Chapter 965

Nerva turned around once again and limped away after leaving the words,

“Athenae’s Third Era now belongs to you.”

Minhyuk felt his heart thump wildly at those words. And as he watched Nerva’s back slowly disappear into the distance, the notifications rang in his ears.

[You have met all the qualifications to become the Battle God!]

[You will now inherit the throne of the Battle God!]

[You can now create a temple where people could worship and praise the Battle God!]

[The 1st Level of the Battle God’s power will be released upon inheritance. The 2nd Level will open once you reach Level 700, and the final level will open once you reach Level 800!]

[The Battle God will remain with you for five years to fill in any gaps, flaws, or insufficiencies you might have!]

[The Battle God’s 1st Level of power will now be opened!]

[Your CHA has increased by 40%!]

[Your total HP has increased by 5%. Your total MP has risen by 3%!]

[You have acquired the Active Skill: Battle God's Order.]

[You have acquired the

Growth Authority

: The Ever-growing One.]

[The Battle God is the god that leads all of the armies and troops in war and into victory!]

The notifications ended with that.

Minhyuk had already known from Ali and Valentino that the 1st Level of their respective gods’ power would open for them the moment they inherited the position of their gods. He had also learned from them that the notifications would tell him about the level he needed to achieve to open the next level. However, despite all of his calculations, he still missed.

‘The other gods only needed to reach Level 660 to open the 2nd level of their power. But my 2nd Level will only open at Level 700 and my final level at Level 800.’

The walls that he had to face were extremely high. It took almost half a year to reach Level 650 from Level 600. The worst part? It would have been impossible to achieve that without taking the Single Target EXP Increase Potion and the One-week EXP Triple Increase Potion that he bought from the Infinite Shop.

‘Conversely, the Battle God will stand by my side and protect me for five years.’

From what he knew, most gods would only stay with their successors for a year. This just meant that the position of the Battle God was accompanied by heavy responsibilities and duties. Minhyuk fully understood that point.

‘Once I reach Level 800, I will be able to receive a far more valuable reward.’

Minhyuk was not too disappointed with the rewards he had received. Unlike the other gods, the Battle God was an Absolute God. And that was not all; he was even hailed as the strongest and greatest Absolute God. Because of that, he was curious. He hurriedly checked the new skill that he had received.

(

Battle God’s Order

)

Rank

: God

Active Skill

Level

: None

Mana Required

: 10,000

Penalty for Use

: CHA will decrease by ten permanently.

Cooldown

: 24 hours

Effects

:

•You can disable all buff effects and abnormal statuses on your target.

•Can be used on NPCs, players, monsters, etc., with levels higher than yours. It will depend on the amount of CHA you possess.

The Battle God’s Order was quite an unusual yet unique skill.

‘I can use this to decide if someone would be at an advantage or a disadvantage.’

If Minhyuk cast the Battle God’s Order, he could also remove any abnormal status afflicting his target. On the other hand, he could also remove any buff effects that they have applied on themselves. If he could use this properly on his enemies and allies, he could exert tremendous power.

Next, he checked the authority that he received. Minhyuk had some expectation of this authority since he already had the Origin Authority: God and Knight in his possession.

(

The Ever-growing One

)

Growth Authority

Effects

:

•You can speed up your designated target's EXP Acquisition Rate and Growth Rate by 1.5~10x faster.

•You can bestow the power of growth to those who grow slowly, have reached their limits, or to those who could not grow because of various factors.

•Whenever your designated target reaches 100% Growth Level, the speed of their growth will double.

•Whenever your designated target crosses over a wall, this will help you present various things that will give them more power and aid their growth.

•Current Allowed Number of Targets: 1

•The things that you will give to aid in your target’s growth might sometimes be changed by the system.

•Sealed.

•Sealed.

•Sealed.

•To unseal the other effects, your target must achieve 100% growth level three times first.

•If your designated target fails to reach 100% growth level three times, you can terminate the authority one year after the date of designation.

‘It’s a skill that can help someone else grow.’

From what he could see, it was a skill that could be applied to players and NPCs. Based on the description, he could increase their speed of growth by up to ten times.

‘Isn’t this skill nuts?’

Players would already jump in joy if they could get an EXP buff potion that could increase their EXP Acquisition Rate by 10%. But this skill could allow anyone to increase their speed of growth from 1.5~10 times. And that was not all; it was also possible for Minhyuk to nurture several more people once he released the seal by helping someone grow well.

‘What’s certain here is that whoever I designate as my target would feel like they had won the lottery.’

After checking all the skills, Minhyuk turned to look at the approaching Battle God. At the same time, another notification rang in his ears.

[AI will now control your character.]

Then, the world message rang.

[You can now bear witness to the birth of the new Battle God!]

The people quickly clicked on the notifications one after another.

***

Many of the viewers felt their hearts thump wildly. The Battle God was the greatest and strongest Battle God. So, who would inherit his position? And when Minhyuk’s figure as he stood in front of the Battle God appeared in front of everyone, the crowd cheered.

Minhyuk, who the AI controlled, flinched when the Battle God gently placed the silver crown on his head.

“Are you afraid?”

The AI-controlled Minhyuk nodded in answer to the Battle God’s question. Then, a magnificent and imposing voice resounded all over the place.

[Battle God. It is a position with heavy duties and responsibilities. The Battle God is the one that will stand at the vanguard and lead all of the gods in war.]

[For a human, climbing to such a position might feel too much and scary.]

“Do you feel like running away?”

Minhyuk could not answer the Battle God’s question and remained standing there.

“Then, the Battle God said, “I have watched you from the beginning to the present. At first, you...”

[You wanted to live.]

[As a human, you wanted to achieve a dream that no one in the world has ever accomplished.]

[You laughed and enjoyed all the delicious delicacies in the world and continued to live on.]

“And...”

[You worked harder than anybody else. Just like a farmer who plows his field, sows his seed, and cares for them until they bore fruit, you have been working hard and giving it your all.]

[All of the effort and hard work that you have done are things that not even the greatest god, the Battle God, could not dare to imagine doing.]

“I have been watching you the whole time.”

[Even if you weren’t born with the blood of the gods, even if you’re not special, all the effort and hard work you invested will definitely pay off.]

“I had always hoped that you would be the one to succeed and inherit my throne.”

[Your hard work, will to never back down, firm determination, and consideration of others. You...]

“I acknowledge and respect that.”

[I am fully aware.]

“How hard it must have been for you, hmm?”

At that moment, Minhyuk raised his hand and wiped away a tear on his cheek with a bitter smile.

The Battle God comforted him. “How difficult it was, no?”

[Everyone was aware. That’s why the Battle God said, “Only you.”]

“You will be the only candidate that will inherit the throne of the Battle God.”

[Only you.]

“You will be the emperor that will lead Athenae.”

[You are the only one.]

“From the lowest position.”

[You will become the god standing at the highest position.]

“Then, are you still afraid?”

It would be a lie for Minhyuk to say he was no longer afraid just because the Battle God said a few words to him.

[The you now...]

[...have hundreds of gods and millions of Heavenly Army troops just like the Battle God.]

[But even though you have become the Battle God, in the end, you can only lead them if you win their hearts.]

“Is it even necessary?”

The Battle God asked as he looked around. Minhyuk looked at the countless gods standing around him.

“Do you need to win their hearts?”

[For hundreds, thousands of years, the Battle God had always worked hard to try and win the hearts of the gods and the Heavenly Army troops.]

[However, that does not mean that you also need to win the hearts of everyone present here.]

“Don’t you already have it?”

[Your very own Heavenly Army. Your very own Land of the Gods.]

Then, at that moment, shocking notifications rang worldwide, one after another.

[Sword Emperor Ellie declares that she will sometimes join and be a part of your Heavenly Army!]

[Mercenary King Venteio declares that he will sometimes join and be a part of your Heavenly Army!]

[Overlord Raldo declares that he will sometimes join and be a part of your Heavenly Army!]

[Great Demon Gremory declares that she will sometimes join and be a part of your Heavenly Army!]

[Dragon King declares...sometimes...!]

[Elven King Argon declares...sometimes...!]

Hundreds and thousands of notifications rang all over the world.

“All of your hard work and consideration...”

[...have helped you create your very own Heavenly Army.]

“Your kindness, mercy, and love...”

[...have helped you create your Land of the Gods.]

At that moment, the Battle God’s body turned into light and disappeared before Minhyuk. Minhyuk hurriedly followed the light and saw the Battle God appear before the gods and the Heavenly Army.

On the other hand, Minhyuk was left alone. There was no one standing behind him.

“The one step that you took...”

[I have sent the most remarkable man to wield a spear.]

Spear God Ben appeared right behind Minhyuk. He stabbed his spear on the ground and looked at the gods and the Heavenly Army troops with an arrogant and noble look in his eyes. He looked at them as if he was looking at his enemies.

“With another step that you took...”

[I have sent the candidate to become the greatest emperor in the continent.]

Brod appeared right next to Minhyuk.

“With another step and another...”

[You have embraced many. And now, they have become your very own Heavenly Army and will be the ones that you will lead in your very own Land of the Gods.]

Unlike the gods and heavenly army troops standing behind the Battle God, the ones appearing behind Minhyuk were wearing white armor and carrying the symbol of a fork and knife crossed together on their backs.

Many others appeared behind him. Not only were Elpis, Gorfido, Mandala, Bichor, Beanie, Luna, Luo, Elizabeth, and Don appeared, but even Genie, Locke, Khan, Abel, Lucia, Alicia, Ascar, Ruth, Mei Wei, Carr, Ali, and the rest of his guild members also stood behind him. Minhyuk felt overwhelmed as he turned to look at them. Then, a white space opened behind them and revealed the millions of troops of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

From their position, it seemed that they were about to confront the current Battle God and his army.

Minhyuk felt his heart thump wildly again as he watched the Battle God move and said, “We have been protecting this place for a very long time.”

[That’s just how old and rusty we all are. Every single god and member of the Heavenly Army knows this.]

“Now, the world...”

[The world needs someone new.]

The Battle God asked Minhyuk once again. “Are you still afraid?”

And Minhyuk answered, “Yes. I’m afraid.”

[But there’s a slight smile on his face.]

[Like the Battle God had said, he could climb to this position because of his efforts, hard work, will, consideration, kindness, mercy, love, and firm determination.]

[Even though the seasons would change...]

[He would not change and would continue to work hard.]

[Just like he always did, he would continue plowing his fields and seeds. He would continue to care for them until they bloom and finally bear fruit.]

[That’s why it would be fine.]

“Just continue to take one step forward. Take one step after another just like you did before.”

The words that the Battle God uttered earlier once again rang.

[Only you.]

“You will be the only candidate that will inherit the throne of the Battle God.”

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

[You are the only one.]

“From the lowest position.”

[You will become the god standing at the highest position.]

The Battle God walked toward Minhyuk and gently placed the silver crown on his head as he finished his words.

[Because you’re the only one.]

“That’s why you can do it.”

[You are none other than the Great Sovereign that will lead all of the gods.]

“You are the Battle God.”

With that, the world message resonated all over the world.

[The new Battle God has been born to the world!]

[The name of the new Battle God is “Minhyuk”!]

The entire world cheered.