As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Fenix and ChibiScker reached the outskirts of town. They headed towards a small camping ground nestled by a glistening ke, a popur spot for low-level pyers who couldn't afford an inn or preferred the outdoors. It was also a well-known trading spot.

  The scent of pine trees and the sound of a nearby ke welcomed them as they arrived. Despite it being early evening, there were only a handful of pyers scattered around the campsite. Some were already setting up camp, and others were chatting with friends or fishing in the ke.

  This was expected since this was only a beginner town. But Fenix knew that as they ventured towards more advanced cities, these grounds would be overflowing with pyers looking to rest for the night.

  After looking around Fenix led ChibiScker to a secluded spot, before ciming a camping spot for himself. Only the owner and their party members could use a registered spot.

  While not necessary, registering would grant a passive buff that increased experience gain by 1% in activities such as fishing, cooking, and gathering for a short period of time. The pyer had to stay at their registered spot for 10 minutes to receive the buff.

  ChibiScker got to work setting up a crackling campfire to provide light as he prepared for dinner. Meanwhile, Fenix retrieved his portable stove, pots and pans, utensils, and all the necessary ingredients for their meal. His cooking skill was still at novice level, so he didn't expect to make a perfect dish on his first try. He hoped to achieve a 2-star rating with his Bellyborg stew after a few attempts.

  As Fenix checked the recipe, ChibiScker came over and looked on with curious interest. "Can I help you with anything?"

  "No thanks, I've got it covered," Fenix replied with a smile. "Just sit back and get ready to enjoy some delicious food."

  "Rex? I don't think that word is in my vocabury. I think I will do some fishing while you cook. I finally got the skill, and I will get my revenge on those fish who made me look like an idiot st time.” ChibiScker said with determination.

  Shaking his head in amusement, Fenix said, "Alright, well good luck catching something this time."

  "Just watch and see, I'll catch the biggest fish you've ever seen!" ChibiScker yelled as he ran towards the ke.

  Fenix smiled to himself and turned his attention back to the Bellyborg Stew recipe, ensuring he had all the necessary ingredients. While he had most of them, a few couldn't be gathered from the wild.

  So, on his way to the campsite, Fenix made a pit stop at the grocery store to pick up the remaining items he needed.

  Using the wooden table that was near him, he prepared his ingredients, making sure to separate them for every attempt he pnned to make.

  After his ingredients were prepped, he accessed his profile and selected the cookbook tab. Scanning through it quickly, he found the recipe for Bellyborg stew and clicked on it. The directions appeared on a translucent screen in front of him, making it easy to read and follow along as he cooked.

  The first step instructed him to soak the Bellyborg meat in Bellport's famous green wine, along with bay leaves and thyme, for a few minutes. However, he knew if he soaked it longer it would become more fvorful.

  Once he prepped four pieces to his liking, Fenix decided to marinate the rest of the birds as well. This way, once he finished the current stew, his other attempts would turn out even better.

  After he finished, Fenix scanned the recipe, his eyes moving to the next step: cooking bacon over low heat in a pan.

  Fenix grabbed the bacon from the table, ying it carefully on the portable stove. The stove's soft click was followed by a steady hum as it heated up.

  The rich aroma of sizzling bacon soon filled the air, making his mouth water. He watched intently as the bacon crisped up, the stove dinging once it reached perfection. Using tongs, he lifted the strips off the pan and set them aside.

  Next, he turned the heat up to medium before grabbing the Bellyborg pieces and ying them in the bacon fat, enjoying the way they sizzled as the pieces slowly turned a golden brown. After five minutes, the meat was perfectly seared. He transferred it to a bowl.

  Without missing a beat, Fenix added onions and mushrooms to the pan, their color deepening as they cooked. The scent was intoxicating, mingling with the earthy tones of the forest around him. He added carrots and garlic. The hiss and pop of the pan was a comforting rhythm. After two minutes, he sprinkled flour over the vegetables, stirring continuously until the raw flour scent vanished.

  He poured in some Jitterwrinkle sauce, a vibrant red concoction that smelled richly of spices, stirring it into the mix. The stew thickened quickly, prompting him to add a spsh of green wine from the marinade. Satisfied with the consistency, he returned the Bellyborg pieces and their accumuted juices to the pot, stirring in the fresh herbs.

  Bringing the mixture to a boil, he then reduced it to a gentle simmer, letting it cook for 30 minutes—far faster than it would be outside the game. As the minutes ticked by, he checked the meat, ensuring it was tender and nearly falling off the bone.

  Satisfied, Fenix removed the meat, mushrooms, and onions, pcing them in a bowl and covering them with a pte to keep them warm. He turned the heat up again, boiling down the liquid until it thickened into a sauce. He reintroduced the vegetables and meat to the pot, stirring until everything was well-coated and the dish was complete.

  Fenix tasted it; although good, it could have been better. He didn’t even get half a star on this attempt. Although he knew this would happen, he still felt somewhat down, since he was an excellent cook in real life, and getting only half a star was a blow to his ego. But he knew that even though he was level 100 in real life, he was only level 1 in the game.

  Looking over at the ke where ChibiScker was trying to catch a fish with his hands, a determined expression was etched on his face. This made Fenix feel resolved. He swore he would make a two, no, three-star dish tonight!

  On his third try, he got a two-star dish, but on his fourth try, everything exceeded his expectations. Somehow, he made a four-star dish. Checking the ingredients, it turned out that he had taken out the High-Quality Bellyborg meat by accident.

  Better quality ingredients make better quality food, so everything makes sense. Giving the stew a taste, he almost moaned in pleasure. The fvor hit his taste buds hard, leaving him wanting more. It was so incredibly delicious he could hardly believe that it was something he had made.

  After putting some of it in a container and storing it in his spatial inventory, where it would stay nice and warm, he cleaned up. Once everything was neat and tidy, he called ChibiScker over to eat.