Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 858

As he watched Keller vow eternal loyalty, Minhyuk thought, ‘The Beyond the Heavens Empire is in a very precarious situation right now.’

They might have been able to recruit and win the loyalty of many talented individuals, all the while securing a lot of funds from the other kings and emperors. But, if Minhyuk were to be honest, he knew that what they did was a bit too much. To be fair, the Beyond the Heavens Empire would not have made such a move first if those kings and emperors had not tried to recruit their empire’s talents.

‘In the end, nothing good will come out of being at odds with those kings and emperors.’

The relationship between the Beyond the Heavens Empire and the other empires and kingdoms was definitely on the rocks. Fortunately, their relationship with the Ardo Empire and Emperor Consteinus was on the mend.

However, the goal of the Beyond the Heavens Empire had always been the defeat of the Luvien Empire. The number of empires under the rule of the Luvien Empire reached well over a hundred. At this point, Beyond the Heavens Empire could be considered isolated and alone.

In a situation like this, there was only one thing that Minhyuk could do.

‘I have to make preparations for the future.’

Minhyuk turned to look at Amacar. It had not been that long since Amacar arrived in the empire. However, in those few short days, he had already made several changes in the military’s training system. But what was most interesting was that all of the changes he made laid the groundwork for the growth of the knights and soldiers. In other words, they were very beneficial to the empire’s troops.

‘Honestly, his military training system is much better than Brod’s.’

No matter which kingdom or empire they went to, few could follow the teachings of Brod and Spear God Ben. That was why Amacar was better in this aspect. Amacar’s power might be slightly stronger than Keller's, who had just sworn his loyalty to Minhyuk. In terms of his ability to lead the troops, it far surpassed the limits of a human.

Minhyuk quickly checked Amacar’s information.

(Amacar)

Rank: ???

Type: Vassal

Level: 629

Attack: 5,969

Defense: 3,683

Special Abilities:

•Passive Skill: Dream of Growth

•Passive Skill: Centralized Management

•Passive Skill: Commanding Officer that has Surpassed God

•Active Skill: Hound’s Swordsmanship

•Active Skill: Hunting Time

Potential: 137

Experience Value: 64% / 100%

When Minhyuk first recruited Amacar, he had been shocked to see the ‘???’ written beside the ranking in his information. What did it mean?

‘That usually only appears if one has not woken up to their full potential and power yet or the system cannot measure them properly.’

Perhaps Amacar was truly standing on the threshold separating a human from a god. There was also Amacar’s story, which Minhyuk had heard before.

–He was born a war orphan. He could not remember which kingdom or empire he belonged to before. Emperor Consteinus came across him wandering around and brought him to his empire.

It was truly interesting. He was a war orphan and did not know where he belonged, yet his ranking was listed as ???ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ Noᴠᴇlꜰire.nᴇt

His passive skill, Dream of Growth, could give a 20% EXP Acquisition Rate buff to those who greatly desired growth and development. Centralized Management was also amazing, allowing Amacar to lead all of the knights and soldiers who were lagging to become true knights and soldiers. This skill would allow him to help them to correct all the fine details and their shortcomings. Then, there was the Commanding Officer that has surpassed God.

‘This is the most important.

(Commanding Officer that has Surpassed God)

Passive Skill

Level: None

Mana Required: None

Cooldown: None

Effects:

•When training soldiers, knights, and stronger individuals personally, their growth rate would increase by 25%.

•When training soldiers, knights, and stronger individuals personally, their potential will be awakened upon leveling up. They will also be able to obtain a higher increase in their stats and skill proficiency.

•When training soldiers, knights, and stronger individuals personally, various buff effects would be triggered to help the soldiers, knights, and stronger individuals reach their target level at a set period of time.

•When training soldiers, knights, and stronger individuals personally, they will be given the courage and the will to never back down.

•The skill will recognize all of the candidates that can become powerhouses and will give them various buff effects that will make their growth rate increase significantly which will allow them to break through their limits.

Most of the skills in Amacar’s possession were extremely powerful skills that could allow others to develop further and grow even stronger.

‘These skills must have stacked together and allowed him to create the Hound Knight Order.’

Well, there were no rules that stated that Amacar could not create the second Hound Knight Order.

“Sir Amacar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I want you to lead 10,000 elite knights and 100,000 elite soldiers to undergo special training for one month.”

The only thing the Beyond the Heavens Empire could do now was to train their hardest to prepare for the invasion and attacks from other kingdoms and empires.

“Can you also bring along the rest that had been recruited by the empire and make them stronger?” Minhyuk asked as he looked at Keller and the other talents.

All of the talents had eaten Minhyuk’s buff dish and had gained an increase of 20% in their EXP Acquisition Rate.

Amacar replied confidently, “Of course.”

Since they became 20% stronger, they would be able to deal with stronger monsters and gain more EXP. This meant that the effect would double for them. Minhyuk could not wait to see how much they would grow under Amacar’s leadership.

“Then, Your Majesty, can I lead the troops you have mentioned and set out immediately for the one month of training?”

Minhyuk nodded readily in response. “Of course.”

Amacar immediately left with the knights, soldiers, and talented recruits.

Since Minhyuk wanted to know how much they would grow with this training, he made sure to record the average level of the knights, the soldiers, and the talented recruits before they left. The average level of the soldiers was around 460, the knights at 525, and the talented recruits at 570.

‘Will they be able to grow a lot?’

The might and force of their knights and soldiers were already at a level that could completely overwhelm the troops of the other empires and kingdoms, even though they only had a smaller military force. All of that was thanks to the teachings of Brod and Spear God Ben.

At this time, Minhyuk was completely unaware of the impact and influence that the troops that Amacar had raised and developed would bring in the future.

***

Two weeks later.

The kings and emperors had suffered a huge blow from the Beyond the Heavens Empire, which took away a huge amount of their finances and quite a lot of talent from them. They had gathered together once again, to discuss how they would get back at the Beyond the Heavens Empire for what they did to them.

“I’m no longer worried about those talents that left my side. They abandoned me for that small and insignificant empire. I’m sure they’ll never be able to fulfill their dreams for as long as they stay there.”

“I’m just worried that their bodies and foundation will be harmed because they are staying in that dreadful and disgusting Beyond the Heavens Empire.”

“There’s no way that the Beyond the Heavens Empire will be able to handle them!”

From the beginning of their gathering to the end, all they discussed was their hatred for the Beyond the Heavens Empire. However, if they tried to advance and attack them with no rhyme or reason at all, then the others would turn their unkind and hostile gazes towards them.

“Your- Your Majestyyyyyyy!!!”

“Your Majeeeeeeesty!!!”

“There’s trouble!”

“We’re in trouble!”

The kings and emperors were all surprised by the sudden commotion that broke out outside of the room. When the doors opened, their servants immediately rushed in and approached their respective kings and emperors.

“What- what’s going on?!!”

“What’s the matter with you?!”

“Please come out right away!”

The kings and emperors stood up and rushed outside. What greeted them outside the doors was a red moon. It was so red to the point that one would wonder if someone had poured blood on it.

“This- Thiiiis- What is this...?!”

“What in the world is happening?!”

At that moment, a series of notifications rang in the ears of all the players in Athenae.

[The Episode: Empire Invasion of One of the Six Monster Gods, the Dark Elven King, and his Dark Elven Army has begun!]

[You can earn rewards if you protect the empires and kingdoms from the invasion of the Dark Elves!]

At the same time, this voice resonated in the ears of all of the kings and emperors present.

[Dark Elven King Jack, one of the Six Monster Gods, has awakened to the world!]

The kings and emperors watched as an army swarmed over the horizon before them. Their numbers were in the millions.

Along with their appearance, another notification rang all over the world.

[Upon killing Dark Elven King Jack, players that have been chosen as dark elves would be given the opportunity to change their race to Dark Elf!]

The voice that marked the beginning of the episode once again rang and resonated in the entire continent.

[Elves roamed the lands freely in the beginning of the continent.]

[The elves loved and advocated for peace. They taught the humans, who appeared one day, how to hunt. They even stayed by their sides and provided them with homes.]

[Like that, the humans and elves lived together peacefully for thousands of years.]

[But one day, the humans, who had a stronger and higher reproduction rate, grew in power and began to drive the elves away.]

[They killed and plundered.]

[Thousands of elves died.]

[Then, one of the Six Monster Gods, the father of all elves, Jack, began to nurture them solely to drive away the humans that killed them. Because of the influence of the Father of All Elves Jack, the elves’ skin slowly turned black. It was for this reason that they were called Dark Elves.]

[The Dark Elves were born stronger and faster than humans. They could also acquire abilities faster than humans did.]

[The speed of their growth was very surprising. The Dark Elves, who started to train from their birth, did not know what ‘peace’ was.]

[But even before Six Monster Gods’ Dark Elf Jack could use his army to reclaim his home, there was no longer a place for the elves on the continent.]

[The father of the elves, one of the Six Monster Gods, Jack led all of the Dark Elves and disappeared from the face of the earth.]

[Today, they have finally come back to reclaim the lands that had been taken away from them.]

[The time has finally come for them to bring judgment upon the greedy humans.]

The kings and emperors all trembled in fear. They have also heard stories and legends about the Dark Elves. Fortunately, something good came out of the situation. The kings and emperors were already gathered together.

“Summon the army right now!”

“Slaughter all of the dark elves before they could even strike at our empires and kingdoms!”

A coalition army was formed rapidly at the command of the kings and emperors. Each of them had sent around 200,000~500,000 troops, creating a huge army with troops that reached around nine million in number.

***

However, a few days after this incident, the kings and emperors received shocking news.

“The entire army... has been wiped out.”

“The dark elves are far too strong.”

“The difference in our numbers makes it hard for us to deal with them!”

But then, they received another shocking news.

“The Luvien Empire has declared they will not send any help.”

“...”

“...”

The kings and emperors groaned in frustration. The enemies were now marching towards their kingdoms and empires.

“Who- who the hell can stop them?!” One of the emperors howled. This howl represented what everyone gathered was feeling at the moment.

Someone, anyone, had to stop them.

***

Meanwhile, Minhyuk welcomed everyone who came back from Amacar’s training. They only trained for a month, but their eyes carried an unmistakable sharpness by the time they came back. But that was not the end of it. A series of notifications rang in Minhyuk’s ears.

[Your knights, soldiers, and talented recruits who underwent the special training have grown tremendously!]

[Most of their hidden potential has been awakened with their hard work!]

From what Minhyuk had recorded, the soldiers’ average level was around 460. But it was different now.

[The average level of the soldiers that underwent the special training has increased to 483!]

As for the knights, their average level had been around 525.

[The average level of the knights that underwent the special training has increased to 537!]

But there was something far more surprising than that. The talents they recruited from several kingdoms and empires had an average level of 570.

[The average level of the talented recruits that underwent the special training has increased to 596!]

[By applying various effects from passive skills to those who have eaten buff dishes, Amacar successfully brought out the full potential of the soldiers and knights who trained under his command!]

The grin that spread on Minhyuk’s face almost reached his ears. He thought, ‘Amacar, you’re freaking amazing...’