Chapter 678: Divine Will
There were originally only ten Absolute God’s Secrets in existence. However, Minhyuk was able to create another ‘Absolute God’s Secret’, the passive skill: ‘Lightning’. Because of that, there were now eleven Absolute God’s Secrets.
Since then, there were two other notifications that rang regarding the acquisition of the Absolute God’s Secrets. However, it was not Minhyuk that had obtained these secrets, but other people.
The Absolute God’s Secrets in Minhyuk’s possession was Lightning and Ovepping Delight. And just now, he was able to acquire the ‘Divine Will’.
<em>‘I can feel my heart thumping…’</em>
For the first time in a long while, Minhyuk felt heartbeat quicken. None of the Absolute God’s Secrets that he obtained had disappointed him. He immediately checked the details of the skill.
<em>(<strong>Divine Will</strong>)</em>
<em>Absolute God’s Secret</em>
<em><strong>Level</strong>: None</em>
<em><strong>Mana Required</strong>: None</em>
<em><strong>Effects</strong>:</em>
<em>?You can trigger the skill just by exerting a fourth of effort and passion needed originally in the skill: ‘Will’.</em>
<em>?Upon the Divine Will’s activation, all stats will increase by 8%. If the skill is triggered consecutively within 30 minutes, all of the stats will increase by an additional 4%. The effect can be stacked thrice.</em>
<em>?Upon the Divine Will’s activation, all attack and defense will increase by 6%. If the skill is triggered consecutively within 30 minutes, all attack and defense will increase by an additional 3%. The effect can be stacked thrice.</em>
<em>?Upon the Divine Will’s activation, all skills and abilities rted to DEX will increase by 30%. If the skill is triggered consecutively within 30 minutes, all skills and abilities rted to DEX wii increase by an additional 15%. The effect can be stacked thrice.</em>
<em>?Upon the Divine Will’s activation, the yer’s mind will clear and any fatigue and exhaustion willpletely disappear. </em>
<em>?Upon the divine Will’s activation, you will have a 4% chance of triggering a 50% increase in HP and MP, as well asplete reset of the skill’s cooldown time.</em>
<em><strong>Description</strong>: This is a special power that the God of Will, someone that never knows how to give up, has bestowed upon those that he acknowledged. The effects of this power will only be expressed by the ones that tried their hardest.</em>
“…!”
Minhyuk was left entirely speechless. The skill was too overpowered.
<em>‘All of the stats will increase? There’s also an increase in all attack and defense?’</em>
That was right. Compared to the previous skill: Will, Divine Will was a skill that granted even greater power.
<em>‘Effort, passion, and the will to do something.’</em>
This meant that these things would trigger the skill and could now be used in battle. On top of that, the effects could be stacked three times. In other words, if the Divine Will was triggered four times in a row, Minhyuk would be able to receive a 16% increase in all of his stats and a 12% increase in all of his attack and defense. That was not all. There was also a 60% increase in all skills and abilities rted to DEX.
<em>‘Although only by a bit, DEX could also be considered to be rted to all stats.’</em>
Indeed. The DEX stat truly had the effect of slightly increasing one’s attack power. However, there was one more surprising fact about the skill.
<em>‘There is a probability of restoring HP and MP and even reset the skill cooldown time if the skill: Divine Will is activated…’</em>
It was extremely cheat-like, and it could be a huge help to Minhyuk in so many ways. After checking the unexpected harvest, Minhyuk turned his attention towards the notifications about the questpletion.
<em>[You havepleted the <strong>Hidden Quest</strong>: Evil God’s Cursed Stone.]</em>
<em>[You can now have an audience with Pope Kronad!]</em>
<em>[The popes, saints and pdins have bestowed upon you their great blessings!]</em>
<em>[All of your stats have increased by 2%!]</em>
<em>[You have gained 1,200 Holy Power!]</em>
<em>[Your sword will now carry the Pdins’ Special Power!]</em>
<em>[Your attack and defense will increase by 10% whenever you’re facing evil!]</em>
<em>[You have taken a step towards Temple Evangel.]</em>
<em>[You might have the chance to awaken whatever is slumbering inside Evangel.]</em>
The rewards, a 2% increase in all stats and 1,200 holy power, were not that bad. Minhyuk had the ‘Pandora’s Helmet’, an item that could double his holy power. With his high holy power, his effectiveness against the undead and the demonic beasts would be enhanced even more.
Minhyuk was most curious about ‘Evangel’.
<em>‘What is Temple Evangel?’</em>
He had been studying the countless worlds in Athenae. It was necessary for him as a king of a nation. To be honest, he was also doing it because he wanted to eat all of the delicious food and ingredients that he could get his hands on. However, even for someone like Minhyuk, who had studied quite a lot about Athenae, the words ‘Temple Evangel’ were still unfamiliar.
Not long after, Old Man Echeron approached Minhyuk.
Echeron could not believe the reality that was presented in front of him. All he could do was look up to the sky and think, <em>‘Is this truly the will of the heavens?’</em>
Echeron fully believed that Kronad and Obren’s reunion would lead to a disaster. But if this was fate, then there was nothing that they could do.
“Please follow me,” Echeron said, as he led Minhyuk somewhere.
***
There were only two people known to the world to have the Absolute God ss. Richard, the guild master and king of Maserrati Guild, now the Maserrati Kingdom; and Lu Bai, the one with the Savior ss. The influence of these two people in Athenae reached far and wide.
Savior Lu Bai has been gathering plenty of people from all over the continent that possessed simr beliefs and dispositions to him. The force that they possessed was said to have gone beyond the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, rivaling even that of a considerablyrge empire. Lu Bai was also said to have the power to attract NPCs, which meant that his power was now beyond anyone’s imagination.
As for Richard? He was the king of Maserrati Kingdom. Although his kingdom currently had lesser potential than the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, some spected that the Maserrati Kingdom would soon surpass the said kingdom, thanks to the power of Absolute Monarch Richard.
These were prime examples of how the yers that had climbed to the ranks of the ‘Absolute God’ ss could shake the world.
Unbeknownst to all, there was another Absolute God ss yer that appeared shortly after Lu Bai, the first Absolute God ss yer. That was none other than the ‘God of Stories’.
The God of Stories had the power to receive guidance about a story, albeit only a very small part of it, once every three months. The story could be anything, from one that could happen in a few months’ time, to a story that could happen in a few years'' time. This power could both be advantageous and disadvantageous at the same time. After all, even if he knew a piece of the story, if he could not get the outline, then he would face a total disaster.
However, the Athenae officials had mentioned that among the yers, Rex, the ‘God of Stories’, was the one that had chosen the most appropriate ss for himself.
Rex was one of the God’s Children, who had recently gained an audience with the Luvien Empire’s Emperor Nerva Sephiroth. He had received a hint of the story regarding the ‘God of Death’ a few months ago and had since been working on it slowly.
What was the benefit about getting a piece of the story? It was that one could monopolize the corresponding ‘quests’ and ‘rewards’ in that story. There was also the fact that he could find out about the unique quests and information that was only avable to the ss rted to the story, even though he did not have that ss.
When Rex found out about the story that was rted to the God of Death, he immediately tried to solve the puzzle.
<em>‘The God of Death is the being that rules Hell.’</em>
It was none other than the ‘God of Death and the Hell Corps’ Invasion’. This was an episode that was not expected to start until next year in Athenae. Perhaps this episode was also supposed to be spearheaded by Death, the owner and master of the Kingdom of Death.
However, Rex was now walking down the passage connected to Hell. He was also currently apanied by the Luvien Empire’s Sixteenth and Seventeenth Sword of the Gods!
<em>‘The power that the Sword of the Gods possessed is truly admirable.’</em>
He had already tried to break through this ce with several high rankers. However, they were all wiped out without even reaching the entrance to hell.
This was the reason why Rex requested an audience with Nerva Sephiroth. He wanted to receive the support of the Sword of the Gods for this.
<em>‘Some of the Sword of the Gods and the Luvien Imperial Army will join me to take down the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.’</em>
They would make it seem like the Luvien Empire was not going to attack the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. After all, there was a perfect way to disguise Nerva Sephiroth’s army.
<em>Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack—</em>
A Level 642 Death Knight that protected the Hell’s Gate copsed in a heap without being able to do anything, in front of the Sword of the Gods.
<em>Step, step—</em>
Finally, Rex took a step forward to thend beyond these gates. There, he saw a huge statue of the God of Death standing tall and mighty. There was a high chance that even Death, the God of Death’s own sessor, had not even met with this being yet.
Rex pricked the tip of his finger with his dagger and let his blood drip on the ground.
<em>Shwaaaaaaa—</em>
A gigantic snake appeared around the dark and dreary statue of the God of Death and slithered around Rex.
<em>[The God of Death is staring at you.]</em>
<em>[The God of Death is slowly encroaching upon your body.]</em>
Slowly, ever so slowly, the snake entered Rex’s mouth. Everything happened just like how Rex pieced the fragments of the story together. Then, a shocking set of notifications rang in his ears.
<em>[One of the Absolute Gods, the God of Death, has resided in your body!]</em>
<em>[You will now be the God of Death and will have the authority to open Hell''s Gate!]</em>
<em>[You can only be the God of Death for a short period of time!]</em>
<em>[You will have the power to ‘demonize’ or ‘reanimate’ your followers and subordinates.]</em>
<em>[You now have the authority to lead the Hell Corps!]</em>
<em>[You…!]</em>
<em>[You…!]</em>
Notifications rang non-stop in Rex’s ears. With this, he wouldunch an attack on the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. The reason for doing so was actually very simple. It was mainly because of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom’s wealth, and at the same time, to showcase the power of the God’s Children.
The current Rex looked like theplete God of Death, with a ck robe and a bloody-red staff in his hands. With one swing of his staff, the Sword of the Gods instantly turned into the undead.
<em>Shwaaaaaaa—</em>
Then, another notification rang in his ears.
<em>[A word of advice. You and your army are vulnerable against holy power!]</em>
However, Rex did not pay it much heed. After all, was there anyone with a high enough holy power to fight against them? Unfortunately for him, he should have paid closer attention to this word of advice.
***
Minhyuk checked his holy power stat.
<em>‘It’s already at 6,046, huh…?’</em>
What would happen if the Pandora’s Helmet’s effect were to be applied to this? Minhyuk’s holy power stat would reach 12,000. That level of holy power was extremely high. In fact, there was even a high chance that even Saintess Loyna did not have that high of a holy power.
Minhyuk, who had finished confirming his holy power, finally arrived in front of a gigantic yet shabby and crumbling temple.
“You’re the only one that can get inside.”
“…Yes,” Minhyuk answered, doubt shing on his face. However, he still nodded in agreement and climbed the stairs.
<em>Step, step, step, step—</em>
As he reached the end of the stairs, Minhyuk found someone sitting on a chair.
“…!”
Minhyuk could not help but groan.
<em>‘That person is Pope Kronad, right? He’s the pope? He has to be the pope, right?’</em>
However, the man did not look like a pope at all. He had a gaunt and emaciated face, long and loose white hair, as well as a very sharp and bright re. He was wearing a pristine white priestly robe while holding a sword that was shining brightly.
The moment Minhyuk took another step forward, he received a set of notifications.
<em>[You are the only being that hasid eyes on Pope Kronad!]</em>
<em>[Pope Kronad. Level 913.]</em>
<em>[His battle energy is trying to bring you down!]</em>
<em>[His battle energy has reduced all of your stats by 45%!]</em>
<em>[You cannot resist this power with your Invincible Body!]</em>
<em>[His battle energy has reduced your attack power by 45%!]</em>
<em>[His battle energy…your…]</em>
<em>[His battle energy…your…]</em>
“…?”
Minhyuk felt that this waspletely unbelievable. Among all of the NPCs that he had encountered, this one had the highest level. In fact, just one gaze and he could feel his legs shake from the pressure that the man was emitting. Then, at the same time…
<em>[The <strong>Sudden Quest</strong>: Obren’s Wrath has been triggered!]</em>
“…!”
<em>[<strong>Sudden Quest</strong>: Obren’s Wrath.]</em>
<em><strong>Rank</strong>: SSS</em>
<em><strong>Requirements</strong>: The One in Possession of the Puzzling Seasoning Jar</em>
<em><strong>Rewards</strong>: ss change to Evil God</em>
<em><strong>Penalty for Failure</strong>: -2 in all stats.</em>
<em><strong>Description</strong>: Evil God Obren hates Pope Kronad down to his very core. Despite his sleeping state, Obren had gathered his power inside the Puzzling Seasoning Jar that he could kill Pope Kronad the moment he met with him. Use that power to kill Kronad!</em>
At that moment…
<em>Crackle, crackle, crackle—</em>
“…”
The speechless Minhyuk could only look around. His eyes strayed towards the top of the stairs where Kronad was sitting on his chair and the huge temple behind him. Surrounding them were around 10,000 gigantic ‘Evil God’s Books’.
<em>[Evil God Obren has awakened from his slumbering state in your arms to attack Pope Kronad, the object of his hatred!]</em>
<em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>
Along with that, lightning bolts, mes and the like began to pour out from the ten million books in the sky. All of these attacks aimed solely at Kronad.
“…”
At this moment, Minhyuk realized that something had gone terribly wrong.