[Manila — Earth — 5:34 p.m. 2051]
(a.k.a. "The Great Crunch Heist Reheated")
[Opening Broadcast — The Flavor Network | Earth Feed Rebooted]
The hologram of Arin Sol blares across Manila again.
"WE'RE BACK! COOKING TO SAVE TASTE ITSELF!"
Every TV, tricycle radio, and sari-sari hologlass flickers.
Lira just facepalms on live broadcast.
Manny's already oiling his gloves.
Ewan's holding a plate.
Announcer Droid: "ROUND ONE — REPAY THE FLAVOR DEBT.
INGREDIENT TARGET: THE LECHON CORE OF PLANET CHICHARONA.
WARNING: OBJECT IS UNDER ACTIVE ROAST."
THE ASCENT
They arrive above a planet shaped like a spinning roasted pig—an entire world rotating on a spit over magma vents.
Clouds of steam rise from the oceans of sarsa.
Lira gags. "It smells like fiesta and cholesterol."
Arin, beaming: "So… heaven."
Manny squints through the smoke. "Where's the Core?"
Ewan: "Probably inside the crispy part."
They land near the base—where fat waterfalls pour into rivers of oil.
Every few seconds, the mountain's skin crackles.
THE LECHON MOUNTAIN
A crater opens halfway up the slope—revealing layers of meat and skin fossilized into cliffs.
Locals call it Mount Baboy Majora, the "Pig That Wouldn't Stop Celebrating."
The group gears up in heat-resistant aprons.
Arin straps the Quantum Knife to his hip. "Okay, team: dig through, grab the Lechon Core, don't drown in flavor."
Lira: "That's not a real plan."
Arin: "It is if you believe in seasoning."
THE MEAT CAVERNS
They enter through a crispy tunnel.
The air pops. The floor oozes gravy.
Every sound echoes like crackling pork skin.
Ewan keeps sneaking bites off the walls.
Manny smacks his hand. "Stop eating the architecture!"
Ewan mumbles, "But it's so tender…"
Deeper inside—pressure builds.
Oil geysers erupt, caramelizing mid-air.
Arin slides down a ridge shouting, "Surf's up—sa mantika!"
They find a massive chamber glowing gold.
In the center: the Lechon Core—a glimmering orb wrapped in hardened skin, rotating slowly on a bone-spit thicker than a bus.
THE CRUNCH TRIAL
As Arin steps closer, the walls rumble.
Two giant Lechon Guardians rise—half-pig, half-chef statue—each wielding skewers like lances.
"ONLY THE ONE WHO HONORS CRISPNESS MAY CLAIM THE CORE!"
Manny cracks his knuckles. "Crispness? I was born crispy."
He dives forward, punching one guardian square in the snout—sending a shockwave of breadcrumbs.
Arin leaps, carving a spiral in mid-air.
"Vinegar Form — Balat Break Cut!"
The Quantum Knife hums, slicing through molten pork rind.
The Core trembles, releasing a blast of golden steam.
Lira yells, "The fat's destabilizing—pressure rising!"
Arin grins. "Then we cook it faster!"
THE COOKING
They haul the glowing chunk to the shuttle-kitchen perched on the crater rim.
The surface still sizzles; every cut sings like fireworks.
Arin tosses in calamansi concentrate, twin-sun salt, and star anise from the Spice Underground.
Manny pounds the meat rhythmically with boxing punches.
Ewan taste-tests every ten seconds "for science."
Lira shouts times and temperatures like a field commander.
Oil sprays. Flames spiral.
It looks like chaos, smells like fiesta.
Finally—silence.
They plate the Lechon Core Deluxe: crisp skin, molten fat, cosmic rice on banana-leaf plating.
THE TASTE TEST
The Federation judges appear via hologram.
One bites.
Immediate tears.
Another faints.
A third whispers, "It tastes like my grandmother's forgiveness."
Arin leans in, smirk ready. "So… ayos ba?"
Judge nods. "Ayos. Dangerously ayos."
THE AFTERTASTE
The salt-shaker official returns.
"Flavor Debt reduced by 0.0002%. Congratulations."
Lira collapses. "We're doomed."
Manny punches the air. "Then we'll just cook harder."
Ewan burps. "Worth it."
Arin stares at the molten horizon.
"Next ingredient… the Volcano of Infinite Miki. Let's make history—or at least lunch."
The camera pans out: beneath Lechon Mountain, a massive heartbeat of flavor echoes once more… something still cooking.
TO BE CONTINUED — Chapter 2: "THE VOLCANO OF INFINITE MIKI."