Alex gave a slow, scheming grin. "Alright, here goes nothing…" he murmured, eyeing the lake.
He extended his Void Fishing Rod, its dark, starry surface shimmering in the morning sun. He pictured the Being's Vault—that immense, impossibly vast room filled with glowing pedestals—soon to be repurposed as his personal gatcha. With a flick of his wrist, he focused his Divine Eye on the rod's parameters once more. He intended to change the SOURCE_LOCATION from LAKE_EDEN to where the real good stuff was.
His eye burned as he concentrated, the lines of glowing data shifting under his mental command. The crucial line snapped into focus, bold and clear:
SOURCE_LOCATION = COSMIC_BEING_VAULT
The shimmering, invisible line shot out, not into the tranquil lake, but directly into the very fabric of reality, piercing through dimensions unseen.
This time, the tug was immediate, sharp, and almost painfully precise. It felt less like reeling in a fish and more like hauling a perfectly weighted, dense object. Alex braced himself, muscles tensing, as he pulled. With a soft pop that echoed strangely, a sharp object materialized on the deck, dripping not water, but shimmering motes of light.
It was a sword. Not just any sword, but one that radiated an aura of profound authority. Its blade, a gleaming silver, seemed to hum with an inner light, etched with faint, noble patterns that hinted at forgotten laws. The hilt was wrapped in what felt like ancient, supple leather, cool and firm in his grip. As he held it, a faint, almost melodic hum vibrated through him, and a voice, ancient and weary, whispered directly into his mind: "Finally... released..."
The Divine Eye of Essence flared, overlaying reality with a torrent of luminous text and diagrams:
[Blade of Fate Severing] Essence Tier: Divine Artifact
Description: This blade was wielded by an individual cursed and banished by all, who fought with it from the very beginning of his plight. He imbued it with his unyielding severing intent, an intent that eventually cut through his own karma and released him from the heavens' curse. This weapon forms an unbreakable bond with its wielder, and its true potential lies in harmony with its wielder's intent, capable of cutting through destiny itself.
Alex stared at the description, his eyes widening. A sword. A sentient sword. "Holy hell," he muttered. Then, his gaze fell on the Dragon Koi, still flopping weakly on the deck. A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Perfect. This will make a fantastic carving knife."
"A... carving knife?" the ancient voice echoed in his mind, tinged with what sounded suspiciously like existential despair.
"Yeah, a carving knife," Alex confirmed, ignoring the sword's apparent distress. He picked up the Blade of Fate Severing. Its edge, despite its ethereal glow, felt impossibly sharp. With a single, decisive stroke, he sliced through the Dragon Koi's iridescent scales as if they were butter, then expertly filleted the massive fish. The flesh, a vibrant pink, gleamed under the morning sun. He quickly prepared several thick, succulent slices, arranging them on a piece of clean driftwood.
He ate. The Dragon Koi sashimi was beyond anything he'd ever tasted—a burst of fresh, clean flavor, a subtle sweetness, and an invigorating energy that warmed him from the inside out. He devoured slice after slice until his stomach was pleasantly full, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.
But then, he looked at the rest of the Dragon Koi. Even with his newfound appetite, there was far too much to eat in one sitting, and without refrigeration, it would spoil quickly. He needed to preserve it, to cook it. He looked at the Blade of Fate Severing. "Alright, fancy pants," he thought, directing his query to the blade spirit. "You're ancient and powerful. How do I cook this thing properly? I can't get this fire going."
"Hmph. A crude flame from mere mortal wood would be insufficient for such a creature," the ancient voice of the blade spirit resonated in his mind, its tone still laced with disdain for his mundane concerns. "Its spiritual essence is too potent, its flesh too resilient. You would only char the exterior and waste its true properties. To properly cook it, you require a strong Qi flame, one capable of precise heat manipulation."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "A Qi flame, huh?" His gaze swept over the vast, shimmering room of the Cosmic Being's Vault in his mind's eye. He needed something that could produce fire. Not just any fire, but enough to perfectly roast a legendary fish. His culinary dreams were at stake.
"Alright, you universal blunder," Alex muttered to the unseen being. "You owe me. Let's try this again. I need the fire something qi. This Dragon Koi isn't going to cook itself."
He cast the Void Fishing Rod again, the invisible line shooting into the Vault. The tug was almost immediate. He reeled, and a heavy, leather-bound tome materialized on the deck. Its cover was simple, but a faint scent of herbs and brimstone wafted from its pages.
[Compendium of Alchemy]
Description: A comprehensive compendium of ancient alchemical knowledge, detailing the intricate arts of grafting spiritual plants, controlling alchemical cauldrons, and refining potent pills. It focuses on the precise manipulation of ingredients and spiritual energy for the creation of various medicinal and cultivation-enhancing pills.
"Huh. An alchemy book," Alex mused, flipping through its heavy pages. "Not what I was looking for. This is all about pills and cauldrons. Maybe it would help me better set up the stove..." He carefully set it aside.
He cast a second time. The line tightened, and with a soft thump, a slender, elegant calligraphy brush appeared. Its handle was carved from dark, polished wood, and its bristles shimmered with an ethereal light.
[Brush of Heavenly Inscriptions] Essence Tier: Divine Tool Description: A brush used by ancient scribes to inscribe powerful formations and seals. Each stroke can imbue spiritual energy with profound intent, affecting reality itself. Notes: Requires understanding of formation arrays to wield effectively.
"Another one of these?" Alex grumbled, giving the brush a dismissive tap. "Seriously? I need fire, not more obscure hobbies! This is getting ridiculous." He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His focus sharpened, his eyes narrowing on the vision of the Cosmic Being's Vault. There were still countless items in there. He just needed to be more precise, more insistent.
He cast the Void Fishing Rod a third time, a fierce determination in his eyes. He focused all his intent on drawing something that could grant him absolute control over fire. The line vibrated with an immense, almost overwhelming power. He gritted his teeth, muscles straining, as he pulled. The very air around him crackled with heat, and with a final, explosive CRACK, a brilliant crimson light erupted on the deck.
As the light faded, a formless, swirling mass of pure, condensed flame hovered before him, radiating an ancient, primordial heat. It pulsed with a vibrant, living energy, and as his Divine Eye focused, the description flared.
[Primordial Flame Emperor Essence]
Description: The complete inheritance of the Primordial Flame Emperor. The most domineering flame of the myriad worlds, capable of burning down essence itself. Reforms body, meridians and soul into an absolute cataclysm of flame and destruction.
Alex stared at the swirling flame, a slow, triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Bingo," he whispered. This was it. The ultimate cooking tool.