Minhyuk turned to look at the sword in Diablo’s hands. The blade of the sword was black, and the hilt looked rough. However, even if this artifact turned out to be useless or insignificant, he still felt that it would be alright. He gracefully received the sword that was in Diablo’s stretched-out hands. Then, the notifications rang.

[You have acquired the Devil Judge’s Sword.]

[Absolute Demigod Artifact.]

[A weapon that’s infinitely close to the God Level. There are only ten artifacts of this caliber in the world.]

[There are only ten Absolute Demigod Artifacts to ever exist on earth. The lower its number, the better the artifact is.]

[The Devil Judge’s Sword is ranked third.]

The notifications were completely different from what he had expected when he first saw the form of the Devil Judge’s Sword.

‘Absolute Demigod Artifact? Third?’ 

These were pieces of information that were still undisclosed to the world. In addition, the third most powerful among the ten artifacts in this world was the Devil Judge’s Sword in his hands.

Then, a quest notification appeared.

[Linked Quest: Hunt Demon Verus.]

Rank: Sealed

Restrictions: Level 500 or higher

Rewards: Sealed

Penalty for Failure: Sealed

Description: Sealed

Minhyuk looked at the quest and found out that it was meant for players over Level 500. Even the quest name was a bit unusual.

‘Hunt Demon Verus?’ 

There were three great demons in total. They were Gorac, Gremory and Verus. The demon that directly influenced others and instigated them to invade the human world was none other than ‘Verus’. In fact, for most cases, quests were often equipped with a choice for players. And the same was true for this quest.

Minhyuk nodded for now. He said, “I understand.”

“Thank… you.”

The corners of Diablo’s mouth awkwardly curled up. His visage was quite grotesque. He tried to smile, but it seemed like he could not do so. When Minhyuk saw this, he smiled broadly. He smiled in Diablo’s stead. Then, he walked straight towards the opened space.

Diablo stared into the space that he opened for a long time, even after they had long left. At this time, Minhyuk was still unaware that the Sly Devil Diablo would become his loyal servant.

***

Minhyuk’s father, Black Dragon, returned back to the ground floor since he had already achieved what he wanted to achieve.

In Black Mage Ali’s case, he also had to go down a few more levels, since he was still not yet recognized by the Predatory Snake.

The summoning parchment that Minhyuk used was a parchment that would return the summoned people after two hours if they were not climbing the Demon World’s Tower, or if they were at a lower floor than where they were summoned.

Then, Kaistra said. “Genie-Noona and the other guild members keep on looking for you, Minhyuk. They said that the hunt for the Demon World Army is almost over.”

Minhyuk nodded. It seemed like the episodes that were related to the Demon World Army were gradually being settled.

“I’ll go and help the guild first.”

“Alright. Thanks for your hard work, Kaistra.”

Kaistra then disappeared in a flash of light. Minhyuk only checked the Devil Judge’s Sword in his hand after everyone, except Conir, had disappeared.

(Devil Judge’s Sword)

Rank: Absolute Demigod

Requirements: Level 400 and above

Durability: ∞ / ∞

Attack: 1,002

Special Abilities:

•A 22% increase in STR, AGI and STM.

•Passive Skill: Swordsmanship Level Mastery increased to Level 9.

•Active Skill: Diablo’s Eyes

•Active Skill: Diablo’s Scythe

•Active Skill: Berserk

Description: Diablo is filled with resentment against demons, especially Great Demon Verus. This sword of his has grown stronger after cutting down demons for a long period of time.

(Diablo’s Eyes)

Active Skill

Mana Required: 700

Cooldown: 30 minutes

Effects:

•Diablo’s eyes will help you see through your enemies all at once. It will show you all of your enemy’s vital points for one second.

•Once Diablo’s Eyes have been triggered and you successfully stabbed a vital point within 30 seconds, an additional 200% will be added to your damage.

•If you succeed in stabbing the vital point with your own skill, it will stack with the additional attack.

(Diablo’s Scythe)

Active Skill

Mana Required: 1,000

Cooldown: 24 hours.

Effects: 

•Diablo’s sword will turn into a scythe with chains attached to its end so you can use swing it freely.

•Your attack speed will increase by 180% if you swing the scythe.

•There is an 8% chance of triggering judgment when facing off against an opponent with demonic energy. If the judgment is successfully triggered, additional 400% damage will be added to your attack.

(Berserk)

Active Skill

Mana Required: 3,000

Cooldown: 72 hours

Effects:

•A stronger awakening would be experienced during the first berserk state. The second state onwards would continue to show the regular effects of the skill Berserk.

•While using the skill Berserk, all stats and skills will increase significantly.

•Your HP will continue to fall by 3% per second during the duration of your Berserk state.

•Once you’re done using the skill, your HP will fall below 10%, and your defense will fall below 20%.

‘Wow…’

Even Minhyuk, someone who was usually only impressed with food, could not help but be awed by the information in front of him.

Everything that he had seen about this weapon was superior to the Ancient Water Dragon, Barraca’s Sword. And that was when Barraca’s Sword had been strengthened with a +4 already. After the strengthening, Barraca’s Sword’s attack did not exceed 950. However, the Devil Judge’s Sword easily exceeded the 1,000-point threshold in the attack. Even the skills attached to the artifact were amazing.

A thought flashed in his head as soon as he saw the information, ‘Aren’t these all combat skills?’ 

Whether it was Diablo’s Eyes, Scythe, or Berserk, all of them were combat skills. Among them, the most surprising was the ‘Berserk’ skill. When in use, the player’s HP would fall by as much as 3% every second. However, as compensation, all of the player’s skills and stats would become stronger.

Finally, he checked the last thing that he did not have the time to check earlier.

(Atlas Territory)

Requirements: Guild Master or Lord of a Territory. Reputation at 2,000 or more.

Description: At one point in time, all of the monarchs in the entire world dreamed and vied to become the owner of Atlas, a territory that had only been deemed as a legend. You are now qualified to be the owner of the territory Atlas. Once you say ‘Atlas’, you will be guided on the way there.

Minhyuk was unclear about what Atlas was like as a territory. However, he knew that it would definitely be helpful to Legend Guild.

‘Well then, let’s climb quickly.’ 

To the 50th floor. There were two things that Minhyuk needed to get on the 50th floor of the Demon World’s Tower. One was none other than Beanie’s second golden crown fragment for his awakening, and the second, was the treasure from the Four Great Heavenly Kings that would help him create an ‘Oven’ using the Demigod artifact production method.

So, Minhyuk quickly resumed climbing the Demon World’s Tower once again with Aruvel.

***

Joythenae was a site that all of the players used to talk about Athenae. And Joythenae was currently discussing a very hot topic at this moment.

This was the beginning of the controversy that became a hot topic.

[Who is the strongest player in Athenae?]

Countless comments began to flood to answer the question.

[It’s definitely Kenra, right?]

[Agreed. Kenra is a hidden player, but he has shown what kind of player he is through the Hall of Kings.]

[I don’t think he’s the strongest player just because he entered the Hall of Kings. If we based it on that, then we can also say that South Korea’s Food God, who achieved a triple crown in the Hall of Kings in the shortest period of time, would be the strongest. Right?]

People all over the world acknowledged that Food God Minhyuk was strong. But, if they were to compare him with the global rankers, the experts of Athenae evaluated that there were a lot of people who  were far stronger than him. And most of their evaluations were true.

[Then, who is it?]

[It’s hard to say. There are also unofficial rankers, right? So, who is the strongest in the world of the adventure game Athenae?]

Each of the players began to mention the best players of their countries, before they remembered the words of one player. That was when they realized that it was impossible to be certain, since there were also a lot of unofficial rankings.

Then, the topic changed.

[Then, who’s the strongest player that the people know of well?]

There were a lot of people who hesitated over this question. Kenra was still unknown, and the Food God was still not the best among the best.

‘So, who are the remaining candidates?’

[Mei Wei.]

Joythenae was a global community site that had the function ‘like’, as well as other functions in the comments.

This single comment reached more than ten million likes in just a day. It rose as the best comment surprisingly fast. And the comments following it did not deny it.

Mei Wei was China’s official number one ranker, as well as the player ranked first in the Global Official Rankings. She was hailed as a master among masters.

Those who had watched her videos at least once would be fascinated by her battles. From what they heard, Mei Wei also had the same name in reality. She was even called ‘Goddess Mei Wei’ in Athenae after people saw her beautiful countenance that no one could compare with. She was not only the number one in the official rankings, she was also the number one in the beauty rankings in the Athenae worldview.

Mei Wei had black hair and big eyes that glistened brightly like a lake being shined on by the sunlight. She looked pure and naive, but would turn into a peerless and cool warrior on the battlefield. This attractive contrast made her to be the object of fantasies and dreams for a lot of people.

Currently, a Chinese doctor garbed in a doctor’s coat was sitting in front of a skinny woman that was almost all bones. The woman weighed 31 kilograms at a height of 167 centimeters. The phrase ‘all bones’ completely matched her appearance. Her cheekbones were protruding, her eyes were sunken, and her entire body was as thin as a dried branch.

Then, the doctor said, “Miss Mei Wei, at this rate, things will become dangerous.”

The doctor’s words would be extremely shocking to anyone who heard it. The woman who was praised to be the world’s number one beauty, and the woman who was most likely the strongest in Athenae, Mei Wei, was the woman who was all bones.

“We need to find a way to treat your anorexia[1]. If this continues, your life will be in danger.”

Anorexia. This was the illness that Mei Wei had. She had been fighting against it for a long time, but there was no progress at all. It was not that she did not want to be cured, Mei Wei also desired it. She longed for the day when her anorexia got treated.

Then, the doctor continued to say, “Perhaps… I don’t know if it will work, but I have a method that we can try as a treatment.”

“Yes?”

The doctor’s words were akin to a miracle. He started explaining, “You heard that there are more and more people dieting because of Athenae recently, right?”

Mei Wei nodded. She was the world’s best ranker, so she would definitely not be slower than others in terms of information gathering.

“We will be doing the contrary. We’ll be looking for delicious foods in Athenae to gain weight. After all, anorexia is also a type of mental illness. Your body might be rejecting food, but you are in fact, mentally rejecting it even more. So, you should go and find food in there that would treat your anorexia. Perhaps, you will be able to eat food in real life once you taste it there.”

The doctor’s words made her expression turn solemn. She asked, “Is there a dish in there that will satisfy my appetite and taste?”

“Athenae is a virtual world. It’s a place where anything is possible.”

The doctor clapped his hands together and continued to speak to say, “Miss Mei Wei. Once you log in to Athenae, you should hurry and find this person.”

“Find someone? Not cook something?”

The doctor nodded. Seeing that she was listening intently to his words, he once again opened his mouth and said, “Food God Minhyuk.”

***

[You are the first player to reach the Demon World’s Tower’s 50th floor.]

[You have gained 30,000,000 EXP.]

[You have acquired 1,000 platinum.]

[One of the Four Heavenly Kings, Heavenly King Damon, acknowledges you.]

[Heavenly King Damon has given you his treasure, the Bronze Sword.]

[Heavenly King Damon has given you a fragment of the golden crown.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

Minhyuk leveled up multiple times at once after gaining a lot of EXP. In just an instant, his level had surpassed Level 440.

He realized that just reaching the 50th floor would allow him to receive Heavenly King Damon’s treasures, as well as the fragment of the golden crown.

The king gently handed Minhyuk the items as he told him, ‘The qualifications that you have are more than enough.’

Heavenly King Damon had told him that he did not expect anyone to actually ever challenge the 50th floor, so him reaching this place was more than enough for him to receive the rewards.

Then, Minhyuk tried to further unseal Beanie by equipping the fragment of the golden crown on him again. At that moment…

“In the end, you really climbed to the 50th floor.”

It was Aruvel. In the first place, the Demon World’s Tower was a place that could never be overcome, even if the person had all the information up to the 50th floor.

Minhyuk suddenly felt something strange.

“If it’s you, I think you’re strong enough to take me with you.”

That was what he said, but Minhyuk could tell what his intentions were. He had been enamored by his cooking skills and was trying to sneakily come with him!

Then, the notifications rang.

[Great Sage Aruvel has pledged his loyalty to you.]

“Ha, hahahahahaha…!”

“Are you laughing because you’re happy?”

Minhyuk almost fell into despair, resisting the urge to punch Aruvel straight in the guts.

1. Anorexia nervosa - potentially life-threatening disorder. Characterized by self-starvation and extreme weight loss. You will be diagnosed with this disorder once your weight drops by 15% of a normal person’s weight. People who have this disorder have intense fears of becoming fat and see themselves as fat even when they are already extremely thin. People with this disorder tend to eat less while exercising excessively ☜