Culinary System: Transmigrated to Game World

Kai's voice trailed off as he glanced at the fallen Mythenor, its massive body still twitching in its final moments. The girl didn't respond immediately, her eyes darting between the remaining three beasts that circled them like predators sizing up their prey. The air was thick with tension, the forest eerily silent except for the low growls of the Mythenors and the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.

"Now that we've killed them," the girl said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "they'll probably throw us a parade. Maybe even a medal. 'Congratulations, you didn't die immediately.' How's that sound?"

Kai snorted, despite the situation. "I'd settle for a nap and a sandwich."

"Dream bigger," she shot back, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "Like surviving the next five minutes."

Her eyes were fixed on the Mythenor bathed in blood, its lifeless form sprawled on the ground. She knelt beside it, her fingers brushing against its fur, which was still warm. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a tension in her shoulders that hadn't been there before.

"The Mythenors aren't just predators," she said finally, her voice flat. "They're guardians. Protectors. Not of us—but of something else. They were here for a reason. And now that we've killed one of them…"

Her words trailed off, and she stood, facing him, her gaze dark. "I don't think we're done here yet. There's something far worse than those things in these woods."

Kai's stomach twisted. "What do you mean, 'worse'? This was bad enough."

The girl's lips pressed into a thin line as she sheathed her dagger. The Mythenors lunged.

The one with silver-streaked fur, its glowing markings pulsing with energy, charged at Kai with terrifying speed. Its claws gleamed like polished steel, slicing through the air as it aimed for his throat. Kai ducked just in time, feeling the rush of wind as the claws missed him by inches. He rolled to the side, his knife flashing as he slashed at the creature's leg. The blade bit into its flesh, but the Mythenor barely flinched, its healing fur already beginning to mend the wound.

"Oh, come on!" Kai yelled, scrambling to his feet. "Do these things ever stay down?"

"Not unless you aim for the neck," the girl called out, her voice sharp and commanding. She was locked in her own battle, her dagger clashing against the claws of a Mythenor with fur as black as midnight. Her movements were fluid, almost graceful, as she parried and struck with precision. "Stop whining and focus!"

"Easy for you to say!" Kai shot back, dodging another swipe from the silver-streaked Mythenor. "You're not the one fighting a walking tank!"

The girl smirked, her eyes never leaving her opponent. "Maybe you should've brought a bigger knife."

Kai gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He couldn't keep dodging forever—he needed to end this, and fast. The Mythenor's glowing eyes locked onto him, and for a split second, he felt that same pull, that same ancient, primal force trying to burrow into his mind. He shook his head violently, forcing the sensation away.

"Not this time," he muttered, tightening his grip on his knife.

The Mythenor lunged again, its jaws snapping at his shoulder. Kai sidestepped, his movements sharper now, more deliberate. He feinted to the left, drawing the creature's attention, then darted to the right, his knife aimed straight for its neck. But the Mythenor was faster, its tail whipping around and striking him across the chest. The impact sent him sprawling, the air knocked out of his lungs.

"Hey, Mr. Perfect!" the girl shouted, her voice tinged with concern. She kicked her opponent back with a well-placed strike to its ribs, then turned to face him. "Get up!"

"Working on it!" Kai gasped, struggling to his feet. His chest burned where the tail had struck him, but he forced himself to focus. The Mythenor was closing in again, its golden eyes gleaming with malice.

This time, Kai didn't wait for it to attack. He charged forward, his knife held low. The Mythenor raised its claws to strike, but at the last second, Kai dropped to his knees, sliding beneath the creature's massive frame. He twisted his body, driving the knife upward with all his strength. The blade sank deep into the Mythenor's throat, and the creature let out a guttural roar, its body convulsing as dark blood poured from the wound.

Kai rolled away, panting heavily as the Mythenor collapsed to the ground, its glowing fur dimming as it died. He looked up just in time to see the girl deliver the final blow to her own opponent, her dagger piercing its neck with surgical precision. The black-furred Mythenor let out a final, shuddering breath before falling still.

"Two down," the girl said, wiping her blade on her sleeve. "Two to go."

Kai nodded, his chest heaving as he pushed himself to his feet. "Yeah, because that's the easy part."

The remaining two Mythenors—one with fur like molten gold and the other with a coat of deep crimson—circled them slowly, their movements synchronized. The golden one let out a low growl, its tail lashing back and forth like a whip, while the crimson one bared its teeth, its claws digging into the earth.

"You take the shiny one," the girl said, her tone light despite the situation. "I'll handle the edgy one."

"Shiny one?" Kai repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's your brilliant plan?"

"Got a better idea?" she shot back, already moving toward the crimson Mythenor.

Kai sighed, turning to face the golden Mythenor. "Guess I'll just… not die."

The creature lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air. Kai dodged, his movements more confident now. He feinted left, then right, trying to find an opening. The Mythenor's tail snapped at him, but he ducked just in time, the spikes grazing his shoulder.

"You're predictable," Kai muttered, his eyes narrowing. He waited for the creature to lunge again, then sidestepped and drove his knife into its side. The Mythenor roared in pain, its glowing fur flickering as it tried to heal the wound. But Kai didn't give it a chance. He yanked the knife free and slashed at its throat, the blade cutting deep.

The Mythenor staggered, its golden eyes wide with shock, before collapsing to the ground. Kai stood over it, breathing heavily, his knife dripping with dark blood.

"One more," he said, turning to face the girl.

She was locked in a fierce battle with the crimson Mythenor, her movements a blur of speed and precision. The creature was relentless, its claws and tail striking with deadly accuracy, but the girl held her ground, her dagger flashing as she parried and countered.

"Need help?" Kai called out, his tone teasing.

"I've got this," she replied, her voice calm. But as she spoke, the Mythenor's tail struck her arm, sending her dagger flying. She stumbled, her face tightening in pain.

Kai didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his knife aimed straight for the Mythenor's neck. The creature turned to face him, but it was too late. Kai's blade sank deep, and the Mythenor let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing.

The forest fell silent.

Kai and the girl stood amidst the bodies of the Mythenors, their chests heaving as they caught their breath. The girl glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Not bad," she said. "For a rookie."

Kai smirked, wiping his knife on his pants. "Yeah, well, you're not so bad yourself. For someone who almost got taken out by the 'edgy one.'"

She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression. "Let's get out of here before more show up."

Kai nodded, his body aching but his spirit unbroken. They had survived—against all odds, they had survived. And as they walked away from the battlefield, he couldn't help but feel a spark of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, they stood a chance after all.

Once again, Kai sensed the air tremble, and for a brief instant, the world appeared to glitch. The trees shimmered, their forms flickering in and out like corrupted code. Shadows warped unnaturally, stretching and shrinking in impossible ways, while the ground beneath them rippled like water disturbed by a pebble. 

The game prompt flashed on his screen again, and Kai's heart skipped a beat as the options appeared.

Game Prompt:

You have defeated the Mythenor pack. Your actions have shaped the future of Elyndral. Choose your path now.

Option 1: Choose a House to Live in — Secure a safe place to call home.

Option 2: Choose a Land to Farm — Build a life from the ground up and cultivate the land.