08:00 AT, Day Eleven | Camp in the middle of the Forest

  We've got quite a large crowd gathered.

  The occasion? A feast, to commemorate the temporary alliance that will soon come to an end.

  After all, there is nothing better than sharing a meal with those that you might be crushing with a hammer next week. It's an age-old human tradition.

  Or, maybe we are just a bunch of weirdos, that's also very possible.

  We decided upon a large clearing somewhere in the middle of the forest. Both factions have been busy transporting stuff to cook and serve lots of food with.

  Thankfully, it seems that the arena is providing food free of cost. Which makes sense, it's probably sponsored somehow through brand deals. This whole thing is being broadcast to the entire universe, after all.

  “Kooo, I'm hungry.” Ray says as she hangs from a tree truck, only attached with her legs. Her beautiful hair looks like it is trying to escape her, as it dangles down. I sure hope it doesn't succeed, because it's beautiful. Of course, everything else about her is also beautiful.

  “Well, we've got a bit before the main feast starts. Perhaps you could steal something if you were feeling super devious.”

  A light appears in her eyes, I fear that I have given her a very bad idea. “Oooh, that's a great idea. I'll show everyone how sneaky I can be!”

  She gets down from the tree, and then before I can grab her and stop her. She vanishes into the crowd of people busy preparing things. Oh well, I'm sure she will turn up by my side again soon.

  I head off to find someone that needs assistance. I might not be much of a cook, but I can at least help with some prepwork. Atleast, in theory.

  Several minutes later, I'm standing with April and several other chefs from the Quartet. I have been tasked with chopping some vegetables for the stew.

  “Kovon! Not like that! Have you never chopped vegetables before?” April says. Motioning to my chopped veggies. In my opinion, I did a perfect job. But apparently, they aren't up to the head chef’s standards.

  “What's wrong with my handiwork? This is how I've always chopped things.”

  “Those are like, completely misshapen! They aren't people, you need to make them evenly cut and such. Here, let me show you.”

  She then proceeds to demonstrate how one is ‘supposed’ to chop vegetables. Who would've guessed it'd be so complicated. I was sure that my experience in VR cooking games would transfer into the real world for such things.

  I finish off my set of vegetable chopping and then I am unceremoniously kicked out of the kitchen. Apparently my skills are not advanced enough to help with anything else.

  I wander around the camp for a while, trying not to get in anyone’s way.

  Of course, that means I end up accidentally bumping into Rao. Though, I'm sure I would've done it intentionally if I had thought about it.

  “Oi, imbecile, watch where you are going! Geez, why are we even holding such a pointless feast.” he says, words laced with venom.

  I hope I get a chance to blow him up with a nuclear warhead at some point.

  “Oh sorry, didn't see you there. Your blinding personality made it hard to notice you.” I calmly reply, then I walk away. As I do so I can practically feel the negative emotions aimed at the back of my head.

  Any day where you can annoy people you dislike is a good day in my book.

  I eventually run into Ray once again, she has a large plate of food and is in the process of consuming it.

  “I see your espionage was successful, darling.”

  (though a mouthful of food) “I didn't even have to be sneaky, my overwhelming charm allowed me to just ask and they gave me food.” she says. I predict it was more like she pestered them until they got annoyed enough to give her food so she would leave them alone.

  I give her a few pats on the head, “Well of course, you are the cutest in the universe after all. No one could possibly resist your charms.”

  “You're right about that. Now try this, it's super duper delicious, whatever it is.” She holds out a skewer containing some type of meat, definitely not anything from Earth.

  I gratefully accept the food and its flavor explodes through my mouth. We definitely need to have feasts more often if our chefs are able to prepare stuff like this. Though, I bet Emil will say something like that's a waste of manpower. He is always so logical and fun ruining, though he does have a point.

  It's probably not the best idea to section off a large part of our still small army into preparing delicious feasts. Though occasionally a boost of morale can be super helpful.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Thats delicious, darling. I can't believe we get to have such a nice feast.”

  “Yep, it's nice to sit down and have a meal with the people that you'll be blowing up next week.” She says, as we burst out in a fit of laughter.

  “Hey, we might still be able to be friends.”

  “Have you seen some of the looks exchanged? Yeah, don't think so. If it weren't for the truce, this clearing would be a bloodbath. We may be similar as contestants, but our approaches are completely different. Where there is difference, strife shall brew.”

  “I guess you're right, you are the people expert after all. I'm so lucky to have such a super duper cute and genius girlfriend, aren't I?”

  “You are lucky to have me. I'm lucky to have such a super duper cute and genius boyfriend too.”

  “So, does that mean the luck cancels out and we were just destined to be together?”

  “That makes sense, the Moonlight Duo, destined to be together for all of eternity. Imagine all the mischief we will come up with in the future.”

  “We are going to cause so much mischief that the IEC are going to regret not glassing Earth while they had the chance.”

  I give Ray a few more headpats, just as she finishes her meal. “So, whatdya say we go cause some mischief for a certain red head?” I ask

  “Darling, you read my mind.” she agrees.

  For the next few hours until the feast starts, a certain red head by the name of Rao has a lot of strange things happen to him.

  Inexplicable objects appear, causing him to trip.

  The buttons of his uniform are coming undone.

  Oh, and my favourite, someone spilled oil in his hair and then a stray ember happened to ignite it. His hair really embodied that flaming red color that always looks cool in anime.

  Of course, no one knows why these things happened. But Ray and I just so happen to be nearby and start laughing when we see it. Complete coincidence of course.

  After Rao had a bit of misfortune, it was time for the feast.

  Hundreds of people gather around massive tables piled high with food. Of course, the contestants and core members are all seated at the head of the table.

  To my right is Ray, then April, Geo, Marcos and Brian. Everyone looks to be absolutely starving. Which makes sense, considering the preparations have been going on for hours.

  Before everyone can start inhaling the feast, Ray stands up, “Hallo everyone here, let's have a nice feast and stuff before we start killing each other, shall we?” The crowd bursts into a strained sort of laughter, “Now, a toast, to friends that shall soon be enemies!” She raises her wine glass and everyone else follows suit, clinking glasses with those nearby as best they can.

  Everyone drinks and then starts eating, or rather, gorging themselves, on the feast.

  It's a bunch of soldiers, they aren't exactly the most polite eaters in the universe.

  I try my best to make small talk, but I utterly fail and Ray has to save me from causing political catastrophes. How typical. Oh well, I'm sure my turn to blow things up will come soon, that's what I'm good at.

  After the feast is done, everyone cleans up in record time. Turns out, soldiers are far better at destroying than they are creating. Who would've thought such a thing was true.

  Strangely enough, Rao seems to suffer many more misfortunes while we are cleaning up. It's bizarre, but Ray and I get a good laugh out of it.

  “Hey darling, isn't it strange that Rao seems to stay super far away from us?” Ray asks.

  “Yeah, it's almost like he is avoiding us for some reason.”

  “It's sad, we have been nothing but kind to him, haven't we?” This statement draws a bunch of laughs from the nearby people, for some reason.

  “It is strange, though perhaps we can ask him on the battlefield one day. I'm sure he will be more than willing to answer with a spear in his gut.”

  “You make a good point there, darling. I bet he would look quite cool with his hair all pointy and stuff from a lightning bolt or three.”

  “That he would, that he would. Let's make sure that he gets a bit of restyling at some point.”

  We climb into a truck to head back to our fort and Ray wastes no time lying down for some nice headrubs.

  As I'm running my fingers through her long hair, which is super silky and nice by the way, she seems to be thinking about something intensely. Not a rare thing for her per se, but normally she leaves the super-intense thoughts to me.

  “Whatcha thinking about, Ray?” I ask

  “Hmm, just stuff. Like, it's still not settled in that this is all real. It almost feels like I'm in some coma back on Earth and this is all my imagination.” She says, while twirling a bit of her hair on her finger.

  “Its been a klacking crazy few months, hasn't it?”

  “Yeah, I never thought I'd be voluntarily abducted by aliens months before I became a lawyer. Then taken on a journey all across the universe.” She says, while giving me one of those brilliant smiles of hers.

  “Dont forget beyond too, we did go to the sanctum and stuff. That's technically another reality entirely.”

  “Yeah, the Itokin and this inae stuff is only a small part of all the klackery we have been subjected to.” She replies, as she grabs my hand.

  “I can only imagine the klackery that is in store, we've only just begun. Are you ready for some more adventures, darling?”

  “Of course, we will go as far as is required. Heck, if they want us to dive into a black hole for funsies, I say let's do it.”

  “Hmm, if it's with you, I would dive into a black hole. Then we would be together forever, compressed into an infinitely dense singularity, right?”

  “That is somehow oddly romantic and also terrifying. Ko, what kinds of things did you get up to while being a worthless NEET?”

  “Oh you know, preparation for travelling the universe. Apparently all those videogames I played weren't for nought! Take that, parents of the world, videogames aren't pointless.”

  “As long as your kid happens to be sent on an intergalactic journey and they end up in an arena strangely like a video game, you mean?” Ray adds

  “Of course, but like, it's gotta be quite common for such occurrences to happen. The universe is a big place, and even the sovereign empires have barely explored this galactic neighborhood. Let alone the entire universe.”

  “Hmm, you have a point. Makes you wonder what could be out there. I bet there is some strange stuff lurking in the infinite intergalactic voids.”

  “Well, I'd be down to fight a cosmic horror with you. Though knowing you, it'd end up joining us because of your overwhelming charm.” I say. Man, I am so lucky to have such a cute and talented girlfriend. A cosmic horror would be nothing compared to my overflowing love. Wait, that was really cheesy, oh well, I'm sure whoever reads this in the future will laugh.

  More laughs are always needed, reality is often far too depressing. I'm sure that's true in the future as well as now.

  “Well, I don't know about taming cosmic horrors. But I have tamed a worthless NEET that's a major jerk. So it can't be much of a step up.” At her words, I burst out into a fit of laughter.

  “That you have, darling.”

  “Whatever comes next, we will overcome it together, right?”

  “Yep, we are the moonlight duo after all. And you know what the moonlight means.”

  (both) “luce lunae per aspera ad astra et ultra.”

  Ray: “Whatever should come next we will be fine. So dear universe, bring it on”

  End of Chapter 97

  Next: Chapter 98 | Onwards