Chapter 534: Lv. 5, Holy War

Chapter 534: Chapter 534: Lv. 5, Holy War

The system panel unfolded before her eyes.

[Trial Dungeon: Demonic Apocalypse — Complete]

[Main Quest 1: Survive for 30 days — Complete]

[Main Quest 2: Rescue 100 Native People — Complete]

[Side Quest: Cleanse the Demon God’s remains — Complete]

[Hidden Quest: The Demon God’s Revenge — Complete]

[Player Level Increased: LV4 → LV5]

Seraphina Sullivan’s gaze fell on the Level column.

Level 5.

Her Level had finally reached 5.

Seraphina took a deep breath, feeling the Energy surging within her.

It was a qualitative leap, as if an accumulation of quantitative changes had finally triggered a fundamental transformation.

She could feel her senses growing sharper, her reflexes quicker, and the Energy within her more abundant.

Moreover, she had a faint feeling that something had changed now that she was Level 5.

Seraphina recalled a promise she had made to someone.

It had been a long time ago.

In a certain dungeon, she had met another Player.

That Player’s name was Belle White, and her world was controlled by a much stronger Player.

’That Player must be close to godhood, which is why they can use their own rules to control that world.’

Belle White had used her own Ability to teleport Seraphina out of that dungeon, and Seraphina, in turn, had promised to help save her world once she reached Level 5.

But she had only been Level 3 back then, completely powerless to do anything.

Her promise was that once she reached Level 5, she would find a way.

"Level 5..." she murmured.

But her experience in the Demonic Apocalypse taught her that saving a world didn’t rely on Barbaric Strength or courage, but on...

Becoming a God.

Only Divine power could counteract the system’s erosion of a world.

Only the presence of a Divine being could free a world from the apocalyptic cycle.

Sean Chandler had done it.

But the price he paid was being trapped in that world forever.

Seraphina opened her eyes, gazing at the specks of light filtering through the canopy of the Redwood Tree above.

’Become a God...’

She looked down at her own hands.

These hands had once manifested the Universal Sniper Rifle, released Medical Soothing, and cooked countless delicious meals.

The God of Cuisine’s Favored.

That was her identity.

If one day, she too had to walk the path to godhood...

"What kind of God would I become?"

She asked herself softly, a self-deprecating smile touching her lips.

’But it’s too early to be thinking about that now.’

The urgent task at hand was to go to the Demonic Apocalypse Dungeon, find Sean Chandler, figure out his current state, and then—

Find a way to bring him back.

Seraphina stood up, her gaze firm.

With the Three Realms Compass in hand, she could go at any time.

But not now.

She needed to prepare, to plan, to wait until she was back in peak condition.

More importantly...

She needed to think clearly about what she would do if Sean Chandler really couldn’t come back.

Seraphina clutched the Compass, her eyes turning toward the Shelter’s entrance.

"Wait for me," she said softly.

Just like she had said before leaving the dungeon.

Only this time, it wasn’t directed at the entrance, but at herself.

And just as Seraphina uttered those words, "Wait for me," something strange happened.

The object she had placed deep within the Scavenger’s Farm suddenly appeared before her.

There was no warning, no fluctuation of Energy. It was as if it had been there all along, and Seraphina simply hadn’t seen it.

A book.

The *Food God’s Gourmet Atlas*.

The book, which recorded countless recipes and contained the Power of the Food God’s Favored, was now levitating in mid-air, its pages turning on their own with a soft rustling sound.

Seraphina instinctively reached for it, but before her fingers could touch the pages...

The entire world froze.

The specks of light filtering through the Redwood Tree’s canopy hung frozen in mid-air. In the distance, a Four Seasons Deer’s raised hoof was suspended, and the dust motes floating in the air were perfectly still.

Crystal Lynn, Dexter Luther, Matthew Dawson, Paul Payne—everyone was frozen in the posture of the previous second, as if someone had pressed pause.

A majestic Energy descended from the void.

The Energy was indescribably vast, yet it carried no sense of pressure.

It was like an ocean, silently enveloping Seraphina, gentle yet irresistible.

"I felt it..."

The voice echoed from all directions at once, yet it also seemed to rise from the depths of Seraphina’s own heart.

It was distant, powerful, and carried a sense of ancientness that transcended countless ages.

"My Beloved, your Level has finally risen to 5."

Seraphina’s breath caught for a moment.

She recognized this voice.

Although she had only heard it once, she would never forget its unique cadence and Aura.

The God of Cuisine.

"Heh heh—"

The voice chuckled, tinged with amusement and relief. "It’s been a while since we last met. It seems a lot has happened to you, little one."

Seraphina opened her mouth to speak but found she couldn’t move at all.

Her body was fixed in place by that power; only her consciousness could still move freely.

A phantom-like figure materialized before her.

Its face and form were indistinct, just a mass of warm light that emanated the aroma of food.

The light moved slowly around her, as if examining her, or perhaps sensing the Aura on her.

The phantom stopped beside her and leaned forward slightly, as if sniffing something.

"Hmm..." The voice held a hint of playfulness. "The Aura of another Divine being. Let me see... yes, the scent of that old coot, the God of Sweet Dreams."

The phantom straightened up, its tone growing even more cheerful. "No wonder he looked so sour the last time I saw him."

He was jealous of me.

Jealous that I have such a powerful Beloved.

One who reached this Level all on her own, without me having to lift a finger."

Seraphina: "..."

’She wanted to speak, but clearly, it was the Divine being’s turn now.’

’Everything was forbidden.’

But the God of Cuisine seemed to sense the confusion and urgency in her heart.

"You might be wondering why I have appeared?"

The voice was laced with a smile. "For a chosen Divine Favor Player like you, once your Level reaches 5, you enter a new stage."

The phantom paused for a moment, its tone turning more formal.

"The Holy War."

Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat.

"A new round of the Holy War is about to begin."

The God of Cuisine’s voice was calm, yet it carried an ineffable weight. "And the participants will be all Divine Favor Players at Level 5 and above."

The moment his voice fell, Seraphina suddenly found she could speak again.

The power restraining her body hadn’t vanished, but it seemed to be allowing her to ask questions.

"The Holy War?"

she asked, her voice sounding exceptionally clear in the frozen world. "What is that?"

The God of Cuisine fell silent for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts or perhaps recalling some distant past.

"A high-stakes gamble among the Gods."

He finally spoke, his tone as casual as if he were describing something trivial. "The Disaster Game is the first round of the gamble—selecting Players from different worlds, unleashing disasters, and screening for those who are worthy."

"And the Holy War is the second stage."