The curl at the top stood proud, glossy and smooth, like the crown of a king.
Old Tiger Zhao leaned in.
He took one bite.
Then froze.
For a moment, the world stopped.
He tasted slowly, eyes wide, pupils quivering.
This wasn't just cold. It wasn't even close to the vanilla one.
That one had been creamy, light, with a faint milky sweetness and smooth finish.
But this…
This was rich.
Dense.
Velvety and decadent, with a depth that pulled him in like a spiral array.
The cold hugged his tongue, melted with a smooth glide, then left behind a bold, lingering flavor.
It wasn't simple chocolate - it was something more primal. Something with heat behind the cold.
Molten Nightshade Kucua.
A rare ingredient found only near the smoldering roots of the Molten Ashlands, where volcanic spirit and demonic beasts once bathed in lava and the soil shimmered with lingering flame essence.
