The Silver Spoon Arena buzzed like a storm.
Spectators leaned forward, waiting for the next mystery ingredient. Judges whispered among themselves. The air was thick with tension — and the scent of anticipation.
The announcer's voice thundered through the stands.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The ingredient for Round Two — Main Course — will now be revealed!"
The silver dome lifted.
Inside rested a glowing slab of Storm Serpent Meat — faintly crackling with blue lightning essence.
The crowd gasped.
"Impossible…" Maris whispered. "That's Tier 4!"
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "So the Guild's pulling out the big guns."
Luna poked the air nervously. "Uh… Chef? Isn't that thing still… twitching?"
A tiny arc of lightning jumped from the meat, zapping the counter.
"Yeah," Ethan said calmly. "Means it's fresh."
---
The announcer raised his hand. "You have ninety minutes! Begin!"
Ethan's mind was already racing.
Storm Serpent meat… rich, chewy, unstable mana. Too much heat and it discharges. Too little and it's rubbery.
Across the arena, Gareth had already started.
He infused lightning mana into his knife, slicing the meat so fast it barely sparked. His assistants moved like clockwork, preparing a Thunder Tempura — crisp batter crackling with energy.
"Let's show them precision," Gareth said confidently. "We'll make lightning sing."
Ethan grinned. "Let's show them what real flavor feels like."
---
"Luna," he said, "soak the meat in frostvine extract. It'll stabilize the mana flow."
"Right!"
"Maris, start preparing the base sauce — Frostfire glaze, but thicker. We'll build a contrast."
Maris nodded, already mixing ingredients.
Ethan placed his hand on the counter and took a breath. "Infernal Stove… you ready?"
The blue flame answered with a low roar, flickering with faint sparks of gold.
It had evolved again.
He sliced the Storm Serpent meat — clean, steady cuts. The flesh hummed under his knife, tiny arcs dancing across the blade.
"Fascinating…" Maris murmured. "You're cutting along the mana veins."
"Exactly," Ethan said. "If I break them, it loses flavor. If I follow them, the meat retains charge."
The scent that followed was sharp and electric — like grilled rain.
Luna shivered. "It smells like thunder."
He grinned. "Perfect."
---
Halfway through, disaster struck.
The stove's flame surged suddenly — a pulse too strong. The lightning in the serpent meat reacted violently, bursting in a shower of sparks.
"Chef!" Luna screamed. "It's overloading!"
Ethan didn't flinch. He grabbed the pan bare-handed, channeling his mana through his arms.
"Easy! Breathe with me!"
The flame flickered, wild, unstable — but he didn't fight it. He guided it, syncing his breath to the rhythm of the fire.
Slowly, it obeyed. The heat stabilized, perfectly balanced.
Maris stared in disbelief. "You just… tamed lightning with breathing."
He grinned. "Fire listens to respect, not fear."
The crowd roared at the sight — a chef commanding flame and thunder like a dance.
---
He poured Frostfire glaze over the meat. The sauce sizzled instantly, forming a thin, crackling crust.
The smell was intoxicating — smoke, spice, and ozone blending into one hypnotic aroma.
"Time check!" he called.
"Twenty minutes!" Maris replied.
"Good. Luna, bring the herbs."
She rushed over, nearly tripping, but handed them off with shaking hands. "Chef, your hand—it's burned!"
He glanced down. The palm was red, glowing faintly with embers.
"I'm fine. Keep going."
Maris frowned. "You're insane."
"Maybe. But insanity tastes better."
---
Across the field, Gareth plated his Thunder Tempura — golden, electric, perfect. Every piece crackled softly, arcs dancing over the batter. The crowd cheered.
He smirked, glancing at Ethan. "You're good, kid. But you play with toys. I play with storms."
Ethan didn't answer. He lifted the pan, flame glowing blue and gold. The Storm Serpent meat glistened, each piece humming faintly with restrained power.
He plated the dish: grilled Storm Serpent over Frostfire reduction, topped with ember salt.
The colors danced — blue lightning, red glaze, silver herbs.
He whispered, "Harmony through chaos."
---
"Time!"
Both chefs stepped back as the judges approached.
First — Gareth's Thunder Tempura. They took careful bites, nodding.
"Crisp, lively, well-balanced charge," one judge said. "But… perhaps a bit sharp on the tongue."
Gareth folded his arms. "That's the nature of lightning."
Then they turned to Ethan's dish.
The first bite cracked faintly — then a burst of flavor filled the air. The crowd gasped as faint sparks of light shimmered above the plate.
"It's… warm and cool at once," said the first judge.
"The mana charge doesn't sting," said the second. "It flows."
"And the finish—soothing, clean, alive."
The lead judge put his fork down slowly. "You've done the impossible. You made lightning gentle."
Ethan smiled softly. "That's what cooking is for."
The crowd erupted into cheers again, louder than before. Even some of the Guild chefs were standing.
---
The announcer's voice boomed above the chaos.
"Round Two Winner… Chef Ethan of Crescent Moon Inn!"
Luna screamed with joy. "We did it again!"
Maris smiled slightly, unable to hide her pride. "You're making history, Chef."
Across the field, Gareth clenched his jaw. The smirk was gone. His calm cracked just a little.
He turned to Ethan. "Don't get comfortable. Dessert is where legends fall."
Ethan wiped his hands, calm as ever. "Then I'll just rise higher."
The announcer raised a hand. "Prepare for the final round — the Dessert Duel!"
The crowd chanted Ethan's name as he turned toward his team.
Luna was practically bouncing. "Chef, we're really beating a Guild Master!"
Ethan chuckled. "No. We're feeding the world. The rest is just noise."
The Infernal Stove glowed softly beside him, as if proud. For the first time, its flames danced in the shape of a faint golden lotus.
Maris caught it. "Chef… your flame evolved again."
He smiled, eyes reflecting the glow. "Good. Because the finale's going to need it."
To be continued....