When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 1297 - 22 Alcohol, Meat and Slaughter

The grand banquet of the Shadow Nation was held as scheduled.

After entering the castle, the banquet hall was just one floor down.

The heat, akin to a blacksmith’s forge, made Arsene feel his skin turning scalding hot.

The scent of roasting meat, stewing meat, and the aroma of wine mixed together, enveloping him.

There was still no light here, as dim as the outside. Even at the banquet, there were no torches or candles to be seen.

Yet, in this basement where there was no lightning to be seen, it was surprisingly much brighter than outside.

There were bizarre round tables of varying sizes. The tables resembled donuts, or pizzas, with the outer ring being higher. The inner circle was lower, or even hollow. The floor beneath the round tables was open, with visible flames roaring inside. Those flames licked the wire mesh-like inner circle round tables, continuously grilling the meat placed on them.

These flames illuminated the entire room. Although it was still slightly dim compared to the outside, for Aiwass and Arsene, who had fully adapted to the dark world outside, these flames were bright enough to make their eyes hurt.

The warriors did not use knives and forks; in a way, it was similar to chopsticks—they used tongs that looked like long-handled pliers to eat the roasted meat.

They would pick up the raw meat they wanted from the basket beside them, place it on the wire mesh of the lower table, and let the fierce flames lick it. Once it was cooked or charred, they would take it back to eat. Or they would place a small pot filled with broth onto the inner ring, letting it boil for a while before pulling it back in front of them. Some would even use it to heat the ice-cold wine in their bowls, turning it into room temperature or hot wine...

Even in the dim environment, each warrior was eating with sweat all over their bodies.

The warriors had varied styles, some burying their heads in meat, some eating and drinking, while others were focused on games of finger-guessing and drinking.

Meanwhile, some witches roamed among the tables, constantly filling each person’s basket with meat, placing bowls of seasoned broth in the center. Or they kept placing bowls of iced strong wine in front of the warriors, one bowl after another as they drank.

These witches had enchanting figures and beautiful appearances, but about seventy percent of them had some kind of animal characteristics—such as a giant snake lower body or cat ears on their heads. A few witches had blue or green skin, proving that the creatures they merged with were different.

Some witches simply sat in the laps of some warriors. Perhaps because the Shadowy Celestial Marshal had not yet arrived, some warriors had already started a game with witches at the table.

Encouraged by the atmosphere, more warriors began to join in.

It wasn’t until the Shadowy Celestial Marshal came down with Aiwass and the others that the warriors and witches quickly sobered up, separating to do what they were supposed to do. Like students pretending to read aloud when the headteacher approached, their eating and drinking sounds seemed louder.

This couldn’t fool the Shadowy Celestial Marshal at all—yet such small "rebellions" were allowed by the Shadowy Celestial Marshal. It was more of a certain ambiance.

"...It’s all meat."

Arsene pretended not to see the scene just now and quickly exclaimed, "Really nice."

The Shadowy Celestial Marshal, who was originally scanning the banquet with squinted eyes, turned back and smiled upon hearing this, "Rather, things other than meat are rare around here."

Upon hearing this, Aiwass immediately thought of Avalon from the original "Shadow of Avalon" incident—

Just like how when the Fallen Celestial Marshal descended, they overlapped their domain with the Material Realm; the same happened when the Shadowy Celestial Marshal descended. However, after the Shadow Nation overlapped with the Material Realm, almost all the plants withered completely. In the Shadow Domain, almost no plants could grow. Only oak and shrubs could withstand the shadow’s aura, turning entirely black while retaining the ability to bear fruit. Even so, it wasn’t enough to sustain any herbivorous animals.

Although animal-based foodstuffs could still be eaten, they wouldn’t last long either.

And in that domain, even if lights were lit, the beams couldn’t penetrate far, like being wrapped in a black fog. Therefore, even without using soil corrupted by the shadow’s power, imported soil or soilless cultivation would also struggle due to severely weakened light.

The key issue was that any mortal who dies here would turn into undead. The large number of undead would also obstruct the transportation of goods.

If not for Isabel from the original timeline exchanging for the power of the Queen Vanhua, reviving Avalon’s earth... it’s likely that after the Shadowy Celestial Marshal descended, Avalon would have become history.

It’s not that she bore any particular malice... but the shadow domain naturally rendered human life unsustainable. Just like when the Abyssal Celestial Envoy descends, the cities become submerged by the sea—for Sea Monsters, that’s their comfortable living area expanding, but for terrestrial life, it means death.

The Shadowy Celestial Marshal pulled everyone to sit at the uppermost table—the largest table. Besides the Shadowy Celestial Marshal, Aiwass, Arsene, and Vinesse, only one person was seated there, namely, the Nation Destroyer Ares. They didn’t even fill a third of the table.

Unlike the "self-service barbecue" below, the largest table had beautifully prepared dishes. And here, only a few vegetables could be seen.

If one line were to describe the meal at the Shadowy Celestial Marshal’s table—it could simply be termed, a Monster Hunter-style cat meal.

"Does Ares usually eat here?"

Aiwass looked at Ares with some surprise.

He probably underestimated Ares’ status in the Shadow Nation.

Ares and the Shadowy Celestial Marshal, the two giants, exchanged a glance and chuckled simultaneously.

"No," Ares explained good-naturedly, "Because today, I am the champion."

Upon hearing this, Aiwass suddenly realized.

Because Aiwass was to sit with the Shadowy Celestial Marshal and Vinesse... Arsene, not wanting to sit next to Vinesse, sat on the other side, beside Ares.

He turned his head slightly, a bit puzzled, and quietly asked Ares, "Champion? Did you have some kind of competition?"

"We compete almost every day. Or rather, our days are divided by competitions."

Ares also whispered, "When everyone’s full, energy boiling, with nothing to do, competitions are held. Whoever’s available organizes it, and whoever’s free joins in. Sometimes it’s small-scale... a duel between a few people; if everyone is awake, or most are free, a large-scale competition is organized. Winners and those who perform well receive the Queen’s favor."

Arsene asked puzzledly, "What do you compete in?"

"Anything. Long jump, running, throwing, archery... whatever there’s a dispute over, but mostly we kill each other. Like today’s competition."

Ares was quite proud, "I killed all of them one by one, so today I am the champion."

"If it’s killing each other..."

Arsene hesitated, "Then surely..."

He didn’t have any particular doubt about "people dying and coming back to life"... he already knew from Aiwass that Ares was once a Celestial Envoy of Supreme Heaven, and had a terrifying name as the Nation Destroyer.

"—so other people could still win?"

"Ha ha ha!"

Hearing such certainty, Ares laughed heartily, evidently very happy with Arsene’s words, "Well said! Come, drink!"

He had originally wanted to pat Arsene on the back, but stopped when he raised his hand, evidently afraid he might pat Arsene to death.

So instead, he handed Arsene a bowl of wine and then picked up a basin of wine himself, gulping it down.

That stone basin, about the size of a washbasin, was just right for Ares to hold with a single hand.

"Ares, that kid has no sense!"

Someone below shouted, "Let him see!"

"Alright!"

Ares replied cheerfully, "Come! Fight!"

He drank the icy wine from the bowl, chewing on the ice cubes inside while picking up the flaming spear and stepping down.

A few warriors, eager for action, grabbed a piece of meat, stuffed it in their mouths, and stood up, clapping their hands while chewing.

They didn’t even warm up, starting to fight without any warning—

Ares skewered a leaping giant warrior with his spear, then lifted him and slammed him onto the iron frame in the middle of one table, sizzling as it grilled.

Laughing wildly, with his other hand, he grabbed a human warrior’s arm, tearing it off entirely!

"Good!"

"Give it to me! Give it to me!"

The rest of the banquet roared in excitement, with people constantly asking for that bloody arm.

Ares tossed the arm, striking someone who wanted it, pinning them directly to the wall with the arm!

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