With the wind gone and the tables no longer shaking, and the sea of clouds blocking their view of the ground below, the only reminder that they were still high in the air was the faint sensation of falling...

It almost felt like they were sitting at a normal dining table.

After all, this divine banquet seemed to have some sort of blessing that protected them from the high altitude's low temperatures and thin air.

But...

No one believed that anyone would survive if all the ropes snapped.

So when they heard the punishment of "two ropes breaking," everyone became extremely alert.

Especially when combined with Ka's earlier words, it wasn't hard for them to reach a conclusion...

The [Main Course] seemed to involve competition between players again.

After all, the dish was literally called [A Victor's Blood Runs Ever Sweet]!

Just like how the side dish was named [The Frontier's Gift to Pioneers at World's End]...

And then they had to actually hunt and gather ingredients themselves.

These two cryptic "dish names" undoubtedly contained some kind of metaphor.

Thus, the looks they gave each other became scrutinizing and hostile once more.

Lin Yu also wore an amused expression as he scanned everyone's faces.

However, he was secretly praying inside.

"Please don't let it be direct confrontation!"

First, he would definitely be exposed.

Second, judging from the attitude of those who had been robbed earlier, these people might even team up to target Fluoxetine first!

But fortunately...

That didn't end up happening.

Ka proceeded to announce the rules.

"Everyone, the banquet game to determine who gets to taste the [Main Course] is very simple... no need for any of you to lift a finger."

As soon as it finished speaking, a four-sided screen descended from above the table, suspended by ropes.

It resembled the screens used in 360-degree stadiums or performance stages, allowing people from all directions to see its contents.

On the screen was what appeared to be an arena-like fighting ring.

Solemn gray-white stone bricks formed neat rows, surrounded by dark red chains and iron pillars serving as railings.

Beyond the ring was another circle of high walls and spectator stands in the same gray-white tones.

Though currently, the stands were completely empty.

Surprisingly, it was Radish who quietly recognized the arena's origin.

"It's the 'Land of Certain Death.'"

Ka seemed equally surprised and burst into laughter.

"Correct! This is indeed the 'Land of Certain Death' belonging to the God of Fairness and Judgment. For this banquet's entertainment, my master specially borrowed it from the God of Judgment..."

As it spoke, a tall figure appeared on the screen, standing on the gray-white stone arena.

It was a massive snow-white werewolf.

With sharp interlocking fangs and claws, its muscular body was wrapped in black chains that extended all the way to the wall behind the arena.

"Grrrr..."

The werewolf's low growls emanated from the screen's speakers.

"White Wolf, White Drace, direct descendant of the Werewolf Three Ancestors' royal bloodline," Ka calmly introduced. "From 'Night Valley,' imprisoned in the 'Eternal Cage' for the sacrilegious crimes of kin-devouring and soul-stitching to obtain forbidden power."

It stood at one corner of the arena.

Then, a second figure appeared.

This one looked equally formidable—dark red skin with a metallic sheen, powerful muscles, standing half a head taller than the white wolf, with four arms and protruding fangs, resembling some kind of demonic fiend.

It too was bound by thick iron chains.

"Asura, Pitiān, from the 'Blood Kingdom.' The entire Asura race committed acts of sacrilege against the gods, hence their imprisonment in the 'Eternal Cage.'"

Ka introduced again.

Then...

A final figure materialized.

A tall, slender black shadow with elongated limbs stood there, its entire body pitch black except for the faint outlines of facial features.

Instead of chains, it wore a silver collar.

"This one... is an artificially created lifeform. Its creator called it a 'Shadow-Type Pseudohuman,' a forbidden alchemical creation. After escaping its creator's control, it was deemed too dangerous due to its lack of autonomous consciousness and imprisoned in the 'Eternal Cage.'"

After finishing the introductions, Ka paused.

"What you all need to do is simple..."

"These three will participate in a life-or-death match in the 'Land of Certain Death,' with the victor being freed from the 'Eternal Cage.'"

"You just need to choose who you think will win—"

"In other words, this is a 'betting game'!"

Ka then produced paper and pen from its body.

"Each contestant can only be chosen by up to three people—and the selection order will start with whoever obtained the fewest Flavor Papers in the previous round."

"Honored guest, please make your choice!"

Ka's free tentacles all pointed at Li Hua.

Li Hua studied the screen carefully.

Without a doubt, he activated his [Gambler] ability.

However, after looking at the screen's display, he frowned.

After a long deliberation, he finally spoke: "Then I choose... Pitiān."

"Very well—"

Ka quickly scribbled something down, and then...

After it finished writing, the crooked characters for "Pitiān" floated up from the paper and hovered in front of Li Hua.

"Next—"

Ka pointed at Phantom.

Phantom looked at Li Hua sincerely: "Bro, for the sake of our years-long friendship, can you give me a hint?"

"Did you use your [Gambler] ability just now? What's Pitiān's win probability?"

Hearing Phantom's question, the others also pricked up their ears.

After all, in this kind of "betting" game...

The [Gambler] ability was undoubtedly the most suitable!

Being able to see probabilities would greatly increase their chances of winning.

Li Hua looked at Phantom, adjusted his glasses, and smiled.

"Heh, I'm not telling you."

"What 'years-long friendship'? [Magician]... we haven't even known each other for a year, have we?"

Li Hua's current smile was the creepy kind that didn't reach his eyes.

Despite this treatment, Phantom remained warmly smiling.

"Come on, Brother Hua, no need to be so distant. Though it's only been over half a year, we've interacted plenty during these eight months and twenty-five days."

"Yeah, because I've been constantly hunting you down, you [Free Alliance] bastard," Li Hua interrupted with an icy smile. "Even if I don't tell you the exact probability, you could still pick the same as me."

"Want to test whether I'd deliberately choose the least likely option just to screw you over?"