Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 690: The God of Death and the Hell Corps

Crackle, crackle, crackle—

Baal’s Spear of Blooming Flames caused an area of five kilometers in radius to be engulfed in flames that continued to devour those within, siphoning their lives away.

“Keuheeeeeup…!”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaack!”

“Kill me right away! Aaaaack!”

The most difficult pain for humans to endure was that of their flesh and bones burning. The soldiers of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom were all begging and screaming for a swift death after being subjected to this attack that gave them a 2% damage per second.

Everyone, including the commentators, were busy trying to understand the current situation. The same was true for PD Kim Daeguk.

Gulp—

He watched as the soldiers screamed and begged for their lives to end while their skin and flesh started to turn black from the flames. Some eventually died and turned to ashes that disappeared into the wind.

“The, the smell… Urkkk!” The rookie cameraman could not help but retch at the scene in front of him.

Athenae was a virtual reality game that could recreate scenes from reality. That included the stench of burning flesh, a smell that could make anyone fidget from nervousness.

“Sir…”

“Huh? Yeah. Baal’s appearance does not pose a huge threat to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.”

There were many prominent and powerful beings staying in Beyond the Heavens Kingdom like the God of Snakes, Elpis, Gorfido, and even Spear God Ben. Baal would not be a threat, even though he was called the Demon King, because of them. The problem lay somewhere else.

“Some time after Black Dragon Vormon was summoned, Baal was also summoned. Do you know what this means?”

“…As long as the requirements are met, he can summon others?”

“That’s correct. Baal’s descent will most definitely increase his speed in completing the requirements. What will happen if another one gets summoned right after Baal?”

“It’s going to accelerate the process even more.”

That was right. It was likely that the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would be faced with a line-up of ridiculously overpowered enemies in a short time.

“Sir. Do you think Beyond the Heavens’ Kingdom will be able to overcome this crisis?”

PD Kim Daeguk turned silent at the cameraman’s question while thinking about all of the beings that the enemy could bring in from hell. It was unlikely to be just one, or two; an entire group of them would definitely appear.

‘It’s turning into an impossible situation,’ PD Kim thought as he stood on top of the walls of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. He turned to look at Genie and the executives of the kingdom before looking up at the sky above them.

[Great Demon Verus has descended!]

[You feel fear and terror as Great Demon Verus approaches with his tremendous amount of demonic energy.]

[Your body has started to go numb from the fear. You have lost control of your body.]

[All of your stats have decreased by 20%.]

[Your morale has greatly decreased.]

[Ordinary humans will lose their will to fight in front of him.]

[Great Demon Verus’ demonic energy has put pressure on the ordinary humans, forcing their throats to constrict and their breathings to turn ragged.]

[Verus’ Wrath.]

[Verus’ Wrath has restricted your movements for three straight minutes.]

[Everyone will be equal in front of Great Demon Verus for three straight minutes.]

The Beyond the Heavens’ soldiers started to lose their will to fight. The light in their eyes slowly dimmed as they collapsed on the ground. All they could do was stare helplessly at Great Demon Verus, just like they did in the past.

‘When the Great Demon descended, many had died.’

That thought alone brought fear to the soldiers that were there to fight.

“Ah, aaaaaaah… aaaaaah…”

Some shed tears just by looking at the scene.

Tighten—

The new PD saw PD Kim’s palms turning into fists. He knew it was because PD Kim was a fan of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

‘Sir, why do you like Beyond the Heavens Kingdom?’

‘You know, when you look out at the world and you realize that there are things that you can’t do and there are things that only you can do?’

‘Yes.’

‘But whenever I watch the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, I always think: Ah, so this is also possible. There’s hope that this can be done.’

That was what his senior PD had told him.

Then, PD Kim Daeguk opened his mouth. “Just like always…”

At that moment, God of Snakes Elizabeth appeared.

[Elizabeth has started to take control of the system!]

[The effects of Verus’ Wrath have disappeared!]

On top of the walls, a woman appeared with a pair of wings on her back and shining a light toward the soldiers that had lost their will to fight. This was none other than Valkyrie Mei Wei.

Then, in front of the frightened and shaking soldiers, several people stood up and flew toward Verus, who appeared in the form of a gigantic demonic face in the air above them, just like they did in the past.

Spear God Ben.

Lesser Demon Elpis.

Great Pirate Gorfido.

“Berserk. Splitting the Demon.”

Black blood gurgled out of Great Demon Verus’ face as he was slashed by the berserk Lesser Demon’s black sword. Immediately following the attack was the old veteran with fluttering black hair. The old man thrust his spear toward Great Demon Verus and released a very powerful force.

Staaaaaaaaaaaaaab—

“Keuaaaaaaaaaaack!” A shriek came out of Great Demon Verus involuntarily.

That was not the end. Great Pirate Gorfido passed by the demon and cut him down with his Ten Thousand Sword and tied him up with his Ten Thousand Chains, dragging him down to the ground with a powerful tug.

Fwiiiiiiiiiiiish—

Clank, clank, clank, clank—

Boooooooooom—

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Silence pervaded the area for a moment.

Quite some time had passed since Great Demon Verus last descended on earth. During that time, the members of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom did not stop in their pursuit of strength, growing rapidly as they trained.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Woaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

PD Kim said, “They’ll be able to get through it.”

***

Genie released a shaky breath as she watched Great Demon Verus get dragged down to the ground.

Shwaaaaaaaaa—

Baaaaaang—

Boooooom—

Baaaaaaaaam—

Meanwhile, loud explosions took place on the ground as Baal’s countless spears and swords exploded, sweeping away hundreds of the Beyond the Heavens’ soldiers.

The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom had certainly grown stronger. Right now, they were very confident that they would be able to hunt the partially sealed Great Demon Verus without much difficulties. However, the problem here was that it was not just Great Demon Verus that would appear here.

They might have dragged Verus to the ground but he would most definitely get back up right away.

“…As arrogant and impudent as ever.”

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

Demonic energy exploded all over the place, engulfing the soldiers of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, as well as Elpis, Spear God Ben, and Gorfido.

“Keuuuuup!”

“Arghhh!”

On the other side, Golden Mage Ali had been casting magic over and over again to try and deal with the Hell Corps.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

The dragons that Akhan had summoned were also aiding him with their magical bombardment to restrain the Hell Corps.

‘There’s just too many enemies. Even their levels are too high.’

The level of the members of the Hell Corps had reached a height where the current players could not deal with. Their numbers were also several times more than the Beyond the Heavens’ troops.

Genie could see that Akhan and Death were having a hard time on their side. The advent of both Baal and Great Demon Verus had forced the undead and the monsters to lose their will to fight.

Baaaaaaaaaang—

“Quick Draw.” Carr immediately jumped into the battlefield and cut down hundreds of the Hell Corps the moment he accessed the game.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeck!”

“Kyahaaaaaaaack!”

“Kiryaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Even Black Dragon had hurriedly accessed the games and fought in the war. However, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom was getting pushed back.

“…”

Genie could see how desperate everyone was fighting to protect the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

‘There are also things that we just can’t do…’ Genie thought as she bit her lips.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeck!”

“Kiiiiieeeeeeeeeek”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The enemies, who had reached the vicinity of the walls, began to hammer it down. Gigantic demonic beasts also began to charge at the walls.

“Break their walls down!!!”

The easiest way to capture a kingdom was to break down its outer walls that were protecting it. Once the outer walls collapsed, the troops would have no other choice but to scatter all over the place to protect the citizens of the kingdom. Knowing this fact, Demon King Baal sent his spears toward the walls, using them as if they were siege weapons.

Craaaack—

Craaaaaack—

Craaaaaaaack—

Seeing the spears piercing through the walls, creating cracks that gradually spread all over, brought fear to the citizens of the kingdom.

“Are we… going to die like this…?”

“Uwaaa! Uwaaaa! Uwaaaah!”

A middle-aged man gave a sad smile to his wife, who was hugging their newborn daughter.

“D, dear…”

“Nelly… Run as far as you can from here. Leave the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.”

The plain and average man decided to pick up a weapon and fight to protect his wife and daughter.

“Mom… make sure that you hide, okay?”

After hugging his mother tightly, a young miner grabbed his pickaxe and ran to fight.

“Kihyaaaaaaack!”

“Kihyeeeeeeeck!”

There were too many demonic beasts and Hell Corps. They tried to stop them from the walls but it did not take too long for the enemies to breach their defenses and climb over the walls.

The boys, men, gray-haired old men and even the women of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom grabbed their pickaxes, kitchen knives, hammers, maces, anything that they could grab and use as a weapon to protect those that they held dear.

Thuuuuuuuuud—

Great Demon Verus attacked the walls on purpose, causing more spider web-like cracks to appear and spread all over.

Crack, crack, crack—

“S, senior…”

“…”

PD Kim Daeguk shuddered. ‘This is another world.’

The people living in this world felt so real that he was left speechless. Would they be able to stop the enemies even if they killed the army of demonic beasts and killed Great Demon Verus?

‘No. He would just summon another powerful being.’

Perhaps, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom would meet its end here today. However, these people still grabbed whatever weapon they could grab to protect those that were precious and dear to them.

“Long live Beyond the Heavens!!!”

“Long live Beyond the Heavens!!!”

“Beyond the Heavens forever!!!”

What was more surprising was they still crying out for the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom when the kingdom could not even protect them.

‘Don’t they resent Food God Minhyuk and the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom? And why is no one running away and abandoning the kingdom?’

“…Beyond the Heavens.”

This name was once again engraved in PD Kim Daeguk’s heart.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Stop theeeeeeeeem!”

“We have to defend the outer walls one way or another!”

The outstanding members of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, Spear God Ben, Gorfido, Elpis, Khan, Carr, Locke, Cerberus, Aruvel, Conir and many more, struggled as they tried to prevent the enemies’ advance somehow.

“Keuaaaaaaaack!” Carr shrieked, a mouthful of blood trickling down his lips as he was sent flying back. However, he stood back up and dashed forward once again, his hand holding his sword tightly.

“Conir!!! Conir will protect the people!!!” The young Sword Saint shouted with gritted teeth after seeing the people behind him. Despite the obvious fear in his eyes, he still charged forward to protect them with all his might.

“All of you, protect the outer walls!!!” One of the pillars of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, the woman wielding her whip like crazy, shouted loudly at the soldiers while trying to restrain the enemy.

Crack, crack, crack, crack—

Baaaaaaaaaaang—

However, Verus’ demonic energy once again hit the walls, the cracks growing bigger by the minute. In the end, a thick cloud of dust bloomed as the walls collapsed.

The Hell Corps and the demonic beasts took this opportunity to charge forward and poured into the kingdom. The Beyond the Heavens’ troops and the players tried desperately to stop their advance, but it was to no avail.

Craaaaaack—

Baaaaaaang!

“Keuaaaaaaack! Long live Beyond the Heaveeeeeeens!!!”

“Keheok! Long live… Your, Your Majesty Minhyuk…”

The citizens of the kingdom were killed one after the other.

“N, no!!!”

“Noooooooo!!!”

“Kghhhhk! Damn it!!!”

The soldiers felt frustrated while the executives of the kingdom sported ugly looks on their faces.

Carr blamed how weak he was. ‘If only I was a bit stronger.’

Khan cursed his insignificant punches. ‘If only my punches had packed more strength…’

Only one thought flashed in the heads of everyone present: ‘If only I were stronger.’

The Beyond the Heavens Kingdom fell into despair as they watched the citizens of the kingdom fall one after the other. Even PD Kim Daeguk was left in a daze as he witnessed the scene. It felt far too real.

‘This is… the kingdom that… Kang Minhyuk… created…’

‘What a wonderful and beautiful kingdom it was.’

PD Kim was fully immersed in the surreal feeling that the situation had brought about. That was when he saw one of the Hell Werewolves running toward a crying girl. He did not know what came over him. The next thing he knew, he was already running toward the girl.

“Siiiiiiir!!!”

He ran like crazy, and had a hard time catching his breath. But when he reached her, the Hell’s Werewolf was already about to bite the girl and rip her limbs off. All Kim Daeguk could do was hold the little girl in his arms tightly and turn around with his back to the wolf.

At that moment, the director’s whisper rang in his ears.

[Director Kim: PD Kim, the viewership rating has exceeded 40%…]

“F***************ck!!!”

He was a broadcaster. However, he could not help but scream loudly at this desperate situation. He was fully aware that he and the child would be eaten like this.

“Kkiiiiiiing!?Hiiiiing, hiiiiing!”

Just when the Hell’s Werewolf was about to pounce on them, it suddenly whined as it took a step back, fear evident on its face.

“…”

PD Kim Daeguk slowly turned around, only to be met with a blinding white light. Then, an unknown yet beautiful voice rang from within the white light.

[He is the benevolent king of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.]