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—The Next Day—
An Island,
As the new day dawned, Lev and Shizuku could be seen strolling casually across one of the private islands under the supervision of the International Gourmet Organization, or IGO.
The IGO was a global organization responsible for maintaining order during the Gourmet Age and protecting civilians from dangerous animals and Gourmet Criminals. It also administered the Eight Gourmet Laws, along with other food-related regulations, throughout the territories under its jurisdiction.
At present, the organization was led by Ichiryu. Thanks to his personal connection with Lev, he had arranged for the latter to receive an island that could serve as his base of operations.
Naturally, the decision had caused quite a stir within the organization. Many of its members had expressed concerns about granting such a privilege to someone whose background remained largely unknown. However, Ichiryu himself had vouched for Lev's identity, leaving most of them with little choice but to respect his decision.
Of course, some individuals continued to investigate Lev's background and question the circumstances surrounding his arrival. Nevertheless, such concerns were of little consequence to Lev. As far as he was concerned, they could investigate all they wanted.
The island itself was considerably large by the standards of the Human World, and Lev was quite satisfied with what he had received.
In truth, he hadn't expected Ichiryu to offer him an entire island. However, the arrangement came with one condition, which Lev had readily accepted without hesitation.
According to Ichiryu, he had personally trained four individuals and wanted Lev to provide them with additional training whenever he deemed it appropriate.
Lev immediately understood who Ichiryu was referring to.
The Four Heavenly Kings.
Even without Ichiryu explicitly naming them, Lev could easily guess their identities. After all, they were among the most prominent figures in this world's story, and he was eager to meet them in person.
In particular, he was interested in Toriko, whose body housed three Appetite Demons—an exceptionally unusual existence even by the standards of this world.
The Human World might not have the same abundance of extraordinary ingredients or the same brutal environment as the Gourmet World, but it certainly possessed its own share of fascinating mysteries.
And Lev intended to explore as many of them as possible.
"Master, will this be our territory from now on?" Shizuku suddenly asked, glancing around the island.
The place was remarkably quiet. Aside from the trees and various plants growing throughout the area, there didn't appear to be a single creature inhabiting the island.
"Yes. This island will be more than enough for us," Lev answered with a smile.
He surveyed the surrounding landscape before making his declaration.
"From this day forward, this island shall be known as Eternal Island—a sanctuary that will endure beyond the passage of time. A place of peace, timeless beauty, enduring love, and everlasting life!"
His voice rang across the island as though he were announcing its existence to the heavens themselves.
"Eternal Island..." Shizuku repeated, a smile spreading across her face. "I like that name, Master."
She genuinely liked the sound of it.
More than that, she secretly hoped that she, too, would live forever so she could remain by Lev's side and continue serving him for all eternity.
After all, what meaning would everlasting life have if she couldn't spend it with the person she had chosen to follow?
"For now, I think it's time to summon some new companions to join us in exploring the Human World," Lev remarked, a smile appearing on his face.
The power system of this world was exceptional. With so many fascinating abilities and powerful individuals waiting to be discovered, failing to take advantage of the opportunities available to him would be a waste.
However, Lev had no intention of using every Random Summoning Card he possessed. Each card was a valuable resource, and he wanted to reserve some for future opportunities.
Shizuku was momentarily surprised by his announcement, but her expression soon brightened.
She, too, was looking forward to seeing what kind of companions her master would summon this time.
With that, Lev opened his System panel and checked the number of Random Summoning Cards remaining in his inventory.
After confirming that he had enough to spare, he smiled.
"System, use forty-five Random Summoning Cards."
As for why he had chosen that particular number, the reason was rather simple.
He wanted to bring the total number of his summons in this world to fifty.
[45 Random Summoning Cards have been used.]
The moment the notification appeared, a gigantic magic circle materialized on the ground beneath them.
Brilliant light erupted from its intricate patterns, illuminating the entire island and casting long shadows across the surrounding landscape.
Lev and Shizuku watched as the summoning formation grew brighter, its radiance spreading farther and farther until the island was bathed in an overwhelming glow.
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the light began to fade.
One by one, the silhouettes of the newly summoned individuals emerged from within the formation.
Lev and Shizuku focused their attention on the figures before them, eager to discover who had answered their master's call.
Standing at the front of the newly summoned group, twenty small figures immediately caught Shizuku's attention.
She couldn't help but look at them in surprise.
They were dragons.
There were twenty of them in total, and each possessed the unmistakable appearance of a dragon. However, unlike the enormous and terrifying creatures she had encountered in the Gourmet World, these dragons looked incredibly young. Their small bodies and baby-like appearances made it difficult to imagine them becoming formidable creatures in the future.
Lev, on the other hand, wasn't one to judge a person—or a dragon—by appearance alone.
Rather than making assumptions based on their small stature, he immediately examined their status through his System. The moment he discovered their identities and origins, a smile slowly spread across his face.
So that's where you came from!
These dragons originated from a mobile game that had existed back on Earth: Dragon City.
It was a fantasy game in which players built a magical city across floating islands, collected and bred dragons, raised them from eggs, and trained them to battle other dragons. One of its most interesting features was the enormous variety of dragons available, each possessing distinct elements, characteristics, and abilities.
And now, twenty of those dragons had appeared before Lev.
Starting from the left, they were the Terra Dragon, Flame Dragon, Sea Dragon, Nature Dragon, Electric Dragon, Ice Dragon, Dark Dragon, Light Dragon, War Dragon, Pure Dragon, Legacy Dragon, Beautiful Dragon, Chaos Dragon, Emperor Penguin Dragon, Dreamland Dragon, Soul Dragon, Happy Dragon, Primal Dragon, Wind Dragon, and finally, the Time Dragon.
Each dragon represented a different aspect of existence, ranging from the fundamental elements of nature to cosmic forces, emotions, supernatural powers, and legendary concepts.
Their distinct typings made the group particularly valuable. With such a diverse collection of dragons, Lev couldn't help imagining the possibilities that lay ahead.
If I can breed them and establish their lineages, I might eventually be able to reproduce many of the dragon varieties that existed in the original game.
The thought alone brought a wider smile to his face.
After all, these twenty dragons weren't merely potential companions. They could become the foundation of an entire dragon population on Eternal Island, with future generations inheriting different combinations of traits and abilities.
"Shizuku, I think I've figured out what your responsibility will be," Lev said, turning toward his companion.
He gestured toward the twenty baby dragons.
"From now on, these little ones will be under your care. Find a suitable place on the island for them and make sure they settle in properly."
Lev made the decision without hesitation.
With twenty dragons available to them, they would no longer need to worry about finding suitable mounts for their travels. Each dragon could potentially serve as a mount once it had grown sufficiently strong, and their descendants might provide even more possibilities in the future.
Of course, their usefulness extended far beyond transportation.
Lev was already looking forward to discovering what these dragons could achieve as they grew and developed.
"Yes, Master! Leave them to me!" Shizuku replied with a smile.
She looked at the twenty baby dragons with newfound affection, already imagining how she would take care of them.
"If Tomoe were here, she would be delighted to meet them."
After all, Tomoe was a dragon herself. Given her nature and affinity for powerful creatures, Shizuku imagined that she would be particularly interested in these little ones.
Unfortunately, Tomoe was still in the Gourmet World, carrying out the responsibilities Lev had entrusted to her.
For the time being, Shizuku would have to look after the dragons herself.
Having settled their arrangements for the first group of summons, Lev shifted his attention toward the remaining individuals who had appeared on the island.
The moment he examined them, his smile widened even further.
Looks like luck is on my side today.
The remaining summons weren't ordinary individuals, either. Each of them came from a world where they were known for their own unique abilities, backgrounds, or accomplishments.
And judging by what he was seeing, Lev's latest summoning had turned out to be far more rewarding than he had initially expected.
Among the remaining summons, eight individuals immediately caught Lev's attention. Judging by their youthful appearances, they were still relatively young, and all eight originated from the world of 'Shokugeki no Soma'.
They were Akira Hayama, Satoshi Isshiki, Terunori Kuga, Ryo Kurokiba, Takumi Aldini, Eishi Tsukasa, Tosuke Megishima, and Somei Saito.
Each was an aspiring chef with distinct specialties, techniques, and approaches to culinary mastery. Although Lev wasn't particularly familiar with all of them, he understood that their presence could prove invaluable in a world where cooking was far more than an ordinary profession.
After all, this was the Gourmet World—or rather, the Human World connected to it—where ingredients could possess extraordinary properties, and the quality of a dish could depend on far more than conventional culinary techniques.
Lev couldn't help wondering how much these young chefs would grow after experiencing the ingredients and opportunities available in this world.
With their existing talents and the resources available here, I'm sure they'll improve at an astonishing rate. Given enough time, they might even establish names for themselves in the culinary world.
Satisfied with the possibilities, Lev shifted his attention to the next group of summons.
The moment he recognized their identities, his eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Unlike the previous group, these eight individuals weren't chefs.
They were fighters—and certainly not ordinary ones.
In their original world, they were known as Superhumans, individuals whose extraordinary physical abilities and combat prowess set them apart from ordinary people.
They were Burmester Casanova, Maxim Basilov, Nan Gi, Shigehira, Hao Ran, Alexander Kallen, Ali Salma, and Louis Liota.
All eight came from the world of 'Superhuman Era', and each possessed incredible fighting capabilities.
Lev had actually been interested in visiting their world himself. The opportunity to explore a setting filled with powerful superhumans and experience their abilities firsthand had appealed to him for quite some time.
However, seeing these individuals standing before him made that trip seem unnecessary for the moment.
After all, some of the very people he had wanted to encounter had now arrived on his island instead.
"Hmm. Eight aspiring chefs and eight Superhumans..." Lev murmured thoughtfully as he looked between the two groups. "I don't think this is a coincidence. Interesting."
He had noticed a possible pattern in the System's latest summons. Two groups of eight individuals, each sharing a common origin and a distinct area of expertise, had appeared together.
It was certainly worth thinking about.
Nevertheless, Lev decided not to dwell on the matter for now. He could investigate the circumstances behind their arrival later.
For the moment, there were still more summons to examine.
Lev turned his attention toward the next group, but the moment he recognized the individuals standing before him, the excitement on his face became far more pronounced than it had been for the previous two groups.
These newcomers were on an entirely different level.
They weren't merely talented chefs or formidable fighters.
They were Gods in their respective worlds.
Lev's gaze settled on the four individuals standing side by side, and his smile widened as he prepared to examine their identities.
The four individuals were Hermes and Brahm from the world of 'Second Life Ranker', alongside Dionysus and Hephaestus from 'Leveling with the Gods'.
This time, Lev genuinely felt as though he had hit the jackpot, especially when he examined the latter. His presence alone made his latest summoning feel incredibly worthwhile.
As he studied their status information, his interest lingered on their abilities and potential for quite some time. Eventually, however, he shifted his attention toward the final five individuals he had summoned.
A different smile appeared on his face.
Unlike the previous groups, these five women came from different worlds, each bringing her own unique abilities and experiences.
The first was Nico Robin from the world of 'One Piece'.
After examining her closely, Lev concluded that he had summoned a version of Robin from sometime after the two-year timeskip. He couldn't help admiring her appearance. In his opinion, Nico Robin was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women in her world, if not among the countless women he had encountered across the boundless cosmos.
The second was a slender, athletic woman of above-average height with a fair complexion and shoulder-length blonde hair. The exact shade varied between golden blonde and platinum, and her hair parted near her left temple before being tucked neatly behind her ear.
She was none other than Android 18 from the world of 'Dragon Ball Z'.
The third woman possessed a slender, youthful appearance, with black hair and blue eyes. She wore a traditional kimono secured with an obi, which concealed much of her figure. Her long hair was arranged in a thick braid that fell down the front of her body.
She was Retsu Unohana from the world of 'Bleach'.
The fourth was an attractive young woman with gray eyes and blonde hair styled in a bob cut. Though relatively short, she possessed a slender yet well-developed physique. She wore red-themed armor suitable for combat and carried a black sword with a silver hilt.
Everything about her gave the impression of a seasoned fighter.
She was Cha Hae-In from the world of 'Solo Leveling'.
Finally, there was the woman who surprised Lev the most.
She possessed a serious expression and strikingly long purple hair. Her attire consisted of a black, strapless, bra-like top, gray cargo pants, and black boots.
The moment Lev recognized her identity, his eyes widened slightly.
She was Lee Sujin from the world of 'The God of High School'.
Looking at the five women once more, Lev couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha! What a haul!"
He had initially believed that using his Random Summoning Cards might yield some worthwhile companions. However, the results had far exceeded his expectations.
For a moment, he even considered using his remaining Random Class Cards and other valuable cards to see what else he might obtain.
But after giving it some thought, he decided against it.
Those cards were precious resources, and wasting them recklessly would be foolish. He would save them for another opportunity, preferably when he managed to obtain another Lucky Card.
For now, he was more than satisfied with the companions he had acquired.
"Welcome, everyone!" Lev greeted them with a warm smile.
Upon hearing his words, the newly summoned individuals returned his greeting one after another. The only ones seemingly unconcerned with the introductions were the twenty baby dragons, who were already busy playing with one another nearby.
After the initial greetings, Lev began explaining the world they had arrived in, including the nature of the Gourmet Age, the extraordinary ingredients found throughout the Human World and Gourmet World, and the dangers posed by the creatures inhabiting them.
Everyone listened attentively, each trying to absorb the unfamiliar information.
Once Lev finished his explanation, he encouraged them to introduce themselves and exchange information about their respective worlds. Since they would be working together from now on, understanding one another was an important first step toward building a cohesive group.
Meanwhile, Shizuku quietly observed the newcomers.
Although she maintained a relaxed expression, her attention was particularly focused on four individuals: Hermes, Brahm, Dionysus, and Hephaestus.
There was something unusual about them.
She could sense a distinct presence emanating from their bodies, something that felt different from the power possessed by ordinary humans. It was a sensation she could only describe as divinity.
Are these four really gods?
Her gaze then shifted toward Lee Sujin.
Unlike the others, Lee Sujin also seemed to possess something resembling that same divine quality, although Shizuku couldn't quite determine its exact nature.
I wonder how strong they are.
Shizuku studied them for another moment before eventually turning her attention back to the baby dragons.
The little creatures were still running around and playing with one another, seemingly oblivious to the conversations taking place nearby.
Watching them, Shizuku couldn't help smiling.
She had no idea what these dragons would eventually become, but she looked forward to raising them and watching them grow.
After all, they were now under her care.
With the introductions and explanations finally concluded, Lev spent the remainder of the day getting acquainted with his newly summoned companions and giving them sufficient time to process their unexpected arrival in an entirely different world.
Naturally, the day wouldn't have been complete without a grand banquet.
Using the extraordinary ingredients that he acquired from the Gourmet World, Lev personally prepared a magnificent feast for everyone. The newcomers eagerly sampled the dishes, quickly discovering that the ingredients here were unlike anything they had encountered in their original worlds.
The flavors, textures, and richness of each dish left many of them astonished.
And for the first time since arriving on Eternal Island, they had the opportunity to experience the culinary skills of their new master firsthand.
As the banquet continued, laughter and conversation filled the island.
For Lev, it was a satisfying end to a remarkably fruitful day.
He had acquired new companions, established the beginnings of his own community, and taken his first steps toward building something extraordinary in the Human World.
And this was only the beginning.