The forest was alive in ways I hadn't expected. Even after feeding Finrir and bonding with Lumina, every rustle, every shimmer in the trees made my stomach tense.
> [Quest Updated: Discover Rare Ingredients and Legendary Beasts]
Lumina pranced ahead, tail glowing like a lantern. "This way, Riku. I sense rare mushrooms and creatures nearby."
I groaned. "Step one: don't die. Step two: feed more legendary beasts. Step three: find something edible for me."
> [System Notification: Hunger Level Critical — EXP +50 for Self-Cooking]
Ugh… the system wasn't letting me slack even now. Fine. I dug through my backpack — a loaf of bread, some dried noodles… perfectly mediocre.
Lumina sniffed the air. "Wait. Something else… very strong…"
Before I could ask, the forest floor trembled. Leaves and dust swirled, and a low growl rolled through the trees. Out of the shadows, a golden-scaled serpent slithered into view. Its eyes glowed amber, fangs glinting, and smoke hissed from its nostrils.
> [Creature Detected: Mythical Beast — Level: 25]
I gulped. "Oh… great. Another… 'please don't eat me' situation?"
Lumina's tail flared. "No, master. This one smells… curious. It might be interested in food instead."
> [System Alert: Feeding Recommended — EXP +1200]
I quickly scanned my cookbook. "Hmm… Phoenix Egg Omelet. Could work."
> [Required Ingredients: 1 Phoenix Egg, 1 Mystic Herb]
Fantastic. I had neither.
"Alright, let's improvise," I muttered. I tapped the Infinite Ingredient Generator. Sparkling light erupted, and a phoenix egg and mystic herb appeared in my hands. My heart skipped. This system was insane.
> [System Message: Ingredients Summoned — Phoenix Egg x1, Mystic Herb x1]
I tossed them into my pan, muttering prayers under my breath. Flames danced, colors swirled, and a faint golden aroma filled the forest. The serpent paused, nostrils flaring. Its forked tongue flicked the air.
> [System Message: Cooking Successful — Phoenix Egg Omelet Created (Rare Quality)]
[EXP +800]
I carefully slid the glowing omelet toward the serpent. It leaned down, sniffed once… twice… then ate it in one gulp.
"…Delicious…" it rumbled, eyes closing in ecstasy. "You… cook absurdly well… mortal."
> [System Message: Creature Fed — EXP +1200]
[Level Up! Class Advancement Available]
[New Skill Unlocked: Divine Aroma — Attracts Legendary Beasts]
I staggered back. Multi-creature cooking boost, divine aroma… my skill was escalating too fast.
Lumina jumped onto my shoulder. "See? I told you. Each meal attracts stronger beings. Master this, and you won't just survive — you'll dominate."
I wiped sweat from my brow. "Yeah… survive, dominate… easy. Totally normal life."
We moved deeper into the forest. Every step revealed glowing plants, floating fruits, and shimmering herbs. Strange creatures peeked from behind the trees — tiny elemental sprites, deer with crystalline antlers, and birds with feathers like molten gold.
Lumina's ears twitched. "Something huge ahead… legendary… more powerful than Finrir."
My stomach flipped. "No… please… I just leveled up. I'm not ready for… whatever that is."
Then I saw it: a massive shadow moving among the trees. Eyes like molten silver, claws glowing faintly with energy. The ground trembled as it approached.
> [Legendary Creature Detected: Eclipse Drake — Feeding Recommended — EXP +3000]
I froze. This was bigger than anything Kaelthar or Finrir had hinted at. Its scales glimmered black with purple veins, and a faint aura of darkness radiated around it.
Lumina growled softly. "Master… it's observing. Wait… it's… curious."
> [System Message: Divine Quest Update — Observe Legendary Beast Behavior Before Feeding]
My hands shook. "Observe? That's… genius system design. Great. Perfect. Observe… sure."
I glanced at my cookbook. A recipe glowed faintly:
> Recipe 005: Eclipse Drake Stew — Warning: Extreme Difficulty
"…I mean… maybe not today," I muttered.
The Drake sniffed the air and let out a low, vibrating growl. Then, something miraculous happened: it crouched, wagging its massive tail slightly.
Lumina yipped happily. "It likes you… master! Cook carefully and it may accept your food!"
I swallowed hard. "Yeah… alright… let's see if I can survive this level of cooking…"
> [New Quest Unlocked: Study Legendary Beast Diets and Craft God-Tier Recipes]
The Twilight Forest suddenly felt alive in every way. I wasn't just a chef anymore — I was a beacon of divine flavor, drawing mythical beasts, dangerous predators, and perhaps even gods toward my cooking.
I gripped my pan, feeling the weight of my absurd skill. "Okay… Riku. You don't know this world. You don't know your limits. But… you do know how to cook. Let's see who else shows up next."
Lumina purred on my shoulder, tail glowing like a lighthouse. "Adventure awaits… and so does hunger."
> "Let's make the gods drool… again."