082. Hot Pot Duel.

"I've kept you waiting!"

After the audience had been seated, the lights on the roof of the building suddenly illuminated the table of the Shokugeki, revealing a black-haired, brown-eyed girl holding a microphone. She began to announce, "This Shokugeki is about to kick off! Now, it's time to introduce the charming host of ceremonies... It's me, Urara Kawashima, a first-year high school student!"

As a popular emcee among the first-years, Urara Kawashima's lively introduction naturally drew cheers from the male students in the crowd. However, the female students seemed less impressed with her overly cutesy demeanor, sitting down one by one and watching her performance with mild indifference.

"Next up are the judges who will oversee this Shokugeki! There are three in total!"

As Urara's words fell, the three judges stood and greeted the audience.

"The theme of this Shokugeki is hot pot, and the main ingredients are not restricted! Now, it's time for both contestants to make their entrance!"

"The first to enter is the 'Meat Master'—Ikumi Mito!"

A figure draped in a black cloak strode onto the stage from the contestant's passage, flanked by two bodyguards. When she reached the center of the stage, she dramatically cast off her cloak.

Urara Kawashima introduced Ikumi Mito with a bright smile. However, inwardly, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the raucous cheers of the male students.

"And now, our next contestant—a first-year transfer student—Shiraki!"

From the opposite passage, Shiraki emerged, walking calmly and ignoring the crowd's hostile stares as if their glares meant nothing to him. He ascended the stage with unshakable composure.

With both contestants in place, Urara began explaining the stakes of this Shokugeki.

"The bet for this Shokugeki is quite unusual. In fact, it's one of the most significant in recent years! The winner will gain control of the Sumo Hot Pot Research Society. If Shiraki-san loses, Nakiri's side will take over the society. By the way, Shiraki-san recently replaced the head of the Chinese Cuisine Research Society, making this Shokugeki a battle of ambition for both sides! What will the outcome be?"

Although Urara's words were meant to stir excitement, they sounded bitterly ironic to the members of the Sumo Hot Pot Research Society below. They were furious. Their club hadn't even been dissolved yet, but everyone seemed to assume their fate was either expulsion by Erina Nakiri or absorption by the Chinese Cuisine Research Society.

The leader of the Sumo Hot Pot Research Society, Kiyoshi Gōdabayashi, clenched his teeth in frustration. As a proud second-year student of Totsuki Culinary Academy, he believed that if he were the one competing, he could crush these two underclassmen with a clean 3-0 victory. Even against Erina Nakiri, one of the Elite Ten, he felt confident.

These first-year upstarts simply hadn't experienced the harsh reality of life. Gōdabayashi was itching for the chance to teach them a lesson about respecting their seniors.

Beside him, another second-year, Hisame Teruki, looked less certain. Gōdabayashi felt some trepidation about Teruki's skill level, but he reminded himself that he wasn't fighting alone—his whole club was on his side. Even an Elite Ten member could be overwhelmed with the right teamwork.

While Gōdabayashi daydreamed about his hypothetical triumph, the competition on stage had already begun.

In front of Ikumi Mito's cooking station, a cart was wheeled out carrying an entire aged beef carcass—undeniably a premium ingredient: A5-grade beef.

"Transfer student, I'll show you ingredients so luxurious that someone like you could never even dream of seeing them!" Mito declared, standing proudly before the aged beef and eyeing Shiraki with a smug expression.

"Oh?" Shiraki glanced at her nonchalantly, then suddenly smirked. "Then, as a gesture of gratitude for your 'generosity,' I'll show you an ingredient you'll never encounter in your lifetime."

"What?"

Ikumi Mito blinked in surprise at his words, watching as Shiraki lifted the lid of a large basin on his cooking table. The broadcast screen above zoomed in, revealing what looked like crushed black gems.

Before the audience could fully process what they were seeing, a peculiar aroma began wafting from Shiraki's station.

"What is that smell?" Students in the front rows leaned forward, trying to get a better look. The fragrance seemed like a mix of every fruit imaginable. Apples, bananas, cantaloupe, watermelon, cherries, pears, dragon fruit—common and exotic alike—all seemed to be blended in this strange aroma.

Yet it wasn't just the scent of fruit. There was something beyond that—something processed, refined, and completely unrecognizable.

Rainbow Fruit—completely corrupted.

The black, gem-like substance Shiraki unveiled was the corrupted version of Rainbow Fruit. In its pristine state, Rainbow Fruit was a rare and beautiful ingredient known as the "fruit jewel of the earth," with flesh as red as rubies. However, once corrupted, its juice turned transparent and reeked, while the flesh darkened to black.

The corrupted Rainbow Fruit's flavor encapsulated the essence of every fruit imaginable, but its aroma was laced with the pungent scent of decay. Shiraki, donning an invisible gas mask, calmly prepared to use it as the hot pot's soup base.

After all, nothing could be more fitting for a bold, dramatic challenge like this.