1. "With eyes like stars, Li Man gazes upon this filthy land from behind the curtain of darkness."
"War-torn Mountains" - the most prominent peak is bustling with activity.
This is the highest point on the Starry Continent, the peak closest to the heavens, and the most likely sacred ground to touch the divine realm above, symbolizing nobility and supreme honor. Although there is a thin mist at night, it does not matter.
The golden magic crystals shone brilliantly, illuminating the single peak as bright as day.
Each table is scattered across flat ground at different elevations within the mountain, connected by paths, creating a clear hierarchy.
The very summit was leveled, paved with gold bricks, and a magnificent throne was placed there. Guests arrived one after another, and whether they knew each other or were meeting for the first time, they began to chat.
Tonight, the king will host a grand banquet here to welcome all the heroes.
Crystallizer Yog Huckleberry arrived at the banquet, looked around, and realized he wasn't the last one there.
More than half of the silver guest seats have not yet been occupied by their respective hosts.
Wang Yi has not yet appeared. It seems that, as the intelligence indicated, the banquet will begin when the moon reaches its highest point in the night sky.
He couldn't help but shiver and muttered a complaint, "Is it really that cold tonight?"
King Augustine, who ruled over the Star Continent, extended a golden olive branch, using it as the most precious invitation, to host a banquet for the most famous heroes and warriors from all walks of life, totaling more than one hundred.
Even setting aside their fame, their martial arts skills alone would make them masters who stand at the pinnacle of their respective professions.
Given the king's power and prestige on the continent, these people naturally felt extremely proud to be granted the title of "hero" by the strongest king.
The warriors in the neutral camp on the continent, though indifferent to honor, dared not intentionally refuse. Thus, a quarter of an hour later, all one hundred and twenty-eight seats for guests were filled.
"The strongest crystallizer on the continent—Yog Huckleberry..." A steady male voice sounded from behind, "Welcome at all times."
Yog looked back and nodded in response. Facing him was the now extinct paladin.
(The royal knights under the throne, heroes who obey only the king's orders, are called Bemond. So that's him.)
Yug was right. Since the host of the banquet—the king—had not yet arrived, Bemond was ordered to temporarily act as the host, greeting each guest on behalf of the king and fulfilling the duties of a host.
"You should be called 'Death Glass'..." Bemond said politely, full of praise. "As the strongest hero in this profession, you deserve this unique title bestowed by the King, which distinguishes you from other Crystallizers."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing upon me such a supreme title."
Yug lowered his eyes as a sign of humility.
At this moment, he quietly noticed the armor of the paladin Bemond.
Under the dazzling lights, gold and silver shimmered, emanating a holy aura of light that no magic could approach.
So he boldly imagined that if he were to fight him, it was very likely that his magic skills would not be able to harm a single hair on his head.
(As expected of the strongest paladin under the throne, his entire body is blessed by the king's honor magic.)
Yug dismissed these unnecessary thoughts, looked up at the sky, and saw the full moon. At this moment, the banquet should have begun, but the king had not yet appeared.
It seems the other guests also noticed this, and while they didn't dare to make any noise on the surface, they must have had the same questions in their hearts.
"Excuse me for asking, but when will the banquet begin... Oh, I don't mean I'm in a hurry..."
Bemond smiled politely and replied calmly, "Some heroes are not so punctual, so the king has decided to wait until the last hero arrives before starting the banquet."
Yug looked around and saw that the seats were already full.
So he asked curiously, "Weren't all 128 people present? How come..."
"There is also the 129th hero who will definitely come even without an invitation... If you have heard about the details of the first banquet seven years ago, then you should be aware of this."
Bemond smiled knowingly.
His vague response suggests that this was pre-arranged for the banquet.
I spent a few seconds reminiscing about the first "Gathering of Heroes".
Although Yug was not qualified to attend at the time, his master was present and witnessed the entire event. He had heard about this from his master.
"I see. He... wasn't he already dead? He was so badly injured, he must have been either dead or crippled." Yug looked puzzled.
"That's hard to say. Perhaps his arrival is just an appetizer prepared by the king before the banquet, or perhaps it's a good show to liven things up during the banquet, or perhaps it's an after-dinner entertainment."
After bidding farewell to Yug, Bemond continued to greet and entertain the next guest.
"It would be strange if he didn't come," Yug thought to himself, a smile playing on his lips.
2. "They actually invited you too? Should we say that Wang has mistaken you for someone else, or that you actually came uninvited?"
A woman dressed in exotic night clothes, her face as pale as snow beneath a felt hat, coldly pointed at her old acquaintance and continued to mock him.
Of course, the two were indeed very familiar with each other, having exchanged insults no less than ten times and clashed with each other on the battlefield of conflicting interests no less than a hundred times.
However, if we really have to call it an "acquaintance"... if this creature in front of us—shaped like a half-mud, half-humanoid being melting under high temperatures—can be considered human.
The stench emanating from "acquaintances" is as disgusting as ever.
If this weren't a king's banquet, the woman would have loved to draw her weapon and fight it again.
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