Morning arrived peacefully over the Veyris Empire.
Birds flew through floating gardens.
Crystal rivers sparkled beneath golden skies.
Everything was calm.
Everything was normal.
Then one sentence changed reality.
Ignisia crossed her arms and looked around the palace.
Kael does a lot for everyone.
She nodded once.
...I'm cooking for him today.
Silence.
Lilith looked up slowly.
...Cooking?
Morrigan blinked.
Universe Tree tilted her head.
Ashvattha stared.
Luxryth Solaris froze.
Aurelia Pyrestar nearly dropped her drink.
Even distant stars seemed to stop moving.
Then Umbryssia smirked.
Oh?
Abyssia narrowed her eyes.
A competition?
Suddenly.
everyone stood.
I'll cook too.
Me too.
Absolutely not losing.
Challenge accepted.
Far away.
Kael suddenly stopped walking.
...Why do I feel danger?
Inside the Imperial Kitchen.
chaos had already begun.
Absolute chaos.
Fire magic.
Ice magic.
Dragon flames.
Nature energy.
Cosmic particles.
Soul energy.
Reality stabilization barriers.
Emergency anti-explosion shields.
Everything activated at once.
Ashvattha calmly created beautiful dishes made from glowing fruits and heavenly herbs.
Everything looked elegant.
Everything smelled amazing.
Universe Tree used leaves and celestial flowers to create food that looked almost too beautiful to eat.
Morrigan quietly worked with perfect precision.
Meanwhile.
Ignisia stared at burning dragon fire surrounding a pan.
...More flames.
Someone behind her shouted:
LESS FLAMES!
Too late.
A fire dragon exploded from the oven.
Elsewhere.
Aurelia accidentally added fire enhancement magic.
The soup gained consciousness.
The soup looked around.
...I HAVE BEEN BORN.
Everyone stared.
Aurelia stared back.
...I can explain.
Luxryth Solaris confidently smiled while cooking.
This should be perfect.
Five seconds later.
small suns began floating around her food.
Lilith slowly backed away.
...Why are there stars forming?
Luxryth looked concerned.
...There should not be stars forming.
Umbryssia created dark royal cuisine.
It looked beautiful.
Very beautiful.
Then shadows began moving around the plate.
...Why is the food staring at me?
someone asked.
No questions.
Umbryssia replied immediately.
Then came the worst decision of the day.
Wukong walked inside.
...What's happening?
Everyone turned.
Slowly.
Wukong's smile disappeared.
...No.
Ignisia smiled.
Perfect.
Lilith smiled.
You're helping.
One hour later.
Wukong sat at a table surrounded by food.
Mountains of food.
Entire civilizations of food.
...I don't want this responsibility.
Taste test number one:
Ashvattha.
Wukong took a bite.
Paused.
Tears formed.
...That's beautiful.
Taste test number two:
Universe Tree.
Wukong froze.
Flowers suddenly bloomed around him.
Birds appeared.
Butterflies surrounded him.
...Why do I hear nature music?
Taste test number three:
Aurelia.
Wukong took one spoonful.
Instantly his hair caught fire.
"WATER!"
Taste test number four:
Luxryth.
Wukong blinked.
Tiny stars began orbiting around his head.
...Why am I becoming a galaxy?!
Taste test number five:
Ignisia.
Wukong stared at the food.
The food stared back.
...Why is it growling?
Ignisia looked nervous.
...Maybe I used too much dragon flame.
Hours later.
Kael finally entered.
He looked around.
Destroyed walls.
Smoke.
Emergency barriers.
Wukong laying face-down on the floor.
Tiny stars spinning around his head.
Leaves growing from his shoulders.
Hair still smoking.
Kael blinked once.
...What happened?
Wukong slowly raised one hand dramatically.
...Emperor...
Long pause.
...I fought bravely.
The entire room exploded into laughter.
And somewhere deep inside the Empire's records.
this day would later become officially known as:
The Great Kitchen Disaster Incident