The morning after the Guild chef's challenge, Crescent Moon Inn was strangely quiet.
No sizzling pans. No shouting. Just the faint crackle of the blue flame, steady and patient, waiting.
Ethan stood at the counter, staring at a blank notebook. The words Silver Spoon Arena – Three Days were written at the top.
Luna peeked from the doorway. "Chef? You've been staring at that page for an hour."
"I'm thinking," Ethan said.
"Thinking about what?"
He looked up, smiling faintly. "The dish that'll win us the cook-off."
Maris entered, tying her hair back. "Do we even know the rules?"
Ethan nodded. "Three courses. One appetizer, one main, one dessert. Each must use at least one Tier-3 Spirit Ingredient."
Luna blinked. "Tier-3? That sounds… expensive."
"Very," Maris said dryly. "Most chefs can't even afford to see Tier-3 ingredients, let alone cook with them."
Ethan smirked. "Then it's a good thing I've got a System that loves challenges."
---
He called up his System interface.
[Quest: Prove Your Flame]
[Objective: Create a three-course menu worthy of the title "Legendary Chef."]
[Reward: Recipe Fusion Function Unlocked]
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Recipe Fusion?"
A small window opened:
[Combine two or more known recipes to create a new, unique dish. Results depend on creativity, skill, and ingredient compatibility.]
His grin widened. "Now we're talking."
He turned to his team. "Alright. Maris, Luna — today, we experiment."
Luna's eyes widened. "Experiment? Like… kitchen explosions?"
"Hopefully fewer of those," Ethan said. "But yes — we'll push limits."
Maris folded her arms. "You're serious about taking on Gareth?"
"Completely," he said. "He's a Guild chef. He's trained, talented, and proud. But pride doesn't make flavor. Heart does."
She nodded slowly. "Then let's make something worth our hearts."
---
The kitchen roared to life again.
Ethan began by testing ingredient combinations. Spirit Herbs glowed faintly under the morning light; Ember Seeds pulsed with red warmth. Each one reacted differently to heat and mana flow.
Luna nearly burned herself trying to infuse mana into a sauce. "Ah! It sparkled!"
"That's good," Ethan said without looking. "Means it's reacting."
"It also burned my sleeve!"
"That's… less good. Try channeling from your core next time."
Meanwhile, Maris was focused on technique. "The mana balance shifts depending on the knife's rhythm. Look."
She sliced through a Starfruit Herb — it shimmered, releasing silver mist.
"See how it blooms if you don't rush it?"
Ethan smiled. "Exactly. Every ingredient has a tempo. Once you find it, it sings."
He grabbed a pan, added oil, and began working. "Now watch."
Flame roared, ingredients flying — the sound of sizzling, crackling, the heartbeat of a kitchen in motion.
He fused Frost Leaves and Ember Sauce, opposites in nature. The result — a burst of steam that smelled both fiery and cool, sharp yet comforting.
Luna's jaw dropped. "Chef! That smells… like summer and winter at once!"
Ethan plated it. "Exactly. Contrast creates harmony."
He took a bite — his eyes widened. The flavors danced, hot and cold blending perfectly.
The System pinged.
[Recipe Fusion Successful.]
[New Recipe: Frostfire Glaze (Tier 3).]
Ethan laughed. "There it is."
Maris leaned in. "Frostfire… sounds risky."
"Yeah," he said. "Risky dishes make legends."
---
For the appetizer, they experimented with something light — Spirit Mushroom skewers glazed with Essence Honey. Each one shimmered faintly, humming with gentle mana.
For the main course, Ethan worked on a bold creation: Fire-Grilled Phoenix Fillet with Frostfire Glaze.
Every motion was precise, every adjustment instinctive. His flame moved like it knew what he needed before he did.
Luna tasted the sauce and blinked. "It's spicy, but… refreshing?"
"Exactly," Ethan said. "Opposites working together. That's what balance means."
Maris nodded thoughtfully. "You're building a philosophy, not just a recipe."
He smiled. "Every great dish has one."
Then came dessert.
They tried dozens of ideas — mana-caramel pudding, spirit fruit tarts, frost sugar cakes — until Ethan found the right one.
He roasted Dream Berries over blue flame, drizzled them with amber syrup, and froze the outer layer instantly using Frost Essence.
The result: Spirit Glass Berries. A crunchy shell that shattered to reveal warm sweetness inside.
Luna took one bite and gasped. "It's cold outside, hot inside! How is that even possible?!"
Ethan chuckled. "Magic and patience."
Maris closed her eyes, savoring the taste. "If Gareth underestimates you, he's finished."
---
By evening, the kitchen was a disaster — dishes everywhere, mana residue in the air, everyone covered in flour and sauce.
But the table in front of them gleamed with beauty: three perfect plates.
1. Spirit Mushroom Skewers with Essence Honey Glaze
2. Phoenix Fillet in Frostfire Sauce
3. Spirit Glass Berries
Ethan stood back, arms crossed. "Our menu."
Luna raised a tired hand. "Chef… I think I love you."
He laughed. "That's the exhaustion talking."
Maris smiled faintly. "No. That's pride talking."
Ethan looked at the dishes again, his chest swelling with quiet satisfaction.
This wasn't just food. It was proof. Proof that he could still create, still lead, still bring people joy.
The blue flame flickered warmly, reflecting his grin.
"Tomorrow," he said softly, "we perfect it. The day after… we win."
---
Late that night, long after the others had gone to bed, Ethan sat alone in the kitchen, sketching notes.
He looked up at the Infernal Stove.
"You've burned with me and for me," he murmured. "Now let's burn together for victory."
The flame pulsed once, bright and steady.
Outside, the stars gleamed like a thousand tiny embers.
Three days from now, the world would see what true cooking meant.