Morning came too fast. Lin Feng hadn't slept well. Not because of nerves—but because the flame duck had snored like a dying forge all night, occasionally spitting out embers that lit his blanket on fire.
"Why do I feel like I'm sharing a tent with a cursed toaster?" he groaned, slapping out a tiny flame on his sleeve.
The duck squawked innocently, then waddled outside to bask in the morning sun like royalty.
---
Round Two Begins
The second round of the Culinary Tournament was announced with the kind of flair normally reserved for royal executions.
"Contestants, welcome to The Elemental Cook-Off!" the announcer shouted. "Today, you must cook using only elemental techniques! Fire, wind, water, earth—and no stoves allowed!"
Lin Feng blinked. "So, just... air-bending my food into shape?"
A contestant nearby grinned and summoned a tornado of knives.
"Neat," Lin Feng muttered. "Totally not terrifying."
The duck huffed a flame into the air and looked ready to fight anything that moved—including vegetables.
---
Enter the Noodle Avenger
Across the arena, a figure descended from the sky on a coil of enchanted noodles, wearing a chef's robe embroidered with golden dumplings and a face mask shaped like a wonton.
"I am the Noodle Avenger," the figure said solemnly. "My blades are gluten. My justice—saucy."
Lin Feng stared. "Are you serious right now?"
The Avenger struck a martial pose. Noodles spun around him like deadly whips.
"Oh, he's serious."
A gong rang out. The battle began.
---
Cooking with Chaos
Lin Feng, unable to summon wind or water or literally anything useful, turned to his one constant: the duck.
"Okay, buddy. It's you and me against carb-based justice."
The duck responded by belching a controlled jet of flame, which Lin Feng expertly redirected into a floating pan of ingredients suspended in mid-air by a repurposed levitation talisman.
He started preparing: a layered curry-sauté with flaming lotus root, wind-whisked egg foam, and a chili glaze hot enough to open the sixth chakra.
"Careful not to incinerate the arena this time," he muttered.
---
The Noodle War
The Noodle Avenger spun toward him like a pasta-powered hurricane. Noodles lashed out in perfect spirals, slicing through air and nearly toppling Lin Feng's floating wok.
"I cook with honor!" the Avenger shouted.
"I cook with trauma and caffeine!" Lin Feng shouted back, flinging a handful of chili dust at him.
The duck launched itself into the fray like a flaming cannonball, slamming into the Avenger's noodle cyclone.
A sizzling CRACK echoed through the arena as half the noodles exploded into sparks. The duck spun out, dazed but proud, feathers slightly charred.
"That's my fireball," Lin Feng said, flipping his wok dramatically.
---
The Taste Test
Judges floated back in, scorched and wary.
Lin Feng presented his dish:
Floating Fire Curry with Wind-Seared Lotus Crisp and Elemental Chili Mist.
The first judge took a bite and began glowing softly.
"Is... is he ascending?" someone whispered.
The second judge tasted it and promptly slapped himself. "I can feel my past mistakes evaporating."
The third tasted it, paused, and whispered, "I once betrayed a man for lesser food."
---
Decision Time
The announcer drew in a breath.
"And the winner of Round Two is—LIN FENG!"
The crowd erupted. The duck released a victory flame.
The Noodle Avenger staggered over. "You fight well," he said. "One day... we shall boil again."
Lin Feng nodded. "Next time, bring rice."
---
Backstage Trouble
As Lin Feng made his way to the contestant tents, a hush fell over the alleyway behind the arena. He paused. The duck stopped mid-strut, tail feathers twitching.
Then he heard it—sizzling oil.
He turned. A cloaked chef stood at a mobile fryer, eyes hidden, voice low.
"You've drawn too much attention."
Lin Feng frowned. "Are you here to threaten me... or offer snacks?"
A blade made of oil shot toward him. Lin Feng ducked (no pun intended), and the duck launched itself in retaliation, wings flaming.
The assassin hissed. "They won't let you win, Lin Feng. You're not one of them."
Before Lin Feng could respond, the figure vanished into steam.
He stared at the fading silhouette, then at the duck. "Great. Now I've got deep-frying assassins after me."
The duck crackled darkly and pecked his leg.
---