An abstract trainer who taught Charmander the Incinerate move

Chapter 264 An Unexpected Champion, Mo Zhen's Spirit of Fairness! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Cattleya's violet eyes, which seemed perpetually sleepy, suddenly widened, and she was as if struck head-on by a lightning bolt of intertwined purple emotions, abruptly leaping up from her slumped throne!

Her stunning face was instantly filled with an almost exaggerated expression of shock, her small mouth agape into an "O" shape, big enough to fit a Poké Ball!

The languid, noble, and disdainful demeanor of Sleeping Beauty that she had previously displayed was completely gone, replaced by an extreme sense of awe as if she had discovered a universal truth!

"This...this isn't freezing! This is...this is..."

She spoke incoherently, her slender fingers trembling as she pointed at the still-chilly dish, her voice sharp and off-key from extreme agitation.

"It's ice! It's ice! Ice!!! Oh my god, it's so sweet!!!"

She suddenly covered her cheeks, her body trembling violently as if electrocuted. An excited flush rose beneath her fair skin, as if countless ice crystals were joyfully rushing and leaping in her veins!
"Ice Sovereign Force! It's real! The ultimate technique of the ancient ice-elemental culinary god! It truly exists!!!"

Caldelia was so excited she almost fainted. The number on her scoreboard jumped wildly before finally settling on 98 points!
The whole place was dead silent!

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the score, then suddenly turned to Hachiku, who had a calm expression, and finally all turned to Mo Zhen on the stage, who also had a "shocked" expression.

"The Ice Venerable Force... is it really that terrifying?!"

Mo Zhen gasped sharply, clutching his chest with his right hand, as if he could feel the bone-chilling cold and despair that Xiao Huolong felt when he was frozen by the Ice Venerable Gu Jianbao in the novel.

For the first time, a violent tremor appeared in Naz's icy blue eyes.

She looked incredulously at Cattleya, who was so excited she was almost fainting, and then at the unremarkable bowl of [Ice King's Delight Cuisine].

As proud as she was, she would never believe in the nonsense about some ancient culinary god, but Cattleya's exaggerated reaction did not seem fake.

She snorted coldly, used her superpower to wrap a small spoonful of food, and put it into her mouth with utmost scrutiny.

Just as she was about to launch into a sharp critique with a furrowed brow, Mo Zhen on stage gave her a resolute look and fiercely flirted with Na Zi!

Naza's delicate body trembled violently, and her icy face melted and turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye!
Mo Zhen's gaze was like the most precise mental telepathy, instantly shattering all her reason and doubts!
"Ah~!"

She let out a short, sweet gasp, instinctively bringing her legs together, her fingers lightly touching her red lips, her eyes flashing with an infatuated and fiery light, instantly switching into the mode of Mo Zhen's number one brainless fan.

"This... this cold exterior actually contains such a hot and pure delicious energy! It's like... like Mr. Mo Zhen's writing, cold and sharp yet burning the heart! This ultimate experience of ice and fire... this is absolutely the highest level of culinary skill! 91 points! Without a doubt!"

She practically shouted out the score, and the scoreboard, manipulated by her superpowers, slammed down, displaying [91]!
Then she gazed at Mo Zhen with her large, affectionate eyes, filled with adoration and possessiveness, as if the dish was delicious because of him.

Master Shaka frowned deeply, his huge hand picked up the small bowl, and with a bold gesture as if drinking wine, he tilted his head back and poured the entire bowl of food into his mouth!

"Gu——!!!"

His massive body froze instantly, as if he had been struck head-on by the legendary Kyurem's frozen world, his muscles bulging and veins popping out!

The next second, he suddenly opened his eyes, and a terrifying light burst forth from them, just like when the Double-Axe War Dragon used its Reverse Scale!

"Roar! Ro ...

Shaka let out a deafening roar, the sound so loud it made the ceiling of the venue vibrate.

"Awesome!!! This bone-chilling, soul-piercing impact! And then the explosion of intense sweetness that seems to tear your taste buds apart! This ultimate clash of ice and fire! It's like fighting the legendary dragon king Kyurem for three hundred rounds! Absolutely exhilarating! 95 points!!"

Finally, everyone's attention focused on Mo Zhen.

His expression was extremely solemn, as if he were about to taste not a dish, but the weight of an entire era.

He picked up the spoon, his wrist trembling slightly, and scooped up a spoonful extremely slowly, as if performing some kind of sacred ritual, before gently putting it into his mouth.

The moment he entered the mouth, he felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, staggering backward. The color drained from his face instantly, leaving him with an expression of disbelief and shock!

"Ugh—!"

He let out a short cry of pain, covered his forehead with his right hand, and swayed. Just like Xiao Huolong in the novel who was hit by the Ice Venerable Force, he fell straight backward!

"Mr. Mo Zhen!!!"

Nazi exclaimed in surprise, her figure blurred instantly, and the next moment she appeared on the stage, kneeling on the ground, and without hesitation reached out to support Mo Zhen's falling body.

That stunningly beautiful face was filled with unprecedented panic. She pouted her delicate red lips and was about to give Mo Zhen artificial respiration without any regard for the consequences!
"Stop!"

Mo Zhen suddenly opened her eyes, quickly and firmly blocking Nazi's lips from touching hers with one hand, and braced herself with the other hand as she stood up again, somewhat disheveled.

He straightened the crooked collar of his red suit, his face a complex mix of emotions: shock, reminiscence, struggle, and finally, the composure and fairness of an artist.

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the silent audience below, then back to the expressionless Hachiku. His voice, slightly hoarse but incredibly clear, traveled through the microphone throughout the venue.

"I, Mo Zhen, do have some differences of opinion, or even disputes, with Mr. Hachiku and Xiba Catering."

He paused, as if he had made a great decision, and continued.

"But art is pure! Taste is impartial! I must not tarnish this supreme culinary duel because of my personal likes or dislikes!"

He suddenly raised his hand, pointing to the empty, crackled porcelain bowl, his voice rising abruptly, filled with the fervor and awe of an artist facing a miracle.

"This dish! The 'Ice King' power it contains! It has transcended the realm of taste! This is revolutionary! It is a groundbreaking work of art! This extreme cold, this burst of life force after breaking through the barrier in an instant, I would give it 91 points! It deserves this score!"

quiet!
Deathly silence!

Suddenly, the entire venue exploded like a boiling cauldron!

"A complete reversal! An incredible reversal!!!"

"Ice Venerable Strength! It's true! Master Hachiku is a descendant of the ancient culinary god!"

“98+91+95+91！总分375！碾压了三只猴，天呐！”

"Master Mo Zhen! He is so fair! Is this what a virtuous and talented veteran artist is like?!"

"Which bastard just said that Master Mo Zhen was involved in some shady dealings? I'll fuck your sister! He's a true master of art!"

Exclamations, uproar, discussions, and apologies swept through every corner like a tsunami!
Everyone was stunned and their scalp tingled by this dramatic scene!

In a corner of the crowd, Dou Ye, who had been chattering incessantly and sarcastically about "pre-arranged deals," was completely dumbfounded and speechless. His face burned as if he had been slapped hard by an invisible hand.

Douzi, standing next to him, was so angry that her eyebrows shot up. She slapped Douye hard across the face with her backhand, making a crisp "smack" sound!

"Useless! Look! Look! This is how you judge a gentleman by your own petty standards! Master Mo Zhen is so upright and his art is so sublime! How dare you slander him?! Now get back and write a self-criticism!"

Douzi pointed at his younger brother's nose and cursed angrily, then his expression changed instantly. He held his hands to his heart and looked at the radiant Mo Zhen on the stage with starry eyes.

"Director Mo! We're so sorry! We misunderstood you! You are the true God of Cookery! The embodiment of justice!"

Amidst the clamor, Hachiku remained with his arms crossed, only a barely perceptible, cold smile playing on his lips.

Double the amount of ice swirls slowly around him, radiating the chilling aura of a victor. On the judges' panel, Gadriya remains immersed in the ultimate experience brought by the "Ice Supreme Force," her eyes glazed over.

Nazi didn't care about the score at all; she just stared at Mo Zhen intently.

Shaka stroked his beard and laughed heartily, delighted with the scene.

Mo Zhen, standing in the center of the stage, bathed in various shocked, admiring, and incredulous gazes, gently adjusted his red suit, revealing a calm smile on his face that was unique to artists who had stayed true to themselves and kept their achievements hidden.

The final outcome of the God of Cookery competition came to a conclusion in a way that no one could have predicted.

Frozen, pre-cooked dishes have achieved a stunning reversal of traditional, soulful cooking.

The spotlight cascaded down like a golden waterfall, firmly fixing on the tall, pine-like figure in the center of the stage.

Hachiku was still wearing his spotless blue kung fu uniform, but the coldness in his eyes had been replaced by a calmness and humility that came with experience.

The "God of Cookery" badge awarded to him by the conference shone brightly under the strong light.

At this moment, he pressed his hands down lightly, and only after the tsunami-like cheers from the audience subsided slightly did he slowly speak.

"Gentlemen, thank you for your kindness. At this moment, standing at the pinnacle of glory, I, Hachiku, feel only gratitude."

He bowed slightly, performing a standard martial arts salute, his movements fluid and powerful.

"First of all, I must thank my partner Double Ice, it is its extreme cold power that allows the essence of 'Ice Supreme Force' to be perfectly presented."

He turned to the side and nodded to the Double Plus Ice beside him, which exuded a chilling aura. A hint of pride seemed to flash across the latter's face, which was made of ice crystals.

He paused, his gaze piercing through the dazzling lights and layers of people, finally locking onto Mo Zhen, who sat on the judges' panel with an expression of "deeply hidden merit and fame."

At this moment, Hachiku's eyes became incredibly complex, filled with admiration, gratitude, and even a hint of mutual respect as a worthy opponent.

"And the person I want to thank the most is Mr. Mo Zhen! It was his thunderous doubts and challenges that, like a cold mirror, revealed my shortcomings and completely ignited my fighting spirit!"

He raised his voice, each word resounding.

"It was he who made me re-examine the ice-based recipes passed down from my ancestors, forcing me to calm down, abandon all impetuosity and shortcuts, return to the essence of the kitchen, and delve into, refine, and truly awaken the true power of the [Ice Sovereign Force], the profound mystery that slumbered in the ancient ice-based recipes!"

He clenched his fist, gazing at Mo Zhen's figure, his tone sincere and earnest.

"Without Mr. Mo Zhen's 'sharp wake-up call,' I wouldn't be standing here today, having truly mastered the profound meaning of 'Ice Venerable Force'! This honor belongs to him!"

As his voice grew more impassioned, the logo of Xiba Catering appeared on the large screen behind him, his tone filled with a determination to create a new era.

"Therefore, I hereby solemnly announce! From this day forward, I, Hachiku, will, in the name of the God of Cookery, unreservedly incorporate all the 'Ice Supreme Power' culinary skills I have learned throughout my life into every dish of Xiba Restaurant! We want every diner in the Unova region, and even the world, who pursues the ultimate in delicious food, to be able to personally taste this supreme art of intertwining freezing and explosive flavors at Xiba Restaurant! Let the deliciousness of 'Ice Supreme Power' sweep the globe!"

This resounding declaration was like throwing a block of ice into a pot of boiling oil, instantly igniting an even more explosive cheer from the entire audience!
"Ohh ...

Below the stage, countless spectators were so excited that their faces were flushed, and they waved their arms with all their might.

Those who had previously held up signs saying "Boycott pre-made food" had now trampled their signs underfoot and joined the sea of ​​cheers.

"This is so dramatic! Who would have thought! What was supposed to be a crackdown on counterfeits turned into a place of triumph and legendary success!"

Carlos's frontline reporter, Pansy, passionately reports into the camera, her face radiating the excitement of witnessing history.

"Master Mo Zhen's attack on Xiba has forced Hachiku to reveal his ultimate trump card! The Food God Competition has an endless series of plot twists and turns, and the excitement level is even higher than that of 'Battle Through the Heavens'!"

A middle-aged woman sitting in front of the television wiped away tears of emotion, her voice choked with sobs.

"I knew Teacher Hachiku wasn't that kind of person! I've been watching his movies for twenty years, and I've always known that his eyes are incredibly innocent. How could he possibly be a bad guy!"

She slapped the man's thigh next to her and made a firm decision.

"What pre-made dishes? Those are just necessary steps on the path to the 'Ice Venerable Strength' divine skill! Now that the divine skill is mastered, it's like turning the rotten into the miraculous! From now on, our family gatherings will only be served at Xiba!"

Nie Zi, from the Delicious Desert, looked puzzled and asked Homiga, who had come from the Union.

"Hey, Little White Hair, is the fast food there really that outrageous?"

Homiga was also very excited, but then he said with some doubt.

"Well... I don't know either! Anyway, when I came here, Master Hachiku hadn't even started researching the Ice Venerable Force yet. Maybe it's because times have changed?"

César Duro Gattuso, sitting in the audience, had a thoughtful look on his face.

"Ice Venerable Force sounds pretty awesome! I wonder if eating it will allow me to learn ice-type moves? Even just increasing my dragon-type army's ice resistance would be great! Otherwise, it would be a real shame if I fell into the hands of the Tundra Bear one day... I have to go check it out!"

On the other side, the naive young girl Riko cupped her hands around her heart and looked at the composed Mo Zhen on the judges' panel with starry eyes.

"Master Mo Zhen is truly... amazing! Despite his past conflict with Hachiku, he still managed to give the fairest evaluation during the competition! What a noble artistic integrity! This is the true demeanor of a veteran artist! I love it!"

In a corner of the crowd, Dou Ye's face burned, as if he had been slapped a dozen times by an invisible hand.

His lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time, shrinking his neck in an attempt to minimize his presence.

Douzi, standing next to him, excitedly slapped his thigh and cheered loudly for Mo Zhen on the stage.

"See that?! That's what you call vision! Master Mo Zhen and Master Hachiku, this is a case of becoming friends after a fight, heroes respecting heroes!"

From then on, the dramatic feud between Mo Zhen and Hachiku quickly transcended the match itself, becoming a popular and widely discussed story in the Unova region and beyond.

Discussions about it can be seen everywhere—in pubs, on forums, and on social media.

"Hey, have you heard? What about Mo Zhen and Hachiku's affair?"

"How could I not have heard? Master Mo Zhen, wow, what a paragon of virtue and talent! He started the dispute himself, but at the crucial moment he was able to uphold the fairness and bottom line of an artist, and withstood the pressure to give his opponent the highest praise! Such magnanimity, such character, no wonder he is famous all over the world!"

"Master Hatchku has had a tough journey! From being the king of pre-made meals, who was doubted by everyone, to now achieving legendary status through his true talent and ancestral secret techniques! This is a true story of rebirth and inspiration!"

"Shame spurred them to action, and through dedicated study, they ultimately achieved remarkable success! That's so inspiring!"

Some self-media outlets even started compiling gossip articles about the capital city, such as "A Song of Ice and Fire: The Love-Hate Relationship Between Mo Zhen and Hachiku" and "From Rival to Confidant: On the Common Pursuit of Artists and Chefs," which garnered excellent traffic.

Mo Zhenna's image as a "fair and just old artist" has become increasingly lofty and radiant, and his novels and music videos have once again become popular.

Meanwhile, Hachiku completely shed its stigma of "technology and ruthless skills" and was given the dazzling labels of "inheritor of traditional secret techniques" and "model of comeback". Xiba Catering's stock price soared and branches sprang up everywhere.

This remarkable story has become the most beautiful testament to "art," "persistence," and "fairness" in this era, bringing a legendary and happy end to this grand competition for the title of God of Cookery.

however……

Is this really the truth?
Unbeknownst to everyone, this seemingly inspiring and righteous story also has a dark, untold side...

(End of this chapter)