Joy Co. Ltd.’s Special Players Management Team.
Employee Lee Minhwa choked back her tears watching the heartbreaking reunion between Valen and Minhyuk. While she was trying to hold back tears, some of her colleagues were busy trying to calculate the current situation. Among these people were President Kang Taehoon and Team Leader Park Minggyu.
This was part of the notifications that rang for Player Minhyuk.
[You will now be able to challenge the realms of the True God!]
This notification was something that President Kang Taehoon and Athenae had expected to appear around half a year later. Simply put, the players that were eligible to challenge the True God Class could now challenge it half a year earlier.
“All of the God classes in the world would pay attention to this matter,” President Kang Taehoon could already guess what would happen next.
Right now, all of the qualified God classes, whether they were doing unofficial work globally or were out in the open, must have heard the same notification at the same time. And that notification was:
[A challenger taking on the realms of a True God has been born to the world!]
[You might be able to take away their chance to challenge.]
[In a few days, the ‘Battlefield of the Gods’ will open. This will only be available to God class players!]
The Battlefield of the Gods was a battlefield that only God class players could challenge.
There were around 1,000 God class players all over the world. Some of them had been disqualified from their God classes, while others were steadily working their way to the realms of a True God with their stellar performances. The one in the lead was none other than Minhyuk.
Why was Minhyuk able to receive such a notification six months earlier? The power of the Food God was still far from being able to challenge the True God class. However, the moment he stabbed Valen’s chest with his sword, he met the conditions needed to challenge it. This was because he would now inherit and take over the power of the ‘Sword God’.
***
The moment the notifications rang, Minhyuk realized the truth of the matter.
[Athenae has placed the system in a secret state.]
[The system has been initially changed from Sword containing the will of the Sword God to the Master of the Sword. However, ‘Valen’ refused the change in the system and has requested that it be returned to the original system.]
Perhaps, Minhyuk might have already been aware of it. Sword God Valen was a God that had already existed for a long time. In fact, Minhyuk did not even know exactly how old Valen was. All he thought about was how Valen would continue to live inside the sword and smile at him. About how Valen would continue to give him advice, protect him, and be his teacher forever.
Clang—
Unfortunately, these dreams were dashed. This was Minhyuk’s wishful thinking, only something that he wanted. He failed to consider that there was the possibility that Valen would not want what Minhyuk wanted. Minhyuk did not consider how Valen would have to suffer and live inside the sword for a long time, just so they could have their own heartfelt reunion and future.
Drip, drip—
Valen gently held the hand that Minhyuk used to hold his sword, as Valen’s blood dyed the ground beneath them. Minhyuk had already collapsed on the ground, his strength completely leaving his legs.
Minhyuk had also suffered plenty of injuries, both large and small. Sword God Valen had been difficult to deal with. In fact, if Valen had gone all out, then Minhyuk, even after receiving plenty of buffs from his dishes, would definitely lose. However, Valen deliberately showed him a gap so he could finish him with a stab to the chest.
According to the original system, Valen would only be able to remain in the sword for a while, before dying a permanent and eternal death. Now, he would disappear as a god and a myth. Even with a sword pierced through his chest, Valen was still able to raise his warm and gentle hand to cup Minhyuk’s cheek.
“This is my final lesson to you.”
“…”
More tears flowed from Minhyuk’s eyes as another set of notifications rang in his ears.
[You are receiving the Sword God’s final will and teachings.]
[You, the Food God and the Beyond the Heavens’ King, have realized and learned something new.]
[You will now grow even further.]
[All of your stats will increase by 2%.]
[Your physical and magical attack and defense will increase by 3%.]
Minhyuk was able to gain enlightenment and develop even further in terms of mentality. He was just a 21-year-old man, no, perhaps he was just a kid pretending to be a grown-up. Twenty one years old. It might seem old to some, but that was an age that was still infinitely younger than many once they stepped foot in society. Seeing Minhyuk grow further brought a soft smile to Valen’s face.
Minhyuk wrapped both of his hands around Valen’s still warm and big hand, “Instructor… I’m sorry. I only thought about myself.”
Valen smiled softly, blood still flowing down his chest. Even so, he was still delighted, “Do not forget the final spar that I had with you.”
Valen was fully aware that he was dying. He had been a God, and now it was time for him to return to nature. Despite his body slowly turning into light and disappearing into nothingness, Valen still could not take his eyes off of the boy in front of him. Then, Valen said, “Thank you. Thank you for being you.”
[You have fulfilled the conditions to inherit some of the power of Sword God Valen.]
[Sword God Class.]
[You already have the God Class: ‘Food God’.]
[You already have the subclass: ‘Eccentric Gourmand’.]
[You cannot change your class to Sword God.]
[Although you cannot change your class to Sword God, you will be able to inherit some of the power of Sword God Valen after receiving the recognition of Valen and the permission of the God of Origin.]
“Remember,” the disappearing Valen opened his mouth to impart his final lesson, “Remember the Hundred Swords that you saw.”
[You have acquired one of the chapters of Divine Sword, the Hundred Swords.]
Minhyuk would always remember the strongest sword skill that he had witnessed, the sword skill that created hundreds of blades that turned into a wave and engulfed the enemies.
“The Thousand Swords.”
[You have acquired one of the chapters of Divine Sword, the Thousand Swords.]
[The Thousand Swords is still in a realm that you haven’t reached. You cannot use this skill yet!]
[The Thousand Swords has been sealed!]
The Thousand Swords was a power that Minhyuk had not yet seen. However, Valen was not yet done.
“The Ten Thousand Swords.
[You have acquired one of the chapters of Divine Sword, the Ten Thousand Swords.]
[The Ten Thousand Swords is still in a realm that you haven’t reached. You cannot use this skill yet!]
[The Ten Thousand Swords has been sealed!]
“And the Million Swords.”
[You have acquired one of the chapters of Divine Sword, the Million Swords.]
[The Million Swords is still in a realm... You cannot use this skill yet!]
[The Million Swords has been sealed!]
Finally, Valen left his inheritance to Minhyuk. It was none other than the inherent skill that only ‘Sword God Valen’ had.
[You have acquired the Passive Skill: Sword God’s Blessings.]
The Sword God’s Blessings was the power that Valen used to increase his stats earlier. However, the content that was displayed in front of Minhyuk was different. It had turned into a passive skill. Simply put, the power was just a fraction of the true power that Valen had. In fact, the buff effect was not included in the skill that had been passed down to Minhyuk.
However, just as Valen was able to calculate the damage after being hit, Minhyuk would also be able to calculate and compare the damage that he received in the future. Yes, Minhyuk had now become a stronger King, and a more powerful God.
“Just once.”
Valen grabbed Minhyuk’s hands and pulled him up. He was looking at the crying Minhyuk with a gentle smile on his face. His smile turned soft once again as he placed a gentle hand on Minhyuk’s head.
“Let me meet them through you.”
[You will be able to use the Sword God’s full power once for ten minutes!]
[Use this power carefully.]
Valen patted Minhyuk’s head and said, “Swing hard today too.”
“…”
Minhyuk clearly remembered that day. It was just a few days after he met Valen for the first time. Back then, Minhyuk was at the scarecrow training grounds and diligently slashing at the scarecrows, just so he could eat some hard bread. Every time he went there, Instructor Valen would approach him and say those words. And every time, Minhyuk would give the same answer.
Minhyuk grinned softly, showing all of his pearly whites as he said, “I will, so I can enjoy my meal.”
“…Good.”
Sword God Valen had lived for a long time. In his long years of life, he only considered a few of them to be precious and meaningful.
‘It’s because I was able to meet you. Because I could watch you grow.’
Flash—
‘Because of you, I can go with a smile on my face.’
With a flash of light, Valen started to disappear completely. Minhyuk kept his eyes open, not daring to miss a single moment until Valen disappeared. At the same time…
Rumble—
The Abyss began to shake and tremble. The Abyss was the Tomb of the Gods. It was the tomb for the people that were originally human, who became Continental Gods, that worked hard and protected the continent.
Minhyuk stood in the middle of the collapsing Abyss. However, strangely enough, none of the broken ceilings or walls reached him. That was when another set of notifications came in.
[The Gods that are slumbering in the Abyss are showing you their gratitude.]
[The Gods that are slumbering in the Abyss are able to be free from the shackles of the Abyss, thanks to you.]
[The God that likes to eat is bestowing upon you 100 DEX.]
[The God that likes animals is bestowing upon you 100 Animal Affinity.]
[The God that is well-versed in the hammer is bestowing…]
[The God that cherishes life is bestowing…]
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[The immortal God is bestowing…]
The notifications rang non-stop. Despite the collapsing Abyss, Minhyuk still stood there, his eyes never straying from the disappearing light in front of him.
At the same time, countless rewards began to pour in. Among them were…
[You have gained 10,000 platinum.]
[You have acquired the Title: Savior of the Abyss.]
[You have gained 500 CHA.]
[You have gained 1 Origin Authority Skill Point (SP).]
[Your heroic tale will be known to the entire world.]
At the same time, oracles began to descend to the various temples that honored the Thirteen Gods all over the world.
“A man has saved the Gods that were trapped in the place called the Abyss.”
“Ahhhhh~ A great hero!”
“A man that has accomplished something that even the Gods could not do!!!”
Starting from the priests, Minhyuk’s heroic tale began to spread far and wide.
Of course, the world message also rang loudly in everyone’s ears.
[The True One has been born to the world! He has broken through all of the gates of the Abyss and destroyed the Tomb of the Gods!]
[He is originally a God class.]
[He will now be able to challenge the realms of the True God class.]
[Information about the Battlefield of the Gods will be announced soon.]
Everyone’s attention was now focusing on this.
***
Many players have tried to challenge the first gate of the Abyss. However, their hopes were dashed because of the extreme difficulty and the near nigh probability of getting through even a single gate.
There were still dozens of people trying their luck at it. Among them was a player that wanted to become a God of Merchants. Abyss was known as a place where one could acquire a God class if they were able to overcome their challenges. As for those that already had God classes, the Abyss was their ticket to becoming a True God.
That was the reason why Merchant Rowling came here. As the players fled the collapsing Abyss, Rowling looked at the notifications that popped up in front of him.
‘Battlefield of the Gods? What kind of event is that? Although I don’t know anything yet, I’m sure of one thing. This is going to be as entertaining and as interesting as the Battle of the Thrones.’
Rowling was just thinking about it, but he could already tell that it was going to be thrilling and enjoyable. He stood silently among the fleeing players, staying in the Abyss to see who in the world cleared it.
In the end, all of the other players have fled. Only Rowling was left standing inside the Abyss, which had almost collapsed completely. That was when Rowling saw him, the man that stood at the center of the collapsing Abyss.
Rowling could not take his eyes off of the man that was shrouded with a bright light, ‘Is that the person that has acquired the qualifications to become a True God?’
Who was he? Rowling did not know. What was the man feeling? Rowling did not know either. Rowling watched as the man stared at the sword that was stuck on the ground in front of him. He watched as the man bowed deeply at the sword.
“…”
Thump, thump, thump—
Rowling felt his heart thump wildly in his chest. He felt something deep and sacred as he watched the man bow deeply and kowtow toward the sword. Then, the man pulled the sword out of the ground.
Rowling squinted his eyes the moment the man turned to look back at him. However, he did not recognize the man’s face. The man stared at Rowling for a moment, before turning around once again and walking away.
‘The very first Athenae player to challenge the realm of the True Gods. Who is it?’
More than that, the image of the man walking silently, as he swung the sword that he just pulled out from the ground and hung it on his back as if he was carrying something heavy, looked so cool.
Rowling thought that he would never be able to forget this scene that he saw today for the rest of his life.
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