Kai's breath steadied as he faced the Flame Serpent King, its massive body coiling around the Fire Lotus Root. The air crackled with heat, distorting the space around them.
This wasn't just any beast. It was the ruler of this land.
The serpent's golden eyes locked onto Kai, its forked tongue flickering as if sensing his strength. Then, in a flash, it lunged forward, its fangs dripping molten venom.
Kai dodged to the side, barely escaping the devastating bite as the ground where he stood melted into a pool of lava.
He couldn't fight this thing head-on.
He needed a strategy.
His eyes darted around the battlefield. The valley's natural terrain was unstable—cracks filled with lava, rocks barely holding together.
If he could use the environment to his advantage…
The serpent struck again, its tail sweeping through the air like a whip. Kai jumped onto a boulder, using his agility to stay one step ahead.
Then he saw it—a cluster of heat-resistant frost crystals embedded in the rocks.
A plan formed in his mind.
Kai swiftly pulled out a small pouch of Spiritual Cooking Powder from his bag. It was originally meant to enhance flavors, but mixed with certain elements, it could trigger rapid cooling effects.
As the serpent coiled to strike again, Kai leapt towards the frost crystals, grabbing a handful and sprinkling the powder over them.
A sudden burst of cold mist erupted, clashing violently with the extreme heat of the valley. The sudden shift in temperature caused a shockwave, shaking the unstable ground.
The Flame Serpent King roared, its movements faltering for just a second—but that was all Kai needed.
He dashed toward the Fire Lotus Root, grabbing it swiftly before rolling away as a chunk of the ground collapsed into molten lava.
The serpent hissed in fury, but with the terrain shifting beneath it, its balance was thrown off. Lava erupted around it, cutting off its direct path to Kai.
He had done it.
Holding the precious Fire Lotus Root tightly, Kai turned and ran, using the chaotic battlefield to escape. The serpent let out one last enraged screech, but it was too late—Kai was already gone.
As he emerged from the valley, sweat dripping from his forehead, he stared at the glowing root in his hand.
This was it. The key ingredient to his dish.
Now, all he had to do… was cook the impossible.