Disclaimer: Same as chapter 2.

Author's Notes: Yes, I am well aware that some of these dishes they are cooking are impossible to do properly within an hour's time limit. At first, I thought of using some of the other items from the game itself but I found it really hard to come up with creative things so...I used stuff which exist in real life.


"Things are heating up now. Serene is going at it full blast!" Malice announced.

Serene picked up a knife and swung it around a bit. It was much smaller than the usual weapon she used. She looked at the knife's blade, then the fish. Placing the knife down on the table, she reached for the knife block and grabbed a cleaver.

"Hmm...it's big...but I don't know. The blade is boring and it bursts with...rectangular boringness." she said as she put her index finger of her free hand on her cheek and scratched it lightly. "To hell with this!"

Serene placed the knife back in the block and grabbed her scythe. Swinging it a few times, she smiled and said to herself,
"Ah, much better."

She turned her head towards the table with the trout lying on its side. Taking the fish in her left hand, she threw it up into the air.

"Serene Combo!"

She swung her scythe furiously and each blow cutting right through the fish. As she finished, she put her scythe standing upright with the handle on the floor.

"I barely broke a sweat."

As she looked on, the fish was now cut up into tiny pieces no bigger than rice grains. Serene's proud smile quickly changed into an annoyed frown.

"...Damnit! Guess I have to cut up this fish using this...tiny little knife..." Serene said looking unamused as she looked at the small knife lying on the table. She quickly turned to her right and glaring at Malice who was grinning to herself.

"Honestly, who did not see that coming? That scythe is even larger than yourself and you expect to cut up a fish to a reasonable size? It's just common sense really..." commented Malice.

The other four quickly turned to watch Serene as the anger built up inside her. She quickly grabbed the nearest thing which she could find. With a small knife in hand, she threw it right at Malice. As the knife traveled, everyone watched in horror as it was reaching Malice. In a flash, she dived out of the way of the oncoming knife.

"Ledah! Watch out!" Ein yelled.

Malice had been standing right in front of Ledah before she dived out of the way and now as Ein could only watch as the knife reached closer to Ledah. In Ein's eyes, everything was slowing down in this moment. He could hear his own heart beating and everything around him was all a blur. The other four could only stand and watch. Their eyes widened as Ledah caught the knife between his index and middle finger without even flinching. The four girls watched in amazement as the knife burst into small flames which were produced from Ledah's fingers.

"Ledah looks so cool!" Lina said.

"That was amazing...if only Ein could do something like that once in a while." Fia added.

"Oh my, I have to ask him how he did that...especially when he made the knife burst into flames. He has so much power, but also control over it." Cierra continued.

"That was so cool! Even though he could've gotten killed...that was cool!" Serene exclaimed.

Ein's vision and hearing returned as he shouted for joy and ran towards him with open arms.

"Ledah! You're ok!"

"Not when I'm here you're not!" Malice said as she punched Ein once again in the face, stopping him cold. She turned to
Ledah, "Was it really that necessary to make the knife burst into flames like that?"

"I could say the same for you punching Ein in the face."

"Hey, it's not my fault he's obsessed with you. The rules say that the chefs can not go near the judges until the judging has commenced when they present their food. Want me to kick him below the belt instead?"

Staggering to get back on his feet, Ein slowly walked back to his bench. As he looked around, he noticed that Cierra was gone. He shrugged it off as he went back to his bench. He didn't want to participate in this contest anymore, but if he said that in front of Ledah, what would he think of him? There was no way he'd do that in front of Ledah. He decided he would hold his head up high and proud and hope to the gods that he will survive. As he was thinking, he heard footsteps coming his way, as he turned to look, he saw Cierra holding a bunch of mosamo branches.

"Er, Cierra? What's that for?" Ein questioned.

"Don't mind me. I couldn't get the stove working so I settled to make my own fire." Cierra replied.

"...Your own fire? Hit the deck!" Malice screamed half jokingly.

"You'll get what's coming to you Malice, soon enough." Cierra said under her breath.

She set the branches down into two piles and concentrated her magic power. The other four had ducked for cover behind their benches as flames dispersed from Cierra's staff and lit the branches. Everyone sighed for relief as nothing exploded this time. Cierra reached into her bag and pulled out numerous herbs. She tore off the leaves of the herbs and put them in a pestle and mortar with some lemon juice. Adding some salt and pepper, she crushed the mixture and them smeared it over the outside of the meat. Using two pronged branches, she set up a simple rotisserie and the main dish was now settled. Cierra took out a large pot and set it on a wire frame above the second fire. She added some ginger and garlic. As she added the meat, it made a soft sizzling noise which indicated the pot was hot enough. The beautiful smells soon filled the kitchen as the judges got excited.

"Ooh, that sure does smell nice!" Soala said, sniffing the air.

"Indeed it does, garlic and ginger do go well together." Rose added. Both of them waited a few seconds and then turned to their left. Ledah was still sitting there with his arms folded.

"...Aren't you going to say something Ledah?" Rose asked. Ledah looked to his right and just glared at her. Rose sighed as turned back to watch the other chefs get their act together after the Cierra bomb scare.

Fia was making a soup in a pot on a stove and was preparing to add some noodles to it. Lina had been preparing a chicken broth which was almost complete. She added some herbs and spices to the simmering broth which filled the air with a lovely aroma. Serene had just finished making a sushi roll and was preparing to cut it into suitable size pieces. Cierra was well underway as she kept a close eye on the large meat which was taking in the mixture of herbs and citric juice and was beginning to have a crispy texture on the outside. Meanwhile, Ein has not even begun preparing his first dish because of what had happened so far. A voice rang through the speakers,

"Fifteen minutes have elapsed."

He clenched his fist and closed his eyes. Thoughts were running through Ein's mind. He couldn't stand the thought of disappointing Ledah, but so far that's all he has been doing. He gave the title of Grim Angels to shame and was useless as a chef. As he was thinking, the Grim Angel theme was playing in the background. His fist was shaking as a breeze swept through the kitchen. A white aura was now surrounding Ein as he picked up his knife.

"...What the? What's this power I'm feeling? It...it can't be!" stuttered Malice.

"Yes, he has awakened." added Ledah.

He was slicing through the vegetables at an incredible speed. He had already completely sliced a red onion into thin rings in a blink of the eye and was now starting on the cabbage. He had finished slicing it into thin strips in a second and was now working on the tomatoes. He swiftly peeled off the skin, keeping the peeled skin as one long strip. Lighting up the stove with a match, he quickly bent down and grabbed a large pot in which he placed the tomato pulp. He picked up one of the tomato skins he had peeled and begun circling it around the circular base of the tomato peel. As he neared the centre, his eyes lit up as he knew he had finally accomplished something. He had created a decorative tomato rose. He continued making them until he had one last peel left. He took out a small knife and began cutting into it. Everyone wondered what he was doing but none of them dared question him. A few seconds later he held up his master piece, a tomato peel, carved into the shape of Ledah's diviner, Lorelei. Even Malice was impressed at how he managed to pick up his game but he wasn't done yet. Ein started to peel the skin off of a lemon. He took the large strip and started carving into it with his knife again. Ledah's eyes changed as he looked on, taking up some sort of interest in what Ein was doing. He held up his second masterpiece, a lemon peel sculptured into the shape of his diviner, Einherjar. Everyone applauded as Ein put his salad ingredients in a bowl and added a dressing. Lastly, he placed his two models of the diviners on top, crossing each other.

"Simply amazing, Ein!" Fia said with delight.

"Lina thinks you're cool too, Ein!" Lina jumped in.

"Such artistic flare in cooking Ein...I'm impressed." Cierra added.

"I never knew you could do that Ein." Serene said, winking at him.

"I'm amazed that no one has pointed out that Ein's hat is set on fire again when he had bent down to grab that pot." Malice interjected.

The background music faded as well as Ein's aura. He was now running around screaming for someone to put the fire out. Serene reached down to grab a conveniently placed bucket of water and dumped its contents on him. Once again, he was now drenched in water.

"...This is getting old." said Ein.

"Not as old as Cierra or Soala." Malice remarked.

Malice felt two cold stares as soon as she said this. She looked at Cierra who had drawn her staff, and a fiery gaze of fury. She quickly looked back at Soala and felt those eyes scanning her every move. Soala got up and drew her fan, ready to attack.

"Calamity Flare!" Cierra yelled.

"Tornado Flame!" Soala exclaimed.

Malice reached behind her back to draw Skadi. As she pulled it in front of her she felt her weapon decrease drastically in weight. She looked down at her hands to see she was holding a microphone. Her eyes widened as the two attacks closed in on her. Malice yelled in pain as the fiery spells engulfed her in flames. As the flames subsided, Malice was now completely covered in soot and ash, even the hair that was her pride and joy, was covered in the black substance.

"I told you you'd get what's coming to you Malice." Cierra whispered to Malice.

She grumbled to herself and walked off the set, heading towards the bathroom. As she trudged a long the stage floor, she noticed Rose at the soundboard but she didn't care. All she wanted to do was to be done with this so she could regain her diviner. Rose quickly went back to her seat at the table and talked to Ein telekinetically.

"Ein, for some reason I could hear your thoughts."

"My...my thoughts?" Ein replied back with his thoughts.

"There! You did it again! Somehow you have managed to be able to connect to me using your thoughts."

"...I don't like where this is going..."

"Correct you are, Ein."

Rose smiled at him warmly, but Ein could see past that and the devilish plans Rose has in store for him. He went back his cooking and had created a lovely sauce using the tomato pulp by adding various herbs. What was Rose planning? He knew when she had a plan, that it was meticulously calculated and planned well. He quickly halted his thoughts as he remembered what she had just said. Did she hear what I was thinking? He took a glance a look at Rose, and she nodded her head. He struggled to swallow as he gulped in fear. Rose communicated with him telekinetically again.

"Hey Ein..."

"Y...Yes Rose?" Ein replied using his thoughts.

"Remember that time when you were taking a bath the day before I turned into a sprite..."


Oh noes! The rest of this chapter is missing! Nah, not really. Hate to stop it right here, but it'll keep you wanting more. I'm so evil like that.