Gourmet Gaming

[You can now view the final moments of the Greatest God, the Battle God.]

[Would you like to watch it?]

Many players chose to watch the video and of course, they saw Minhyuk appear toward the end and held the wrist of the Battle God, who had grabbed the handle to the Gates of Death.

The video ended not long after that. Curious about the situation thereon after, they immediately logged out of the game and tuned in to the ATV channel, which was airing the ‘War of Destruction.’

It did not matter how outstanding or thrilling an event was, if people were not interested in it in the first place, then they would not watch it and just focus on doing their own things. However, in this particular instance, once the video of the Battle God’s final moments ended, they all ended their access to the game. What greeted their eyes upon tuning in to ATV was the revived Battle God standing in front of Minhyuk.

Because of that, ATV Broadcasting Station had achieved a phenomenal record, breaking 60% in viewership ratings. The entire station could not help but break out in a frenzy.

“This is the highest viewership ratings since the foundation of ATV Broadcasting Station!”

“No. It’s actually safe for us to say that this is the highest viewership rating since the founding of our country. I don’t think we’ll be able to reach this high of a rating in the future.”

They might have hit 60% for a while, but their ratings were falling at a rapid rate again. Up until that moment, their viewership rating peaked at 60%.

[I will build an empire.]

“The, the ratings are going up again!”

“It went over 60%!”

“It’s over 60.5%!”

“It’s at 60.9%!”

“The viewership ratings are only increasing by a little bit, but it’s definitely going up.”

“The viewership ratings have gone over 62%.”

The viewership ratings, which was supposedly impossible to reach again, had gone over 60%. Their highest recorded ratings for this day was 63%.

“We have achieved 63% in viewership ratings.”

PD Kim Daeguk told the director, “…Shouldn’t we at least give Player Minhyuk a plaque of appreciation or something?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!” The director’s face turned ugly at that. It was not a norm for a broadcasting station to send a plaque of appreciation to a player.

However, the director continued, “We cannot only send a plaque of appreciation! Let’s also make sure to constantly promote Beyond the Heavens Kingdom in our station. Ah, don’t forget about Ilhwa Group too.”

“…”

Ah, it seemed like the director was taking a mile after being given an inch.

***

What was an empire? According to the data gathered through surveys by Athenae experts, one needed to combine at least five kingdoms created by players, to establish an empire.

The first kingdom to have been created was the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, which was then followed by the Masserati Kingdom. Just recently, the Qingdao Kingdom and the Rothschilde Kingdom were constructed. The appearance of the two kingdoms sparked the influx of player-made kingdoms. There were currently at least sixteen known kingdoms all over the world that were built by players.

However, the five kingdoms made by players was the minimum requirement.

What about the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom? Of course, they were outstanding. However, the people could not help but express their concern saying that it was still far too early for them to take this step.

[If the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom becomes an empire, then it will be another huge step for the players’ advancement. However, I don’t think the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom is ready to become an empire yet.]

[First off, they need to fulfill the appropriate number of citizens and troops, as well as the size of the territory. Beyond the Heavens certainly have outstanding people like Spear God Ben, Brod, God of Snakes Elizabeth, Luo, God of Alchemy Mandala, and many more. However, that is just that. Just having many outstanding people in their kingdom does not mean that they can fulfill the number of citizens required.]

[An individual’s power and might is important. However, from what we know, it’s equally important to reach a certain population number and a certain size of territory before they can establish an empire.]

[On the other hand, the current population and territory of Beyond the Heavens are no more than that of an ordinary kingdom.]

[Of course, considering the fact that the other kingdoms built by players are also less than average, their speed of growth is already outstanding. However, it’s still impossible for them to build an empire.]

[On top of that, the finances needed to build one will likely be tremendous.]

[Unless plenty of people knock on the doors of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, and they can somehow gain more territory, then it’s impossible for them to achieve right now.]

[I think it’s only possible for Player Minhyuk to become the ‘Battle God’ in two years or so.]

Minhyuk’s declaration that he would establish an empire had created a huge stir. In fact, almost all of the media in the world was talking about Minhyuk and the empire that he wanted to build.

Of course, Minhyuk knew that he could not establish an empire right there and then. He could tell from the countless notifications that popped up in front of him.

[Your final requirement to become the Battle God’s Descendant is to ‘Build an Empire.’]

[You are currently the king of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.]

[To build an empire, you must secure at least thrice your current territory size, population and military forces.]

[To build an empire, you must secure at least 15 players beyond Level 580.]

[To build an empire, you must secure at least 20 NPCs beyond Level 650. Even if the NPC does not go over Level 650, as long as the system recognizes them as NPCs with special power, then they will meet the conditions.]

However, by declaring his intention to establish an empire, Minhyuk knew that many people would be interested in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Honestly, Minhyuk did not expect the conditions to build an empire to be this stringent. Especially the requirements for NPCs, he needed at least twenty people that were over Level 650.

‘When I was just a novice in Athenae, I never knew that the knights of the Eivelis Empire were that strong. Well…’

President Kang Taehoon had mentioned before that just as the players grow, those that lived inside Athenae would also grow. After all, if only the players were capable of growing, then Athenae would be very boring to its players.

Also, aside from Minhyuk, there were only five other rankers that had exceeded Level 580. They were none other than Khan, Mei Wei, Carr, Ali, and Alicia. Of course, the rest would reach Level 580 sooner or later. However, it was unclear when that would happen.

“It won’t be easy.”

Those were the words that the Battle God left him before he transformed into a ray of light and slowly disappeared from Minhyuk’s sight. Of course, those were not the only things that the Battle God left Minhyuk before he completely disappeared. He also left him a present.

[The Battle God has bestowed upon you a final present.]

[You have acquired the Candidate Box.]

[You can now view the Candidate Box.]

[You can now use the Battle God’s Voice.]

[You can now use the Battle God’s Steps.]

[Everything inside the Candidate Box will disappear if you fail to become the Battle God’s Descendant.]

The Battle God’s Voice was different from the voices of ordinary gods. It could produce images in the sky above. He then read the description for the Battle God’s Steps.

‘For a brief moment, my figure will change into that of the Battle God’s figure and force everyone to kneel in front of me.’

Both of these skills would be very useful to him. Not long after, the other gods also completely disappeared.

[The War of Destruction is over.]

[You will be warped to the place where you first connected.]

However, Minhyuk received additional notifications.

[The Forgotten Monarch’s Crown’s ‘Vassal’s Voice’ has been triggered.]

[Your vassal Elpis is in danger!]

The Forgotten Monarch’s Crown had a skill called Vassal’s Voice. This skill would inform Minhyuk when any of his three designated vassals were in danger. It could also explain in detail the vassal’s current situation. On top of that, the monarch was connected to their vassal and would allow them to go to where their vassal was at any given moment.

‘Elpis is in danger?’

Minhyuk immediately checked the detailed explanation.

***

Great Demon Gorac’s Shelter.

The mischievous and wicked Great Demon Gorac had his soul divided into several fragments, scattered all over the world. He was not only wicked, he also liked to play eccentric and bizarre pranks on others.

In fact, there were quite a lot of stories circulating all over that said that Great Demon Gorac was a far more special NPC than Great Demon Verus. Great Demon Verus was known to be strong, and he had the 72 Devils under his command. On the other hand, Great Demon Gorac was known to give out special skills and classes related to the demons and the devils.

This very same Gorac was looking at a man named Elpis, who was lying on the ground in front of him. He did not know how this man was able to find him. However, what was certain was the fact that this man had not yet met the qualifications to be here.

Hence, the question was: why was Elpis able to step foot in this place, when he had not yet met those qualifications? This was all thanks to the ‘Map to Overcome One’s Limitations’ that Minhyuk had given to Elpis. Thus, Elpis was not yet given the test to become Great Demon Gorac’s Descendant.

“With your weak power, you cannot become the Great Demon.”

There was that. However, there was also another reason why he was being blocked more fiercely. Elpis had declared that he came here to become strong for the king that he served. Gorac had acknowledged that spirit.

Inside Gorac’s Shelter, there were Gorac’s Eight Devil Generals. These Devil Generals were comparable to Verus’ devils in terms of power. As Elpis continued to fight against these devils, he continued to shout, “I want to take the test! I have to become stronger for my king. Give me a chance to take the test!”

However, Gorac did not give him that opportunity. To Gorac, this man was serving a mere king. It might have been different if the one that Elpis served was someone special. After all, Gorac fancied Elpis and wanted him to become his successor.

“I can’t grant someone like you, who serves a mere king, a chance to take the test.”

“What should I do to get that chance?”

“Throw him away.”

He was not going to kill him. Gorac hoped that Elpis would come back and find him again later, when he was more prepared.

The reason why Gorac was so hung up over the status of the man that Elpis served was because he was a sly and clever demon. He wanted his successor to surpass the other Great Demons. However, a devil had obvious limitations. The only way to go beyond those limits was for his successor to surround himself with those that could go above and beyond, excelling in whatever field they were in.

Gorac could already infer the kind of man Elpis served just by listening to the few words that Elpis mentioned.

‘A human king.’

‘He has quite a few vassals.’

‘He is also a god.’

Gorac could tell that the man must be some kind of lowly god. After all, if he was some great god then he must already have at least one empire of his own. He could not allow a Great Demon to have connections with a mere lowly god. Well, there might be a chance if the other party were an Absolute God.

The demonic beasts from the Demonic Beast Corps that surrounded him tried to move the collapsed Elpis away. However, at that moment, someone else came to visit Gorac’s Shelter.

[The Battle God’s Steps has been triggered!]

[Everyone will kneel down in front of the Battle God’s feet!]

[The power contained in your voice is all encompassing!]

Thud, thud, thud—

Demon Gorac, who stood over two meters tall with gigantic bat-like wings on his back, stood up and stared ahead. He was also aware of the Battle God’s might and dignity. It was the power that only the Battle God could exert.

Immediately after that, all of the demonic beasts in the vicinity prostrated themselves at the feet of the man that was walking toward them. His manner was majestic despite the hundreds of thousands of troops present in this place. And that was not all, he was also releasing a tremendous amount of divinity.

‘The Battle God came here? No, why? That’s probably not him, right?’ Great Demon Gorac was very confused.

Minhyuk, who was walking toward them, said, “Allow my vassal to take your test.”

He had already heard about Elpis’ current situation through the ‘Vassal’s Voice.’

Gorac gulped dryly as he watched Minhyuk approach him using the ‘Battle God’s Steps.’ Although Gorac towered over most people with his height of two meters, he still felt an overwhelming pressure from the man in front of him.

However, there was a chance that this man had only received this power through some cheat. After all, Great Demon Gorac had lived in the darkness for a very long time. He was quite ignorant of the events that happened or were happening in the world. Even so, he was still certain that this aura and energy belonged to the Battle God. So, just to be sure, he piped up.

“Who in the world are you?”

***

The Battle God’s aide looked at the Battle God, who was sporting an uncharacteristically soft smile on his face, and asked, “But, Battle God. Was it really necessary for you to bestow upon him your Battle God’s Voice and Battle God’s Steps?”

The Battle God’s Voice and the Battle God’s Steps were both ‘Tokens of the Battle God.’ They were powers that only the Battle God could exert.

“What if it’s used for something dangerous…”

The Battle God shook his head at that. With a confident look on his face, he answered, “No. I know that child. That child will not use that power for something useless. In fact, I believe he will try to save that power.” He continued to speak with a happy smile on his face, “I believe in that child.”

***

Great Demon Gorac asked, “Who in the world are you?”

Minhyuk answered, “Battle God.”