Leveling Up through Eating-Chapter 1284

Chapter 1284

Even after seeing it with his eyes, Minhyuk still could not believe it. Sword lights that corresponded with the number of people recognized as enemies appeared in the sky, tearing apart the charging gods and troops.

‘They’re not just mere sword lights.’

The concept of sword light was often associated with leaving a single cut upon the enemy. The Pillar-Slaying Sword was different. It attacked until it tore the enemy apart. In just an instant, the millions of troops that seemed to cover the ground and sky turned into ashes that disappeared with the wind.

‘It far surpasses the Spark of White Flames.’

Helenia’s own Eight Pillar Disaster, the Spark of White Flames, also targeted everyone recognized as her enemy. It could inflict an additional 1,200% damage for two seconds and burn all enemies in the area.

As Minhyuk recalled the effects of the skill, he admitted that it was indeed a force beyond imagination. Nevertheless, the Pillar-Slaying Sword he had witnessed just now was far beyond that.

‘Each sword light cuts a soldier at least six times, with each cut inflicting more than 650% additional damage.’

In the past, the Spark of White Flames he had witnessed had quickly burned a third of the 750 million troops present. It inflicted 1,200% additional damage per second. And with its two-second duration, the total damage that it inflicted was 2,400%. If additional continuous damage from the lingering flames was included, it could rack up to 3,000%.

In comparison, the Pillar-Slaying Sword was much more potent. The relentless strikes of the sword lights had inflicted more than 4,000% additional damage. If the Spark of White Flames could burn a body down with its lingering flames, then the Pillar-Slaying Sword could incapacitate anyone. After all, the relentless attacks could easily blow away any part of their bodies.

‘If I get this, then…’ Minhyuk immediately stopped himself.

He had only one ingredient, which made it impossible for him to save all three of Philip’s family.

Minhyuk stood there watching the torrent of attacks tear apart the tens of thousands of gods who were already injured and incapacitated. Philip looked back at his terrified wife and children.

“Don’t worry! I will remain firm!”

[Philip fought alone for days on end.]

[It was not out of a sense of duty or a will to fight for mankind’s sake.]

[It was because he was nothing but an ordinary…]

[...father.]

The scene showed Philip fighting desperately. Despite the large spear lodged in his shoulder, he continued to fend off the gods who wanted to enter the fortress.

[In a world where destruction has suddenly been declared, the ordinary father fought to protect his family from this terrifying ‘destruction.’]

[He was not some kind of villain.]

[He was not even some kind of holy being.]

[He was just a bit special. An Absolute Martial God, yet still an ordinary father and a husband.]

Minhyuk could not believe his eyes.

‘Bender, Brod, me, and even the gods of Olympus…’

Minhyuk, who thought of all of the strong people of this era that he had met in the past, realized that none of them could even be compared to Philip’s toes. He could confidently declare that no one in the past or the present era could be as strong as Philip.

The tens of thousands of gods that charged toward the fortress decreased. Philip was not in a good state himself. He remained standing despite looking like he would collapse at any moment, thanks to his strong mental power.

[The gods, sure of their victory, finally backed off.]

Philip fought for thirty-three days alone to protect his family, hiding inside the fortress. Believing that he had already won, he hurriedly entered the fortress.

[His family had long taken their last breath.]

Alas, they had passed away. In Philip’s hurry to lead them away from the world’s impending destruction, they failed to pack enough food or water. That was not all. Already weak from hunger, they could not withstand the overwhelming pressure and killing intent from the gods who continued to attack the fortress.

They had died just a week after the battle started.

Philip roared out in anguish. He blamed himself as he cried, “If I had just looked back once…!”

‘No,’ Minhyuk thought. That was impossible. Why? Because the battle that he was fighting was a life-and-death battle. It was impossible to be distracted even just for a second.

Philip gently caressed his daughter’s cheeks.

“You must have been very hungry…?”

He carefully patted his son’s cheeks.

“You must have been very thirsty…?”

He hugged his wife into his arms.

“You must have been waiting for me…?”

Then, Philip collapsed.

[Philip had gained victory and survived the world where destruction had already been declared… alone.]

[But just ten days later…]

The scene changed. Philip brought the bodies of his dead family members outside the fortress. He hugged them tightly in his arms and…

[...he also died.]

But the fact that Minhyuk had seen and conversed with Philip now meant that the story was not yet over.

The god who had called for the world’s destruction appeared before Philip’s corpse. He said, “Pay for the sins that you have made against us. You will neither be dead nor alive, yet you will continue to live forever. I have personally witnessed your outstanding force. Now, I will task you to create a power to support the people who will sustain and maintain the next world. As the Absolute Martial God who fought to protect your family, you will continue to live for their sake.”

With that, the scene ended, and Minhyuk woke up.

***

Although many of the people of the Beyond the Heavens Empire went for the joint military operation in the Gaia Continent, Herakel could not join them. This was because he was heading somewhere after hearing a voice say, ‘Herakel. I am you.’

When Herakel first heard the voice, he felt afraid and immediately denied it. But the voice obviously sounded like his own, and it was only speaking for his sake. In the end, he opened his heart to the voice.

‘Herakel. You must never be complacent and lazy. You want to protect these people, right?’

Herakel knew that he was lacking in so many ways. Not only that, he also broke many things because he was too strong. Nevertheless, the people of the Beyond the Heavens Empire did not abandon him. They even hugged and comforted him. If he could be of help to them, then Herakel would obviously want to!

‘Herakel! Herakel wants to protect Conir and the Beyond the Heavens Empire!’ Herakel declared to his other self.

‘As I told you before, I am you. I don’t know how I am talking to you like this, but I am no longer in this world. I checked, but it seemed like the only one I could talk to was you, and I could only talk to you like this.’ The voice paused. ‘Herakel, go to that place and wake me up. If you do that, then even if you can’t get my full power, you will still be able to find your true form and use it for a moment once whenever you need it.’

Herakel finally stopped walking. He had arrived at an unmanaged temple of a god in the Gaia Continent. The statue standing in the middle of the temple looked exactly like him, but this version of him was wearing a lion’s head as his hat, leather on his body, and a huge club in his hand.

Herakel stepped inside the temple to awaken his true self.

***

Minhyuk woke up and saw Philip standing in front of him. When he saw the sad look on Minhyuk’s face, he patted his shoulder and said, “I’m the one who should be sad; why are you the one who looks sad? Also, I’m the one who was hailed as the Absolute Martial God. Only a few people can surpass me in the past, the present, or the future. I’m quite excellent at managing my emotions because of that.”

It was a lie. No matter how strong one was, they could never manage their emotions perfectly.

The bitter smile on Philip’s face morphed into a confident one as he said, “Alright. Now, you should go and check this.”

Ring!

[You have acquired the skill Digest.]

[The skill is an Eight Pillar Disaster.]

(Digest)

Rank: Pillar Disaster

Active Skill

Level: 1

Mana Required: 6,000

Penalty for Use: For Personal Use, none. For AOE use, -25 in all stats.

Cooldown: For Personal Use, 168 hours. For AOE use, 3,000 hours.

Effects:

•When Digest is used personally, it accumulates the power of all the dishes you have eaten so far and digests them all at once.

•The increase in your chances of making a higher-grade dish, your cooking-related skills, and even your DEX will depend on how much power you have digested.

•If you so wish, you can change Digest’s form into an attack form and use it upon your enemies.

•However, its power will be significantly lower than used for cooking.

•When you eat Pillar-grade dishes, the amount of power you accumulate will be around 10%.

•God-grade dishes accumulate 2% power, Legendary-grade dishes accumulate 0.5% power, and Epic-grade dishes accumulate 0.01% power.

•However, Digest can only be used when the digestion rate has reached at least 50% or higher.

•When Digest is used upon your allies and applied in an area of effect, it can digest various things, including fear, terror, desire, will, heart never to give up, and many other things.

•It will be applied to everyone recognized by the system as allies.

•Those who have received Digest’s effects will experience increased stats and skills suited for them.

•The duration of Digest’s effects will depend on the variety of things they feel and experience at the moment of application.

Description: The more and the better dishes you eat, the more you will digest and the more your skills might grow. This is the only growth-type Eight Pillar Disaster. Even if you have eaten a lot of outstanding dishes, the skill will only level up once you reach Level 800. The next level up will be at Level 900.

Minhyuk was in awe. The skill was a lot better than it was before. If others saw this, they might think the skill was infinitely weaker and shabbier than the Spark of White Flames. But if Minhyuk’s calculations were correct, it was definitely in a league of its own.

“How long before the Spark of White Flames can be activated after its first activation?”

“Around three months or so?”

“...”

That was how impossible it was to activate the skill so quickly. But Minhyuk’s own Pillar Disaster was different. In addition, Digest could aid Minhyuk in breaking through the limits of his cooking, which he had been stuck on for a while now. That wasn’t all; the fact that his cooking would improve would have a tremendous effect because cooking was essentially related to buff effects.

‘And if I want it to, I can change it to an attack form.’

Its AOE effect could target all people recognized as his allies, just like the Descent of the Evil God and the Spark of White Flames could target all those identified as enemies.

Minhyuk could not help but be in awe. However, there was one thing that he found unfortunate.

‘I can’t check through the details how much power I will get upon using Digest.’

But there was one note-worthy thing.

“It can still grow.”

“This is the first time that a growth-type Pillar Disaster has appeared. This is the only way to break away from the restrictions placed upon you, a foreigner. By doing this, I can make an outstanding Pillar Disaster tailored for you.”

Minhyuk admired Philip's genius and talent. Now that the skill was done, it was time for Minhyuk to repay the favor.

Meanwhile, Philip was curious about something. He turned to him and asked, “Melon is already a delicious fruit. How will you cook something like that?”

When cooked incorrectly, fruits would sometimes lose their natural flavor.

Minhyuk smiled at him and said, “Well, I’ve come up with a dish that you, Philip, can enjoy with your family.”

A flash of interest appeared on Philip’s face.

“It’s melon bingsu.”

“Ho. Bingsu, huh?”

Minhyuk looked up at the sky before cooking. Today, the skies were clear, and the sun was out. It was just like any other day when a heat wave warning was issued.

‘It’s the perfect weather to eat bingsu.’

With a faint smile on his face, Minhyuk began to cook. He cut the melon in half and immediately scraped out the seeds. Then, he pulled out a round scoop and started scoping the melon into round, pretty balls. He collected all the melons in one plate while taking out frozen milk that he shaved and turned into snowflakes.

‘He’s quite an amazing guy,’ Minhyuk thought. He was referring to the guy who created and named the snowflake bingsu.

Minhyuk carefully stacked the beautifully ground snowflake-like frozen milk on the melon rind. Then, he drizzled a generous amount of condensed milk before carefully piling up the round melon balls he had dug out on top. With that, the melon bingsu was done.

However, Minhyuk’s face had a bitter smile. He made melon bingsu because it was something that anyone, regardless of gender or age, would like.

Meanwhile, Philip looked like he had not yet decided who to revive.

Minhyuk, who stared at the complicated expression plastered on Philip’s face, placed the finished melon bingsu aside. Then, he pulled the remaining half to him and began the same process. He scraped the seeds off, scooped the melons into round balls, and stacked them all with the snowflake bingsu and condensed milk.

Philip smiled bitterly as he looked at the completed melon bingsu. He said, “That’s quite a lot… for someone to eat alone.”

Minhyuk knew what his words meant. He made enough for four people to eat, but only one person could eat it, which made it even sadder.

As the melon bingsu was completed, Minhyuk realized there was no other way.

[You have completed the Melon Bingsu.]

[You have made the melon into a wonderful dish. It will bring someone who had died back into life for thirty minutes.]

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Minhyuk looked at Philip, who had eventually collapsed on the ground, with a sad and bitter smile. Philip could not choose anyone.

How could he? How could he choose to revive only one out of the three? What would happen to the rest? But the heavens remained indifferent. It forced him to bear too much weight for the sin that he committed. At this moment, Philip realized that everything was just his greed talking. If it meant he could only revive and say goodbye to one, he’d rather not do it.

Minhyuk, who was staring at Philip, looked up at the sky.

Ring!

[Double Drop has been activated.]

A notification rang in his ears.

‘Double Drop? Wait. If it’s the Double Drop that I know, then…’

Double Drop was the skill attached to Rocado’s Perfect Work Gloves. And the power that this Double Drop possessed was…

‘When I complete one dish, I have a 1% chance of getting another of the same dish with the same effect or a 0.1% chance of getting another two with the same effect.’

Minhyuk turned to the frustrated and crying Philip and said, “Philip, if you can’t choose one…”

Minhyuk smiled brightly.

“...then, just revive everyone.”