Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 623: Defensive War (Part 2)

Ellie’s sword pierced through Nerva Sephiroth’s heart.

The prideful and arrogant emperor, Nerva Sephiroth, the very same figure that was due to lead Athenae’s second era, looked at Ellie with terror, while both of his hands held onto the sword in his chest tightly.

The people watching the broadcast held their breaths.

At Joy Co. Ltd.’s headquarters, President Kang Taehoon clenched his sweaty fists tightly. Even Special Players Management Team Leader Park Minggyu and Lee Minhwa were looking at the monitor with incredulous expressions.

In another corner of the world, Alexander, who was watching the TV broadcast in his penthouse, gulped dryly. “Players and NPCs changed the main episode…?”

It was not only that. This scene caused a huge commotion all over the world. According to the notifications that first appeared on top of Ellie’s head, she was supposed to lay low for a while. They did not know how she would become the Continental Emperor, but this was the ‘framework’ that Joy Co. Ltd. had set for her. Somehow, right at this very moment, that framework was crumbling.

The entire world began to think of the same thing: perhaps they could also change Athenae’s storylines.

The ones that made this possible were Minhyuk and Ellie.

“Beyond the Heavens is so cool.”

“Amazing! Eivelis Empire! Thank you, Ellie!!!”

The entire world cheered for them.

At the same time, in the Athenae world, Nerva Sephiroth’s dragon blood dripped down the sword, as he looked at Ellie with disbelief.

Drip— drip, drip— drip—

On top of that, the shock of the words that Ellie told him still lingered in his ears.

‘Get lost, you f*cking bastard!’

This was the first time that someone dared to say something like that to him, a great emperor. And for the first time, Nerva felt afraid.

“Urk…!”

Shwaaaaaaaa—

Blood spurted out of Nerva’s chest the moment Ellie pulled her sword out with a rough motion.

The body created by the Remote Monarch skill was nothing more than a puppet. Because of that, Nerva Sephiroth could not use any kind of force, nor utilize his strong and oppressive power. However, the fact that he could show up in the middle of a fierce battlefield was symbolic in and of itself.

Just like that, blood continued to flow down Nerva’s chest.

“Your Majesty…!”

“Your Majesty Nerva…!”

“How, how can this be?”

Nerva was akin to a god for the troops of the Luvien Imperial Army. Seeing him like this made them feel despair and frustration. On the other hand, the Eivelis Imperial Army cheered loudly.

[The Luvien Imperial Army’s morale has decreased sharply!]

[All of your stats will decrease by 10%!]

[Your Physical and Magical Defenses will decrease by 5%.]

Ellie pushed the staggering Nerva Sephiroth without any hesitation.

“Aaaaaaaaaaack…!”

“Your Majestyyyyy! Your Majesty!!!!!”

The Luvien Imperial Army immediately rushed forward to receive their falling dragon.

Fall—

In the end, Nerva Sephiroth’s body fell safely in the arms of his troops. Nevertheless, this was a disgrace for him. A stain on his record and something that would remain in history forever. Gradually, Nerva’s eyes closed.

[Eivelis Empire’s Empress Ellie has killed Nerva Sephiroth’s clone.]

[The rewards for those that fought for Ellie and the Eivelis Empire will be distributed based on their contributions.]

However, although it looked like it was over, the war was?still ongoing. In fact, Nerva had not truly died and there were still 1.5 million troops remaining. Now, the Eivelis Imperial Army and those that took arms for them had to force the Luvian Army to retreat.

“For His Majesty Nerva!!!”

“Do not show mercy to the b*tch that dared touch His Majesty!!!”

Although the system had declared that their morale had dropped, the momentum that the Luvien soldiers were showing became more ferocious than before. However, the morale and momentum of the players that sided with the Luvien Imperial Army dropped significantly.

‘No. Are you telling me that the Luvien Empire can be defeated?’

‘If the Luvien Empire loses then… the penalty that we will receive will be…’

‘Those that chose to fight for Eivelis Empire will enjoy greater prosperity and wealth.’

That was right. If the Eivelis Empire won this war against the Luvien Empire, they would serve as a model and an idol for the other nations. With this, Ellie’s story would spread throughout the continent. Various empires and kingdoms would then strive to forge friendship and ties with the Eivelis Empire. Of course, this was based on the assumption that the war ended with their complete victory.

If the Luvien Empire was the dragon, then the Eivelis Empire was a tiger.

“Don’t leave a single one of them behind. Wipe them all out,” Ellie ordered, frost evident in her voice.

With Nerva’s clone’s death, the morale of the Eivelis Imperial Army soared through the skies.

[The Eivelis Imperial Army’s morale has reached an all time high.]

[All of your stats will increase by 10%. Your skill damage will increase by 20%.]

[The troops have forgotten their fear, they have gained the strength of a thousand soldiers.]

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

The Eivelis Imperial Army began their final battle against the Luvien Imperial Army.

“Overlord’s Technique.”

Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—

Among them was the strongest uncle, Overlord Raldo. The blazing flames that shot out from his sword devoured thousands of the Luvien Imperial Troops around him. And right next to him were Khan and Ares. The two men, who were wearing capes carrying the symbol of the Eivelis Empire while hiding their faces, beat up all of the enemies in front of them. And that was not all.

Shwaaaaaaa—

“Splitting Heaven and Earth.”

Beyond the Heavens’ Vice Guild Master and one of Korea’s top rankers, Genie, swung her whip. Her whip stretched out in a straight line and slammed down strongly like an iron mace falling down from the skies.

Baaaaaaaaaang—

The attack killed around 200 soldiers of the Luvien Empire.

“Keuaaaaaaaack!”

“Graaaaaaaaaa!”

In the skies above, there were hundreds of roaring and growling dragons.

Dragon Elder Velach had promised Minhyuk that he and his kin would come to the aid of the humans once, should the Beyond the Heavens’ King Minhyuk call for them. And this was the time for them to fulfill that promise. Riding on the backs of these dragons, who were casting their magic, were the executives of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

Rumbleeeee—

Rumbleeeeeee—

The sky was torn apart as dozens of meteors covered in flames fell down. Baaaaaaaang—

Baaaaaaaaaaang—

Although the Luvien Empire’s imperial mages hurriedly cast their shields and barriers, the dragons were the creators of magic. Their power was not at a level where humans could stop them.

“Comraaaaaaaade!!!”

Ali, who usually cried ‘Frieeeend!!!’ changed his words and cried out ‘Comrade!!!’ Today, he was with them. And on the dragon right next to the one Ali was riding stood a man wearing a black robe covering his body and a clown mask on his face.

In the sky above them, a great army slowly appeared. The robed man stood on the dragon’s back and watched the hundreds of thousands of his summoned undead troops fall down.

“Wipe them out.”

Led by the dozens of red-armored Death Knights, the army of undead charged forward and joined the battlefield.

Vwiiiiiiiiiing—

Then, another dragon passed by the dragon that Death was riding on. On that dragon stood Root.

“99, 103, 106, 109,” Root counted his kills as his arrows pierced through his enemies’ vital points.

However, everyone’s attention was focused on the man standing on the back of Dragon Elder Velach, who towered over all of the dragons present. For the viewers all over the world, Minhyuk was living the best dream that they could only dream of, as he commanded hundreds of dragons while standing above them with his stylish armor and cape.

That was until now…

Chew, chew, chew—

Everyone saw Minhyuk eating something. In fact, Minhyuk had started eating the moment Ellie stabbed Nerva’s chest with her sword. The dishes were something that he had made in advance so he could use two of his most overpowered skills together.

The first skill that he used was none other than ‘Double Food’.

(Double Food)

Active Skill

Level: None

Penalty for Use: -1 to all stats

Cooldown: 24 hours

Effects: Activating the skill anytime within ten minutes of a dish’s creation would produce a similar dish with the same effects.

And the next one was Minhyuk’s Absolute God’s Secret.

(Overlapping Delight)

Absolute God’s Secret

Level: None

Mana Required: 10,000

Cooldown: 24 hours

Effects:

? You can overlap the buff effects of two different dishes.

? Once the buff effects of two different dishes overlap, you will be able to see the effects by eating one dish and then thinking about eating the other one.?

? A ‘cooking die’ will be cast when the two dishes’ buff effects overlap. The number displayed on the die will determine the duration of the buff.?

? The lower the number, the shorter the duration of the buff effect. The duration per number rolled is as follows: thirty seconds for number 1, one minute for number 2, two minutes for number 3, three minutes for number 4, four minutes for number 5, and seven minutes for number 6.?

? The EXP you gain will double as long as Overlapping Delight is in effect.

The information about Overlapping Delight flashed in front of Minhyuk.

Jump—

The moment he finished eating, a golden die rolled in front of Minhyuk, who jumped down from Velach’s back.

[Overlapping Delight.]

[You can now receive the effects of two dishes.]

[The duration of the buff effect will depend on the number that the die will cast.]

Then, when the die stopped, the number six appeared.

[The die has been cast! You have rolled a six!]

[The Overlapping Delight’s buff effect will last for seven minutes!]

[You have eaten a Legendary grade Blood Sausage Soup with Rice!]

[All of your stats have increased by 34%!]

[Your physical and magical defenses have increased by 40%!]

[Your sword’s basic attack has increased by 200%!]

[Your skill damage has increased by 200%!]

[A double EXP Acquisition Rate has been applied!]

It seemed like Minhyuk’s luck was quite good. He was able to roll a six, which allowed him to become 1.7x stronger for a total of seven minutes.

Thud—

One step and Spear God Ben appeared right beside Minhyuk.

Thud—

Another step and the executives and key members of Beyond the Heavens appeared by his side. Sword Saint Conir, God of Snakes Elizabeth, Best Selling Author Aruvel, Beyond the Heavens’ Shield Elpis, Great Fisherman Gorfido and the Beyond the Heavens’ high rankers. All of them stood together as they looked at the back of Sword Emperor Ellie. With Minhyuk and Ellie at the lead, all of them jumped on the battlefield.

One swing of Spear God Ben’s spear and nearly a thousand Luvien Imperial Soldiers were killed. Ellie, who held a new sword in her hand, killed hundreds of her enemies with every swing. She possessed power that seemed to be on par, or perhaps even greater than that, of Spear God Ben. As for Minhyuk, the word ‘Gather’ was engraved on the blade of his sword as he began to slaughter the enemies that blocked his path.

Rumbleeeeee—

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

In a matter of minutes, the Luvien Imperial Army had no choice but to take a step back… and then another.

The entire world was witness to the growth of Eivelis Empire.

***

Blood flowed from Nerva Sephiroth’s clenched fists. He was furious to the point that his eyes had turned bloodshot.

“Your Majesty. 400,000 of our Imperial Army have died in less than an hour.”

“Your Majesty, our allies are raising a commotion.”

“The entire world is cheering and calling Ellie’s name.”

“There are rumors that several empires and kingdoms are trying to move to promote peace between their nation and Eivelis Empire.”

“…”

Nerva Sephiroth could hardly contain his anger. His actual power was several times more than the power that he could wield right now. However, the Battle God had reduced his power when he had descended.

‘It’s all because of that bastard, Brod!’

It was all because of Brod—the very same Brod that he had fought against for the position of the emperor. Not long after, another report came in.

“Your Majesty!!! Almost a million of our troops have died!!!”

Nerva Sephiroth immediately quelled the anger in his heart. This was not the time to be angry, it was time for him to be cold-hearted. It might bring shame upon himself, but there was nothing that he could do.

“Retreat… tell them to retreat.”

Nerva Sephiroth’s eyes looked dejected, but his teeth were grinding against each other fiercely. He would remember Ellie and the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. And he would never forget how Ellie brought humiliation upon him.

***

On the battlefield.

The great and majestic Luvien Imperial Army were forced to retreat, their feet bringing them away from the battlefield.

“Retreat!!!”

“It’s an imperial decree!!! Step back and retreat!!!”

The entire world watched in disbelief as the soldiers of the Luvien Empire began to retreat. The Eivelis Imperial Army did not only defend, but even destroyed many of the Luvien Imperial Army’s troops. The people of Korea also cheered loudly as they watched the Luvien Empire’s troops flee.

At that moment, the notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[The Eivelis Empire has won the battle against the Luvien Imperial Army.]

[You have become the number one contributor in protecting the Eivelis Empire.]

[The story of your heroic deeds will be sung in Eivelis Empire.]

[You have acquired the Title: Eivelis Empire’s Noble.]

[You have gained 500 CHA.]

[You have gained 300 REP.]

Before the notifications for the rewards that he acquired rang, another set of notifications rang first.

[Plenty of Gods are showing their interest in you.]

[You have met the qualifications for becoming the first true God.]