"Clear hoofbeats… It sounds like they're right next to us. What's going on?"
Biotope 0.
At that moment, nearly all members of IGO's Biotope 0—aside from the injured Chin Chinchin—had gathered there. The war between IGO and the Gourmet Corp was about to begin.
But just as the meeting was underway, the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the air.
The 'Horse King's Respond' was a legend even within the Bewitching Food World. There was no way the younger generation would recognize it.
"I once read a record regarding the Bewitching Food World," Ichiryu said. "According to legend, when a new Horse King is born, a resounding set of hoofbeats echoes across the entire world. Everyone can hear it. It's called The Horse King's Response."
"This sound means a new king has been born in Area 8."
Because Ichiryu had studied countless records about the Gourmet World, he had naturally gone through the archives on Area 8 as well.
"The Horse King's Response? A new Horse King was born?"
Some of them were still stunned.
"A new Horse King? But if I remember correctly, for one to be born, an enormous amount of air is required. Even if you drained all the air from Area 8, it still wouldn't be enough!"
Yosaku frowned. As someone who had researched the Eight Kings' species, he knew the conditions required for the Horse King to give birth. They were absurdly harsh.
"That's right. The Horse King needs an immense amount of air to produce offspring. But what if it's AIR? Don't forget—AIR contains a terrifying volume of air. More than enough for the Horse King to give birth."
Ichiryu's expression darkened.
He was close with the three chefs among the Red Nitro. While he didn't know the exact cooking process for AIR, he did understand what would happen if it succeeded—or failed.
According to the Red Nitro's research, if AIR was successfully prepared, the air inside wouldn't be released.
But if it failed, the air trapped inside would burst out in massive quantities.
So the birth of a young Horse King meant there had been sufficient air.
Enough air meant the air inside AIR had been released.
Which meant—
The preparation of AIR had failed.
And that was what he couldn't understand.
AIR shouldn't have ripened yet. There was still time before it matured. No one should have been able to cook it.
Unless…
Someone had deliberately sabotaged it and triggered the release.
The eight ingredients were crucial to everyone.
"Meeting adjourned for now," Ichiryu said firmly. "The war with the Gourmet Corp is suspended. However, they won't stop targeting chefs, so the Cooking Festival still needs protection. The rest of you, stand by."
He intended to personally investigate what had happened to AIR.
If AIR had gone wrong, everything else would follow.
He still hadn't uncovered the truth about Acacia, but one thing was certain—
If even one of the eight ingredients was missing, the Gourmet Demon could not fully revive.
—
At the Gourmet Corp headquarters, Midora heard the hoofbeats as well.
He might have been a hands-off boss, but he had his own information channels.
Not as extensive as Ichiryu's—but enough to know about the kings.
He immediately understood.
Something had gone wrong with AIR in Area 8.
If even one ingredient was compromised, all their prior preparations would be meaningless.
Midora halted the confrontation with IGO and headed to Area 8 alone.
He needed answers.
—
On Area 6, Jiji heard the hoofbeats too.
Even though they lived inside one of the Seven Beasts, the Giant Shell, the sound still reached them.
"That's impossible… A new Horse King was born? That means something happened to AIR!"
Jiji's mind reeled.
He knew part of the Blue Nitro's plan.
But if AIR was gone, everything changed.
The Blue Nitro never did Stockpiling. They believed that since AIR ripened once every several hundred years, they could simply capture it again when the time came.
They had never bothered to preserve a backup.
If AIR was lost—
The ones who would least want to see this were the Blue Nitro.
Jiji felt as if all the plans were unraveling before his eyes.
But there was nothing he could do.
With the Don Slime protecting them, he was safe here.
The moment he left and ran into the Blue Nitro, he'd be finished.
After all—
The three great chefs were traitors.
They had rebelled because they were treated like slaves.
But the Blue Nitro wouldn't listen to excuses.
They would kill them on sight.
—
Just as Jiji predicted, on the First Continent, the Blue Nitro had already begun discussing the matter.
"Enough arguing," one of them said coldly. "This isn't the time to debate what happened. The priority is to check on AIR."
Silence followed.
Moments later, one Blue Nitro activated the ability to travel through the Back Channel and disappeared.
—
Joie moved as well.
After learning the situation regarding AIR, he personally set out to confirm it.
The pieces he had embedded within other organizations hadn't been activated yet. It was better to see for himself.
Besides—
If things went wrong, he still had Toh-Kage as a means of escape.
—
At this moment, the strongest beings across the world had turned their attention to Area 8.
—
As for Kael—
After distributing the ingredient and eating ten portions himself, he immediately fled.
He knew full well that the birth of the young Horse King had exposed AIR's condition.
If he stayed, powerful figures would soon arrive.
Before leaving, he asked the Horse King Heracles to keep an eye on the Bewitching Food World.
The Horse King already owed Kael a favor.
He agreed without hesitation.
After consuming AIR, one of Kael's arms awakened.
His strength skyrocketed.
The boost this time surpassed anything he had experienced before.
All because of AIR's effect.
Now, he could allow the Blue demon to remain manifested for much longer.
As for the Red Demon—
He had no intention of releasing it.
The Blue Demon could extend its time outside thanks to the AIR Tree fruit.
The Red Demon couldn't.
In terms of raw combat power, it was hard to say which was stronger.
But judging from the original story, the Red Demon had clearly feared the Blue Demon—
While showing little concern for the Red Demon.
That likely meant the Blue Demon was stronger.
—
However, just as Kael was about to return to the Human World—
He ran into someone unexpected.
Midora.
"So this is Food Luck?" Kael muttered. "Food Luck knows I want to find Midora, so it just hands him to me here."
The moment he spotted Midora, Kael deliberately released his aura.
Midora immediately turned toward him.
"Who are you?"
Midora rarely attacked people at random.
But the world treated him like a walking disaster.
Now some unknown young man had intentionally drawn his attention.
That was interesting.
"My name is Kael. I'm Setsuno's newest disciple."
Midora's eyes flickered.
"Kael… So you're the one Alfaro mentioned."
Because it involved Setsuno, Alfaro had reported the matter.
Midora had once treated Setsuno like an older sister.
After Frohze's death, everything changed.
He knew his actions had betrayed his brothers—and Setsuno.
But his heart had died.
And he had grown extreme.
"Speak. Why did you call me over? You know who I am, don't you?"
"Of course I do," Kael replied calmly. "I want to make a deal with you."
Midora paused.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Oh? A deal? What could you possibly offer me?"
"I want you to help me kill the Monkey King Bambina of Area 7."
Midora's eyes sharpened.
"And your bargaining chip?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"I can tell you something you don't know about Frohze."
Midora's presence stilled.
"Someone desecrated Frohze's body."
The instant those words left his mouth—
Kael transformed one arm into the Red Demon's arm.
He was ready.
Because he knew what would happen next.
Midora exploded.
The previously restrained aura erupted like a dormant volcano suddenly waking.
It felt as though the calm plains had suddenly been struck by meteors.
As if the end of the world had arrived.
Kael felt like a tiny boat in a raging ocean.
If he hadn't prepared—
The Intimidation alone would have crushed him to the ground.
Above Midora, a ring formed in the sky.
The Emperor Ring.
When one's power reached a certain level, their presence alone altered nature itself.
Not just the Eight Kings—
Humans could do it too.
Midora's Emperor Ring immediately drew the attention of the powerful figures who had arrived in Area 8.
Aside from Ichiryu—
None of them dared approach.
Not Joie. Not the Blue Nitro.
Facing Midora alone meant death.
But Ichiryu was different.
He sensed his younger brother's emotional shift and rushed over immediately.
He could clearly feel that Midora was in a state of rage.
Jiro arrived as well.
He ignored the pressure entirely and moved closer.
"Midora! You're releasing too much aura. Rein it in!"
Ichiryu was the first to reach them.
His arrival snapped Midora out of his fury.
Seeing Kael barely holding on—
Midora withdrew his presence at once.
Though the anger still burned in him—
Kael had spoken with intent.
And he was Setsuno's disciple.
He wouldn't lie about something like this.
"Kid," Midora said coldly, "explain. What do you know? If it's true, I'll kill that unruly monkey for you."
As expected—
Nothing outweighed Frohze in Midora's heart.
Not even the Eight Kings.
If necessary, he would slaughter them all.
"What's going on? Why are we suddenly talking about killing the Monkey King?"
Jiro blinked in confusion.
But judging from Midora's tone—
The bargaining chip must have been something immense.
"You two are here as well. Good. I'll explain everything."
Kael told them about the deal.
When they heard that Frohze's body had been desecrated—
Their expressions froze.
Their respect for Frohze surpassed even that for Acacia.
Anger flared instantly.
Now they understood Midora's earlier fury.
If they felt this furious—
What about him?
"Speak clearly, Kael," Jiro said, his eyes cold. "What exactly happened?"
Ichiryu nodded.
He might have renounced desire—
But he had not renounced emotion.
This crossed a line.