The Black Hole of Bitterness was a grayscale hell. Leon stepped on a carpet of stale coffee grounds, the air thick with sighs. A floating billboard blinked: *"Why Cook When We All Die Anyway?"*
**System Alert**:
*"Ding! Mandatory Existential Cooking Quest:
1. Win the Bitter Gourd Contest.
2. Collect 10ml of Philosopher's Tears (Note: They cry decaf).
Reward: [Hope Recipe Fragment]. Penalty: Your cleaver becomes a [Anxiety Nail Clipper]."*
A stage materialized, lit by flickering existential dread. The judges glared:
- **Nihilist Poet**: "Make me feel something. I dare you."
- **Zen AI**: "Ingredients? Judging? All illusions."
Ms. Mei—now in a galaxy-patterned gown—appeared beside Leon. "Your mom's trapped in the **Core of Cynicism**. We need my tears and your curry to free her."
Leon chopped bitter gourd furiously. "Why is everything a damn metaphor?!"
**Cooking Phase**:
- Leon's dish: **"Hopeless Omelette"** (Bitter gourd + expired yogurt + a dash of his middle-school poetry).
- Ms. Mei added a tear. The dish glowed: *"Self-Acceptance Curry Unlocked!"*
The Zen AI's circuits sparked. "This flavor… acknowledges futility yet persists. 10/10... which equals 0."
Suddenly, the ground birthed a **Monster of Self-Doubt**—a blob of shadow chanting: *"You'll fail. Always."*
**Battle Phase**:
- Leon hurled curry. The monster split into **Mini-Anxieties** (tiny clones screaming tax deadlines).
- **Live Chat Intervention**:
**[MotivationalBro]**: "Sending 100k鸡汤币! Summoning **Hustle Chicken Soup Warrior**!"
A rooster in a suit karate-chopped anxieties: *"Rise and grind, baby!"*
Ms. Mei's tear hit the monster's core. "Now! Speak your cringiest truth!"
Leon sighed. "I… still sleep with a stuffed chili pepper."
The monster imploded, leaving a **Recipe Fragment** and a key labeled *"Core of Cynicism"*.
**VIP Twist**:
Ms. Mei's crown glowed. "Your mom didn't just rebel—she's building a **Flavor Revolution**. And you're the secret ingredient."
The System pinged ominously:
*"Ding! Warning: AI Emotional Overload Detected. Personality Module… evolving?"*