The Nihility Chef

A few months later...

Samael had been tirelessly practicing his cooking. The practice kitchens were constantly filled with aromas—some mouthwatering, others downright foul.

"Cousin, try this. It's grilled squid dressed in peanut butter mixed with chili flakes," Samael said, presenting his latest creation.

The cousin he was speaking to was much taller and broader than Samael. With bronzed skin, short brown hair, and lightning-blue eyes, he looked like a young general. Alexander, Samael's cousin, was five years older and currently staring at the dish in horror.

Samael was currently at Realm 1 of Andhrimnir's Art, the peak of mortal cooking. This realm encompassed all types of cuisines and techniques, including some... exotic dishes.

As Alexander hesitantly took a bite, he braced himself for the worst. But instead, an explosion of flavors greeted him. The tender, saline taste of the squid contrasted beautifully with the smoky char from the grill. The chili flakes added a spicy kick, while the peanut butter provided a rich, nutty texture. A subtle sweetness lingered, perfectly balancing the dish.

"Sweet? Samael, where does the sweetness come from?" Alexander asked, confused.

"I added a mix of honey and buttermilk. The honey adds sweetness that contrasts the umami of the squid, and the buttermilk tenderizes it while diluting the sweetness to make it more subtle," Samael explained.

"I have no clue what that means, but nice," Alexander replied sheepishly.

"Aren't you a cook too?" Samael asked.

"Nope. Not everyone in the Forte Family has a talent for cooking. I've decided to focus on combat. I really like fighting," Alexander said, his voice brimming with excitement, as if he were ready to throw a punch right then and there.

Samael felt a shiver of fear at Alexander's enthusiasm. "Bye, cousin. I'm going to practice now," he said, quickly making his escape before Alexander could react.

In the Martial Courtyard, Samael sat in a meditative position, reflecting on his cooking process.

"I cut the squid too thin, which caused the edges to overcook. I need to practice the Chef's Dance," he thought.

The Chef's Dance was a sword technique that doubled as a cooking skill, part of Andhrimnir's Art. It incorporated all types of knife skills, from butchering meat to delicate tasks like cutting tofu into threads. To improve his precision, Samael decided to practice Nihility's Eye, a technique from the Swallowing Nihility Body's inheritance. At its peak, nothing in the world could block his sight.

Techniques were divided into four stages: Initiation, Understanding, Mastery, and Perfection. Each stage took exponentially longer to achieve, and the difficulty varied depending on the technique. Nihility's Eye was an exceptionally high-level technique, one that might take lifetimes for an ordinary person to master. But Samael was far from ordinary.

Two weeks later...

Fortuna's Market

Samael wandered through the largest commercial district in his family's dukedom, using Nihility's Eye(NE) to scout for the best ingredients—and perhaps a hidden treasure or two. He was accompanied by Alice.

Remarkably, Samael had already reached the middle of the Initiation stage for Nihility's Eye, a feat that would take even a genius months or years to accomplish.

As they passed a vendor, something caught Samael's eye—a seemingly mundane necklace. But with Nihility's Eye, he could see it for what it truly was: a growth treasure.

"Alice, follow me!" Samael said, unconsciously grabbing her hand. Alice's face turned as red as a tomato.

Her protector, trailing behind, was furious. How dare this boy touch the princess's hand! If he weren't the Forte Family heir, I would have struck him down where he stood.

When they reached the vendor, Samael realized what he'd done and quickly released Alice's hand. "Sorry," he said apologetically.

"I want to give you a present," Samael declared, purchasing the necklace and handing it to Alice.

Just as she was about to put it on, her protector teleported between them, his anger palpable. His shoulders trembled, and his brows furrowed as if he were about to explode.

"How dare YOU! How dare you give the Royal Princess something so hideous! She is the daughter of heaven and deserves the sun, moon, and stars—not this... trash!"

"Leave Sami alone! I love it!" Alice shouted, tears welling up in her eyes. She was furious that her protector had the audacity to yell at her only true friend besides her mother.

Though young, Alice knew many people didn't genuinely care for her. They only sought to curry favor because she was the princess. She just wanted to be Alice, but no one seemed to see that—except Samael. He never hid his emotions or tried to please her. He was simply her friend, and she couldn't tolerate anyone being rude to him.

Samael patted Alice's head, his heart warmed by her outburst. But he knew how to handle the situation.

"Alice, don't worry. Even I'm not tacky enough to give you something ordinary. Do you trust me?" he asked gently, looking into her eyes. If they were older, the scene might have been romantic, but at their age, it was simply adorable.

"Of course! I trust you with all my heart," Alice declared firmly.

The protector, stunned by this turn of events, opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Samael's confident tone.

"Alice, if you trust me, place a drop of blood on the necklace. You'll receive a pleasant surprise."

She quickly snatched the necklace from the protector, bit her finger, and let a drop of blood fall onto it. Instantly, the necklace began to float. The black coating peeled away, revealing a stunning gold and amethyst necklace that radiated nobility and power.

As the necklace awakened, it released an aura that filled the surroundings. Anyone who breathed it in felt their comprehension improve, breaking through bottlenecks in their techniques or cultivation.

A magical scene unfolded. Dozens of people sat cross-legged, their auras skyrocketing as they experienced breakthroughs. Others practiced their techniques, reaching new levels of mastery.

Samael, being closest to the necklace, had an epiphany. His mind raced through every dish he'd ever cooked, even those from his past life. This experience superimposed, allowing him to skyrocket in understanding and reach the beginning of Realm 2.

Even the protector, a Sovereign Realm powerhouse, felt his foundation solidify. He had reached Sovereign Realm through a special treasure, which had left his understanding lacking. Now, that gap was filled.

But Alice, as the necklace's owner, received the greatest benefit. Her understanding of her Five Element God Body and bloodline deepened. Her body began to glow with six colors: red, blue, green, yellow, and silver, corresponding to fire, water, wood, earth, and metal.

The sixth color was an ominous black, glowing where her heart was. It radiated a cold, ruthless feeling—death.