CH 414

The Korean viewers in the audience all expressed their regrets as they watched the highlight of the second half begin.

“So the first place goes to America, huh?”

“But I think we’ll be able to rank in the top ten, right?”

Everyone felt disappointed, but the outcome was already inevitable. Still, despite their disappointment, their lips were all curled up in a smile. They might not get the gold, but the three players from South Korea, a small country that most ignored, had made dozens of players flustered and at a loss. On top of that, the Food God had also successfully killed Calauhel, one of the Summit Five. In other words, their performance did not lag behind America’s performance.

“South~ Korea!”

Clap, clap! Clap! Clap, clap!

“South~ Korea!”

Clap, clap! Clap! Clap, clap!

‘You did well. You look cool. We’re proud of you!’

These were the words that they wanted to convey to them. The Koreans in the crowd cheered loudly in hopes that their representatives would feel their heartfelt sincerity. By the time the ‘Golden Time’ arrived, the entire nation was already shouting with one voice.

“Ooh~ Oooooooh~ Ooh! Ooooooh~”

The Koreans, with the same mind and heart, shouted loudly and cheered for their representatives. Countless people across the country watched with rapt attention, waiting for the game to end. Everyone, including the people watching from their TVs at home with their families, to the people gathered in front of electronic displays, and even PD Kim Daeguk, who was watching together with the staff from various Korean broadcasting stations, all chewed their lips nervously.

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

‘Player Minhyuk has always created miracles. Please…’

PD Kim remembered all of the things that Minhyuk had achieved—the battle against the demon race, Vormon’s hunt and many more!—he had created countless miracles. Even so, his current obstacle was in the form of America’s Alexander, threatening to stop him from creating another miracle.

[Aaaaaaaaaah! Alexander!!! He’s prowling around the stadium as if he’s telling the other players that he wouldn’t let them get to the golden balls!]

[He’s moving so fast that we can’t even see him with our naked eyes!]

[America’s strongest, Alexander, is showing us why he’s called the best right here and now!!!]

[It seems like the Korean Team is hell-bent on scoring goals until the last minute. They look very determined in narrowing down the gap in the rankings.]

Just like PD Kim Daeguk, many players were gritting their teeth and waiting for a miracle. However, in the end, all they could do was sigh in pity at the medal that they would never have. Nevertheless, all of the Koreans present all felt the same way, ‘Good job, Korea!!!’

Feeling that nothing would change, PD Kim decided to get back to work. But, at that moment…

“Huh. Huuuuuuuuuh?! Huuuuuuuuuh!!!”

“What, what the hell?!”

Exclamations rang one after the other. PD Kim looked at them in confusion only to catch sight of the scene displayed on the huge TV screen. The representatives of each country were all kneeling in front of Minhyuk.

Bathump, bathump, bathump, bathump!

PD Kim Daeguk felt his heart thump wildly.

[The players are all kneeling down in worship to one player, and one player alone! They are all kneeling down in worship to Food God Minhyuk!]

[What kind of skill did he use?!! This is very shocking! Even the person hailed as the strongest, Alexander, is also kneeling in front of him!!!]

[Alexander is looking at Player Minhyuk with shock!!!]

[The entire world watches as Player Minhyuk forced all of the surviving players to kneel down and submit to him!]

[Look at his dignified and noble aura! Ah! I feel a blazing flame sparking in my heart!]

[Yes! There’s still hope. My fellow citizens, please don’t give up! Pres… President Kang Taehoon! We still have hope! There are still fifteen seconds left before the game ends!!!]

The thunderous shouts and cheers of the Korean people rang loudly in the stadium.

[Fourteen seconds before the game ends.]

Everyone watching the scene clasped their hands tightly in tense anticipation. Meanwhile, the current rankings was:

[1st Place: America. 131 points.]

[2nd Place: Japan. 101 points.]

[3rd Place: Russia. 99 points.]

[4th Place:…]

[5th Place:…]

[11th Place: South Korea. 79 points.]

***

Minhyuk watched as the surviving players knelt before him, with confusion and disbelief all over their faces. Just like what Team Leader Park Minggyu had expected, Minhyuk had run hundreds of simulations in his head, until he came up with the perfect strategy.

Minhyuk’s strategy involved taking advantage of the second half’s ‘Golden Time’. If they scored high in the beginning, the players would definitely target them. However, even if that was the case, they would not lose out. Their team would be able to score high during the first half, on top of being able to gain enough Authority Mana to use ‘Earth King’s Authority. Worship’.

The Authority Mana was a power that would accumulate the more Minhyuk fought. The conditions to accumulate Authority Mana was to deal damage to countless enemies, or fight against enemies that were far stronger than him.

However, under normal circumstances, even if he fought against countless opponents, Minhyuk judged that he would only be able to fill 30% of Authority Mana to trigger ‘Earth King’s Authority. Worship’. Furthermore, that would only trigger the most basic effect of Worship. Simply put, Minhyuk would only be able to force his enemies within an eight meter radius to kneel in worship.

On top of that, the length of time that they would stay kneeling would also depend on his luck. According to the skill’s description, Minhyuk would be able to make opponents stronger than him kneel down to him in worship if he filled 100% of his Authority Mana.

But this was the World War, a competition where Minhyuk would fight countless strong opponents that he had never met before. It was the perfect opportunity for him to fill his Authority Mana. It grew exceedingly difficult to fill once it went past the 50% mark, but Minhyuk knew that it would not be too difficult to accomplish in this competition.

In other words, he would be able to show the greatest and strongest Worship on this stage, the World War.

So far, Mage Ali, Minhyuk, and Root had only shown the world their basic attacks, together with one skill in their arsenal. This was because they had been waiting for this moment.

[You have used the Earth King’s Authority. Worship.]

[Your Authority Mana has reached 100%.]

[You can make stronger opponents kneel down to you in worship.]

[The radius and stun duration has increased.]

[All of your opponents within a fifteen meter radius will be forced to their knees.]

[The ones forced to their knees will be in a twelve second-stunned state.]

‘N… no way…!’

Alexander and the other players finally felt the danger of the situation that they were in. Each of them used their skills to try and get out of their abnormal state. But…

[You can’t nullify the abnormal state.]

[You will not be able to resist the power that is forcing you down to your knees.]

Cold sweat dripped down from Alexander’s forehead. Then…

Boom—

Alexander could clearly see an archer standing slightly further away from him pulling the strings of his bow and targeting the golden ball that bounced once after falling down the ground. The bow in the archer’s hand looked extraordinary. It was none other than ‘Elf King Gorn’s Great Bow’.

Since they contributed greatly during the reclamation of the Elven Forest, Let’s Eat Sect was able to build a deep and strong connection with Elf King Gorn. Elf King Gorn’s bow was a legendary artifact that could only be pulled by a being comparable to Gorn, someone that has also reached the realm of the legends.

Right now, this bow that Root had hidden deeply, finally appeared.

Stretch—

Elf King Gorn’s Great Bow was a famous artifact, one that could not be pulled by anyone unless they were the chosen one. But slowly, ever so slowly, Root was able to pull the strings of the bow. The arrow that he used was also extremely huge. It was so huge that it was already comparable to a spear.

“Master Archer’s Bullseye.”

Thwaaaaaaack—

Root released his arrow. The arrow shone brightly like the dawn breaking through the darkness of the night. Master Archer’s Bullseye was a skill with a hundred percent accuracy and a very shocking destructive power. The arrow that Root released struck the golden ball’s ‘red dot’ right in the center.

Thump—

The golden ball flew fiercely as it passed through the nearest goal post even before the transparent shield could form.

Baaaaaaaang—

The tremendous force behind the ball destroyed the goal post. Then…

[Goaaaaaaaaaaaal!]

[Player Root has scored a golden ball!!!]

Everyone turned to look at the electronic display.

[1st Place: America. 131 points.]

[2nd Place: Japan. 101 points.]

[3rd Place: Russia. 99 points.]

[4th Place:…]

[5th Place: South Korea. 94 points.]

South Korea’s ranking, which was at eleventh place, rose quickly. There were only nine seconds left in the game. Meanwhile, Ali had already finished all of his preparations. His golden hair and robe fluttered, as he reached his palm out towards the goal posts that were spread out all over the place. Then, he clenched his palm into a fist and said, “Compress.”

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

Then, after gathering the goal posts together, Ali sent Diss to seven golden balls.

Thuuud—

Thuuud—

Thuuud—

Thud—

The tremendous force from Ali’s attack sent seven golden balls into a wild track. Thankfully, most of them flew towards the goal posts that he had gathered.

Thunk—

However, one of the golden balls slammed into the sides of one goal post and was thrown back out to the field while another glided past the goal post, only grazing its side. Only the last and final ball made the goal, the goal post shaking wildly from the impact.

Thuuuump—

[Goooooooooal!!!]

[It’s another goal!!! Ali scores another goal!!!]

[There are only a few seconds left before the game ends!!!]

Once again, everyone turned to look at the electronic display.

[1st Place: America. 131 points.]

[2nd Place: South Korea. 109 points.]

[3rd Place: Japan. 101 points.]

[4th Place: Russia. 99 points.]

Everyone shook in nervousness. Meanwhile, Minhyuk, who everyone was still worshipping, jumped up in the sky and said, “Sword of Frenzy.”

A powerful force stretched out from the tip of his sword that stabbed one of the golden balls.

Baaaaaaang—

The golden ball powered by the force of Minhyuk’s Sword of Frenzy flew towards the goal post sharply. But, the shield was already up around the goal.

Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack—

However, the force that Minhyuk used to strike the ball was so strong that it spun fiercely even after colliding with the shield. And finally…

Clang!

The shield broke down into pieces and the ball flew inside the goal post.

[1st Place: America. 131 points.]

[2nd Place: South Korea. 124 points.]

[3rd Place: Japan. 101 points.]

[4th Place: Russia. 99 points.]

All eyes were trained on Minhyuk as they sat on the edge of their seats. Even the commentators’ were shouting loudly in trepidation to the point that they overwhelmed the crowd’s shouts.

[Only three seconds!!! There are only three seconds left in the game!!!]

[In three seconds, the first game of Athenae: World War, the Penalty Shoot-Out, will end!]

However, at that moment, the power that bound Alexander and made him submit was released. Minhyuk quickly changed the words engraved in his Continent Destroyer Sword from Destruction to Explosion when he saw him break free. Now, there were only two seconds left. Minhyuk hurriedly swung his sword with all his might towards the golden ball lying in front of him.

‘Please!!!’

If the passive skill Explosion did not get triggered, then there would not be enough force to drive the golden ball towards the goal post. However, at the same time Minhyuk landed a hit on the golden ball, he received Alexander’s slash on his back.

One second left…

Baaaaaaaaang—

A bloody lightning bolt fell down from the sky and struck the golden ball in front of Minhyuk. A huge explosion erupted and made it fly towards the goal post.

Slash—

Minhyuk, who received an attack from Alexander, collapsed while vomiting blood.

Baaaaaaaang—

He had no time to check the result of his shot. He only heard the sound of the ball making contact with the goal post from the ground.

Thud—

And zero.

Minhyuk turned to look at the goal post as the ball spun fiercely and went inside the net. And the rankings…

[1st Place: South Korea. 139 points. Gold medal.]

[2nd Place: America. 131 points. Silver medal.]

[3rd Place: Japan. 101 points. Bronze medal.]