As the words fell, six goblets materialized in the center of the long table.
There were two in front of each person, one black and one white.
The white goblet was filled with clear water, while the black goblet held thick, viscous red wine.
【Generating banquet rules...】
【The three guests may choose their own fates.】
【Choosing the White Goblet: Personal Sacrifice. Surrender all items and equipment, reset all skills and basic attributes to zero, retaining only life and the eligibility to leave.】
【Choosing the Black Goblet: Inherit Sacrifice. If at least one companion chooses the White Goblet, the holder of the Black Goblet is exempt from all penalties and can acquire all items, equipment, skills, and basic attributes of the White Goblet's holder.】
【If multiple guests choose the Black Goblet, they will split the acquisitions from the White Goblet holder.】
【If all three guests choose the White Goblet, the verdict ends, and all three may leave the castle.】
【If all three guests choose the Black Goblet, the worst ending will be triggered.】
【Countdown: 120 seconds.】
Looking at the terror on their faces, the surging hatred in Isolde's heart slowly cooled down instead.
Of course, she remembered all the details of how they had persecuted her in her past life.
But at this point in time, they hadn't had the chance to do those things yet. Even if she used every means to torture them, she wouldn't be able to elicit true repentance and remorse.
Instead, it would only reduce her to a slave controlled by her emotions.
She did not like that.
But it didn't matter.
Even if they really chose to survive together.
She wouldn't mind kicking them out of the castle and throwing them to those arrogant parties to experience firsthand the torment she suffered in her past life. That might bring her even more pleasure.
At this moment, the Banquet Hall was dreadfully quiet.
Zheng Chuan stared at the rules, his mind racing as he analyzed the details.
The White Goblet allowed them to live, but the price was too high.
This was practically resetting them to when they first entered the game, or perhaps even worse.
They were currently injured, and their potions were almost completely depleted.
If their items were wiped, even if they left alive, they would likely be trampled to death in the next danger.
But the Black Goblet was different.
As long as someone chose white, the one who chose black would be exempt from punishment and could even seize the other party's items and skills.
Meng Yinyin looked up at the other two at the table and said:
“Let's choose white.”
Zheng Chuan looked at her, while Luo Qi remained silent.
Meng Yinyin looked as if she had truly been pushed to the brink, crying as she said:
“Even if our items are gone, we can farm them again. If our attributes are wiped, we can train them back up. Even if we lose our skills, we can always choose a new class.”
“We came in together, so let's leave together, okay?”
All three of them choosing the White Goblet was currently the optimal solution.
That way, they would advance and retreat together, without blaming one another, let alone abandoning each other.
Zheng Chuan clenched his teeth, a vein throbbing on his temple.
He glanced at the white goblet, then at the black goblet, his voice low and raspy.
“I have no objections.”
Luo Qi let out a cold laugh and looked at Meng Yinyin. “Don't think I don't know what you two are thinking!”
“You two must have colluded to choose black and force me to choose white, right? When Valen grabbed me just now, I saw it clearly. Your first instinct was to heal Zheng Chuan; you didn't even think about saving me.”
“I had no choice!” Meng Yinyin said anxiously. “Zheng Chuan is our vanguard. If he falls, we all die.”
“You always have an excuse,” Luo Qi sneered. “After all, you're not the one who ends up suffering in the end.”
Zheng Chuan slapped the table in frustration.
“Enough!”
His voice was heavy and commanding.
“What's the point of arguing about this now? Everyone choose white, and don't anyone get any ideas. Let's get out of here alive first, and we can talk about the rest later.”
His words sounded quite convincing.
Zheng Chuan even nudged his hand toward the white goblet, as if to prove he had truly made up his mind.
Isolde sat at the head of the table, quietly watching them, finding it utterly amusing.
When talking about loyalty, each of them sounded more human than the last.
But the more critical the moment, the easier it was for that mask of humanity to peel away.
Luo Qi stared at him suspiciously. “Can you really bear to part with it?”
Zheng Chuan was silent for a second before clenching his jaw. “Even if I can't, I have to. No matter how important things are, can they be more important than life?”
Luo Qi's expression shifted repeatedly. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.
Finally, he slowly exhaled.
“Fine.”
He looked up at the other two, a hint of exhausted defeat showing in his eyes.
“Then everyone choose white. Whoever chooses black is a beast.”
Meng Yinyin nodded immediately, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I won't.”
She looked at the two of them, as if truly staking her last shred of hope on this.
“We've already held out this far. Let's not die at the hands of our own people.”
Zheng Chuan stretched out his hand, palm down, and placed it in the center of the table.
“Choose white.”
Meng Yinyin hesitated for a moment before placing her hand over his.
“Choose white.”
Luo Qi stared at them for a few seconds before slowly pressing his hand down on top.
“Choose white.”
The three hands stacked together.
Battered, filthy, and bloodstained.
Yet in this fleeting moment, they truly looked like comrades who shared life and death.
To be honest, it was a pretty good performance.
The emotions were on point, the lines sincere, and their eyes glistening.
If Isolde hadn't seen too many ugly faces in her past life, she might have actually believed them.
【Countdown: 10 seconds.】
The three of them simultaneously looked at the goblets before them, reaching toward the white ones.
Meng Yinyin's fingertips began to tremble.
She looked at the white goblet, then cast a stealthy glance at the black one.
If she was the only one who chose white while the other two chose black, she would be picked clean by them.
She couldn't gamble. She wanted them all to survive together.
But she couldn't put her life in the hands of these two.
Almost at the exact same time, Zheng Chuan thought of this as well.
He had taken the most damage and fought his way here. Why should he have his progress wiped with them in the end?
Even if someone had to pay the price, it shouldn't be him.
Luo Qi went without saying; he despised others taking advantage of him, especially when the opportunity was laid out so plainly.
【Countdown: 5 seconds.】
Meng Yinyin's lips turned pale as she whispered, “Everyone choose white, do you hear me? Everyone choose white.”
Zheng Chuan's voice was raspy. “Of course.”
Luo Qi chuckled. “We are teammates, after all.”
In the final three seconds, they raised their eyes simultaneously.
In that instant, the three of them saw the exact same thing in each other's eyes.
Why should I start from scratch?
Why can't it be you who sacrifices?
In the very last second, their three hands changed course simultaneously, grabbing the black goblets in unison.
【Guest Zheng Chuan has chosen: Black Goblet.】
【Guest Luo Qi has chosen: Black Goblet.】
【Guest Meng Yinyin has chosen: Black Goblet.】
The Banquet Hall fell into a dead silence.
The expressions on their three faces froze at the same time.
Meng Yinyin's pupils contracted sharply, as if she had been stabbed right in the chest.
“You...”
Zheng Chuan's eyes widened as he roared, “Didn't you guys say you were choosing white?!”
Luo Qi dithered for a moment, then burst into wild laughter. “Hahaha! Beasts! We're all beasts!”
The three black goblets lit up simultaneously.
The thick red wine began to boil, as if something were screaming at the bottom of the cups.
【Detected that all three guests have chosen the Black Goblet.】
【Verdict: All members have refused sacrifice.】
【The worst ending has been triggered.】
【Triple Black Goblets: Soul Forfeiture】
Rate on N.U.
