Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 543: The Savior

That man? The guy with the nickname ‘Hungry’? Lu Bai could not understand the situation at all. The man that was walking from a distance did not have the face of the Beyond the Heavens King, the Food God. In fact, even his voice was completely different. However, the notifications are saying that the apostle chosen by the Absolute God was the Food God?

Borg grinned and said, “Hey bastard, don’t you think it’s nice for your friends to watch your execution? I called for them since I thought they would be disappointed and sad if I left them alone.”

PlayDead and Food God Minhyuk were both wearing the same handcuffs that Lu Bai had.

Borg was rotten down to his very core. Despite not knowing the relationship between the three people, he still tried to mock Lu Bai by bringing these two people forward. Borg wanted to drag all three of them around and let them be subjected to mocks, jeers and taunts. He would bring them along to crowded squares, hunting grounds, other territories and many other places.

Then, Minhyuk said, “Huh? I followed you because you said you would give me a meal…”

“…???”

Question marks popped up above the heads of Borg and the thousands of people present in the area.

‘Why does this bastard not have an ounce of nervousness in his body? And the man next to him…’

“Corpses… All of you are corpses…”

“…???”

…also seemed crazy. For a brief moment, sympathy welled up in Borg, making him think, ‘Should I really do this to someone that’s not in his right mind?’

However, the thought swiftly disappeared from his head, replaced by, ‘We must nip everyone that opposes our guild in the bud.’

In the first place, it was necessary for Borg and his guild to prevent these people from climbing any further so they could continue a life of plundering and looting, as well as enjoying a life of wealth and prosperity. As the corners of his lips curled up in his plump face, Borg said, “Well then. Hey, you! Over there! If you fight against the NPC soldier that our guild just recently acquired and win, I will let you go!”

What Borg wanted to do here was to instill desperation and frustration in their bodies. He wanted to see them begging as they got beaten unilaterally in the guise of a fair duel. This was the most efficient way to trample someone’s determination and will. After all, those that have been humiliated and beaten down in front of many people were bound to lose their rationality, even if they were just in a game.

Also, Borg was a pathological liar. The person that he described as an NPC soldier was actually not a soldier. Recently, the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild were gathering the ten most notorious men in China, the Ten Evils. The Ten Evils referred to the NPCs that committed the most atrocious act in modern-day Cairon. They were not only evil and vicious, they were also strong Named NPCs.

Borg was the first to acquire and call for such a Named NPC in his territory. The Evil Named NPC that Borg had acquired was one that had killed thousands and had a bounty on his head, in all of the kingdoms and empires in the continent.

His name? Crazy Murderer Evernon.

(Crazy Murderer Evernon)

Rank: Ten Evils

Type: Vassal

Level: 571

Attack: 5,259

Defense: 2,683

Special Abilities:

•Passive Skill: Murderer’s Viciousness*

•Active Skill: Crazy Dance

•Active Skill: Murderer’s Frenzy

Potential: 141

Experience Value: 13% / 100%

Truly, Evernon was a big-shot NPC. It was to the point that Borg could not control his joy when he acquired him. Even his performance was something that Borg anticipated, especially after Slaughterer’s Eye Guild’s Zhang Mumu had praised Evernon and his prowess.

‘The only problem is that he gets paid a lot. He’s devouring a huge sum from our pockets.’

Evernon required a payment of 100 platinum per month. However, he was worth every penny.

‘Crazy Murderer Evernon will definitely tear that bastard to shreds. We can just take the bastard away just before he dies, patch him up and repeat the process again,’ Borg thought. It seemed like he was well-versed in the ways of destroying a man’s spirit and will.

Not long after, Evernon, with his long disheveled hair and old and ragged clothes, approached Minhyuk with a spear in hand.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaah!”

Loud roars spread in the area. It was as if they were in a colosseum and watching a battle between gladiators.

Evernon’s presence alone as a 6’11 tall man was already intimidating. Coupled with the loud roars and his piercing glare, it was enough for someone to feel like death was already looming over them.

One of the members of the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild released the handcuffs that tied Minhyuk’s hand.

“The… 5,315th…”

Evernon’s murmurs traveled to Minhyuk’s ears.

“The 5,315th person that… I will kill.”

Minhyuk’s face turned ugly after learning that Evernon had killed more than 5,000 people. There were things that people should never do.

“Keuhahahahahahaha! Die! Die!!!”

“Evernon, rip that bastard to shreds!!!”

“Wahahahahahaha! How dare you try to go against our Slaughterer’s Eye Guild?!!!”

The sneers and mocking laughter of the thousand people rang loudly in the execution grounds. But just when Evernon was about to swing his spear…

Slap—

Minhyuk, whose hands were freed, slapped Evernon’s cheeks strongly. It was so strong that Evernon’s face jerked to the side, his body staggering from the impact.

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

Silence enveloped the entire area for a moment as fury began to stain Evernon’s face. As someone that had killed plenty of people, he was known for his viciousness and power. There was never a time that he had lost against his opponents. This was a very humiliating scene for him.

“How dare…”

Slap—

However, Minhyuk just took a step forward and slapped Evernon, who was about to swing his spear once more, on his cheeks again. Evernon’s anger boiled over. He quickly took a step back and stabbed his spear strongly. But…

Grab—

…Minhyuk just grabbed Evernon’s spear and slapped him on his cheek once again.

Slap—

Evernon’s teeth fell out, the blood pooling in his mouth splattering onto the ground.

Slap—

Evernon kept on staggering back until his back was to the wall.

“I…”

Slap—

“Shut up.”

Slap— Slap, slap— Slap, slap— Slap— Slap, slap—

Only the sounds of Minhyuk’s hand making contact with Evernon’s cheeks rang loudly in the otherwise silent execution grounds. Actually, Minhyuk had already heard the notifications even before he entered the execution grounds.

[One of the Absolute Gods has suggested that you become an ‘Apostle’ and help the ‘Savior’.]

[If you rescue and help the Savior, you will be able to build a strong relationship with the Savior.]

[You have chosen to become an Apostle. All of your stats will increase by 25%. All of your skill levels will increase by +1.]

Minhyuk would never have been able to subdue and overwhelm Evernon with his bare hands if it was before. But with all of his stats increasing dramatically thanks to Lu Bai’s presence, it had become possible.

Slap—

Evernon’s blood continued to paint the walls, his full set of teeth gone and the blood pooling in his mouth distorting his pronunciation.

“P, please… S, stop… Stop!”

But Minhyuk did not stop. In fact, he slapped Evernon a dozen more times. Just like how Borg wanted to step on Minhyuk and break his will, Minhyuk was stepping on them and breaking their will.

“H, how…”

“What? What is happening?”

The entire place turned chaotic. Borg, who actually made this duel happen, was also flustered.

‘How, how can he do that to Evernon with his bare hands…’

Borg gulped dryly as he watched the groaning Evernon, who was about to faint, get slapped awake. Unknowingly, all of the onlookers rubbed their cheeks as if they could also feel the pain. Borg came back to his senses not long after, he hurriedly shouted, “These crazy rascals!!! What the hell are you doing?! Why aren’t you stopping him?!!!”

Evernon was a precious Named NPC, someone that had been very hard to acquire. But then, Minhyuk picked up Evernon’s discarded spear and used it to stab him in the neck.

“Nooooooooo!!!” Borg screamed as Evernon’s body fell down in a heap.

[One of the Ten Evils, Crazy Murderer Evernon, has met his end.]

[You will not be able to call for Crazy Murderer Evernon again.]

Borg’s face was distorted from fury. He had worked so hard for six months just to acquire Evernon! But in just an instant, he lost a very valuable existence.

“Quickly kill that bastard for me!!!”

With Borg’s cry, the 4,000 members of Slaughterer’s Eye Guild in the territory rushed toward Minhyuk. However, before they could do anything, Minhyuk was already standing in front of Borg.

“You bastard! I won’t let you go! What can you even do here, huh…?!”

Slap—

“Keheok!”

Borg, who received a slap on his cheek, staggered back as a very shocking notification hit him.

[Your HP has decreased by 4%.]

“…!”

A mere slap on the face reduced his HP by that much? That was on top of Borg being a person that had completed his transfer to high class.

‘Don’t tell me?’

The man in front of Borg was definitely a fighter class whose fist had reached the pinnacle, an unofficial ranker!

“You bastard! You’re definitely an unofficial fighter ranker…!”

Slap—

“Urk!” Borg groaned as his body got pushed back even further. Although Borg was also one of the high rankers, he could not fight back against the man that was slapping him on the cheeks relentlessly. Even the members of the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild that surrounded Minhyuk and tried to attack him were all being held back without being able to do anything.

Slap— Slap, slap— Slap— Slap, slap—

[Your HP has decreased by 3%.]

[Your HP has decreased by 4%.]

[Your HP has decreased by 4%.]

This was because Minhyuk’s expression as he slapped Borg was very fierce. As the slaps continued to rain on Borg’s cheeks, his HP also gradually reached the bottom. Along with that, the reputation of the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild was quickly plummeting. In the end, Borg could only cover his face with both of his arms to protect his cheeks from the relentless slaps.

“Hiiiiiik!”

Borg, with his face covered by his arms, quickly said, “Why, why are you only slapping one cheek?!”

“…???”

Slap—

Minhyuk slapped the same cheek once again. At the same time, the members of the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild realized…

‘Borg’s… begging after getting slapped in the cheek…?’

‘Is this the extent of the power of the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild…?’

‘No, perhaps it’s because that guy is just that strong?’

In the first place, the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild was a guild that gathered people that solely wanted benefits. Simply put, they were working together because they could benefit from each other. Because of that, their faith in the guild could easily be broken just like that.

Minhyuk only turned to look at the people around him after Borg had reached the point where he could not fight back anymore.

Pause—

The members of Slaughterer’s Eye Guild were flustered by Minhyuk’s overwhelming presence. But then, they recalled the words that Borg uttered a few moments prior, that the bastard in front of them was a fighter ranker.

Fighters were players that used their body as their own weapon and built it up strongly. Because of that, their fists and kicks’ basic damages were higher than other classes. However, fighting this way could consume a lot of STM. Of course, fighter classes also usually had higher STM compared to other players. However, they would still be unable to exert much power when fighting a long-term battle.

Right now, the number on their side exceeded 3,000.

“That bastard is a fighter.”

“Our numbers are enough.”

“Why are we even afraid of him? We have a lot of rankers on our side too, right?”

The members of Slaughterer’s Eye Guild, who had been consumed by their fear, quickly came back to their senses. Besides, there were also 20,000 troops stationed in the territory aside from them. Dozens of them charged toward Minhyuk and led the group the moment these words were uttered.

In response, Minhyuk pulled out his sword from his inventory. The word ‘Explosion’ was engraved on the blade of the sword with dozens of explosions blooming on the ground the moment he swung his sword.

“…Didn’t, didn’t you say that he’s a fighter?”

“…”

“…”

Everyone was put in a daze by the sudden change of situation. They could not even get their senses together which allowed Minhyuk to easily break through their ranks and wreak havoc.

***

‘He’s strong…’

Lu Bai was in pure awe and admiration of the Beyond the Heavens’ king. He had only heard of the man’s strength, but witnessing it now, it seemed like those rumors were true. The man was able to overpower two people with just his bare hands alone. One of them was a Named NPC while the other was an executive of Slaughterer’s Eye Guild. But…

‘The territory troops will arrive here soon.’

They were the countless people that were in collusion with the Slaughterer’s Eye Guild and they were the ones tasked to protect this territory. The number of troops stationed in this territory alone easily exceeded 10,000.

Rumble, rumble—

The sound of footsteps made the entire execution grounds shake and rumble. It went to show just how many were coming to this place.

“We, we have to get out of here quickly…!” Lu Bai shouted urgently. However, the huge door behind him suddenly opened as thousands of troops flocked inside.

“N, no…!”

No matter how strong the Beyond the Heavens’ King was, there was no way for him to deal with these many people at once. But then…

Thud—

The sound of something falling on the ground rang in Lu Bai’s ears. What fell down was a clown mask. Then, a man walked by Lu Bai, his pristine white staff surrounded by a fierce wind.

Rumbleeeeeee—

Lu Bai caught sight of the man’s sharp and glinting eyes through his disheveled hair. The man took a step toward his enemies in a leisurely manner.

“Summon Death Knight. Endauro.”

Fwooosh—

A black current suddenly appeared beside the man before disappearing and revealing the figure standing next to the man. The Death Knight that was summoned beside Death displayed a powerful aura and momentum as it walked toward the enemies alone.

‘A, a red armor…?’

The Death Knight summoned was known as an undead knight that had power comparable to a lich, the strongest existence among all of the undead. According to the information posted in Athenae’s announcement about Death Knights, there were stronger beings among the undead. These beings wore red armor on their bodies.

Then, the man continued to walk forward.

“Summon, Baroque.”

Swoosh—

“Summon, Vellenia. Summon, Carrod. Summon, Yddruna. Summon, Kayna. Summon, Angus. Summon, Vellod.”

Swoosh—

Swooooooosh—

Fwoosh—

Fwooooosh—

Dozens of Death Knights in red armor appeared around the lone man walking forward, all of them accompanying the man on his march.

Thuuud—

The moment the man stabbed his white staff on the ground, a stream of black appeared and scattered everywhere as thousands of skeleton knights rose from the ground. The man, Death, looked at the enemy troops haughtily while saying, “Wipe them out.”

Lu Bai shuddered with realisation. These two people, the King of the Kingdom of the Dead, Death and the King of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, Minhyuk, were accompanying him.