Then this half-body lost its support and heavily slammed into the pool of blood it had spilled.
The Divine Emissary slowly retracted his front claw, not a ripple in his dark golden vertical pupils.
In the plaza, the dead silence was pierced by the strong smell of blood.
Only the female elf remained, stiffly moving to the center of the plaza under the control of the [Command Spell], exposed to countless gazes intertwined with anger, disdain, fear, and the relief of survival.
The Divine Emissary KaIgnas glanced at the female elf and the pool of blood, still indifferent.
He grabbed the female elf with his massive claw, and his grand, deep voice once again resonated through the plaza, carrying the absolute majesty of one who controls all:
"The blasphemers have been executed!"
"The defilement has been purged!"
"Your ritual shall continue!"
Having spoken, he no longer paid attention to the emotional fluctuations of mortals.
He raised his front claw again, this time, dozens of soft energy ripples spread out—a five-ring divine spell [Hero's Feast]!
A miracle manifested!
Countless dining tables covered with exquisite silk tablecloths appeared from the void, surrounding the plaza.
Silverware was neatly arranged upon them.
Immediately, an extremely lavish feast appeared out of thin air:
Tender, juicy, meat-dripping frost-patterned ribs;
Delicate pastries coated in glistening honey or snowy cream;
Steaming, golden-hued, richly fragrant meat broth;
Thick mead, like liquid gold, served in carved golden goblets—
A warm, rich, soul-soothing aroma instantly enveloped the entire plaza, forming a strangely unsettling contrast with the pervasive smell of blood, the broken corpses, and the dazed captive.
Most of the trolls at this moment were pale-faced, their eyes vacantly shifting between the divinely bestowed feast and the bloodstains on the ground.
Their stomachs churned, the lingering dread of survival and the brutal scene before them overwhelming their physiological hunger.
Although the Ice Troll civilization was still very savage and primitive, they were not beasts who drank blood and ate raw meat, nor were they like the wild Vrykul raised by Odin, who only knew the thrill of battle and feasts; the sight before them was enough to sicken any intelligent creature.
Just as the Divine Emissary's massive body turned, preparing to lead the female elf into the Gate of the Divine Realm—
—
"Noble Divine Emissary! Please wait!"
Siye forcefully suppressed the churning in her stomach and the trembling in her fingertips, stepping forward, her voice controlled with great effort, "These trespassers from Moon Song Forest—how shall we deal with them?"
The Divine Emissary, about to step into the Divine Realm, paused slightly.
He slowly turned his head, his vertical pupils falling on Siye:
"This one shall be offered to My Lord; as for all other matters, await the divine oracle—"
The moment his words fell, his massive body completely disappeared into that multicolored, deep "blackness."
The gate of the Divine Realm rapidly thinned and dissipated like a receding tide.
It took away the suffocating divine presence, leaving only the strong smell of blood, the glaring remains, and the Hero's Feast radiating an ultimate tempting aroma.
Silence once again descended upon the plaza.
For a time, only the crackling of burning flames and suppressed gasps intertwined.
Fear, confusion, and an instinctive craving for the abundant food intertwined among the crowd.
Siye took a deep breath, the complex scent in the air making her stomach churn, but she forced herself to straighten her spine.
She suddenly turned, facing the gathered believers, and raised her dragonbone staff high!
The platinum gem at the top of the staff erupted with a soft yet firm light, instantly attracting all eyes.
Her voice no longer trembled, but resonated with a practiced, steady, and powerful tone befitting a Priestess, echoing over the plaza:
"My kin! Lift your heads!"
"The blasphemers have been annihilated by the Divine Emissary's might! Their blood is the clearest testament to our Lord's supreme power!"
"Look!" She pointed her staff directly at the feast radiating warm light, "This is our Lord's most generous blessing to the devout! It is the most direct answer to our faith!"
"The Divine Emissary has personally descended! Divine grace has fallen! How can the dying struggles of blasphemers defile this sacred night? How can they shake our ardent hearts towards the Flame Keeper?!"
Her gaze was like a torch, sweeping over every face still bearing fright, her voice growing louder and more resolute:
"Tonight! We have once again witnessed divine power!"
"We have witnessed the fate of our enemies, and even more, we have witnessed the abundance of grace!"
"The Dragon God's gaze is ever-present, guarding Ital'ruk! His flames shall surely consume all darkness!"
"Cast aside fear! Dispel doubt! Fill your hungry stomachs and warm your souls with the feast bestowed by our Lord! Respond to this grace with laughter and sharing! Defend this hard-won sanctuary with unity and strength!"
"Now—"
Siye took a deep breath, using all her strength to let out a shout that reverberated through the plaza:
"Flame Keeper!"
A brief pause allowed all the trolls to understand her intention.
Immediately following, all the Ice Trolls, young and old, roared in unison the prayer that ran deep in their bones:
"Like a flame unextinguished, like a shadow ever-present!"
This roar converged into a torrent, instantly dispelling the fear that had lingered in their hearts, bringing with it the warmth of belonging.
At Siye's signal, the attendants began to silently and swiftly distribute the divinely bestowed food.
The first few bites might still have carried the aftertaste of blood, but the warm food sliding into their stomachs, the sweet mead moistening their throats, and the exchange of glances among companions who had survived the ordeal, eventually allowed their taut nerves to gradually relax.
The feast, finally began.
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