"This is much more convenient. Let's eat directly. Rukia-san, you should take off this thing called an artificial body. After all, it can't be fused with Gourmet Cells. Try it with your soul body."
Zed looked at Rukia and spoke.
The artificial body was always just a tool, but Rukia couldn't discard it easily. It helped her recover from spiritual pressure much faster.
Hearing Zed's words, Rukia silently separated from the artificial body, letting her soul step forward.
Soul could eat food, but what she ate before came from the Soul Society—everything made of spirit particles.
"Here are some Melk's Stars. Add them in."
Zed brought out some Melk's Stars. As a universal seasoning, it should improve the taste of the BB Popcorn even more.
After the addition, the BB Popcorn shimmered faintly, like it might glow.
"It tastes very similar to mashed potatoes."
Its texture and flavor were excellent. No wonder Terry would eat it—he was usually very picky.
As the BB Popcorn slid down their throats, the food from the Gourmet World successfully activated Zed's Gourmet Cells.
The same thing happened to the other three girls. But for Rukia, nothing changed.
"Failed?"
Though delicious, Rukia didn't feel the power-up that the others experienced. She was a little disappointed.
After seeing the power of Gourmet Cells, anyone would want them.
"No, it's not a failure. Mirajane got Gourmet Cells on her first try, but Erina and Hisako didn't.
Food Luck only raises your chances—it doesn't guarantee success."
Zed shook his head. Rukia's result didn't mean she wouldn't get them at all.
"That means I still have a chance!"
Rukia brightened.
"Indeed. I've got other ingredients here. You can try them."
Zed pulled out rare ingredients grown in his own planting space. The rarer and stronger the food, the higher the chances of gaining Gourmet Cells.
It couldn't be that Rukia's Food Luck was bad enough to fail all of them.
Everyone tasted the ingredients. While it wouldn't raise their level much now, the flavor was incredible.
When eating the third dish, Zed sensed a change in Rukia's presence.
Others noticed it too.
"It actually worked!"
Rukia's spiritual pressure burst out, and a demon shadow appeared in the air. Everyone was surprised. Her soul body was special, but she had still succeeded.
"It should've succeeded, but it looks like it's happening in her consciousness space," Zed said, seeing her dazed face.
Rukia's consciousness space had Sode no Shirayuki already. With the Gourmet Cells, a new presence must have appeared, even without self-awareness. Sode no Shirayuki would surely call Rukia in.
As expected, Rukia's consciousness space transformed.
"Why did you pull me in again?"
Rukia stood, confused.
"You've got nerve asking me. Look at that thing."
Sode no Shirayuki pointed to a hideous demon beside her.
"Is that the Gourmet Demon? Just like Mr. Zed said… It has no self-awareness and is under my control."
Rukia had already been told by Zed that this would happen.
"Under your control? Do you know how strong this thing is? When it appeared, your spiritual pressure surged. This space even changed."
Even if it wasn't like the terrifying demon inside Zed, the power it gave off was immense. For Rukia to say it was fully under her control seemed unbelievable.
"It's true. It's like a puppet. I can borrow its power as long as my body can withstand it."
"Wait, what do you mean by this space changing?"
Rukia asked.
"Come with me. I'll show you."
Sode no Shirayuki led her to the edge of the icy world.
"See? This was all snow and ice before, and there was an edge. But now, the space has expanded massively. The original consciousness space is now a continent, and beyond it is endless darkness."
Only dark void surrounded the new land.
"So… is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Of course it's good. This space reflects your soul. Expansion means your potential has skyrocketed.
It's probably because of that guy. Without expanding, Soul space couldn't hold him."
The expansion was definitely beneficial.
"Then I guess I've truly fused the Gourmet Cells."
Rukia sighed with relief.
"Whatever. I don't care anymore. But now, you should be able to hear my name clearly—Sode no Shirayuki."
Rukia heard it clearly this time.
Outside, her body was changing.
"Her body is transforming into real flesh and blood.
Her soul body was never purely spiritual—it had matter with flesh-like properties. Now the Gourmet Cells are fusing and transforming it."
Zed observed the process using his soul perception.
"It's just like when I fused with magic power. The Gourmet Cells consumed my magic source and blended it with calories."
Mirajane commented, recognizing a similar pattern.
"You stay with her. I'll leave for now."
Zed left quickly, surprising the others, but they soon realized the reason.
Rukia's spirit-particle clothes were dissolving, transforming like her body. With no physical clothing, she was exposed.
Later, when Zed returned, Rukia was fully clothed again in the uniform from the destroyed artificial body.
That body had been just a doll before use, taking the soul's appearance. But now, with a real body, Rukia no longer needed it.
She also now held a Zanpakutō.
"It looks like you've recovered. Did anything change?"
Zed asked.
"A lot has changed. I now have a real body. My spiritual pressure was restored—or more accurately, fused with calories.
My death suit and Zanpakutō can appear any time now."
As she spoke, her Zanpakutō disappeared instantly—something impossible in Soul Society.
"I also unlocked Shikai. My Zanpakutō is called Sode no Shirayuki."
Rukia was thrilled. She was no longer just a weak Shinigami with Kidō knowledge. She now had her own Shikai, and her power now reached vice-captain level.
"Gourmet Cells strengthen body and soul. Since your spiritual pressure fused with them, maybe you can teach others how to raise theirs—like Take over magic."
Zed noted. He didn't need that method since he could use Food Honor to improve his soul.
But others might benefit from Rukia's method. If magic could be converted into calories, maybe spiritual pressure could too.
As for Zed, he needed faster ways to use soul power in battle. Long chanting spells like the Shinigami's Hadō weren't suitable for the Gourmet World.
He planned to integrate soul power into his own attacks so they'd hit both body and soul.
The only thing he found useful was Kaido (Way of Healing). Bakudō (Way of Binding) was far less practical than Knocking.
Rukia offered to try teaching the others, but that was for later.
For now, they had to capture more ingredients.
Zed's Capture Level was nearing 100. One or two more activations should do it.
Over the next few days, they combed through the old 1st Biotope, but improvements were slower. Most ingredients here didn't exceed Capture Level 100.
Still, Zed wasn't worried. He had one final goal: the Corona Sunflower.
"Why are you here? Do you believe the Acacia's Full Course is sealed here too?"
Ayame was tending the Corona Sunflowers at the altar. She didn't expect Zed and the others and worried they'd destroy the plants.
The seal inside relied on the Corona Sunflower's energy. To unlock it meant cutting it off.
"Don't worry. I know what's sealed there. I won't destroy the Corona Sunflowers.
I need them to raise my Gourmet Cells above Level 100."
Zed explained. The old 1st Biotope was a treasure trove. The Bishokukai never found it, or they could've trained more fighters capable of entering the Gourmet World.
"Your cells are already at Level 100?!"
Ayame was shocked. That level was enough to enter the Gourmet World, even if a level 100 fighter was still weak there. It was still extremely powerful by human world standards.
"Yes, just one last ingredient left. I'll need some Corona Sunflowers."
Zed nodded. He also planned to grow them in his own planting space for future use.