Toriko: Canon Storyline. Chapter 8: Ice Hell

{Gourmet Town – Heavy Lodge}

Mathew sat in a corner, enjoying a plate of food and a nice applebeer. Sharing a table with him was his friend Seto. The bar was completely filled with gourmet hunters, including Toriko, who was now talking to a man dressed as a barbarian; Bonge,… or was it Bingo? Mathew had gotten another training list of Suramo, as well as the advice to eat on this hunt to help his gourmet cells to evolve. Seto was coming along for two reasons; to prepare the food Mathew captured and because his boss asked him to go. Tonight the president of Gourdarake industry would show up, to tell them about the ingredient all these hunters had gathered for to capture; Century Soup.

Mathew looked at his list of training ingredients for this one mission. All of them could be found on and near Ice hell, a continent up north where it was extremely cold. The creatures on Mathew’s list; Great Leg, capture level 6, Sharkcrocodile, capture level 6, Growlrus, capture level 13, Freezer bison, capture level 11, hot mushroom, capture level less than 1, silver grizzly, capture level 22 and, if they could get their hands on it; century soup, capture level 60. Seto’s boss would like it quite a lot if Seto could get his hands on the soup, so their restaurant could reproduce it.

Mathew looked at all the other hunters who were present here and noticed a gourmet knight and some members of the gourmet mafia. Those latter guys would probably be fine. But the rest of these guys,… he doubted it. but it was their choice to make. Seto had a sip of his applebeer, speaking through touch, targeting Mathew so only he could hear it, “what do you think about what mister Suramo has said? About eating during this hunt.” Mathew finished a devil chicken wing, swallowed and replied, ‘well, my body needs to stay energized. It’s extremely cold there and he said it would help my gourmet cells to evolve. So, you coming along, your cells will probably evolve as well.’

Seto nodded and replied through touch, “that sounds good. So, can you tell me those ingredients again. if I can think on them a little longer and when we find them, I’m sure I’ll have deducted the best way to prepare them.” Mathew nodded and started telling him the ingredients. Just as he finished, a group of men in suits came running into the Heavy Lodge bar. They were told to shut up and pay attention as the president of Gourdarake industries came in. a short bald guy with a big mustache and beard, a big nose and a spoon like pipe in his mouth; Colonel Mokoi.

Mokoi had, according to what Mathew could see, a stupid grin on his face, which grew slightly sinister as he said, ‘you get me what I want; and I’ll make you a billionaire!’ this got most people jumping, that was quite some money that short stump offered. Mathew smirked and said in silence, ‘sure, lure dumbasses like these along with a promise of money, only for most of them to end up dead.’ Seto nodded. Mokoi continued, ‘come to the harbor tomorrow. I’ll take all who show up.’ When one of the hunters asked if this was some sort of joke Mokoi snapped, ‘foolish question! Didn’t you hear who I am?! Gourdarake pays its debts. The target is century soup gentlemen. Join me tomorrow if you dare!’ as he turned and walked away, he chuckled.

Seto seemed to focus on the old man, touched Mathew’s arm and he too could hear what one of the guards and Mokoi were saying. The guard, ‘sir, we’re not even gonna screen them first?’ Mokoi, ‘take them all no matter the cost. Even if it only boosts our chance of success by 0.1% I’d rather have that on our side of the ledger. Screaming pishposh, where we’re going mother nature will screen them soon enough.’ as he walked away he continued his chuckle. Mathew frowned, ‘that stupid little garlic for brain won’t mind it one bit if everyone dies, so long as he gets the soup.’ Seto nodded and replied, “yeah, but we cannot tell everyone who won’t stand a chance to stay here. They wouldn’t believe us if we told them they were going to die.” Mathew nodded, his friend was right.

{the next morning}

even more hunters than had shown up in Heavy Lodge had shown up. Some of those must have told their friends and asked for their help. Mokoi was already on the ship and invited all of them to board the ship so the hunt could get started. Mathew could smell the steel of the body and Seto failed to feel the true life in the Mokoi standing there; it was a GT robot. That little shrimp was to afraid to come in person.

Mathew, Seto and others, including Toriko, Match and his group, the gourmet knight Takimaru and Zonge and his groupies and many others boarded the ship; all of them ready to hunt and most of them unprepared for what was to come.

after the ship had left the harbor and everyone had gathered, Mokoi had his guards hand out lighter suits, which would keep people warm on the freezing terrain. Seto tapped Mathew with his blind man stick and replied, “there are microphones in the suit. he’s planning to listen in on everything that’s going to be said.” Mathew nodded, ‘understood. But we won’t wear these suits. If our gourmet cells are to evolve, our bodies must feel the stinging cold.’ Seto nodded and sensed that Mathew had some sort of a plan. He would just count on his friend’s hunting experience.

Mokoi spoke up again, ‘alright everyone, it’s time to reveal the whereabouts of the century soup and the destination for this ship; ice hell!’ most people seemed shocked by that piece of information they would have wanted to hear sooner. Mokoi continued, ‘it I also known as the gourmet refrigerator. Because centuries ago, before refrigeration, our gourmet hunting ancestors used this continent to store the food they captured. Preserving it until the day there full course menus were complete. Over time, this collection of the world’s finest ingredients formed into a massive iceberg. Which glimmers like a show case. Testifying to our ancestors skills. They call this; the gourmet show window. Our scientists have found this iceberg melts once every hundred years due to the periodic release of hell methane hydrate, or burning ice as they call it. as the iceberg melts, those thawed ingredients collect into a crystal clear pool; Century soup! It’s the secret recipe, the lost catches of our ancestors; cooked by gasses of the earth. now the soup is cooking and you must fetch it; whatever the cost may be!’

with the old man done talking, Mathew and Seto got up and walked outside. It had gotten colder, but both of them could still handle it. ice drifted by in the water here and there. Mathew admitted, he was impressed Mokoi knew as much as he did about the soup. His money was good for something at least. Seto leaned against one of the walls of the cabins of the ship and pulled out his Melk knife. It was short, the hilt was the size of Seto’s hand and so was the blade. But short as it was, it was still a great knife.

Mathew saw Seto polishing his knife and sharpening it, impressed by his friend’s care for his knife. Seto, while continuing to polish and sharpen his knife, spoke to Mathew, “we need to be ready for when we enter Ice Hell. The beasts there are strong and I want my knife to be ready to cook.” Mathew nodded, ‘good to know pal.’ Mathew stretched the nails on his hands into claws, before pulling them back in. he started stretching to keep his body warm.

shortly after that, the boat’s alarms started ringing and beasts started climbing onto the ship. Mathew grinned, two of the beasts he was after had already shown up and Seto was prepared to cook; Sharkcrocodiles and Great Legs. Mathew would go for three of both of them for starters, needing to safe room for the other catches he had to make.

as the two went to the attacking animals, Toriko had already knocked one sharkcrocodile with his bare hands. The other hunters than joined in as well. Mathew grinned, stepped out of his wooden sandals, stretched out his claws and jumped a Great Leg, landing on its back, wrapping his arms around its head, before twisting it around. As it landed, Mathew had jumped away already, rushing by two sharkcrocodiles, lashing out with his tiger claws to both sides, cutting and knocking them at the same time.

Seto calmly walked up to a beast that targeted him, stuck his stick forward, into the beast’s mouth, before blowing a stream of circling air in as well, ripping the beast apart on the inside. Seto turned around, drew his knife and gently slashed at two Great Legs, cleanly severing them. Mathew dragged his prey toward Seto, who lifted up his prey with his wind control and they took some distance from the other hunters. Takimaru used a routine before unleashing a Cork Screw Shot technique and Match slashed a Sharkcrocodile into pieces with one slash. While most hunters had excitedly jumped the beasts, now most were running scared and others were being eaten.

as the fighting continued, Seto was preparing the two beasts. As more beasts got close, Mathew unleashed his intimidation. It send the beasts running. Both the sharkcrocodile and the Great Leg were valuable sources of nutrition in the sub-zero environment. Seto quickly made the great legs into Sashimi. As Mathew and Seto ate it, they tasted it was rich in fat. And Seto had made the Sharkrocodiles into steaks, but had taken out their livers, serving them up as Foie Gras. Mathew felt the warm meal warming him up on the inside, which helped in the cold environment. And as they finished eating, they had arrived at Ice Hell.

as the ship sailed past the ice wall, some of the ice up the wall broke off and fell down. Mathew was about to step up, when he saw Toriko doing the same. It having been a while since he had seen Toriko on the hunt, he wondered what the heavenly king was capable of now. Toriko shot out a flying knife with his right arm and a flying fork with his left, chopping the enormous ice ball and piercing it. but it still didn’t shatter. Toriko finished up with a fivefold spiked punch! Many of the hunters present were surprised and shocked by Toriko’s overwhelming strength, especially after the glacier sized ice ball broke in two and shattered to bits.

Mathew grinned, that was seriously impressive! Seto nodded, agreeing with his friends’ thoughts. As the danger had disappeared and a helicopter brought up onto the deck from below by lift, Mokoi explained how they would get up to the ridge by chopper and they would have to climb to the top themselves. Mathew wasn’t one to wait though. He walked by Toriko, see you up top buddy.’ Toriko looked down as Mathew walked by, ‘hey, you’re not wearing a lighter suit. do you wanna freeze to death?’ Mathew shook his head, ‘I wasn’t planning on it!’ he ran to the edge of the ship, jumped of it to the ice wall, extending the claws of his hands and feet, grabbed the ice, before starting to run and climb up the icy wall. Seto, making a wind plateau under his feet, lifted himself of the deck of the ship and he followed Mathew through the air.

most people were too busy getting into the single helicopter of packing more food for the trip to notice these two guys leaving the ship in this manner. Mathew ran climbed the entire way to the surface. It sure was freezing cold, but with a warm meal fresh in his belly, he could hold out. But as he peeked over the edge of Ice hell, an even colder wind blew in his face. he climbed over the edge anyway and stood up. Seto landed next to him and they started walking. This walk however, only lasted two minutes. they had walked by the frozen Tundra dragon and many frozen people. But by this two minute point, both of them were close to freezing to death.

Mathew took a short breath, before he started shivering. His skin turned bright red and Seto could’ve sword he stood close to a fire, before doing the same as Mathew, shivering up some heat. With this done, the two continued walking into the freezing storm wind. As they did, Seto warned Mathew of flying ice spikes being blown their way. Mathew slashed through them with his tiger claws, piercing them to bits with his dragon fang, shooting out counter shots with his phoenix wing scatter shot, as well as using his two phoenix wings as swords; phoenix wing blades. And he also blocked some, using his turtle shield. Seto had created a wind free zone around himself, causing the wind to blow around him. this shot the ice spikes around and away from him.

after another five minutes of walking, the two shivered up some more heat, before continuing their walk. Mathew saw how Seto was spinning the wind around himself and asked, ‘does that also take some of the cold away?’ Seto nodded, “it does, but it remains cold. Why?” Mathew shrugged, ‘just gonna try something out, try moving the wind completely around yourself.’ Seto nodded and did as Mathew suggested. Mathew spread his arms and formed his phoenix wings. Following this, Mathew shivered up his body and focused the heat onto his arms. The white aura around his arms turned red and he swung them at Seto’s wind; sending out a heat wave. The red heat clung to the wind and after a few seconds Seto reacted, “this sure is heating things up. Keeping the same air around me keeps me somewhat warmer.” Mathew nodded and stepped into the warm wind barrier.

with the extra warm air now circling around them, they only needed to shiver up some more heat and add it to the wind every fifteen minutes. as they came to a stop near a tree, they found another ingredient they were after; hot mushroom. Seto picked some, using Mathew’s phoenix wing shivering heat to start a fire, used the ice to make water and created a hot mushroom soup. When they ate it, it had could done some, but was warm enough to eat. They gave their thanks, sitting with their back into the wind. Mathew had created his turtle shield around them and both of them shivered up some more heat. The soup was spicy, but it also warmed them up inside. As it had become late already, as Mathew dropped his turtle shield, the ice and snow that had hit it and had clung to the outside had formed an icy dome around them that held warm air. Seto poked some air holes into it before the both of them pulled out some blankets and going to get some sleep.

the next morning Mathew and Seto noticed that their shivered up heat was gone and that their air holes had frozen up again. Mathew breathed out, in and shivered up some heat, sending it through his entire body. As Seto prepared the wind that was still inside, Mathew launched a ten spin drill punch, shattering the ice cage they were in. Seto wrapped wind around them and Mathew mixed in another heat wave before they started moving, walking the ache and cold around their bodies.

while it was morning, the clouds covered the sun, making the temperature drop even further. And the ice cold temperature that was already here, along with the stinging wind made it much worse. Even with their team work, it was worse than yesterday. But even though it was colder than before, it didn’t seem to bother them as much as it did yesterday. Was that because their bodies were going numb? Or because their gourmet cells were adapting to the weather? After an hour of walking, they spotted breakfast; a herd of freezer bison.

as the heard attacked, Seto and Mathew finally got some exercise and some breakfast. Mathew took down two bison, before sending the rest packing by unleashing his intimidation upon them. Seto quickly skinned both of them and, while wrapping themselves in the pelts, Seto prepared the meat. Mathew used his turtle shield and shivering again to make a warm dome to keep them out of the cold and keep the meat warm.

as they gave their thanks and ate, Mathew had noticed he was getting more exhausted easily. His breathe had been freezing constantly since he had come to ice hell. Even now, in this warm dome his breath was freezing. He thought back to what he had learned. Most oxygen that was breathed in, was also breathed out, along with the carbon dioxide. Keeping both separate was difficult. But if he could managed to filter out the carbon dioxide on exhaling, he would keep the oxygen in his lungs and thus in his body. It was worth a try.

Mathew tried it, but his breath still froze. He breathed in again, than out and this time less of his air froze. He nodded and focused on the lower freezing point carbon dioxide had. As he breathed in again, the air condensed in his lungs and he breathed out only the frozen carbon dioxide as sparkling white breath. Seto had kept a touching eye on his friend and seen everything Mathew had done. As Mathew had done it, he had mimicked his friend and copied what he had done. The two breathed in deeply, finished their meal and Mathew shattered the ice shield once more.

with the warm pelts around them, they started to move again through the freezing wind. Mathew, wanting to go after the Growlrus and Silver Grizzly first, before making a go for the century soup, headed for the coast/ and this way they could get more used to the cold environment and give their new form of breathing a good test run.

after a twenty five minute walk the two of them reached the ledge and found an interesting specimen below them. instead of the dark Growlrus, which usually traveled in a pack, they had found a white, an albino, Growlrus, bigger than the normal one. And seeing how it had just taken down an ice Jaguar, capture level 17, Mathew guessed it had a capture level 18 or higher. Seto smiled, this was some good luck and good eating for them. they both dropped down, just as the colossal beast started eating. As they landed, it turned around, ferociously roaring at them, its red eyes focused on the two of them.

Mathew saw the enormous amount of fat and blubber this beast had, those would lessen the damage it took from attacks. But it also meant it had lots of fat, which would make it very tasty. For such a big fat creature, it moved rather fast, lashing out at the hunter and cook with its enormous bloody fangs. The two dodged the attack and Mathew countered with a drill punch launched as an upper cut against the lower jaw of the beast, sending it flying. As it went up, Seto knocked it down to the ground with a blast of air. As it fell, landed and rolled back, it smacked forward. Its fangs shattered the ice it was on. Mathew and Seto, not wanting their food to fall down, rushed forward and Mathew unleashed another drill punch, this time of the five spin variety, in the belly, while Seto slashed at it with his Melk knife.

the beast was send spinning and flying and as it landed, it was finished. And here, below the edge, there was no stinging wind. Seto cooked in piece and as they ate they enjoyed a good fat and warm meal. It filled them up well and with the hot mushrooms Seto had kept and now served with the meat, it warmed them up inside as well. as they finished their meal, Mathew climbed up to the edge again, wrapping the freezer bison fur around him and heading toward the ice mountain. Seto flew up, wrapped the pelt around him, landed and followed Mathew.

there was only one more beast to hunt down before they could try and go after the century soup. As they reached the foot of the mountain, the cold wind died down. Mathew kept the pelts though, knowing Kabe would have great use for these two pelts. As they continued, Seto was the first to notice the gigantic bears roaming around. His sense of touch never failed, even though the beasts were about a hundred meter away.

as the two came closer, they noticed one of the bears was on his own. and as they followed and isolated it more than it already was, it noticed them, immediately attacking them. Mathew blocked its paws, punching them away before blocking them both by making two separate turtle shield, before piercing the beast with his dragon fang drill punch. It fell to the ground and Seto skinned it quickly, making for an extra pelt. Seto made both a stew, as well as grilled meat. It filled the two up as they ate. But as they ate, they heard a whole set of bombs go off. no real hunter would go to work like that and it would destroy the environment. And with the slight buzzing in the air, Mathew could only guess one of the more famous of the vice chefs of the Gourmet Corp had come here; Tommyrod.

Mathew and Seto quickly finished eating and started moving into the ice mountain to look for the soup. After ten minutes of looking around, the found the room with the gourmet show window, where Toriko was fighting Tommyrod,… or actually his insects. Takimaru fought against Bogywoods and Match fought against Barry Gamon. With there being an opening that lead down in the ice wall not far from them, Mathew went into beast mode, sinking down to all fours, increasing his speed four times and he rushed toward the gate. Sure he would like to help them, but these were battles of pride. He wouldn’t injure another hunter’s pride like that. Seto let the wind carry him to keep up with Mathew.

as they went down, Mathew informed Seto, ‘I had a good wiff of those ingredients in the ice. I know what combined scent to look for. Did you touch them all?’ Seto nodded, “I did. So let’s go and find the soup quickly.” Mathew nodded and as they reached the middle of the hallway, they both rushed over Komatsu who seemed to be looking for the soup. They came by a masked hunter as well, but he seemed to be more focused on Komatsu.

Mathew followed the scent and Seto followed the soul of the ingredients. Eventually they found themselves at a small hole in the ground with about a big bucket of soup in it. Mathew sighed, ‘if we took all of it, it wouldn’t be fair to Toriko and the others.’ Seto nodded, “but what if they lose and the gourmet Corp finds it? that would be bad.” Mathew nodded, ‘that’s true, but one can never be sure.’ Seto sighed, “I know. Let’s just trust that this soup wants to survive. If it does, it will.” Seto pulled two small tea cups from his backpack and handed one to Mathew.

they both scooped up a small warm cup of soup and both said, ‘“we give humble thanks for the large bounty that this would provides, now let’s eat.’” They both sipped the soup, becoming immersed in its amazing and seemingly endless flavor. The training they had done so far, cold resistance and breathing right, had paid off, their gourmet cells had adapted to nature and, through this incredible soup; their gourmet cells evolved, edging their training deep within their cells. And then the soup took effect. The corners of their eyes sunk down and the corners of their mouths rose up, giving both of them a goofy smile. Yet, with Seto’s scarred eyes and face, his dopey smiling face looked somewhat creepy.

Mathew and Seto finished their cups of soup and started walking again, moving out of the ice caves, hearing the trembling and ice breaking noises behind them. about an hour later did they reach the exit, as well as an opening. As they had been walking, they had talked about what Seto was planning to do now. He had now learned the secrets of the century soup, what went into it and its actual flavor. But he wasn’t planning on recreating it. he found that the soup had not chosen him to do so. As such, he would make some new and tasty soups for his restaurant, but not a new century soup.

with the exit reached and them standing on the icy edge, Mathew opened his mouth and unleashed a high pitched roar. He repeated this roar twice more before a white flash shot down out of the sky. As it landed before them, Blitz was happy to see his partner and cooking friend again. Mathew held up a cup in front of the shadow dragon, who’s white scales were turning darker and some tufts of fur were starting to grow, dark golden horn stumps were emerging from the skull as well. Mathew, knowing his shadow dragon would come to get them, had brought an extra cup of soup for him. Blitz happily drank it and the dragon showed a dopey smile as well.

with the dragon liking and finishing the soup in one gulp, the hunter and cook sat down on the dragon’s neck, who rose up into the sky and flew back to Gourmet Town.