Hong Jian was alive and well, the frying pan that came out of nowhere stopped Gus from impaling the young master with his quills. It was a mystery what exactly happened here. How did a frying pan appear out of nowhere and stop Gus? Alwin joined Uchronia and the two brothers, gaping at the sight that lay before them.

Gus tumbled to the ground, dizzy after hitting a hunk of iron that was thrown into the middle of his attack. All of his skills were deactivated, his fur no longer stood on its edge and regained its soft fluffy texture, and the lightning that surged around him scattered, leaving Hong Jian completely unscathed—other than his broken ego, but that wasn't important.

"Hong Jian! Huang Jian! You guys okay?" the person called out.

Alwin's eyes darted from the frying pan as it plummeted from above, smacking Gus square on the head before clanging onto the floor, to the newcomer that had just rushed to the scene. The figure clad in white had dashed out from the bushes toward the brothers—the supposed source of the frying pan if Alwin had to guess, but given his track record, he had a fifty-fifty chance of being correct.

The newcomer ran in, clad in a thick, double-breasted cotton jacket with knotted cloth buttons. A long wide apron covered the lower half completely. To top it off was a rounded toque with numerous folds and rounded end that stood tall like a crown. Everything from the jacket to the apron to the toque was eggshell white. It was the spitting image of what the cat chefs at the cafeteria wore, just replace cat with human.

"G-g-gary?" Hong Jian called out.

"STEW! shouted Huang Jian.

The brothers had lost the competition of who could have the widest mouth. As of now, Gus was the current one in the lead. The word 'stew' had roused him from his concussion, no longer did he sport a dumbfounded look, instead, he was looking around the area finding that mythical stew that Huang Jian had pointed out. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't realized that Stew was a person, so Gus continued to swivel his body about in search of a pot of stew that didn't exist.

Uchronia had withdrawn from the wide-mouth competition her lips pressed together as she started incanting. Alwin and Gus were the only ones left in the contest now. He could’ve—no, he should’ve—been preparing his Spirit Blasts or at least slinking back into the bushes to hide from the new human who'd appeared out of nowhere to save the day. It was only fair for the two young masters to have their deus ex machina moment, considering that Alwin and Uchronia had theirs, but at least theirs was more telegraphed and wasn't technically a deus ex machina. This Gary Stew fella just showed up out of nowhere.

"Are you guys okay? I found the remains of your group and thought that something had happened to you two. I couldn't find your corpses so I followed the trail of crumbs and came just in time to block that attack. This little fella is quite the monster." Gary looked down at the swiveling Gus. "You think he tastes good?"

Excuse me? Taste good. Was that guy planning on eating Gus? Alwin had officially dropped out of the conversation—which meant that Gus was the champion—and retreated to the bushes. Uchronia had joined him in his retreat. Within the confines of the bushes, as she was incanting, she began to draw into the ground with her tail. Alwin understood the message and split up. They circled around the perimeter until they were opposite each other, entrapping their foes. Now if only Gus could get out of the way, they could unleash a hailstorm of attacks.

"Trail of crumbs? You stupid Stew! You tricked us with your false notions about a Muffin Monster. We tried tracking it down because we thought it was a rare monster, but look at us! We're covered in the words that shall not be named!" cried Huang Jian.

"Exactly. Stew you imbecile! You owe us! Look at what happened to our beautiful clothes. The offer to join the Crimson Gold Sect has been rescinded. Now make it up to us and get rid of the monsters that are targeting us! Where are those—"Hong Jian looked around the area and could only find Gus, who was still searching for the non-existent pot of stew, "—There! That's one of them!"

"I know. I literally pointed it out about five seconds ago. Also, I don't want to join your sect, I don't want to be tied down. I'm finally living my dream in this new world, I'm not really in the mood for any more office politics."

"You and that, what did you call it? 'Isekai' nonsense. You'll only get so far being a loose cultivator. The Crimson Gold Sect has plenty of resources. If you get rid of those monsters and clean our robes, I'll consider you for recruitment into the sect again," said Hong Jian

"Nah! I'm not really into that cultivation nonsense. I just wanna level up, I'm so close to level thirty. I even unlocked this unique class, I'm not going to throw that away to become a cultivator."

"You and your RPG ideology. Understanding the Dao and going through tribulations is the true way to getting stronger, not relying on numbers or stats," said Huang Jian.

"Yes, yes. Listen to brother Huang Jian. You have just started your journey, you can abandon the ways of the RPG and become a cultivator. With your talents, becoming a pillar of the Crimson Gold Sect is inevitable."

"Nope! Apprentice Monster Chef all the way, baby!"

"Stupid Stew. In the future when you come crawling back to the gates of the Crimson Gold Sect begging to be let in, I, Huang Jian will say that you are unworthy to become a disciple. This is your last chance. Join the Crimson Gold Sect or forever forfeit your rights to do so!"

"I just saved your lives. I don't think joining that sect of yours would help me."

"Why you insolent whelp!" Hong Jian's face had matched his robe—red." We're only in this situation because of your treacherous lies. There is no such thing as a Muffin Monster. We wasted our time looking for it. You told us it was a rare monster with untold potential."

"Yeah, no. I said that in my old world, there was this character called Cookie Monster. I was wondering if maybe this new world had something similar. Then I joked about a Muffin Monster and how cool it would be if it existed. Then I added onto the joke by saying 'Imagine if it was this super rare monster'. Anything else is on you."

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"Cookies? Muffins? Can I have some?" asked Gus, looking up at the trio of humans.

Where was that monster's sense of self-preservation? If Alwin had his Spirit Hands already summoned they would've gladly slapped his forehead in a futile bid to erase the memory of the idiocy unfolding before his eyes. Then after that, they would've slapped Gus silly.

"Sure, sure. As long as you just stay there and don't move," said Gary.

"Blasphemy! You're actually allying yourself with a monster?" shouted Huang Jian.

Gary looked at Gus and put his hand over his mouth, whispering to the two young masters. If Alwin had to guess, he was probably telling them that it was a ploy to keep the monster from roaming free. Gus was going to be dealt with after they had finished their conversation. This was one of those rare times when he knew that his gut was correct.

"Prove it! Do it in front of us this instance!" shouted Hong Jian.

"Not right now! I still need to come up with a way to... prepare him. I want to try out some of the herbs and mushrooms I've scavenged earlier."

"Then we will stay here until you do so! No monster-loving fool will ever be allowed to live! I swear on the name of the Crimson Gold Sect!" shouted Huang Jian.

"Sure, dude. You two can be my taste testers. Also, could you guys get me some wood? Can't cook without fire."

"Cook? What are you making? Can I have some?" asked Gus.

"I'm still thinking, but don't worry. This dish will be all about you." Gary smiled and Alwin felt a shiver run up his slimy non-existent spine.

"Us? Get you wood? We are not some servant you can boss around!" shouted Hong Jian.

"Oh my god! You two are so annoying. Seriously, why is nepotism a thing in another world? 'Oh, I'm the son of the sect. Getting wood is beneath me,'" Gary said in a mocking tone. "It's just some wood. What's your problem?"

"How dare you insult us. We—"

"Yea, yea, yea. You threaten me, then give me a chance to earn forgiveness by doing something for you. Rinse and repeat. What is it with you arrogant young master types? Seriously!"

"We—"

"You know what, forget it. I'll get the wood myself. Anyway, I thought there were two more monsters here. Where'd they go?"

The two brothers looked around the area, scanning every single bush, tree, and rock. "Where did those Monster Army Troops go?" they said in unison.

"Monster Army? You think I'll get more XP from killing them?"

"More of your RPG nonsense. Cultivation is the true way to gain strength, not your cheap XP gimmicks," said Huang Jian.

"That doesn't answer my question."

As the trio continued to bicker about which method was superior—cultivation or RPG—Alwin waited for Uchronia's signal. He wanted so desperately to begin daydreaming, but Gus' life was on the line here. Any lapse in focus might mean that the Furball would turn into a Meatball. What was taking Uchronia so long? And why was Gus such a fool? The mere mention of food had him wrapped around anyone's finger.

A flash of light came from across the field. That was the signal. The three humans turned to face the light emerging from the bushes. With their backs turned towards Alwin, he launched an array of different types of Spirit Blasts. One day he would learn how to cast silent attacks, because the moment he used his technique, he found himself forced to scream out their names.

The three humans turned again, only to find a volley of Spirit Blasts hurtling towards them. The two young masters gripped their swords, about to defend themselves, but when they caught sight of the sorry state their weapons were in, they knew their blades were as useful as a twig. Panic set in and they stood rooted to the ground, unsure what to do without their blades or followers by their side.

Gary Stew didn't suffer the same fate as the young masters. He stomped his foot onto the handle of the frying pan that was on the ground, sending it spinning back up to his hand. Once his fingers wrapped around the utensil, he forced mana into it.

"Pan-Demonium!" he shouted.

Without any care or finesse, unlike the two young masters' swordplay, he swung his pan every which way. There was no form or thought put into his swings at all. It smashed into the Spirit Blasts, destroying them. Hong Jian and Huang Jian ducked behind Gary, cowering in fear. No matter how much Gary swung his frying pan there were just too many. When the Spirit Burst Blast exploded covering him in hot raw mana or when the mini Spirit Blasts from the Spirit Scatter Blast peppered him, he gritted his teeth and continued to swing.

"The times I nicked myself in the kitchen or had splashes of oil sizzle on my skin were worse than this."

As Alwin distracted them, Uchronia was dashing into the scene from behind—two Uchronias to be exact. The Leafling pair dashed towards the humans and it was obvious to Alwin that they both had been boosted with Haste. They dodged and weaved past the stray Spirit Blasts that missed the humans completely.

"Monsters!" Huang Jian shouted.

In between all of the cowering behind Gary and flinching whenever a Spirit Blast zoomed past him—Alwin's aim wasn't perfect—Huang Jian had spotted the two Uchronias dashing towards them.

"Protect us and you shall be rewarded, Gary Stew!" shouted Hong Jian.

"What on Earth do you think I've been doing this whole time?"

Gary's attention snapped from the flurry of attacks threatening him and the two bumbling fools behind him to the sight of not one, but two Uchronias rapidly closing in. The Furball, meanwhile, was motionless, as if blissfully unaware of the chaos. He took a deep breath and twirled around, smacking Gus on the head with his frying pan.

"Cuisine Knockout!"

Gus was out like a light. He fell to the floor, face first, not a single muscle moving.

"Gus!" Uchronia yelled out.

Gary's face contorted in agony, eyebrows knitting together as even more Spirit Blasts made contact with his body. He finished spinning around and was now back to smacking away the Spirit Blasts that were raining down on them.

Alwin was full of rage. How dare they hit Gus! He launched even more Spirit Blasts, firing them as fast as he could. That Gary was going to pay for attacking his friend.

Uchronia was already in front of the two young masters. The grass around them sprang to life, twisting around their arms and legs like serpents, binding them together as the alternate Uchronia cast Grassy Shackles. Meanwhile, the original Uchronia was already airborne. Using their heads as springboards, she propelled herself higher with a flick of her tail while simultaneously casting Slow on them as she jumped off of them.

The grass around Gary began to grow, wrapping themselves around his feet. When they went for his arms, he had no choice but to spend whatever precious moments he had to smack them away instead of the Spirit Blasts crashing into him. His outfit was shredded in places, his exposed arms covered in bruises of blue and black, but he was no slower now than when the fight first broke out.

Uchronia was overhead, her tail covered in a layer of thorns, about to deliver a double whammy—one that would Slow him down and decorate his face with puncture marks. Gary smashed away two more Spirit Blasts and twisted his hips.

"Cuisine Knockout!"

He smashed the frying pan right into Uchronia's temple. The light in her eyes began to fade and she was unconscious in a second, tumbling to the ground a distance away. The alternate Uchronia faded away screaming. With all of his rageful shouting, he could only make out parts of her voice, "Go... help..."

It was all up to Alwin.