After having the soup made by Chef Gustaf, Mel’s eyes were sparkling. “So yummy!”

Roth followed and dug in. Even though the soup's broth was nearly transparent, it was thick, almost like honey. Once he savored the soup, he could feel his pores opening, and his heart raced. The depth of flavor! It was the perfect balance of strong and mild favors. How could a soup be this good?!

You've eaten a giant kelp soup.

+6 intelligence

+4 wisdom

You can taste the ocean.

+1 water affinity

Roth choked, and looking at Mel, he saw she was also surprised.

"Roth, did you also get the bonuses?" she asked.

Roth nodded, speechless. What kind of food was this? It gave so many stat boosts. It even unlocked a new affinity! While Roth tried to imagine the rarity of the ingredients for this soup and how many hours the chef had put into it, Mel already had brought another spoonful to her mouth.

"You know, I already thought you were handsome, but you have become way more attractive now," she joked.

"Chef Gustav!" Roth screamed from a distance. "This is the best soup I've ever had."

Gustav bowed humbly. The chef was relaxed, fully confident that this soup would win him a place in the Union’s VIP roster. Roth finished the soup and grinned as he thought of the [Vegetarian Gourmand] title. “Chef Gustav, can I have seconds?”

*

The Lord of the Oak followed the battle with interest. The ladybug army tried to break through the lines, hoping to outflank the scorpion tanks. However, the shield division was holding its ground. They held up their shields, straining their legs to support the weight of the enemy charge. Ladybugs were many times bigger than ants, but they could still hold them at bay if they worked together.

In the meantime, the scorpion tanks kept methodically whittling the enemy numbers down. The scorpion tanks were the Lord's pride and joy, an amalgamation of his different inherent genetic memories. From his woodworking ancestors, he had drawn inspiration for the tank's frame: four small rolling acorns linked by twigs and chitin.

Aboard the tank, a line of soldiers from the armored division used the hard chitin shells of armored beetles to fend off the crunching jaws of whatever ladybug managed to approach the vehicle. A second line of lancers stood behind them, helping them repel the charge of the desperate polka-dotted hunters.

These were tricky enemies. Their defenses were good enough to deflect the bites of bare mandibles, and they were not as large and sluggish as the other armored beetles the Lord of the Oak was used to hunting. They moved fast, seeking weaknesses in their formation. Moreover, whenever they felt cornered and surrounded, they took flight and let themselves fall on the treeant ranks as living bombs.

The scorpion tank kept deflecting the ladybugs' strikes. He had to be patient. Finally, one of the ladybugs resorted to its living bomb strategy. It opened its carapace, revealing powerful, transparent wings, and took flight, shaking off the ants swarming it. It hovered a few meters above ground, trying to gain altitude before it dropped on one of the scorpion tanks.

"Wait for it. Wait for it."

The beetle approached, ever closer, judging the best place of impact, and that's when the Lord sprung his trap.

"Make it rain."

The tank shifted, and ants shuffled in and out of the top, revealing a group of soldiers ready to use artillery. They squirted foul, acidic liquid from their abdomens, targeting the wings of the flying lady beetle. As the acid made contact with the wings, it made a sizzling sound, and the insect's flight faltered.

"Again."

Acid and poison require complex proteins and bountiful nutrition. Despite their glorious strengths, size wasn't one of the virtues of the Leafies. There was only so much acid they could carry. The tank, however, had enough space to fit three squads, meaning he still had one salvo left. However, that proved unnecessary. The acid was enough to bring the lady beetle to the ground in a jumbled mess. While ineffective on the ladybug's shell, it worked fine against its flesh. The ladybug was trying to close its armor, fighting its instinct to let the vapors of the acid out.

The Rain of Fire had gifted these beasts with an awareness of teamwork and individual intelligence. It was remarkable how the beast could fight the pain, knowing that the Lord's soldiers were waiting for an opportunity. It couldn't keep its shell completely closed, though. The tank rolled over to the struggling beetle and uncovered the scorpion stinger.

The infantry rushed the beetle, which jerked desperately. However, one managed to drive the mandible through the shell's opening and prod it open.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“Now!”

The soldiers pushed the battering sting through the gap in the ladybug's shell. The bug instantly felt the wound and thrashed violently, but it was too late. The acid and venom had made it in. The ladybug dropped, powerless, as the tank shifted toward the next target.

*

Roth thanked the heavens that he could not get full in this game. He had eaten two servings of each dish in this meal, allowing him to soak up twice the stats for each course.

Not only had the chefs been able to put together incredible vegetarian meals, but every single one of their dishes boosted stats. This was cooking at a whole new level. Roth and Mel had gained so many permanent stats after this meal that they had climbed in the rankings. Mel had climbed up to 30, while Roth had managed to occupy the place previously held by his girlfriend, number 32.

He wondered how their competitors would feel knowing that while they were grinding in moldy caves and scorching deserts, hunting beasts and slaying monsters, he and Mel gained stats from having a romantic dinner together. It made the dinner all the more satisfying.

"Oh my goodness, this is the best meal I've ever had," Mel said with a satisfied smile.

"I know. Me too. What I would like to know is if this was the best date you've ever had."

"Maybe," Mel said, blushing.

Roth puffed up his chest. He had succeeded in impressing his girlfriend!

Now that the meal was over, the 14th came into the room one by one. They all chatted happily about God knows what while giving Roth and Mel privacy. Drake finished telling a funny story that had everyone bursting out laughing. Even the usually stoic Pete was hugging his belly.

All four chefs who had cooked for them also appeared and stood to the side, awaiting Roth and Mel’s verdict. Their gaze on them was so intense that Roth felt he would catch on fire if he didn’t tell them who had won, stat!

Mel was feeling the pressure, too. “Uuh. Those chefs are eying us like madmen. You have to decide who did best, right?”

Roth gave Mel a wolfish grin. “No, no, no, missy. We have to decide.”

Mel shrugged. “I don’t mind. Let’s do this.”

"So, what do you think? What dish should we give a reward for?" Roth asked.

"I don't know, they were all amazing. That soy steak was incredible. It tasted like real meat. And that parfait at the end, oh my goodness, that was delicious."

Roth felt his mouth water as he remembered each of the dishes. "In terms of sheer stats alone, that soy steak was unbelievable."

"I know, 15 strength? It's even more than a power truffle," Mel praised.

"I know, but that soup was amazing, too. It unlocked water affinity. How crazy is that?"

Mel nodded in agreement. "I can tell you that the soup alone would sell for at least 100k gold."

"Well, I think we've come to a decision. Do you want to announce it?" Roth offered.

"I'll let you do it," Mel said.

"Okay. But you’ve got to help me a little too."

They withdrew from the corner near the hearth where they'd been conferencing, and the chefs suddenly went quiet. The 14th also quieted down. Before the attentive eyes of the eager chefs and his smiling friends, Roth offered his hand to Mel, and she took it. Roth cleared his throat and began the announcement.

"First, thank you all, my friends-” Roth felt Mel’s elbow on his rib. “Excuse me. Our friends for giving us this incredible evening. Mel and I were talking and agreed that this was the best meal we've ever had."

There was a round of clapping from the 14th and the chefs.

Roth raised his hand, gesturing that he would continue speaking. "Every single course was delicious. These chefs put their heart and soul into their food, and all deserve applause. Thank you, chefs."

The 14th clapped again, cheering and roaring, while the chefs took polite bows.

“Now, what did we think of the food? Do you want to help me here, Mel?”

Mel nodded and reviewed each dish. "Chef Gustav, your soup was unforgettable. Its consistency, saltiness, and the balance between strong and mild flavors blew us away. You managed to cram the whole ocean into one single bowl.”

The tall chef accepted the compliment with a curt bow while Roth looked impressed at his girlfriend! How did she sound so much like the judge of a cooking show?! Had she ever done this before?

“Chef Silvia, the Sunrise Pasta was silky smooth, and you managed to create so much depth of flavor using only vegetables. It was amazing.”

Chef Silvia, who was similar in age to Mel, smiled and mouthed a silent thank you.

Mel continued. “Chef Roxane, your soy steak was incredible. I don't know how you did it, but you made the steak so tender. It was perfectly grilled, the rice was delicious, and the accompanying salad was crunchy and fresh.”

Chef Roxane was the oldest of the bunch. Her gray hair and simple clothes made her look like a sweet grandmother who enjoyed cooking, but the sparks in her eyes showed fiery competitiveness. She acknowledged the compliment with a tiny smile but seemed eager for Mel to end the suspense and announce her victory already.

“Finally, Chef Zulmir, your parfait was refreshing and sweet. The pineapple's acidity and the mango's sweetness brought the whole thing together. It was the perfect finale to this delicious meal.”

The last chef, a young, short man, scratched his head, embarrassed. Roth picked up on Mel's sign that she was done and continued. “While every dish was remarkable, two stood out: the soy steak and the soup.”

Chef Zulmir and Chef Silvia looked down, defeated, while the fire in Chef Gustav and Chef Roxane's eyes ignited.

"However, out of the two, one dish left such a strong impression that we still remember its taste perfectly. Chef Gustav, congratulations. Both Mel and I agreed that your dish deserves the reward.” He operated the menu, added the chef’s name, and concluded the announcement. “Welcome to the VIP roster of the Union, Chef Gustav."

Chef Gustav took a bow, and Silvia and Zulmir gracefully applauded. Chef Roxane bit her lip to maintain a courteous smile, but she seemed to be dying inside. With the final verdict announced, the dinner was over, and the 14th mingled with the chefs. Roth and Mel also went to thank all of them.

Roth chatted with Zulmir, a lovely and unpretentious young man, while Mel talked to Roxane.

"Don’t be like that, Aunty. It was such a very close difference between your dishes. You’ve made our night so special. I’ll never forget that meal." Mel assured her.

“Argh… Thank you, child. I appreciate that. It’s hard when you give your best, and it’s still not enough.”

“It was for us, Aunty.”

Overhearing Mel comforting the older chef, Roth couldn’t help but like Mel a little more. He focused back on the conversation with the young chef. "All the best to you, Zulmir.”

"I'll make sure I come back for that VIP seat."

"I'm sure there will be other opportunities. And again, it was an incredible dessert."

After saying hello to every chef and their friends, Roth offered his hand to Mel. "Shall we go for a walk?"

She looked at the clock. "I still have 30 minutes before I have to go. That sounds lovely."