Menchi stepped up to the massive slab of meat, drawing a gleaming knife from her belt. Holding the meat steady with one hand, she sliced into it with expert precision. The moment her fingers touched the surface, she paused.
The texture was strange. It felt smooth—almost too smooth. Like polished soap. It was soft yet firm, with an oddly satisfying resistance that made her want to keep touching it.
But she had work to do. With swift, practiced motions, she carved several thick slabs, perfect for grilling. There was more than enough to last them several meals, so eating a portion now wouldn't be a problem. They could feast on diamond meat for the next few days if they wanted.
Menchi placed the cuts onto a table made of Nen, preparing to cook. Technically, it could be eaten raw, but grilling it would bring out the flavor even more.
At the same time, Larry finally summoned Gengar. "Alright, it's your turn."
A dark shadow stretched across the ground, and Gengar popped out with its usual mischievous grin. This time, however, it skipped the jokes—it knew Menchi was busy. Instead, it casually reached into its stomach and pulled out the rose rock salt they had collected earlier, along with several bottles of seasonings they had packed in advance.
Since diamond meat was such a rare, high-grade ingredient, it needed the best seasonings. Cooking wasn't just about technique—it was about knowing how to bring out an ingredient's full potential.
The condiments for the judging portion of the competition had to come from the ingredient area, but for their personal meal? They could use whatever they liked.
Gengar carefully placed the bottles next to Menchi before turning to the remaining chunk of diamond meat. Storing something this large wasn't easy. But Gengar had a way around that.
Its gaseous body expanded rapidly, swelling like a giant purple balloon. In an instant, it had grown several times its usual size.
Then, with a deep inhale, it sucked in the rest of the diamond meat, storing it inside its body for later. If they needed more, it could just spit some out. But for now, keeping it fresh was the priority.
Meanwhile, the first slices of diamond meat hit the griddle.
"Ssssss..."
A sizzling sound filled the air as the meat made contact with the hot surface. The fat began to render, releasing an incredibly rich aroma that drifted through the clearing. If not for the fact that Dragonite's earlier attack had scared off every living creature in the area, they would have been swarmed by hungry beasts by now.
Even humans wouldn't be able to resist this smell. The scent alone was enough to awaken primal hunger—the kind that made people forget reason and throw themselves at their prey, no matter how dangerous the opponent.
Menchi flipped the meat over, watching the surface crisp into a perfect golden-brown crust. Larry swallowed again, his stomach growling louder than before.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Menchi turned off the heat and grinned. "It's done."
The diamond meat had finally reached the perfect point for eating, its golden, glistening surface exuding an irresistible aroma. Menchi looked at Larry, who had been waiting impatiently, and smiled.
"Is it finally ready?" he asked, barely containing his excitement.
The two of them sat in front of the materialized table, eyes locked on the freshly cooked diamond meat. It was mesmerizing, the way the light reflected off its surface, as if the meat itself was some kind of precious gem.
At the same time, both of them swallowed hard. The hunger that had been building up ever since they started cooking was now impossible to ignore.
Larry wasted no time. He picked up his fork, pierced a piece of the meat, and placed it in his mouth. The moment it touched his tongue, an explosion of flavor spread through his senses.
The richness, the depth, the sheer perfection of the taste—it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The meat practically melted in his mouth, releasing an intense umami that danced on his taste buds.
As he swallowed, he could feel a wave of warmth spreading through his body, like a surge of energy awakening every cell. His muscles tingled, his Aura flared to life, and then—his body began to glow.
Just like the diamond meat itself, Larry radiated a soft, brilliant light. His Aura surged uncontrollably, leaking out in waves, illuminating the dark surroundings like a beacon in the night. This was the effect of the diamond meat—pure, condensed energy that instantly boosted both his physique and Aura reserves.
Menchi watched in awe as Larry's aura pulsed stronger with every bite he took. The transformation was undeniable. The rumors were true—diamond meat wasn't just a top-tier ingredient. It was one of the greatest treasures of the Gourmet Paradise.
Larry was fully immersed in the moment, savoring every bite, feeling his strength growing with each swallow. Besides eating, there was only one thought in his mind—this trip to Gourmet Paradise was the best decision ever.
Not only did he get to indulge in the finest food, but he was also gaining immense power at an unbelievable rate.
The next morning, Menchi carefully picked five gleaming fruits from a tree, placing them into a specially designed bag. "This is it—the Rainbow Fruit," she said, satisfied.
After feasting on diamond meat the night before, the two had camped out in the open, using the portable tent they had brought from the Gordeau Desert. At sunrise, they had set off again, heading into the forest region in search of their second and final target—the Rainbow Fruit, a rare dessert ingredient.
Though its name resembled the "Rainbow Juice" they had seen in the food court, the two were entirely different. The juice was just a fancy blend of seven good-quality fruits. But the Rainbow Fruit? It was the real deal—one fruit containing multiple flavors, each more intense than the last.
It was one of the finest ingredients in the world. Naturally, finding it wasn't easy.
Splitting up to search by both land and air, they had spent most of the day scouring the forest before finally discovering the small tree tucked away in a secluded corner. "Now we can head to the next area," Menchi said, securing the fruits.
With their new prize in hand, they mounted Arcanine and took off toward their next destination—the wetlands.
They had chosen Arcanine over Dragonite this time to make it easier to pick up additional ingredients along the way. Even if they didn't use everything in their main dish, having extra ingredients would let them snack on high-quality food for the rest of their journey.
Despite traveling by land, their speed was still impressive. In no time, they arrived at the wetland area.