"It's truly incredible. This isn't just simple healing!"
Mirajane marveled after Zed explained the Resurrection Material. A knife infused with it could regenerate a bitten apple—a feat bordering on alchemy.
Although it is theoretically infinite given enough material, it is practically limited. This is due to the rarity of Resurrection Material; the material's source can only be found in the Gourmet World and replenishing its energy drained resources.
Thus, such blades were reserved for healing elite warriors, not reviving ingredients.
After gathering materials, Zed departed. Yosaku's vault held treasures like ore for Universal Medicine Knives, but Erina and Hisako's skills weren't yet refined enough to wield one. When the time came, Zed would collect the materials himself.
Along the way to Mount Melk
"Since you've awakened Gourmet Cells, I'll teach you your first skill: Life Erase (Shōmei). It conceals your presence by perfecting control over your energy."
Mirajane blinked. "Life Erase (Shōmei)?"
"Watch closely." Zed activated the technique, vanishing from sight—not just invisibility, but erasure of all sensory traces. Only creatures with hyperacute senses, like Fighting Wolves, could detect it.
"Life Erase (Shōmei) eliminates your aura. Unless someone focuses intently, they'll overlook you entirely."
Though Zed rarely used it, preferring Food Honor (Shokugi) for deeper concealment, the skill was vital for Mirajane. Her magic-sealed past had dulled her control, but her S-Class Wizard foundation would accelerate mastery.
For their trip to Mount Melk, Zed chartered a specialized aircraft large enough to accommodate Tatsu, whose growing size rendered conventional transport obsolete. The plane avoided flying directly over Mount Melk due to its perilous terrain, dropping them off at a safe distance.
"Such enormous stairs! Each step is nearly 1.5 meters tall—why?!" Mirajane gaped at the colossal staircase winding up the mountain.
"The First Generation Melk stood three meters tall. These stairs were built to his scale," Zed explained.
"Three meters?! Is that… normal?!"
"Gourmet Cells or genetics—either way, it's irrelevant. Tatsu, ascend directly."
Tatsu surged upward, bypassing the stairs entirely. Cliffs and switchbacks meant nothing to the Devil Serpent, whose aura alone deterred nearby Gourmet Beasts.
Summit of Mount Melk
Tatsu's arrival alerted the Second Generation Melk, who emerged wary. "Who are you? State your purpose!"
"We're here to commission a weapon. Tatsu, stand down." Zed ordered. The Devil Serpent's menace faded, leaving only the trio.
"Commissions follow procedure. Queue like everyone else."
"I have news about the First Generation Melk. Will that expedite things?"
The Second Generation Melk stiffened. "You… know of my master?!"
"Yosaku, my mentor, is his peer in the Biotope 0."
"Yosaku?! The Saiseiya Master on par with Mohyan Shaishai?! But… what is the Biotope 0?"
"Let's discuss inside." Zed gestured to the workshop, leaving Tatsu outside.
Inside the Workshop
Over tea, the Second Generation Melk revealed her nameless plight—raised by the First Generation Melk, who never spoke audibly.
"Your master did speak—his voice was simply too faint. He entrusted his work to you before joining the Biotope 0." Zed clarified.
"Impossible! I thought he was always making 'Gonyo Gonyo' sound, but..."
"His whispers require trained ears. Even among Zero Bureau members, few hear him unaided."
"Turn out his voice was just really quiet—then… where is he now?"
"Heavy Hole's depths, mining Melk's Stars. We're headed there next. Any messages for him?"
The Second Generation Melk hesitated. "I… can't survive Heavy Hole's gravity or beasts. Please… tell him…"