Heya, everyone! Alright, I have some explanations to do. I've gone and ghosted fanfiction for quite some time since March in 2024. Well, my days had gotten shittier (alright, it's no excuse but personal life). I got… depression and lack of motivation since my last update. I had some personal problems to deal with and even if I had some friends, it is quite absurd the amount of things (I want to say the s-word) to deal with. Had to quit my old job, get a new one, get pressured for many things, got injured on my shoulder… well, you can understand why I had ghosted everything.

But here's a story (ONE SHOT) that you might all like… and if I don't have to deal with the rest of my stories… it might continue. So, enjoy it while I'm able to write and have a nice end to the 2024 year!

CHAPTER 1

The Return of the Knocking Master

You know… the moment that you are dying… you don't know if you should fight to keep living… or accepting death.

The bullet wounds on my chest… gasping for air while blood is choking me… paramedics doing everything in their power to keep me alive… the sadness of the eyes of my parents… when even they know that I'm not going to make it.

And worst of all, my girlfriend was holding my hand, demanding me to keep living. I chuckled ruefully to myself. Sometimes… I believe that… good people die earlier.

I didn't get the chance to have a future with her or with my future kids… my little brother, who was crouching on my prone form… crying in misery since the bullet I got hit… was meant for him.

I always told him to keep his life out of the path of his 'friends', but he never listened to me or my parents.

He was always a free soul with the wrong people.

I guess… I guess I feel like I wasn't enough for him to show him the ropes like a good brother…

But seeing him… crying… begging me to live… blaming himself for what happened…

With what weak strength I had, I raised my hand to cup his cheek. "Hey, buddy… I'll be okay…"

"N-No, you're not…" Gabe choked on his tears, holding my hand like a lifeline. "It's all my fault… I should've listened to you…"

I would have chuckled, realizing that he was finally seeing what his past actions led him. But instead, I coughed blood. "I-It's alright, little bro… I forgive you…"

My answer only made him sob harder.

I looked at my girlfriend Gina. She was sobbing, still holding my hands. "Gina…"

"P-Please… don't go…" She begged me tearfully. "I… I don't know what I can do without you…"

"I'm sorry…" I apologized tiredly. "I know you can do it… I believe… that you can reach your dreams…"

I could feel my life slipping. So, I looked at my parents one last time. Mom was crying on my father's chest. Dad… dad was trying his best to not cry.

I could only smile at them, feeling my strength slowly losing. "Dad… Mom…" Dad gritted his teeth while Mom looked at me tearfully. "I'm happy to know… that I was your son…"

This was it… I could feel my strength slowly leaving me. I could hear the paramedics quickening to keep my life. The police on the other hand were arresting the gang that my little brother was part of… but knowing how much blood I had lost… I don't know if I'm able to continue.

My sight slowly darkened… and I let darkness embrace me completely even while Gina and my family panicked and shouted at me.

When I opened my eyes, for a moment, I expected that I had survived and was led to the hospital.

But never in my life had I come to find myself in the darkness and nothingness.

It felt eerily quiet. I looked around. Strange thing was… while everything around me was dark and black, I could see myself. And strangely the thing was that the gun shot had disappeared completely.

And yet, I kept wondering where the hell I was.

Was this Hell? Or Heaven? Or is every religion that I had come to understand was nothing?

Just as I could wonder anymore, a bright light stung me, and I had to shield my eyes from the light before it subsided.

There was a man, wearing a dark suit. Kind of a nice suit though. And not the kind that makes Lucifer Morningstar from the series wears. No, seems that this man had quite the exotic and exquisite taste of clothing.

"Uh… are you perhaps the Grim Reaper?" I asked.

The man looked at me with those disinterred eyes. Like he was simply looking at me like a thing that suddenly caught his attention before dismissing it.

"You sure are quite the specimen, Mr. Jackson." He said casually, like he could (and I think he could) squash me like an ant. "But nevertheless, I believe that my bosses had come to realize that you might be the one we are looking for."

"…eh?"

Not gonna lie, I was totally confused for a moment.

"What do you mean by that, Mr…"

"My name is none of your concern." He dismissed, adjusting his round glass (which I hadn't noticed). "What my bosses analyzed and come to make a decision…" I could see the hateful grimace on his face. "…is that they think you can do something that many of the otherworlders we send can do."

I looked confused but slightly intrigued. "…go on."

He rolled his eyes. "You've come to know that many people who dies or get transported to many different worlds that you Humans love to create and imagine, is real."

"So, I'm going to get Isekai-d? Hell yeah." I grinned before quickly wiping it off when his eyes bored on me fully. "Keeping my mouth shut…"

"In any case, my bosses think that you can be sent to a world but in need with skills for another one."

"Can I know which worlds I am going to be sent?"

With a flick of his hand, a panel opened, showing me a bizarre world.

I said bizarre because I could see that this 'Earth' was much bigger. Weirdly bigger than I expected.

"And what am I looking?" I inquired curiously.

"This… is the world where you might have heard. A certain world where food has evolved to the point and all that thing."

Huh… The "Toriko" world. I guess that the few parts of this Earth was civilized while the rest – I believe that it's the 99% of it, must be the Gourmet World.

"Damn. I always wondered if food over there is otherworldly." I hummed, intrigued.

I read the manga and watched the anime. And every time I see it, the food was so godly, and I always wondered if it is orgasmic.

Sure, nowadays the food-themed mangas showed different kind of dishes… but in Toriko, there was a difference between Mystic and Godly.

I quickly shook off my head before looking at him. "And what's the other world that I'm going to be sent to?"

With another flick, another panel showed me another Earth. Going inside, I saw that it was the same. The same average world looked pretty normal. But when I narrowed my eyes, I noticed that there were a few people that looked different.

Not like aliens. But like… wait a second…

I leaned on and I finally noticed it. It was the "My Hero Academia" world. There were heroes and villains fighting. The usual people with mutation and everything else.

And the obvious about heroes and villains fighting daily and the heroes posing to the camera like celebrities. Ugh, that's why heroes from DC and Marvel are much better. They get the job done and leave.

Sure, it was pretty different between those two. But many fans would have loved to have some powers or Quirks.

But there was a nagging feeling that I'm suspecting.

"Ah… you seem to finally realize. My bosses were right." He said, mockingly like an adult telling a child that they did something good. "You do have a brain."

"…I'll pretend that you didn't just insult me." I said dryly. "So… you're going to send me first to the "Toriko" world before sending me to the "My Hero Academia"?"

"In a sense." He nodded.

"But I'm not going to get a Quirk." I added, not with an accusation tone but stating a fact.

"Correct."

"That's because I'm going to get those Gourmet Cells."

"You could say that."

"…Fine. I can live with that."

"Splendid! And as much as I would like you to be reborn from like a nobody, my bosses had other plans." He closed both panels and showed me another one. But instead of worlds, I looked at the man that I would be born as.

And I must say… I wasn't expecting HIM from all the people and characters.

Sure, I have seen a few fanfics in regard to both worlds. I really loved Izuku the Reincarnated Chef: Or "How I came back from a Isekai and still can't have a quiet life!" by JoySeeker101.

Too bad that I died, and I'll never finish it…

…shit, I'll never ever know how One Piece is going to finish!

I fell on my knees and a depressing cloud hovered over me.

"Geez, you Humans sure love to be overdramatic." He drawled sarcastically.

"Don't patronize me." I sighed, standing up. "So… do I get to be born from zero or I'll be 'recalling' everything to a certain point?"

"Oh, you'll know soon enough." Clapping his hands, I could feel my everything fading. "Good luck out there. Maybe we'll see each other again."

I sighed but let myself be disintegrated. My mind faded to be part of something new once more.

Sure, the world had gotten quite exciting. The food was exquisite. The drinks were enjoyable.

Still, for me to be abandoned by my biological parents sure sucked at first. But who cared? Not me. Not when my adoptive parent was the one and only Guiness, the Alpha Battle Wolf of Area 2 in Gourmet World. My memory was a bit fuzzy about how my parents left me in Gourmet World.

I cannot say that my biological parents died (not even doubt that they could have) but because I was a child raised by the wild Battle Wolves. I got to eat many things.

Mostly Red Nitros. If I recall, they were Monster Trolls with bird-like faces with incredible physical abilities and high intelligence.

But Guiness dispatched them like nothing and I – with the rest of my brothers and sisters – ate them like any other prey.

Even so… I could something deep inside me, lurking… bonding with me… Yes, those huge amounts of dense, powerful, dark cells will help me become stronger.

Gourmet Cells are quite the thing in this world. Every time that I had 'sparred' with my brothers and sisters, my wounds healed completely. Even if I had to eat twice or thrice the amount that any average person can, I would heal instantly.

"Yes… this is good." I watched as I clenched and unclenched my fists before looking at my 'siblings' with a feral grin.

"Shall we resume our daily spar?"

The Battle Wolves smirked in a way that I was familiar with. And without any word, we battled on.

A few years later, after growing up to a young adult of 25, I stood in front of my father.

Guiness looked pleasantly quiet, eyeing with the look of an Alpha.

"Hey, Father." I greeted him politely, even while smirking. "I know I shouldn't mess with the Alpha, and that's the only rule to follow in the Gourmet World, but…" I tilted my head to pop my neck. "I want to test myself against you."

Guiness glanced at me. Even if he was 55 meters tall (180 feet) while I was 1,90 meters (6 feet 3 inches), I knew my skills and strength could do it. And I wasn't cocky about it.

Guiness simply stood up, showing his majestic fur and stature, and not even bragging about his own strength and height.

In his eyes, I might be considered one of his many 'sons' but he knew for a fact that he could squash me for my 'defiance'.

And even so, he still treated me like his son, regardless of my being.

My grin widened in a splendid feral manner. "That's what I like to see, Father. Bring it!"

I panted wearily, lying down. I won, if barely, but damn… Guiness sure knows how to bring the best of everything.

Not like Guiness is to the point in the future but I'm glad to be so.

I glanced sideways, revealing the trophy that I gained. Guiness' upper right fang. In one of our many strikes, I managed to deal quite the damage to him and broke it.

Now this… this is mine now. There is no doubt about that.

I glanced back at Guiness. The Wolf King, while hurt and bloody, still looked dignified. The other Battle Wolves remained quiet not far from our battlefield. They seemed to see that their 'younger' had fought against their father and won.

I laughed joyfully. "Guess I won, Father. This has been the best fight of my life!"

As I cackled, Guiness simply remained standing firm, not even showing weakness to the rest of the Pack. And I was okay with that. He had an image to maintain, and I was not going to break him for it.

"Hah…" My laughter subsided and I looked solemnly at my first adoptive father. I got up, grabbing the broken fang and looked at him with a smile. "I thank you very much for raising me, Guiness." I bowed deeply with gratitude. "I'll never forget your teaching… and I will carry on the pride of the Battle Wolf pack."

My brothers and sisters howled to the Heavens as Guiness remained quiet as he gazed at me.

Without any words, I turned and left the Pack, deciding that it was time for me to mark my path instead of letting Destiny do it.

It had been quite hectic to return to Human Civilization since I was still on the time where Acacia hadn't yet created GOD. Still, with my strength, I could fend off anything easily.

Still, fighting off criminals and stealing their stuff… I did get to hear that I got the moniker, the "Rampaging Beast", after I had destroyed several criminal organizations alone.

I cackled to myself. I guess I'm making a name for myself now.

Still… I sighed. Humans were quite fragile creatures that only a few can manage to withstand my strikes. I wondered how long I'll have to wait until Acacia looked for me.

"Your name from now on will be Jiro." Acacia, the soon-to-be called Gourmet God, declared proudly. The Gourmet God looked quite proud of himself while Froese, the Chef Goddess and Acacia's lover, stood by side. There was also Ichiryu, and damn, seeing him young with black hair was quite surprising the first time.

Well… seems that Acacia found and adopted me.

Let me put a bit of story behind. It had been a few months since I had left the Battle Wolf pack and the Area 2 in Gourmet World.

Returning to Civilization wasn't easy because passing through the thick and delicious forest in the Gourmet World isn't a walk in the park. Not that it was hard for me, and I wasn't being cocky about it…

…okay, maybe a little.

Still! Once I returned to civilization, I had come to realize that civilization wasn't quite prosperous how I recalled it. Then, I recalled that without IGO and those that were affiliated, the world was still at war and fighting for survival.

It was sad in a way.

So, I decided that it was up to me to put some order.

And that meant fighting off criminals and thugs from those that couldn't fight back. And hell, even if they weren't up to quality, they made it for quantity.

It was almost as easy as eating Mamews.

On that came to be the reason that I've been called the "Rampaging Beast", thinking that I was doing this without any reason.

And who cared? It was fun.

That was until I was strolling alone through the dirty street, a man stopped me. And I don't blame you if you thought that the first instinct that I made was attacking him.

Though, it was surprising that he managed to parry my attacks and later on using Knocking to render me paralyzed.

Of course, I quickly unblocked the Knocking with my own Cells and fought back but eventually, I lost.

Not so badly, I mean.

He simply laughed. But not in a mocking way. Instead, it was like when someone found someone or something interesting and wanted for himself.

"Hahaha! You got guts, young man." He said boisterously. "Why don't you follow me, hm?"

So that's how I ended up meeting both Froese and Ichiryu and got myself named as "Jiro".

And yep, you heard me alright. I was reincarnated as Jiro, the Knocking Master.

I had even kept and maintained the trademark pompadour that Jiro was really known for.

And to tell the truth, I had somehow liked it.

And from now on, Acacia would teach and keep up into being proper Gourmet Hunters.

It had been quite hectic years since then but all the same was fun. Ichiryu and I got into some kind of sibling rivalry.

I knew that Ichiryu would become someone strong and respected in the future. Yet, I found his seriousness quite bumming.

"Come on, bro. Fight me." I urged him, having an arm over his shoulder.

"Don't be an idiot, Jiro. You're being childish." Ichiryu said, rolling his eyes.

"Tch. You're no fun, bro." I cackled, not finding his rejection hurtful. In fact, I could respect him for that.

I recalled that Jiro was quite a cocky and prideful man. Not that I blamed him since Jiro was raised by Battle Wolves and they're technically the thesis of 'Pride'.

But that was him, and this version was me.

Even so, Ichiryu would tend to let me win which made me angry. I wanted a proper fight! Not pretending to lose to ease my ego, goddammit!

"Boys! Lunch is ready!" Froese called up for us.

I immediately rushed to our mother's dining table. I sat quietly and ready to devour her godly sent food. Even drooling eagerly.

Not going to lie, Froese's cooking was… the best of the kind. Sure, eating monsters in Gourmet World was delicious as well like any other. But you must understand this phrase that I recalled from a certain cook of One Piece. "God created food, but the Devil created spices."

I had come to realize this. Food is a blessing. Even delicious for its pure and raw state. But at the hands of a cook, food can be much more.

And Froese, our dear if adoptive mother, can make food shine like any other.

"You're such a glutton, Jiro." Ichiryu scoffed as he sat next to me.

"Hey! You're a glutton as well, bro!" I exclaimed indignantly.

"Nu—uh."

"Yu—uh."

"There's no way that I'm more of a glutton than you."

"Oh yeah? Then you won't mind if I take that." I didn't hesitate to steal from Ichiryu's plate.

"Hah!? Damn it, Jiro! I was going to eat that, you asshole!" Ichiryu exclaimed indignantly as he tried to pry his food from my mouth.

"Haha! I knew it!" I cackled, trying to shove his food down to my mouth.

"Boys." Froese sighed.

Acacia simply laughed at our antics. "Don't mind them, dear. They're still kids."

I should take offense to that, but I can't. I'm really being childish with Ichiryu.

Later on, after training a few years with Acacia and doing things for him like joining into searching food and such. I had taken my time to learn Knocking until Acacia's tutelage.

And let me tell you, it was a delicate thing to learn Knocking. One wrong move and it could kill a person if done incorrectly.

But, I was going to become the famous "Knocking Master" so I had learnt and practiced like a sponge.

After that, years passed, training under Acacia in the ways of being a Gourmet Hunter with Food Immersion or Food Honor wasn't easy, but I knew that. War has become a serious problem for many people, and we have tried to put food for us and for those that couldn't get food on their own.

It was a sad sight to see.

Even so, what surprised me most when Acacia, Ichiryu and I returned home with more food sacks, we encountered Froese with a kid. And not just any kid. It was Midora, the future villain and leader of the Gourmet Corp.

The scar marks on his eyes and the eyes of hunger was a giveaway. But it seemed that he had that kind of hidden talent underneath the hunger he had.

"Froese-sama! We're back!" I called out before blinking and feigning ignorance. "Huh?"

In an instant, Midora had rushed hastily at me since I was at the front. I leisurely dodged back while holding the huge food sack on my shoulder.

"Huh? What?" I dropped the food sack aside so I could crouch down to dodge the wild swipe on my face.

"It's okay! Those people are…!" Froese tried to stop Midora but he was acting like a wild child.

"GAAA!" Midora roared incoherently so I used knocking with my thumb on his clavicle muscle, stopping him immediately. "Ka… ah…" He gasped in shock for not being able to move.

I turned to Froese. "Froese-sama, who the hell is this guy?" I asked 'obliviously'. "A newcomer?"

Froese smiled in relief that I hadn't use extreme violence on Midora. "Yes, he's your new family. So please don't be so rough, Jiro-kun."

I grinned as I leaned at the paralyzed Midora. "Heeeeeh. He seems like more of a wild beast than a human." I teased him.

"Ga… ka…" Midora was snarling at me.

"So that makes him kind of like you, then." Ichiryu pointed out dryly.

I twirled at him. "Shudup!"

"It looks like he has Gourmet Cells." Acacia declared, putting aside his food sack. "He was probably born with them." He calmly walked toward Midora and crouched in front of him. "You don't need to be afraid. I'm Acacia. Nice to meet you."

As he greeted him, I stood next to Ichiryu, staring at the newcomer.

"You can feel it as well, bro?" I asked him softly.

"Yeah, it is faint. But like Acacia—sama said, he has them as well." Ichiryu agreed with a subtle nod.

"Well… seems that our family is growing." I chuckled softly. Ichiryu gave a ghost smile but did not say anything.

"Okay, everyone! Let's go eat!" Froese declared as she made way back home.

I cheered immediately. Hunting for months without Froese's cooking was hard for me to rush away. "HYAHOO! It'll be great to have Froese-sama's cooking again after so long!" I grabbed my food sack and rushed home.

Ichiryu rolled his eyes but silently agreed as he grabbed his food sack and followed us.

"Hahaha. Always like a glutton." Acacia chortled before looking at Midora with a warm smile. "Shall we?"

Midora hesitated for a moment before following as well.

It was nighttime. Our little family was enjoying a good meal with food and drinks. Well, I was drinking, and I loved it for every moment.

"Wahahah! What? You're an orphan?" I chortled in a good-natural way. "So, ya ain't got a name either!?"

"You're basically an orphan too, ya know." Ichiryu pointed out flatly, focused on eating his shank of meat. "Well, so am I."

I glanced at the scarred kid. "Yeah, that's right. We were adopted by Acacia-sama." I pointed at Ichiryu with my thumb. "This guy's the elder brother, Ichiryu. I'm the second son, Jiro. Then, you're the third son so…" I hummed thoughtfully, scratching my chin. "How 'bout Saburou?" I said jokingly with a straight face.

"Why that?" Ichiryu said incredulously. "Then we should make you Jirou."

"Haah?" I twirled my head to give him a nasty expression. "Then you'd be Ichirou, wouldn't ya!?"

"Tora (Tiger)."

The three of us looked at Acacia in confusion.

"He's the same gang as you guys… Yeah… If he doesn't have a name, then… How about we name you Midora?"

"For real, Acacia-sama?" I had to put much incredulity in my tone. A dragon, a wolf, and now a tiger being taught by the Gourmet God. What a fantasy thought. "This little kid's a tiger?"

I looked back at the now christened Midora. "I can't believe that!" I added, putting as much teasing in my tone. "This brat hasn't taken down anything but a Flavor Rhino! Tiger? You're seriously calling him a tiger?"

Midora was snarling angrily at me for my teasing, not that he knew what teasing was. Which was kind of sad.

"Kiiiii!" He grabbed my shoulders angrily and shook it.

I grinned mischievously. "Oh, what? You wanna go? Fine, I'll take you on! C'mon, let's take this outside."

"Seriously… cut it out." Ichiryu deadpanned at my antics.

But even so, we went outside to 'fight'.

And to say the least, I had pretty much forgotten what it was like to have a little brother. And truthfully, I was going to stop him from going to the darkness.

Months after that, Midora had been taught to read and write. Mostly by Froese since sometimes Ichiryu and I would join Acacia to capture ingredients.

And yet, once Midora was ready in both skills and knowledge, Acacia would let him join us.

While capturing different kinds of ingredients, Acacia would teach us what they were, how to capture them, and how to cook a bit. Sure, Froese's cooking was no match, but it was at least useful to know how to cook a quick meal for our Gourmet Cells to be nourished.

Now, Acacia was teaching me how to knock a Poison Boar. "That just now was how you defeat a Poison Boar without being poisoned."

"Whoa. Awesome." I said in awe since I knew that if I had rushed on, I would have been immediately poisoned by its tough and poisonous skin.

"Acacia—sama!" We both turned to see Ichiryu distressed. "Midora's hurt!"

Acacia and I followed Ichiryu to where Midora was located. There was a cave down and Midora was outside with a bloody knee.

Acacia noticed the cave with a frown. "This is… a Devil Orochi nest, isn't it…?"

"Oi, Midora! As much as I am glad that you have to balls, you ain't ready for Devil Orochis yet!" I called out teasingly and I noticed Midora gritting his teeth, and not because of his injuries.

"In this world, there are eight "King of Beasts" species called the "Eight Kings". They're legendary wild beasts that one should not get involved with carelessly." Acacia said, sliding down to reach Midora. "That wasn't one of the "Eight Kings", but… the largest class of Devil Orochi has a level of strength on par with them. You shouldn't get close to them right now." He then offered his hand to help him. "Now then… Grab on, Midora. It's okay now."

I could see Midora hesitating, like seeing something unknown for the first time. Ichiryu and I watched with soft smiles as Acacia helped Midora walk up to us.

Nighttime came, and using Cure Water, Midora's knee wound disappeared like nothing.

"The wound healed instantly!?" Midora exclaimed in astonishment.

"This is called Cure Water." Acacia said, holding said vial with care. "It's a revitalizing water that makes Gourmet Cells immediately become active."

"Amazing." I breathed in awe.

"Yes." Acacia nodded. "It's a pretty rare water that's hard to get hold of. However, it's not so much the water, but the Gourmet Cell's regeneration ability that's notable."

"I see." Ichiryu said with a contemplative frown.

"If you eat a "Compatible Ingredient", they can do far more than just this scratch. Their regenerative faculties are so strong that they can close a gaping hole in your stomach in an instant."

"Hue~" I grinned. "So we've got those cells in our bodies too, huh?"

"But on the other hand, as Gourmet Cells are connected to the possessor's spirit. A wound you received from an overwhelming strong power may not heal due to spiritual damage." added Acacia.

"I see. So even compatible ingredients won't help you much?" I divined.

"That's correct. A wound Gourmet Cells receive themselves last your whole lifetime."

I cackled joyfully. "So yer sayin' that if the cells admit their defeat, the wound will stay? Then I'll never have a scar like that in my whole life!"

"I'm 100% sure your compatible ingredient is booze, Jiro." Ichiryu deadpanned.

"M… My…" Midora spoke out as we looked at him. "My scars on my face…"

"Gourmet Cells themselves are said to have existed in this world since ancient times…" Acacia began solemnly. "Apparently they can appear through atavism on extremely rare occasions…"

"Midora, you were born with your Gourmet Cells. Gourmet Cells that start out with scars will be less susceptible to other things."

I frowned at that. Midora didn't deserve the hate for having survived. And he shouldn't have been sacrificed with the rest of the babies.

"…well…" Acacia chuckled softly. "It's really nothing to worry about… Just think of it as being born with talent."

I teasingly shook my hand on the air. "Talent? This guy? No way. There ain't nonna that, Acacia-sama!"

"Shut up!" Midora bristled indignantly.

"Anyhow, we should hurry and find them soon. Everyone's compatible ingredients." Acacia declared eagerly and we, their sons, matched his eagerness as well.

"Okay, everyone~!" Froese interrupted us as she began placing food on the table. "Dinner's all ready!"

"Yahoo!" I cheered up immediately. "Man, I was waiting for this!"

And there it was another day, sharing and bonding. Even if we didn't share blood, we shared a connection that comes with the experience and love we brought.

Weeks passed, Ichiryu, Midora and I would train together. Being taught with many things that Acacia would show us as we learnt.

I will admit. I had done something stupid, and Acacia did punish me by standing on a suspended rope over a cliff.

And let me tell ya. That's fucking scary!

We brothers bonded once more with booze. Ichiryu sucked ass at drinking. I had my fill of laughter, seeing how the mighty Ichiryu got drunk on the first sip. Midora watched gobsmacked on how Ichiryu was lightweight.

Meeting Setsuno at an early stage, I understand why Jiro fell in love with her. Average height, pink hair with two ponytails and she wore red lipstick, wearing a leopard-skin dress along with leopard-skin armband.

You could say that I fell in love with her as much as she did with me.

We met when I was alone catching some ingredients and found her getting attacked by some wild animals. Of course, I took them out like nothing with Knocking and I pretty much saw her beautiful face up close, and I would have said that I could see the flowery background.

That's how we decided to be a Combo – which is very special for the Hunter and a Chef to be – and introduced her to my family.

While Acacia and Froese were happy for my decision, Ichiryu and Midora were shocked.

"A combo!?"

"Hey! What are you trying to say to my face, dumbasses!?" I screamed at them incredulously, making Setsuno giggle at my antics.

One day, I was sitting on the floor in the house when Froese and Midora returned back from distributing food.

I noticed Midora's puffy eyes, and I realized that Midora might have gotten angry with one or many people.

But I knew best.

"Hey, Midora." I called him out. He looked at me suspiciously. Okay, that was hurtful. "Oh, come on, Lil' Bro. That's a bit hurtful."

"What do you want, Jiro?" He asked, frowning at me.

"Look. I won't sugarcoat it. I know that feeling." I told him, surprising him. "You don't think that neither Ichiryu nor I joined Froese-sama from distributing food? Ya fool, we all did to help."

I stood up, walking and standing in front of him. "I understand the frustration, Lil' Bro. You think that distributing food when given and suddenly being thrown away, that's wasteful!" I exclaimed, patting his arm. "What you reacted, it's normal. Never forget that, Lil' Bro." I smirked at him.

Midora's eyes widened before looking away with a huff. "He did wrong though."

I nodded at that. "I know. Wasting food, when the chefs put their effort on them, is not something even I would forgive."

"Never forget, Midora. Food is sacred. But with the people we share is a blessing." I cheered him up, smiling brightly at him.

Midora nodded immediately. As I gazed at Froese, she smiled proudly at me. I guess… having a family this close is what I cherish the most.

Ten years have passed since then. We had heard about a huge monstruous being called the Four Beast that entered the Human World.

Ichiryu ambushed it and drove the Four Beasts back in spectacular fashion, but the Four Beast had taken advantage of the war and absorbed several thousand humans before returning to Gourmet World.

However…

I had discovered the Four Beast's 'Main Body' in Gourmet World. And using Knocking, I successfully sealed it for many centuries.

"Big bro, that was awesome!" Midora complimented me.

I laughed smugly. "That was an easy win, Midora. There's nothing that I cannot knock."

"Well done, you two." We were surprised to see Acacia come back so soon as he had left before to the Gourmet World.

"Ah, Acacia-sama!" Ichiryu said in surprise. "Where were you all this time?"

"Ah, just doing a bit of ingredient gathering."

"Ingredients!?" Midora said in shock since it was normal to be shocked. Acacia had conquered and discovered every ingredient of the world, and no ingredients hadn't been un-discovered by this man.

"You, Acacia-sama? The one who conquered every ingredient in this world…?" Ichiryu asked in disbelief. "What ingredient are you after now…?"

Acacia looked at us solemnly before becoming serious. "…my Full Course."

We, sons of Acacia, were shocked because none of us had ever known the Full Course of him – well, I did but I had to act shocked for the sake of it – since being closer than anybody else but Froese, it was shocking that even after all these years, we never knew Acacia's Full Course.

"Acacia…" Froese said worriedly.

"You guys need to get ready too." Acacia declared sternly. "Not long from now, the 'Solar Eclipse' will occur. It's likely that in close to one month, the sun will be completely blocked out. There will probably be a cease-fire in the war, but the difficulty in procuring food will be even more rigorous than it is now."

"So we need to gather all the ingredients we can while we have the chance." Acacia continued, more serious than ever. It was distressing to know that this was going to be our most important task. "Otherwise, the people of the world will starve."

"So it's finally come, eh…?" Froese said worriedly. "That day…"

"Have you finished your Food Immersion, Froese…?"

"S… Solar Eclipse…" Midora breathed out in disbelief, not that we could blame him. "Those 'Fairy Tales' you told us as kids, Acacia… The Four Beast really did show up… so then with the Solar Eclipse… is there really going to a Demon King that will bite the sun…?"

"Midora… that was a Fairy Tale…" Acacia replied.

"R-Really…?"

Suddenly, everyone in the house froze and tensed. We twirled at the door. I was tense. I could feel it. The aura… the aura of a dangerous animal.

"This aura…" Ichiryu breathed out warily.

"Pair… has come to meet you, huh?" Froese said worriedly.

"Yes…" Acacia nodded. "No one interfere." He ordered us. "Those are Blue Nitro… No one can beat them…! So they've all come together, eh…?"

I was frustrated. I knew that I wasn't strong enough yet to deal with them like the future version of Jiro did. I could feel my sweat touching my forehead. I did hope that I'm not feeling fear… because that would be a hit to my pride.

"Now then, Froese…" Acacia began among the tense air we were held on. "Let's go."

Froese simply nodded as both of our parents left the house and followed the Blue Nitros somewhere.

I could see how Midora was tense, watching his adoptive parents – mostly Froese walk away.

I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't bother. We were told to keep the house and base. They will be able to take themselves."

"B-But…!"

"Midora, listen to him." Ichiryu said, and it pained him to be powerless against those foes. "We all can do what Acacia told us to do. Prepare when the Solar Eclipse comes. Let's go rest. We need to gather more ingredients before the Solar Eclipse comes."

With a reluctant way, Midora let it go.

"I know it's frustrating, Lil' Bro." I assured him since I was the most frustrated to watch those Blue Nitros take our adoptive parents away. "But we can only pray for their safety."

"I know…" Midora gritted out in frustration.

"Let's prepare what we can." I assured him, patting his back. "And hey, maybe we should gather Cure Water as well, just in case."

Midora nodded, sighing. "I… yes, that's a great idea, Big Bro."

I smiled at him. At least, we will be able to be prepared in the worst case. Though…

I frowned darkly when nobody saw me. I knew exactly who my enemy was.

It was frustrating pretending not to know anything. But if I wanted to be prepared, I had to lay low. Not until I was ready.

A month of gathering ingredients, no matter the difficulty, had been hectic. Because animals began hiding themselves, even predators. Not the usual behavior they put but somehow, Ichiryu, Midora and I would find them and gather them.

Setsuno had joined our little band of Gourmet Hunters since Froese wasn't with us, she had to cook and prepare our daily food.

"I'm sorry that we had to ask you for this, Secchan." I apologized regretfully, putting another Crab Pig on the floor.

"Hm-mh. It's okay, Jiro-chan. I understand. It is the duty of a chef to feed the hungry. I cannot let people go starving." Setsuna assured me with a gentle smile.

"And we appreciate the help, Setsuno." Ichiryu said gratefully, putting a Pig Baboon next to the rest of the ingredients.

"Yeah…" Midora said softly, still thinking about Acacia and Froese as he put both Broccobat and Eggplananaswan with the rest.

I noticed that reaction and patted his back. "Come on. We got more work to do."

"Yeah, but it's been harder to catch ingredients lately." Ichiryu said worriedly. "And the Solar Eclipse's getting closer."

"We have to do our best!" Midora declared firmly, making me smile, that he was getting there but I was still wary about this true self.

Yet, I don't have to worry about it now. We had people to feed and ingredients to catch.

The Solar Eclipse came to be true. Any beast hid from the hunting ground. Food became scarce. We delivered food dutifully to the people of what we had amassed.

And our worries were deep enough that I had to be the one reassuring Midora that both Acacia and Froese would return.

Alas, before the Solar Eclipse even ended, both Acacia and Froese returned. Yet, Froese remained weary on Acacia's arms as he carried her home.

Placing her on the bed, we watched worriedly as she breathed laboriously.

"You don't need to worry…" Acacia reassured us. "She's very exhausted but… If she gets a few days' rest, she should recover. Jiro, Setsuno, could you supply some ingredients?"

"Yes, Acacia-sama." I nodded.

"We will do our best." Setsuno added.

"Ichiryu." Acacia called his first son. "I have to something to talk to you about." He said cryptically.

As I left with Setsuno, I patted Midora's shoulder, getting his attention.

"I won't be long. I'll try to get as much ingredients as possible, Lil' Bro." I told him with a reassuring smile. "Froese-sama's strong. She'll pull this through, okay?"

"I… Yes, Big Bro." Midora nodded.

I gripped his shoulder. "Take care of her… and…" I paused, sighing. "Don't do anything stupid, Midora. You're family. And nobody can tell you otherwise, okay?"

"Strange of you to say that but…" Midora nodded absentmindly, looking worriedly at Froese. "I'll try."

I took that as a confirmation and I hoped that Midora hadn't fallen to the darkness.

As I began to leave with Setsuno… somehow, I could feel my worries etching inside my heart.

I quickly rushed to get as many ingredients as possible. Setsuno could notice my worries as while we were gathering, she stopped me.

"Jiro-chan…? What's wrong?"

Should I had told her…? Or should I keep quiet about this? I didn't know. Setsuno is a trustworthy woman and I knew that she was going to be one of the influential person in the future. And she was going to be my wife soon enough.

"I… I worry…" I began, clenching my fists in frustration. "I worry about my family… I worry about Froese… I even worry about Lil' Bro…"

She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "I know, Jiro-chan. We can only pray that Froese-sama can walk through this. I've seen her work, and she has been a good mentor for me. I believe that she can go through this."

Even if I knew how it would go on… I really hoped that was the case… This was different… and I wanted to be different.

I breathed in and out to calm myself. "I know… I… We can only pray for them." I smiled warmly at her. "Thanks, Secchan."

She blushed faintly. "Anytime, Jiro-chan."

It was surprising that when we arrived back home, Midora and Froese were still fine. I subtly checked the Cure Water – that the well was being protected by an offspring of one of the Eight Kings, Dragon King Derous, lived – had not diminished at bit.

Guess without worries, Midora remained at Froese's side until we returned.

I did change something… and I hoped that it kept that way.

It was another day that, with Setsuno's cooking while Froese rested, we were gathered at the table eating in peace.

"Continuing to live…" Acacia began, looking solemn at the table which we paused on eating to look at him. "Means continuing to eating things… and continuing eating things… means to keep killing things…"

"Nature is always giving life to us… that is why we share food and life…" Acacia looked at each one of us before looking at the sleeping Froese. "Ichiryu. Jiro. Setsuno. Midora. You guys need to survive as well. And I…"

He paused solemnly, looking like he was ready to part away.

"I have to go… I… have to leave you here… and go on a journey." Acacia declared solemnly.

I knew that this was where Acacia would leave and deliver GOD to every country to stop the war.

"Children… can I leave Froese with you all?" Acacia requested us.

"Yes, we will." Ichiryu replied to all of us, each of us nodded in agreement, Midora more firmly than the rest of us.

It was the next day that Acacia left with sealed trays with him.

I hoped that nothing wrong would happen to him… even if I knew exactly who my enemy was.

It was then that Ichiryu explained to us brothers and Setsuno what Acacia told him.

"Acacia-sama left me an order for all of us…" Ichiryu began, folding his arms. "He said that he is sealing away his Full Course the one with GOD as the Main Dish… and that we must not search for it…"

"Any reason why, Ichi-chan?" Setsuno asked curiously as he shook his head.

"None that I know of. The only ingredients he didn't tell us about… was that there's a high likelihood that Cure Water was something to process and cook one ingredient in the Full Course."

He then pinned Midora and I a stern look. "What did you two do?"

I raised my hands. "Hey, Bro. I didn't know that. I was only taking precautions since Cure Water was good for Gourmet Cells. Don't blame me nor Midora for that. We didn't know that it was part of Acacia-sama's Full Course."

"And I hadn't used any of them ever since we got more." Midora added, nodding.

Ichiryu stared at us sternly for about a minute or so before sighing. "That's good to know… next time, I prefer if you told me beforehand."

"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya." I rolled my eyes playfully. Midora sighed in relief.

Even so, after many months that Acacia went on to deliver GOD to the leaders of each country, war was finally over.

Froese was still bedridden and seeing her weak put us in a worrisome state. Even while Froese taught Setsuno about cooking, Midora remained by her side and neither Ichiryu nor I could blame him.

Froese had used her Demonic Appetite to cook GOD which even if her moniker was Chef Goddess, there was something about preparing an unknown plate for the first time. You had to get used to it before it felt like riding a bicycle.

So, her being too tired to move was understandable.

"How are you feeling, Froese-sama?" I asked her.

"I'll be fine, Jiro." She smiled warmly at me. "I should've known that cooking something that I wasn't used to, was going to take a toll on me."

"Well, we're glad to see that you're recovering, Froese-sama. You had us worried." Ichiryu said.

"Yes, I'm really glad. And even if I could follow Acacia… I hope he's well-fed." Froese smiled in nostalgia.

"For now, please rest, Froese-sama." Midora requested, worriedly.

"Man, who would have thought that you would act like a mother hen." I chided jokingly.

"Shuddup! I don't want to hear from you!" Midora protested, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Don't think what you and Setsuno do behind doors!"

I bristled a blush as Setsuno decided that the food she was preparing was more important than our conversation. "You brat! Now you've done it! Come here, you!"

I held his head in a headlock while nugging the hell out of it. Ichiryu and Froese found our 'dispute' amusing as they laughed with Setsuno joining soon after.

Soon after, we needed to go our separate ways. Ichiryu left first, saying that he needed to prepare things since Acacia disappeared. Then, Setsuno and I left a few years later.

Midora remained with Froese, and we had even told him that we would visit them whenever we had time.

Setsuno and I got married by then. Our family joined our marriage with a few friends that we made on our way. With more food and booze that even I could drink off… not that they weren't left aside.

We got our first child and by then, years followed.

Even after our happy days, we knew that Froese wouldn't live long. It seemed that while we were away, Froese had gotten weaker, and we didn't know why.

I theorized that her Appetite Demon had weakened to the point that her Gourmet Cells were failing her. Even if Midora had been giving her Cure Water.

They must be really weak to maintain her.

"It's okay…" Froese said while we had gathered around her. She was breathing heavily; she didn't look like the beautiful and motherly woman we all remember. She looked haggard and weaker. Acacia didn't come but I could barely sense him, watching us from afar and I could notice that Ichiryu noticed as well.

"Froese-sama…" Midora sobbed, holding her hand.

"I'll be fine, Midora… You've been a great child…" She said softly with a gentle smile. She weakly began sitting up, but Midora stopped her.

"F-Froese-sama…!" He said worriedly and we couldn't blame him, we were about to stop her as well.

"It's alright… let me just give you all… one last gift… as a mother for you all…" She reassured us, weakly standing up and going to the kitchen.

Midora was about to protest when I placed a hand on his shoulder. He twirled to look at me angrily before stopping when he saw my solemn eyes.

I knew that Chefs in this world were sacred. Even after the First Gourmet Era began, chefs had been pushed to become more important than any other.

We watched silently as Froese began making her final preparations before her end.

The food… never had been tasted bitter and saddening. We ate in silence, enjoying the last moment together as Froese urged us like children to eat.

It was saddening that despite my plans, Froese would die.

The funeral was short, with only us sons and Setsuno on it. Acacia still hadn't appeared, and I doubted that he would come. He had given us his final goodbyes and I realized… that he knew that Froese wouldn't survive even after all this.

That man sure felt different… but this was not the time to think about that.

Midora, sitting in front of her tombstone, sobbed quietly. He would have never thought that Froese would die, and I wouldn't have expected otherwise.

Ichiryu, Setsuno and I remained quietly solemn, remembering the good times we had before we left.

I only hoped… that I should have noticed that sooner.

After Froese's funeral, Ichiryu, Setsuno and I left once more. Midora had given up on remaining the last remnants of our past and disappeared as well.

I had checked that the Cure Water supplies had diminished to the point of nothing. And I had a feeling that it was used for a specific purpose.

I guessed… Canon was going to happen.

Years passed and we never saw Midora again. Setsuno had conceived our first child, a daughter by the name of Froese, in keepsake for our late adoptive mother.

She was a joy for our mundane life, and I had hoped that Midora would have met our daughter.

Technically, Ichiryu had founded IGO before Froese's death and I had no doubt that he would do something big. He was an ambitious guy, and I chuckled when he asked me to join him.

Of course, while I do prefer my own freedom as a Gourmet Hunter, I should know that there were a few things that Ichiryu cannot order me around even if he's my older brother.

So, I accepted it.

I became his first employee, not as a Vice President, but as a member of the secret group of Biotope 0. Those that only enter Gourmet World.

I had told him that I would prefer to be a much more secret member, to ever letting other members know about me.

Because even after all these years, I had kept a notebook of myself on what happened to recall.

Ichiryu accepted it reluctantly but never asked why.

I appreciated his sentiment, and I had told him that one day… maybe I would tell my reasons.

More years passed and I watched from afar, Ichiryu recruiting more personnel and even adopting the future Four Heavenly Kings.

Toriko, Coco, Sani and Zebra. I must say they are a bunch of rascals.

Not like my little Froese who had married of with a chef. They were Combo as much as Setsuno and I were one. Still… one day, they suddenly disappeared, and I never found them ever even with Ichiryu's help before adopting the kids.

I looked from high from low… to the stretch of the world in search of my daughter and son-in-law…

But there wasn't any speck of them.

In the lowest point of my life, I was about to snap had not Setsuno came to me with a bundle of cloth… and inside, I could recognize the gentle face of my dear Froese.

"Jiro-chan. This is Teppei, Froese's child." She said softly as she handed me the baby.

I cradled him like he was the most fragile thing in the world as I wept.

"I'm your grandpa, Teppei… I'm going to take care of you…"

While Setsuno's been busy with her cooking now that with IGO's help, the Cooking Fest happened, and she had been quite busy now that there were many chefs that challenged her. As much like Zaus and Chiyo.

I took care of Teppei, trained him, teaching him, treating him like any other child I had.

Teppei was a bright kid. He had a temper, but he had known that his dream to become a Gourmet Hunter was to be truth… had I not shown him my favorite spot for hunting… which was now nothing but dry land.

I knew that Teppei wasn't someone destined to be a Gourmet Hunter… but a Gourmet Reviver. But while he had not the time to decide to follow his own path… I would train him in the ways of Knocking.

I may had lost my Strength since Acacia had 'sealed' it and 'replaced' it with Technique. And that was fine.

Maybe it wasn't the time yet and even so, I wanted to have a peaceful time with Teppei and Setsuno while I had it.

I could believe that 500 years had passed. It was illogical, yet after consuming many different ingredients, finished my Full Course, and even seen many things in my life… I was now at the start of the series.

I had decided one day to drink some Puffer Fish Whale's Fin Sake, I had come to meet Toriko, now in his middle 20s.

I had put the 'senile' old man gig and asked him for some liquor… not that because it was to hide the fact of my fear of height, no…

IT WAS NOT, I TELL YA!

Toriko had given me it without any fight. He simply gave me a smile while Komatsu simply looked scared, not to myself but for everything else.

Afterward, I watched them leave the train to meet a certain fortune teller while the train moved away.

Getting those Puffer Fish Whale hadn't been hard, and I was drinking joyfully as the dozens of those ingredients on sake refreshed my taste and mind off problematic things.

Had it not been interrupted by the sight of the Demon Orochi about to eat Komatsu.

"So loud~ What was that noise…? Right next to someone enjoying the Puffer Fish Whale's Fin Sake in a good mood?" I slurred, sipping from a small cup.

Without hesitation nor letting the Demon Orochi react, I struck it with my Knocking Gun.

Seeing Komatsu in a near-death state, I sighed, opening my jacket with much equipment. "Oh my, oh my, his heart stopped from the shock of the explosion and his eardrums are ripped as well… I owe these kids a favor for the sake on the train. As a thanks, I'll give you a present of a second life."

I carefully healed him with knocking and repaired his eardrums. Each movement slow and with purpose, now that I was a bit drunk.

Of course, Komatsu shouted at my face once I healed him and not that I could blame him since I was much bigger than he had seen me before.

I thanked him for the sake and left my way, really happy that my grandnephews were fine. Though I didn't know if I should remain since there was a GT Robot, swimming and getting those Puffer Fish Whales as well.

I guess Midora ended up founding his own Gourmet Corporation. But was he good… or was he evil? That, I didn't know.

And I should hope that that wasn't the case.

My second meeting with Toriko ended up being at Gourmet World a few months later. Komatsu had called with the number I gave to Sani. Not that he ever called me Grand Uncle. Especially since I always gave them gifts without letting them know of my presence.

They sure had a long way to go.

Anyways, back to what I was saying, my second meeting with Toriko, I had to save him from a group of Mamews. My state was a bit younger, and I used my Knocking Rifles Hard Type to knock and dispatch the Mamews with ease, showing him that he wasn't ready yet.

Even after those Asura Tiger and King Landler came fighting, I showed them the difference of power using Intimidation Knocking.

I have explained many things to Toriko about Gourmet World. The danger within. The reason that letting your guard down for even hundredths of a second is taboo.

And I even showed him that having gone to Gourmet World alone was suicide. I knew that Toriko and Komatsu were now a Combo. And I knew that they were good.

From the way Toriko spun around and cried silently, he got the message.

Good grief with this generation.

The third meeting was quite funny, having to meet both at my favorite place. The Heavy Drinker Archipelago.

Drinking together with my grandnephew and his combo on the Emerald Dragon's back, the Emerald Wine Bath was quite joyful.

We drunk and enjoyed the moment, and while I was quite guilty that they forgot to get King Vinegar for a week, I would say that having a moment with family was worth it.

And I had even shared my Drink, Doham Spring Sake. The way they got suddenly drunker than ever was fun in my book.

Then… everything went to shit.

Ichiryu had recalled every member of Biotope 0 and the way his tone told me, it was serious.

And after many years of not showing myself to the rest of the group, I was finally able to reveal myself to them. Since most of my missions were hand given by him or told personally.

Not that it was shocking that each one of them, handpicked by Ichiryu and few members, saw me.

'Gourmet Gang Leader' Guemon. Gourmet Hunter.

'Gourmet Literary Master' Malisman. Gourmet Human National Treasure.

'Gourmet Seitai Master' Malee. Knocking Artisan.

'Blacksmith' Kuribou. Make of the World's Strongest Pots.

'Honey Prison Warden' Love.

'Gourmet Magician' Mana. Gourmet Hunter.

'Warrior of the Goro Tribe' Tack. Gourmet Hunter.

'Gourmet Mountain Bandit' Goblin Ramon.

'Assassin' Megarodras.

'Martial Artist' Sakura. Gourmet Hunter.

Rapp. Gourmet Hunter.

'Former Gourmet Yakuza Boss' Ryuu. Gourmet Hunter.

Yosaku. Gourmet Reviver (Saiseiya).

'Gourmet Astronomer' Rala. Gourmet Hunter.

'Sharpener' Melk the First.

'Gourmet Hermit' Kousairou.

'Gourmet Surgeon & Chef' Atashino.

Excluding the Gourmet National Treasure 'Master of the Shokurin Temple' Chinchin, every member of Biotope 0 was present.

"President, I didn't know the 'Knocking Master' was a member of the Biotope 0." Malee said in awe.

"Mah, Jiro told me that he wanted to go unnoticed, but I guess the moment was serious." Ichiryu shrugged, continuing eating like nothing.

I chortled in amusement. "Yeah, I did. And I know you, Malee. Keep it up and maybe you'll reach our level."

"I… Thank you for the compliment but I'm nowhere close to President or your level." Malee said, humbled.

"Mah, mah, just call me Jiro." I waved him off.

The meeting was quick and to the point without sugarcoating it. We of IGO were now at war with the Gourmet Corporation.

Ichiryu had told me that the leader was Midora… but I never knew why he had become evil and surrounded by darkness. I've done my best… yet he fell.

I clenched my fists and Ichiryu continued, and everyone was assigned to a point.

Later, I was talking with Ichiryu without anyone knowing. Ichiryu had already expected that we would have a mole, even if he made a joke before.

The mole was Kousairou and had assigned Kuribou as a counter spy. And while I hadn't been given a zone to join, he told me that he wanted me here at Human World to protect it with his kids.

"You sure you will be fine?" I asked him.

He chortled in amusement. "Of course, I'll be. Though I understand your worries. My Gourmet Cells are telling me that they are ready and I'm pretty much eager to go against him."

I sighed deeply. "I hope so, Big Bro. I know you and I didn't look eye to eye most of the time… but I think that you're ready to be told."

He looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean?"

So, I explained to him. Where I come from. The real me. Not as Jiro. I had told him that I had knowledge of the future, and I hid them in case something happened.

In all my life, the only person I had told was Setsuno. Of course, she didn't believe me at first but throughout our journey, she slowly trusted enough to believe me and hid that knowledge with herself and nobody else. I didn't even tell Teppei about this and I intended to.

Once I explained to him that IGO was going to be finished and this new group NEO would appear, with his death, he hummed – not growled – simply.

"I see…" He said, folding his arms and cupping his chin. "I never thought that you would be like this, Jiro."

"Well, I didn't expect it otherwise, and hey, if we die, I guess I can tell our family about this." I smirked, thought there wasn't much mirth in my tone.

"I guess." He shrugged casually. "Well… I'll do my best thought I don't doubt my children with do their best to do this."

I cackled. "Yeah, the next generation will always surpass the previous one." We clasped our hands, grabbing from our forearm. "Live long…"

"And with a full belly, never regret." He finished.

"I'll protect the Human World. Deal with Midora. But tell him the truth." I stated firmly, grasping his arm with more force.

"Of course. I'll do that."

"Be well, Ichiryu."

"You as well, Jiro."

My appearance was shocking to everyone during the interrupted Cooking Festival. Of course, beheading with Knocking a Red Nitro with horrible ease.

"Geez, this sure is a mess." I lamented, seeing the destruction of the stadium and the many things the Gourmet Corporation were doing like kidnapping chefs and such. "I sure hope to give that brat some manners."

I turned to look at Setsuno. "Sorry it took me so long, Secchan." I apologized.

I watched the many injuries that my wife obtained and there was that bubbling sensation of murdering every single one of those Gourmet Corporation, their monsters, and members of NEO.

"Think nothing of it, Jiro-chan." Her voice soothed my anger like quieting my demons. "You really saved me by coming here."

I would have replied had I not felt something wrapped in my leg. Looking down, the Earthquake Resistant Root was coiling around my left leg. I noticed that Teppei had succumbed to Joa's Dark Cooking. Speaking of it, I turned to glare at Joa, and I had the suspicion and knowledge of who this person truly was.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO TEPPEI, YOU BASTARD!?" I roared furiously, letting my Intimidation Knocking exhale with anger.

"I see…" Joa said calmly, like my air of anger didn't affect him. "Long ago, Acacia was apprehensive of the enormity of that power and even more so, that brutal personality… and so he sealed part of the 'Strength' and planted 'Technique' into the Wolf…"

"The 'Rampaging Beast' Jiro. I do believe that you had such a name before you became Acacia's disciple…" He intoned.

"Yer pretty well informed." I scoffed, not even surprised that someone like him would know my previous moniker.

Joa chortled in amusement. "Thank you. What do you say…?" He began. "Would you care to fight one of our members…?"

With the most vicious expression, I clenched my fist and gave him a cold glare. "Are you an idiot?" Raising my fist, I punched the ground with force. "GRAND KNOCKING!"

The waves of power emanated on the ground, expanding through everywhere and shocking the people and monsters. Paralyzing them.

Standing up, I glared at Joa. "Yer noisy, so all of ya, STOP."

Of course, I didn't bother to pay attention to the natural disaster I caused with the chefs shocked beyond their minds. Only Setsuno looked at it in amusement.

"He stopped it… He really stopped the rotation of the Earth in an instant… No, perhaps I should say he nearly stopped it." Joa mused casually.

I didn't hesitate to strike him when I got the chance, and we could all now see that the person behind the hood was Froese… or a Food Spirit that possessed Froese's body after her death.

His instant action of jumping up and using Instant Shedding and Sky Cut to terminate the tsunami shocked Setsuno since it was one of Froese's many techniques.

"Th… That technique is… Froese-sama's…!" Setsuno gasped before gripping her personal kitchen knife, Waterfall Saliva (Takitsuba). "Let's make sure of this, Jiro-chan!"

"Yeah, okay." I conceded, pulling out my personal brass knuckle made from Guiness's fang, Wolf's King Fangs, out of my jacket's inner pockets.

"Takitsuba. Form Change." Her knife wobbled to change from serrated to solid firmness. "Cook Road!"

Two bladed energies blasted out of her kitchen knife as I prepared myself.

"Go ahead 'n rise high enough ta eat stars." I cocked my fist before punching forward. "Rising Wolf, Guiness Punch!"

A single but powerful energy blasted forward, joining with Setsuno's as they carved their way toward Joa.

Joa's feature suddenly changed with his Demon Appetite – obviously different from Froese's – as he raised his kitchen knife – Froese's Cinderella.

"Satan Mince!"

Our attacks rendered useless when he blasted them away.

"Oh my…" Setsuno intoned, watching the blast casually.

"Hehehe…" I chortled in amusement with an inward grimace. "She stopped my Guiness Punch that was rising all the way to space, eh…?"

"I guess what you told me was real then…?" Setsuno remarked blandly. "But did you see that, Jiro-chan…?"

I shrugged. "A bit. But I did see it. Her Gourmet Cells showed themselves and from what I understood…" I eyed at Joa. "She had eaten Acacia-sama's Full Course… Yet, we all know that Froese is dead."

"Yes…" Setsuno agreed solemnly with me.

Then came Starjun with Komatsu under his arm, injured yet victorious against Toriko.

Every member of NEO was retrieved by Joa's Shadow Lizard, Tokage, while the remaining members of the Gourmet Corporation retreated.

And lamentably, we and the remaining chefs watched as the sky began showering everywhere with meteors.

"Ichiryu…"

Again, I lost another member of the family.

It had been a few weeks later the invasion. Many people had resulted in looting and robbing from stores now that food supplies weren't spreading.

Humans were animals. That meant as it is.

I knew that the three members of the Four Heavenly Kings were planning something. Something to end the starvation going.

As for the fourth member, I went to check on him. I noticed Rin and fortunately, she didn't call me Knockin' Geezer as the original canon.

"Jiro-san…"

"Hi, Rin. How's Toriko?"

She looked concerned at her crush, sitting solemnly as he gazed at the sky.

"Not pretty good." She concluded regretfully. "He's been like that over there for days."

"Hmm… I see…" I muttered, inwardly surprised that the gluttonous Toriko hadn't eaten anything. But the loss of Komatsu by his own powerless state had put him in such state just when how I lost my daughter and son-in-law.

I approached him, laying down a nice jug of sake. "How about a drink, Toriko-kun?"

He glanced at me, yet there was nothing in his eyes that told me anything.

I looked up at the night sky. "We can't quite call this clear sky after the hurricane yet, but… these stars sure are pretty, ain't they?"

I offered him a plate of food. "Here. It's Cetipemia Nuts."

He barely glanced at the food before looking at me with those solemn eyes. "Sorry, Jiro-san…" He glanced down at nothing. "Right now… I don't think I could swallow anything.

That was worrisome.

Yet, as I looked at him, his stamina hadn't diminished at all. Far from it, he's overflowing with so much energy it's incomparable to how he was before.

Grabbing the jug of sake that I brought, I poured over two cups. "This liquor is the only one and only liquor that Ichi-chan liked…"

He glanced back at me. "That teetotaler old man…?" He asked softly, his tone in disbelief.

I nodded, pouring on the second cup. "It's called Maboro Sake or Illusion Sake as you prefer… however, it's not an illusion or anything like that at all… It's a normal alcoholic drink you can get anywhere and it's not too strong either… Personally, I don't like it that much." I snorted humorously.

After a few seconds of pause, Toriko asked me. "Why would you get that liquor specifically now…?"

I see… he wasn't told yet. Grabbing a cup, I looked forward. "Ichi-chan died in Gourmet World…" I revealed him solemnly, shocking Toriko.

"…Eh?"

I offered him the cup. "Here. Let's lift a glass."

He accepted the cup as I grabbed the other one. "He lost to the Gourmet Corporation's Boss, Midora…" I sipped my cup. "Well… it's not completely unbelievable."

Toriko sipped on his cup in contemplation. "This flavor seems very much like him… it's simple, but somewhat nostalgic."

I chuckled in nostalgia. "Yeah… Ichi-chan's power was undoubtedly the best in the world… same goes for his kindness." I glanced at him with a small smile. "I used to fight everything with him. I rallied him, taunted him, and even urged him for a fight… just like Zebra-kun would do to you three."

Toriko grinned softly, recalling his brothers in all but blood.

"And I bet that he showed that kindness even to Midora even before Froese-sama's death, ya know." I intoned sadly, sighing softly as I sipped once again. "He thought of Midora as his little brother more than anyone…"

"He never once let me win, thought."

I chuckled softly, glancing at him. "Probably because he thought someday, he would really lose to you, don't ya think? Toriko… that potential you've got in you, I'm sure Ichi-chan sensed it."

"No…" He replied dejectedly. "I'm weak… I couldn't protect a single chef. I'm a weak Gourmet Hunter…" He sagged his shoulders in true defeat. "I really hate… how weak I am."

I gave him a moment of pause, pouring myself another cup. "In a serious wild battle, there is no good nor evil… You actually show respect to your opponent… isn't that right, Toriko-kun?" I asked him, sipping my drink.

I sighed as I poured myself another one. "So don't blame yourself. Don't hate yourself. You fought fair and square, didn't you? You should pay respect to yourself as well. You should have pride. No matter how much you attack yourself, it won't change what happened."

"All you can do is recognize that accept it and stand back up." I told him sagely. "Life is like a playground swing. The higher and father forward you go as you swing, it carries the risk of falling just as far back." I chuckled in melancholy. "Ichi-chan… He won't be coming back again, but…" I turned to look at him firmly. "Komatsu-kun is alive, isn't he?"

I could see a spark of life in Toriko's eyes brightening a little.

"Your life's swing that's fallen all the way back, can only make a big lunge forward now. Then all you need to do is jump off and flap your wings to the infinite, dazzling future stretching out in front of you."

Toriko took a moment to consider my words as he stood up. "Future… Thanks, Jiro-san…"

As he was about to leave, I looked at him over my shoulders. "Toriko-kun." I called him, stopping him. "What is your dream?"

"…my dream?" He asked in confusion.

"Try to think back to it again. Your own past will light up the path… to the future you should walk on. Just remember that." I looked away from him, back to the night skies. "We are Gourmet Hunters. Awake or asleep… we are Gourmet Hunters."

With those parting words, Toriko left again.

A few days later, I got words that Toriko got his hunger back and went to Gourmet World and save Komatsu.

Meanwhile, with the rest of the remaining members of IGO and the Four Heavenly Kings, we started working on helping whatever we could in the Human World. Since I knew that I was the surviving member of Biotope 0, I alone had to get food from there so that at least until Toriko and Komatsu returned.

"Good grief… making an old man like me work harder." I snorted but went on. I didn't know what the original Jiro did, but I wouldn't let these people starve because of Midora's reckless attack.

And I would rather die than becoming the president of IGO. I let Mansam do that.

"Well… here we go."

A year and a half went past. Even with my help, there was a limit on feeding billions of people alone and eventually, Massam and IGO had to make some drastic changes to make Food Tablets.

Ugh, the gall and insult for real food. But without any fertile or farmable land left, it was either starving or surviving with those.

Not that I joined that since I could simply get food from Gourmet World.

Still, it was two hard years the people ate them until Toriko and Komatsu returned with a massive pile of food.

Then without my help – obviously – went to get the last of Ichiryu's Full Course, his Main Dish.

Once they gathered, we saw and prepared the special preparation ingredient which the Billion Bird came to be.

Chefs and cooks began working dutifully, preparing many dishes for the populace.

I even joined them when they tasted the Billion Bird Egg. Truly, a delicious drink. Ichiryu chose well.

I went to the Food Immersion Cape at Gourmet World.

There it was, as a tombstone, Ichiryu's Hors d'oeuvre the Million Tree. I would recall that Midora was good at a certain skill of his. I could see that Midora was strong, evenly matching mine as it was different from what I recalled from the original Jiro's words.

I poured sake on Ichiryu's grave in solemn. "I miss him, Secchan. And I had told him about it."

"You did…? I thought you wouldn't tell anyone else." Setsuno remarked, sitting next to me.

"Well… you know me… I am unpredictable." I snorted jokingly.

"Oh, don't I know that." Setsuno giggled at my joke before looking serious. "The land… the world… is stirring intensely. This has never happened before. Yet, I knew that this would come. And I hoped that this would never come true. Now Gourmet World will enter night… we won't even be able to move freely… You said that you would die…"

"Yeah… I did." I nodded slowly. "But you never know. I'll do my best."

I gazed at the top of the Million Tree. "Wait fer us, Ichi-chan… until we can drink once more together."

"For now, we'll wait for Toriko and the others here in Gourmet World… I don't think we'll be going back to Gourmet World…" I looked at my wife. "Human World… will be okay, right Secchan?"

She smiled confidently at me. "It'll be fine… those young people are much sturdier than we think."

I chuckled in agreement. "Don't I know it. I remember your disciple, Nono, Secchan. And I think that she has a crush on Komatsu-kun. I have no doubt that Melk the Second will have competition."

"Hohoho, don't I know it? A young soul tends to fall in love with someone with charisma and Komatsu has that in spare." She chortled.

"Hah… Young love." I breathed nostalgia.

And now… we waited.

It was by the time Setsuno and I met Chichi from one of those Flavor Sages, we met one of the chunks of NEO as in the Appetite Demon. Acacia's Appetite Demon.

I recognized it as I approached it casually. "Oya, oya, if it isn't this blob of an Appetite Demon, hm?"

Chichi, of course, got spooked. "Th-That thing…!"

I leaned back just before NEO could eat me.

"Jiro-chan!" Chichi exclaimed.

"Whoa, whoa, this makes my back hurt, dammit." I complained, firmly leant back. "Quite a shrewd one ya are…"

I ushered with a Knocking on it. Yet, when I struck, I could feel that this resistance was a furious energy that's a real bitch to stop.

I grinned just as I took off my jacket and shirt as my muscles enlarged to a humongous size and concentrated my force on my right arm. NEO, noticing my power, immediately changed its form.

Not that it could do anything.

With a mighty roar, I furiously changed my arm's size, to be more concentrated and both Setsuno and Chichi noticed this.

"Don't hit the world with it, Jiro-chan!" Setsuno exclaimed her warning.

"I know." I smirked savagely. "Big Bang."

Once it struck, it went flying up to space.

"Good grief. Should've known that this wasn't going to work." I spoke. The reason was because I raised my hand… or lack thereof, leaving a stump on it. I had clenched my muscles on the wrist to hold the bleeding. "It ate my hand at the moment of impact, huh…?"

"Here. Take this Cure Water, Jiro-chan." Setsuno said, holding said vial and poured on my stump, making my Gourmet Cells work and recreate my hand.

"Oh, thanks, Secchan!"

"That was NEO…" Chichi gulped nervously, and he began explaining that this was one Predatory Creature that had been resurrected many times since over 10 billion years ago.

My, my, and to think that Acacia had this Appetite Demon inside once he had eaten and got eaten by PAIR, one of the Gourmet Nobility of Blue Nitros.

Well then, it was time to undo my knocking that Acacia put me on centuries ago.

Time to play with those members of the Gourmet Nobility, shall we?

I met them, those of the Gourmet Nobility. And I could say that they were strong. But I've been training for 500 hundred years since Froese's funeral.

Despite my laid-back and carefree personality, I got to train more than I could think of, preparing myself for this moment. Never acting out of cockiness or overconfidence. I had to fight and retrieve ingredients more powerful than me, and I intended to make my Gourmet Cells evolve.

I had tasted a few of Acacia's Full Course while my grandnephews went to gather them. Chichi got me to eat them with Setsuno.

I intended as the original version to simply talk with Acacia. Though knowing that NEO was influencing everything on his mind, I might as well kill him, no matter if he was my second adoptive father.

Acacia/NEO ended up eating one of them, by the codename of AIR if I recall, and disappeared into Back World.

And then they went with their spiel of the reason of gathering GOD and the rest of Acacia's Full Course. They intended on once NEO completed its form, they would Seal him inside one of those Golden Can, an unknown material that would seal NEO forever since Appetite Demons would always resurrect and take another host.

I mean, I would have killed Acacia right here, right now.

Of course, they wanted to wait until NEO ate GOD but I didn't have the patience to wait for that.

So, I began by striking myself with Knocking on the heart, unlocking the one thing that stopped me from being the Rampaging Beast that Acacia sealed in me.

It was time for the Second Wolf to return.

The Gourmet Nobility began telling me that they should seal NEO and giving me NEO's backstory.

I couldn't care less since I knew that already.

"I know that." I confessed, shocking them completely. "I mean, an Appetite Demon… no, that doesn't sound right… whatever, what I meant was that… NEO needs to be completely dead… and I intend to make him suffer!"

GOD, as the codenamed Blue Nitro, gritted his beak. "It looks like talking is going to get us nowhere."

I cackled like a feral animal, enjoying this excruciating enjoyment of beating the crap out of these Blue Nitros. Sure, I had eaten Red Nitros thanks to Guiness. But the sheer will of fighting them was putting me in a dopamine state.

NEWS slammed his humongous fists on me, using Mantle Shot. I redirected the power of his attacks with Damage Knocking and avoided being blown up.

Feeling another Knocking unsealing from my body, I could feel more power coursing through my body.

Of course, they were in disbelief that despite me having eaten many Red Nitros, they didn't know that I was raised by Guiness.

Shocking them with one of my Guiness Punch, they exclaimed that this would destroy the entire Earth. Of course, I knew that. I wasn't a fool or reckless idiot. That was why Setsuno was at the Human World, protecting with her Atmospheric Pressure Dome.

She wasn't just my wife and Combo for shits and giggles.

Now, I had the last of my Knocking on my back left. Pushing them out of my body, I could feel my true power emitting inside me.

Feeling 100% of my power released, I could finally breath like never before. It was like having a pressure of the world on me, holding me… taking a part of me chained away…

Now… I was free.

And they decided to not fuck around and started using their Can Openers. Cooking utensils made from Golden Material, or Gourmet Material.

NEWS had corkscrews.

GOD and ANOTHER had fillet knives.

EARTH used two peels.

ATOM used simple knives.

And PAIR was using spatulas.

It was funny when ANOTHER used threads to hold me. I used brute force to escape before using Head Shaker on GOD. I broke many of those Life pellets, capable of replacing the user's damage and death with it.

I managed to snatch a few before I broke them by accident.

ANOTHER used her One-Light Year Spiral Wind/Grating before I made it obsolete with Knocking Breath. And with a Big Bang, I punched her up to the galaxy.

I dodged when EARTH used Earth's Crust Peel and countered with a Guiness Punch.

I couldn't dodge when NEWS used Star Corer, but I quickly used my Secret Arts: Knocking Time.

"Ouch, you bastard. That hurts." I complained lightly before turning to look at NEWS. "Though, I apologize that now you only had a few seconds of a chance of winning… but now it's my time. Eternal Knocking!"

It was a secret art for a reason. It took a toll on me with that Knocking but I managed. When I faced ATOM, he was looking elsewhere.

I turned to where ATOM was looking but I was greeted with a punch on my face, feeling my head shooting out of my neck.

There it was. Acacia/NEO. It was uglier than I remembered. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it… Jiro?" He said, using Acacia's face.

"Well, well, well…" I grinned back. "If it isn't Acacia-sama…"

And thanks to the Life orb, I survived and instead of using Million Knocking only, I added Guiness Rampage, a variant of Guiness Punch, to strike Acacia/NEO relentlessly.

I demanded answers like the original… if the tears… the joy… the chastising… if it meant anything to him… but I guess Acacia's real soul was dead and away from this mockery.

Acacia/NEO had used many tentacle-like tongues to unlock his Knocking, though the power behind with Guiness Punch didn't mean much to him.

Tsk, what a Monster.

At least, I could hold him off until my grandnephews were ready.

Tch… got blown off and landed just in front of my grandnephews and GOD, as in the ingredient. At least I didn't die. Or better yet, another of pair of those Life orbs took my place of death.

Wow, that was a massive frog, huh?

It was shocking after the 'talk' we had with Acacia/NEO; GOD began eating dozens of ingredients like we weren't there.

That must be quite the appetite it has.

Well, considering that now… Komatsu and that buddy of his, Otake, began cooking GOD. One from within and one from outside.

Coco, Suni, and Zebra were holding off Joa while Toriko and I held Acacia/NEO.

Oh, and never forget Starjun, Tommyrod and Grinpatch taking care of those traitors… eh, forgot their names.

"Oh, Toriko. Up to some beating the crap out of someone with your granduncle?" I asked him, cracking my fists with enough force to break and grind bones.

"Well… there is a first for everything… but I would prefer eating him." Toriko declared eagerly.

I laughed at that. Toriko and his gluttonous desires.

Well, eventually, GOD paid attention at NEO and tried to eat him, getting him away from us. After some excruciating beatings we got. Tch, Acacia was still a monster when brawling.

Though, now we had PAIR and ATOM to face off.

But… I think that I'm needed elsewhere.

"Hey, Toriko. Mind if you take those with you?" I grinned at him. "I think I need to be somewhere else."

"Sure." He answered instantly.

"No, you won't!" PAIR and ATOM declared, trying to stop me. 'Trying' being the keyword as Toriko unleashed two of his Appetite Demons while I rushed straight to Acacia/NEO.

I was going to help my first Pops.

"Well now… that's not a sight you usually see, hm?" I mused to myself, nonchalant despite that all members of the Eight Kings were present. I looked at Guiness. "Hey, Pops! Long time no see!" I greeted him politely, showing him that I used his fang like a brass knuckle. "You like it? It's in tribute for you!"

Guiness remained quiet as he eyed at my weapon… and if I wasn't wrong, I didn't believe that Guiness was content and proud of me… in an odd sense.

After a moment of fighting Acacia/NEO, PAIR intended on interrupting us had not Teppei appeared and used Tree of Binding Thorns to stop him.

I sighed, seeing my normal grandson. "Geez, Teppei. Could've gotten out of that hypnosis quickly?" I chastised him.

"Oh, for fuck… Grandpa, I got caught off-guard!" Teppei defended.

"No excuses! I see that you need to go back to basics!" I declared and I got granted to see Teppei shivering in terror.

Then Pure Breeds of wild beast, a close rank to the Eight Kings came to join. Devil Orochi. Ashurasaurus. King Land Shark. Ficasdaltonphant. Tundra Dragon. And more.

"Well… if it wasn't a serious moment, I would have liked to hunt them." I popped my neck in ready as I gazed at Acacia/NEO. "I guess I can get the second prize."

For the first time, I joined hands with beasts on dealing damage on Acacia/GOD. It was an arduous fight. I almost lost my head more than ten times. Yet, even while the beasts were injured and Acacia/NEO dying… nobody doubted that it was dead.

So for the fucking demon to evolve in front of our eyes.

"Kill that fucker!" I roared, cocking my fist. "Guiness Punch!"

None of the beasts – somehow – doubted when they unleashed their power on Acacia/NEO evolved.

Although… nothing mattered to him. He rushed out of the way at light speed and attacked Toriko. I gritted, rushing at him. "ACACIA!"

He swatted me like nothing, and I could feel my bones cracking. Just how much this asshole's strength had?

I could only watch as the Eight Kings, slowly lost one by one once Acacia/NEO ate GOD. Even after CENTER, the Blue Nitro, gave the food version of CENTER to Acacia once he got separated from NEO and PAIR killed him… Acacia fused with NEO, making him more powerful.

"Damn it…" I clicked my tongue, holding my ribs as I could feel my Gourmet Cells working on healing me. But while everything was feeling lost, I noticed someone coming. I snorted. "Oh yeah… HE's coming now."

"Hey, you're late, Lil' Bro." Someone landed next to me after protecting the Human World from Acacia's Dinner of Kings.

"You sure had changed, Big Bro." Midora said calmly before turning to Acacia. "That's some pretty flaky appetite you got there… have you been dieting, Acacia?" He asked mockingly.

"You've gotten so big, Midora… Did you come for a spanking?" Acacia sniped back as terrible humor. "If only Ichiryu was here, the family would be complete."

"Oh yeah? Well, that guy isn't part of the family." I sneered, pointing at Joa.

Well, considering that Froese was pregnant with two certain twins, she was exhausted after cooking GOD. I didn't know if the way she got weaker meant something… maybe a part of an AU. And Joa was born from her a Spirit Appetite and changed her sex with PAIR.

I didn't know. It was all confusing now that I think about it.

But there was one thing that Midora and I agreed on. Acacia just insulted Froese… and that made us furious.

Midora ended up slowly killing Joa even after he tried to use his Memories on him. What a joke.

Meanwhile, I continued blowing punches at Acacia and we were trading furiously at each other.

"Fuck off and die, you fucking bastard!"

"Jiro… you've always been an odd one." Acacia remarked casually while dodging another deadly blow. "But that won't matter since you're going to be dead!"

"Try it!"

I had avoided the first time that he used on the original version with Damage Knocking: Release which killed the original Jiro. But now, I guess that I won't be such lucky even with my Gourmet Luck.

I had to admit that both fuses were too strong, even for me after training madly for five centuries.

Toriko and the others had beaten him by sheer luck and I'm feeling the burn out closely. Tch, not like I'll admit defeat when I'm this close.

As it happened, Joa's slowly dissolved body haltered when Acacia used Knocking to stop the process. It ended up with Midora, Toriko, Starjun, and I facing Acacia.

It was a fierce battle. But everything came like canon that Starjun got eaten by Acacia and went to a near-state of death, revealing also that both him and Toriko were Acacia and Froese's children.

"…so that makes them our stepbrothers?" I had to bring it up with Midora whom I had to quickly un-knock him when Acacia bit his hand.

"Apparently so." Midora said casually.

In a sense, Toriko almost died had not his Appetite Demon helped him survive and feed him CENTER. And with finally him deciding on making GOD his Main Dish, I could only chuckle.

"That's the next generation for ya." I chuckled ruefully, popping my neck. "Guess we're about to face our last dance with Pops, hm?"

Midora remained quiet before a ghost grin formed on his face, applying Knocking on Starjun after I released him. "…apparently so."

We joined forces with the rest of the Gourmet Hunters and the Eight Kings once more. I was glad to see my canine siblings but that turned into anger when Acacia began eating them when they attacked him.

And with PAIR, who was using Taste Change on Toriko, turned into high level of anger which NEO HATES. "Well, I guess two can help with NEO's hate for anger."

Toriko and I began beating the shit out of Acacia, showing no remorse or mercy with our attacks. Yet Acacia was too strong, he ate and ate… continuingly consuming and devouring everything on its path. The Four Heavenly Kings? Defeated. The Eight Kings? Devoured. The rest of the people that wasn't able to escape? Eaten.

Yet… I knew that there was still hope. Even if Acacia began eating our own Gourmet Luck. And consumed everything on its path…

Acacia and NEO lost…

But the world was in peril… and it was close to explode.

"Toriko… everyone…" I called out softly, even looking at Acacia. "Pops… I guess this is my last work as the Knocking Master. May the next generation continue… and be full with gratitude for what nature gives us."

Before anyone could stop me, I raised both arms… expanding… and expanding before I let out a roar to compress every power within me, using every sheer of my Gourmet Cells to the point of nothing. I already gave my last farewell to Setsuno. "Teppei… continue my legacy, boy."

"SECRET ARTS: GAIA'S ARREST!"

With every used Gourmet Cells within me, I stopped the destruction of Earth. I smiled at everyone… including Acacia and Midora.

And with one last speck of strength within me disappeared, I died, and not even CENTER could revive me when I did all I could.

I was at peace.

"WAHAHAHA! So you did one of those heroic death, didn't ya, Jiro? You sure are one dramatic idiot." Ichiryu laughed.

The reason that I was seeing Ichiryu was now that I was now a spirit like him. It was Toriko and Rin's wedding, and they invited us.

"Idiot! That's what I should've done! It was epic and you weren't there, you asshole!" I ranted, a bit slurred in my tone since was drinking with Ichiryu… who still was drinking his Illusion Sake.

Pussy ass lightweight.

Still, enjoying Toriko's Full Course, Acacia and Froese joined us once they told us that they were searching for each other. It was like a family reunion, and I couldn't be happier.

Speaking of which, we all saw Midora come and once he realized that Froese was here as well, he started bawling his eyes out like he never did and came back to us. Regressing our youth like how it was before everything fucked up.

Truly, this was a family.

After closing with the wedding, I had explained to them who I was and to say that Acacia was surprised was a giveaway. Oh, and Setsuno was here as well with Teppei.

"I see… I wouldn't have imagined that there were other universes." He breathed out, intrigued.

"Yeah, but it isn't like this one and comparing them together, I believe that this one is better." I shrugged, sipping another drink.

"So, you're going to stay?" Ichiryu asked.

"I don't know. Had you told me that 500 years ago, I would have not, really… but…" I hummed, folding my arms. "They did tell me that I was going to be elsewhere and with this Gourmet Cells in me… I believe that I'll do some changes."

"Just not try to destroy anything, Jiro-chan." Setsuno admonished me playfully.

"Oh, Secchan, who do you take me for?" I grinned teasingly at her.

"A moron/beast." Ichiryu and Midora deadpanned.

"Hey!"

"Still…" Froese cut in, laughing softly. "I hope that even if you're in another world… you're always part of this family."

I scoffed good-naturally, tearing up. "Of course. Goddammit… I'm not crying! You didn't see shit!"

"Still the crybaby." Ichiryu nailed mercilessly with a shit-eating grin.

"Why you! I hope you choke on that Illusion Sake, you bastard! I dare you! I double fucking dare you!"

"This is really how grandpa acted…?" Teppei asked incredulously.

"Hohoho, it is surprising, right? Yet, I love him nevertheless…" Setsuno giggled softly. "I sure hoped that Froese-chan could see this."

"You named your child for me? Oh, how I wished to see her." Froese cooed.

"You should be surprised how Jiro-chan acted as a parent, Froese-sama." Setsuno teased. "Always hidden to look out for me when I was pregnant."

Acacia laughed, enjoying the moment when his shoulders were lifted from the burden and having time with his family.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the last moment I would have with my family even if I missed my old one. But that didn't mean that I would never see them. I will remember every moment together, even if I had to grow old for another 500 years.

"Hey, you look the same as the first time, ol' buddy." I said, walking out of a portal that appeared once I gave my last farewells to my family.

The first time I saw the man in suit looked… the same. "Hmm, it seems that you had enjoyed that much." He eyed my pompadour.

"It grew up with me." I shrugged, brushing my trademark pompadour with care. "So, new world but no delicious food? Come on, can I at least bring something with me, please?"

He looked at me with a flat expression. "Ugh, you mortals and your desires."

"It wouldn't be us otherwise." I shrugged again. "Then again, I wasn't the smartest but an opportunist and unpredictable bastard."

"That you are." He drawled sarcastically.

"Hey, now. You might hurt someone's feelings." I chuckled wryly.

"Ugh… You're giving me aneurism…" He groaned, rolling his eyes as he adjusted his glasses. "But alright, my bosses think that despite that you would actually be – how they say, OP – they're willing to give you a gourd with whatever drink you wish for… and probably a fridge with many Gourmet Dishes."

"Sweet!" I smiled brightly at that.

"Don't push it, Mortal." He warned me. "Nevertheless, my bosses wish to not for you to become a Rampaging Beast once more and try to show those Quirkist idiots that they are not the top of the peaking order." He said, raising his hand to snap his fingers.

"Will do!"

And with that, another adventure made me fade to return to the living world.

When I opened my eyes, I wondered where the hell I was. Sitting up, I checked myself and noticed that I was younger, approximately 12 or 13 years old.

So, maybe 2 years before the canon event or so.

I noticed that my hair was a mess so standing up from where I was lying down, I realized that I was either not on a bed… or any household.

In fact, I was outside. I was lying down on grass while the huge number of trees encompassed through all my view around me.

"The hell am I…?" I muttered, sounding younger than ever.

I managed to find a river so I could put up the pompadour and I was glad that there was enough hair to make one. It could've been awkward if not and I got used to it, so it felt weird not having it.

Noticing my reflection, I could see that I looked like Jiro was except much younger.

"Hah… at least the pompadour came out okay." I muttered before frowning when I noticed something around my neck. Leaning down on the water surface, I realized that the mark was like hands…

Did the previous owner of the body get strangled and then ditched here?

…that sure is messed up.

"Well, whoever you are…" I began, standing up as I brushed my pompadour. "Whoever did this to you, I'm going to make them pay. With extreme prejudice."

I ended up walking away from the river, ignoring a sign that said "Delka City" to match wherever I was going to go.

Watch out, villains and criminals… Jiro the Rising Wolf is coming right at ya!

Not like a Gourmet Hunter… but this time, like a Villain Hunter.

The parts that Jiro appears in were Chapter 13, 14, 113, 176, 237, 242~245, 251~253, 259~260, 337~340, 358, 365~367, 393, and 395.

I put longer the scene of Jiro meeting Toriko after the Cooking Festival Arc. The reason behind, I felt like this was the important moment that Toriko needed to be taught that winning and losing don't mean much if the person had done their best.

And so, I'm adding OMAKEs for some more ideas that I came up with.

OMAKE: 'What If' – Reincarnated as Suni "Blessing Hair"

Midoriya Izuku didn't know what to think… after training with All Might, who he had been told his real identity Toshinori Yagi was, and entering U.A. he didn't know how ready he was going to be with meeting new people.

Ever since he had been bullied for being bullied, he had some self-confidence problems and lack of understanding people despite the fact that he wanted to help others.

Yet, as soon as he opened the door of his new classroom, nobody paid him attention… which was good and strange.

The reason behind it was for Izuku, it had been the first time that he had seen someone with so colorful hair.

Sure, people with colorful hair had existed ever since Quirk came to be years ago. Yet, this person had multiple colors, sitting by the window.

He could say that this person was the usual terminology of Ikemen.

"Oh, how alluding. First day of school and I'm already looked out for." Izuku couldn't believe how… suave his voice was.

He wondered what kind of Quirk he had.

He then frowned when he felt something on his cheek, but nothing came to his knowledge of someone or something touching him.

"Oi, you." Izuku realized that the multi-colored haired guy pointed at him. "Can you move aside? People are passing through… and mostly…"

His eyes wandered down and he and Ochako – who had greeted him not a few seconds ago – and the rest of the class followed where a disheveled and the look of tiredness inside a… was that a caterpillar?

"You must be our sensei, hmm?" He drawled sarcastically.

"It took five seconds to realize that and only you found about me." Izuku couldn't believe that this guy was their sensei. Who could it be? He knew many heroes, but he had yet to realize who he was.

"Anyways, wear this and let's go outside. There's a Quirk Apprehension Test to do."

Nobody could know once he left but only the multi-colored haired guy stood up from his seat and walked out of the classroom.

Deciding that this was real, the rest of the class followed up.

Once dressed and outside, Izuku realized that their homeroom teacher was Aizawa Shouta, AKA Eraserhead. And to tell the truth, he was nervous when he explained that the last person on the test would be expelled.

Of course, everyone protested about that until he stated that the world was unfair. Izuku knew. He was bullied and belittled, growing up Quirkless until All Might passed him One for All.

A yawn interrupted the protest as everyone watched as the multi-colored-haired guy drawled with a bored look. "Are we done? Can we begin with this Quirk apprehension or whatever?"

"Naruke Suni." Shouta said. Also, Naruke? Both kanjis with "to succeed" and "hair"? Well, the hair part stuck, apparently. "Since you interrupted, you can go first."

Suni shrugged as he walked forward inside the circle as Shouta tossed him a ball. "Throw as far as you can. With your Quirk."

As everyone quieted down, Izuku could hear the whispers of his classmates.

"Hey, wasn't he in your test zone?" He glanced back to where a pink-skinned girl whispered to another girl with frog-features.

"Yeah, ribbit. I saw how he disposed of those fake villains, but we couldn't see the how."

'Guess we'll see it now.' Izuku thought as he watched attentively at Suni.

Everyone watched as Suni seemed to test the weight of the ball before looking at the skies like measuring the distance.

Izuku wondered inwardly, how would Suni do on this test.

Eventually, everyone saw Suni's hair snaked and hovered around, as if his hairlines had their own minds.

"Hmm… seems simple enough." He tossed casually the ball to one of his hairs… which began repelled the ball to another… and then back…

The motion repeated itself as the ball continued being repelled one another while its speed began molding up to be unseen by the naked eyes.

"Might as well make it a show beautifully." He ached his back, preparing for the throw. "SPATULA!"

The recoil was massive as the ball shot out like a missile straight to the skies. Everyone watched in awe at how he displayed his Quirk.

"My, my, seems like I showed a good side of me, hm?" He said, a hand on his cheek while he leaned back as his hair made to act like an invisible chair.

"…4,980 meters." Shouta intoned, showing the length of the throw.

Everyone was eager to show others their Quirks. Izuku felt like there would be competition this year and someone who'll come across as a great ally.

"Shall we continue?" Suni grinned at the rest of the class, inwardly wondering what he should buy for his hair… and planning for the upcoming battles.

OMAKE: 'What If' – Reincarnated as Zebra "Impactful Sound"

Class 1-A had a nice afternoon learning about Rescue by their teachers' request. The students were eager, some were indifferent, some were nervous… one was bored.

After meeting with Thirteen, and not having All Might on class because he had been an idiot to waste his time before reaching the school grounds, they were about to be taught about today's lesson…

…had not villains poured inside the USJ and began attacking the facility with them inside.

For Shigaraki Tomura, it was an event that should be displayed with the intention on killing the Symbol of Peace.

Gathering NPCs, planning every piece on their respective places, with their numbers it would have been easier to take hostages and have All Might surrender One for All before killing and humiliating him in front of the students.

For Oto Zebra, this was an act of cockiness…

AND HE HATED COCKINESS!

With a growl from his 'Glasglow' mouth – mostly on the left side of his face – marched up to the edge of the stairs. "Sensei…" He began, his voice coming rough in preparation.

"Oto, whatever you're planning. Don't." Aizawa Shouta declared firmly, even when he knew that stopping one of the Problem Children would be disastrous.

Everyone was tense, recalling how few saw his power during the Entrance Exam, and in the Quick Apprehension test. But what they most considered was that the thing Zebra hated most was cockiness.

…and the villains were displaying a huge amount of cockiness from where they were seeing.

"Don't get cocky, sensei." He growled out, more tense than the others and nobody could blame him since the few that saw him during the Entrance Exam, watched how her DEMOLISHED the zero-point villain like nothing with only his voice. "Or else… I'll show you why heroes and villains fear me before you caught me."

Shouta was tense since he knew that Zebra was the most problematic individual he had ever met. He couldn't believe why the Principal had him in his class. God, he had now a headache.

"Fine, but do it so quickly."

The grin that formed on Zebra's face made everyone nervous.

"…good."

Then, it happened. The entire ceiling of the USJ darkened – mostly inside the center area of the faculty.

"Everyone! Close your ears!" Thirteen immediately ordered as everyone did so.

"VOICE METEOR SHOWER!"

With a mighty roar, a multitude of meteors made of sound rained down the villains.

Kurogiri, watching the display in confusion, widened his eyes before pulling out Tomura as they were sucked inside a portal just before the attack fell on them.

The bombardment was quite exciting for Zebra as he relinquished the villains' screams. But that smile faded when he noticed the black-skinned entity with its brains exposed, undamaged from it.

'Ah, yes, the Nomu… almost forgot about that one…' He thought with disinterest before looking at the rest of his classmates. 'Fuck it, I'll just kill it before it can make a mess out of it.'

"JET VOICE!" He propelled toward the danger before Shouta could stop him.

"Zebra! Damn it." Shouta said with a grunt before looking at Thirteen. "Still nothing from U.A., Thirteen?"

"None, Eraserhead." Thirteen answered. "We'll move the students outside and try to contact U.A."

Shouta was frustrated when he saw one of his students – if reluctant – fight that monstrosity and he noticed a few villains waking up. "Thirteen! I'll go and assist Oto. Go with the rest of the students to safety!" He ordered before dashing down the stairs.

Zebra looked amused when he barely noticed Tomura giving the Nomu one final order of killing every student. But it would be more amusing when he eliminates the threat.

"Good, you'll be my warmup." He intoned, preparing a Sound Knuckle on both fists.

Now, it should be that Gourmet Hunters capture their ingredients. For the Nomu, it will be elimination.

Well, that's everything. I'll continue working on the rest of my stories/fanfics so no thinking on that I quit or dropped them. I just need time to process every shit in my life and quite so… BEFORE I DESTROY myself.