In the world of Toriko,
Within a vast and lush vegetable field, Eriyi rested against a towering corn stalk that rose more than ten meters into the air.
She cradled a pea pod nearly two meters long and carefully sliced it open with the Sword of Promised Victory. The blade glided smoothly, and the pod parted cleanly, revealing clusters of translucent, jelly-like flesh.
Setting her sword aside, Eriyi picked up a piece and pressed her face into it. When she lifted her head again, her cheeks were puffed out, her expression full of quiet delight as she savored the taste.
Not far away, Malrick hovered calmly, using his consciousness to pluck clouds from the sky. These clouds were rainbow candies, crisp to the bite and bursting with shifting flavors the moment they touched the tongue.
Neither spoke. They simply enjoyed the food and the rare stillness of the moment.
Suddenly, the massive cornfield began to sway.
The ground trembled in steady pulses, as though something enormous was approaching.
Corn leaves and thick stalks were forced aside as a massive, fat-headed fish pushed its way into view, stretching nearly twenty meters in length.
Naturally, a creature like that could never reach land on its own.
Altria had dragged it here from the sea.
"Heave ho, heave ho."
Because her true body had once been sent back to the time of the Selection by the Holy Grail, and because she never abandoned the Sword of Promised Victory, Altria's physique remained small and slight.
Compared to the massive fish, she looked like an ant hauling an entire ham.
With a final grunt, she hurled the fish to the ground. The impact sent a shock through the cornfield.
"Malrick, I'm back from hunting. Tonight we're eating fish," she shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth.
The cowlick atop her head swayed as she spoke, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Unfortunately, the object of her excitement lay beneath her feet, staring up at her with dull, lifeless eyes.
Malrick appeared on a broad corn leaf above her, half-crouched, his expression flat.
"You caught a fish. Why do you feel the need to emphasize it so much?"
"Because it's going to be delicious," Altria replied without hesitation.
She drew her longsword and began carving precise, decorative cuts along the fish's body. Her movements were swift and practiced. She sliced one side, kicked the fish to flip it over, and continued without pause.
When she finished, she jumped down and looked up at Malrick.
"Hurry and cook it, or it won't be fresh."
"Alright," Malrick said, shaking his head. "Though I doubt one fish will be enough for you."
Despite his complaint, his hands were already at work.
Heat Vision spread outward, enveloping the fish in controlled waves of energy, cooking it evenly from head to tail. He sprinkled cumin, followed by chopped green onions and chili powder.
The aroma spread instantly, rich and irresistible.
Malrick's control over heat had long since reached perfection.
Seasoning, however, was something he treated casually.
"Oh, that smells amazing," Altria said, inhaling deeply, her eyes shining. "As expected, your cooking is always good enough."
For someone who grew up on an English farm, where the best meals of her childhood were roasted meat and mashed potatoes, even something as simple as cumin was enough to overwhelm her senses.
Altria tore free two massive fish bones, each four to five meters long, thick with roasted meat. She handed one to Malrick and one to Eriyi, who had already made her way over.
It was not generosity that drove her to share.
It was confidence.
The rest of the fish was hers.
She lunged forward and began eating with unrestrained enthusiasm.
Judging by her pace, Malrick doubted the fish would survive even an hour.
"Dinner is fish again," Eriyi said as she climbed onto the corn leaf beside Malrick.
She was long accustomed to Altria's appetite.
Back in Camelot, whenever Malrick cooked, Altria's most common phrases had been:
"Delicious."
"Another bowl, please."
"Another one."
"Bring the pot over."
Eriyi lifted the steaming meat, about to take a bite.
Malrick stopped her.
"Dinner tonight isn't fish."
Eriyi blinked. "Then is Altria eating a pre-dinner snack?"
"That's just how a King's Stomach works," Malrick replied, waving it off. "I've completed an enhanced version of Gourmet Cells. Tonight, we're having something better."
They had been in the world of Toriko for two days.
This world was born from a Gourmet Big Bang.
Long ago, Gourmet Gods resided in the Final Land, indulging endlessly in food beyond imagination. When even that land could no longer contain their appetite, the Gourmet Big Bang occurred, scattering Gourmet energy across countless universes.
Planets formed from pure delicacies, stars orbited by worlds made of food itself.
The original Gourmet Gods eventually evolved into Gourmet Cell Demons.
When humans transplanted Gourmet Cells into their bodies, they grew stronger by consuming high-grade ingredients. But as the cells evolved, the demons within them could eventually turn on their hosts.
When Malrick arrived, his first action was to collect Gourmet Cells.
They expanded the diversity of his genetic structure.
After analyzing them through his Black Light Clone, he quickly grasped their true nature.
Now, he had perfected them.
"These upgraded Gourmet Cells carry no risk of backlash," Malrick said. "They absorb Gourmet energy and strengthen the body naturally. Once you reach a certain threshold, you simply feel full."
As he spoke, he gently held Eriyi's arm.
"I've already adjusted your cells. Now we can prepare for the real meal."
Soft white light enveloped her body.
Every cell felt wrapped in warmth, calm and comforting.
When the light faded, a sudden sense of emptiness followed, accompanied by faint hunger.
Eriyi looked at Malrick, then at Altria.
"Altria would probably love Gourmet Cells," she said thoughtfully.
Then she looked back up.
"So what are we eating?"
Malrick pulled out a thick stack of menus.
"These belong to some of Earth's most famous Gourmet Hunters. We'll work through them one by one."
He rubbed his chin. "But we'll need the right chef. Ingredients like these deserve proper hands."
"Your cooking is already very good," Eriyi said.
Malrick raised a finger. "There are culinary geniuses out there who could surpass me with the right guidance. And remember, call me Malrick."
Eriyi nodded quickly.
Half an hour later,
In the world of Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma.
Malrick sat at the head of a long dining table draped in a pristine cloth. Eriyi sat on one side, Altria on the other.
They waited.
Nakirī Erina, a member of Totsuki Culinary Academy's Elite Ten Council, stood nearby with her assistant.
Three carefully prepared tuna dishes were placed before them.
Erina's hands trembled slightly.
When these three had arrived, they had casually dropped a colossal tuna weighing dozens of tons in front of her kitchen and told her that if the dishes satisfied them, they might hire her as their private chef.
Had anyone else made such a demand, she would have kicked them out without hesitation.
But facing these three, she felt something she could not ignore.
This was an opportunity she could not afford to miss.
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