If I make up my mind, I will be able to wipe all of you in one go! Fine, let’s do this. The Spear God will not join me in this battle!”

“Your, Your Majesty!!!” Spear God Ben’s eyes grew wide. He shook his head fiercely as he grabbed Minhyuk’s arm.

However, Minhyuk’s face, which had turned red from anger, shook him off and said, “What do you think?! Come on, let’s do it 1:1?!!! However, what are you going to bet in exchange for not allowing the Spear God to participate in this battle, huh?!!”

Then, at that moment, a woman stepped forward. The woman was none other than the Eode, the Incarnation of Water. Just like Ardees, she was one of the elements’ incarnations. She felt that one of the elements’ incarnations were being belittled and ignored. Not wanting to see such a person humiliate an elemental incarnation, she stepped forward and said, “How about I bet my God’s Recognition?”

“Hahahahahaha?! Is that so?! You’re joining too, huh?!” Minhyuk said, laughing arrogantly.

Immediately after, another figure, the one that resembled a golem, stepped forward and said, “Then, I will bet my God’s Recognition too.”

It was none other than the Incarnation of Earth.

Minhyuk’s eyes shone as he heard their words,

‘Things are going better than I thought?’

Everything depended on how one would lead the situation. Since it was the Gods that started it in the first place, approaching and belittling him, Minhyuk would respond in kind. He would take full advantage of the situation and make sure to press those high noses down to the ground.

[After discussion, the bet with Food God Minhyuk has been revised.]

[Food God Minhyuk has bet his qualifications as a God.]

[You, the God of Fire, have bet your ‘God’s Recognition’.]

[Based on the revisions, Spear God Ben will not participate in the battle with Food God Minhyuk.]

[The Incarnations of Earth and Water have bet their ‘God’s Recognition’.]

Ardees cackled, “Wahahahahahahahah! Bwahahahahahahahahaha!”

He could not help but laugh out loud at the turn of events. After all, the human could not control his anger and made an entire mess of his situation. It was truly worthy of ridicule.

All of the Gods present laughed. They all believed that the human’s special power lied in summoning a God. However, today, this man will lose his qualification as God and would no longer be allowed to enter this place.

Thud, thud, thud, thud—

At that moment, someone began to walk among the Gods. Seeing the Gods' part and making way, Ardees could not help but wonder about the identity of the being that was making their way among them.

Finally, a figure emerged among the Gods. Ardees could not help but choke on his breath the moment he saw the face of the figure,

‘The, the God of Cooking?!’

The God of Cooking was one of the Absolute Gods, who rarely participated in the Banquet with the Gods. However, someone of great status like her suddenly appeared here. Because of that, the surprise that Ardees felt was much greater. On top of that, she was standing behind Minhyuk.

“Long time no see.”

“Yes, it’s been a long time.”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Everyone present was rendered silent. They finally understood the reason why Arlene stepped in this place and attended this event.

‘She’s, she’s, she’s, she’s acquainted with that bastard?!’

‘No, are you telling me that she attended this event just because of him?!’

The God of Cooking, one of the Absolute Gods, was an existence that no one could easily be friends with, even if they wanted to be one. However, she appeared here and was even looking at Minhyuk with a gentle smile on her face.

Then, Arlene said, “On behalf of Mother Athenae and everyone present here, I give you our thanks,” before lifting Minhyuk’s hand and kissing its back.

“…”

“…”

None of them could make sense of what was happening. Arlene continued, “May mother’s blessings always be with you, who made the Corrupted God fall into eternal rest on behalf of everyone.”

“…”

Everyone froze in place the moment those words were uttered. Except for the higher ranking Gods, the rest of the Gods in the world of the Gods were unaware of the fact that the Corrupted God was laid to eternal rest. However, with those words from Arlene, they came to realize that Minhyuk, the man in front of her, had killed the Corrupted God.

It was completely unbelievable. How could a mere human kill the Corrupted God? The God of Information opened his mouth and said, “No way, are you telling me that he is the king among the humans that has sealed the Great Demon, as well as hunted and killed both Demigod Asura and one of the Six Monster Gods’ Elizabeth…”

“…”

“…”

The feeling of shock deepened at those words. This was more so the case for Ardees. His eyes had grown wide as he thought,

‘That’s, that’s not true… that’s impossible.’

He wanted to deny it. No, in fact, he wanted to get out of this situation right now. But before he could do so, a bright light burst from behind them as a throne was created.

[God of Origin, Mother Athenae, has graced the Banquet with the Gods with her presence.]

“…!”

“…!”

The greatest God had made an appearance. As she appeared on her throne, she said, “The first foreigner to receive my recognition and my first knight…”

“…”

“…”

“…Congratulations on ascending and becoming a True God.”

“God’s Knight?”

“Him?”

“None of the Gods has ever been God Athenae’s Knight though…”

The impact and significance of a God’s Knight was very huge. This was because becoming a God’s Knight meant that they had received Athenae’s recognition. It was a very unbelievable achievement that not even the Gods have achieved.

Minhyuk showed courtesy towards Athenae and said, “Thank you.”

Minhyuk knew that he would have probably lost in the battle against the Corrupted God if Athenae had not appeared to help him. That was why he was truly grateful to her.

“…This is impossible,” Ardees shook his head in disbelief.

The God of Origin and one of the Absolute Gods had come to congratulate a human’s ascension to being a True God. That was completely ridiculous. However, with this, there was no way that Ardees would be able to avoid the duel against the man.

Ardees then thought,

‘Perhaps that man was only able to defeat the Corrupted God because the God of Origin descended, made him into her knight and shared with him her power?’

This was the only way that it could make sense. At the same time, Ardees knew that he should immediately launch an attack. He thought of using his most powerful attack, Flaming Explosion. It was an attack that allowed him to turn his opponent to ashes upon summoning a gigantic bead of blazing flames. Ardees was confident that he would be able to kill that man with this one move.

“Flaming…”

Unfortunately, he was unable to finish his sentence.

“Sword of Absolute Death.”

Stab!

“…?”

Ardees did not even realize that a powerful sword was already stuck in his head.

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab!

Immediately after that, hundreds of sword blades appeared and stabbed through his body. However, it did not end there. The man did it again.

“Sword of Absolute Death.”

Stab—

Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab!!!

Crackle, crackle—

The arrogant God, Incarnation of Fire Ardees, had persecuted and trampled on many Continental Gods. He was also someone that has committed plenty of evil acts by borrowing and using the influence and power of the God of Death. This very same God died within four seconds, turning into ashes and disappearing into the wind.

At the same time, notifications rang in Minhyuk’s head.

[You have acquired the

Title

: ‘The One that can Even Deceive the Gods’.]

[You have received three God’s Recognitions!]

[You have lifted the seal of the Corrupted Goddess’ Ring!]