Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 561: Battle of the Thrones (1)

Minhyuk had actually reached the limits of his stamina when he was cooking the Legendary Giant Chicken. In fact, he even went past that limit several times over the course of the cooking process.

“Ben is important, but you are also important.”

Minhyuk stared at the bean sprout rice soup placed in front of him. Since Arlene was the ‘God of Cooking’, she definitely knew about all of the dishes in the world. It seemed like she deliberately prepared a dish like this for him, someone who was from Asgan Continent. But it was not just a simple bean sprout rice soup, it was a dish that contained tremendous power that would unseal Minhyuk’s Absolute God’s Secret.

Shwaaaaaaaaaaa—

Minhyuk watched the steam coming out of the earthen pot for a moment. Since the dish was placed in an earthen pot, it was still boiling even after it had left the fire. He looked at the bean sprouts, the sliced Cheongyang chili peppers, and the chopped squid placed on top of the dish.

“…Thank you for the meal.”

It had been quite a while since Minhyuk had eaten a dish made for him by others. The first thing that he reached out for was the steel bowl right next to the earthen pot. He placed one of the two poached eggs served to him inside the bowl and poured a bit of sesame oil on it. Then, he scooped a couple of spoonfuls of the bean sprout rice soup’s soup and sprinkled it on top of the poached egg. He then took his chopsticks and mixed everything together. After that, he lifted the entire bowl and tipped its content in his mouth, as if he was drinking the soup and the poached egg.

“Kghhk…”

The rich flavor of the poached egg and the bean sprout rice soup’s soup mixed together tasted divine in his mouth. The soup wrapped his stomach and his entire being in warmth. This time, he used his chopsticks to stir the remaining poached egg before pouring it over the still steaming bean sprout rice soup. The poached egg was slowly cooked inside the bean sprout rice soup.

Minhyuk picked a piece of the seaweed served to the side. Of course, just like how he usually ate, he tasted the seaweed first.

“Wow…”

“It’s good, right?”

Minhyuk was very impressed with the crispy texture and the slightly salty flavor of the seaweed. From what it looked like, the seaweed was something that Arlene personally obtained. Then, Minhyuk broke the seaweed into pieces before sprinkling it over the bean sprout rice soup. After mixing everything, he scooped a spoonful of the soup and took a sip.

“Hoo. That’s refreshing,” There was no other expression more befitting for this situation.

This time, Minhyuk scooped a bit of everything, some rice, some bean sprouts and some squid, in his spoon before placing it in his mouth. The heat of the dish immediately spread in his mouth which was enough to scald him, but instead of a grimace, a wide smile appeared on his face as the rice, the crunchy bean sprouts, and the chewy squid’s flavor and texture blended perfectly well with the hot soup in his mouth.

Of course, Minhyuk could not leave out something very important. He stretched his chopsticks towards the side dishes that Arlene prepared. They were the perfect combination! There were some thinly sliced soy braised beef, some salted squid, some stir-fried fish cake in soy sauce, radish kimchi, and kimchi.

A slightly salty flavor permeated Minhyuk’s mouth when he took a bite of the thinly sliced soy braised beef. Of course, to achieve a divine combination, Minhyuk immediately followed it with a spoonful of the bean sprout rice soup. Next, he scooped a spoonful of the bean sprout rice soup, before adding some of the salted squid on top of it. The spicy and salty squid was the perfect match for the bland flavor of the bean sprout soup.

After eating for a while, Minhyuk then lifted the entire earthen pot, blew a bit on it before drinking its content. A ‘Ho.’ instantly escaped from his mouth, from the refreshing feeling that the warm soup brought him. He ate everything in the earthen pot, down to its very last grain. Perspiration gathered at the tip of Minhyuk’s nose once he was done eating. He quickly took out some tissue and blew his nose loudly, a wide and satisfied smile on his face.

Then, the notifications began to ring.

***

With only a few hours left before the start of the Battle of the Thrones, the entire world was busy discussing which country’s king would sit on the Supreme King’s Throne.

At the same time, the kings that would participate in the middle of the event were also confirmed. France, Japan and South Korea. Each of the countries would be able to change it eight hours before the start of the Battle of the Thrones. However, their status eventually got confirmed.

For the kings that would participate in the middle of the event, they would receive a penalty of 5% decrease in all stats and skill damage. A huge decrease compared to the kings that would participate since the beginning.

What if they participated a day after? The kings would receive a penalty of 10% decrease in all stats and skill damage, as well as a 10% increase in skill cooldown.

What about two days after? A penalty of 15% decrease in all stats and skill damage, as well as a 15% increase in skill cooldown.

After three days, there would be an additional 5% increase in all penalties, which would weaken the kings by as much as 20%.

Because of this announcement, plenty of experts and global rankers began to express their opinions.

[The penalties of the kings of the countries that would participate in the middle of the event is not just limited to the skill and stat decrease. From the very beginning, their country and their kingdom would lose their absolute ruler.]

[And the kings selected by those countries are most likely their country’s strongest players. The country’s strongest player could easily overpower hundreds of rankers. The absence of such an existence, their king, would result in their own destruction.]

[This is especially the case for South Korea. South Korea is the only country that has created a kingdom, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. They are more systematic and organized compared to the other countries, which are only temporarily governing their kingdoms. Because of that, plenty of countries will most definitely form an alliance and attack the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, without its king, will not last long.]

[The Food God is in the middle of a very important quest right now. We don’t know for sure but there’s a chance that it’s related to the main scenario. But even if he gets a stronger power, nothing will change even if he makes an appearance, unless it is at the level of an ‘Absolute God’s Secret’.]

[To top it off, the weakened Food God has his Absolute God’s Secret sealed. Actually, just thinking about the Absolute God’s Secret that the Food God used when he killed Akhan and the Demon Worshippers still gives me the chills.]

[I think it’s only possible because of Asura’s Armor that restores his HP, the massive damage that he dealt with using his passive skill, and the Food God’s tremendous defense, right?]

[That’s absolutely right. If the Food God’s Absolute God’s Secret hadn’t been sealed then he would have shown incredible power in the Battle of the Thrones. He could recover his HP indefinitely and crush his enemies with the huge damage from his basic attacks. Unfortunately… Hahahahahahahahahahahaha… the Food God’s Absolute God’s Secret was sealed.]

[Kahahahahahahaha! If the Food God comes in three or four days later then he will be 20% weaker than the other kings, right?]

[The other kings might even gang up on him. Compared to other countries like America, China and Indonesia, South Korea’s land is small, which also means that the levels of their rankers are particularly lower than the other players from the other countries. Of course, they also have a lot of top rankers, but the other countries have a lot more than them.]

In just an instant, public opinion had turned around. Especially when Minhyuk expressed his intentions to participate in the middle of the event. Many Koreans, who had high hopes for him, began to criticize him severely. Those that were very jealous and envious of him began to type fiercely on their keyboards.

[What the hell are they on for them to be so crazy about the Food God? Participate in the middle of the Battle of the Thrones? What is he, a moron?]

[No, it’s common sense that winning the Battle of the Thrones will give you better rewards but… Kahahahahahahahahahaha… f*cking bullshit.]

[No, no. Guys, I think he’s gone crazy after his Absolute God’s Secret was sealed. Hahahaha. And with dozens of countries ganging up on him, he will definitely stand out. Then, later he will say ‘It’s because I got a penalty’ and use it as an excuse for losing.]

[Oh. That’s quite a reasonable guess. He’s purposely delaying his participation to have an excuse.]

There was also one netizen that openly mocked the Food God.

[What a damn pity, the Food God’s Absolute God’s Secret has been sealed~~~ You’re being bullied by the gods. Yep! You’ll never be able to get an Absolute God’s Secret in your entire life~~~]

***

Everyone was wrong. At this moment, Minhyuk had already solved his problem with his Absolute God’s Secret.

[You have eaten the Bean Sprout Rice Soup made by the God of Cooking!]

[The Bean Sprout Rice Soup containing an Absolute God’s power has awakened the power sealed within you!]

[The seal of the Absolute God’s Secret: Lightning will now be released!!!]

[The God of Cooking has used one drop of ‘Athenae’s Tears’!]

[Athenae’s Tears has the power to strengthen any power, including an Absolute God’s power!]

[A special power has been added to Lightning!]

What was more, Lightning had become much stronger.

“…”

Minhyuk looked at Arlene.

Of course, the cranky grandma Arlene had made him suffer tremendously by subjecting him through several hardships and troubles. But this very same Arlene was now smiling with embarrassment at Minhyuk as she said, “It’s your reward for entertaining me.”

For entertaining her? It was because Arlene felt quite pleased at witnessing a very close relationship between a king and his retainer. It seemed like there were still people like this was what she thought. Minhyuk turned to check his unsealed Lightning.

(Lightning)

Absolute God’s Secret

Level: None

Mana Required: None

Cooldown: None

Effects:

? You can choose between the three modes: Explosion, Destruction and Crazy.

? A new mode Gather has been added thanks to Athenae’s Tears.

? In Explosion mode, you will have a 40% chance of triggering bolts of lightning with 2,500% additional attack and 1,400% additional damage in a ten meter radius for every basic attack you launch.

? There is a 15% chance of your enemy falling into a four second stunned state after getting struck by Explosion.

? In Destruction mode, you will have a 35% chance of triggering sixteen bloody lightning bolts with additional 1,600% damage for every enemy.

? There is a 40% chance of your enemy falling into a three second stunned state after getting struck by Destruction.

? In Crazy mode, you will have a 55% chance of triggering a sword wind with 3,300% additional attack power that can rip through anything and everything in its path when attacking with a basic attack.

? In Crazy Mode, you will have a chance of consecutively triggering Crazy Mode.

? There is a 55% chance of triggering the Crazy Mode two times in a row.

? There is a 35% chance of triggering the Crazy Mode four times in a row.

? There is a 20% chance of triggering the Crazy Mode six times in a row.

? There is a 10% chance of triggering the Crazy Mode eight times in a row.

? There is a 5% chance of triggering the Crazy Mode ten times in a row.

? There is a 30% chance of your enemy falling into a four second stunned state after getting struck by Crazy.

? In Crazy Mode, there is a 20% chance of turning the Continent Destroyer Sword’s Active Skill: Armor Break into a passive skill and triggering it to destroy the opponent’s sword.

“…???”

Minhyuk looked at the skill window and Arlene alternately.

“…???”

Then, he looked at Arlene again. Everytime he did that, a question mark would pop up in his head.

‘I think this is something that really deserves the Absolute God’s restriction.’

Minhyuk was very flustered. If he were one of the Absolute Gods, he would definitely stop himself from having this power. That was how amazing it was. But what was more surprising was the fact that Minhyuk had not checked the Gather Mode yet, the mode added through Athenae’s Tears. Of course, Minhyuk immediately checked it after realizing his folly.

(Gather)

Absolute God’s Secret

Level: None

Mana Required: 5,000

Cooldown: 1 hour

Effects:

? Gather Mode is the mode that brings together all of the advantages of Explosion, Destruction and Crazy.

? Compared to the other modes in Lightning, Gather mode acts as an active skill. Upon usage, all the effects of Lightning will be unavailable for an hour.

? Gather mode has a duration of four minutes.

? Upon successful attack, you will have a 100% chance of having an additional 4,000% attack power.

? There’s a 40% chance of triggering around four to eight times of bloody lightning rain with 2,000% attack power that will indiscriminately attack anyone within a 30 meter radius of your target.

? There’s a 10% chance of the bloody lightning rain exploding with an additional 2,000% attack power.

“…???”

Minhyuk could not help but look at Arlene and the information alternately once again. Gather mode had a completely different effect from the three other modes. First, it acted as an active skill. Second, with just one literal strike, Minhyuk would be able to wreak havoc with the effects of Explosion and Destruction at the same time.

But there was something far more surprising than that. It was none other than the 100% chance mentioned in the description. Minhyuk had a 100% chance of dealing a 4,000% damage within a thirty meter radius.

Seeing all these, Minhyuk only had two words to describe the skill.

“F*cking OP…”

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