Chapter 1058: Chapter 396 “The Endless Banquet” is complete

The Princess’s hands trembled slightly.

She probably had never skinned or dismembered anyone, let alone killed someone.

Aiwass felt a mix of regret and relief.

When the trembling tip of her dagger pierced Aiwass’ skin, he realized she was a novice. Skinning was still manageable–although she peeled off some flesh as well, eliciting an extremely painful howl from Aiwass–but when it came to dismembering, she could hardly continue.

Maybe it was Aiwass’ agonizing screams that terrified her to the point of trembling all over, lacking the strength to cut off Aiwass’ hands, even ending up crying herself.

Aiwass could only give Noel a bloody embrace. He comforted and encouraged her soothingly for quite a while.

“Aren’t you seeking courage?”

Aiwass said softly, “Then I will give you courage.”

He didn’t mean to speak so tenderly; it was because the pain from the amateur skinning had left him too weak, devoid of strength. Aiwass’ pain was neither diluted nor weakened, otherwise the Shepherd’s Nurturing would’ve lost its effect.

“…What’s your real name?”

Even though the plan was Aiwass’ own, hearing his ghastly cries softened Noel’s heart–or rather, shocked her.

She couldn’t help but say, “I will find a way to make it up to you…”

Aiwass merely revealed a mysterious smile: “No need for that, Your Highness. You can’t offer me any compensation.”

In the end, Noel steeled her heart.

She used the Path of Balance’s power to enhance the Ritual Dagger in her hand and swiftly decapitated Aiwass’ limbs one after another, then cleanly beheaded him.

She just didn’t want to hear the wailing anymore. But such swift action actually lessened the pain.

As Aiwass’ head flew off, intense pain still lingered in his brain.

But he was only praying with closed eyes, a bloody tear streaming down from the empty socket of his left eye:

“I offer the Banquet Master the Wings of Freedom…

“I offer the Banquet Master pure arms…

“I offer the Banquet Master legs for dancing…”

In Noel’s astonished gaze, she saw the severed remains of Aiwass rising around the vibrant Sizhu’s Holy Icon, exploding into a cloud of blood mist and dyeing Sizhu a thorough crimson.

Aiwass’ decapitated head traced an eerie arc before landing on Sizhu’s head.

One eye closed, the other sprouting a flower of pure white, lending him an odd yet merciful appearance.

From his right eye, black tendrils of Sin Thorn grew out, twining around the now red Sizhu and finally completing the last piece of vivid red that Sizhu lacked. The originally eerie smile on the white Sizhu softened into one of compassion as it became drenched in blood.

Blossoms of beautiful white flowers also sprung from the black thorns, completely obscuring Aiwass’ head behind them.

The next moment, all the candles on Sizhu’s head were lit, igniting pure white flames.

That light, which could illuminate the heavens and earth, strangely shone through the blood mist with a prism of colors, looking like a sacred halo.

The guests killed by Aiwass, as well as the musicians, their bodies ignited at the same moment–but with flames of bright red.

Their flaming corpses suddenly rose from the ground, reaching out as if holding wine cups in their hands; they bowed and placed hands on chests, paying respects to Sizhu or to Aiwass on top of Sizhu.

Thereafter, the guests fervently embraced one another amidst the flames, as the musicians played the final, jubilant and intense melody.

Dance, dance, madly dance–

The more wild the dance, the more desperate.

Noel stood transfixed by this scene.

This time their dance had no form nor technique. Everyone danced to their own whim, the musicians’ tunes were out of sync… But this chaotic feeling did not come off as noisy or disordered, instead it gave Noel a profound sense of awe.

Suddenly, she was pulled into the middle of the dance floor by a “person”.

It was a young man in his twenties with golden hair.

He had a large gash on his neck, yet his face bore a smile brimming with enthusiasm and joy.

In the Royal Court of Star Antimony, Noel had never seen such a smile on anyone except Clown Laro.

Everyone seemed to carry a story of sadness, either furrowing their brows or wearing stern expressions. All were burdened with thoughts, forever arguing with one another.

“…Why is everyone so happy?”

The Princess, who was being pulled into a ridiculous dance, couldn’t help but ask.

But her counterpart did not respond.

However, the young man was not without consciousness like the Undead–he reached out his hand, gesturing on his own face before single-handedly lifting the corners of his mouth to reveal a smile.

Afterward, he pulled her into a frenzied dance.

The flames on his body didn’t spread to Noel… rather, the fire only made her feel warm. Like putting on heated, dry clothes after being caught in the rain.

First, his clothes burned away into nothingness, followed by his skin and flesh.

As the music ended, all that remained of the guests and musicians were skeletons.

The scene started to slow down and freeze.

Aiwass watched all this happen.

Even with his head severed, he was still “alive.”

His body was transparent and glowing, conspicuously visible.

But at that moment, Aiwass stood behind Noel, who could not see him.

On the other side…

Aiwass looked at the petrified Andrea.

Yet, her soul did not float away.

Indeed, as long as she was not completely “killed,” but merely controlled through petrification, freezing, sealing, and such, she was unrelated to this Ascension Ritual.

Just like the Son of the Moon in the Material Realm.

The best way to deal with immortality was to seal them away.

“Just that…”

Aiwass sighed inwardly.

Indeed, this was a Ritual by Candle Master, truly encouraging self-“death.”

He did not choose self-sacrifice by second-guessing the intentions of the puzzle setter, but now, he benefited precisely because his choice matched that of Candle Master’s intentions…

In a world that had become frozen and immobile, a line of text emerged before Aiwass.

[How did the guests die?]

Then, three doors appeared beside him.

And a corresponding phrase appeared beneath each one:

— [The Feast], [The Slaughter], [The Judgment].

Now, he had no doubts.

The spiritual body of Aiwass, without any hesitation, pushed open the door labeled [The Feast].

The next moment, the entire world turned into light.

The entire world was stripped away, solidifying into a complete painting.

The deep red Sizhu’s Holy Icon, entwined with Sin Thorn, shone with a brilliant halo of light.

On the crimson stage, skeletons with red flames raging on them danced and played music passionately. Their movements were all different; rather than a ballroom dance, it was more like an unbridled dance of madness.

Some skeletons held up their wine glasses, toasting fervently, and the similarly crimson wine was splashed around due to the intense clinking of glasses.

It was not a banquet.

It was a revelry–

[Every feast must come to an end. Drink the blood of the Fool, eat the flesh of The Banqueter, until the banquet achieves its purpose, and the guests leave satisfied. Then, the Banquet Master shall once again be perfected, ascending to the position of Celestial Marshal. The banquet they yearn for will be convened again, perhaps in the Dream Realm, perhaps in the future.]

[– Completed, “The Endless Feast”]

A tender yet solemn voice rang in Aiwass’s ears.