Felix couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he observed Quill's transformation.
His gaze flickered between the shimmering Dragon Soul and Quill, whose eyes sparkled with newfound vigor.
Instead of rushing to action, Felix casually crossed his legs and took a sip of his wine, intrigued by the sight of the trembling knight before him.
As if responding to some unseen force, Mana began swirling in the room, coiling around Quill like a living entity.
The air crackled with energy as Quill's aura surged dramatically.
BOOM!
A thunderous shockwave erupted from Quill's body, sending ripples through the air.
A small cyclone formed above his head, an ethereal dance of pure Mana.
Moments later, all that energy was absorbed into him as he slowly opened his eyes, excitement radiating from every pore.
"Big bro! I did it! I broke through, I'm now a Tier 6 Epic Knight! Hahaha! This feels incredible!" Quill exclaimed, his joy contagious.
"Congratulations!" Felix raised his wine glass in celebration, grinning at his friend's enthusiasm.
Quill's grin widened even more; it had been ages since he'd been stuck at the peak of Tier 5 Grandmaster Knight.
Who would have thought that a mere whiff of aroma from a dish could catalyze such a breakthrough?
His gaze fell on the delicate white bowl on the table, heat and surprise mingling in his eyes.
"What is this dish?" he asked eagerly, licking his lips.
Felix chuckled softly. "This is our new signature dish: Dragon Soul. Impressive, right?"
"Impressive? This is practically a divine elixir! I dare say it surpasses even the 5-Star Mana Blood Pill!" Quill declared passionately.
"Really?" Felix raised an eyebrow in surprise; while he knew Dragon Soul was potent, he hadn't anticipated its value being so immense.
"Yes!" Quill nodded vigorously. "I've consumed countless Mana Blood Pills over time without much progress, but just one wisp of this Dragon Soul has propelled me forward instantly! In fact, I feel like I could advance another Tier if I eat more!"
Felix stared at the Dragon Soul, his eyes flickering with surprise and contemplation.
"What If the blood of the Drake isn't diluted over a hundred times?" he mused.
What if it wasn't diluted at all? What if it was just the pure blood used to prepare the Dragon Soul?.
He shook his head, pushing aside the thought of the chaos that could ensue from such power.
Then another idea struck him: what if this was not merely blood but blood essence, the very lifeforce infused with concentrated Mana from the Drake?.
The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine.
Although he and the others had previously used diluted blood essence to strengthen their bodies, diluted over a thousand times to avoid overwhelming their weak bodies, but this diluted blood essence hanewt them make remarkable progress.
"Looks like I need to add blood essence to the menu," Felix muttered inwardly.
"True enough," Quill admitted. "But I'm not my father."
"What do you mean by that?" Felix asked, confused.
"In the Maywraith Noble Family, who holds the most power?" Quill smiled knowingly.
"Of course it's your father... Ohhh! So that's how it is!" Felix finally realized.
"You get it now!" Quill grinned back at him.
Felix nodded thoughtfully and added, "But isn't it a bit arrogant of them? They could easily offend people by acting like this."
Felix raised an eyebrow and asked, "But isn't it a bit arrogant for them to act this way? I mean, they're bound to offend a lot of people with that attitude."
Quill scratched his head thoughtfully before replying, "You've got a point there. But here's the thing, they have the power and background to back it up. Anyone who dares to cross them usually ends up six feet under."
He paused for dramatic effect, then continued, "The owner of Eclipsed Eden is not just any chef; he's the only 5-Star Spirit Chef in the entire Kingdom! And his wife? She hails from one of the most prestigious Noble Families amilies in the Royal Capital, even my Maywraith Noble Family can't compare to her family at all. With that kind of influence and power, do you really think just anyone would dare to challenge them?"
Felix's eyes widened as he felt a wave of realization wash over him.
He had done his homework but never anticipated how formidable Eclipsed Eden truly was.
Comparing his own Morningstar Restaurant to Eclipsed Eden felt like trying to crack a stone with an egg, there was simply no contest.
One was hailed as the top restaurant in the Kingdom, complete with an impressive legacy; the other was merely a small restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the Royal Capital, lacking both fame and powerful connections.
They were worlds apart.
Felix was lost in thought, his mind racing with the challenges ahead.
He knew that sooner or later, his Morningstar Restaurant would have to face off against the formidable Eclipsed Eden.
After all, they were both players in the bustling restaurant business.
But right now, he felt woefully unprepared; challenging them head-on would be like a tiny bug daring to take on a giant, he'd be crushed without a second thought.
For now, Felix knows that he needs to grow slowly and strategically.
The last thing he wanted was to confront the Eclipsed Eden prematurely and suffer the consequences of such a reckless move.
"Hey big bro," Quill chimed in as he noticed Felix's furrowed brow. "Don't worry! With how delicious your dishes are, I believe it won't be long before you surpass them! All you need is the right opportunity."
Quill's words were meant to lift Felix's spirits; he thought that Felix might have been shaken by the sheer power of the Eclipsed Eden.
Felix shook his head gently and met Quill's gaze.
He appreciated his brother's encouragement but understood that it wasn't fear holding him back, it was the realization that his foundation wasn't as solid as that of Eclipsed Eden.
They had strength and connections that he simply didn't possess yet.
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