Gourmet Gaming

Many people were waiting curiously for the main trailer that would announce the beginning of Athenae’s second era. There were people sitting in front of their computers, together with their friends at school, at work, with their families and even with their beloved. Some were looking forward to it, some were mocking the recklessness of Beyond the Heavens in attempting something out of their depths, while others were looking forward to what the future updates held for them.

This was how the two-hour long trailer started…

The Beyond the Heavens’ king looked up to the skies from the castle, only to see something shocking. The stars in the skies gathered together before spreading out into a straight line.

“…?!”

Haze rushed to the shocked Minhyuk while saying, “The Stars’ Path has opened…”

“The Stars’ Path?”

“This was something that was recorded a long time ago. From what I read in an ancient book, a passage to a new world will open once the Stars’ Path opens.”

Minhyuk listened quietly to Haze’s words as he looked up at the stars that were lined up in the skies. All of the citizens of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom were also looking up at the strange phenomenon. Then…

Baaaaaaaaaaaaang—

…the stars that were spread out in the dark skies began to fall down to the ground one after the other, fascinating everyone that was watching. At the Dragon King’s Sea in Asgan Continent, one of the stars that fell, flew across the waters.

Piiiiiiiiiing—

A huge path was created from beneath the star, creating a path that lead to the end of the northern continent and connecting them to the American Server. Dozens of these stars fell down and created several wide and long passageways that connected the continents. But the more surprising fact was the fact that trees, waterfalls, and even other features of nature began to pop up not long after the paths were created. After creating these paths, the stars gathered in one place and…

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

… a huge castle, large territories, mansions and homes began to emerge, until they formed a new empire. Surprisingly enough, the size of this new empire was so large that it could rival a continent on its own. In fact, there were even tens of millions of people that appeared inside the empire, as if they were already there to begin with. Only then did the light from the stars disappear.

When the glaring light disappeared, it revealed their figures. The stars were in fact humans. And these were the words written above their heads.

[God’s Swords.]

[They are the ones that serve the transcendental beings hailed as gods in the Land of the Gods.]

Dozens of them, wearing a cape holding the insignia of the sun and the moon, knelt down on one knee and paid their courtesy. Then, the clouds in the skies opened up as a staircase made of light fell down.

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

Step, step, step—

A man descended from the stairs of light, wearing black armor which seemed to be made from God’s Ore Adamantium. His name appeared on the screen.

[Nerva Sephiroth]

[The Sword of one of the Absolute Gods, the Battle God. Those that were hailed as ‘Swords’ in the Land of the Gods were those that have inherited their gods’ power and lived to protect their god.

Nerva Sephiroth, Sword of the Battle God, had received recognition from the Battle God and became the emperor that held absolute power and ruled over the Land of the Gods. He is the only being that can give orders to the other Swords, aside from the gods.]

Nerva Sephiroth looked ethereal as he descended. Although he seemed to be a middle-aged man, his long silver hair, white skin and golden eyes created an air of mystery that complemented his overwhelming charisma.

“Prepare to trample on and bring all of the continents under my feet. By my God’s will, those that resist shall be slaughtered without mercy.”

The entire scene scattered into thin air after Nerva Sephitroth’s declaration, giving way to the explanation on the screen.

[Nerva Sephiroth had received the orders of the Battle God to straighten out the chaotic world beneath them, bringing them under his rule. 

Nerva Sephiroth was the Sword that had received the power of the Battle God. Upon receiving the orders of his God, he began to put pressure on the kingdoms and empires in their surroundings with his powerful knights and troops.

Nerva Sephiroth and his army’s might was beyond overwhelming. They became the object of fear of the kingdoms and empires. Eventually, he began his tyrannical rule under the guise of an ‘alliance’. Only a year after the appearance of path of the stars, they had brought countless kingdoms and empires of that continent to their knees. Although the Swords were also human beings, they were different. After all, they were the ones that received the power of the gods.

Finally, they began to reach their claws toward the Asgan Continent. They had only been invading for a week but around seven percent of the Asgan Continent had already died. Asgan Continent’s empires and kingdoms joined forces but they were still helpless in front of Nerva Sephiroth’s army. They were still pushed back. 

In the kingdom founded by foreigners, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, everything was in flames and the streets littered with the dead.]

“Your Majesty, you have to go now!!!”

“Your Majeeeeeeesty!!!”

Inside the burning castle, Genie and the other executives of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom rushed forward to urge Minhyuk to leave. Haze, who was bleeding from her head, hurriedly gave Minhyuk an ancient book.

“You have to go, Your Majesty!!! You must go now, quickly!!!”

“My people are dying as they fight to protect my kingdom! How can you tell me to run away in this situation?!!!”

“Only if Your Majesty survives will our Beyond the Heavens Kingdom be able to rise once again! Please gather all of the materials written in this book to create the ‘God Slaughterer Sword’! This kingdom will only live if you live, Your Majesty!!!”

Everyone knelt down and pleaded. The king of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom looked around them and said, “Survive. I will definitely come back for you.”

The Beyond the Heavens King then rushed away.

[Asgan Continent Year 617. Beyond the Heavens Kingdom disappeared from the map. Unstoppable, Nerva Sephiroth and his army devoured the entire Asgan Continent, ushering an era of war filled with bloodshed and screams. Four years after Nerva Sephiroth and his army launched their attack, the Asgan Continent finally succumbed to his tyrannical rule. 

At a time when countless people had died and many more were still suffering, one emperor that Nerva Sephiroth had deposed raised her sword. Her name? Sword Emperor Ellie. 

Continental Emperor Ellie started to gather troops from all over the continent in preparation for the final war. Many gathered under her banner. Even those that survived from Beyond the Heavens Kingdom also gathered under her command to fight the final battle. The number of troops that gathered under Great Sword Ellie easily exceeded six million.]

Ellie, along with countless powerful men and the six million troops under her banner, stood in front of Ruvian Empire, the empire founded by Nerva Sephiroth. Vice Guild Master Genie, Locke, Khan, Ascar, Elpis, Conir, as well as the people of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, a kingdom that had long since disappeared from the map, also stood beside Ellie.

“It’s been a long time since I last tasted a meal made by him.”

The members of Beyond the Heavens Kingdom all nodded and agreed with Genie’s words.

“Kgghk. His cooking is really the best!”

“Conir! Conir wants to eat hyung’s dishes!”

“I want to see His Majesty today.”

Even Sword Emperor Ellie nodded in agreement with their words.

“I also miss him.”

Four years. Four long years had passed where they did not know if he was alive or dead.

Meanwhile, countless archers and mages stood over the ramparts, watching the rebel forces as Ellie unmounted her horse and walked among the six million troops that accompanied her.

[The six million troops that gathered under Ellie’s banner were terrified by the Ruvian Empire’s might. Although they were six million strong, they were but a drop of water in the ocean in front of Ruvian Empire who had gathered countless troops from all of the kingdoms and empires all over the world. In fact, Ruvian Empire’s troops were around seven times their number.]

Ellie walked among her trembling troops before stopping in front of a sixteen year old boy and holding his trembling hands. The fear and dread that prevailed in the boy’s eyes were completely captured and transmitted to all of the viewers watching the scene. Despite his trembling body, the boy still clutched his spear tightly and stood firmly at his spot.

Ellie asked softly, “Are you afraid?”

“No, ma’am!!!” The boy shouted loudly.

But Ellie continued to speak in a soft and gentle voice, “It’s alright. You don’t have to hide it. I am also afraid. Why did you choose to participate in this war?”

“The Ruvian Empire’s Army has taken my family from me!!!”

“I have also lost plenty of people that are precious and dear to me. I’m shaking from fear too. But, does that mean that we have to back down?”

“No, ma’am!!!”

“Do we have to run away because of that?”

“No, ma’am!!!”

“Can you fight against them?”

“I will fight against them!!!”

Ellie tightened her hold on the boy’s hands for a moment before letting go and walking again. As she walked among the six million troops, she said, “We have been robbed of everything that was precious to us just a few years ago. Our friends, family, loved ones, and countless other people have died under the hands of the emperor that called himself an agent of god.”

The trembling in the six million troops’ bodies slowly died down. They were still afraid but the anger that was now boiling in their veins began to overpower the fear in their bodies.

“Our lands, the lands that we lived in, had been taken away from us, their puppet emperors and kings ruling the lands and laying the entire continent into ruins. Even their army is stronger and mightier than us. But… will we run away?!”

“No, ma’am!!!”

The voice of the six million troops rang loudly, shaking the battlefield to its core.

“Do you remember the dead?!!!”

“We remember!!!”

“Will you avenge them?!!!”

“We will!!!”

Ellie mounted her horse again, riding toward the vanguard.

“Forward!!!”

It marked the beginning of the war, with Ellie raising her sword high up in the skies while riding her white horse in the lead, the six million troops right behind her.

That was how the final war began.

[The war between Ruvian Empire and the rebel forces lasted for three weeks. Sword Emperor Ellie, with the help of Jarrod, former tower master of the Knowledge Tower, put pressure on the Imperial Army with their countless tactics and strategies. She and her troops slaughtered eight million of the Imperial Army. However, that came at a high price. 4.2 million rebels had died and 1.5 million were injured and wounded. The war was now coming to an end.]

The scene changed, showing the harrowing scene at the battlefield. The bodies of millions of people littered the ground while 1.5 million of the wounded and injured rebels howled and screamed from despair. Ellie, whose head was already stained with blood and whose armor was already broken beyond repair, staggered, her consciousness barely supporting her body.

The Ruvian Empire was now resorting to arrows and magical attacks to clear the rebels one after the other. Ellie looked around helplessly. Khan, who had fought by her side, had already died. Locke, who had laughed with her, had also died. Ascar, who was still rushing forward in the vanguard, was panting, one of her arms cut off. The scene was incredibly devastating.

“I’m sorry…” Ellie mumbled weakly. She felt heartbroken when she saw the wounded and injured stand up time and again to fight.

Then, amidst the rain of arrows, one of the archers aimed for the head of the very same young boy that was trembling from fear before the start of the war. Ellie squeezed the last of her strength, dashing forward to where the boy was.

The young man stared blankly as Ellie rushed to him while murmuring, “Your Majesty Ellie…”

Stab!

“Ha?”

The arrow pierced through the boy’s head even before Ellie could reach him. All Ellie could do was hold the falling boy’s body tightly in her arms. However, war was not the time to be sentimental. In just a few short moments, the Imperial Mages had already prepared a wide-range magical attack that could sweep away the remaining rebel forces. The only thing that Ellie could do was hug the boy’s dead body in despair and helplessness. But then…

Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh—

“Keuaack?!”

“Ack?!”

“Keok?!”

Hundreds of arrows flew from somewhere and kept the mages, who were casting their magic, in check. There, on a distant hill, was a man riding on a black horse with the hood of his ragged robe covering his face. The man immediately kicked the shins of his horse, urging it to gallop.

Clack, clack, clack, clack—

The horse galloped wildly, followed by four million strong troops composed of countless elves and troops from the Dragon King’s Sea. Then, the man pulled out a sword and raised it to the skies.

Flaaaaaaaash—

The sword shone brightly like a beacon in the darkness, illuminating the world shrouded with the darkness of despair. And when the man swung his sword…

Baaaaaaaang—

The clouds in the skies parted as a thick bolt of lightning fell down and devoured the Imperial Army stationed by the ramparts. With every slash of the man’s sword, a portion of the Imperial Army got slaughtered. He pierced through the countless Imperial Army that were trying to wipe out the remaining rebel forces.

As the man rushed forward, the hood that hid his face slipped off. The man’s hair was long and unkempt, covering most of his face. But the eyes that peeked through their gaps were bright and clear, eyes that could captivate and enamour anyone that saw them.

“…You’re late, Minhyuk,” Ellie murmured with a bright smile on her face.

In the skies above Minhyuk…

“Kihyeeeeeeeeck!”

“Keuhaaaaack!”

“Kihyaaaaaaaack!”

…hundreds of dragons circled the skies to fight alongside him.

“The Beyond the Heavens’ King…”

“Your Majesty…”

“Minhyuk…”

“Your Majeeeeeeeeeesty!!!”

“Your Majeeeeeestyyyyyy!!!”

The ones that had fallen squeezed out the last of their strength to stand up once again. Even the 1.5 million injured and wounded used everything and anything that they could to grab their weapons tightly. Ellie also wringed the last of her strength as she charged toward the Ruvian Empire.

As for the Beyond the Heavens King?

He leapt from his horse and flew toward the figure that was watching them from the ramparts of the empire, Nerva Sephiroth. Hundreds of arrows and magical attacks tried to stop Minhyuk but the sparks that surrounded his body stopped any attack that tried to harm him.

Finally… Minhyuk’s sword slashed toward Nerva Sephiroth’s neck.

“Uwoooooooooh!”

But before the blade of Minhyuk’s sword could touch Nerva Sephiroth, the trailer ended.