In the blink of an eye, it was June 1.
The new Trial Day had arrived.
As always, Mulien City was swept up in the revelry of a grand celebration. Lanterns and decorations filled the streets, and the air rang with noise.
The invisible crimson moonlight shone over the continent day and night, filling the Orcs with a bloodthirsty excitement.
The extravagant feast further connected that excitement with all kinds of primitive impulses.
They ate and drank to their hearts' content, fought with one another, and vented the battle lust they had accumulated for so long.
Recently, incidents of brawling and even street killings had increased more than tenfold.
The Orc authorities not only did nothing to stop them but fanned the flames instead.
They intended to use such behavior to create an atmosphere of Mental Resonance and guide the entire ritual onto the right track.
Thus, the battle lust accumulated over many years rapidly intensified, finally meeting the conditions for activation.
In the city's arena, under the attention of the masses, Beast King Luker appeared and announced, "Heroes, the secret realm's gateway is opening. This year's Bloody Trial is beginning once more, and the gods' trials await us!
"As our tradition has always dictated, drain your cups, then revel to your heart's content!"
"Whoo! Whoo!"
The Orcs erupted into cheers.
Roy mingled among the crowd, carrying an enormous dinosaur leg in his hand.
It was the leg of a Swift Dragon that had died in battle.
At that moment, he looked like an ordinary Orc guest, carrying the free buffet food and preparing to roast it beside the bonfire.
There were stalls all around, as well as plenty of cheap wheat ale.
Suddenly, he felt a gaze pass through the crowd and land in his direction.
Roy turned his