The moment Kael finished speaking, the other Four Heavenly Kings—including Komatsu—visibly winced.
It wasn't because Kael had embarrassed Zebra. It was because they knew Zebra too well.
Kael was actually pretty easygoing—as long as you didn't provoke him. Zebra, on the other hand, had a mouth that never held back.
Calling someone "Cocky" right off the bat? Komatsu might brush it off, and the others were used to it. But outsiders wouldn't be so forgiving.
Sure enough, now Kael and Zebra were facing off.
Toriko and the others had seen Kael's strength firsthand.While Zebra wasn't weak anymore—not by a long shot—there was still a massive gulf between him and Kael.
And Toriko knew something else.
Kael had gone to the Gourmet World and stayed there for a while. Toriko didn't know how strong he'd become—but he was certain of one thing.
Kael was no longer someone they could match.
They had managed to defeat the Four-Beast before, sure. But its capture level had only been in the hundreds, and even then they couldn't win on their own. They had to rely on Toriko's Appetite Energy Secret Technique, "King's Dinner," to bring it down.
Beasts at that level were said to be everywhere in the Gourmet World.
Compared to that… Toriko had to admit it. He wasn't on Kael's level. And Zebra wasn't either.
As everyone's expressions shifted, Zebra let out a faint, savage grin.
That was just how he was. If you ignored him, he wouldn't say much. But push him a little, and he wouldn't hold back.
Kael's words had clearly irritated him.
His aura locked onto Kael.
But in the very next second—
A terrifying pressure bypassed everyone else and crashed straight down onto Zebra.
Instantly, the Gourmet Cells inside Zebra sounded the alarm. Every cell in his body screamed a warning.
This wasn't him backing down.
The gap between them was simply too overwhelming.
It was like the first time they saw the hoofprint left behind by Horse King Heracles. Zebra hadn't been able to endure that either.
Now, facing Kael, he couldn't even muster the will to fight.
A normal person might gather fighting spirit against another opponent.
But against a tsunami? An avalanche?
There was nothing you could do.
Right now, Zebra facing Kael felt even worse than a hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby.
Seeing Zebra like this, Kael withdrew his pressure.
Then he turned and left with Nono without another word.
There was no point in arguing. He'd rather go watch the upcoming matches.
"See? I told you not to provoke him," Sunny said, shaking his head. "I warned you on the way here. That mouth of yours was going to get you in trouble someday. Just because no one used to do anything about it doesn't mean no one can now."
Zebra didn't respond.
He was still shaken.
Not mentally—physically.
Zebra wasn't someone who feared the heavens or the earth. The only time he'd truly felt fear in his heart was when Komatsu's heart had been crushed in canon.
Even when facing Monkey King Bambina and sensing death through sheer pressure, it had only been his body reacting—not his mind.
People like Zebra, just like the Eight Kings, didn't understand fear.
But Kael didn't need Zebra to fear him mentally.
Physical fear was enough.
He had no intention of targeting Zebra further. In fact, Zebra had done plenty of commendable things. If Kael had been there, he would've intervened too.
But if he wasn't present?
He wouldn't go out of his way to involve himself.
"Good thing Kael isn't participating in this Cooking Festival," Toriko said. "Otherwise I don't know how Komatsu would win."
"Even if Chef Kael isn't competing, there's still Granny Setsuno, Zaus, and Chef Yuda," Coco said with a smile. "Komatsu, you'll need to give it your all."
Unlike Toriko's blind confidence, Coco was realistic.
Komatsu had improved a lot while traveling with Toriko. But compared to veteran chefs who had been in the culinary world for decades, he was still lacking.
In the original story, Komatsu had advanced through the rounds not just because of skill—but because he could hear the voice of ingredients.
The ingredients guided him on how to cook them.
That was how he kept winning.
You could say that many of his victories were purely thanks to Food Luck.
As more chefs arrived, the Cooking Festival finally reached its opening moment.
All participants had gathered by the seaside.
The first event was a triathlon.
An upgraded triathlon.
Swimming. Cycling. Running.
The swimming portion alone had nearly killed Komatsu in the original story.
They had to swim in the open ocean, and the distance wasn't short. Komatsu had refused all outside assistance and barely dragged himself in last place.
The cycling portion wasn't easy either. The ground was as soft as tofu, making it hard to pedal. And there were beasts lurking around, ready to attack riders at any moment.
Running was the simplest—just dash forward and grab your cooking utensils.
When the match began, everyone dove straight into the sea.
Any chef who could enter the rankings—even the frauds—had far greater stamina than Komatsu.
As for someone like Granny Setsuno?
She simply ran across the surface of the water.
The rules never said she couldn't.
Time passed.
Soon, a figure appeared atop one of the massive buildings in the spectator stands.
Yes—there were actual skyscrapers built into the audience seating.
The venue could accommodate over a hundred million people.
The stadium itself was practically a wonder of the world.
Only in the world of Toriko would something like this exist.
Over a hundred million spectators.
With high-rises built into the stands.
Absolutely ridiculous.