Chapter 40: Dishes of Abyss

A special table laden with a variety of dishes from each clan was brought directly to Seojun. Malara approached with a platter of meat, her demeanor welcoming.

"My lord, from the Gloomfang Clan, we have the Midnight Roast. It's a tender, flavorful meat that's a favorite among our people."

Seojun looked at the roast, which resembled a well-cooked piece of pork. Intrigued by its rich, smoky aroma, he took a bite. The taste was indeed similar to pork, with a hearty, savory flavor.

As he enjoyed the meat, a notification suddenly appeared:

[WARNING!]

You have consumed Midnight Roast!

[You have been poisoned!]

[Notification: [Resistance to Monster Meat Poisoning] Level Up: Increased resistance to harmful effects from consuming wild beast meat.]

Seojun's expression shifted to one of shock. 'This is monster meat?' he thought, stunned. 'I never intended to eat something like this!'

He turned to Malara calming down, "What exactly is this meat?"

Malara smiled and responded, "My lord, the Midnight Roast is a delicacy from the Gloomfang territory, specifically prepared by Lord Balor. It comes from a creature called the Nightshade Stag. It's a prized dish in our clan, known for its unique flavor and rich taste."

Seojun looked at the meat again, [The Midnight Roast is similar to pigs, Host.]

Seojun took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Despite the initial surprise, he appreciated the effort and hospitality.

Seojun glanced at the array of strange foods before him, muttering to himself, "Should I really eat all of this strange food?"

[Consuming a variety of clan delicacies can increase your overall resistance to various forms of monster-related effects. Acquiring resistance from monster meat will improve your durability and protect you from harmful effects in future encounters.]

Seojun considered the message, recognizing that sampling these foods might offer significant advantages. Despite his initial apprehension, he understood that each dish could help him build valuable resistances.

Seojun took a deep breath, "What's next?" he asked, glancing at Malara.

Malara smiled and brought forward a slice of a mysterious dish, which looked like a translucent blue ball of jelly resting on a leaf plate. "This is the Azure Orb," she explained. "It's a delicacy from the Hollowshades Clan, known for its unique texture and flavor."

Seojun took the plate from Malara, eyeing the blue orb with a hint of skepticism. 'What is this now?' he thought, unsure of what to expect.

He took a bite, and to his surprise, the flavor was unexpectedly delicious. The jelly had a sweet, refreshing taste with a hint of something exotic. As he continued enjoying the treat, a new notification appeared:

[WARNING!]

You have consumed a substance with deadly toxic properties!

Seojun began to feel a slight discomfort in his stomach, a brief pang of pain that quickly passed. He frowned, feeling uneasy, but the discomfort was short-lived. 'Do they want me to die?!'

Moments later, additional notifications popped up.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have acquired Resistance to Toxic]

[The Azure Orb has enhanced your agility and reflexes temporarily]

Seojun's eyes widened as he read the notifications. The initial pain was apparently a minor side effect, but the benefits seemed promising.

Seojun took a deep breath and finished the slice of the Azure Orb. The sweet, refreshing taste of the blue jelly lingered on his tongue, masking the discomfort from the toxic effects he'd just experienced.

Lord Sorgar stared at Seojun in disbelief. 'No human should be able to withstand the effects of eating monster food like that,' he thought,

Seojun wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and turned to Malara, his expression neutral but his eyes sharp with curiosity. "What monster is this from, Malara?"

Malara bowed her head slightly before replying, "It's the Wyrm Queen's eggs, my lord."

Seojun's eyes narrowed as he processed her words. 'Wyrm?' he thought, Suddenly, it clicked. His eyes widened in horror. 'Wyrm... as in worms?' A wave of revulsion washed over him. He cussed under his breath and immediately reached for the nearest goblet of water on the table, desperate to wash away the taste.

He took a large gulp, expecting the familiar, clean taste of water, but his face twisted in confusion. The liquid was thick, bitter, and had an odd, acrid aftertaste but delicious. "What is this?" he asked.

Malara quickly answered, "That's the extract of a Ferocious Glider, my lord."

Seojun's eyes widened further. "Pee?" he choked out, his voice cracking with disbelief. Immediately, he began to cough and gag, trying to spit it out. He doubled over, his hands on his knees, trying to purge the taste from his mouth. His body tensed as he felt a wave of nausea roll through him.

Ding! [You have consumed Ferocious Glider Extract.]

Effect: Neurotoxic Venom has been ingested. Symptoms include intense headaches, hallucinations, muscular spasms, and potential organ failure.

Seojun felt a sharp, stabbing pain shoot through his head, as if needles were being driven into his brain. His muscles began to twitch involuntarily, and a wave of confusion washed over him, making it hard to think straight. He could feel his organs protesting, a deep, unsettling pain radiating from his abdomen.

"What is happening to Lord Seojun?" one demon muttered, his eyes darting nervously from Seojun to his fellow clan members.

"Why did he suddenly hide under the table? Is he ill?" whispered another, her voice filled with concern.

"I've never seen a human react like this before," a horned demon said to his companion. "Could the food be too much for him?"

Meanwhile, Kazrak watched with a smirk from his seat, 'No human can handle the strongest liquor like that. He'll end up dying' he thought, barely containing his laughter.

Malara, noticing Seojun's sudden distress, grew worried and moved closer, blocking the view from the others. "My lord?!" she whispered, concern etched on her face.

Seojun could barely hear her over the ringing in his ears. His vision started to blur, but then, another notification popped up.

Notification: [Resistance to Neurotoxic Venom Acquired.]

Effect: Poison nullified. Neurotoxic Venom effects significantly reduced.

Seojun felt the pain in his head begin to ease. The dizziness faded, and the spasms in his muscles slowly subsided. He took a deep, steadying breath and felt his mind clear. The system's message continued:

Further Consumption of Neurotoxic Venom-based substances will strengthen your resistance.

Seojun looked up, realizing he had narrowly avoided a serious condition.Seeing him recover, Kazrak's smirk faded, replaced by a look of shock. He couldn't believe his eyes. Seojun had endured what no human should have survived, and now, he was even stronger because of it.

Seojun sit back up, adjusting his posture, and glanced around the table. "Alright, what's next?" he said, as if nothing had happened.