Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 983

The Eight Pillars supported and stood at the center of the world. Each and every one of them was an outstanding individual. Their greatest representative would be Athenae.

According to the records, each of the Eight Pillars had at least one power that represented themselves. This power was known to carry a force far beyond the power of an Absolute God’s Secret. The power representing the Eight Pillars was called “Disaster.”

And Minhyuk? Minhyuk was the owner of the Ninth Disaster, Calamity.

[Calamity.]

[All of your stats have decreased by 15.]

[Your level will go down by one.]

[Your total HP and MP volume will decrease by 1% permanently.]

Even though Calamity was a potent force, Minhyuk was reluctant to use it. Why? Because he had to shoulder a considerable penalty whenever he used it. Minhyuk would often weigh all of the benefits and losses he would gain from using this skill.

‘I already obtained the Oppression’s Beef Grilling Set.’

With the Oppression’s Beef Grilling Set in hand, Minhyuk would be able to increase his level by five and increase his total HP and MP by a significant amount. And thanks to the Heart of Oppression's praise, the beef set's effects had grown infinitely better than before.

The penalty he would receive would be considered light compared to the benefits he had already received. Besides, the Heroes’ Army had troops at Level 700 and above. They were a strong army. But this was a dungeon, and Calamity was an AOE attack skill. This was the best place to use it to bomb the enemies.

Minhyuk thought, ‘It will be difficult for me to meet this many strong people in the future.’

Slash–!

Crackle–!

A sword engulfed in blazing flames fell from the sky and struck Rakk. The moment the sword made contact, the blazing flames shot out and devoured an entire five-meter radius area. But that was not the end. A thousand swords engulfed in blazing flames fell. Around 30% of the blazing swords exploded into flames and devoured the enemy with an additional 1,000% attack power four times in a row.

Crackle–!

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash–!

Rumble–!

“Keuaaaaaaaaaack!”

“A– Aaaaaaaaaack!”

“Kghhhk!”

Screams were ripped apart from the mouths of the troops of the Heroes’ Army, who were just showing off their majesty. Rakk and the heroes looked at Minhyuk in terror when they saw the flames devour the Heroes’ Army.

‘Im– impossible…’

It was a terrible power. The Heroes’ Army crumbled just like that. It was as if powerful waves were sweeping them away.

Minhyuk’s gaze remained calm and indifferent as he looked at them. Of course, Puppet Viel and the Ego Chain Sickle were not to be outdone. They continued to attack the Heroes’ Army amidst the explosions.

Since they had reached Level 700, there was no way that Calamity could kill them all at once. But it could be considered a done deal with Puppet Viel and the Ego Chain Sickle, two beings that could deal a high amount of damage in one go, attacking them.

[You have killed Rhama.]

[You have gained 1,013,000,000 EXP.]

[You have gained 1,300 platinum.]

[You have killed Abheq.]

[You have gained 1,501,000,031 EXP.]

[You have killed Cramian.]

[You have gained 1,203,000,133 EXP.]

Minhyuk also jumped into the flames and joined the hunt. With the word “Explosion” carved on the blade of his sword, he went wild like a rampaging beast. He only fell back after the power of Calamity slowly subsided.

Minhyuk frowned. ‘I think I’m in trouble.’

He had killed around seven hundred troops from the Heroes’ Army with the help of Calamity. However, he could see how they were recovering rapidly the moment the aftermath of the Calamity disappeared. Of course, the same was true for Rakk.

‘I think it’s amazing that I can hold on for this long, no?’

Minhyuk used up all his skills in less than ten minutes. Now, he had no skills left at his disposal.

Meanwhile, Rakk, gripped with fear, thought, ‘We have to kill him no matter what.’

Rakk realized that he would die if he did not kill the man in front of him.

‘Now, he has nothing left.’

He could tell that Minhyuk no longer had any skills left after using his skills in a frenzy earlier. If he still had some left, he would have already used it right after the aftermath of Calamity ended. Only then would he be able to kill a lot more people. And unlike Minhyuk, Rakk still had plenty of skills available to him.

Minhyuk felt cold sweat drip down his back the moment he saw them recover rapidly from their injuries.

“BASTARD!!!” Rakk shouted in fury as he stood up and tried to run toward Minhyuk. However, an unknown and powerful force appeared and pressed down on him. Rakk, who was left confused and feeling strange, looked to his side.

Rakk’s eyes widened when he saw a huge man, around 15 centimeters taller than him, standing beside him. The man only placed one hand on his shoulder but was already immobile.

The gigantic man pressed down on him further. And with a cold and sharp glare, he said, “To dare shout in front of His Majesty’s presence, what an impertinent fool.”

“...?”

Rakk was confused. The words “His Majesty” obviously referred to an emperor. There was no concept of an emperor in Utopia. However, Rakk was aware that one existed in the other world. The emperor was the father of an empire. He was the sovereign who led and ruled more than ten million people.

But who was the emperor? Rakk, with an expression of disbelief, made eye contact with Minhyuk. However, even if this man was an emperor, he believed the situation would not change. This was because he wanted to become the Battle God. And the Battle God was a being that stood above the masses, a position that even an emperor could not dare to look up to.

Rakk tried to shake off the hand on his shoulder and get up, but he was attacked.

Stab–!

“Hoho. You controlled and banned the food in this world to become the Battle God? Hey, punk. Don’t you know that the person standing before you is the Battle God?”

“...?”

Rakk heard something completely unbelievable. Who was the Battle God? He could understand who they were referring to when they said “His Majesty.” But who was it that they were saying was the Battle God?

Rakk turned stiff the moment he turned his head and saw several people appear around him. Some of these people were comparable, if not stronger than the heroes. There were even some who seemed like they would not fall behind when fighting against the Heroes’ Army.

At this moment, Rakk realized it would be hard for them to gain victory. It would be tough for him to fight against the first man who appeared and put pressure on his shoulder. And it was made even harder with the appearance of the old man standing beside the gigantic man.

‘What the hell? What bullshit are they saying? I don’t understand what they mean by mentioning the Battle God…’

Rakk knew that he had to hurry. He did not even spare any thoughts about the other heroes; he was just busy trying to find ways for himself to live. After all, he was self-centered and greedy.

He tried to pull out and tear the “Path to the Sky,” a parchment that could take him out of this place.

[Battle God’s Steps.]

[Everyone will kneel in front of the Battle God!]

[The power in his voice has the power to encompass everything.]

Thuuuuuuud–!

Rakk was forced to kneel before Minhyuk, who activated the Battle God’s power. Not only him, but the other heroes and the troops of the Heroes’ Army were rendered helpless and unable to move. They could only kneel from the overwhelming momentum that suddenly appeared and weighed down on them.

***

The Battle God, whom Rakk aimed to become, was a great sovereign with thousands of gods under his command. He knew full well how great and unique the existence of the Battle God was. However, he confidently declared that the Battle God was an incompetent and useless fool.

Rakk, who ambitiously declared that he would become the Battle God, did not want to believe the reality of the matter in front of him. Because of that, he was left confused and in a daze. He even vehemently denied the truth even after he had experienced the power of the Battle God.

“What you’re thinking is correct. I am the Battle God.”

“...!” Rakk looked at Minhyuk in disbelief.

Minhyuk looked at him with arrogance and nobility and ordered coldly, “Destroy them.”

And those who were waiting for Minhyuk to give his orders began to move. The people of the Beyond the Heavens Empire did not kill Rakk. They drove past him and quickly began to wipe out the Heroes’ Army standing behind him. Meanwhile, the “heroes” of Utopia fell helplessly under the hands of the gigantic man and the old man. It looked like children fighting against experienced adults.

At this moment, Rakk realized that he was witnessing the true power of the Battle God. Rakk and the heroes might have the advantage in numbers, but Minhyuk had a lot of people with powers comparable to his own.

Sword of the Gods Luo used his tremendous speed to kill his enemies, while Elizabeth controlled the system to prevent them from using their skills. Ali also came along. He bombarded the Heroes’ Army with magical attacks and put pressure on them. Death, who also came along, summoned his white Death Knights, who used their powerful swordsmanship to deal with the enemies.

“Keuaaaaaaaaaack!”

“Uwaaaaaaaaack!”

Rakk’s face grew ugly as the screams of his army rang loudly in the dungeon. He has lived for hundreds of years and had never even entertained the thought of dying. So, seeing the people around him die one after another was bringing him deeper and greater fear. Rakk hurriedly tried to think of a way to escape this situation.

“Everything… we’re wrong about everything.” Rakk honestly admitted it.

He was the one who could not do anything about the man who was both the Food God and the Battle God. In a way, one could consider him highly sly and underhanded. Even though his men were dying, he was here praying and begging for his survival.

Minhyuk raised one hand, signaling his men to stop for now.

“Please. Please spare me just this once. If you let me live, I will stay by your side forever. I will even sign a contract of obedience with you if you so wish.”

The Hero King, who could rival the Sky of Utopia, was now crying and begging Minhyuk to spare him. And he was earnest about it.

“You will need our help to correct and bring Utopia back on the right path.”

This was the truth. It was evident that the existence of the heroes had kept the balance in Utopia.

“I will help you to become the Battle God.”

Based on Rakk’s observation, the man in front of him might be the Battle God, but he did not have his full power. If he were the true and complete Battle God, then wouldn’t he have thousands of gods under his command?

Because of that, Rakk was confident that this man in front of him would need his and the other heroes’ help. Why? Because Rakk knew that no one could replace his existence in this world.

Brod, Ben, and the others from the Beyond the Heavens Empire stood quietly. They watched from the sidelines, leaving everything up to Minhyuk to decide.

Just like that, Rakk saw his potential survival. He quickly kowtowed and said, “I will obediently follow your orders for the rest of my life. So, please show mercy!”

At the same time, the other heroes and the Heroes’ Army, who were bleeding all over, kowtowed.

‘If I don’t die and spend the rest of my life by the side of the Battle God, then it wouldn’t be so bad either.’

Anyway, the Heart of Oppression had already been destroyed. Perhaps he could live a better life by solidifying his position beside the Battle God right here and now. Maybe he would also be allowed to crush many people like before.

Rakk looked forward to Minhyuk’s answer. He was confident that no one would refuse a talent like him. Besides, Minhyuk would be able to kill him any time he wanted if he signed a contract of obedience with him. If he was loyal to this man and he took his fancy, then perhaps he would be able to enjoy a rich and lavish life, too.

“Rakk.”

Then, a soft and gentle voice that could be said to be comparable to a mother’s gentle words rang. Hearing the gentleness in the man’s voice, Rakk was convinced that his predictions were not wrong.

He saw that Brod, Ben, and the rest of the people of the Beyond the Heavens Empire did not show any signs of trying to stop Minhyuk. There was not even a shred of surprise on their faces. At this moment, Rakk realized that the man's orders in front of him were absolute.

Unbeknownst to him, none of the people from Beyond the Heavens Empire showed surprise for an entirely different reason.

“Sob, sob, sob– Yes, Battle God!” Rakk cried. Relief enveloped his body and washed away his fear after realizing he could continue living.

Then, he heard Minhyuk’s soft voice say, “Raise your head.”

Rakk, enamored by the kind and gentle voice, slowly raised his head. It was just as he expected. There was no way he could resist getting a talent like him on his side.

“Yes, Battle God. From this point forward, I…” Rakk trailed off when he saw the cold expression on Minhyuk’s face once his head was raised fully.

“Yes, just like that. It would make it easier for me to kill you.”

The people of Beyond the Heavens Empire knew that Minhyuk would make this choice. That was why none of them showed any surprise on their faces.

And Rakk? His expression twisted and turned extremely ugly.