I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

As the dark red vortex within the obsidian portal to the abyss swallowed everyone, a suffocating heat instantly assaulted their senses.

This heat is not just a rise in temperature, but more like some kind of violent fire elemental law raging in the space.

"Buzz—"

As the weightlessness from the spatial teleportation disappeared, Jiang Li's feet (square feet) landed firmly on solid ground once again.

The sight before him made even the God of Cookery, who was used to grand scenes, narrow his eyes slightly.

This is a world stained with blood and fire.

The sky was no longer blue, nor did it hold the sun, moon, or stars; only the oppressive, dark red Hellrock dome stood, as if it might collapse at any moment. Ash-like particles floated in the air—embers from a fire.

Beneath their feet were isolated islands floating in the void. Below these islands lay a vast, boundless, churning, roaring sea of ​​lava.

The magma here is not ordinary fluid, but a death zone composed of countless bright orange cubes. Occasionally, bubbles rise from the depths of the magma, bursting with a "pop" and spewing out sparks powerful enough to melt steel.

"It's so hot! So hot!"

Er Gou stuck out his square tongue, and all the fur on his body (texture) stood up due to static electricity.

"The concentration of fire element here is more than ten times that on the surface! This is practically a super microwave oven!"

Although Odin was wearing golden armor, the metal armor was now a burden, making him grimac and wince from the heat.

"Damn it! I feel like a steak on a hot plate!"

Only Tangyuan, this little guy made of higher-dimensional matter, seemed unusually excited at this moment.

"Phew...it's so warm..."

Tangyuan bounced around on the edge of the cliff, looking down at the sea of ​​lava. Its round body even emitted a faint red light.

"Dad! The energy here tastes so good! I feel like my pixels are being roasted (recharged)!"

Jiang Li looked around, and the Gluttony God within his body activated slightly, an invisible force field enveloping his entire body, isolating him from the heat wave that was enough to ignite his soul.

"Everyone be careful."

"This is the bottom of the world, an abandoned 'waste disposal plant'."

"Although it's a pixelated world, the temperature of this magma is real."

"If you fall, even a god would be skinned alive."

……

The group proceeded along the treacherous path paved with Hell Rock.

The terrain here is extremely complex, with cliffs and flowing lava waterfalls everywhere. Occasionally, you can see glowing golden blocks embedded in the Netherstone; those are Glowstone, the only source of light in the Nether.

"Snoring...snoring..."

Just as they turned past a huge rock pillar, a series of noisy groans came from ahead.

On a relatively open flat area, a strange settlement appeared.

They were a group of bipedal, half-human, half-pig creatures.

Zombie Pigman.

Most of their bodies had rotted away, revealing white bones (cube bones), while the other half was pink pigskin. They held gleaming golden swords in their hands and were holding some kind of primitive campfire party around a pile of burning dark red plants—hell warts.

"Is this what the indigenous people are like?"

Odin gripped the pixelated spear tightly, his eyes sharpening.

"It looks like a creature from the evil faction. In other words, a 'monster'."

"Boss, should we strike first? I think the gold swords they're carrying are of good quality."

"Wait a minute."

Jiang Li reached out and stopped Odin.

"Don't act impulsively."

"In the setting of this world, these guys are [neutral creatures]."

"That is, the so-called 'I will not attack unless attacked'."

"and……"

Jiang Li pointed to the number of pig-men.

"There are hundreds of them here. Once you attack one, all the pigmen on the map will chase you like mad dogs."

"Although we are not afraid, there is no need to waste our energy."

"Our goal is to find the creator god, not to commit genocide."

Jiang Li straightened his chef's robe and strode over.

"Courtesy first, then force."

"I'll go talk to them."

……

When Jiang Li approached the pigman tribe, the pigmen who were dancing (actually, they were just shaking grotesquely) all stopped.

Hundreds of dead fish eyes stared at the outsider.

He slightly raised the golden sword in his hand, emitting a low warning sound.

"Hmph... Ha?" (Human? Flesh?)

"Ha... Hmph!" (Don't come any closer! This is our territory!)

The system translation was launched promptly.

Jiang Li was not intimidated by the scene. He gave a kind smile and took a plate out of his backpack.

On the plate is the [Cube Salmon Sushi] that I made earlier in the main world.

"Don't be nervous, fellow pigs."

"I'm a chef who's just passing by, and I'd like to ask you about someone."

"This is just a small token of my appreciation, a local specialty from my hometown."

Jiang Li handed the plate over.

The leader, a particularly enormous "Pig King," stepped forward. It wore a golden helmet, and its sword was larger than the others.

The Pig King glanced down at the pink sashimi and cold rice balls on the plate.

The big-nosed guy leaned over and sniffed.

then……

"Pooh!"

The Pig King turned his head away with a look of disgust.

"Hmph!" (It's cold!)

"Ha... Hmph!" (This is hell! We only eat hot food! This stuff is too yin! It'll give you diarrhea!)

"Hmph, ha, hey!" (Get lost! Or I'll roast you!)

Jiang Li: "..."

Good guy.

These guys who live near lava, they actually know how to maintain their health?

Do you dislike sushi because it's considered a "cold" food?

"interesting."

Jiang Li put away the sushi, not angry at all, but with an even brighter light in his eyes.

For a top chef, the most demanding customers are his biggest challenge.

"You want it hot, right?"

"You like the fire element, right?"

"OK."

Jiang Li glanced at the lava sea beside him, and then at the Pig King's body full of fat (although it was blocky, it looked quite oily).

"Then I'll make you a dish... [Hell Special - Explosive BBQ]."

……

Jiang Li did not start a fire immediately.

He walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down at the churning sea of ​​lava.

"Cooking should be done according to local conditions."

"Since we're in a lava world, we should use the local specialties."

"Ordinary ingredients are hardly worthy of your palates, my fellow pigs!"

Jiang Li flipped his wrist.

A fishing rod, as black as ink and exuding an ancient aura, appeared in his hand.

【Abyss Angler - Block Version】

This fishing rod is his signature artifact that he brought from the real world. Although it has become pixelated in this world, the fishing line is still formed by the power of laws and is immune to any physical high temperature.

"Boss, what are you doing?" Er Gou leaned closer. "Fishing in the lava? Are there any living things down there?"

Where there is water, there are fish.

Jiang Li suddenly swung the fishing rod.

"And in this ocean of highly concentrated fire element..."

"That's... a Fire Spirit."

whoosh-

The black fishhook pierced the void and plunged into the sea of ​​lava a thousand meters below.

It did not cause a ripple.

Instead, it pierced the orange-red fluid of death silently, like a needle piercing tofu.

Jiang Li closed his eyes and used the fishing rod in his hand to sense the movement below.

One minute.

Two minutes.

The surrounding pigs began to stir, seemingly feeling that the human was playing a trick on them.

Sudden.

"Buzz!!!"

The fishing rod suddenly bent into a full moon!

A tremendous, strange force came from below, almost pulling Jiang Li off the cliff.

"They're here!"

Jiang Li's eyes snapped open, and the square ground beneath his feet cracked instantly.

"Get up!!!"

He exerted force with both arms, activated his Gluttony Godhood, and unleashed his full power to the extreme.

Crash!

The sea of ​​lava below exploded.

A huge, crimson fish with barbs on its back and liquid flames flowing from its body was forcibly dragged out of the sea.

It is not an ordinary fish.

It has four slender legs and a head that looks like a giant hot air balloon.

【Strider (also known as Fiery Foot Beast)】

But this was clearly a mutated elite monster, as big as a truck, spewing high-pressure fireballs from its mouth.

"roar----"

The strange fish roared in the air, trying to burn through the fishing line.

"Trying to run away?"

Jiang Li sneered.

"Once they enter my fishpond, they become my food!"

"Odin! Greet the guests!"

"Okay!"

Odin, who could no longer contain himself, leaped high into the air, his pixelated spear carrying the force of thunder (although there was no thunder here, he had the strength).

"A meteor is falling!"

when!!!

The spear struck the strange fish precisely on the head.

The strange fish let out a mournful cry and was slammed heavily onto the open ground at the edge of the cliff, creating a large crater.

……

"Wow...what a big fish!"

The pigs were dumbfounded.

They've lived here for so many years, and this is the first time they've ever seen someone fish out a monster from the lava.

And it was done barehanded!

"Hmph?" (That's... the legendary Lava Overlord?)

The Pig King swallowed hard.

It could sense the exquisite deliciousness emanating from the fish—the purest essence of fire.

……

Jiang Li ignored the pigs' shock.

He has entered "Master Chef" mode.

"Ergou! Go and pluck some of that red grass (hell wart)!"

"Abel! Prepare the fish!"

"Sweet rice balls! Get ready to be an oven!"

Jiang Li set up the huge frying pan.

But this time, he didn't use coal to start a fire.

Instead, they directly channeled a stream of lava over the pot, creating a natural lava stove at the bottom.

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients.

When the lava fish was cut open, its flesh was surprisingly a translucent ruby ​​color.

Every piece of meat was radiating an astonishing amount of heat.

Step 2: Prepare the ingredients.

Jiang Li took out the pork chop (ordinary) from his backpack, as well as the [Hell Wart] that Er Gou had collected.

Hellwart is a fungus that grows on soul sand. It tastes extremely bitter and spicy, but is rich in soul energy.

Step 3: Cooking.

"Sizzle—"

The moment the fish and pork chops are put into the pot.

A powerful, pungent aroma, mixed with the pungent smell of sulfur, instantly ignited the entire venue.

"This fish is too tough; it needs to be stir-fried over high heat!"

Jiang Li frantically tossed the wok.

The flames in the frying pan shot up three feet high.

He added the juice extracted from hell wart (as a hot sauce) and sprinkled in a handful of the leftover "explosive salt" (gunpowder).

"Explode! Explode! Explode!"

Under the combined effects of high temperature and explosion, the ingredients in the pot are undergoing rapid changes.

The fish meat becomes soft, tender, and chewy, while the pork chops absorb the oil and become crispy and fragrant.

At last.

Jiang Li sprinkled a handful of golden [gold nuggets] (dropped by pigmen, or refined from gold ore).

[Dish Name: Hell Lava Burst Double Combo Rice Bowl]

[Special Effects: Fire Immunity (Extremely Strong), Strength Amplification, Soul Tremor.]

……

"alright!"

Jiang Li presented a dish (yes, a bowl) glowing red to the Pig King.

"This is the hot dish you ordered."

"Try it."

"Be careful, it'll burn your mouth."

The Pig King stared at the pot of food in front of him, which seemed to still be burning.

That hunger from the depths of the soul overcame the wariness of outsiders.

It stretched out its trembling hand, grabbed a piece of lava fish meat, and threw it into its mouth.

"Click."

"boom--"

The fish exploded in my mouth.

It was not a physical explosion.

It's a nuclear explosion of taste.

It was an extreme spiciness, mixed with the high temperature of magma, burning all the way down the throat to the stomach.

But this is not a painful burning sensation.

It's more like... a feeling of exhilarating freedom, as if all the meridians in your body have been opened up!

"Hmph... Hmph!!!"

The Pig King's eyes widened instantly.

The golden helmet on its head was tilted by the heat.

"Ah!!!" (It's so hot! It feels so good!)

"Hmph, ha, hey!" (This is the food of men! This is the taste of hell!)

It went crazy and started swallowing it in large gulps.

Seeing this, the other pig-men also gathered around, drooling as they looked at Jiang Li.

"Don't worry, we have them all."

Jiang Li distributed the remaining food as if feeding a group of hungry piglets.

In a short time.

The only sounds at the edge of the cliff were the sounds of chewing and satisfied humming.

……

After a hearty meal and drinks.

The Pig King let out a burp that seemed to carry a spark.

Its body turned bright red, and it even seemed to be glowing.

It looked at Jiang Li with eyes filled with adoration.

"Hmph..." (Human...you're very strong.)

"Ha... Hmph." (Your cooking... is a million times better than hellworm.)

Jiang Li wiped his hands.

"Now that you're full, let's get down to business."

"Where exactly is that creator god?"

The Pig King did not hesitate.

It pointed to the depths of the lava sea, in that misty direction.

"Ha~" (Over there...)

"Hmph." (There is a black... [Nether Fortress].)

"Ha... Hmph." (That god... is trapped on the top floor of the fortress.)

"Hmph!" (But...it's dangerous there.)

The Pig King made a flying motion and then made a fire-breathing motion.

"Haaah!" (There's... a flying fire stick (Blitzman) there.)

(There's also a tall, black-clad figure wielding a stone sword (the Wither Skeleton).)

(Without this... you won't get through.)

The Pig King pulled a crumpled piece of parchment from his bosom (or from his rotting flesh).

He handed it to Jiang Li.

[Recipe obtained: Fire Resistance Potion.]

[Description: A pinnacle of alchemy. Brewed using magma paste and hellfire. Upon consumption, one can swim in lava and is immune to all fire damage.]

"nice one."

Jiang Li put away the recipe.

With this, the most dangerous environmental damage in the lower realm becomes useless.

"Thank you, Brother Pig."

Jiang Li patted the Pig King on the shoulder.

"If you ever have the chance to go up there (to the main world), remember to come find me at the Deep Blue Hotel."

"Give me your name, and I'll give you a bone fracture... no, a 20% discount."

……

We bid farewell to the enthusiastic pigman tribe.

Jiang Li led the group toward the fortress.

With the formula for the fire-resistant potion, the road ahead became much easier.

but.

Jiang Li looked at the abyss fishing rod in his hand, which was still slightly warm.

But he was thinking about another question.

"Is the creator god trapped in the fortress?"

"In this world, he is the invincible GM (administrator)."

"Something that can trap a GM..."

"It can only be that... virus that stole administrator privileges."

"Herobrine..."

"I wonder about that guy..."

"What does it taste like?"