The Twilight Forest had become my new training ground. With Lumina perched on my shoulder and Umbra, the Eclipse Drake, pacing beside me, the world suddenly felt both terrifying and thrilling.
> [Quest Updated: Attract and Feed Multiple Legendary Beasts]
I wiped sweat from my brow. "Alright… step one: don't get eaten. Step two: feed the Apex predators. Step three: maybe survive this day without spontaneously combusting from system overload."
Lumina flicked her glowing tail. "Master… another powerful creature approaches. Stronger than Umbra… it will test your cooking skills."
I groaned. "Why is it always stronger than the last one?"
Suddenly, the ground quaked beneath massive paws. A shadow moved between the violet trees — enormous, with obsidian-black fur and molten-gold eyes. Its fangs glimmered like refined steel, and every breath it exhaled created faint gusts of energy.
> [Creature Detected: Legendary Beast — Level 60]
[Name: Fenris, the Devouring Wolf]
[Feeding Recommended — EXP +4000]
I froze. Fenris? That was… bigger than anything I'd seen besides Umbra. My stomach twisted. "Alright… we're officially cooking for monsters now."
Lumina's ears twitched. "Master… if you succeed, Fenris may join you. Prepare your highest-tier dish."
> [System Notification: Recommended Recipe — Dragon Essence Soup (God-Tier)]
[Required Ingredients: Dragon Bone x2, Phoenix Egg x3, Mystic Herb x5, Celestial Water x1]
Of course. I had almost none of these.
"Fine," I muttered, summoning the Infinite Ingredient Generator. The ingredients sparkled into my hands: Dragon Bones, Phoenix Eggs, Mystic Herbs, and a vial of shimmering Celestial Water.
> [System Message: Ingredients Summoned — Dragon Bone x2, Phoenix Egg x3, Mystic Herb x5, Celestial Water x1]
I started cooking. Flames danced, aura spirals formed above the pan, and the aroma of divinity filled the forest — stronger than before. Umbra sniffed deeply, tail wagging in approval.
> [System Message: Cooking Progress — God-Tier Recipe in Process]
Fenris circled, massive paws leaving craters, eyes locked on the pan. It growled low and deep, a sound that resonated in my chest.
> [System Alert: Legendary Beast Feeding in Progress — Extreme Difficulty]
I carefully plated the Dragon Essence Soup. Golden steam spiraled, and an aura of raw power radiated from the dish. Fenris leaned down, nostrils flaring. Time seemed to slow.
It sniffed once… twice… then ate in one massive gulp.
> [System Message: Fenris Fed — EXP +4000]
[Level Up! Class Advancement Complete]
[New Skill Unlocked: Divine Flavor Manipulation — Enhances All Companions' Power]
I staggered back. Divine Flavor Manipulation? My cooking literally enhanced my companions now. This was… absurd.
Lumina chirped excitedly. "Master… Fenris has recognized your power. It will now follow your orders!"
> [Companion Acquired — Fenris, Legendary Wolf]
I pinched my nose. "Okay… three legendary companions now. I feel like a walking divine buffet."
Umbra nudged me gently. "You're not just cooking… you're commanding beasts."
I sighed. "Yeah… and I didn't even apply for this job."
With Fenris, Umbra, and Lumina forming a small entourage, I began exploring deeper into the Twilight Forest. Each step revealed glowing plants, mystical fruits, and exotic herbs. Lumina's tail highlighted hidden treasures, Umbra sniffed out secret paths, and Fenris's golden eyes detected magical energy.
> [Quest Updated: Explore Hidden Ingredients and Legendary Creature Habitats — EXP +1200]
I plucked Celestial Mushrooms, Twilight Berries, and Glowing Herbs, all highlighted in my cookbook. Each new ingredient unlocked recipes glowing with divine light: Phoenix Flame Tart, Celestial Herb Salad, Dragon Essence Pie.
> [System Message: Rare Ingredients Collected — EXP +600]
I tested one small dish: Celestial Herb Salad, tossing the ingredients into a pan with faint sparks of magic. The aroma wafted through the air, and immediately, two small elemental spirits appeared, sniffing curiously.
> [System Notification: New Companions Available — Level 10 Mythical Spirits]
I blinked. "Oh… they just… came to eat? Wait… are they… companions too?"
> [System Message: Feeding Unlocks Companion Bonding — EXP +200 per creature]
I groaned. "Yeah… apparently my life is now a divine pet café."
Fenris padded closer, sniffing the salad. Umbra leaned over, wagging its wings gently. Lumina purred. "Master… every dish you cook attracts more powerful beings. Soon, you may have an entire army of legendary companions."
I pinched my temples. "Yeah… just what I wanted. A forest full of mythical creatures following me around. Totally normal life."
The sun set behind the violet trees. The forest glowed faintly under the twin suns' afterlight, magical creatures stirring in anticipation of my next dish.
> [Quest Updated: Establish Legendary Beast Companions — EXP +1500]
I held my pan high, looking at my companions. "Alright… Riku. You don't know the world fully. You don't know your limits. But with Lumina, Umbra, and Fenris, and all the divine flavors you can summon… maybe you're about to change this world."
> "Let's make the gods drool… on an entirely new level."