As the group stood around, they felt what seemed similar to be an earthquake beneath their feet. Chichi smirked, "Perfect timing." They looked outside and saw that they were on top of a large beast. "This is a large beast that is able to dwell while migrating. This camping monster is called Octopusuika. It sleeps underground until it's body, the fruit ripens. I'm glad it woke up just in time for your departure. You'll be using this thing as a tent." Sunny shook his head, "This octopus watermelon thing? It's friggin' huge!" "Don't look down on Octo-melon! It's really something ya hear me!? Do you think you four powerful people not finding the place I was in was some sort of coincidence? It is a safety monster. Even in the Gourmet World it is a creature that becomes a safe zone making it hard to find or attack. ~Still, higher level beasts will eventually find it, but it'll work as a place to sleep until you're at the entrance. This ride is also something that Ichi-boy prepared for you guys. He was really dedicated to his disciples. ~But seeing you guys here, I know that he was able to move to the next life peacefully. The baton has been passed and now it is up to you. Everyone should be waiting for ya at the harbor."
Éclair looked at the man, "Well, what are you gonna do Chichi?" "I'm gonna go chat with the ladies at a mixer. Yep, those female rhinoceros beetles." The woman frowned, "What the freaking hell man!? You can tell what a female rhinoceros beetle looks like, but you can't tell when a decent human female is standing in front of you!? Okay, at very least I'm a 7!" The man shrugged, "Still not buying it little boy. Anyway, after that I'm going to head to the Gourmet World myself. I'll be taking a different route than you guys. Perhaps our paths will cross again." Coco looked at the man, "For all of the information you have given us, thank you Chichi." "The Gourmet World is a fun and perilous place. Whenever you get lost, just use your appetite as a compass. ~That reminds me, there's something I need to give you guys."
He pulled out a tiny jar of liquid, "It's called Cure Water. It's a precious water that springs from a certain location in Gourmet World. It makes your Gourmet Cells get crazy active. With this you should be able to regenerate any damage. I don't have much, so I have one per person. I'm sure it'll come in handy in the Gourmet World." The man gazed at Toriko as there as something still on his mind. "Toriko, I was wondering~ was your hair actually blue at birth?" The man shook his head, "No actually. I have no memory of it, but my hair was black when I was born." Éclair jumped on the man and parted his hair, "Aha! I knew there was no way someone could naturally sprout blue hair. So what kind of dye are you using huh?" She looked closer at his roots, "You were touching up when we were in the Gourmet World weren't you? Don't be embarrassed about your natural black hair. Let it grow Toriko." He pried the woman away from his hair and set her on the floor, "It's not dye Éclair." Chichi nodded, "It's the Oni that lives inside of you. Probably not just the red one. There are probably more incredible monsters in you Toriko. Though only one of them showed its face before." Éclair began to dismiss the conversation, "All I heard was Toriko's hair isn't dyed. Well color me intrigued. I hate to end this fascinating conversation, but shouldn't we be leaving?"
All though her words seemed to be rushed, leaving Human World voluntarily was one of the toughest choices she ever made. ~It was tough, yet easy. Human World was all she knew. Her sister and friends were all here. Of course she'd be back, but saying goodbye was still painful. On the other hand, she'd be with Toriko, and by his side was where she wanted to be. The woman walked forward and she was hit with a truckload of memories. She touched her heart and exhaled. Just one glance at the woman told Toriko what she was thinking about. She smiled, "We went on our first journey here Toriko. I still remember it. I was 24 years old. I lied to get out of work that day so I could go with you. ~Then I lied to you because I was embarrassed that I wanted to tag along. It's going to be hard saying goodbye to this place, but it's going to be even harder saying goodbye to that crowd over there." He ruffled the girl's hair, "You ready?" She nodded, "It's now or never."
They walked into the crowd, and the farewells began. She was like a missile locked onto everyone. Each person had to get recognition. So long as they came out there, she was going to personally say goodbye. She started off with the least difficult to the hardest. "Goodbye Takimaru. I won't forget our experiences together. I'll definitely miss your pretty boy face. Aimaru, even though I didn't get to know you as much, I can still see the good in you. Plus you have to be pretty tolerant to be Toriko's friend." As they shared a laugh, she moved on to the next. There was Mansam, and other chef's of Human World she needed to speak.
She made her way down the line, "Match, what can I say. I can't stop smiling when I see you. That passion and fire you have inside of you is something that people should aspire to have even a fraction of. I ask of just one thing from you when I enter the Gourmet World~ don't ever change." Next she walked to Sharpener Melk the Second, and things started to get a bit more difficult. The black haired woman handed Éclair some items. "Here, it's a grindstone apron and grindstone boots. to sharpen your kitchen knife." The woman graciously accepted the gifts, "Thank you so much Melk. I promise you that I'll use my prized knife to cook Acacia's full course." She grabbed the woman's hands, "Melk, I just want to thank you so much for everything once again. You have no idea how much our crossing of paths has shaped the course of my life. I can't imagine not having met you. You're a beautiful woman on the inside and out. I look forward to using my knife every chance I get. It's because of you that I get to keep a piece of family history with me for all times. Thank you."
The two embraced, and she moved on once more. Finally she was face to face with her sister and Tylan. "So this is my brother in-law huh? I ought to wring your neck for not asking my permission to elope. ~But you were there for her when she was getting through her injury when I wasn't. You make her so happy, and the light in her eyes when she talks about you is so immaculate. If I do say so myself, you have an excellent taste in women." She wrapped her arms around the man, "Welcome to this wonderfully small family of ours."
She looked at her sister, "Ya know Vanilla, you'd think after saying goodbye to you so much it would get easier. ~It doesn't. You gave me a ring that I will bring back to you. I already told you that was promise I wouldn't break. I can already feel it giving me the strength to endure any obstacle. I love you until my last breath Vanilla. Now give your big sister a hug for the road." The two hugged as if they hadn't seen one another in years. It was loving, and touching to witness. It was pure love. It was something that could never be tarnished or broken. It was a bond between sisters. Just as the blond woman was packing up to leave, she heard a voice that was foolproof for getting her out of any rut. She dropped her bags, "My baby!" She picked up the wall penguin and spun him around. "Come on love." The kings and Éclair waved at the group, "You can count on us to cook and transport the ingredients from here to Gourmet World. Us the chef's of Human World will do all we can!"
Just as the kings partners were heading into the Octopusukia, Éclair felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned around, "Rin. I didn't see you in the crowd. No wonder it felt like I was missing someone to say goodbye to." The girl moved her hair behind her ear, "Be safe Éclair, and keep an eye on Toriko and my brother." The woman smiled, "Of course. Look Rin, I know we haven't always been on the same page about things, and one can even say we've been at odds a lot, but I want to say thank you. You've been such an amazing person to both my sister and Toriko. ~And me as well. I still haven't forgotten the way you put your life on the line to save me. There's no way I can pay you back for what you've done. ~But I can offer you my eternal friendship. What do you say?" The woman opened her arms and Rin rolled her eyes playfully as she laughed, "Fine." She gave the woman what she wanted and hugged her, "Have a safe trip Éclair. Take care."
They were on the road, and there was nothing ahead of them but an ocean. Éclair sat at a small table outside, "Hey guys, what in the world is this? Is this a tray? Or~or like the world's thinnest computer? Someone help me out here?" Toriko nodded, "Yes it's a tablet computer that doubles as a food tray." The woman laughed, "Wow, and I was just kidding around when I said computer." "It's a new capture level measuring device that the IGO came up with. Here, put on these bands everyone." He handed everyone a band and they tied it to their wrists. "Okay, now you just point it at an ingredient, and it'll transmit the information to the tray." Sunny pointed, "Look, we're about to head into the Gourmet World. ~Hey, why does the tray know about Gourmet World ingredients." The woman pointed it all over the place until she came to answer the man. "Gourmet ID Cards. They were next to the president's pillow one day and he checked it. It had hundreds of thousands of ingredients from the Human World, and several million from the Gourmet World."
Toriko frowned, "Who has eaten that many ingredients." "I dunno, but it was personal data that even the IGO didn't have. The Gourmet World is still a mystery though, including the ingredients in it." "Who cares! A few million ain't enough to cover a Gourmet World. Who knows how long will be able to even use that thing. Let's start by testing it. Try that." Éclair folded her arms, "Well geez Zebra! You didn't have to sound so unenthusiastic. ~And try it on wha~" Her words fell short as she saw a large beast flying through the air. Large wasn't even a good enough word to describe it. It was gargantuan! Toriko pointed the laser and Éclair looked at the ever fascinating tray. "Alright, so it's called Raliegnler Fish. It's capture level is~ 299! We are so dead! What is this thing doing over here anyway!? Aren't we still in Human World!?" Coco nodded, "Yes, but we're right on the boarder. It's likely that it passed through the poison tide. Our problem now that it's stronger than the Octopusukia!" As everyone was readying themselves for a fight, the once threatening fish became nothing more than meat on a stick.
The blond pointed, "Holy crap! What am I witnessing!? These waves have spikes!?" One after another, more beasts fell to the destruction of the forceful waves. She held onto the side of the stump table as she fought the turbulence. Toriko looked back at the woman, "Get inside the house Éclair!" "Okay!" She needed not to be asked twice. Stumbling back and forth, she made her way into the solid house. Looking through the window, all she could do was hold her breath until they were past these waves. The kings threw their attacks in an attempt to stop the waves from coming. She held onto the window seal until they finally reached a safe zone.
Catching her breath, she walked back outside. "That was so cool~ hey, but let's not do that again. Good job everyone." She looked at her partner's unusual face. "What's wrong?" "Oh, it's nothing." She narrowed her eyes, "Mhmm. Sure~" Coco pointed, "There it is. The most dangerous route into Gourmet World. The Harbor of Evil Spirits." The woman looked around, "Ships? This place really is a dead land. It's quite a shame if you ask me." Toriko pointed, "Look, the spirits are waving." She lightly punched the man's arm, "Why the hell would you point that out? I wasn't even looking there. ~Wow, this place gives me the creeps." "The place we're going to is where Acacia's Salad Course is. Air, in Area 8. Yutou is a continent of mist that deceives all invaders. Even ships with the latest machinery will never find land if they lose their way." The woman shivered, "That's for that raw knowledge Coco." She gave a thumbs up, "You know what, even though we can't see where we're going, I can't wait to take the first step into this new land with you guys! Let's experience this Gourmet World in all its glor ~" Mid sentence the girl clung onto the leaf chair around the stump table. "We're free falling!" Her body flew down with the Octopusukia, "By taking the first step, this is not what I meant!"