Kai stood before the forbidden section, his breath steady despite the oppressive aura radiating from the crimson-marked shelves. The Lost Culinary Arts of the Gods—even the name carried an undeniable weight.
He reached out, fingers brushing against an ancient book with golden engravings. The moment he made contact—
Boom!
A violent force surged through his body. His vision blurred as he felt his soul being pulled into an endless void.
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the pavilion.
He stood in a vast, golden land—a realm beyond mortal understanding. Before him, titanic figures loomed, their forms wreathed in divine flames, their hands crafting dishes that pulsed with unimaginable power.
This… was a memory of the gods.
A voice echoed through the air, deep and ancient.
"To cook is to shape the fate of the world."
Kai watched as a Divine Chef raised his hand. A single glowing ember floated above his palm before descending into a dish. The moment the dish was completed, the very fabric of the realm trembled.
Another voice spoke.
"The right dish can grant eternal life. The wrong one… can destroy civilizations."
Kai's mind reeled. This was no ordinary cooking technique—this was power capable of reshaping existence itself.
Suddenly, the world fractured. The divine chefs turned, their burning eyes locking onto Kai.
"You dare seek our knowledge?"
The pressure became unbearable. The weight of their gaze was enough to crush lesser beings, yet Kai refused to kneel.
He clenched his fists, his voice unwavering. "If I fear knowledge, I do not deserve to be a chef."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, the leading figure smirked.
"Very well. Survive… and inherit our legacy."
The golden world collapsed around him.
Kai snapped back to reality, gasping for air. The ancient book was now open in his hands, its pages glowing with divine energy.
At the top of the first page, a single title was written—
"The Recipe of Creation."
His heart pounded.
This… was only the beginning.