The walk was going nowhere. The heat kept rising until it reached a point where even standing was too much. It was unbearable—extreme heat. Even the air itself looked distorted.
For a moment, he thought he saw a skeleton in the corner, scythe in hand, wiping sweat from its brow. When he blinked and focused, it was gone.
The dwarves were on the ground, just like him. There was nothing left to do.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
(HERO IN CRITICAL CONDITION)
Health decreasing…
And it kept dropping.
-5…
He looked at the sky.
-5…
He looked at the dwarves.
-5…
Then he looked at that distant point… growing larger.
It was massive—so large he couldn't even make it out completely. Between that and the suffocating heat, there was nothing more he could do. Several dwarves had already passed out. Only he and the dwarf who had attacked him earlier were still conscious—both drenched in sweat, equally exhausted.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
"Threat to the user identified."
"(THE ABSOLUTE LAVA LIZARD) is approaching your position."
Froggy: That… doesn't sound… very good… do you think I can beat it?
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
"192,918,716,514 possible outcomes calculated."
Froggy: In… how many do I win?
[IN NONE]
He was doomed.
The distant point kept approaching. It was still kilometers away—maybe farther than he could ever travel—but the heat alone was overwhelming. As if something on the other side of the world could still burn you.
Each step that creature took made the ground tremble. Step after step—quake after quake.
Then it opened its mouth.
And Froggy felt it, deep inside:
H… e… r… o…
The word pierced him. The voice was terrifying—like fire itself had learned to speak.
Froggy forced himself up. The heat still blinded him, but he stared ahead with everything he had left.
And then he saw it clearly.
Eyes like collapsing stars. A body made entirely of molten lava.
Everything about it screamed: final boss.
He didn't even have the strength to sigh.
After seeing it, he turned and started moving in the opposite direction—away from that thing. He didn't want to find out what would happen if it got any closer.
H… e… r… o…
The voice echoed again.
Froggy: So… annoying…
He wasn't sure if it was frustration, exhaustion, or just how absurd everything felt. But he took a deep breath—hot air burning his lungs—then exhaled…
…and turned back toward the dwarves.
The dwarf was unconscious now. He couldn't withstand the heat.
Froggy: Rest… I'll handle… the rest…
It was a heroic line—something he vaguely remembered from a manga.
It was all he could manage. The heat was clouding his mind.
Froggy: There… has… to be a…
He couldn't finish. He dropped to the ground.
Froggy: System… analyze the enemy…
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
"Analyzing… analyzing…"
"ABSOLUTE LAVA LIZARD"
Description: An ancient being capable of destroying civilizations and melting the sun simply by existing.
Level: BEYOND MORTALITY.
Froggy: …Maybe this knife can help… weapon stats…
[LEGENDARY WEAPON: RUSTED KNIFE – SSR LEVEL]
Strength: +0.5
Description: Emits a faint glow that reveals your position to all enemies.
Status: Cannot be unequipped.
Reveal potential: [Yes] [No]
That window hadn't been there before.
Froggy pressed "Yes."
"Analyzing… analyzing…"
"You have discovered the potential of S#)/ ERROR"
"The knife has lost all its potential."
The system glitched.
He didn't even have words anymore. He had already accepted how ridiculous everything was.
Still, he let out a faint laugh—whatever the heat allowed.
Then he stood again, facing the enemy, raising his glowing knife.
Froggy: I… am… the…
His breath gave out.
Froggy: The…
He coughed.
Froggy: The… hero… Green… Froggy…
The heat erased his thoughts. There was nothing left.
H… e… r… o…
Froggy: LIZARD!
He shouted with what little voice he had.
H… e… r… o…
Froggy: HOW… DARE… YOU… TRY TO DESTROY… MY BED?!
He remembered it—the straw bed. The one he had shared so many precious moments with…
Two full days of peace.
That soft, perfect bed…
M… o… r… t… a… l…
The lizard spoke again.
Froggy braced himself. If he didn't act now, he'd be burned alive.
Froggy: System… activate Unfortunate Misfortune.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
"Skill activated."
"Target successfully selected."
"Unfortunate Misfortune cast on ABSOLUTE LAVA LIZARD."
Froggy: Heh… now you'll feel… what bad luck is…
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[ERROR: SKILL ACTIVATION FAILED]
Froggy: What?
The ancient being advanced quickly, eyes fixed on the distant figure—a tiny, insignificant thing glowing faintly.
The master of fire, the embodiment of its own domain, observed him.
It had never seen someone like this before.
He felt… ancient.
And yet—pathetic.
For the first time in millennia, the creature felt something unfamiliar.
Pity.
It was strange. It didn't feel like it came from within—it felt imposed.
Still… it accepted it.
For a few seconds.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Someone has sympathized with you.
Accept friend request:
[Maybe]
[Maybe yes]
[Maybe no]
Froggy: What… is… this?
Who in the world would sympathize with him right now?
With a trembling finger, he pressed "Maybe yes."
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
You have obtained a friend.
="(("/"!!==)(/#
"You have successfully added ABSOLUTE LAVA LIZARD as a friend."
"(/&"$!"#
Error… error… ERROR…
The world shook. Froggy collapsed.
The heat was overwhelming.
With everything burning around him, he tried to look ahead—but he didn't even have the strength to speak anymore.
His mind went blank.
And he passed out—losing consciousness to the suffocating heat.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Recalculating ally stats…