Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 984

The Beyond the Heavens Empire certainly needed more talent. If they took Hero King Rakk, the heroes, and the Heroes’ Army in, they could create an order comparable to the Sword of the Gods. But when it came to people, Minhyuk clearly distinguished who to bring in as allies.

Of course, there were several cases where Minhyuk turned an enemy into an ally through God and Knight. But there was a difference in their “nature.” Those he chose to take in through God and Knight were those with a good heart.

Obren was once hailed as an evil spirit incarnate and a demon for killing millions of people in the past. Elizabeth was also in a similar situation. However, Minhyuk found out that they never wanted that to happen. Compared to them, Rakk’s nature was complete and utter trash.

‘That’s right. He will become my dog if he signs a contract of obedience with me. He might even play a huge role when fighting on the battlefield.’

But Rakk treated the hybrids like they were nothing but mere bugs. He even controlled their food for hundreds of years to satisfy his greed. Would he regret his actions and live a better life? That was impossible. A person’s innate nature was hard to change.

If Minhyuk chose to welcome Rakk, he would have to bear that burden. But he did not want to. Besides, he was the type of person who would never take back something that he had already promised to do. And Minhyuk had told them, ‘I will kill you with my own hands.’

Goosebumps rose all over Rakk’s body when he saw the cold and vicious look on Minhyuk’s face. He hurriedly opened his mouth, “N- No…”

But Minhyuk did not hesitate. No matter how strong an NPC was, they would die if their heads got cut off. The only exception to this were boss monsters.

Slash–!

“Sir- Sir Rakk!”

“Hero King!”

The heroes were left in despair. The Beyond the Heavens Empire quickly moved and began eliminating these despairing heroes.

Meanwhile, notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears as he continued to look down coldly at Rakk’s body.

[You have killed Hero King Rakk.]

[Rakk has reigned, persecuted, and trampled over many Utopians.]

[You have gained 41, 713, 223, 413 EXP.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have gained 1.03 million platinum.]

[You have obtained the Hero King’s Elixir.]

Minhyuk looked confused. Rakk was a one-of-a-kind high-level NPC in this land. That was why he was given a massive amount of EXP and even platinum when he killed him. But usually, a high-leveled monster would drop God-rank artifacts or God-grade ingredients whenever it was dead. But Hero King Rakk did not drop anything like that. His drops were shabby, with only some EXP, platinum, and a single elixir.

‘Is this what you call a beggar mob…?’

Of course, he was not a monster. However, he was a beggar NPC. After thinking he hunted nothing but a beggar, Minhyuk turned his attention to the Hero King’s Elixir.

Minhyuk’s eyes grew wide upon checking the information. The Hero King’s Elixir was superior to God-rank artifacts and God-grade ingredients.

‘Upon consumption, all of your stats will increase by 0.3% once per month. And it will last for two years?’

In other words, anyone who consumed this elixir would receive a steady 0.3% increase in all stats, even if they stood still. In two years, they could increase their stats by no less than 8%. But of course, there were also disadvantages.

‘After taking the Hero King’s Elixir, you can’t increase your stats with the help of dishes or buffs.’

In other words, if one took the Hero King’s Elixir, they could not stack their stats with buffed dishes for two years.

Others found increasing one’s stats by eating or consuming ingredients impossible, but that was not the case for Minhyuk. Minhyuk had a crazy obsession with food, and because of this obsession, he could increase his stats by a lot.

‘This is unnecessary for me.’

Through various methods during those two years, Minhyuk would have obtained more than an 8% increase in all of his stats. But what would happen if he gave it to someone else?

‘It will have a tremendous effect.’

Several people who could take the elixir popped into Minhyuk's head. There was Brod, Spear God Ben, Sword of the Gods Luo, Elpis and many more. What if their stats increased by 8%, even if they stayed put for two years? Perhaps only the word “Crazy.” would best fit the results.

In addition, the Beyond the Heavens Empire, which moved only after witnessing Rak’s death, obtained two Heroes’ Elixir after killing the heroes. Although the effects were only half of the Hero King’s Elixir, the duration was still the same.

“Your Majesty, forgive us for being late.”

Brod and the rest of his vassals knelt before Minhyuk and showed courtesy. Minhyuk looked back at the many players, including Genie, Locke, Khan, Ascar, and Ali, who came to his aid. Seeing that almost all of them were here, he immediately understood that Haze, who usually would not agree to send troops this large, had agreed.

‘She knew that we could gain so much in this place.’

Then, Genie asked, “Minhyuk, what will you do now?”

Minhyuk smiled when he heard the question. “Do you remember what the Battle God told me?”

“Are you talking about the words, ‘We’re old.’ that he said before?”

Minhyuk nodded. The Battle God had said, ‘You will not be able to lead the gods under my command.’

This was the truth. Even if he were the Battle God, he would never know when a rebellion would start if he took the lead of the gods under the current Battle God’s command. Although it was sad, it was the reality of the matter. But the Battle God also told him that he should make his Land of the Gods and lead his army of gods. And Minhyuk knew that today was the day that he would take his first step to achieve that.

Minhyuk took out the box containing everything oppressed and subdued in this dungeon. Then, he said, “I think it's time for me to get the first god who will fight under the Battle God’s name, under my name.”

Everyone present looked at him with excitement.

“He is the one who would become the new god of Utopia.”

***

After Rhoando went separate ways with Minhyuk in the Dungeon of Oppression, he immediately led the rebels to the kingdom. Armed with the power of god, Rhoando could cut down the royal troops with the rebels and enter the royal palace where the royal family resided.

When he opened the door to the king's room, he was met with the heroes Rakk had sent over. A fierce battle immediately ensued. Rhoando and the rebels all fought desperately against the heroes. However, Rhoando could not deal with five heroes by himself. In the end, they all lost. He and the rebels were tied up and hung on the walls of the kingdom.

The hybrids gathered to watch Rhoando and the rebels hanging on the kingdom's walls.

“King, we must thoroughly trample on Rhoando and his band of rebels and make an example out of them. We have to show them what would happen to those who go against the heroes and the will of the god and threaten your life,” Baron said.

Baron was hailed as the Second Hero and had come here under the orders of Hero King Rakk. Although his influence was small and weak compared to Rakk, he was a powerful being. It was to the point that he would be considered the strongest in Utopia if Rakk was taken out of the equation.

The cowardly king looked at Rhoando and the rebels. The heroes were threatening him with his life. However, he never thought of going against them. He did not even understand any of their intentions. The only thing going on in his head was satisfying these great and noble heroes.

“The Sky has deemed it unnecessary to eat and prepare food. Because he controlled food, we ended up living a more satisfying life. These rebels are just making up excuses to take this king's place. Beat them until they die. After they die, continue to hang them on the walls and let them become food for the crows.”

Seeing them beg for their lives while being beaten to their deaths might satisfy the heroes if they saw it. The royal army stood behind each of the rebels with clubs in hand. Then, they began to beat them.

Thud! Thud, thud– Thud, thud, thud!

The people grimaced when they saw the scene. But what shocked them was that none of the rebels screamed. Even if their consciousness were a blur, they still kept their pride.

As the clubs continued to hit his body, Rhoando looked at the people.

[The God who wants to become the new Sky looks at you.]

The people all turned to Rhoando in shock when they heard God’s Voice ring.

[The God who wants to become the new Sky has no regrets or fear.]

[There’s just one thing that he hopes for.]

“A world where everyone can live and eat food as they pleased.”

[The loud and boisterous laughter on the table…]

“A world where people could feel delight and happiness as they eat something delicious.”

[...as you sit down after work and live your life.]

“The smell of cooking that welcomes you back home.”

[The dish that someone cooked for you. The dish that remains in your memory forever.]

“I wanted to bring it back.”

[Do you remember? The taste that tickled the tips of your tongues, they took that away from us.]

“That’s the reason why we’re fighting.”

[Even if we die, another ‘us’ will take over.]

“Don’t back down.”

[Many would speak out and fight for you even if their voices would never reach you.]

Rhoando looked around and said, “Until my stomach bursts.”

[To the point where I will even have difficulty breathing.]

“I will continue eating delicious food.”

[I will pat my stomach.]

“For the day where we can smile freely. For the day where we can cook for someone again.”

[So that we can see farmers tend to our lands once again. So that we can walk down the streets and openly eat fruits from the trees around us.]

“Let’s continue moving forward.”

[The God who wants to become the new Sky looks at you.]

The people were left in turmoil when they heard his words.

Just like Rhoando said, someone who had lived in Utopia for a very long time remembered the flavor that tickled his tongue. Every once in a while, these people would have a hard time sleeping as they thought of that taste. And just like Rhoando said, even though they could not see it, there might be someone fighting for them or someone who wanted to become like him in the future. Their chests started to heat up.

Why did they have to control our food?

Why should we go hungry?

Why are we doing nothing right now?

Why are the king and the heroes beating up Rhoando and his men like it was something that should be done?

“Let Rhoando go!”

A small cry echoed amidst the millions of crowd gathered together. This cry slowly, ever so slowly, grew in volume. Like a crack, it spread from one mouth to another until a loud cry resounded.

“Let Rhoando go!”

“We have to fight! We have to take back what they have taken away from us!”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

Millions of people began to push the soldiers stationed on the walls.

Seeing this, a small yet bitter smile flashed on Rhoando’s face.

‘Hyung-nim, many people will fight for our cause even if I die here.’ Rhoando hoped. ‘Please. Please give them food.’

Rhoando could never forget Minhyuk’s back as he stood before them.

Please. Please let him give these people a new world.

Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah–!

A roar resonated all over the world. The gates opened as a million troops charged and pointed their swords at the people. But the people were not scared.

“This is why trashy bugs like you have to learn a lesson.” Hero Baron clicked his tongue in irritation. “Attack.”

“Wh- what? B– But…” The king hesitated. No matter how one looked at it, they were nothing but mere civilians, no?

“Do you want me to take your head?”

But the heroes’ words were absolute.

“Attack.”

Tens of thousands of arrows were unleashed as the soldiers stabbed them with their long spears. But Baron was still not satisfied. He stood on the walls and swung his sword with the other heroes.

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash–!

Following the direction where he swung his sword, thousands of people disappeared without a trace. It was as if the space had been cut. As the charging civilians retreated, Baron said, “Let’s kill half of them.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

Rhoando’s eyes grew wide at the ridiculous order. Killing half of the civilians present? That was not a move to overwhelm them with fear. That was pure and mindless slaughter.

Baron grabbed Rhoando’s face and said, “You should look at it clearly. This is what happens when you go against us.”

The soldiers pushed the fleeing civilians and gathered them at the center. With hundreds of thousands of people gathered, the soldiers immediately drew their bows while the mages raised their staves.

“The dreams that you have? They are all useless.” Baron clicked his tongue as he mocked Rhoando. “Do you think you could deal with us after killing the king and the Sky?”

The actual gods here were not the Sky but the heroes. It was just as Baron said. Even if he succeeded in this rebellion and became the Sky, nothing much would change.

Rhoando was left in despair. He could see a father standing in front of his wife, who was holding their child in fear. The young men tried their hardest to overcome their fears and stood as their lovers wept and cried. They were clearly divided in half. Yet the screams of those who would survive this catastrophe continued to resonate to the skies.

“PLEASE!!!”

“Please, no!”

“We were wrong! We were wrong!”

Some of them even went so far as to put their head on the ground and beg for their lives.

‘Is there really no hope for us?’

Was it the case? Would nothing really change, even if he became this world's king and god? Ultimately, did they have no choice but to endure and face this wretched fate?

Rhoando felt his despair and frustration soar when he saw the soldiers nock their arrows and the mages start to cast their magic.

Flash–

The moment Baron swung his hand down, thousands of arrows and magic flew toward the people gathered at the center of the area in front of the walls. Coincidentally, the fastest arrow was flying toward a newborn baby nestled in the arms of a woman. The woman could not even react. All she knew was that the chilling sound of the wind brought about by the arrow would bring her child to its death.

Rhoando did not close his eyes. He opened them wide to watch the atrocities the heroes committed in broad daylight.

But then, something shocking happened. The arrow flying toward the newborn child stopped just a few millimeters before the child’s head.

“Huh…?” The woman looked around in confusion when she realized the situation before her.

But it was not just that single arrow. The tens of thousands of arrows and magic flying toward the people's hearts all stopped mid-air. It was a very spectacular sight, a sight that Rhoando had never seen in his entire life.

Tap– Tap, tap–

Then, at that moment, Rhoando felt something fall on his head.

‘What? What was that?’

Rhoando looked up to see what was falling on him.

‘Rice?’

They were none other than grains of paddy rice. Just like that, unprocessed rice and wheat grains began to pour from the sky.

Not long after, a notification rang in everyone’s ears.

[Battle God’s Voice.]

Rhoando had heard about the Battle God. He was the god who led the world's gods and was hailed as the most incredible Absolute God. He was like the god above gods. His image as he led thousands of gods to battle was the image of the god that all humans dreamt of. There was one thing that Rhoando was sure about the Battle God. He was the most excellent and most noble god.

Immediately after that, the arrows and magic that stopped in mid-air turned around and shot back to those who had sent it.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang–!

Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh–!

Everyone was shocked stiff by the sudden turn of events.

[The Battle God, the Great Sovereign who leads the gods, looks at you with a small smile.]

Rhoando’s wide eyes grew impossibly wider. Then, the voice of the Battle God rang.

[Thanks, my dear younger brother.]

‘Younger brother?’

Confusion was plastered on Rhoando’s face when he heard the Battle God’s incomprehensible words.