Toriko: Gourmet Chat Group

Crash-Test Pilot: "Kenji, what is this? A strange object just drifted in from space."

Star Forger: "Holy If..."

Kenji was stunned. Was this right? Wasn't this the monster from Ultraman Max? How did it end up in Tiga's world? It must have wandered onto the wrong set.

That thing, If, was a "Perfect Life Form." The stronger its opponent, the stronger it became. Even the fastest and strongest Ultraman Max got completely owned by it.

The white sphere was If's initial state. It had no consciousness, no emotion, no intelligence, no thoughts. It was just an object from somewhere in the universe, lacking even a pulse or respiration. Without thoughts or consciousness, even a pacifying move like Ultraman Cosmos's Full Moon Rect would be useless against it; you might as well use it on a rock. In fact, if If learned the Full Moon Rect, it would probably turn around and try to pacify Cosmos right back.

The monster was a walking bug in the system. The normal form of Tiga would never be its opponent. In Max's storyline, the studio created If to represent the concept of anti-war sentiment. If not for a little girl whose flute melody managed to touch it, Ultraman Max would have been utterly helpless.

Was Daigo about to experience the ridiculously unfair matchmaking from the Smiley Hero series? No, even in a scenario designed for Ultraman Trigger, If would be completely broken. Sealing it might work temporarily, but it would never be able to hold If forever.

Star Forger: "Daigo, listen to me. Whatever you do, don't just charge in like you usually do. This Perfect Life Form is not like the other monsters."

Crash-Test Pilot: "Is this If thing even fair?"

After watching the video Kenji sent, Daigo concluded that there was no way to fight it. The more you attack it, the stronger it gets, until you realize that If has learned every single one of your own attacks. Armed with this intel, Daigo rushed to inform his captain and the others so they could analyze a counter-strategy. Pushing If away from Earth was their only option; fighting it was impossible.

Is this really the challenge I was supposed to face? Daigo wondered.

[Dian Mei Ruan]: "A perfect life form... It is indeed a flawless state of being."

She couldn't imagine any attack that would work against If. The hammer of an Aeon could shatter the body of a Star God of Propagation, but against If? One strike might shatter it, but it wouldn't kill it. It would only make it stronger.

[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "If there was a Honkai Beast like that, we'd have no choice but to surrender♪"

It felt a bit like what Mobius was always going on about with 'infinity.'

[Ghost of the Uchiha]: "This world is truly full of wonders. The Tailed Beasts of the ninja world can be reborn after being destroyed, but this If is simply invincible."

[Sun God]: "This being doesn't seem to have been born for destruction. It only strikes back with the same methods used against it after being attacked."

[Galactic Baseballer]: "What if you threw it into the sun? How would it deal with that?"

[God's Tongue]: "I feel like that's a bad idea. If it isn't killed by the sun, it would probably absorb the sun's power, and then Mr. Daigo would have no way to handle it at all."

The appearance of a unique monster like If sent the entire group into a heated discussion. Conventional monster-fighting tactics were useless. This would require a softer touch.

Kenji logged out of the chat group, praying for Daigo. The appearance of If was likely a side effect of Daigo joining the chat group. At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if a monster like Greeza showed up one day.

Well, at least Daigo wouldn't be lost and confused anymore.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion suddenly echoed through the ice. The thick frozen layers began to tremble violently, as if the entire passageway was about to collapse.

"The Gourmet Corp?" Teppei mused, stroking his chin. Those guys from the Gourmet Corp had a terrible reputation. Every year, Gourmet Revivers had to arrest their members for their reckless and lawless actions.

"What's the matter, Teppei? Are you going to go throw them in jail?" Kenji asked with a smile.

The Vice Chef who had come this time was one of Sunny's most detested rivals. After all, the insects he regurgitated were so grotesque and bizarre that most people found them utterly repulsive. Across the entire Toriko manga, Domi-Rotte's insect-spewing scene definitely ranked in the top ten most disgusting moments.

"Let's focus on confirming the Century Soup's status first," Teppei decided after a moment. "I get the feeling the people fighting over there wouldn't want any outsiders interfering."

He was eager to see what kind of sparks would fly when one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Toriko, clashed with a master from the Gourmet Corp. He would have no problem serving as the safety net for the battle.

"Speaking of which... a Battle Wolf," Teppei said, his eyes falling on Lotta. "Just like Master Jiro's partner. As expected of Grandpa's student, even your companions are bound by fate."

Having followed Jiro around since he was a child, Teppei had naturally heard his grandfather's stories and knew of the special bond he shared with his own Battle Wolf.

Below the Gourmet Show Window was a vast ice cavern. Hanging from its ceiling was a colossal, transparent icicle, within which countless, nearly dessicated ingredients were cryogenically frozen.

"Just as I thought. They're at their limit."

Teppei let out a small sigh. Unless they were completely replaced with fresh ingredients, the chances of the Century Soup being born were incredibly slim, but the sheer quantity made such a task nearly impossible.

"Awooo!"

Lotta's nose twitched. She let out a deafening howl that shook the ice cavern, causing a fine, crystalline powder to drift down from the ceiling.

WHOOSH!

CRUNCH!

Just then, Lotta turned into a silver streak of light. She leaped towards an icicle in the air and clamped her powerful jaws down on it. The sound of crunching metal echoed through the cavern.

"Is that a Micro GT Robo?"

Teppei recognized the small white robot. It was a Gourmet Corp invention, one that only a handful of people could operate. The more specialized the body type, the greater the difficulty of control. But he hadn't even noticed it, and the Battle Wolf had already taken it out. Could this be the legendary wild instinct of a Battle Wolf?

Kenji, however, had noticed Lotta's nose twitching and immediately understood. Back at the Gourmet Colosseum, she had nearly been ambushed by a green GT Robo. She must have memorized the scent of the GT Robos back then. A Battle Wolf's sense of smell was extraordinarily advanced.

What a grudge-holder, Kenji thought.

At the edge of Ice Hell, the real Alfaro had just arrived when his communicator crackled to life with his operator's voice.

"Lord Alfaro, my apologies. The Micro GT Robo has been destroyed."

The micro-robot was too weak to even kill a person, let alone defend itself from a Battle Wolf's bite. The operator himself had been startled by the sudden attack. He even thought to himself, My sincerest apologies for not providing Lord Battle Wolf with a more entertaining warm-up.

"It seems we have a new variable in the equation," Alfaro said, slightly surprised. "Leave the Century Soup to me."

While Micro GT Robos weren't built for combat, their stealth capabilities were second to none. It was highly unlikely for an ordinary Gourmet Hunter to detect one in hiding.

There's an expert here.

"Who destroyed the Micro GT Robo?"

"It was a Battle Wolf."

The operator hadn't expected to encounter one of the beasts that stood at the apex of the Gourmet World's food chain here.

"Oh?"

Alfaro's expression faltered for a second, then he recalled the brat who had embarrassed him last time. A cold, cruel smile spread across his lips. What a coincidence. This was the perfect chance to settle his old score and eliminate a potential future threat at the same time.

"I will finish them. Not a single one of them will leave Ice Hell alive."

"Brat... who is it you're planning to 'finish'?"

~~~

We cross the 1500 power stone goal and as promise here the bonus chapter

Next goal 1650 power stone, good luck guys.

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Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters

Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter