Leveling Up through Eating

Chapter 1142

Gardin was shocked. Only 35 seconds had passed by since Minhyuk had closed that door. But all the Supreme Army soldiers waiting outside had been wiped out in that short amount of time.

Gardin found the promise the young man had made in the blurred fragments of his memory. He could not clearly remember what they were talking about but could remember what he said.

–If that’s the case, I’ll do my best to protect you, hyung-nim!

“...!”

It was the truth! It seemed like a lot had happened between him and the young man last night.

Nevertheless, Ullagor was different from those mere soldiers. Starting from the commander position, they would receive the Supreme’s power.

[Supreme Army’s 12th Knight Order Commander Ullagor. Level 712.]

The Supreme power that they received was the power that could allow them to leave people helpless and frustrated.

Ullagor cackled despite the sword pointing at his face. “I see, you’re not yet engraved with the Pandemonium’s Stigma.”

Every citizen living in Pandemonium’s Country was engraved with Pandemonium’s Stigma. Those who received the stigma would be suppressed. It was practically no different from being marked as a slave. Surprisingly enough, Gardin did not have the stigma.

“I will engrave it on your body myself. Kneel.”

Rumble–!

The entire cabin began to shake and tremble.

‘He’s just a commander, but his level is at…’

Minhyuk was surprised because the level of the man in front of him was pretty high. The Luvien Empire’s Swords of the Gods’ level was around the late Level 600s and the early Level 700s.

A strong force surged out from within Ullagor and tried to suppress Minhyuk.

[Overpower Supreme.]

[Overpower Supreme allows you to leave your opponent helpless.]

The Supreme Court that the Supreme Army had learned was divided into several chapters. The Overpower Supreme was the reason why the people could not resist all of those who had learned the Supreme Court.

‘Overpower Supreme can make any man kneel.’

The overwhelming force pressed down on Minhyuk.

“Kneel. Keuhahahahahaha!” Ullagor laughed maniacally.

Minhyuk, whose knees were slowly bending down, glared up at him. Then, he sneered. “Right. Kneel.”

Ullagor was shocked. The man, whose knees were supposed to be bending, stood straight and looked at him arrogantly.

[The Unyielding One has been triggered.]

[The Eight Pillars’ Candidate does not yield to anyone!]

It did not end there. Ullagor realized that his eye level, which should have been at the same height as the man’s own, had started to drop.

[Absolute Monarch.]

[No one can go against and resist in front of the Absolute Monarch.]

The Absolute Monarch was the ability attached to Minhyuk’s recently acquired Most Radiant Crown. This was the ability that would force his opponent to kneel. Even if they were stronger than him, they would be forced to kneel. No exceptions. The only difference was the duration of the ability. Against those stronger than Minhyuk, it would only last two seconds. However, the duration would be longer when the opponent was weaker or equal to Minhyuk in power.

There was also something interesting about this ability. The skill user’s CHA influenced it. Damage would be inflicted upon the kneeling enemy depending on the amount of CHA the skill user possessed. Of course, the damage was still based on the skill user’s average basic attack damage.

[Based on your CHA, the Absolute Monarch will inflict 6,800% additional damage per second.]

Slash–

“Keuaaaaaaaack!” The kneeling Ullagor screamed and vomited a mouthful of blood as the damage was inflicted on him.

For one… two… three seconds, Ullagor suffered from heavy damage. Just like that, the Supreme Army’s 12th Knight Order Commander died on his knees.

Gardin, who watched as Ullagor’s body sagged and turned lifeless, was left in disbelief.

As a commander-level individual in the Supreme Army, Ullagor was considered a powerhouse in Pandemonium’s Country. Yet Minhyuk killed such an existence without even lifting a single finger.

Gardin’s pupils trembled while Minhyuk sported a triumphant look on his face.

[You have killed the Pandemonium’s Country’s Knight Order Commander.]

[Your story will be made known to the Pandemonium’s Kingdom.]

[An order to kill has been issued against you.]

The triumphant Minhyuk was now making a sad and tearful face. He said, “Hyung-nim, what should I do?”

Gardin watched the teary-eyed Minhyuk walk toward the table.

“...”

He was left speechless when he saw Minhyuk put rice in the remaining bowl of dried pollack soup. Then, he scooped a huge mouthful and pushed it into his mouth.

***

Pandemonium’s Country’s Castle, Abzhain.

King Bul'ark, sitting comfortably on his chair, was aware that someone had killed Knight Commander Ullagor.

‘Those damn revolutionaries.’

Bul'ark did not react much to the news. After all, the revolutionaries would kill the members of the Supreme Army occasionally in the name of a revolution.

“Find the man who killed Ullagor and kill him,” Bul'ark said. After giving his orders, Bul'ark walked toward the wall and stared at the entirety of Pandemonium’s Country.

A wide variety of people inhabited Pandemonium’s Country–those who came from the human world, those born here in Pandemonium, or the so-called Pandemonium’s Citizen, as well as those who came here hoping to reach infinity. Even the dead came here.

Yet, in the end, every single one of them became his people. His slaves. And it was all thanks to the Supreme Envoy.

Bul'ark had taken everything away from his people. He had suppressed them, and the moment they thought of rebelling against him, he would turn them into criminals and make them pay the price for their crimes.

And everything Bul'ark had taken away from them was sealed inside a jar.

[Supreme Jar.]

The Supreme Jar was an item that gathered divine power. This divine power was extracted from everyone who was suppressed and carried the stigma and could then be used to strengthen a chosen target.

Bul'ark had already prepared it so the Supreme Jar would fall in the hands of the Supreme Envoys.

‘When someone acquires this jar first, they will hear this sound in their ears…’

[You have three options.]

[An artifact material that can make something Supreme.]

[The world’s most delicious ‘yeot’[1].]

[Power to help you grow.]

Anyone who acquired the jar would be given these powers to choose from.

If what was chosen was the artifact material, the jar would spit out the material before self-destructing. If what was chosen was the power to help one grow, they would be able to grow several times in a row. But that was all.

The true power of the jar could only be obtained if whoever acquired it chose the ‘world’s most delicious yeot.’ After selecting and eating the yeot, the jar would release a stronger divine power. Then, it would ask whoever it was a question. Would they choose to devour this divine power to become a strong man, or would they like to make a wish possible inside Pandemonium? Because of this, Bul’ark had hidden the Supreme Jar under the ground.

Bul’ark was the king of Pandemonium’s Country. However, he had gotten tired of the status quo. The Supreme Envoys still treated him like a puppet king, and even the god ruling Pandemonium did not have a shred of interest in him.

‘I’m going to be a real king.’

The day he would become this kingdom's genuine and legitimate king was fast approaching. He turned to look at his subordinates waiting behind him and gave his orders.

“Suppress the people more! And double the intensity of the torture on the prisoners!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

A deep smile slowly settled on Bul’ark’s face.

***

Gardin and Minhyuk went out of the cabin.

Minhyuk looked worriedly at Gardin and said, “Hyung-nim, are you not going to come with me?”

“Boy, there’s an order to kill you… If I walk around with you, then I will die. Haaa…”

“...”

It was the truth. Gardin would be in more danger if he walked around with Minhyuk. Of course, he was just joking around with the young man. Gardin handed over a manuscript titled ‘Pandemonium’s Country’ written on its cover.

“I have been writing this novel titled Pandemonium’s Country for a long time. I have been erasing and writing the same ending repeatedly.”

Gardin had heard all about Minhyuk from the young man himself. From everything he had heard, he learned about what kind of person he truly was. He was a chef, the Battle God, and an emperor ruling his own empire.

“This time, I’m determined to write a different ending.”

And the ending that Gardin was going to write was…

‘This ending is the one that you’re going to make.’

Minhyuk nodded. He thought, ‘I’m sure it won’t be too dangerous.’

Minhyuk had heard quite a few things during Gardin’s drunken ramblings. And he had heard a lot of information from him before he left the cabin. The main point from everything he had heard from Gardin about the Pandemonium’s Country was that there were no restrictions and limitations.

‘It’s a place where the possibility of achieving infinity opens up for you.’

Gardin said, “Boy, the territory you’re looking for will come if you follow what I say.”

At the same time, Minhyuk received a quest from Gardin.

[Quest: The Start of a Revolution.]

Rank: ???

Requirements: Those who received Gardin’s guidance.

Rewards: ???

Penalty for Failure: You can no longer proceed with the quest.

Description: Meet ‘Weapon Revolutionary’ Leo, who Gardin had told you about, and do him a favor.

Minhyuk also received a token from Gardin.

[Temporary Revolutionary Token.]

From what Minhyuk had heard, there were quite a lot of revolutionaries hiding inside the Pandemonium’s Country and sharpening their blades to fight against the king. It was said that these revolutionaries were gathering around the Four Revolutionaries.

The Four Revolutionaries possessed tremendous power. The very first revolutionary among them was Weapon Revolutionary Leo.

‘Hyung-nim told me there’s a very excellent blacksmith around here.’

That “very excellent blacksmith” was none other than Leo.

“Alright, I’m going back to my writing now.”

The two went their separate ways.

Minhyuk watched Gardin leave. The truth was, he did not choose to protect Gardin for nothing. It was mainly because he had already noticed who Gardin indeed was.

‘I’ll see you later,’ Minhyuk thought as he walked the opposite direction.

***

Pharaoh, who carries the Supreme Stigma on his arm, was still manning the bellows like any other day. He had to man the bellows daily and make the swords wielded by the Supreme Army’s soldiers and knights.

Everyone carrying the stigma had to meet their daily quota to receive their ration and be allowed to sleep. Fifty weapons. This was the number of weapons that Pharaoh had to make every single day.

“Starting today, everything will be halved! Your sleep time, your ration and all of that stuff, everything will be halved!”

Pharaoh was left shocked. They only slept five hours and held on with three potatoes daily.

‘That means that we have to double our production for us to enjoy what we originally can enjoy.’

Those who failed to meet their daily quota suffered from the suppression of their stigma. Not only would they not be given any food, but a loud voice would also ring in their heads if they tried to sleep.

A lot of people had died from being overworked. The worst part? Those who died from overwork were thrown into the Prison of Repetition. They still had to suffer even after they had died.

The nature of the work of a blacksmith required them to have bulging red muscles. However, Pharaoh, who was only skin and bones, could only endure with tears in his eyes.

‘There’s nothing that we can do. If we want to live, then we have to follow.’

“Can I talk with you for a bit?”

At that moment, someone came in. The man was holding a basket filled with steaming sweet potatoes. Pharaoh was more appalled than pleased when he saw the man.

“F-food?!”

“What? Did you just say food?!’

“Which crazy bastard brought food here?!”

Minhyuk, who brought the sweet potatoes here, was left puzzled. He even steamed it for them?

Pharaoh growled at him. “Didn’t you know?! People carrying the stigma will die if they eat ordinary food?”

“Ah!”

Minhyuk had heard many things from Gardin but had not received detailed information about them.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware.”

“You bastard! So you don’t carry the stigma! Get out of the smithy! If they see us with you, then we will be punished!”

“Uhm. I actually came here to see the blacksmith named Leo.”

“How dare you speak of Sir Leo’s name?!”

“You brat, Sir Leo is not someone a brat like you can meet.”

“Sir Leo? You’re probably not here to find Sir Leo but to find Neo, the dog from next door, right? Haha!”

Their vigilant voices soon morphed into voices filled with mockery. They were doing this to try and kick out the guy as quickly as possible. Of course, they also did not want him to meet the great Sir Leo.

“Sir Leo is the most noble person who created the greatest sword in the world.”

“The greatest sword in the world?”

“That’s right. Of course, the concept of ‘world’ does not exist in the Pandemonium. But in your world, that sword is hailed as the greatest. I don’t know who you are, but how dare you try to meet such a noble being as Sir Leo?”

Amidst the cackling blacksmiths, one blacksmith stepped forward.

“Leave, now. Otherwise, I will break your artifacts.”

“Oh. Weapon Analyst Renz.”

Weapon Analyst Renz was Leo’s right-hand man. He was once the God of Blacksmiths. However, he pursued a higher position than the God of Blacksmiths. And in his search for infinity, he eventually made his way here. In the end, he also received the slave’s stigma.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t leave until I see Leo.”

Minhyuk had already apologized for his previous mistake. He could not back down just because of these people's simple mockery.

At that moment, Renz grabbed Minhyuk’s Sword of Aeon with his bare hands. All of the blacksmiths present reacted when they saw the scene.

“He is called the Blacksmith of Observation and Destruction. He can instantly check the detailed information of an artifact and destroy it!”

“That guy’s sword will be broken in two!”

The man named Renz warned Minhyuk. “I will not break your sword if you leave right away.”

“I won’t leave,” Minhyuk answered firmly and without hesitation.

In response, Renz used his powers. A vast amount of mana surged from within him and seeped into the blade of the Sword of Aeon. Usually, Renz would be able to see the artifact’s information once he closed his eyes.

‘What the hell?’

To his shock, he did not see anything. Hailed as the Blacksmith of Observation and Destruction, Renz could see through any artifact, but he actually received nothing from Minhyuk’s sword. Nevertheless, he would not let things go. He decided to break this arrogant brat’s sword. Besides, they have all the justification in the world. After all, someone from their side would die if they ate the food brought by this brat by mistake.

Renz grabbed a sword.

‘Huh? Why is he not moving?’

Alas, he found something weird. The man named Minhyuk did not move a single muscle.

Renz grabbed his sword and used it to strike the man’s sword. The sword that Renz grabbed was called the Sword of Destruction. The Sword of Destruction could break any sword in two at Renz’s will.

Clang–

The sword broke in half.

“...?”

Renz was shocked when he saw his sword get split in two. And Minhyuk? He looked at all the people standing frozen in place and said, “I am the owner of the Greatest Sword.”

1. 엿 (yeot) - a Korean traditional confectionery that can be made as syrup, a taffy, or a candy. Also used in the slang: 엿 먹어라 - eat shit, screw you over, f*ck you. ☜