Ever since the War Camp stripped them of the right to use their names.
In just a year, many trainees could hardly remember what it felt like to say their own names.
They longed to have names again.
This desire surpassed everything else.
Because having a name made them feel human, not just property of the War Camp.
But based on what they knew of the War Camp, since the Camp had severed all ties to their past, even if they were allowed to pick new names, they probably wouldn’t be able to use their original ones.
Still, the trainees were content, already starting to come up with new names in their minds.
“I know everyone wants a good name, but there’s no need to rush this.” Instructor Behemoth had a rare smile on his face.
“When you return, you can do it in the virtual space. From now on, your numbers are just rankings—your new names will become your true identity in the War Camp.”
Then he changed the topic: “Now, let’s hold the first banquet since this year’s War Camp opened!”
A banquet?
Every trainee in the cafeteria froze, unable to believe what they had just heard from Instructor Behemoth.
Was a banquet even something they were allowed to hope for?
Or was it like their first gathering, where they were given raw meat or something else to test their endurance and obedience?
While the trainees racked their brains, wondering what test Behemoth had in mind this time,
A thousand round tube-shaped robots descended from above, carrying aromatic delicacies and drinks.
The sound of swallowing immediately echoed through the cafeteria.
It smelled incredible!
Though they’d grown used to eating raw meat,
Getting used to it didn’t mean they liked it. After all, humans had been eating cooked food for hundreds of thousands of years.
Some trainees, even now, would dream of feasting outside if they didn’t use fast-sleep spray.
In fact, during the first stage assessment, a few trainees were eliminated simply because they couldn’t resist roasting some meat to eat.
“This must be another test! Testing our willpower!”
Lin Zhen stared at the glistening roast chicken before him, and the bottles of the Empire’s famous Lanzhi Cola next to it.
He tried to avert his gaze.
But the moment the roast chicken was set down, even he couldn’t help it—his eyes locked onto the chicken as if by auto-target.
Even if he couldn’t eat it, just looking at it was a treat for the eyes…
This wasn’t just Lin Zhen’s true thought; it was the feeling of most trainees present.
Those who’d made it this far wouldn’t easily be defeated by temptation.
Why “most” and not “all”? Because someone was already digging in!
“So tasty (chomp (~) chomp!)”
Almost the instant the plates landed, Yun Ruoxi had grabbed a pork knuckle and was feasting away.
The trainees at her table stared at her, eyes wide with disbelief.
Seriously, girl?
Behemoth just said a few words, probably testing us, and you’re actually eating already?
Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?
How many lives would you need to dare do something like that?
But…
It really does smell amazing!
Gulp!
Swallowing sounds echoed around Yun Ruoxi.
“Wait a minute… Wasn’t she also the first to finish the raw meat back then?”
The male trainee number 200 at the same table suddenly remembered.
But most of the trainees who’d seen Yun Ruoxi crying as she ate back then had already been eliminated, so no one could confirm it.
No one dared give a definite answer.
Of course, the audience definitely knew.
The camera had already panned over when Yun Ruoxi began eating like a hamster.
Then, as expected, the barrage exploded.
[That’s the taste! My youth returns!]
[This is the Hungry Tiger Descends the Mountain style of eating!]
[I just love this loli eating bare-chested, what do you say?]
[Did you misspell that on purpose or by accident?]
[It’s not the same if she’s not crying. Who’s going to give Little Xi a punch? Such a tiny blue-haired puffball—one punch and she’d cry for ages.]
[Hey you up there, are you trying to be a firework in the sky? (side-eye smile)]
[Little Xi’s got guts. While the others don’t dare eat, she’s already put half the pork knuckle away.]
“The pork knuckle’s tiger skin is so soft and glutinous (chomp chomp), absolutely perfect!” Yun Ruoxi’s cheeks were stuffed with meat like a hamster’s. She looked at the others and mumbled in confusion:
“Why aren’t you eating? Isn’t this a banquet?”
It was a banquet, true.
But without Instructor Behemoth’s real go-ahead, who would dare touch the food!
Her tablemates could only complain inwardly.
In the distance, Ai Li, who’d been secretly watching Yun Ruoxi the whole time, couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle when she saw this.
That’s the way, sis!
Yun Ruoxi really had guts…
After seeing Yun Ruoxi eat, Lin Zhen thought for a moment, then pulled off a chicken drumstick and took a bite.
“What a nostalgic scene!” The former “9996” smiled, picking up chopsticks and grabbing a slice of meat.
At that moment, not far from the cafeteria, Instructor Behemoth looked at the trainees fighting to resist their appetites, and couldn’t help but laugh:
“Back when you were eating raw meat, 219 was the fastest. And now, it’s her again! Can’t any of you learn from her?”
“Instructor, this… can we really eat it?” a trainee nearby asked cautiously.
“Of course! If you weren’t supposed to eat it, why would I have it brought out?” Today, even Instructor Behemoth was less irritable than usual, actually joking with the trainee.
“If you prefer raw meat, I’ll take your plate away, and you can have raw meat all to yourself.”
“No, no!” The trainee waved it off quickly, then hesitantly grabbed some roast meat and stuffed it into his mouth.
The moment his tongue touched the roast meat—so delicious it numbed his tongue and sent his soul trembling—instructor Behemoth showed no displeasure.
Only then did the trainee truly let go, gobbling food down like a starved ghost.
Nearby trainees quickly followed suit.
One told ten, ten told a hundred, and soon the only sound in the cafeteria was the frenzied noise of eating.
Some trainees even broke into fights over the best dishes.
At this moment, Yun Ruoxi’s psychic power became the most powerful weapon.
Once she activated [Full Cycle], her Star Energy Index soared to 60 in an instant.
Enough to overpower any trainee present.
She stood, psychic power radiating out to form an invisible barrier that blocked those trying to snatch food.
At the same time, dishes from her own table and from the would-be thieves’ tables all flew to her as if summoned.
Feast from eight directions!
Luckily, the robots never stopped serving.
Even if food was snatched away, new dishes would soon be brought out.
So the trainees who were robbed only grunted and didn’t dare start anything with Yun Ruoxi.
Of course, the main reason was that they couldn’t beat her anyway.
Swish, swish, swish!
Yun Ruoxi opened her mouth as dish after dish flew into it.
When she was almost full and about to close her mouth,
A slender-fingered hand reached over and slipped a piece of bread inside.
Her cheeks puffed out, but she wasn’t surprised. She just mumbled her complaint:
“Xiao Ai, my mouth’s already full!”
Then she started chewing with effort.
The blonde girl behind her smiled, her eyes curving in delight.
No one could have imagined that after a year of constant pressure and life-and-death trials, the War Camp would finally greet a moment of rare relaxation and bustle in such a lively way.