MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 899: Endless Broth Seas

The tour continued as though Broth-ben had simply chosen to forget what Anthony had done earlier, as if ignoring it was the only way to maintain his sanity. He soon guided them toward a vast ocean and explained calmly that the oceans within the Ramen Singularity Timeline were known as the Endless Broth Seas. Each sea possessed a different base, bone broth, seafood broth, vegetable broth, and even void-based broth, each one vastly distinct from the others and considered extremely dangerous in its own way.

The surface of these oceans shimmered unnaturally, releasing waves of steam and aroma that drifted endlessly into the sky. The broth churned like living matter, thick yet fluid, carrying depths no one could easily measure. Broth-ben explained that entire expeditions had vanished beneath these seas, swallowed by flavors so overwhelming that even seasoned Chefs could lose themselves completely.

As the journey continued, Broth-ben pointed out the continents of the Nodara Planet. Each landmass resembled a colossal bowl carved directly into the planet’s crust, their edges smooth and curved as though shaped by deliberate hands rather than natural erosion. This design was, yet again, perfectly aligned with the theme of the Timeline, reinforcing the idea that nothing here existed without purpose. Just like the broth seas they had witnessed earlier, the continents themselves felt less like geography and more like part of a grand culinary presentation.

Next, Broth-ben brought them to the volcanoes. As expected, even these defied conventional logic. Rather than spewing magma or flame, the volcanoes erupted with boiling oil and violent spice storms. The air around them burned with intensity, infused with aromas so sharp they bordered on painful. Unlike ordinary worlds where such eruptions sent people fleeing in terror, the races of the Nodara Planet instead rushed toward these volcanic storms, eager to harvest rare oils, spices, and newly born ingredients that emerged only during such chaotic events.

Everyone could only marvel at what they were seeing. The level of detail woven into every aspect of the world was nothing short of insane. It felt as though a divine hand had meticulously sculpted this Timeline with extraordinary care. Anthony couldn’t help but wonder if even the smallest creatures, ants, beasts, or monsters, were also shaped by the theme of ramen in this world.

Afterward, Broth-ben introduced the races of the Nodara Planet, which numbered only five. First was the Brothkin race, his own people. He spoke of them with unmistakable pride, explaining their affinity for broth-based techniques and their natural resonance with Savor energy. The second race was the Noodle-Born. Their bodies were semi-flexible, able to bend and twist in ways ordinary beings could not, and their hair resembled flowing strands of glowing noodles, perfectly embodying their identity.

The third race was the Oil Ascendants. They appeared as tall, slender beings with reflective obsidian-gold skin that gleamed under the light. Their eyes resembled floating droplets of oil, constantly shifting and rippling. The most striking feature of their race, however, was that they were always slightly hovering above the ground, never fully touching it.

The fourth race was the Spice-Touched. According to Broth-ben, they were born during spice storms. Their skin was cracked with glowing red-orange fissures, as though heat lived beneath their flesh, and every breath they exhaled released visible waves of heat into the air.

The final race was known as the Empty Bowls. Broth-ben’s tone darkened when he spoke of them. They appeared as humanoid silhouettes with hollow torsos, within which swirled nothing but darkness and steam. They could not taste, could not feel satisfaction, and instead devoured flavor itself, leaving entire regions bland, lifeless, and dead. Because of this, they were considered heretics against the Timeline itself and were relentlessly hunted whenever they were discovered.

Broth-ben didn’t merely describe these races, he showed them each one as he explained, ensuring that no detail was left to imagination alone.

”Who would have thought something like this actually existed...” Aura Nova murmured as she walked, her eyes darting between the various races moving about naturally in their environment.

”For real...” Altheria murmured in agreement. Although everyone present came from powerful families and was accustomed to wealth and grandeur, this was something entirely different. This wasn’t wealth, it felt like stepping into a completely different fabric of reality.

”Honestly, I think I’m already filled up just from watching everything,” Lucian commented as he stared around, overwhelmed by the sheer sensory assault of sights, smells, and concepts as he walked beside Aaaninja in silence. ’Has the Author’s imagination truly improved this much?’ he wondered inwardly. ’Such world development and building, perfectly tailored to ramen...’

He remembered the Author introducing the Blue Planet early in the novel, around the second Chapter. Back then, the imagination had felt scattered and unfocused. But now, comparing that past work to the present, it was clear the Author had grown beyond comparison.

’I wonder how many years have passed on Earth since my reincarnation,’ Lucian thought quietly. His gaze shifted toward Veronica, but he didn’t reach for her hand. The girls had gathered together naturally, Aura Nova, Vega, Veronica, and even Altheria had drifted away from Aaaninja’s side as they grew more comfortable with one another.

”To think that even chefs possess more status than Kings and Emperors,” Anthony remarked casually as they walked. Everyone nodded in agreement. Broth-ben had already explained that Chefs held higher authority than rulers on the Nodara Planet, a revelation that had shocked them all. Such a hierarchy would never exist within the Acarnis Galaxy.

”Imagine waging war based on cooking,” Altheria joked, earning laughter from the group. According to Broth-ben, wars here were settled through ramen contests. Whichever continent produced the greatest satisfaction claimed victory, territory, and prestige. And among all insults, the most severe one within the Ramen Singularity Timeline was: Your broth is shallow.

Aura Nova had already taken out her phone. No one needed to ask what she was doing. She was capturing photos and videos to send to her favorite shameless Author. Perhaps, with enough exposure to such worlds, that greedy imagination of his would expand even further.

”Hey, Aaaninja, how did you even find this Timeline?” Kingsley asked as they walked. He didn’t turn toward Aaaninja, instead watching a group of Oil Ascendants pass by.

”Through the River of Time,” Aaaninja answered calmly. ”Just like the images you all saw while you were there, I caught a fleeting glimpse of this place and asked the River for its coordinates.”

”Do you have coordinates to another place like this?” Veronica asked thoughtfully. ”After visiting here, I feel like I haven’t truly explored reality. The Acarnis Galaxy has narrowed my perspective.”

Aaaninja shook his head. ”Not at the moment. But the moment I find another, I won’t hesitate to tell everyone.”

They all nodded, already anticipating the next impossible world.

”I guess this is the part where I learn how to cook for the first time,” Veronica said with a smile. There was no way she would leave a place like this without learning something meaningful.

At that, Anthony chuckled softly. ”On that note,” he said, ”maybe I should challenge the greatest chef to a ramen cooking competition.” A grin formed on his lips, genuine temptation glinting in his eyes. To defeat the greatest chef the Nodara Planet had to offer... and then leave like a boss.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: Sighs, this is the highest amount of Chapters I’ve typed in my life, my hands are crying. Send me a Dragon or Luxury Car... well, any gift basically, let’s end the year with a bang and a rain of gifts... shall we?