"Lady Erina, stay with me! What is this place…?"
On the outskirts of the Low Whispering Forest, a pink-haired girl trudged through the undergrowth, her golden-haired companion slumped unconscious on her back. Erina Nakiri, heir to the Nakiri dynasty of culinary elites, and Hisako Arato, her steadfast aide, had been thrust into this alien world mere hours ago. One moment, they were in the halls of Totsuki Academy; the next, a dizzying swirl deposited them in this labyrinth of whispering trees and lurking peril.
Erina's arm had grazed a thorned plant during their flight—a seemingly minor injury that swiftly paralyzed her body. Now, only her eyes flickered with awareness as Hisako, desperation mounting, staggered forward.
Zed, drawn by the commotion, observed the pair through the foliage. His enhanced senses—honed by Gourmet Cells and Regeneration Master training—picked up every ragged breath. Totsuki uniforms? Nakiri Erina and Hisako Arato? His brow furrowed. Shokugeki characters in Toriko's world?
Before he could process the anomaly, his long-dormant Partner System flared to life:
[Compatible Partners Detected: Nakiri Erina / Hisako Arato.]
So they're the key…
"Hello? Please—help us!" Hisako's voice cracked as Zed emerged. Though wary of strangers, her loyalty overrode caution. "She's poisoned!"
Zed knelt, inspecting Erina's arm. "Purple Thorn venom. Non-lethal in small doses, but paralytic." From his pocket, he withdrew a vial, daubing its contents onto his fingernail. The keratin morphed—sharpening into a 5cm medical spike, glowing faintly green.
"W-What are you—?"
"Antidote delivery." Before Hisako could protest, Zed plunged the spike into Erina's arm. The green serum diffused instantly.
Erina gasped, fingers twitching. "I… can move again?"
Hisako sagged with relief. "Th-Thank you! But… your nails—"
"A Regeneration Master's trick." Zed retracted the spike, his nail reverting to normal. "Jiji's method. Efficient for fieldwork."
Interrogation followed. The duo explained their sudden arrival—a phenomenon Zed couldn't unravel. Cross-dimensional travel? The system's abrupt activation suggested deeper machinations, but answers would wait.
"Stay close. This forest's infested with Dangerous Creatures." Zed led them outward, abandoning his mission for now. Partners took priority.
Hisako matched his stride, Erina steadier by the minute. "Why help us?"
Zed smirked. "Let's call it… professional curiosity."