Amidst Ka the Octopus's cheerful humming, the Shadow-Type Pseudohuman's pitch-black, rigid body gradually softened. It withdrew the sharp kitchen knife embedded in the creature's chest. At the tip of the knife was a perfectly round black sphere—though deep in color, its texture appeared somewhat translucent, resembling a type of black crystal. After being pierced by the knife, fine cracks radiated outward from the wound like frozen lightning.
"Quality stuff," Ka remarked appreciatively as it plucked the crystal sphere from the knife's tip. After examining it carefully, Ka tossed it into the sink. Then, it placed a frying pan on the stove, using two tentacles to hold the pan while another coiled around the Shadow-Type Pseudohuman and dragged it over. With ease, Ka lifted the creature, folded it in half, and began wringing its body like a wet towel. Thick, black liquid oozed from the chest wound, dripping steadily into the pan.
All the Players fell silent as they watched Ka's series of actions. "Truly a dungeon directly involving the gods..." Li Hua muttered under his breath.
After Ka's earlier threatening reminder, the six Players aside from Lin Yu had all harbored the same thought—if it truly came down to the ropes breaking, they'd do whatever it took to remain at the table. If this octopus became an obstacle... well, fighting it wasn't out of the question. Based on the appetizer round, Ka seemed only slightly stronger than them, with no clear upper limit visible. Perhaps... this octopus wasn't as formidable as it appeared?
But witnessing Ka instantly obliterate the Shadow-Type Pseudohuman gave these experts a more direct understanding of its capabilities. While the "Eating Contest" didn't directly showcase the three contestants' combat abilities, the Shadow-Type Pseudohuman's behavior during consumption allowed these veterans to deduce one thing: this thing was not to be trifled with. Seeing the creature in person made its terrifying aura even more palpable—especially for Robin, who had encountered such monsters in dungeons before. Yet it had been instantly annihilated the moment it appeared!
Even the typically most aggressive Fish found herself sobered by the display. "This thing doesn't seem like an NPC meant for frontal combat..." the seasoned Marauders member assessed quietly.
Everyone watched in silence as Ka discarded the wrung-out Shadow-Type Pseudohuman and began stirring the thick black liquid in the pan. As Ka cooked, an incredible aroma began to emerge from what looked like stale squid ink or freshly extracted crude oil—an unbelievably delicious fragrance that surpassed all expectations, especially in this banquet where they'd already tasted so many unimaginable delicacies. The scent alone was intoxicating, evoking memories of every delicious meal they'd ever eaten.
"So fragrant, and with such complex layers of aroma," Lin Yu praised sincerely. Among those present, he alone remained unaffected by Ka's earlier display—partly because he remained fully committed to his Fluoxetine persona, but mostly because he simply wasn't intimidated. He was too weak. Whether Ka's combat power was 50, 100, or over 10,000 made no difference to Lin Yu; he stood no chance against any of them. Every creature at this table could put him in mortal danger. Even with everyone believing he was Fluoxetine... Lin Yu couldn't clearly determine what abilities the real Fluoxetine possessed, making it impossible to fabricate a convincing deception.
This detachment allowed Lin Yu to maintain his composure and continue his performance naturally. Ka seemed pleasantly surprised by Lin Yu's initiative to converse. "Oh... oh! Of course it's complex!" Ka exclaimed. "These creatures commonly called 'Soul-Devouring Horror Shadows' have unique physiology. The rare liquid in their bodies, similar to blood, contains concentrated life essence in every drop! Moreover, our host personally selected three contestants with abilities related to 'consumption' and 'devouring.' No matter who wins this eating contest, I can recreate all the delicious flavors from everything they've eaten! That's why this Main Course is my proudest masterpiece... Wait until it's fully cooked—just one bite will feel like tasting a dozen exquisite dishes simultaneously, with each mouthful offering a different experience! And the final bite... holds a special surprise!" Ka declared proudly.
Lin Yu clapped in amazement. "Wow, that's truly incredible... I can hardly wait!" Ka visibly preened at the genuine praise, its cooking motions speeding up slightly. The thick black liquid gradually solidified in the pan, taking on a gelatinous form while lightening in color. Finally... Ka divided the substance into two portions in the pan, turned off the heat, and retrieved a blowtorch from the sink. Blue flames erupted as it lightly torched the surfaces until they bubbled and changed color. With care, Ka plated two square portions of the black substance in porcelain dishes, drizzling them with bright red sauce."To our two guests..." Ka presented the dishes with spoons to Lin Yu and Robin. "The banquet's Main Course: 'A Victor's Blood Runs Ever Sweet.' Please enjoy!"
Gazing at the tantalizing dish before him, Lin Yu picked up his spoon and scooped up a portion without hesitation. Seeing this, Robin quickly followed suit. Moments later... both exclaimed in unison, "This is amazing..." A taste experience beyond human imagination—a near-divine explosion of flavor—filled their mouths. It was like consuming the freshest oysters, the most perfectly fatty roast pork, the crispest vegetables, the richest braised chicken... a dozen ultimate taste experiences manifesting simultaneously yet distinctly, transmitting "deliciousness" directly to their souls.
Spoonful after spoonful, Lin Yu and Robin quickly finished their portions. Lin Yu lifted his spoon with the final bite, remembering Ka's promised "surprise." "What could it be?" he wondered before eating it. Then—as in all great food-related stories—Lin Yu tasted something familiar from his past. A flavor encapsulating the word "happiness," from days long gone.
He found himself seated at a low wooden table, perched on a wobbly old plastic chair. The table was laden with steaming dishes—at its center, a grass carp topped with scallions sizzled as hot oil was poured over it. A young girl wearing an apron far too big for her stood proudly with the pot. "This three-pound fish cost less than ten yuan," she boasted with a grin, "and the vendor threw in half a bag of clams for free! Your sister's pretty amazing, huh?"