** Chapter 16: The Banquet of Truth - a game of meat and destinations ** **
The underground dawn seemed too dark even to the standards of this cursed island. It was the beginning of the fourth deadly challenge, and the remaining competitors felt the weight of each previous challenge in their minds and bodies. The shadow of the choices made in the ** judgment of shame ** and the sacrifice of their dead companions still echoed in their souls. But the next challenge was different, more cruel, more intimate. In this arena, *not knowing *could be more disturbing than *know *.
** Henrique Nakamura **, the cold conductor of Tormento, appeared before the participants with their usual performance of theatricality and cruel wisdom. He smiled - a smile that was not brought warmth, but the promise that their lives were about to be further torn.
-*"Welcome to the Fourth Challenge-The ** Banquet of Truth **. Today, you will face a game that will challenge your sanity, morality and your own notion of humanity. Before you, there is a full table. But among the various dishes offered, you will find pieces of real: flesh of those who have gone your allies, judged and sacrificed in this arena. Common food meats.
The competitors exchanged looks of horror and doubt. The cruelty of the challenge was not only in deadly risks, but in its disturbing morality. How could they deal with the psychological weight of identifying the remains of their allies? How could they continue after knowing that, at some level, those they loved had been cooked in this sadistic game?
Henry continued, with words as sharp as blades:
-*"Ah, but do not think that this challenge ends only with hits and errors. Those who have lost ** will also face a choice, but this time it will be a choice that the losing group will have the privilege of deciding. After the challenge, you can vote to determine the fate of a defeated companion:*
1.*A death penalty in the ** judgment of shame **, where your life will be extinguished forever.*
2. *Torture all night, without guarantees of medicines or care. The tortured will suffer irreparable physical and mental damage, but can live to fight one more day. "*
The competitors swung their heads, the horror recorded in their faces. It was clear: this challenge was both about survival and about facing impossible realities.
Henry finished with his cold voice:
- *"May the challenge begin. May the banquet of truth reveal who you really are." *
---
### ** The game starts **
The two groups - ** Ancestral Light ** and ** Chaos Hunters ** - were positioned in front of a long grotesque table. Decorated dishes were arranged before them, each covered by silver lids, hiding the content. The smell was indistinguishable, mixing the metal breath of the room with a false fragrance of boiled foods.
Henry analyzed them as a wolf analyzing his flock. And then, one by one, each competitor was called to choose and taste the dishes. The tension in the environment was as dense as the rock walls around.
#### ** Ancestral Light Group **
** Hardy Nakamura ** was the first to approach. The silver lid in his hands seemed to weigh as much as the world. He looked at the plate and saw a piece of refined, seemingly harmless meat. But the dilemma was inescapable. His fingers trembled as he raised the piece and tasted him.
- * "It's not human," * he announced, with apparent relief.
** Drake **, skeptical and straightforward, approached the next dish and looked with disdain to the well-arranged cut.
- * "Anything here can be a lie," * He murmured before proving the bit. His face hardened when swallowing.
- *"It's ... human flesh." * *
** Irene Dellis **, with tears in his eyes, approached hesitantly and chose the plate in front of him. Her senses betrayed her as she felt her taste.
- * "No ... it can be ..." * she whispered, recognizing the indescribable taste.
---
#### ** Chaos Hunters Group **
** Calley **, fierce as always, approached the challenge without hesitation.
- * "No matter what is here, I will win," * she declared confidence before proving the plate.
But his expression changed as he swallowed the piece.
- *"human." * *
** Leerstrom **, with his poisonous smile, chose the distant dish.
- * "Ah, almost delicious to be common," * he provoked while swallowing.
- *"Human. And I'm not surprised." * *
** Glenda **, always calculating, tried to deceive to herself as she chose, but could not hide the shock when she realized that she had also ingested remains from someone she might even have called an ally.
---
### ** winners and losers **
After the termination of the dishes, Henry announced the results with his cold, cutting voice like sawn steel.
-*"Congratulations to the ** hunters of chaos **, who have overcome again with superior discernment. Once again you have proved that chaos not only challenges, but consumes. As the ** ancestral light **, you have failed - and now it is up to you to pay the price."**
The losing group members dropped their heads, knowing that the worst was yet to come.
---
### ** The choice of night: death or torture **
Henry gave the members of the ** hunters of chaos **, the winners, the right to vote and decide the destination of a member of the ancestral ** that would be punished. Several of them laughed and murmured with each other as Hardy tried to keep his companions firmly.
Finally, the name chosen by the winning group was revealed:
** Drake. **
Henrique explained the choice:
-*"Now, winners, decide Drake's fate. He will face death in the ** judgment of shame **, or will be tortured throughout the night, facing damage that he can never forget?
After deliberation, the ** hunters of chaos ** decided:
- *"torture." * *
---
### ** The climax **
Drake was taken by the island guards to a torturous chamber in the depths. His deafening shouts echoed throughout the night, disturbing those who tried to rest. There was no medicine, no renewal - just suffering. However, he was still alive. And if I survived, there was a chance to fight another day ... If there was still something inside him to fight.
** End of Chapter 16 **
*(Next: the recovery and the fifth deadly challenge - the flames and echo maze)*
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** Note: ***The fourth challenge revealed the psychological and moral depths of the tournament. And while a loser was tortured and clung to life, cracks in alliances continue to grow. The real chaos is just starting.*