Chapter 719: Venteio


    <em>[You have killed one of the Mercenary King Candidates Ferell.]</em>


    <em>[Ferell used an immoral and hical method in the Mercenary King’s election.]</em>


    <em>[You have gained 840,031,311 EXP.]</em>


    <em>[You have gained 2,131 tinum.]</em>


    <em>[You have acquired Ferell’s Double-Handed Axe.]</em>


    <em>[You have acquired the Mercenary King Candidates’ Elixir.]</em>


    <em>[…rusty de.]</em>


    <em>[…acquired Ferell’s Broken Sheet Armor.]</em>


    These were the notifications that rang in Minhyuk’s ears after he killed Ferell.


    Meanwhile, the mercenaries were left speechless and with nk stares, as they looked at the cauldron lid in Minhyuk’s hands.


    <em>‘He killed Mercenary King Ferell with a cauldron lid?’</em>


    <em>‘From what I heard, Mercenary King Ferell is much stronger than Venteio and Avak when ites to physical power…’</em>


    <em>‘Crazy…’</em>


    What kind of power did that cauldron lid have? Seeing this, the elders hurriedly tried to use the ‘The Restricted Mercenary’s Voice’ to stop Minhyuk from using his cauldron lid.


    But then, Minhyuk suddenly leapt to the sky. The mercenaries hurriedly aimed their crossbows and shot their arrows to kill him.


    <em>Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh—</em>


    Minhyuk pointed his cauldron lid forward and rotated it fiercely. Then, after blocking the bows, he quickly threw it using all of his strength.


    <em>[Frisbee Cauldron Lid.]</em>


    <em>[The Cauldron Lid will fly at your target with 4x your original speed. It will have a 100% hit rate and have 4x more damage than normal.]</em>


    <em>[Once the flying Cauldron Lid makes contact with the target, the impact of the attack will incur huge damage.]</em>


    <em>Vwoooooooooooong—!</em>


    It sounded like a missile was fired when he threw it out. The cauldron lid flew at the speed of light and blew away all of the mercenaries in its path.


    <em>Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack—</em>


    <em>Booooooom—</em>


    <em>Baaaaaaang—</em>


    “Keuaaaaaaack!”


    “Aaaaaaaaaack!”


    “Urrrrrrrrrk!”


    The ones that were ‘lucky’ enough to only get brushed by the cauldron lid incurred severe injuries. As for those that were directly hit by it? All of them were crushed on the spot. When something was thrown, its speed would usually be reduced after it passed through something. However, that was not the case for the ‘Frisbee Cauldron Lid’ at all.


    The cauldron lid continued on its merry way until it mmed into the pit of the stomach of one of the elders that were chanting a spell.


    <em>Spuuurt—</em>


    <em>Baaaaaaaaang—</em>


    The Mercenary Elder died instantly after he was sent flying back.


    <em>[You have killed Mercenary Elder Ethon.]</em>


    <em>[Ethon used an immoral and hical method in the Mercenary King’s election.]</em>


    <em>[You have gained 240,031,311 EXP.]</em>


    <em>[You have gained 1,322 tinum.]</em>


    <em>[You have acquired the Mercenary Elder’s Diary.]</em>


    <em>[…acquired the Mercenary Elder’s Memento.]</em>


    After killing Ethon, the cauldron lid immediately flew back to Minhyuk. At the same time, the mercenaries rushed toward him.


    Venteio looked at Minhyuk worriedly. <em>‘There’s just too many of them.’</em>


    The mercenaries under Avak continued to pour in. There were already around 10,000 people crowding in this small and narrow space.


    “One way or another, do not let him use that cauldron lid!!!” Avak shouted as he continued to keep Venteio in check. Indeed, he felt like they could kill Minhyuk as long as he did not have that damn cauldron lid with him.


    However, the Bizarre Cauldron’s other special abilities were still yet to be disyed. Minhyuk ced the cauldron lid behind him and pulled the Continent Destroyer Sword out of its sheath. Immediately after that, another skill of the Bizarre Cauldron made its appearance.


    <em>[Obscure Snack.]</em>


    <em>[A snack will be created in five minutes.]</em>


    <em>[The snack’s buff effect will be randomly selected!]</em>


    <em>Booooooooooooom!</em>


    A cauldron suddenly appeared behind Minhyuk. There was also firewood that was cking with fire that appeared underneath it.


    <em>Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud—</em>


    The atmosphere turned strained as the cauldron shook and trembled. The charging mercenaries stopped in their tracks, not rxing one bit. The cauldron showed tremendous power with just the lid alone. They were quite worried about what would happen next. What ifva poured out of it and devoured them?


    <em>[A snack has been created!]</em>


    The mercenaries gulped nervously as they watched Minhyuk open the lid. Then, something covered with light came out of it and slowly fell on Minhyuk’s hands.


    “…<em>gulp.</em>”


    Everyone turned extremely tense. Even Venteio, Avak and Ars, who were busy fighting each other, looked at the unknown item covered in unknown light and held their breaths.


    Minhyuk looked sharply at the object covered with light. There was some strange sense of confidence, joy, and delight on his face.


    <em>‘Th, that…’</em>


    <em>‘What the hell is it?’</em>


    What kind of thing is it? Was it amazing? How did it work?! Perhaps it was an item that could cause a disaster? Or maybe it was something that could cause the ground to break or crack the moment it hit the ground?


    Amidst everyone’s nervous curiosity, the light finally cleared up and revealed the item hidden within. As it turned out, the item was none other than a long and plump hot bar.


    “…”


    “…”


    More than being surprised, the mercenaries were just speechless.


    Meanwhile, Minhyuk was trembling with excitement. <em>‘Goodness. It has the ability to make food?!’</em>


    Was there something more amazing than this in the world? He hurriedly grabbed the hot bar and pushed everything in his mouth. The pleasant texture of the hot bar slid down his mouth and triggered a bright smile on his face. Minhyuk looked like a squirrel with his bulging cheeks that moved along with every chew that he made.


    <em>[You have eaten the Obscure Snack: Long Hot Bar.]</em>


    <em>[Your skills’ attack has increased by 10%!]</em>


    <em>[Your attack speed has increased by 25%!]</em>


    “The hot bar was so delicious!” Minhyuk smiled happily, like a child that was given a present.


    The mercenaries present could not help but doubt if he was truly the king of a nation and the very same man that wielded the destructive cauldron lid earlier. However, Minhyuk’s gaze turned sharp and cold as the words engraved on the de of his Continent Destroyer Sword changed into the word ‘<em>gather’</em>.


    <em>[Gather]</em>


    <em>[Upon sessful attack, you will have a 100% chance of having an additional 4,000% attack.]</em>


    <em>[There’s a 40% chance of triggering around four to eight times of bloody lightning rain with 2,000% attack that will indiscriminately attack anyone within a 30-meter radius of your target.]</em>


    <em>[There’s a 10% chance of the bloody lightning rain exploding all over the ce.]</em>


    <em>[The skill’s duration is four minutes.]</em>


    The skill Gather was the Absolute God’s Secret that was in Minhyuk’s possession. It would always trigger lightning strikes attacking indiscriminately in a thirty-meter radius with every swing of his sword.


    <em>p—</em>


    Minhyuk’s cape fluttered behind him as he charged toward the mercenaries.


    <em>aaaash—</em>


    The moment he cut down a mercenary, Gather was triggered and lightning began to strike all over the ce.


    <em>Crack, crack, crack—</em>


    <em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>


    The worst part for the enemies was that Gather had a 100% chance of getting triggered. In other words, the lightning strikes would continue to fall down with every strike of Minhyuk’s sword. On top of that, Minhyuk’s attack speed had increased by 25%. This meant that the synergy effect of the skill improved significantly too.


    <em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>


    “Keuaaaaaaaack!”


    “Uwaaaaaaaaaaaack!”


    With a single swing of Minhyuk’s sword, lightning fell and swept away hundreds of mercenaries. In fact, Minhyuk deliberately waited for his enemies to crowd together. He had two reasons to do so. The first one was so that he could trigger Gather. The second reason was obvious.


    <em>‘It’s because it will be more effective if they are crowded together.’</em>


    <em>[You have killed Mercenary Akarr.]</em>


    <em>[You have gained 43,133,414 EXP.]</em>


    <em>[You have killed Mercenary Vedi.]</em>


    <em>[You have gained 31,551,411 EXP.]</em>


    Minhyuk was also able to gain a huge amount of EXP. However, there were also cons when his enemies were gathered in a crowd like this. Being surrounded by a crowd of enemies meant that Minhyuk would be under a heavy onught of attacks. Thankfully, he was able to recover some of his HP thanks to his ‘ughterer’s Absorption’.


    <em>‘This is crazy…’</em>


    Avak was appalled after witnessing Minhyuk ughter 4,000 mercenaries in just two minutes all by himself. Of course, there were some good things that came out of it too.


    <em>sh—</em>


    “Ughh!”


    Avak was able to punch Venteio who was exhausted by now, forcing him to roll on the ground. Of course, he also took the opportunity to sh Venteio’s thighs.


    <em>Ping—</em>


    “Keuaaaaaaack!”


    Minhyuk hurriedly rushed to his aid.


    <em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>


    Lightning fell wherever he went as he once again stood in front of Venteio.


    <em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>


    The heavy onught of attacks from the enemies fell upon Minhyuk and Venteio. Arrows, magic, swordlights and many other attacks rained down on them.


    “Don’t let them take a breather!!!”


    Avak was someone that had ovee several hardships and trials in his life. He had also survived several deadly crises. All of those experiences had made him a very shrewd and sneaky opponent.


    He could tell that Minhyuk’s lightning strikes and ughterer’s Absorption would only be triggered if he made a sessful attack. That was why he prevented him from attacking them. In fact, he even told the mercenaries to attack Minhyuk’s hand that was holding his sword. There were even some that dared to approach him and clung to his arms to stop him from swinging his sword.


    <em>Buzz—</em>


    As time went by, the area began to get overly crowded. The ck Panther Mercenaries relentlessly pressured them, attacking more fiercely with every minute passing by.


    Minhyuk’s HP, which he could not recover so easily, began to plummet.


    “…Run away.”


    Venteio could not let Minhyuk die in this ce. If he died here, then he was no way he could face his master. However, Minhyuk just shook his head. He had to make Venteio the next God of Mercenaries.


    “If we survive…” Minhyuk, who was now covered with blood all over, turned to Venteio and smiled. “…then, let’s be friends?”


    “…”


    The Food God, the king of a nation, and the Mercenary King that would be the next God of Mercenaries, bing friends. It would truly be an amazing story.


    Minhyuk could not back down. One, he knew the value of that rtionship. And two, he knew that Venteio was someone that would back down if someone showed loyalty to him.


    Besides, Minhyuk still had a reason why he was waiting like this and allowing his enemies to gather.


    <em>‘I just need to hold on a bit longer.’</em>


    <em>aaash—</em>


    At that moment, Avak’s sword pierced through Minhyuk’s abdomen.


    “Kghhk!”


    <em>Baaaaaang—</em>


    Minhyuk, who was helpless as the attacknded on him, watched his HP fall below 10%. His vision started to blur as the strain of reaching the limits of his body and his HP washed over him at the same time. Immediately, Minhyuk took two things out and ced them in his mouth.


    <em>‘That…’</em>


    Venteio had also seen Minhyuk chew something in his mouth during their battle against the ck Knights.


    <em>aaash—</em>


    Minhyuk’s HP fell below 3%.


    <em>Crunch—</em>


    Avak was delighted. It was not just him. Even the Mercenary Elders and all of the mercenaries present here were rejoicing. They were all wondering how much reward they would get from the Luvien Empire for killing the man that would be the God of Mercenaries and the king of a nation?!


    They continued to gather around Minhyuk, delight evident on their faces.


    “Summon.”


    “…?”


    “…?”


    The corners of Minhyuk’s lips twitched. The thing that he chewed was none other than the Almond of Subordinates. The heroes of stories always appeared at the end after all.


    “Spear God Ben.”


    <em>Shwaaaaaaaaaaaa—</em>


    A bright light shot down from the sky as an old man with fluttering ck hair fell down. The old man’s white spear pointed at Minhyuk’s enemies.


    “Absolute Pinnacle Spear.”


    <em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>


    Spears rained down from the sky and swept them away. In just an instant, more than 4,000 mercenaries disappeared without a trace.


    “…”


    Avak’s jaw turned ck.


    “Awaken.” Minhyuk opened his mouth again. “Obren.”


    <em>Vwooooooooooooooooong—</em>


    The Puzzling Seasoning Jar floated in front of Minhyuk as a handsome ck-haired man walked out along with thousands of ck books behind him. Then, he looked at his enemies nonchntly and said, “Get lost.”


    Lightning strikes fell down from the thousands of books floating in the air above them.


    <em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>


    Avak and the mercenaries that followed him were literally being swept away.


    There was one person that a lone Mercenary King Candidate should never cross paths with, and it was none other than Minhyuk.


    <em>Crunch—</em>


    And finally, he summoned another person. “Brod.”


    <em>aaaaash—</em>


    He was the man hailed as the Mercenary Emperor, someone that suddenly appeared in the world, united the mercenaries from all over the world and ended the Mercenary Hunt. Brod was the legend.


    Brod’s sword, which fell from the sky, was filled with tremendous power. Venteio looked at his figure with longing, while Avak looked at him with fear.


    “Final Chapter. Wolf’s Death.”


    <em>Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!</em>


    Hundreds of red sword lights rained down from the sky and devoured the mercenaries that gathered in the area. Then, the surviving mercenaries began to kneel down on one knee, one after the other.


    They were not kneeling out of fear but because of an unknown and powerful aura that forced the mercenaries to their knees. This was none other than the ‘Mercenary King’s Aura’, a skill that would only be triggered if Brod was facing mercenaries.


    Brod turned to Venteio and said, “Congrattions on bing the continent’s new Mercenary King, Venteio.”


    Weak-willed Venteio, Porter Venteio, Dimwit Venteio. He used to be all of that. But today, he became the Mercenary King that united the entire world.


    “Your Majesty, if you please.”


    He also became Minhyuk’s friend.