The ragtag trio was lying unconscious in their seats.
"Hey, now that they are all calm. Care to explain who you are and who that chef is?" Penta asked the waitress who was wide-eyed at the scene while Sana giggled in her lap.
"Uhm... I am Keira. Sorry but I haven't eaten an all you can eat from him in forever. I couldn't help but join in!" she said while also explaining how that man is Chef Okari and he runs this kitchen while also being one of the best Elders in the entire Tribe.
She seemed a little too proud of those words, especially about the chef.
Penta mused while smiling and simply leaned back and thought how interesting this was going to be.
"W-will that really happen if we don't finish everything...?" Kaya asked a little worried.
"Oh, don't worry. I wouldn't let him do that to you but if they really fail then he definitely would to them." Keira said ever so seriously as a shiver ran through the trio's stomachs.
"Hahaha, no need to worry about that. I can definitely eat everything!~" Penta suddenly reassured everybody and everyone including the trio and Kaya returned to being calm.
'What the hell? Do you even know how much is on the Menu?' Keira thought while also surprised at how much trust they put in this guy. Sure he was slightly big but it wasn't anything impressive.
Just as Keira thought that the plates started arriving.
The entire table was already filled.
The aroma and beautiful colors brought a shine in everyone's eyes. The dishes available were a spectacle for sore eyes. There was a variety of meat and strange fruits and vegetables.
"WHY DOES THIS LOOK SO AMAZING!?" Penta shouted unable to contain himself.
The dishes had an exquisiteness that was a million times better than anywhere else. His body was literally reacting like a beast wanting to devour. Every cell was screaming to consume it.
"They're made from some of the more common ingredients from the medicinal fields. Thank you for the meal!" Keira said while Sana in her lap was waiting to grab.
"..."
Everyone suddenly turned solemn between the 6 excluding Keira and everyone looked at the food and clapped their hands together.
"Thank you."
They said in unison. Keira was confused as her hands were about to grab a piece and it slightly unnerved her for a second before she witnessed something unheard of at the tribe.
The Chef was still quite aware of his surroundings and when he heard everyone say "Thank you" so solemnly before all he heard was swishing like that of wooden knives cutting air and chewing. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at those sounds.
Keira's table manners held little power before the force of this mad dance of hands.
Plates were being emptied and hands were moving all over the table. She held little Sana whose only task was to point at the different dishes and they would magically be thrown in her plate.
She was pointing while already chewing through half the delicacies. Kaya and Penta were always on point at getting her whatever she wanted when the clash for food happened.
The idiot trio resembled nothing like the children of before. They had this sturdy and sharp look that resembled nil little there selves from before. Hands moving at speeds that resembled the wind and sharp like those of knives.
They didn't use their abilities but the natural elements they are attuned with surged within themselves.
Penta was a devourer at times and everyone there sees him barely moving but the food kept a constant ratio of six pieces on his plate no matter how many he ate. However, They couldn't miss out on an all you can eat from this place even if it meant breaking their tiny vaults open.
Kaya was the reasonable one. She ate to enjoy her food while after knowing Penta, she had known to gorge from time to time and today was one of those days. She used cunning and timed her entries while she would point at the difficult to reach dishes and it would magically appear on her desk.
She always giggled a little at this strange use of his great strength but she was happy it was from her new brother.
The food disappeared in exactly three minutes from start to finish.
"Chef! I'm still not full!" Penta shouted and even Check Okari was shocked and thought they were trying to start a fight. He stormed in with a scary look but it quickly changed to mild shock.
'Guess they were really hungry... Alright, little sheets let us see who wins!' Chef Okari thought as he returned into the kitchen without a word.
Penta just grinned when he saw him walk back. Chef Okari felt an ever so small part of his spine slightly tingle but brushed it off as he had a task ahead.
"You guys eat way to fast!" Keira shouted as she didn't even have a single bite. When she snapped back there was nothing left. Everyone looked unsatisfied. They were still drooling.
Another few waiters came back and set the plates and as they were leaving Penta grabbed one of their hands and smiled as he said.
"Brother please keep them coming."
The waiter just smiled before it turned into apparent fear at the sight of the deadly clash of hands on the table. Penta had continued using an arm to compete.
Exactly four minutes later.
"Chee" As Penta was about to call out, he saw the kitchen doors open with another row of beautiful dishes and amazing looking meats.
The vegetables were beautiful delectables. The herbs and spices brought joy to every part of their body. It was another worldly feel.
They couldn't stop themselves from wanting more and more.
Every round the hearts and wallets of the trio shrunk.
Keira had managed only one piece from the table before she heard another waiter tell her the Chef was looking for her.
"Awww. I barely got to eat..." She was sad but a little more upset that Penta had only helped her once as she was always rejected from the battle of the table. The trio on the other hand had a very clean cut-off line about the ditch they are digging themselves into financially.
As such Keira left while Sana stood up and started a brawl as well.
In the kitchen,
"What did you want to see me for Father?" Keira asked Chef Okari who was using a wok and stirring some spices.
"How the hell are they into three tables worth already?" He asked Keira whose face changed for a second into a strange face.
"They are treating that table as though it was their enemy and had stolen their rightful belongings." She said after a short pause.
"I mean I know the dishes taste good but these ones are medicinally packed. They should feel full relatively easy. That's why no one ever orders too much of my food." Chef Okari said with some doubt.
"That's the thing... I'm relatively sure but the largest one was by far the clear dictator of that table." Keira said with another weird look to her father.
"What do mean?"
"He was in control of the food as though he was commanding troops. He delivered supplies to the littlest one with extreme precision while handing the desired ones to the older sister.
The scary thing was he was directing the three other men to fight amongst themselves unwillingly in specific regions of the table." Keira described vividly her recollection but Chef Okari wasn't too surprised.
He had heard of young geniuses with such skills.
"That's probably a commanding talent but that still doesn't answer my question as to why they are handling so much of my food." He replied while finished another three dishes simultaneously.
"I wasn't done... the reason its scary is because he seems to be the one eating the most out of everyone. The rest seem to be eating at the same level as the average guest we have and the girls are enjoying their food adequately..." She suddenly looked down lost at the reality of what she just witnessed and described.
Chef Okari's eyes both lit up. He seemed to find that bit of news much more interesting than the rest.
"Oh it seems we do have a contender for my meals! Hahaha, good good. Let's see that brat explode then." Chef Okari said with a sinister smile that made Keira witness a scene she hadn't seen in a long time.
The Chef was fired up and even the staff noticed as he was started to serve the dishes faster and faster.
The meals kept on coming and coming. The variety seemed never-ending and it was starting to attract attention. The other tribe members noticed how their orders weren't arriving anymore and how the staff didn't have any time to even bother explaining anything to them.
The dishes however were free-flowing onto a specific table. Table number 7.
The dishes were making the other customers drool but no one dared complained as they knew who was the one cooking and running this restaurant. It was "THE" Chef Okari.
The man was a legend in his own right and no one could control him at this restaurant unless they were of similar status as him.
The witnesses however couldn't keep calm as they noticed that table was still eating even after an hour.
"What is the meaning of this! Why is Chef Okari catering to only one table?" A young man couldn't hold it in and asked the serving staff who were making a beeline between the table and the kitchen.
Keira popped out of the kitchen at that moment and just stared at the young man hard which made him step back as he knew who she was and so did everyone else. They had learnt their lesson after messing with this gorgeous beauty and finding out who her backer was.
The man had gone to great lengths to earn his right as an Elder and his precious daughter couldn't be bullied within this tribe or anywhere he was.
She looked at the young man and simply said.
"The people at that table have decided to pay for an all you can eat from my father and so cannot cater to anyone else as they seem to be heavy eaters." Keira loved theatrics and she loved her father so she embellished the little challenge into a bigger deal.
"What? Who can afford such a luxury?" The young man was surprised and started examining those at table number 7 more closely.
Keira on the other hand was still in shock at what was happening and couldn't help but look at Penta with much more curiosity than she had given other men.
They were still eating and this was their 8th table.
She, however, noticed that the others were slowing down but the speed at which the food was being devoured had not changed. She immediately went back to her father only to see him start to run out of ingredients on the side. As the proud daughter of Chef Okari of String, she couldn't let her father be outmatched in something like providing food to a guest of their restaurant.
She immediately went and gathered some of her attendants that were off and went to the medicinal fields to gather more ingredients.
As time continued to pass. The crowd staring at table number 7 grew but their shock grew alongside their curiosity. Two hours had passed since this event had started and the waiters were still continuing their tireless work.
Luckily they were also apprentice shamans or else their stamina would of ran dry from the constant work of scurrying between the table and the kitchen.
Especially for those prepping the ingredients in the kitchen.
"Bwutha! I'm full!" Sana was the first to give in even though Penta and Kaya made sure she ate slowly and enjoyed every bit of the meal.
The crowd seeing this couldn't help but get eager as this would mean they would soon get to eat as well.
Sadly, they were to be disappointed as the other five continued on as though nothing was happening. Oddly though, three of the six at that table were crying tears while eating as much as they could.
Kaya soon gave up as well as even though she was eating a normal amount of food throughout the three hours, she wasn't insatiable like her brother and the crying trio.
Four hours in.
"I give up!" Karu fell over and fell asleep.
Five hours in. The cheap stake Faren fell over as well and passed out.
Six hours in.
Griss couldn't hold in that much food and had used his stronger cultivation to somehow manage to last till then but Penta had also allowed it as he didn't let Griss eat more than the amount one person should eat normally by still controlling the table's flow and restricting Griss from going after some of the heavier meals.
Satisfied Griss passed out.
People had come and gone from the restaurant seeing that they weren't being served while others stayed and watched the show.
They couldn't believe what was happening.
A single table had five people sleeping on it while one man with such speed a dexterity was enjoying his meal and tasting every delicacy as though to savor each and every one yet ate with such speed that you wouldn't believe those two actions could go hand in hand.
Chef Okari had come out multiple times in between cooking to see the status of his guests at table number 7 and still couldn't help but get irritated at the comfortably smiling Penta who kept eating steadily and without reservation.
Ten whole hours later. It finally happened.
"Father... We cannot continue this. We have gone through this week's worth of food from the fields and should we continue we will be losing money..." Keira finally said as she couldn't continue to run back and forth from the restaurant to the fields as they were going to use up their crops faster than usual which doesn't help in maintaining this restaurant for long.
Chef Okari was startled that this much food had been used up even though he was the one cooking as he was so focused on making such filling meals to finally get that smug child to pass out, he forgot about the ingredients he was using.
Chef Okari finally decided to confront this little demon with one final dish. He took something out of seemingly thin air and it glowed a brilliant purple hue.
Keira was shocked and her eyes opened wide.
"Father! That's a.."
"I know dear but it isn't so important. I can get more but this little runt is going to be full today if its the last thing I guarantee." Chef Okari said with eyes that seemed like those of a gambler.
He had taken out a small fruit that looked like a piece of lettuce. However, the way it glowed clearly showed it was much more than just that.
'I can't believe he is going to use a purple bloom celtuce.' Keira was surprised her Father would serve a quality item like that to feed a stranger but she could also understand that he had never been so challenged before by someone who wasn't even a First-Grade Shaman.
He personally cooked a dish that seemed to glow purple and blue. The dish was similar to a salad but the ingredients and glow made it seem ethereal.
He personally put it onto a plate and this time he had poured the entire dish onto one plate.
Seeing her father walk out with determination. She couldn't help but shake her head and whisper.
"I hope you are ready to face my father's true skills."
Penta who had just finished the last plate on the table as it got cleared out by the tired staff that had become immune to this monster who seemed to be an endless pit, stared at the kitchen door and saw the Chef walk out with a determined gaze.
'It seems you are trying to finish me. Hehe, let's see what you can do.' Penta thought as his eyes squinted at the covered dish that the chef himself brought out. Penta knew they wouldn't use some heaven-defying ingredient for this challenge as it would not be worth it but he also knew that this dish would probably test his bottomless stomachs reputation which had him excited.
"What an honor for the Chef himself to personally bring a dish over," Penta said questioningly.
"It seems I had to actually try a little since you kept demanding more. So here it is. I present you the thousand leaf salad." Chef Okari said with some challenge in his tone to this brat who made him cook for 10 hours straight.
The Chef wasn't tired more so than he was irritated that he couldn't fill the brat up.
"Before I continue though Chef Okari. I do have to say one thing. What happens if I still overcome this dish?" Penta asked with curiosity as he knew the Chef was betting on this dish.
"Huh? Still, think you can beat me eh? Fine. If you can overcome this without passing out from satisfaction. Everything you ate today will be free. Hmph." The Chef declared which caused twitches in the passed out trio though they still didn't awaken. Though if they had, they would cheer for Penta with all their might.
"Sounds fair. In that case, it is only fair we owe you a favor if I don't succeed." Penta said as though his favor meant much more than these meals.
The crowd that stayed and watched all this play out including Keira were about to fume but the Chef's presence didn't allow for such an event to occur.
Chef Okari simply raised an eyebrow at the calm faced kid he was facing and just nodded before placing the dish on the table and opening the lid.
The dish actually shined a bright light as it came out of its hidden cover.
The first thing to hit everyone was the delightful smell of the earth making them feel as though they were on a prairie surrounded by beautiful flowers and grass.
The glow from the dish settled down as it was fully in view and everyone present couldn't help but take in a gulp seeing the dish including Penta.
The emerald green salad leaves with its pristine glow were mesmerizing. The purple bloom brought a magical hue of purple to the green leaves which left the whole table glowing a mystical light.
Seeing the young man's reaction, Chef Okari was inwardly smiling. However, he almost fell over when he heard a growl.
"Oh sorry. I was still starving. Seeing this my stomach couldn't help but let me know... haha sorry let me get to this right away." Penta grinned as his stomach growled at the sight of the dish.
Everyone present had the urge to curse at him as he had just had ten hours of constant dishes being poured into him and his stomach had the audacity to growl at him.
"Eat up you little runt." Chef Okari said ignoring this monstrous kid's stomach.
"Thank you for the meal!" Penta said and started eating.
The first bite was sublime as he couldn't believe a salad could taste so divine. It had such a light flavor but the taste was so uniquely addictive that from that first bite he couldn't stop.
Bite after bite continued and he soon noticed himself actually having to slow down. This surprised him as he was one to be able to continue eating nonstop for days if he had to but even he had to be awed by this dish that actually attempted to end that never-ending pit he called a stomach.
Seeing him slow down there was a smile on the Chef's face.
Everyone else also saw this as a sign that this monster's stomach would finally be defeated.
"Hahaha!" Penta suddenly started laughing.
Chef Okari was surprised for a second before asking with an odd look.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Oh! No! No! No! Chef, this is by far the best dish I have tasted from you and I can only say it's a waste to eat it so fast considering its delightful taste! I have to share this with my sisters!" He said as he went to try and wake his sisters up but was stopped by the chef who simply shook his head.
"They wouldn't be able to handle that right now..." Chef Okari mentioned.
"Oh? Unfortunate..." Penta said with a slightly sad face before returning to his meal as though nothing was wrong.
"Monster!" People started whispering such comments about his stomach.
One would expect this to be said about fighting abilities or skills but none had ever gotten the comment for their stomach and Penta was the first in the Tribe to receive the title.
"Bottomless Beast"
A few minutes had gone by and the dish was finally done.
Everyone looked eager for his response, especially the Father and Daughter duo.
Sadly, Penta wasn't a roach emperor for no reason.
"That was great Chef!" He said as he got up and solemnly bowed at the Chef.
Seeing the sincerity the Chef couldn't help but approve a little of the runt with a bottomless stomach.
"How do you feel?" Keira asked, not being able to help herself.
"This was great but I don't know. I think I still like eating beast meat more." Penta replied while smacking the trio asleep awake.
"OY! Wake up and thank the chef!" Penta said to them as he slapped them awake.
"Hahahaha, kid you are a funny one. You have to tell me though. Was my dish able to fill you up?" The Chef asked curiously as he noticed that Penta still looked energetic and not the least bit sleepy from overeating. The body reacts a certain way from excessive food and sleep was its natural response in order to focus its full energy on digesting it all.
"Honestly, I could lie to you but I can't bring myself to do that after you had served me and my sisters so many delicacies that I had never tried before."
Penta grabbed his sisters one on each hand as they continued sleeping happily.
"You managed to scratch an itch when it came to how my meals tasted but unfortunately, I eat about three times this amount daily whenever I go hunting for beasts. The energy and content aren't as tasty but the amount makes up for it..." Penta honestly declared in a voice where only the Chef and Keira had heard as he started making his way out.
"What?" Keira exclaimed as soon as she came too from the ridiculous answer she heard but only his fading back with a sleepy pack of three following was seen.
The Chef simply stared at the young man silently for a long while before suddenly declaring that the restaurant will be closed for the week.
'What an interesting little glutton, hahahaha' He thought.