Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 979

In Utopia, Arce, who was hailed as the God and the Sky, was considered the person sitting in the highest position. Of course, he also had the heroes standing by his side and protecting Utopia. The heroes, just like Arce, were half-gods, half-transcendentals. To put it simply, Arce was like the king, and the heroes were like the nobles of Utopia.

Currently, Utopia’s God Arce was playing Go with the Hero King Rakk.

Tap–

Arce placed his black stone on the Go board. Then, he looked up at Rakk, sitting before him, and said, “Are you going to get rid of all of the food in Utopia? In one week, all things being oppressed and subdued in the Dungeon of Oppression will disappear.”

Rakk stopped rubbing the smooth white stone in his hands and looked up. “Sky.”

Contrary to his words, Rakk did not treat Arce like he was the noblest Sky.

“The act of eating in and of itself is very unnecessary for the hybrids. Not only do you have to farm and cook the dishes, you even have to partake in the act of eating just to consume food.”

Arce’s hand holding the black stone tightened when he heard Rakk’s words.

“Besides, aren’t potatoes enough for those mutts?”

Arce was rendered silent.

Different from what everyone knew, Arce wanted to keep food in Utopia. It was all because of the heroes.

As mentioned before, the heroes were just like Arce. They had the power of a half-god and a half-transcendental. The problem was that the power of the god that Arce had inherited, in other words, the power of the Food God, could not exert much energy. The heroes, on the other hand, could exert a powerful force. The worst part? They were all arrogant and nasty beings.

“Besides, they were the type of people who would wage war and fight for food. Those people don’t need to have food.”

Arce knew that the heroes made it so that the people viewed the Food God as a weak and trivial god. They also asked why he was just a puppet god and not a real god.

‘Just because of one ingredient…’

Arce’s hand holding the Go stone trembled. One reason they banned food was to control the hybrids, who enjoyed eating food. But that was not all. They also had another reason for doing so.

‘When something is left oppressed and subdued inside the Dungeon of Oppression for a very long time, they can obtain something beyond anyone’s imagination.’

The heroes had left inside the Dungeon of Oppression the food ingredients they had banned. So, that something beyond anyone’s imagination would be a cooking ingredient. The heroes banned and controlled food for hundreds of years to get that one ingredient.

In a week, everything that was being oppressed and subdued inside the Dungeon of Oppression would finally disappear. This would signal the disappearance of all the food in the land and the birth of that thing that they wanted to obtain.

Rakk rubbed the Go stone before placing it on the board. Then, he said, “But these days, there are bugs who dare to dream of rebelling against the Sky.”

Twitch–

Arce immediately knew who Rakk was talking about. It was none other than his younger brother, Rhoando.

Arce left his mother. Why did he leave? He was furious at his father and at the people's mocking and ridiculing of him. That was also why he wanted to become a god. And he became a god, a god for the heroes.

But as time went by, he finally realized that his father was not a weak and incompetent god, and the heroes were doing bad things all along. After a long time, he also learned that it was not him but his younger brother, Rhoando, who possessed a solid and great will.

‘If the one who became god was you, then you might not have been swayed by them.’

He felt extremely bitter that his brother had received the power of a half-elf, not him.

“Well, what can those bugs even do? Right?” Rakk mocked.

Then, Arce asked, “What would happen if those people were able to release the things being oppressed in the Dungeon of Oppression?”

Rakk’s fingers that were rubbing the Go stone stopped once again. He looked at Arce for a moment before bursting into laughter. “What a funny joke. That’s not going to happen. But if it happens, I’m also unaware of what will happen.”

Rakk was confident that it would not happen. It was challenging for the heroes to deal with the twin divine dragons once they merged, yet was Arce telling him that those bugs could kill the dragon and enter the place where that thing was being oppressed?

This should not happen. Especially since the one who would challenge the dungeon was Arce’s younger brother, the descendant of the Food God. It would be impossible for him to do so.

Rakk, as if he was attacking Arce with his words, said, “Sky, you should stop now. You have long abandoned the power inherited from the Food God. That power, which even the lowest of people could laugh at, seems unnecessary, no?”

Just like how Rhoando had inherited the Overlapping Delight skill, Arce had also inherited some of his father’s power. Of course, Arce's power was utterly different from that of his younger brother.

Arce did not bother to answer Rakk’s words. But then, both of their eyes turned toward the same direction simultaneously.

Arce’s pupils shook as he thought, ‘R– Rhoando?’

Half-god, half-transcendentals were the chosen ones. And from what it looked like, another chosen one had been born to the world.

Not long after, a hero rushed inside the room where they were in. He said, “Hero King. The divine dragon in the Dungeon of Oppression is presumed dead.”

“...!”

Rakk jumped out of his seat. The thing that Arce just asked about had suddenly become a reality.

“Go. Go straight to the Dungeon of Oppression,” Rakk ordered as he hurried out.

And Arce? He could not hide the anxious expression on his face as he looked at Rakk’s departing back.

***

In the depths of the Dungeon of Oppression.

Minhyuk, Rhoando, and the rebels continued to walk through the passageway until they saw a bright light.

‘Wow…’

As their eyes got used to the brightness, all of the ingredients that should have existed in the world spread out inside the room. All the existing ingredients, regardless of their type, were in this place. There were fruits like apples and pears, meat like pork and beef, which were divided into each of their parts, and grains like wheat and rice.

‘All kinds of ingredients are here. And there aren’t even any duplicates.’

Minhyuk could easily tell there were no two ingredients of the same kind.

“Huh?”

“H- Hyung-nim…!”

At that moment, Minhyuk turned to look back at Rhoando and the rebels, who called out to him. Only then did he see that a transparent barrier blocked them, and they could not enter.

Immediately after that, a notification rang.

[Only the pure-blooded Food God and those who have contributed significantly to the hunt of the divine dragon can enter the place where the oppressed and subdued item is located.]

Minhyuk’s face twisted into a frown. This place seemed impossible to enter unless someone had hunted the divine dragon or was the Food God.

[142 hours. 34 minutes. 30 seconds.]

[142 hours. 34 minutes. 29 seconds.]

[142 hours. 34 minutes. 28 seconds.]

Then, his eyes turned toward the timer floating in the air, with a huge and unknown heart beating right beneath it.

“Everyone, wait there.” Minhyuk stretched his hand out as he approached the beating heart.

Ring!

[Linked Quest: Destroy the Heart of Oppression.]

Rank: Class

Requirements: The one who helped Rhoando become a God.

Rewards: Oppression’s Cooking Ingredient

Penalty on Failure: Unable to proceed with the following quests.

Description: The Heart of Oppression has subdued and is still suppressing all of the food in the world and is using it to create the Oppression’s Cooking Ingredient. Once the timer reaches zero, all cooking ingredients, except the potato, will no longer be found in Utopia, and the Oppression’s Ingredient will appear worldwide. If you destroy the Heart of Oppression during the process, you can still obtain the Oppression’s Ingredient, but it would only have a portion of its power.

Minhyuk knew full well that he had to destroy the Heart of Oppression.

‘If I destroy the Heart of Oppression, then does that mean all of these ingredients would be released in Utopia?’

But right now, the king and the god of Utopia still had a ban on food. Minhyuk quickly walked to Rhoando and said, “Rhoando, you have to go and quickly deal with the king.”

“Wh- What about you, hyung-nim?”

“If we fail to destroy the Heart of Oppression within a week, then even if you become king and god, all of the ingredients in this world will disappear.”

“...!”

“...!”

Rhoando and the rebels looked at Minhyuk in shock. If that happened, it would be useless even if Rhoando became king or god.

“I will deal with the Heart of Oppression by myself.”

“Can you do it?”

“I’ll do my best.” Minhyuk did not have a complete guarantee. After all, he also had no idea about the variables that would affect the Heart of Oppression.

Rhoando met Minhyuk’s gaze.

“Now is the time for us to do what we must do.”

Although Rhoando was worried about Minhyuk, he was not wholly unaware of that fact. In the end, he agreed. “I understand, hyung-nim.”

Rhoando nodded solemnly at Minhyuk. The rebels also looked at Minhyuk and gave him a brief goodbye before turning around and leaving.

‘Rhoando will be able to do well.’

From what Minhyuk had seen, Rhoando was a strong man. He would be able to do what he intended to do.

Minhyuk turned to look at all the ingredients scattered around the Heart of Oppression he had to destroy.

Drip, drip, drip–

Drool started dripping down his chin as he looked at all the ingredients around him.

‘Shall we try eating one?’ Minhyuk thought as his hands reached for the pork belly lying silently in a basket.

[The pork belly is under oppression.]

[You must destroy the Heart of Oppression before acquiring the ingredients.]

A frown immediately marred Minhyuk’s face. He was happy that he could see the ingredients that he hadn’t seen for quite some time now, but his happiness was immediately dragged down to the ground after realizing that he could not eat them.

Minhyuk turned to look at the Heart of Oppression. ‘There’s a cooking ingredient inside the Heart of Oppression, huh?’

And this ingredient was made by putting the other ingredients under its oppression. There was no way that someone as quick-witted as Minhyuk would not understand what this implied.

‘There’s a high chance that they ban food and put them here so that they could get this ingredient.’

An ingredient made after putting all of the other food and ingredients under oppression for hundreds of years. For someone like Minhyuk, who loved to eat, he could not help but be curious about it.

Minhyuk approached the Heart of Oppression. Based on experience, this kind of thing would usually require an insane amount of hard work and labor. So, he raised his sword and swung toward the Heart of Oppression once.

[The Heart of Oppression is reacting.]

[The Heart of Oppression will be able to make the perfect ingredient in a week.]

Ring!

[The information on the Oppression’s Cooking Ingredient that will be made in a week has been released.]

(Oppression’s Beef Grilling Set)

Ingredient Grade: God and Transcendental

Special Abilities:

•Your level will increase by 40.

•All of your stats will increase by 45%.

•All of your skill levels will increase by +5.

•Your HP and MP will increase by 80%.

•A chosen skill will receive a +3 increase in level.

•Your divine power will increase by 50%.

•This ingredient is more special than any other ingredient in the world. Its taste is more delicious than ordinary ingredients. The taste would remain unchanged even if the Heart of Oppression is destroyed.

Description: This ingredient will be born by putting all the ingredients under oppression and absorbing their power. Upon consumption, you will be able to obtain unimaginable power. Beware. The Oppression’s Cooking Ingredient will constantly tempt you.

“...?!” Minhyuk trembled. ‘What?! All of the ingredients here?!’

Minhyuk had never seen an ingredient like this in his entire life. Could an Absolute God-grade ingredient display an effect like this? The answer would probably be a resounding no.

If Minhyuk ate this ingredient, he could guarantee that he would become one of the Eight Pillars right away. No one would be able to fight against him, and he would reign supreme.

‘Even Helenia.’

That was how much power this ingredient possessed. Even if he ate it right away, Minhyuk would easily become a person with a power comparable to that of someone at Level 1,000.

“Don’t you want it?”

An unidentified voice rang in his ears.

***

Hero King Rakk led the other heroes inside the Dungeon of Oppression.

‘How did that trash, Rhoando, hunt the Divine Dragon?’ Rakk just could not understand. The Rhoando that they knew was someone who did not have the power to hunt the divine dragons.

As he pondered the matter, Rakk finally entered the deepest part of the dungeon. And just like he expected, someone was standing inside the place where all of the ingredients were left under oppression. From what it looked like, the man had just finished looking at the information on the Oppression’s cooking ingredient.

‘I don’t know who this bastard is, but I have to stop him from destroying the Heart of Oppression.’ Rakk could tell from the way the man was trembling. ‘This man will not be able to destroy it.’

He was probably expecting that he would be able to acquire the Oppression’s Cooking Ingredient in a week. And that expectation was holding him back from doing anything.

‘Of course, we will kill him on the day that the Oppression’s Ingredient is born and take it away from him.’

The transparent barrier stopped Rakk and the other heroes from entering the place where the man was. However, this transparent barrier would disappear on the day that the Oppression’s Cooking Ingredient was born.

Rakk could probably tell what the trembling guy was feeling right now. He was feeling greedy.

“Don’t you want it?”

The man turned to look at him.

“You will never see a second ingredient like that in the world. If you destroy the Heart of Oppression, the ingredient that would be born would not even have 10% of that power.”

Rakk could see the flash of greed on the face of the unknown man as he nodded at him.

“Even if we’re here, we won’t be able to reach you. You’re the only one who could get that ingredient.”

The words that Rakk was saying were only half of the truth.

“So, it would be better for you to wait a week before taking the ingredient.” Rakk smiled graciously. “What I’m saying here is you should enjoy your rewards.”

The man, with a greedy look on his face, nodded. “My rewards…”

“That’s right. You have killed the divine dragon to take that much.”

“But who the hell are you guys?”

“We are Utopia’s Heroes. And we praise you for the achievements that you have made.”

The name “Hero” had a sacrificial tone, and that should be the case no matter who heard the word. Because of that, Rakk was sure that the man in front of them would not be able to guess what they were planning to do.

The man nodded. “That’s right. It’s my reward.”

The greed on the man’s face grew even deeper. Even his body started to tremble even more.

“That’s right. You can become twice as strong as you are now.”

Could he even handle that fact? There was a high chance that this man’s mission was to return all ingredients to Utopia. However, Rakk was confident that no one could withstand the temptation of the Oppression’s Ingredient.

“Fufu… That’s right. I deserve to have the most delicious beef in the world!”

“...?”

“...?”

“...?”

The heroes doubted their ears for a moment. Why? Why did the man focus on the “flavor” rather than the power the ingredient could give?

“And it’s even a beef with flavor that I will never taste again! Kihyaaa!”

That was when they saw the man grip the sword tightly. Rakk and the heroes were immediately in a state of panic.

“W- wait. You won’t be able to get even 10% of the power of the Oppression’s Ingredient if you destroy the Heart of Oppression!”

“I already know that, though. Either way, it wouldn’t matter. The taste of the beef would remain the same whether it’s destroyed or not.”

“Then why was your body shaking and trembling earlier?”

“I was just too excited at the thought of eating beef. Kghhk~ It’s obvious that I wouldn’t be able to handle it if I gained that much power. Besides, eating beef would make me much happier than gaining power I can’t handle.”

“...?”

“...?”

“...?”

The faces of all of the heroes present twisted and turned ugly. The logic that the man in front of them offered was utterly ridiculous. He was happier to eat beef than to gain power that could help him take over the world? That was a lie, right?

Just as the question flashed in everyone’s head, the man proved his words by raising his sword and striking the Heart of Oppression.

Baaaaaaaaaang–