Leveling Up Through Eating

Chapter 505: Beyond the Heavens Kingdom versus Akhan

Kimaris had a lot of abilities, and among them was ‘Animal Transformation’, an ability that allowed him to change into the figure of various animals. After turning himself into a black crow, Kimaris followed behind Ghost Spear Ben and saw everything that happened. Kimaris already knew that the old man was fighting a reckless battle that he would not survive.

However, the old man still shone brightly despite the recklessness of his actions.

“…”

Kimaris looked at the old man and asked him in his heart, ‘Why are you doing that? What will you gain with that?’

Anyone could tell that the answer was nothing. But, even though the old man knew that he would gain nothing from this battle, he still faced their enemies and fought desperately. Even when Ben’s body got torn and ripped apart, even when he vomited blood and collapsed on the ground, he still continued to stand up and fight.

Kimaris, someone that once was a human, felt his heart throb with long forgotten emotions after watching Ben’s desperate fight. He was already shocked to see Ben fight like that, even when he stood to gain nothing, but he could not help but be surprised once again after seeing Ben trigger the ‘One that Gained Enlightenment’. Ben overcame his limits and grew stronger which prompted him to move forward once again.

But in the end, the old man still died.

Kimaris might be interested in Ben but that was the end of it. He did not have any reason to help him nor did he have any intentions to do so. However, Kimaris was once again given another shock when Ben stood up once more and was named as a god.

“…How?”

Kimaris was both a clever and knowledgeable demon. He already knew the reason why Ghost Spear Ben was able to stand up once again. In fact, he met quite a few people that chose the same path as Ben in the past. However, these people faced terrible consequences. All of them got sentenced to thousands of years in hell, receiving punishment that was more painful than death.

However, it was an undeniable fact that Ghost Spear Ben chose this path.

“All of this for your king…?”

Throb—

Kimaris’ heart throbbed once again as the memories of the king that he served, back when he was still a human, came flooding in his mind.

Kimaris was a black soldier who had made several contributions but when he was given an audience with the king, they did not give him the recognition that he deserved and even gave his contributions to someone else.

Back then, the king said, ‘What’s wrong with your skin color? Disgusting! Tidy yourself quickly!’ That was right. The king that he served uttered those words the moment he saw him then threw him out of the hall, as if they were throwing out garbage.

But the king that Ghost Spear Ben served was different. There was a baby pig beside him, a Sword Saint, a demon that wrote novels, a foul-mouthed pirate, Cerberus, and many others. Their king embraced them and accepted them without any discrimination.

‘If the king that I served was… you then…’

At this moment, Kimaris felt like he understood the reason why Elpis served this king, even just for a bit. Even so, Kimaris did not intend to help Ghost Spear Ben.

However, his hands betrayed his stoic face. They were soaked with cold sweat. Even his lips opened as he mumbled unconsciously, “Run. Run as far as you can, to the place where your king is.”

***

Haze shook her head fiercely.

Flash—

An excerpt from a book that she read a while ago appeared in her head.

‘Those that desire the power of the gods but fail to reach godhood can sell their souls to the God of Death to gain their god’s power. In return, their souls will suffer for thousands of years in hell, their chances at reincarnation disappearing into dust.’

Haze already knew the choice that Ben had made just by looking at the black ash that was fluttering from his body. But Ghost Spear Ben was still smiling kindly at her.

“When I first met His Majesty, he made me some Blue Crab Ramyeon. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water. I want to taste it again…”

“…”

Haze could only cry. Meanwhile, the hatchling, Luna, watched everything from beginning to end. She saw Ghost Spear Ben charging forward and fighting against tens of thousands of enemies for herself and Haze. He kept on standing up everytime he fell down, and did it over and over again. She was born with the Lord’s blood so she was also aware of the path that Ghost Spear Ben chose.

“Kiyeeeeeeeeee! Kiyeeeeeeeee! Kiyeeeeeeeeeeeee!” Luna cried loudly, eyes bursting into tears.

But Ben’s smile continued to shine radiantly as he looked at Luna, who was perched on the horse, and said, “It’s alright, Luna. People will die one day.”

As Luna grew, she also learnt of fear. And when she learnt of death, she felt like she was about to combust from the fear and sadness at the thought of someone dying. But Ghost Spear Ben, who was on the verge of death, just smiled.

This situation was a first for a young hatchling like her. That was why she could not understand why someone would choose to abandon themselves to protect something. Even so, Luna found Ben’s smile at this moment brighter than anyone’s smile.

That was when Luna realized that living her life for someone else and making sacrifices was something that was worth the pain and effort. She also learned that it was something that one can smile about. Then, a bright light burst out of Luna’s body. Luna had gained plenty of realizations and enlightenment from Beanie.

However, this time, it was different.

[Luna has learnt a lot about the Spirit of ‘Sacrifice’.]

[Sacrificing yourself for someone else is both a happy and painful thing. She realizes a new will and has grown rapidly.]

[All of Luna’s stats have increased by +20.]

[Luna’s father, Minhyuk, has acquired a +2 in all of his stats as a reward.]

[Luna has made a decision at this very moment. She dreams of becoming a merciful dragon that can embrace all beings in the world.]

[Luna will now walk the path of a Benevolent Dragon Lord.]

Hearing that, Ghost Spear Ben looked kindly at Luna and said, “That’s right. Luna should become a great dragon.”

“Kihyeeeeeeeeeee!”

And once again, Ghost Spear Ben started to break through the gaps of their enemies.

‘I don’t have much time left.’

Flaaaaash—

Ghost Spear Ben began to accelerate. Not long after, he succeeded in breaking through the waves of enemies that blocked their path. Ghost Spear Ben climbed onto the horse once again.

“Hiyaaaaa! Hiyaaaaaaa!”

Over 20,000 strong troops began to chase after them. And Renzie murmured as he watched Ben rush away from them, “He really… succeeded…?”

The things that Ben had achieved with his sheer will and tenacity alone were extremely amazing.

Ghost Spear Ben kept on riding the horse, heading towards one of the small drainage pipe connected to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. He was able to successfully reach their destination by fending off the enemies that occasionally outran them and sometimes turning around to block them himself. When they arrived in front of a very small passageway, Ghost Spear Ben smiled softly and said, “Miss Haze, please take care of Luna.”

“Gr, grandpa…”

But Haze could not step away from him. She knew that Ben would disappear from here alone and in a bitter situation, in front of a smelly and dirty drainage pipe, and not in the arms of the king that he loved and treasured.

“Please do not waste my death.”

“…Yes.”

Haze had no other choice but to hug Luna tightly. It was already a miracle that they made it all the way here. Ben’s sacrifice should not be wasted. Haze immediately entered the small drainage pipe.

“Kihyeeeeeeeeee!” Luna cried desperately for Ghost Spear Ben. She was telling him that she did not want to go.

But Ben just continued to smile kindly at her while waving his hand and saying, “Hurry. You should go now, Luna.”

Luna and Haze disappeared into the darkness of the drainage pipe. Seeing this, Ghost Spear Ben turned around to face tens of thousands of enemies once again.

Stab—

Ben stabbed his spear into the ground and declared, “None of you can pass through here.”

Renzie gritted his teeth. They paid homage to the old veteran’s will, but in the end the old man succeeded in what he wanted to do, giving them a very hard time in the process. It was also because of this old man that he lost thousands of his allies.

“Attack!!!”

A fierce battle began once again. Ghost Spear Ben, who inherited the power of the Spear God, was at a level that far surpassed the level of the Absolute Supreme NPC, Ellie.

Craaaaaack—

One swing of Ben’s spear and dozens of his enemies would die.

Slaaaaaash—

One stab of his spear and dozens more would perish. Even after ten, twenty, thirty minutes had passed, Ghost Spear Ben’s momentum did not falter.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—

Dragon Elder Velach, who joined the troops, bombarded Ben with dozens of magical attacks. However, even when explosions bloomed around him, Ghost Spear Ben stood firm and blocked the drainage pipe that Haze and Luna entered. But slowly, ever so slowly…

[You are starting to lose Aerdes’ power.]

The power that Ben inherited from Aerdes was slowly slipping away from him. The unwavering Ghost Spear Ben, an existence that the enemy troops could not win against, started to weaken and it was showing.

“So, you sold your soul to the gods.”

Dragon Elder Velach could not understand why a king, who could command such a sentimental and loyal human, kidnapped Luna and turned her into a dragon of destruction. But that question only flashed in Velach’s head for a moment. It was true that they stole the egg that hatched Luna. That was why they would never stop their attack on them. And finally…

Thuuuuud—

Ghost Spear Ben fell down on one knee.

Shwaaaaaa—

The black ash that fluttered from his body also started to increase. Ben tried his hardest to not let his other knee fall but in the end…

Thud—

He was forced to kneel down on both knees, his hands losing his grip on the spear of light.

Clang—

The spear of light that fell on the floor turned into black ash that disappeared into the wind. Ben’s borrowed time was about to end. None of the people present was interested in making a move on Ben. After all, he was already unable to fight.

But despite all of that, Ghost Spear Ben was smiling lightly. Luna and Haze would have definitely run quite a distance now. Even if the troops in front of him entered the passage and ran after them, they would definitely reach Valencia first.

‘I have lived a life with no regrets.’

Ben was already starting to feel everything slip away from him. Darkness was already encroaching on his blurry vision. There was only one person that flashed in his mind just when he was about to enter his eternal suffering.

When they hunted Black Dragon Vormon, Ben used his ‘Pinnacle Spear’ and ended up dying. Back then, a fuming Minhyuk told him, ‘Grandpa. You absolutely cannot do something so reckless next time. Every day, you keep on saying ‘I never learnt to back down.’ I don’t like that line one bit! Grandpa, you should know that the elderly should live a long, happy and healthy life!’

‘Hohoho. My son… no, Your Majesty, you’re such a worrywart. Are you telling this old man to live longer?’

‘You have to promise me grandpa. You can’t do something this reckless again.’

‘Hoho. Alright. I promise. I promise.’

Minhyuk’s smiling face appeared in front of Ben.

Tremble—

Ben stretched out his trembling fingertips and reached out for him. For some reason, it felt like he was able to touch the figure in his fantasies. It seemed like his death was truly just right around the corner. After all, he could vividly see the illusion in front of him. In fact, even his hearing had already disappeared. Even so, Ben still continued to reach out to caress Minhyuk’s face.

‘Your Majesty, I don’t think I can keep my promise with you.’

Ben murmured to himself. But then, something warm touched the pads of his fingers. The warmth then dragged Ben’s hands to what felt like a cheek. For a moment, just a very brief moment, Ben’s hearing and vision cleared up.

The scene that greeted him was the collapse of all the troops present and Dragon Velach writhing in pain. And the one that took Ghost Spear Ben’s hands and cradled it to a warm face was the person that he wanted to see the most.

This very same person was sobbing loudly in front of him.

The man sobbed as he hugged the kneeling Ben, “I’m sorry I’m late, Grandpa.”

“Ho, hohoho… hohoho…”

The strong and firm Ben began to tremble as tears finally flowed down his cheeks. Ghost Spear Ben slowly pulled himself away from the hug. And even though his body was slowly disappearing, he still reached out to wipe the tears on Minhyuk’s face and said, “Don’t cry, my king.”

***

CC’s Thoughts

I think my laptop is broken. The screen strangely looks blurry. *sob*