Chapter 6: Zed’s Transformed Plants

The Gourmet World thrived on madness. From Puffer Whales—deadly yet irresistible—to hunters risking lives for a single bite, obsession ruled. Even the Millipede Worm, a toxic, inedible abomination, drew fools lured by myth.

Zed faced the Level 35 beast calmly. His Gourmet Cell Level (30) paled next to the worm's, but raw power wasn't his strength.

He tossed a seed between Erina and Hisako, dousing it with emerald liquid. Instantly, Strangler Thorns erupted—genetically engineered vines weaving a spiked, metallic dome around the girls.

"Stay inside." Zed's voice echoed through the thorns. "Nothing below Level 50 breaches these."

The Millipede lunged, blade-legs screeching. Zed's fist met its armor-plated limbs, Gourmet Cells flaring.

"Black Tornado."

A vortex of caloric energy spiraled from his knuckles, grinding through the Millipede's defenses. The beast split, its segmented body thrashing—but Zed's attack wasn't done. The tornado bifurcated, shredding the worm into particulate sludge.

Five seconds. Fight over.

Inside the thorns, Erina and Hisako stared, slack-jawed. Blades ricocheted harmlessly off the dome, confirming Zed's claim.

He reappeared, sprinkling red serum on the vines. The Strangler Thorns withered to brittle husks. "Consumables," he explained. "Easy to regrow."

The girls emerged, awed.

"That move… the tornado…" Erina stammered.

"A Gourmet technique." Zed flexed his hand. "Simplified, but effective."

The Slime's full arsenal—Black Thunderbolt, Black Peeling Knife, even cataclysmic Meteor Summon—remained beyond his current stamina. But for now, the Millipede's smoldering corpse proved enough.