Chapter 1: Being A Regenerationist In A World Captive To Food

"Another ecological disaster—probably those dangerous creatures again!"

In the Low Whispering Forest, a tall man strode through the dense trees. The forest earned its name from the terrain's peculiar interaction with wind: gusts created faint, intermittent sounds that wavered between reality and illusion.

The man's name was Zed. He wasn't originally from this world. In his past life, Zed had been a struggling author who'd succumbed to sudden death after relentless nights of writing. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself reborn as a child in a strange new world.

Before Zed could process his predicament, a message flooded his mind—a "golden finger," as he'd read in novels. He'd crossed into the Toriko universe, a world obsessed with gourmet conquest, and unlocked the "Partner System." Its function was simple: find a suitable partner, and the system would reward him.

As a failed writer, Zed recognized the trope. The system had gone silent after granting him a "novice gift pack," requiring him to activate it by finding a partner. Inside the pack, he'd discovered the most coveted resource in this world: Gourmet Cells. The system's cells were perfect—free of the usual risks tied to awakening them.

In Toriko, awakening Gourmet Cells was perilous. Sunny had warned Komatsu in the first ecological zone, and later, Komatsu's forced awakening during Air's cooking nearly killed him. His heart had faltered until Teppei crushed and regenerated it—a gamble that saved his life. Zed's system bypassed these dangers, granting stable cells that could copy existing Gourmet Demons as puppet-like entities, avoiding sentient hitchhikers in his body.

Zed chose to replicate the Leader Slime. While Neo (the planet-devouring entity) and the White Ghost (Toriko's third demon) were stronger, they posed existential risks. The White Ghost's power had nearly destroyed Toriko's body even after he'd mastered Red and Blue Oni. Zed, lacking Toriko's resilience, opted for the Leader Slime—a strategic choice.

The Leader Slime had resurrected via Acacia's body in the original story, rivaling Neo despite incomplete resurrection. Its ability to manipulate civilizations (like Blue Grill) and survive death made it a safer, subtler power. Neo's raw hunger and the White Ghost's volatility were gambles Zed couldn't afford.

After receiving his gift pack, Zed was fortunate to land near the Healing Country. A wandering Regeneration Master found him and took him as an apprentice. Three years prior, the elder had died of old age but secured Zed a mentorship under Yosaku—a Regeneration Master whose skill rivaled the Gourmet National Treasure, Mew Mew Xiu Xiu.

Now Zed was Teppei's junior, ascending swiftly in the hierarchy of regenerationists. His Gourmet Cells' potential and innate talent positioned him uniquely, even in a world where food ruled all.