Loya casually smashed the sandbags in front of him with a satisfying pop. His fists and legs turned the bags into flying cannonballs, all while he occasionally sucked the drool from the corner of his mouth.
The major general watched this scene, mildly dissatisfied with Loya's nonchalant performance, but he didn't say much. He had received some inside information.
Loya's melee combat was rough, but his overall strength and fruit ability were formidable. The boot camp training barely challenged him. To maintain balance, he didn't receive special treatment. His rightful place was the elite battalion under Zephyr, alongside other so-called monsters. For now, he needed an excuse for promotion and to pass the combat assessment.
Finally, the instructor called the dismissal.
The news of Loya's duel with Ms. S in the cafeteria leaked, and the recruits were thrilled. The monotonous daily training was briefly interrupted as a crowd surrounded Loya, escorting him to the cafeteria.
Zephyr had left the boot camp that afternoon to confirm the recruits' combat assessment with the World Government Office. On his way home, he saw Loya entering the cafeteria, surrounded by a throng.
"What are these guys up to?"
The cafeteria had been prepped for the duel. Tables were moved, leaving only two in the center. One had cutlery for Loya, the other was loaded with ingredients and stoves for Ms. S to cook on the spot, ensuring fairness.
Ms. S, arms crossed, holding a spoon and spatula, greeted Loya with a confident smile.
"It's not too late to concede, or you'll be too embarrassed to eat later with so many people watching."
Loya, eyes full of fighting spirit, fastened a napkin to his chest. "Enough talk, let's start!"
"Hmph, have the guts!"
A middle-aged chef stood between them, using a spoon as a microphone. "Welcome to this showdown. If anyone's hungry, we've prepared some curry over there. Now, the rules:"
"First, Loya must finish one serving before starting the next. Ms. S cannot cook anything unpalatable. Fouls end the game.
Second, Ms. S must finish her first serving within five minutes, or she loses.
Third, no interference from either side. The winner is determined by Loya finishing all the food on the table before Ms. S cooks the next serving. If one-third or more of the food remains, or Loya can't continue, Ms. S wins.
Any objections?"
"No."
"None."
Loya glanced at Ms. S disdainfully. "Better start with something simple, or you'll fall behind."
"Arrogant brat!" Ms. S retorted, "Even if I cook the usual cafeteria meals, it'll be you who can't keep up!"
"Let's get on with it!"
Provoked, Ms. S picked up a potato and nodded to the referee chef. "Enough talk, let's start!"
"Okay...Okay." The chef wiped his sweat, then raised the kitchen utensils.
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
Clang! The competition begins!
With a metallic clink, the duel started. Ms. S expertly diced a basket of potatoes in no time.
"So fast! Ms. S's hand speed is amazing!"
"Yeah, look at those potatoes, evenly sized and peeled!"
Loya got serious, channeling his magic to increase stomach acid production, keeping a close eye on Ms. S's movements. She was formidable.
Ms. S swiftly chopped vegetables, stirred the pot, and in less than four minutes, placed a dish of fried sea beast meat in front of Loya.
The air filled with the aroma of meat, making onlookers' stomachs growl.
"Enjoy!"
Ms. S turned back to prepare the next dish. Loya picked up a plate of meat, pouring it into his mouth without chopsticks. He barely chewed before swallowing and reaching for the next plate.
"This kid was holding back at noon..." Ms. S narrowed her eyes, turning up the heat and speeding up her cooking.
"Both are amazing."
"Yeah, Loya can really eat. I thought it was a joke at noon."
Almost simultaneously, as Loya finished a plate, another dish was placed in front of him. He and Ms. S exchanged serious looks.
"This kid (this old woman) is no pushover."
The duel heated up, recruits cheering and eating curry. Inspired by Loya, their appetites grew.
Zephyr watched from outside the window. Several times, he considered disciplining the undisciplined crowd but held back. Finally, he smiled and shook his head. "Let them have their fun... Everyone was young once."
Then, he turned and walked away, his silhouette stretched long by the setting sun.
Inside, nobody realized that General Zephyr, the iron-faced instructor, had been just outside. If they'd known, their cheering might have been even more enthusiastic, albeit short-lived.
As time wore on, the duel reached a fever pitch. Loya's pace slowed, and Ms. S was drenched in sweat, her pot-flipping finesse dwindling. The cooks busily cleared Loya's empty dishes, casting admiring glances his way.
Nothing warms a chef's heart more than seeing their food devoured with gusto. At this moment, Loya earned the respect of every cook in the recruit camp's mess hall—a respect he likely hadn't anticipated.
The night grew darker, stars dotting the sky. A chilly sea breeze made the patrolling navy shrink into their jackets as they dutifully carried on. Soldiers on lighthouse duty smoked cigarettes, gazing towards the recruit camp.
"Is the cafeteria still serving this late?"
"Damn you, you bottomless pit!" Ms. S panted, propping herself up on her knees. A pot of fragrant broth bubbled before her. After catching her breath, she resumed chopping vegetables as Loya polished off the last plate.
Loya patted his bulging belly, gripping the plate's edge with his other hand. He gulped down the last bite, ready to gloat. "Ha! You—"
His victory speech died on his lips as he noticed Ms. S's dish still cooking. His jaw snapped shut when a pot of shimmering golden shrimp fried rice appeared before him.
"Think you can beat me, kid? Think again!" Ms. S snorted, tossing more veggies into the pot. "Just wait 'til this soup's ready. You're going down."
"Yeah... I'm gonna lose..." Loya mumbled, eyeing the shrimp. His system could convert food to energy fast, but not that fast. He needed hours to digest.
Admit defeat? No way. Loya shook his head. What kind of dragon slayer wizard loses an eating contest? Especially with his system helping out?
Nibbling on a shrimp, Loya's mind raced. Why fight head-on when he had other tricks up his sleeve?
Taking a bite of rice, he stood up, mumbling through a full mouth, "Gotta get some air."
"Trying to cheat?" Ms. S sneered.
"Spit, yeah, but not the food. Follow me if you don't trust me."
"Nice try, kid. My dishes'll be ready soon, then you're done for! Hey, you lot, keep an eye on him!"
The curious crowd followed Loya outside, watching him scan the area with puffed cheeks.
"Is he gonna hurl? Ms. S will flip!"
Ignoring the chatter, Loya picked a spot far from any buildings. Facing the sky, he raised his fists to his mouth and bellowed, "Ice Dragon's... ROAR!"
BOOM!
A massive ice tornado shot skyward, leaving everyone slack-jawed. The air turned frigid, like they'd stepped onto a frozen island.
Loya's plan? Drain himself with the ice dragon's roar, kick his system into overdrive, and speed up digestion.
CRACK!
The sky split, the ice tornado bursting into a shower of glittering crystals.
"Fireworks?" someone whispered in awe.
Gasping, Loya felt the food in his stomach vanish, warmth flooding his body. He spun to face the stunned crowd. "Don't just stand there gawking! That ice is coming down! Take cover!"
"Huh? OH CRAP!"
Reality hit as they looked up, seeing the ice crystals growing larger by the second. Panic erupted as everyone scrambled for shelter, leaving Loya to deal with the icy aftermath of his clever ploy.