Chapter 51 - Gourmet Verse

I'm sorry if this chap seem info dump but I don't want y'all to be clueless on the world they are in and at least give you some insight.

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Raven was straight to the point not wanting to waste any time and still skeptical of Erix sensing that he was someone who shouldn't be easily trusted and more than meets the eyes. She is still having a hard time interacting with everyone since Raven had lived her whole life distancing herself from others and she's afraid to form relationships even if the skills given to her by the chat group helped shelter her. 

Erix noticed this and didn't blame her considering that he is indeed someone with hidden intention and aiming for her to be his. Though, he can compel others to like him due to his charisma and aura that entices them to enjoy taking his time conquering their hearts as this is what he "craves" Overcoming and conquering. He didn't answer immediately and slowed his perception of time to talk with Arryn.

'Can you analyze the energy around us?' 

Erix could sense a different kind of energy that was vastly different from Mana and Cosmic Energy. He recall that it was called Appetite Energy, or more correctly Gourmet Energy is a fundamental energy of the universe, embodying good taste, desire for food, and even life force. The energy is as old as the universe, it cannot be destroyed, and it is the source and origin of Gourmet Cells, their power, and everything that came from them.

On the other hand, Gourmet Cells are the physical embodiment of savoriness and Appetite Energy, the source of life and all known ingredients. The cells have extreme regenerative and strength-enhancing qualities, can empower evolution, but most importantly greatly enhance the flavor of any organism they are part of. 

There are two known ways to infuse Gourmet Cells into a living being that does not contain them. The first and safest method is through "ingestion": where one must regularly intake pills or food items containing Gourmet Cells (Like those from the Gourmet World), at which point the cells will begin to slowly conform and adapt to the consumer's body as the consumer continues to eat them. However, this method takes far longer to have an effect on the body and there are many cases where the cells are never able to adapt and give no physical enhancements to the consumer.

The second method is through "injection": which involves directly injecting Gourmet Cells into the body via a syringe. This method is the more dangerous of the two but also the fastest, as direct injection causes the injected cells to adapt faster, and thus the time it takes for them to adapt to the body is overwhelmingly fast when compared to the safer method. However, this method has many risks for if the cells do not properly adapt they begin to invade the body and mutate it, turning the injected individual into a horrific-looking monster, or worse it may end up killing them.

Gourmet Cells also have extremely high energy demands, so users must frequently consume large amounts of delicious food, lest the cells begin uncontrollably devouring their body at the cellular level. 

An individual's Gourmet cells 'evolve' when they consume delicious foods that suit them and the 'tastes' of the cells; this enhances the strength of the user and their abilities. Certain individuals can also develop new abilities or resistances as a response to harsh new environments, instantly creating adaptations that allow the user to survive. Training one's Gourmet Cells to adapt to a variety of such environments is an integral part of training to survive in the Gourmet World. 

While all of these qualities of Gourmet Cells make them extremely powerful and useful, it has been shown that they do have limitations. Their strength and regeneration-enhancing qualities are dependent on the user's calorie intake and their mental state and fortitude. Mental training in disciplines such as Food Honor can make a vast difference in how effectively and efficiently the Cells expend energy. Sufficiently powerful techniques can also simply exceed the powers of an individual's Gourmet Cells. 

When Gourmet Cells have matured to a certain point, Appetite Demons can be projected by their hosts in the form of grotesque monsters as a form of Intimidation. However, the more the cells grow and develop, the stronger these manifestations become, to the point where they can end up gaining a will of their own, becoming beings that can exist as separate sentient entities within their hosts and even outside of them for a certain amount of time. Not much is known about the extent of their powers, but it has been implied that they play a major role in mastering the use of Gourmet Cells.

Erix has no plans on having them seeing how it would be more of a weakness than an additional power. However, he does wonder if he could rewrite the rule and make his own gourmet cells that don't have any weaknesses. It would almost be perfect for Erina if she had those kinds of Gourmet cells. 

[ Analyze complete. Gourmet Energy had been added. ] Arryn announced as Erix inwardly nodded even though he has no use for it doesn't mean it won't hurt to have one. He smirked at the thought and understood it would be a perfect companion for [ Gluttonous King, Beelzebuth ]. Erix regains his normal perception and turns his attention to Raven.

"We're hunting a monster called Galla Gator." Erix explained everything he knows about the monster that they are going to hunt. The Galala Gator is a behemoth-like reptile beast that resides in the Baron Archipelago and is at the very top of the ecosystem. Though its species propagation capacity is limited, it makes up for it with a fierce attitude for survival. Some even live well beyond 300 years of age. 

Its overall appearance resembles that of a normal alligator, though it is much bigger (larger than an elephant) and has eight legs and red skin, with two rows of sharp, yellow spikes that go down its tough, scaly, back, much like his claws. It also has green eyes that tend to glow in the dark. Its teeth are white and sharp, protruding out of its mouth. 

It is a vicious and voracious creature that will eat anything that catches its eye, and once it chooses its prey, it will not let it escape. A Galala Gator that grows up without knowing stronger opponents will not know fear. 

This can be unfortunate for it; should it encounter opponents that far out-power it, it will not know that it is out-matched and will recklessly go into battle without a second thought. The Galala Gator can also form a symbiotic relationship with Baron Leeches by letting them reside in its mouth and exchange use their wounding abilities to track down prey.

It is a powerful beast with impeccable strength and size that will continue to grow as it ages. It is also very agile, able to leap a fair distance to ambush prey and deliver fast and successive chomps at its opponent. Its bite and jaw power is also incredibly ferocious; it can easily pick a clean part of its prey's body in an instant.

The 300-year-old Galala Gator utilizes a colony of Baron Leeches in its mouth to assist it in hunting down its prey, similar to real-life Komodo dragons using bacteria in their mouths to track their prey.

Baron leeches are capable of sucking out large amounts of blood and the wounds they leave on the skin take longer to heal than usual. A bit of salt does remove them. 

A typical gator's flesh tastes like chicken, but a very old Galala Gator's flesh is said to taste more like a high-quality sirloin steak. Its meat is coated with a sweet and delicious layer of frost-like fat that shines, and according to Toriko, seems to look like meat made from jewels that releases a savory flow of flavor upon being consumed. It can be cooked over a fire, but grilling it truly brings out the flavor and helps keep all the flavor and juices from escaping.

Everyone was amazed and Erina had tasted gator meat before but it had a mild flavor and a firm texture. It tastes like quail, with a mildly fishy flavor, and is often chewy, depending on preparation. She didn't like it and was rather unique.

"I can sense a lot of creatures around us." Jean remarked easily spreading her sensing and scanning the area due to having her full power released by Erix. 

"Still surprised that they are actually worlds like this." 

Erina looks around the dense forest transforming some of her features into a beast having eaten some wolf and bear meat that sharpens her senses and instinct, noticing the danger around them. 

She was the weakest among them but has the potential to catch up considering Erix's plan of finding someone who has gourmet cells and then putting them into her body but removing the weakness.

Then again, her [ Assimilated Evolution ] ability would remove them on their own and allow her to use Gourmet Cells without any issue. 

"Alright, everything is settled, now let's hunt." Erix said as he cast some protective spell and enchantment to protect them and moved their way into the jungle.