Leveling Up through Eating

PR: MattForgenti

Black Mage Ali did not hide the fact that he was the user that climbed the Hall of Kings with Minhyuk. He was as proud as anybody else with what he achieved and the people were also proud of him. 

Alex was known as the number 1 mage in the overall rankings but with his higher class magic some people had started calling him Great Sage Ali. Although most people still refer to him as Black Mage. 

However, Ali the Black Mage was the only one who knew that the opportunity that he grabbed to climb the Hall of Kings was given to him by Minhyuk. He had promised Minhyuk before that if he ever needed his help that he would drop everything else and run to him. And just recently, Minhyuk sent him a whisper asking him to help Legend Guild. His meaning was simple. It was because he would take a lot of time before he could arrive to aid them so he asked him for his help.

‘I’ll protect them. So you don’t have to worry, Minhyuk-nim.’ 

Ali was drawing an ‘X’ on everyone’s wrists. And to his surprise, the members of Black Dragon and the Boys were all enchanted by it.

“What a brilliant token.” 

“Friendship. What a wonderful thing to say. Boy, are you interested in joining Black Dragon and the Boys?” 

“Hoo? Black Dragon and the Boys? That’s a nice name just like Whitebeard and Ace.” 

Then, at that moment……

“Whitebeard and Ace…… ? You…… Don’t tell me…….” 

Ace’s body was trembling and even his breathing had started to become labored as his eyes reddened imperceptibly.

“Have you seen the Summit War?” 

Then, Ali turned to him as he spoke solemnly.

“Of course. My goodness. Is there anyone who hasn’t seen that? I really sobbed when Ace’s chest was stabbed. Oh, come to think of it, you……” 

Ace looked at him in anticipation as he listened to Ali’s words.

“Look like Ace.” 

Ace’s lips twitched in joy.

“My nickname is Ace too! Ali-nim is the only one who recognized me. Who’s your favorite character?” 

“It’s Zorro.” 

“Kghhk!!! You are really knowledgeable.” 

“Of course, One Diss manhwa is the best.” 

Their eyes made eye contact and each of them could tell what the other was thinking even though they did not say a word. The two felt a great sense of bonding after finding out that they both liked the same manhwa.

And Black Dragon who was looking at them just kept his arms crossed with his infinitely serious expression while mumbling to himself.

“Zorro……? I can’t believe he knew Zorro at such a young age…… Swordsman Zorro Ali……? N, no…… Black Mage, you……” 

It was Black Dragon who was looking at them with a sour look on his face.

***

Genie perked up as she looked at this very welcomed reinforcement. It was Black Mage Ali! She did not expect that the world’s best mage would come to support her.

Then……

[The Second Attack will begin.]

[The ‘War Quest: Advancing Legion’ will be created for all users present in Elvenheim.]

Ring!

[War Quest: The Advancing Legion]

Rank: SS

Restrictions: All Users in Elvenheim

Rewards: 

1 500 contribution points for each common demonic beast or demon you hunted. (Number of Enemies: 3,351/3,351)

2 10,000 contribution points for each Silver Wolf that you hunted. (Number of Enemies: 213/213)

3 300,000 contribution points for each Slayer that you hunted. Slayer’s Reward. (Number of Enemies: 3/3)

4 500,000 contribution points for successfully hunting Commander-in-Chief Rufel. Development Stone. (Number of Enemies: 1/1)

Penalty for Failure: You will not be allowed entry to Elvenheim.

Description: The Demonic Legion had started to advance. Stop them and enter the Elven Forest!!!

But the notifications did not stop there.

Ring!

[The Guild Ranking Rewards has opened.]

[If your guild achieves the first place in total contributions your guild members will receive a 20% increase in EXP for 1 month as well as Gorn’s Treasure Chest (A~SS). For ranks 2~20, please check the official website.]

Ring!

[The Individual Ranking Rewards has opened.]

[If you achieve the first place in total individual contributions, you will receive a 15% increase in EXP for 1 month as well as Gorn’s ‘Eye of the Abyss’. For ranks 2~20, please check the official website.] 

It was clearly a huge reward. If their EXP increased by 20% then the members of Legend Guild or other large guilds would be able to cross the threshold that they weren’t able to climb. This would definitely have a huge effect on large guilds. Hundreds of them would have a 20% increase in EXP for one straight month.

Then, Genie looked at her individual contribution as she pondered.

‘I wonder who’s number 1 in the individual contributions……’

For individual contributions, Genie had heard that even though they had converted them to war points and used them to purchase items, the contribution points that they had earned would still be shown. In other words, all of their contribution points whether it was untouched or used would be combined to determine the first in the rankings.

Then, at that moment.

Vwoooooooooong— Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of the trumpets and drums started to shake the entire world. And along with them, whispers from broadcasting companies started to come in.

[ATV PD Kim: Genie-nim, we’ll start the live broadcast as planned.]

In the first place, just like any other guilds, Legend Guild also had an agreement with broadcasters.

[Genie: Yes. I understand.]

The main purpose of broadcasting the guild was simple. It had the effect of promoting the guild as well as showcasing and certifying the guild’s troops and armed forces. Through that, they could recruit a variety of people and spread their influence. 

But this was something that Genie had expected.

‘Right now, perhaps……’

The station would be talking about how to get higher ratings. And this was how the scenario was chosen.

‘Legend shall not fall.’

Everyone, everywhere felt the same way. They knew that Legend would fall today. But not long after, a strange smile hung around Genie’s lips.

‘You think we’re going to fall that easily?’

Didn’t they say this as soon as we received Philip Village? That we can change the village into a bunker if we used 250,000 contribution points?

Genie had already checked the information. 

‘We won’t fall as easily as you thought.’

And with those thoughts, she saw the bone wyverns flying from afar.

***

ATV PD Kim Daeguk looked at the incoming Demonic Legion through the screen with his crossed arms and serious expression.

“It’s a good thing that Caillan Alliance had taken about 1/3 of their forces…… but it seems like they can’t stop them with just their elite minority…… Too reckless……”

PD Kim Daeguk had said these words coldly. He liked a big hit and high ratings and he believed that Legend Guild might be the guild that would give him those numbers. Of course, even if they did not get those numbers, their ratings would still be fine.

The Demonic Legion was being blocked by the 20 elite members of their guild. Although their numbers were huge, he had been cheered up by the thought of those rankers’ strength. However, he still had many concerns.

‘If you’re not able to last at least ten minutes……’

Their ratings would be high but it would be a loss for ATV since they wouldn’t be able to maintain it. So instead of asking their help to broadcast, ATV had provided huge funds to Legend Guild. The contract was signed when they entered Elvenheim so they never thought that something like this would happen. In fact, it was even an exclusive broadcast.

Then, he heard the voice of the relations people.

“The current audience ratings are at 4.3%.”

“……It’s lower than what we thought?”

“It’s because the response is not as good as we thought.”

PD Kim Daeguk hurriedly checked the netizens’ response.

[I don’t want to see my Legend fall……]

[How long do you think will Legend be able to hold out? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? How can 20 people deal with such monstrous numbers? What’s worse, they’re all strong.]

[I’m still watching this live. At least we can watch Legend fall down the abyss.]

[What are you saying? Legend is a legend. And they’re going to do well. Obviously.]

[Right now, Cane, the target Ztuber, is doing an exclusive live broadcast on NTV! He’s telling us about dungeons and class-specific targets!]

“NTV is the biggest.” 

People wanted to see the battle of the strong. They wanted to see excellent physicals, amazingly ridiculous skills as well as monstrous stats. But what if they collapsed in vain? Of course, even the viewers would feel empty and at a loss.

And right now, their rival TV company, NTV, was showing Cane, the most popular target on Ztube. He heard that NTV had invited the Sun Guild Alliance. In other words, once Legend Guild collapsed, then they would immediately send out the Third Coalition’s defense. By then, they would get high ratings. ATV might have something far lower than what they had expected.

At that moment, hundreds of bone wyverns started to appear in the air. There were even thousands of fierce hellhounds on the ground along with the occasional Silver Wolf that was as large as a 1-ton truck. 

[Keong, keong, keong!]

[Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!]

[Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeee!]

Philip Village was still standing strongly albeit stubbornly. Then, he saw Guild Master Genie climbing on top of one of the small sentry towers.

And the Taming Master, Jan, who was casted by ATV started her commentary.

***

[It looks like there are thousands of hellhounds on the ground while there are some wandering Silver Wolves and bone wyverns. I wonder if Legend Guild can hold out? Guild Master Genie is looking at the battlefield with a relaxed expression. And inside Philip Village, the members of Legend Guild are all quickly preparing for the incoming aerial warfare!!]

[The guild members are standing close to the village!!]

[It seems like Khan and Locke are the ones in charge of them!]

[‘Marksman Lute’ is the one in charge of aerial warfare. He has amazing archery skills being a former gold medalist and all so the name ‘Marksman’ is not wasted on him at all.]

And then, something extraordinary happened.

Crack, crack, crack!

Craaaaack!

The running hellhounds suddenly started digging the ground as they entered it like moles.

Pa, pa, pa, pa!

Pa, pa, pa, pa!

“……” 

[D, did you see that?]

[Ah. It’s not the anticipated aerial warfare from none other than Commander Rufel.]

[If you look at them now, the hellhounds looked different from the existing ones. They’re exactly like moles.]

[And it seems like they’re really fast! They look like they’re approaching and entering Philip Village at such a break neck speed in just one go!!!]

[The Legend Guild members looked like they’re confused!]

[They’re done!!! Legend Guild doesn’t look like they will last long!!!]

Genie’s eyes were widened. And just like what the commentators said, she looked like she was confused. However, that was not the reason why she was perplexed. She felt flustered because it went just like how she predicted it to go.

Then, a small smile graced her lips as the commentator started to shout again.

[Huuuuuuuh? Is that guy standing much higher than I last saw him?]

[It’s Fly!!! But Legend Guild is known for not having any prominent mage users?]

[The mysterious mage user is looking down at them from a height that is much higher than the height that the wyverns that we saw before flew on!!!]

Then, at that moment, the mage raised his hand. And as soon as his fingers flicked together……

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr—

The ground began to shake as tree roots and branches twisted out from the ground and trapped hundreds of hellhounds. Then, the mysterious mage unfolded the palm of his hands before clenching his fist tightly!

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

The hundreds of hellhounds that dug deep in the ground and were popped out by the roots and branches suddenly exploded.

Fwiiiiiiish—

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

Then, the green gas scattered as explosions started one after the other.

[……!!!]

[……!!!]

The commentators were left astounded. Then, one of the commentators began to speak in a flurry.

[A, a black robe and a black hat…… D, don’t tell me that’s Black Mage Ali?]

[The world’s greatest mage, Black Mage Ali, has joined Legend Guild!!!]

***

Notes

[One Diss] – The author’s poor effort of evading copyright issues by changing the name of the manga despite describing the characters vividly. LOLOL. Anyway, you know the manga that this is parodying. If you don’t, then shame.

TL’s corner!

Minhyuk, I miss you! Come back!