Chương 67: One-on-One, Loser Goes Home

The smoke of the market challenge hadn't yet cleared when the contestants dragged their exhausted bodies back to the studio—where a crueler reality waited. The ten of them stood in a row at their stations, the air heavy. Everyone knew that last round's ranking was far more than a simple matter of honor. Vane stood before the judges' table, his face severe.

"Congratulations. You're the top ten of this season of Burning Kitchen." His voice echoed through the cavernous kitchen.

"But don't celebrate too soon. Because from this moment on, the cruelty of this competition climbs to a whole new level." He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over every face.

"The next round will be the first one-on-one elimination duel of the season."

"What?"

"One-on-one?" A wave of barely suppressed gasps ran through the contestants. It meant no teamwork, no safe zone—only a face-to-face, most direct contest.

"That's right." Vane confirmed their fears.

"We'll pair you up based on the rankings from the last market challenge. First place against tenth. Second against ninth. Third against eighth. And so on. Five duels in all." His words landed like a boulder on every heart. The rule was a huge advantage for those ranked high—and for those ranked low, it was no different from being shoved straight to the edge of a cliff.

"In each duel, the two of you will make the same classic dish, one we assign. When the cooking ends, the judges will taste your work, and then, on the spot, announce the winner." Vane's voice turned cold and merciless.

"The winner advances. The loser... will take off your apron right then and leave this kitchen. No excuses. No second chances."

"In other words, this round, we eliminate half of you outright. Ten become five."

"Oh my god..." Sarah couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath. The elimination rate was terrifying. One round, and five people gone. It meant half of these companions she'd lived shoulder-to-shoulder with would leave this stage forever in a few hours. Chris's heart sank too. He ran the matchups in his head fast. First-place Ethan would face the tenth-ranked contestant. That was Ben Carter, a mild-tempered middle-aged man, strong at barbecue but weak on French fundamentals.

For Ethan, this duel held almost no suspense. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Third-place Sarah would face eighth-ranked Owen. Owen had worked with Chris in the team battles—fast knife hands, but rough overall technique. Sarah's ability comfortably outclassed his; barring disaster, her odds were good. But it was one-on-one, and any small slip could flip the board. Fourth-place Jack would face seventh-ranked Natalie Chen.

Natalie was an Asian girl, good at Asian fusion, a nimble style but not steady enough. Jack's strength was meat, but his seasoning weakness was just as obvious. This duel was full of uncertainty. And then there was himself. Second-place Chris would face the ninth-ranked contestant. He looked at the person ranked ninth. That was a young Korean chef named Ryan Lee, who'd made a Korean barbecue beef in the market challenge but lost control of the heat, dragging his marks down.

Chris's system held his data: Ingredient Sense C, Heat Control C-, Seasoning C+, good at Asian cuisine but with very incomplete fundamentals. On paper, this opponent posed no threat to him at all. But Chris didn't relax in the slightest. He knew well that the matches that looked like sure wins were the ones most likely to breed an underestimating mind. In a one-on-one duel, mindset and focus mattered more than technique sometimes. Any tiny variable could spell a total loss.

"Now, the dishes for each pairing." On the big screen, the five matchups appeared—headshots and names, along with the dish each pair would make. [Ethan Cole vs. Ben Carter] Dish: Lobster Thermidor A top-tier classic that tested seafood handling and the foundations of classic French sauce to the extreme. The color drained from Ben's face in an instant. [Sarah Jenkins vs. Owen Kim] Dish: Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce A dish demanding precise heat control and flavor balance.

Sarah let out a breath—this was a field she was fairly good at. Owen's expression, by contrast, went grave. [Jack Miller vs. Natalie Chen] Dish: Seafood Pasta Not too hard for Jack, but the seasoning of the sauce would be key. He glanced at Natalie beside him, his eyes full of fight. Last came Chris's duel. [Chris White vs. Ryan Lee] Dish: Classic French Onion Soup Onion soup. A dish that looked simple but in fact tested patience and fundamentals to the extreme.

The degree of caramelization on the onions, the depth of the stock, and the state of that final cheese-gratinéed bread—every step had to be flawless. Ryan Lee's face eased a little. Compared to lobster and duck breast, onion soup didn't sound so terrifying. But Chris was more on guard than ever. The more basic the dish, the more it worked like a magnifying glass, throwing every flaw of a cook into the light.

"You have an hour and a half to prep and cook," Vane announced.

"Your ingredients are ready. Now, back to your stations. The duels... begin now!" At the command, an unprecedented tension wrapped the kitchen. This wasn't the bustle of a team battle, nor the focus of a solo round. It was a charged, gunpowder standoff—the feeling of beasts circling each other. Chris glanced at his opponent, Ryan Lee. The young man was breathing deep, trying to calm himself. Then Chris's gaze went past him to Ethan in the distance. Ethan hadn't so much as looked at his own opponent.

He was simply, calmly, arranging his tools—as if what came next were not a life-or-death duel but a routine practice run. That absolute confidence—that absolute arrogance —set Chris's own blood slowly to a boil. He pulled his gaze back and gathered all his attention onto the station in front of him. This war had begun.