The barrier surrounded us like a dome of cracked glass.
Ash, molten soil, and the ghost-smell of ozone still clung to the air.
But the two of us sat cross-legged in the middle of the devastation like it was a picnic spot with pizza boxes between us.
Yup, actual pizza, courtesy of the System’s shop.
And I still couldn’t get over it.
I held my slice with reverence, savoring each chew like a starving monk attaining nirvana.
I hadn’t tasted pizza in years. Cancer had taken that joy long ago.
But now?
[I’m stuffing my face till I can’t no more!]
Nom-Nom held her slice differently... like a scholar contemplating a sacred relic.
Her nostrils flared as she breathed in the steam rising from the cheese.
"For food made by humans," she murmured, "it... smells beautiful."
She lifted it closer to her lips, then hesitated.
She’d never eaten for pleasure before.
Only for the hunger that never ended.
Under my quiet stare, she took in a slow breath, gathered every shred of courage her five centuries allowed...
...and took a bite.
And the next moment, her eyes widened with a stunned flicker.
Her hand drifted to her cheek as if she needed to physically steady herself.
Then she swallowed.
And then the realization hit.
"...The hunger," she breathed, voice trembling just slightly. "It doesn’t... come back."
She stared at her slice in disbelief.
"It really is gone," she whispered in awe, "I can eat... not to satiate something eternal... but because I want to. For the joy of it."
I leaned back on a palm, smiling. "Welcome to the concept of eating for fun."
She looked up at me, eyes glimmering bright with the newfound taste of Freedom.
Then her expression sharpened with a strange seriousness.
"Master..." she said slowly, almost ceremonially, "there is something I must tell you."
She lifted her pizza slice again and, with absolute conviction, declared:
"This is the greatest thing I have ever tasted in my entire existence."
I snorted. "Oh, buckle up. This is just the beginning."
She blinked.
And I grinned. " Just wait till you meet ice cream... You’ll drool just by thinking about it..."
She leaned in, suddenly eager. "Ice... cream?"
"Oh yeah. You’ll understand the true meaning of godly revelation when you eat that."
Her eyes shone as the new spark of life caught fire. "Then, Master, we must leave this island immediately."
I laughed. "You just want dessert."
"I want everything," she said, and there was no joke in her voice, just a quiet, burning promise.
Chuckling, I took another bite of my slice, but the smile faded as reality clawed its way back into the forefront of my brain.
[System, what’s our status? And what are our projected chances?]
–Ding!
{Creating secure channel...
Secure channel established.
The conversation is now private.}
The tone then dropped into something flatter.
{I erected the barrier you see. I can drop it whenever you give the command.
Nom-Nom’s tracker has been dark for three and a half hours now.
Pantheon is likely to send a specialized team to investigate.
We should move fast.}
I exhaled slowly. Had a feeling.
[Yeah, I could feel my magic in the barrier somehow. Good job. Anyway... how strong am I right now? Could I face whoever they send?]
–Ding!
{No. Not even close.
Despite your infinite regeneration, your total mana pool is still painfully small.
We do not have the time for you to level properly.
For now, we rely on Nom-Nom.}
I grimaced.
[Speaking of... exactly how strong is she?]
In response, a translucent panel flashed open before my vision.
[Protocol: Chronos]
Name: Nom-Nom
Race: Chimera - Greater Dragon × Wendigo
Circuits: 8
Affinity: Devour, Dragonfire
Level: Tier 5, Perfected Stage
Stats:
MP: 1548
MP Regen: 50/sec
Physical Stats:
Magic:
Draconic Fire Manifestation
Skills:
Dragon Breath
Devour Matrix
Note: Her growth is driven purely by consumption.
You will receive 25% of EXP for each kill made by your Familiar.
-Ding!
{Host -}
[That’s it!]
I sat up straight.
And for the second time today, the System was off mid-sentence.
Because I already knew exactly what I needed.
I turned toward Nom-Nom, who was busy savoring another blissful slice of pizza ll.
"Nom," I called.
She blinked up, cheeks puffed faintly from her bite.
"Yes, Master?" she replied before swallowing the whole thing in a single gulp.
"Are there any dungeons around here?" I asked. "You know... Caves, nests. Places crawling with monsters... You know the soulless creatures? Preferably lots of ’em."
Nom-Nom closed her eyes as her mind flicked through five centuries of memories.
Then she pointed north.
"There is," she said. "A cavern filled with such creatures..."
And a grin cracked across my face, full of delightful stupidity.
"Well then," I said, pushing to my feet.
She tilted her head. "Master?"
"Here’s what we’re gonna do." I said with a smirk.