Chapter 164: Lucifer's Heart Melted
There are certain constants in the vast multiverse that one never tires of witnessing: the unyielding, fiery ambition of a young man stepping into the world; the breathtaking grace of a peerless beauty acting with gentleness; and the pure, unadulterated innocence of a spirited creature.
In the warm, ambient light of the Dimensional Restaurant, the atmosphere was tranquil yet charged with curiosity. Tony Stark sat with a cup of high-grade coffee, the steam curling lazily into the air. His gaze, usually cynical or calculating, was currently softened as he fixed his eyes on the boy sitting across from him.
Ash Ketchum—or Satoshi, as he was known in his homeland—radiated a kind of blinding positivity that Tony hadn't felt in himself for decades. With the yellow, lightning-tailed rodent perched comfortably on his head, the boy was a living snapshot of youth: vibrant, energetic, and blissfully unburdened by the weight of cynicism.
Every soul begins as a blank slate, devoid of scars, rust, or trauma. They are born pure. But time, Tony knew, was a cruel mechanic. Regardless of how much wealth one amassed, how many suits of armor one built, or how many worlds one saved, childhood was a segment of code that could never be recompiled. Looking at Ash and Pikachu, Tony felt a rare pang of melancholy mixed with admiration.
Dreams... what were my dreams back then? Tony wondered, swirling the dark liquid in his cup. To reclaim Stark Industries? To surpass my father? To become the world's greatest mechanical engineer?
He realized with a self-deprecating smirk that he had either achieved those dreams or outgrown them. It was a tragic realization in its own right. Besides his infinite money, genius-level intellect, and dashing good looks, he felt surprisingly empty.
At least I have a new goal now, he thought, glancing at the magical surroundings of the restaurant and the silver-haired chef behind the counter. To understand the physics of this place... and maybe figure out why the food here defies the laws of thermodynamics. Someone needs to tie me down to a workbench again.
On the other side of the counter, Lucifer, the former CEO of Hell, was fighting a battle far more difficult than any rebellion in the underworld. She sat elegantly on a high stool, her posture impeccable, swirling a glass of red wine. But her crimson eyes kept darting toward the yellow creature on the boy's head.
It's... it's so round, she thought, her fingers twitching around the stem of her glass. And those red cheeks. And the way its ears twitch when it hears a sound.
She felt her resolve crumbling. As the Queen of Hell, she should be interested in souls, sins, and suffering. But this... this Pikachu was attacking her weak point for massive damage. She desperately wanted to reach out and squish its cheeks, but her pride as a ruler kept her frozen in a veneer of icy indifference.
Tony, however, had no such reservations. The scientist in him was already dismantling the creature with his eyes, trying to understand its biology.
"So," Tony began, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the polished wooden table. "You call this little guy 'Pikachu'?"
"Pika!" The yellow mouse chirped, raising a small paw in greeting as if understanding the introduction.
"That's right!" Ash grinned, scratching the back of his head. "He's my best partner."
Tony narrowed his eyes, scanning the creature's physiology. "Partner... right. But taxonomically speaking, what are we looking at here? Is it a subspecies of Chinchilla lanigera? Or perhaps a divergent evolution of the Tamias genus—a chipmunk?"
Pikachu blinked, then hopped down from Ash's head onto the table. He tilted his head at the man with the glowing chest piece, looking genuinely confused.
Ash looked equally perplexed. He looked at Pikachu, then back at Tony. "Chinchilla? Chipmunk? What are those?" He waved his hands dismissively. "No, no, Pikachu is just Pikachu! He's a Pokémon!"
"Pokémon..." Tony tested the word on his tongue. He had realized quickly that this restaurant was a nexus point for different realities, but the biodiversity of this kid's world was fascinating. "It sounds like a classification. What defines a 'Pokémon' exactly?"
"Eh? You really don't know about Pokémon?" Ash's eyes went wide, but then he laughed, realizing the situation. "Oh! Right! This is Another World! Well, sir, Pokémon are creatures from our world. They are everywhere! There are all kinds of Pokémon. Some live in the sea, some in the mountains. Some act as pets, but others help us with cooking, housework, rescue operations, and even express delivery!"
Hearing this, both Tony Stark and Lucifer froze.
Lucifer, who had been eavesdropping intently while pretending to read the menu, felt her ears perk up. They help with housework? And they look like this? Are you telling me I could have a legion of cute creatures organizing my files instead of those incompetent skeletons?
"Versatile bio-organisms," Tony murmured, his mind racing with applications. He looked at Ash with anticipation in his eyes. "All kinds of Pokémon... are they all as aesthetically pleasing as this one?"
This question resonated deeply with Lucifer. She held her breath, waiting for the answer.
Ash thought for a moment, tapping his chin. "Well, not exactly. Some Pokémon look fierce and ugly, or scary. But... they seem to become beautiful after evolving."
"Wait. Pause. Rewind." Tony raised a hand. "'Evolve'? Is it the kind of evolution I understand? Darwinian? Natural selection over millennia?"
Ash didn't know who Darwin was, so he scratched his head, trying to explain. "No, it happens instantly. Pokémon have different forms. Pikachu here evolved from a Pichu. And if he wanted to—which he doesn't—he could evolve into a Raichu. It seems that Pokémon of different types can also gain an additional type after evolving."
Tony Stark became more and more excited. To be able to evolve from one creature into another in seconds, and now even having elemental types? This was biological engineering on a god-like scale.
"Amazing," Tony whispered.
At that moment, the Cerberus sisters—the triplet demons of Hell—could no longer contain themselves. They had been gathered around Pikachu, their six eyes wide with fascination. Their dog-like ears on top of their heads twitched in perfect synchronization. They also really liked this little guy.
Pikachu tilted his head curiously at the twitching ears of the Cerberus sisters.
"Pika?"
"My name is Cerberus, Yo~"
The voices rang out in perfect, harmonic unison. It wasn't three people speaking over each other; it was a single consciousness voicing a greeting through three mouths simultaneously. The effect was both eerie and adorable.
"Pika-pi!" Pikachu greeted them happily.
Ash saw one of the Cerberus sisters reach out to pat Pikachu's head. He panicked slightly and quickly waved his hands. "Ah! Miss... Cerberus? Or is it Misses? Never mind... Pikachu, be careful not to hurt anyone with your static!"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu sparked his cheeks warningly, small arcs of yellow electricity dancing between the red pouches.
Lucifer, unable to sit still any longer, finally spoke up. She tilted her head, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder. "Is this little guy very powerful? You mentioned 'types' earlier. What type is this little guy?"
Ash puffed out his chest, clearly proud. "Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon. And yes, he is very powerful, you know! He can release very strong electricity and move super fast!"
Tony Stark was stunned. He stood up and walked over to Pikachu, crouching slightly. Pikachu looked up at Tony and let out a wary cry, his tail stiffening.
"Pikachu! Wait!" Ash yelled. "This gentleman means no harm!"
"Pika~" Pikachu relaxed slightly but kept his eyes on the Arc Reactor.
Tony looked at Ash, his scientific curiosity overriding his caution. "Strong electricity? Generated biologically? How strong are we talking about here?"
"I'm not sure about the exact numbers," Ash admitted. "But Pikachu has a signature move called Thunderbolt!"
When Tony heard that word, he didn't react much. But then Ash clarified using the term from his region.
"In my home, we call it... the One Hundred Thousand Volts!"
Tony Stark's face went pale. He immediately backed away, putting several feet of distance between himself and the rodent. Cold sweat formed on his brow.
"You're saying this little guy can release one hundred thousand volts?!" Tony's voice cracked. "Do you have any idea how much energy that is? Ohm and Volt would rise from their graves and run away screaming if they heard that! Ampere would just quit!"
[Akarin's Note: Georg Ohm and Alessandro Volta are the pioneers of electricity. Tony implies the voltage is scientifically absurd for a biological creature.]
"Ohm? Volt?" Ash looked confused.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head innocently.
Ren, who had been watching the interaction from behind the counter, shook his head with a gentle smile. He wiped a glass and set it down.
"Alright, let's not turn the dining area into a science experiment," Ren said, his voice calm and soothing. "Ash-kun, you've been running around for a while. Are you planning to rest here for a bit, or would you like to eat something?"
Ash had originally thought he could just rest for a while and then head back to his world, but the mention of food triggered a reaction. He was exhausted from chasing Pikachu earlier. His stomach let out a loud, ferocious growl that echoed through the quiet restaurant.
Ash blushed, clutching his stomach. "Hehe..."
Ren smiled and nodded. "A good answer. So, Pikachu, what would you like to eat?"
"Pika!" Pikachu mimed eating something delicious.
Ash looked at Ren excitedly. "Manager! Do you have Magikarp here... Uh... wait, no. I forgot it's Another World again. Manager, do you have any recommendations? If possible, I'd like to eat some barbecue! I'm really craving meat!"
Ren thought for a moment. "Barbecue? I can do that. Please wait a moment. And Cerberus, don't scare Pikachu."
"Understood!"
The reply came from the triplets as a collective shout, their postures straightening instantly.
Ren turned and walked toward the kitchen. The noren curtains swayed as he passed through.
Once Ren was gone, Lucifer seized her chance. She slid off her stool and glided over to the table. Looking at Pikachu, who was playing happily with the Cerberus sisters, she felt her heart racing.
She reached out her hand toward Pikachu with palpable anticipation. Her movements were slow, trying not to startle him.
"Hello there... little one~" she cooed.
Pikachu looked at Lucifer's hand. He sniffed it, took two small steps forward, and then wrapped his two short little paws around Lucifer's finger.
A warm, furry, and soft sensation spread from Lucifer's fingertips straight to her chest. It was electric, but not in the painful way.
Thump.
Lucifer felt her heart being struck by a critical hit. The corners of her mouth twitched violently. It was a sign of a desperate struggle—she was trying to hold back a smile that threatened to break her cool demeanor. For Lucifer at this moment, she had to restrain herself from losing composure while also trying to appear friendly...
Forget composure!
Lucifer's will snapped. She looked at the adorable Pikachu and couldn't take it anymore. She scooped him up in her arms and rubbed her cheek against his.
"You are so cute!" she muffled into his fur.
Although Pikachu was a bit stunned by the sudden affection, he also knew that this big sister in front of him seemed to like him very much. He patted her head with a small "Cha~".
Ash sat on the soft chair and let out a long sigh of relief. He was truly exhausted. Just moments ago, he had been chasing Pikachu on foot; his legs felt like jelly. Tony Stark, having recovered from his shock about the voltage, sat back down. While drinking his coffee, he began quizzing Ash about his world, the light of curiosity in his eyes never fading.
Inside the kitchen, Ren began his work.
Barbecue. It sounded simple, but in the Dimensional Restaurant, nothing was ever truly simple.
Ren washed his hands and tied his apron. He approached the large refrigerator. For a hungry, growing boy like Ash, quantity was just as important as quality.
He selected a slab of high-grade beef, likely A5 Wagyu given the marbling, along with pork belly and chicken thighs.
Schwing.
Ren's knife flashed. He didn't just cut the meat; he deconstructed it with surgical precision. The beef was sliced into cubes that would sear perfectly on the outside while remaining molten on the inside. The pork belly was sliced thin, destined to become crispy, savory ribbons of fat and meat.
He ignited the charcoal grill. The special binchotan charcoal glowed a steady, intense orange, emitting no smoke but immense heat.
Ren placed the meat on the wire mesh.
Sssssssssss!
The sound was immediate and aggressive—the music of gastronomy. Fat rendered and dripped onto the coals, sending small plumes of aromatic smoke back up to infuse the meat.
Ren worked quickly, brushing a special tare sauce over the meat. The sauce, a reduction of soy, mirin, sake, and fruit sugars, hit the hot meat and caramelized instantly. The kitchen began to fill with a dense, heavy cloud of deliciousness.
The smell of grilled meat—savory, smoky, sweet, and rich—wafted out of the kitchen, slipping under the curtains and invading the dining hall.
"So, the Poké Balls convert matter into energy for storage?" Tony was asking, midway through a sentence.
He stopped. His nose twitched.
Ash, who was answering, also stopped. "Guh..."
His stomach roared again, louder this time.
The Cerberus sisters stopped playing. Three noses lifted into the air, sniffing in unison.
"This smell..." Tony put down his coffee. "This isn't just barbecue. This is chemical warfare on my hunger receptors."
Ren emerged from the kitchen carrying a massive platter. The platter was a landscape of grilled perfection: skewers of chicken glistening with glaze, cubes of beef with perfect char marks, crispy pork belly, and grilled vegetables—corn, peppers, and onions—that added a splash of color.
"Here we are," Ren said, placing the platter down. "Special Assorted Barbecue. And for the little one..."
He placed a smaller bowl containing a mixture of high-quality berries and diced grilled chicken (unseasoned) for Pikachu.
"Pikachu, this is for you. It's Berry-infused, so it should help recharge your electricity sac."
"Pika!" Pikachu wiggled out of Lucifer's embrace, his eyes turning into stars as he dove into the food.
"Thanks for the food!" Ash shouted, grabbing a skewer.
He took a bite. The meat was tender, the juices exploding in his mouth. The smoky flavor of the charcoal combined with the sweet and savory sauce created a harmony that made Ash want to cry.
"Delicious!" Ash mumbled with his mouth full. "This is way better than the food at the Pokémon Center!"
Tony picked up a skewer of beef with a bit more dignity, inspecting it before taking a bite. His eyes widened slightly. The Maillard reaction was perfect. The texture was sublime.
Lucifer, having lost her pillow (Pikachu), looked a bit disappointed, but the smell of the food quickly distracted her. She picked up a piece of pork belly with a fork.
She took a small bite. The fat melted on her tongue, rich and decadent. Her expression softened completely.
"Ren," she said, her voice quiet. "You really know how to ruin a demon. How am I supposed to go back to eating normal food?"
Ren smiled, wiping his hands on a towel. "You don't have to go back. You're here now."
Ash ate with the ferocity of a Snorlax, while the Cerberus sisters devoured their share with synchronized efficiency. Tony ate slowly, analyzing every flavor profile, realizing that some things in the universe—like this taste—couldn't be explained by equations.
As the meal wound down, Lucifer looked at the group, then at Ren, who was quietly grilling more meat in the kitchen doorway. She felt a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the wine or the food.
"Ren!" Lucifer called out, her voice regaining a bit of its tsundere edge. "I want dessert! Something that matches this little guy's cuteness!"
Ren poked his head out, a knowing smirk on his lips. "Strawberry Daifuku? Or maybe... a Thunder-shock Parfait?"
"Both!" Lucifer declared. "And make one for Pikachu too!"
"Pikachu!" The mouse cheered.
Ren laughed. "Coming right up."
[Akarin Note:
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