Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 759: The War of Destruction

These were the notifications that Minhyuk received the moment he logged inside the game. Immediately after that, another set of notifications rang in his ears.

[Destruction Monarch Farrow is currently encroaching upon your consciousness!]

[You can check the Destruction Monarch’s status window as if it is your own status window!]

(Destruction Monarch)

Rank: God

Type: ???

Level: 904

Attack: 8,685

Defense: 7,643

Special Abilities:

?Passive Skill: Monarch’s Charisma

?Active Skill: Roar of Despair

?Active Skill: Monarch’s Touch

?Active Skill: Tyrant’s Swordsmanship

?Active Skill: ???

Description: All of the external appearances of the skills that you have as the character ‘Minhyuk’ have been changed and can now be used. On top of that, all skills will have a +3 level increase and will be stronger than usual with the correction effect of the Destruction Monarch. You can summon up to ten vassals.

Your vassals will also become stronger than usual with the Destruction Monarch’s correction effect.

‘Isn’t the passive skill “Monarch’s Charisma” amazing?’

Farrow was also one of the candidates to become the Battle God. Perhaps it was because of that, his Monarch’s Charisma could increase all of the stats of his subordinates by 12%.

Minhyuk nodded to himself after checking the other active skills. These were definitely the skills of a candidate for the Battle God. However, he could not help but wonder about the ‘???’ listed in one of the active skills.

Additional notifications continued to ring in Minhyuk’s ears.

[The army summoned by the Battle God will soon reach the Land of Destruction.]

[If you’re a player, please follow Joy Co. Ltd.’s guidance.]

[The Quest: Destruction Monarch’s Mission has been created.]

[Quest: Destruction Monarch’s Mission]

Rank: SS

Requirements: The One appointed as the Battle God’s Envoy.

Rewards: Depends on the scenario completion rate.

Description: You have temporarily become the Destruction Monarch. Stop the intruders under the orders of the Battle God and follow the system notifications to complete the final scenario safely.

Minhyuk nodded after seeing the quest. Perhaps, if Minhyuk completed this quest’s final scenario, then the rewards that he would receive would be very generous. However, these messages were there only for formality’s sake. Minhyuk could safely ignore it because he had already finished the negotiations with President Kang Taehoon.

At that moment, an unknown voice drifted in Minhyuk’s ears.

‘What… a… relief… My… younger… brother… became… the… Battle… God…’

Minhyuk rubbed his chin in thought.

Farrow was the older brother that sacrificed himself for his younger brother and was also the candidate for the Destruction Monarch. His consciousness, which had remained weak, was speaking and reaching out to Minhyuk.

‘I just… want… to… see… you… one… last… time…’

In the end, Farrow’s voice disappeared into nothingness.

‘Anyway, the Land of Destruction is a land for an event anyway,’ Minhyuk pondered. ‘Even if we attack the NPCs, they will only feel a small amount of pain, just like the pain that players suffer.’

Minhyuk was the Destruction Monarch at the moment.

‘I can do what I want.’

***

The greatest Absolute God and the only candidate to succeed God Athenae was none other than Battle God Belson. He had remained in this seat for thousands of years. After such a long time, tears started to drip down from his eyes.

“…”

The Battle God had to protect the Land of the Gods and be a role model for all. That was why he had to kill his older brother, the Destruction Monarch Farrow. He had to protect the earth and the Land of the Gods from the being that threatened its safety. Such was fate. So, Belson gave his orders to all beings on earth.

-Kill Farrow and destroy the Land of Destruction.

However, that was not what he truly wanted. Belson wanted to see his older brother Farrow once again. Alas, he was the Battle God. He could not afford to be swayed by his personal feelings. Because of that, he bestowed a Potion of Restriction to Minhyuk, the envoy that he chose.

Belson turned around after watching the potion slowly descend and reach his envoy’s hands. Once that potion was drunk, the Destruction Monarch would lose some of his power. Not only that, he would also continue to weaken every hour. In other words, it was a potion that would eventually kill the Destruction Monarch.

‘Why did I choose you?’

On the other hand, the Battle God questioned his choices as he turned his back away from the scene. Why did he choose Minhyuk? Was it because Brod loved him so much? Or was it because he was the Lowest God that would probably stand at a high position in the future?

Clang—

Fwiiiiiiiish—

The Battle God turned to look back at the crystal ball after hearing the sound of something breaking. He caught sight of Minhyuk, who had thrown away the Potion of Restriction.

Only then did he realize why he chose this man. If he had chosen Nerva, he would have obeyed his orders without any hesitation. However, this man was beyond Belson’s control. Perhaps that was the true reason.

The Battle God felt his heart thump wildly.

“Child.” The Battle God continued to watch the scene. “Help me meet my older brother once again.”

***

Minhyuk’s lips twisted into a smirk when he turned his back after breaking the Potion of Restriction. This was his choice. The Destruction Monarch would not die.

As one of the top rankers in Athenae, his senses as a gamer were top notch. He could feel that the rewards could be changed at any given time, depending on the will of the NPCs.

‘Perhaps I will be able to get something much bigger than this?’

What could it be? Perhaps, it was none other than the greatest Absolute God, the Battle God.

Ring!

[The Quest: Destruction Monarch’s Mission has been changed.]

[The Quest: Battle God’s Wish has been created.]

[Quest: Battle God’s Wish]

Rank: SSS

Requirements: The One appointed as the Battle God’s Envoy.

Rewards: The Battle God will randomly give you additional rewards.

Description: You have refused the orders of the Battle God. Because of that, the Battle God tells you what he truly wants. The Battle God does not want you to die. He wants to meet his older brother Farrow once again.

Destruction Monarch Minhyuk looked at the rankers, as well as the Luvien Imperial Army that were standing at a distance. Not long after, a man was summoned by Minhyuk’s side.

[Your vassal Mandala has been summoned!]

[Because of the correction effect of the Destruction Monarch, Mandala will have 40% more power than usual!]

[Instead of the usual potions, Mandala will be able to make parchments.]

Mandala, who was wearing a black robe and a skull mask on his face, stood beside Minhyuk as he received his monarch’s orders.

“Make me a parchment that will allow me to maintain my consciousness and rationality under any curse.”

***

The entire world was at the edge of their seats. The Destruction Monarch’s level was at Level 904. If he drank the Potion of Restriction, then his level would go down by a hundred. However, he had destroyed the Potion of Restriction.

The tension caused people all over the world to start throwing out guesses.

[Perhaps this is the kind of event that Joy Co. Ltd. has prepared?]

[What? To increase the tension in the players?]

[That’s probably right. The Land of Destruction is a land solely made for this event. Because of that, the NPCs will not suffer and the players will not receive the penalties for being forced to logout.]

[That must be it.]

[It’ll probably come back to normal in no time at all.]

The guesses were quite convincing. There was no way that it could be something else. None of them even entertained the fact that the Destruction Monarch could think outside the box.

Then, the notifications for the ‘Battle God’s Warriors’, the people who entered this place under the orders of the Battle God, began to ring in their ears.

[Please enter Area 51, Area 50, Area 48, and Area 40 respectively.]

[There are 80,000 Destruction Soldiers stationed in Areas 51, 50 and 48 and a total of 200,000 troops stationed in Area 40 that are building a defense line!]

[Get past their defense line and charge toward the Destruction Castle.]

The line of command was taken over by Luvien Empire’s Nerva Sephiroth.

“Sword Emperor Ellie goes to Area 51. Spear God Ben in Area 50. Knight Commander Don and the Swords of the Gods in Area 48. Brod and I will personally break through Area 40.”

Inwardly, Nerva was actually very furious.

‘The Battle God chose someone else?! He did not choose me?!’

This was a huge stain on his record, a disgrace! That was why Nerva intended to charge ahead of the Battle God’s Warriors and kill the Destruction Monarch by himself.

After properly dividing the army, they all entered their respective areas. Then, a hologram appeared in front of Nerva as he began to observe everything.

At the same time, hundreds of drones from ATV Broadcasting Station, the station that signed an exclusive contract with Joy Co. Ltd., began to fly to the skies and started filming.

***

ATV station’s camera focused on Ellie as she headed toward Area 51 with 80,000 troops marching behind her.

Sword Emperor Ellie’s presence alone was enough to shine a light on everything that the camera captured. Everyone was well aware that she had declined the position of the ‘Sword God’ and had chosen to remain as the emperor. They also knew that there were not any Absolute Supreme NPC that could stand up against her.

Then, suddenly, a man stood in front of the tense and careful Ellie. There were strands of long white hair that escaped through the gaps of the black horned helmet that the man was wearing on his head as he held a sword in his hands.

ATV’s PD Kim Daeguk looked at the scene in confusion. “What, what the hell?!!! Why are there more than 80,000 troops deployed in Area 51?!”

That was right. There were actually a lot more troops stationed in Area 51 than the 80,000 troops reported in the notifications.

The man with long white hair and wearing a black horned helmet had the name ‘Ten Knights of Destruction’ written over his head. The man’s original name? Spear God Ben.

Of course, the fierce battle immediately began as the Knight of Destruction raised his sword high up in the sky.

“Sword King’s Roar.”

Baaaaaaaaaaaaang—

Then, hundreds of swords fell down from the sky and created a huge explosion that devoured and swept away the Battle God’s Warriors. At the same time, the almost 150,000 troops waiting on the sidelines made their move and quickly slaughtered the surviving Battle God’s Warriors. In the end, the Knight of Destruction’s experienced and sharp blade pierced through Ellie’s chest.

“Kghhk!”

Ellie’s consciousness began to blur. Fortunately, she was not experiencing any pain or fear from the blow.

“Y, you… How come…”

However, she noticed the true identity of the knight before she completely disappeared.

***

Area 48.

Knight Commander Don could not help but shrink and cower from the unknown killing intent that engulfed his body. There was an overwhelming pressure that emanated from the man that wore a skull mask and held a black staff.

Don could tell that this was not an opponent that they could deal with. Their opponent’s true name was Evil God Obren.

“Destruction’s Explosion.”

Knight Commander Don’s eyes grew wide when he heard the man mumble under his breath. Then, hundreds of explosions that covered a thirty meter radius each bloomed all over the place.

***

Meanwhile, in another place.

Nerva and Brod went to Area 40 together. Nerva, the brightest sun and the Battle God’s Sword, was not just an emperor. He might not be as strong as Brod was in the past, but he was still stronger than anybody else. His level easily exceeded Level 800.

Overtaken by his fury, Nerva wanted to destroy the Land of Destruction as quickly as possible. Even if he had to go to the frontlines himself. In no time at all, he was able to arrive at the place along with 250,000 rankers and NPCs.

[The Destruction Monarch has appeared!]

Vwoooooooooooooong—!

The earth shook while the heavens cried. The sudden turn of events forced the birds that were resting in the trees to shriek and fly away. Then, a two-meter-tall man landed on the ground.

[Tyrant’s Swordsmanship. Chapter 3.]

[Tyrant’s Storm.]

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash—

The moment he swung his sword, a heavy downpour of blade lights rained down on all of the rankers and strong troops that stood behind Nerva. But the attack did not end there. The blade lights turned into a storm that devoured them and tore them to pieces. In a single attack, he devoured 40,000 of the 250,000 strong troops all at once.

Nerva tried to prepare for an attack.

Grab—

However, he just blinked and the Destruction Monarch was already in front of him and holding him by the collar.

“Are you ready to get beaten up?”

Nerva met his enemy on a single log bridge.