Chapter 784

Chapter 784

A world message rang for all of the players in the world.

[The first player to convert their race to Demon has been born.]

Reagan, who gained the honor of becoming the first demon among the players, posted this on the Athenae official homepage. Of course, he posted this after obtaining the approval of King Minhyuk.

[You have changed your race to Demon.]

[Your previous class was ‘Knight.’]

[Your class will now change from ‘Knight’ to ‘Demon Knight.’]

[All of your attack has increased by 17%. Your INT and WIS stats have increased by 20%.]

[Your attack and movement speed have increased by 20%. Your skill cooldown has decreased by 20%.]

[The skills that you possessed as a knight will now be changed to the Demon Knight’s skills. Your skills have become stronger.]

[Your recovery and buff skills have been deleted.]

[You have gained 100 Demonic Energy stats.]

[Your level has decreased by -50.]

[You have turned into a demon through Great Demon Elpis.]

[You have become Great Demon Elpis’ subordinate. You are now the first Demon Knight.]

All of the players were amazed to see the benefits that they would obtain if they changed their race to demon.

[As expected of a battle race... just look at that 17% increase in all of your attack... there’s even a 20% increase in movement speed...]

[It seems like the Demon race does not rely on skills.]

[However, from what it looks like, the benefits that you can get are worth it. Just the fact that one can increase their attack speed by 20% compared to other players of the same level...]

[What a pity. Why is it that only players at Level 500 or higher can change their race?]

[If you look at Reagan’s skills, you can tell that his skills have become a lot cooler and stronger.]

There were certainly huge benefits and merits in changing one’s race to Demon. However, many players expressed their dissatisfaction. After all, only players at Level 500 or above could change their race. But there was one thing that they were sure of.

[Because the demons changed their race through Great Demon Elpis, they must consider him as an object of worship.]

[Then, that means...]

[That means that the master of the demons is the vassal of our Lord the Food God...?]

[...]

The players could only sit in silence, jealous of the fact that Minhyuk had become the grand master of all of the demons.

***

Bran, the second in the global explorer rankings, was a holder of the ‘Explorer’ class. He explored unknown lands and ancient dungeons, while searching for special artifacts, surprising cooking ingredients, and many more. Explorer Bran was a talent that was sought after by forces from all over the world. One of the main forces that sought him for his talent was the Luvien Empire.

The Luvien Empire wanted Explorer Bran. In fact, they already had Ian, the current global number one explorer. If they added Bran to their list of talents, then they would be able to hoard a huge amount of information regarding ancient items, and even legendary and god-rank artifacts. They would then be able to monopolize all kinds of dungeons and hunting grounds.

However, Bran refused their offer. As a result, the Luvien Empire began to openly pressure him, keeping him in check. He was often chased by someone, and his search for a dungeon had been interrupted several times.

Right now, the Luvien Empire almost had all of 100 of the world’s most famous explorers in their hands. Because of that, Bran was being forced to become a lone wolf.

At this point, Bran suddenly found a way to grow faster.

‘Whenever explorers level up, they will be able to get enlightened and receive a new skill that will help us find new dungeons.’

This was also the reason why the explorers were all eager to level up. Of course, most of the EXP that they acquired came from finding something new. So, what method did Bran find to grow faster? It was none other than ‘Evelyn’s Dish.’

Bran rejected Luvien’s proposal and immediately moved to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom to eat Evelyn’s dish.

“All of the dishes for the twenty people have been served.”

“...”

Unfortunately, the high rankers had rushed to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom as soon as they heard the news. There was no time for them to check whether there were any of the dishes left. Many of them went there and applied for migration. One of them was Bran.

A permanent 8% increase in EXP Acquisition Rate. That was a huge benefit. Bran was very frustrated at the fact that he lost out on this benefit. That was when he thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be solved if I just met with Minhyuk?’

That was right. If he met Minhyuk, then everything would be solved. He was the only person with the power to change the limit from twenty to any number he wanted. However, there was no way that he would willingly give preferential treatment without any price.

‘If I gave him the information about that place then...’

Bran immediately made a move.

***

Bran did not actually migrate because there was something special about the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. He migrated purely because of his conditions.

[However, if you lead too many soldiers, the difficulty of the Tomb of the Kings will increase.]

[If the ‘king’ that challenges the Tomb of the Kings fails, the greedy kings will take away a lot from you.]

[They can take away a variety of things including stats, classes, gold, artifacts, skills and many more.]

[Would you like to challenge the Tomb of the Kings?]

Calauhel had no other choice. Several other kingdoms had already bared their fangs, threatening to tear apart the crumbling the Rothschilde Kingdom. Even the Luvien Empire was looking at them with drool dripping down their chins. In fact, no one would find it strange if the Rothschilde Kingdom collapsed at any moment.

The bigger problem here was the fact that the Luvien Empire would definitely issue an extermination order against Calauhel once the Rothschilde Kingdom fell.

‘If that happens, then my life in Athenae will be over.’

Athenae was a very precious place for Calauhel, a rich young master who only knew about money. For someone like him, who had always been bored with life, the game brought him something new, something fun. The game also taught him that there would always be someone better than him.

Calauhel led 20,000 mercenaries, who he had a hard time gathering, and the 10,000 surviving elites of the Rothschilde Kingdom.

“I will challenge it.”

However, the price that he paid for this challenge was terrible.

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

“U, uwaaaaaaaaaaack!”

“Keuaaaaaaaaaaaack!”

“Your, Your Majesty Calauhel! Please live long and healthy!”

“Keheooook!”

Within just a few short minutes after entering the dungeon, more than half of their troops were lost.

Since Calauhel led a huge number of troops, the difficulty of the dungeon was increased. Fortunately, it seemed like the difficulty of the dungeon was gradually decreasing as their numbers decreased.

However, the problem laid elsewhere. The moment they entered the depths of the Tomb of the Kings, a startling notification rang in their ears.

[The blessings of one of the Eight Pillars, Aegaeon, is protecting the Tomb of the Kings.]

“...”

Calauhel did not know. He truly did not know that the Tomb of the Kings was owned by one of the Eight Pillars. All he could do was to move forward despite the despair that was filling him. He could no longer escape or leave this place.

The further inside they went in, the stronger their opponents became. Their troops only had 500 surviving players, 700 NPCs, and around 200 mercenaries. The soldiers' moans and groans rang all over the place.

Calauhel had truly changed. He had learned about the importance of the NPCs during Gaerna’s hunt.

‘Even here...’

Calauhel saw his soldiers shout, ‘Long live the Rothschilde Kingdom, long live His Majesty Calauhel!’ as they died one after another. Many of the soldiers, who came here with him, pleaded as they died, ‘Please don’t lose your pride. Please don’t give up.’

He felt bitter. Calauhel could tell that everyone here would be wiped out in an hour. How could he not lose his pride at this point? He felt like he was the most incompetent king in history.

‘I should just give up here and end my career in Athenae...’

Then, the mercenaries approached him and said, “We will definitely be forced to log out here. Please don’t forget our payment.”

The arrogant Calauhel just nodded, exhaustion evident in his face. At that moment, someone’s face flashed in his head.

‘I wonder what the situation will be like if it’s that guy and his comrades?’

It was none other than Food God Minhyuk. If it were him, then his comrades would say this to him:

‘Don’t worry. We can get past this.’

‘Let’s move forward, Minhyuk.’

‘We can do it.’

The high rankers and NPCs that lived in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom and surrounded Minhyuk did not go there because they were enticed by material things. It was because they liked Minhyuk. They were in the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom because they really, really liked Minhyuk. That fact made Calauhel envy him.

‘I really envy you,’ Calauhel thought.

Calauhel was the richest man in the world, yet he was standing here, envious of another man.

“Kghhk...”

“It hurts.”

“I’m going to die.”

Calauhel thought that he at least wanted to save the NPCs that fought for him because he was their king and not because they were enticed by money or material things. If someone could save them, then Calauhel would give them whatever they wanted.

‘I’m sorry...’

He felt sorry for these people, who served such an incompetent king. But then, something very surprising happened.

[Another king has entered the Tomb of the Kings!]