The sensation of stepping through the portal was indescribable. Jace felt as if every cell in his body was being disassembled and rebuilt in an instant. When the blinding light faded, he found himself standing in a lush, vibrant jungle unlike anything he had ever seen.
Towering trees stretched into the sky, their trunks wide enough to house entire buildings. Vines as thick as ropes dangled overhead, and colossal flowers bloomed in vivid colors, their petals glistening with dew. The air was thick with energy, buzzing with life. Jace took a deep breath and felt invigorated.
"Welcome to the Gourmet World. You have entered Toriko's universe, a realm where evolution is tied to food and strength is determined by one's ability to hunt, cook, and consume."
The System's voice chimed in his mind, calm and omnipresent.
"Toriko..." Jace muttered. The name sounded familiar. He vaguely remembered watching a few episodes of an anime about giant monsters and impossible foods back when he was a teenager.
His eyes widened as he realized the implications. He wasn't on Earth anymore. This was an entirely new reality, governed by its own rules.
Status Update
As Jace tried to steady his breathing, the System's interface materialized before him, displaying several tabs.
Status:
Name: Jace
Level: 1
Evolution Points (EP): 10
Skills: Basic Combat Module (Active)
Inventory: Empty
Current Objective: Survive and acquire your first ingredient.
Optional Objective: Discover the secrets of Gourmet Cells.
First Challenge
A rustling noise in the underbrush snapped Jace's attention away from the interface. Something—or someone—was nearby. Instinctively, he summoned the dagger from the trial, and it appeared in his hand, its translucent blade glowing faintly.
"Okay, stay calm," he muttered.
The foliage parted, and a creature stepped out. It looked like a wild boar but was the size of a car. Its tusks gleamed like polished ivory, and its eyes glowed faintly red. Steam rose from its body, giving it an almost mythical appearance.
Analyzing...
Creature: Steam Boar
Capture Level: 5
Description: A territorial herbivore known for its tender, flavorful meat. Beware of its charging attack.
Jace took an involuntary step back. "Level 5? What does that even mean?"
"Capture Levels indicate the difficulty of subduing or hunting a creature. As a novice, Level 5 is a significant challenge. Utilize strategy and terrain to succeed."
Before he could ask for more clarification, the Steam Boar let out a thunderous snort and charged.
Jace dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's tusks as they gouged deep furrows into the ground. His heart was pounding. He wasn't a hunter. He wasn't even athletic.
But the System didn't care about his limitations.
As the boar turned for another charge, Jace's eyes darted around the jungle, searching for something—anything—that could give him an edge. His gaze landed on a cluster of thick vines hanging from a nearby tree.
"Alright," he muttered, gripping the dagger tighter. "Let's see if this works."
The boar charged again, and this time, Jace ran toward the tree. At the last second, he leaped, grabbing hold of a vine and swinging upward. The boar crashed into the tree with a deafening thud, momentarily dazed.
Jace didn't waste the opportunity. He dropped down onto the boar's back, plunging the dagger into its thick hide. The creature roared in pain, bucking wildly as it tried to throw him off.
The System chimed:
Critical hit! Weak point identified: Base of the neck.
With renewed determination, Jace aimed for the weak spot, driving the dagger in as hard as he could. The boar let out one final, pained cry before collapsing to the ground.
Evolution Triggered
As the Steam Boar's body dissolved into shimmering particles, the System chimed again.
Congratulations! First hunt completed.
Reward: 10 Evolution Points.
New Skill Unlocked: Beginner Gourmet Sense
A rush of energy surged through Jace's body, and he dropped to his knees, gasping. His muscles felt stronger, his senses sharper. The air around him seemed more vibrant, filled with layers of smells and sounds he hadn't noticed before.
"What... what was that?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"Absorbing the essence of hunted creatures allows you to evolve. Your new skill, Gourmet Sense, enhances your ability to detect and identify ingredients."
Jace stood slowly, still catching his breath. His interface updated, and a new tab appeared labeled Gourmet Cells.
Gourmet Cells: Inactive
Unlock conditions: Discover and consume a high-tier ingredient.
He stared at the tab, his mind racing. The implications were clear—this was just the beginning. If this world's power revolved around food and hunting, then mastering Gourmet Cells would be his next step.
A Taste of the World
As Jace sat beside the fallen boar, a new thought occurred to him. "What happens if I eat this thing?"
The System answered immediately.
"Processing the meat will provide temporary stat boosts. However, proper preparation enhances benefits significantly. Would you like assistance?"
"Wait, you can teach me to cook?" Jace asked incredulously.
"Basic culinary guidance available. Initiating..."
With the System's help, Jace managed to carve a portion of the boar's meat using the dagger. He gathered some edible herbs and fruits from the surrounding area, guided by the System's Gourmet Sense.
An hour later, he sat before a makeshift fire, watching the meat sizzle on a flat rock. The aroma was intoxicating, and when he finally took a bite, his eyes widened in shock.
It wasn't just delicious—it was life-changing. A surge of warmth spread through his body, and he felt his strength increase even further.
The Journey Ahead
As the jungle fell silent, Jace leaned back against a tree, staring up at the stars visible through the canopy. For the first time in years, he felt something stir within him: hope.
The System chimed one last time for the day.
"Objective updated: Begin your path toward mastering Gourmet Cells. Explore and evolve."
Jace smiled faintly, gripping the dagger at his side. This was his new reality, and he was ready to face it head-on.
Tomorrow, the hunt would continue.