The intense war between the Korean Defense Base and the players of the Cairon Continent had reached its climax. Only one base, Apiro Base, remained out of the six bases that made up the hexagonal shape of the Korean Defense Base. The number of troops remaining in the base were at most 2,000. On the other hand, the number of their enemies still numbered around 48,000.

The media and press from all over the world were in a buzz.

America.

[The fact that the players of Asgan Continent have held on this long, is very amazing. They were able to hold out against Cairon Continent, the third and largest powerhouse in the entire Athenae worldview. However, they don’t have any hope left.]

China.

[Just like we expected, victory will be in the hands of our continent. Once we capture the Korean Defense Base, all of the battles will be virtually over. We thank all of the Chinese players for their hard work!]

France.

[We’re looking forward to Korea’s performance in Athenae: World War. There’s a chance that Korea will rise to prominence if they weren’t fighting a war, but fighting one-on-one battles, or a small skirmish.]

Russia.

[The Food God player still hasn’t made his appearance yet. However, we can be sure of one thing. Even if the Food God player appears, there’s not much that he can do to change the situation right now.]

Before long, the attention of the masses shifted from the ‘Cairon and Asgan Continent’ to the Food God. This was because they believed that the victory of the Cairon Continent in this war was already a foregone conclusion. Various media outlets and global rankers began to discuss the Food God.

[The Food God is definitely a surprising and amazing player. We can see this much, especially after witnessing how he saved Atlas just a few hours prior.]

[However, if we look at it from a global perspective, the Food God is just one among the countless rankers in the world.]

[Player Minhyuk is definitely strong. However, he’s infinitely weaker compared to the globally acknowledged strongest player, ‘Fighter God’, and perhaps even the Crazy Hunter Ross. If he goes against France’s number one ranker now, he will just be like a flickering lamp in front of a fierce wind.]

[That’s right. Many of us here in America do not see the ‘Food God’ as a threat.]

[In the first place, Food God is a non-combat class. His limits are clear to everyone.]

[What’s funny is that we’re comparing someone with a non-combat class against the world’s ‘summit rankers’.]

[Right. His existence is definitely incomparable to the summit rankers. In the end, he just might be one player among the many.]

But then, one player from one country gave a completely different judgment on the matter.

[Food God, Player Minhyuk, is a player that is beyond the ‘summit rankers’.]

What kind of an existence was a summit ranker? As far as the media outlets all over the world were concerned, summit rankers were players that had the same power as an entire kingdom. There were only five summit rankers acknowledged by the world, and they were called ‘The Summit Five’.

But, to think a single person objected to their words and said that the Food God was an existence that transcended that level? A sky beyond a sky? The media outlets from all over the world turned their attention towards the player. This player stood in front of dozens of media reporters in Japan when he said these words, his image transmitted to various screens all over the world.

This man was none other than Japan’s Musashi, Kentaro.

Musashi Kentaro had once declared that he was familiar with Minhyuk. And he had shocked Japan not too long ago by gaining victory against the person that Japan has considered to be closest to the summit rankers, Samurai Ren. By gaining victory, Kentaro has annexed and absorbed Samurai Ren’s guild, ‘Samurai’.

Samurai was Japan’s best guild. Kentaro’s current guild had become stronger after he had annexed Samurai.

That was right, the whole world was paying attention to the person that had the highest chances of becoming the sixth summit ranker, Kentaro. While the entire world was focused on him, one of the reporters asked…

[Why did you say that he’s ‘beyond’ the summit rankers?]

Kentaro looked at the reporters around him and said,

[The people all over the world are looking down on the Food God for being a ‘non-combat class’. That’s hilarious. Are there any other non-combat class players from among the people all over the world that can beat the Food God in a fight?]

Yes. Kentaro came prepared, his words sharp. The five summit rankers widely acknowledged by the entire world were all combat class players. The Food God, on the other hand, was a non-combat class. However, despite being a non-combat class, his prowess was both surprising and amazing.

[Also, it’s extremely unbelievable that the people all over the world are analyzing and criticizing him. Each and every expert in the world will keep on blabbering as they please, without even checking things. And whenever their predictions miss they will say ‘It’s an unforeseen propaganda!’. Bull. You should be embarrassed.]

[…]

[…]

[…]

At that very moment, the faces of the reporters from media outlets all over the world and the global rankers that saw the article turned red with shame, which soon transformed into fury.

[Food God? He won’t last an hour if he showed up here.]

[The Food God will collapse in the face of Black Dragon Order and Da Zhuang. Just like Ellie.]

[I don’t even understand why we’re arguing for something that does not matter at all.]

[At this very moment, Apiro Base is on the verge of collapse. But where’s the Food God? Kentaro, tell us where your Food God is.]

[He probably ran away. Just thinking of his figure running away is making me laugh.]

[That might be the better alternative. After all, his limits will be made clear in the eyes of everyone in the world if he appeared.]

They believed that the Food God’s chances of gaining victory in a fight against almost 50,000 troops was absolutely zero. That was why they kept on talking down on the Food God.

***

Apiro Base had collapsed. The remaining troops from the Asgan Continent formed a circle and created a defensive line. The priests were in the center, followed by the mages, then the archers, and finally the melee classes. This was the best, and at the same time the worst, defensive line that they could form at the moment.

Slash—

Carr stood at the vanguard as he cut off one of the enemies. Being in a circle meant that they were completely surrounded by the 50,000-strong enemy troops.

“Damn, goddamnit!”

Spurt—

The brilliance in Carr’s eyes had already started to dim from the continuous onslaught of the enemies. His sword was completely covered in blood, and even its durability has fallen sharply after cutting off his enemies nonstop.

‘I can’t see any chance of us winning this battle!’

They were in a hopeless situation. Even if they cut down the enemies in front of them, more would fill in the gap that the fallen had left. This was the vicious cycle that they were being tormented in. The worst part was that the Chinese high rankers, the Black Dragon Order, and Da Zhuang were all waiting in the rear.

‘Are you telling us that you will devour us easily if we so much as relax our defenses?’

This was a petty and shameful method.

“Keuaaaaack!” Lucia, who was right next to him, shrieked in pain.

Carr immediately stabbed the player that was trying to attack Lucia’s neck.

Stab—

“Ugh!”

That was when a sword suddenly stabbed Carr on the shoulder.

“Carr!” Lucia shouted as she threw the dagger to push back the enemies. Lucia looked at Carr as if she could not understand why he saved her life.

“Isn’t it better if there’s at least one more strong ranker that won’t die so fast under their hands?” Carr said, smiling. His smile might be covered in blood, but it could clearly convey the camaraderie and friendship that he felt at that moment.

Carr had slowly started to change ever since Athenae: Korean War ended. No, it was more accurate to say that he had looked back and reflected on himself. Everything was related to Minhyuk. And that was when he realized that the hand that Minhyuk had reached out to him and the smile that he showed Carr when he defeated him was not a sneer, but the courteous etiquette of a rival. At that time, Carr had laughed at his own stupidity.

During the Athenae: Korean War, Minhyuk had given him a good beating, while the entire nation spat and cursed at him. That was when he realized that everything was because of his inferiority complex and he was the XXX bastard.

Carr felt both bitterness and regret. He felt sorry for what he did, but he had always hesitated. He wanted to send a whisper to Minhyuk right away and apologize. He wanted to pay for his actions. But, it was a very difficult thing for him to do. How could he be so shameless? Even his remaining pride and ego was stopping him from doing so, which left him conflicted and indecisive. However, the fact that he was changing for the better was true.

Graaaaab—

“Keuaaaaaaaack!!!”

The scream of Spear Master Ben rang loudly from beside him.

‘Minhyuk’s people.’

Carr immediately threw his entire body in front of Ben as seven sword strikes flew in their direction. He was able to deflect three while the remaining four stabbed deep into his body.

“Ugh!”

Carr staggered from the impact of the strikes, but his glare remained sharp as he looked at their enemies with a hawk-like gaze. He did not have any remaining skills or MP left. However, he was still the Olympic gold medalist, Carr. He could still use his own personal skills and brilliant techniques to cut down his enemies. But that was all.

Thud—

He fell down on one knee.

“B… boy…” Ghost Spear Ben mumbled as he looked at Carr in doubt.

Carr just looked back at him and said, “Please tell Minhyuk that I’m really sor…”

But before he could finish his words…

[Minhyuk: Are you alright?]

“…”

…Carr received a whisper from Minhyuk. Carr, who had fallen on one knee, blinked blankly as an enemy rushed towards him.

‘Why so suddenly?’

When Carr thought about it, he realized that Minhyuk had always been like this. Even if he shook off his hands harshly, Minhyuk still contacted him several times. Back then, he had acted terribly by badmouthing him. This time, he answered without any hesitation.

[Carr: I’m sorry.]

[Minhyuk: What for?]

[Carr: Just… for everything.]

[Minhyuk: We’re friends, you don’t have to feel sorry for anything. Hehe. Ne, ne, ne, ne~]

Grin—

A smile appeared on his lips. That was right. Minhyuk had always called him a ‘friend’. Carr pondered for a while before starting to send a whisper again.

‘I will definitely say what I want to say.’

But, before he could do so, Minhyuk had already sent him another whisper.

[Minhyuk: I have a favor to ask.]

[Carr: A favor?]

[Minhyuk: Yep. I have a very strong spirit with me right now, and I need a very good vessel to put it in. The most important part is that the temporary vessel has to be good with the sword.]

[Carr: Are you talking about my body?]

[Minhyuk: Yeah. Nothing bad would happen. You will house the spirit, but you’ll still be able to control your body.]

Carr did not need to hesitate for a long time.

[Carr: Alright.]

[Minhyuk: Thanks.]

Then, the enemy troops began to flock to where Carr, the main pillar of the defense, was.

“Die!!!”

“All we need to do is cut his head off!!!”

“Kyaaa~ We’ll be able to get rid of the number one ranker in Korea!!!”

The Chinese players rushed excitedly to where Carr was. But at that moment…

Shwaaaaaaaa—

An unidentified force appeared in the sky and got sucked inside Carr’s body.

[What, what was that?!!!]

[Something mysterious got sucked inside Carr’s body!!!]

[What was it?]

Just when the commentators were bewildered from what happened, a notification rang for Carr.

[Conir is trying to ‘possess’ you. Will you accept?]

Carr nodded silently as he watched the enemies rush to where he was.

At the same time, boundless energy and power began to surge from within his body. Then, darkness descended upon him. He felt tired but it was accompanied by delight. The smile that bloomed on his face expressed both surprise and joy.

Hundreds of enemies came to him after seeing him collapse on one knee. Carr slowly stood up. His eyes had turned completely black, the iris and the white indistinguishable from each other. Carr stretched his knee, before bending down again and looking forward. His figure was overflowing with pride and dignity. This was the Olympic gold medalist. Carr looked ahead as he held the hilt of his sword in his hand.

Slash—

He held his breath for a moment before quickly drawing his sword.

“Quick Draw.”

Then…

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

…a powerful force flew from his sword and cut down all of the enemies rushing towards him within a 30 meter radius.

[You have been forced to log out.]

[You have been forced to log out.]

[You have been forced to log out.]

[You have been forced…]

It did not end there. Explosions rang loudly in the direction where he slashed his sword at.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

[You have been forced to log out.]

[You have been forced to log out.]

Boooooooom—

The sight was horrifying. The places where the slash from Carr’s Quick Draw passed by had been devastated in just a moment. More than 300 players died and disappeared from sight.

[…!!!]

[…!!!]

[…!!!]

This was the same Carr that had shocked the world with his sword in the Olympics. This time, he brought astonishment and shock to the world once again, through Athenae.

That was when the people watching him saw him open his mouth and spit the words that he had wanted to say for a very long time, “Minhyuk, I’m sorry!!!”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Carr cried loudly in front of the viewers from all over the world. His speech was not that long. After getting the apology off his chest, he declared in front of everyone in the world, “I will help you become the first king in Athenae! I will become your subordinate and open up the path for you to become king. I… I will be your friend and comrade!!!”

Carr, Korea’s number one player in the official ranking, had openly requested to join the Let’s Eat Sect Guild, causing the entire world to erupt into chaos.