Leveling Up through Eating

Chapter 1215

The entire world was buzzing. Everyone was excited as they discussed the easiest and fastest path toward the end of the class and the potential failure of the cooking process of the Pillar Ingredient.

[If I were in that position, I would ask the other Food Gods to help me cook and receive the reward. But…]

[Hey! You too? Me too.]

[The Food God is crazy. He’s freaking awesome.]

[As someone who has been working as a chef for twenty years, when Minhyuk said, ‘I cannot allow the taste and flavor of a dish to drop.’ and took the risk just so he could get the most delicious dish, I felt like my head had been hit with a hammer. After all, a chef has to devote their entire being to making the most delicious dish.]

[Food God hyung, love you~]

[ExtremelySoft has donated 100,000 won.]

[FoodGod’sTrueFan has donated 50,000 won.]

The people started to donate, with some donating millions of won in one go. The names of famous and world-renowned rankers could also be seen flashing occasionally. Eventually, the donation window was left frozen and paralyzed. Perhaps it was because even those who were jealous and envious of Minhyuk were cheering and rooting for the Food God right at this very moment.

[You have lost 174 DEX.]

[You have lost 105 DEX.]

[You have lost 109 DEX.]

The Pillar Chicken still took away hundreds of Minhyuk’s DEX with every passing second.

‘This Pillar Ingredient is the most difficult ingredient I have ever tried to cook.’

Rocado cooked the first Pillar Ingredient that Minhyuk obtained. As for the second Pillar Ingredient, Minhyuk almost failed. The dish was only completed with the help of Aemira, the one who carried the name of the archangel.

‘Even so, this Pillar Ingredient has the highest level of difficulty in terms of cooking.’

Regardless, it was fine. Minhyuk did not choose to keep on cooking by himself without any preparations. During the competition against the players and the NPCs, they gave up 1 DEX to him. And every time they grouped, they had to give up more DEX. Would the DEX that he obtained from them just disappear like that? No, not at all.

Among the notifications that bombarded Minhyuk’s ears, one constantly appeared.

[You will only be able to obtain a small portion of the DEX you have gathered.]

There were no less than twelve million chefs who participated in the competition. This meant that at least twelve million DEX had been gathered. However, the gathered DEX was not awarded to him right away. Why was this the case?

‘Joy Co. Ltd. has predicted this.’

If Minhyuk had chosen to cook with the other Food Gods, they would only need to award him a tiny portion of the gathered DEX. What would happen if Minhyuk made the choice that truly represented the Food God? What if he did not choose to cook with the other Food Gods? Then, he would be rewarded with something else, just like the notification ringing in his ears.

[You have chosen to cook by yourself.]

[The DEX that you will receive is being calculated.]

Ring!

[You did not choose to cook with the other Food Gods.]

[The rewards and benefits you will receive from allowing the challengers to unite will be changed.]

[The total amount of DEX that you will receive is 13,673.]

Considering that the amount of DEX collected from the challengers was around a hundred million, the number of DEX he would receive could be pitifully small. Even so, receiving more than thirteen thousand DEX was astronomical, especially since only a single player would receive it.

Alas, given that they were disappearing by the hundreds with each passing second, they wouldn’t greatly help Minhyuk.

‘As time goes by, my DEX will continue to decrease. And the more DEX I lose, the harder it will be for me to cook.’

Of course, there was one thing that he was sure of.

‘All my DEX will be restored if I succeed in cooking this ingredient.’

That should be a given. If not, no one would be crazy enough to try to cook this ingredient, would they?

Then, the change in the rewards and benefits he would receive from allowing the challengers to form groups finally appeared.

[You can exchange your 13, 673 DEX for buff instead of acquiring the stat points permanently.]

Although Minhyuk’s DEX was constantly being devoured, the fact that he could change them into a buff DEX. This would help him with cooking. Furthermore, changing the form of acquisition from permanent to buff would give Minhyuk an astronomical value.

[You have destroyed 1,330 DEX. Your DEX has increased by 10%!]

Minhyuk was delighted.

He hated the fact that the flavor and taste of the dish would decrease by 20% if he chose to cook with the other Food Gods. It was to the point that he’d rather die than do something like that. So, he took a gamble, one he took purely because he wanted to eat something more delicious.

Minhyuk’s HP had fallen below 30%. Although it was slowly recovering, it was not enough. So, he took a potion and raised it back to 50%. Then, he walked in front of the dish that he was cooking.

[There are only 30,000 people left.]

The only ones left were the truly special ones, and many had not yet reached the middle stages of the Pillar Ingredient's cooking process. They still did not know that the Pillar Ingredient could reduce their DEX. However, it seemed like some people had whispered to them.

“WHAT?! Our DEX will be taken away?”

“Of course, it will be restored if you succeed.”

“Who in the world will cook something like this?!”

[There are only 1,300 people left.]

A huge number of people gave up in an instant. Minhyuk took a deep breath and left them behind.

‘I’m looking forward to you.’

Since this Pillar Ingredient had the highest level of difficulty and penalty among all of the Pillar Ingredients, this one would be the most delicious and tastiest dish in the world.

The cooking, which had been paused for a moment, began again. Minhyuk had already added all the ingredients needed for the spicy braised chicken to the cauldron. The chef would no longer need to do anything if this were ordinary spicy braised chicken. They just had to close the lid and wait for the dish to be completed.

Nonetheless, this was a Pillar Ingredient. Usually, impurities would appear at this point, putting heavy pressure on Minhyuk, and he would have to remove them immediately. What greeted Minhyuk this time completely differed from what he had experienced.

“What the hell is this…?”

The boiling sauce, dyed red because of the gochujang, suddenly changed and turned into plain water. And just like water being sucked by a drainage, the level of the water began to recede. Even the potatoes, which had already been well-cooked, slowly began to harden again. The chicken also slowly returned to being raw. The ingredients inside the cauldron were slowly returning to their state before they were cooked!

[The Pillar Chicken is capricious. It has changed its mind.]

[However, the dish's completion level remains unchanged at 51%.]

[You have to change the type of dish that you’re making in two minutes.]

[If you fail to do so, the Pillar Chicken will rot.]

Minhyuk panicked. “What the hell? What kind of ridiculous situation is this…?!”

Two minutes. That was a short amount of time, yet he had to change the type of dish that he was cooking successfully. Those who realized that Minhyuk had to change the type of dish that he was cooking in the middle of the cooking process were also shocked.

The gears in Minhyuk’s head spun fast. He had to think of a dish that required the least changes—one with the most similar ingredients and cooking process, too! Of course, Minhyuk’s ability to judge a situation and come up with a solution was outstanding. He immediately found a solution. He added some minced garlic, a sprinkle of thick soy sauce, and some corn syrup in a bowl. Then, he began to make the new sauce.

‘This devious ingredient! It’s making it hard for me.’

When Minhyuk was about to pour the sauce, an illusion of the cauldron suddenly appeared before him.

“Huh?”

Unfortunately, it was not an illusion.

Thump–!

[The Pillar Chicken is resisting fiercely!]

[Your HP has fallen below 26%.]

The hot cauldron slammed straight into Minhyuk, pulling out a groan from his mouth.

“This is crazy…!”

Then, the cauldron suddenly rose to the sky and began to run away. The bowl Minhyuk used to carry the sauce he made was very special. It was none other than the Food God’s Almighty Tool, a tool that could move by itself.

Minhyuk jumped out and grabbed the hot cauldron with both of his hands. “Ugh!!!”

What would happen if one held a hot cauldron with their bare hands? Smoke would rise from the hands, and the flesh would burn. Even so, Minhyuk still hugged the cauldron that was desperately trying to run away.

Sizzle–!

[Your HP has fallen below 20%.]

The Food God’s Almighty Tool, which was in the form of a bowl, flew inside the cauldron and poured its contents inside. Then, it immediately changed into another tool. It became a huge wooden spatula, and the cauldron contents were stirred.

The cauldron finally fell to the ground once again.

THUMP–!

Minhyuk’s body began to burn. This was because he had to hug the cauldron with his entire body to reduce the impact of the fall.

Shiver–!

Minhyuk trembled.

[The dish has been changed to Braised Chicken.]

The level of completion had reached 60%. However, another problem arose.

‘The chicken is already cooked, but the sauce needs to boil again.’

And then, another problem popped up.

[The Pillar Chicken is capricious. It has changed its mind.]

[You have to complete the Braised Chicken in fifteen minutes.]

In this situation, Minhyuk had to ensure he could boil the braised chicken sauce.

Braised chicken is a very delicious dish if it is well-cooked. Everyone would agree that there was nothing more disappointing than ordering braised chicken where the chicken and the potatoes did not even have the taste of the sauce in them.

Now? Minhyuk had to ensure that the braised chicken sauce could be evenly distributed in the dish in just fifteen minutes. Then, to make matters worse…

[The fire under the cauldron is starting to die down.]

‘This f*cking chicken must have loved annoying and bullying others when it was still alive!’

Minhyuk quickly transformed the Food God’s Almighty Tool into a fan and used it to fan the flames. Alas, the flames did not grow. It was as if someone had soaked the firewood in water. Time passed, yet the sauce still did not boil. Then, at that moment, Minhyuk heard the voice of the one bullying him and making things hard for him in his ears.

[Then, why don’t you become the fire itself?]

“...?” Minhyuk looked around in confusion.

[Raise your hands and grab the cauldron.]

Minhyuk had no time to spare. He immediately held the cauldron with both of his hands.

Sizzle–!

With the grotesque and eerie sound of his flesh burning, the flames that were slowly dying down grew and soared once again.

Shwaaaaaa–!

A vast and blazing flame engulfed Minhyuk and the cauldron.

[The Braised Chicken’s sauce is boiling down quickly.]

[However, the sauce is thickening and quickly reaching its most delicious state.]

The burning flame filled in the gap and covered the time that had been lost before. Minhyuk looked at everything through his burning lashes and the blazing flames covering his vision.

The players of Athenae did not feel pain. It was more like a weird sensation than true pain. And this odd feeling had engulfed Minhyuk’s entire being. Although the feeling was completely different from pain, the weird sensation brought about by the burning flesh on his body left him groaning.

Even though Minhyuk could not feel pain, he could still feel his body reaching its limits. Minhyuk’s body shook and trembled as his flesh slowly burned away. The worst part? His armor, which was also being heated by the flames, was stuck to his skin. It made things hotter and more tormenting.

“Ugh…”

Of course, Minhyuk did not miss the notifications that rang in his ears.

[The fire under the cauldron is getting stronger.]

[The speed at which your DEX is being devoured has gotten faster.]

[You have lost 708 DEX.]

[You have lost 897 DEX.]

[You have lost 967 DEX.]

[You have destroyed 1,330 DEX. Your DEX has increased by 10%!]

[You have lost 678 DEX.]

[You have lost 967 DEX.]

[You have destroyed 1,330 DEX. Your DEX has increased by 10%!]

Minhyuk experienced both loss and gain repeatedly in such a short amount of time. As he was engulfed by the fear of losing all of his DEX if he failed to cook the dish and the strange and weird sensation brought about by his burning flesh, a brutal and vicious voice rang.

[What’s this? What are you doing? Why aren’t you stirring? It’s sticking to the bottom of the cauldron.]

The fire has gotten stronger. This meant there was a high chance that the bottom of the cauldron might burn. Unfortunately, the moment Minhyuk, still engulfed by flames, held a ladle, the fire that covered his body shot to the sky.

Crackle–!

Everyone watching the scene was left shocked. Wasn’t he just cooking?

[Your HP has fallen below 20%.]

[Your HP has fallen below 19%.]

[Your HP has fallen below 18%.]

[The DEX that you possess has fallen below 50%.]

The notifications were putting a huge amount of pressure on Minhyuk.

Crackle–!

[Stir! Stir! Stir! Stir! I said, stir it!]

The ringing voice in his ears also left him panicked and distressed, but he continued to stir. Even though his entire body was still burning and he felt overwhelming pressure, Minhyuk continued to stir the cauldron's contents to prevent it from sticking to the bottom and make the most delicious dish in the world. Regardless, the more he stirred, the stronger the flames that devoured him appeared.

The problem was it was not easy for Minhyuk either. Although he had received a lot of DEX buffs, he had already lost a considerable amount of DEX. This meant that his power had also decreased considerably. He now only had around 70% of his usual power. Even so, he did not back down. He continued to stir and stir and stir. He could not stop and let his hard work burn into nothing.

Bubble, bubble–

He could not let this dish burn, even when it spurted flames that felt like lava. He could not give up, especially when the sauce was boiling and rapidly seeping into the ingredients.

[Your HP has fallen below 10%.]

[Your HP has fallen below 8%.]

Still, Minhyuk did not stop.

[The DEX that you possess is not enough. Stirring the ladle has now become even more difficult for you.]

More than 70% of his DEX had been devoured at this point. Even if he had a lot of buffs, it was useless if the DEX was low. Regardless, he did not give up. He grabbed the ladle with both hands.

“I’m going to finish cooking this dish.”

‘This dish will prove my abilities and show them the end of my path. And this is also the dish that will make me the happiest in the world.’

He grabbed the ladle and continued to stir. The ladle was getting harder and harder for him to stir. It was to the point where he had to exert a lot of force for it to move. As for his entire body? It had already turned black from the flames.

The chefs were stunned as they watched Minhyuk, who had now turned black as charcoal.

[Your HP has fallen below 4%.]

[You have triggered Pinnacle Dexterity.]

[Your DEX has increased by 1.4x]

[DEX Critical!]

[DEX Critical!]

[DEX Critical!]

[The Braised Chicken is 90% complete.]

[DEX Critical!]

[DEX Critical!]

[You have entered the state of Extreme Trance.]

All the noises around him slowly died down. The biggest reason why Minhyuk did not accept the help of the other Food Gods was because he wanted to eat the most delicious food in the world. And right now, he wanted to make this boiling braised chicken into the most delicious dish in the world so he could eat it with relish.

[Your HP has fallen below 3%.]

Minhyuk felt as if everything around him was in slow motion. And in this state, someone said…

[I am the Divine Bird, the Ruler of the Primordial Skies.]

[Even if I’m already dead, I will not allow a mere human being to turn me into a dish and swallow me down.]

[Let me ask you one thing.]

[Why are you doing this?]

Minhyuk’s HP stopped dropping even further. Even the red flames burning his flesh had turned blue and illuminated the entire area. He was still stirring the ladle and said, “Because I want to eat the most delicious food in the world.”

[Just for that reason?]

“I am the Food God. It’s not ‘just’ a mere reason; it’s everything to me.”

[...]

“The Food God is the happiest god when he’s eating. Perhaps that’s the most apt expression to describe me. I promise you, God who Ruled the Skies. The bowl that will hold your noble self will be the bowl that will hold the grandest sky. And I, who cooked you, will be the greatest sky. The path that you have taken with me will not be a meaningless one but a beautiful one filled with meaning.”

Crackle–!

[...]

The divine bird continued to release bright flames that did not hurt.

[Just cooking me will make my path the most beautiful…]

The divine bird pondered over those words before saying…

[It’s my honor.]

Crackle–!

The flames grew bigger.

[Hold on. Only you have held on and endured this far.]

[Only the Food God who wants to make the world's most incredible and most delicious dish.]

[Then, let me give you the power to hold on and endure.]

Ring!

[You can temporarily use the skill that the Divine Bird possessed.]

[The power is dependent on the power of the Divine Bird. The power has temporarily reached Level 9.]

[The Skill: Blazing Dexterity has been activated.]

The Blazing Dexterity was the skill that was written in the description of the Pillar Chicken. It was the skill he would acquire if he ate the dish made from this ingredient.

Ring!

[Something shocking has happened.]

[Someone anonymous has started to trigger a skill on par with the now-deceased Pillar of Dexterity Rocado’s Almighty Hands!]

Crackle–!

Minhyuk tightened his hold on the handle of the ladle as the flames around him grew bigger and bigger.

It was now time for him to finish this dish and see the end of the path of the Food God.