Twar awoke. The moment he opened his eyes, there he was: that man in underwear.
Mysterious Man: HUM Trkan-Frat.
He shook his head. The man seemed to be speaking some foreign language. Then he looked down: there was a lizard.
Lizard: What are you staring at, idiot?
Twar: ???
Nothing made sense. Unbearable heat, then that demon… where was that demon now?
Lizard: DON'T THINK I'LL BE YOUR INTERPRETER, HUMAN!
The man and the lizard exchanged words in that strange tongue. The lizard grumbled and, with the man's help, climbed onto his shoulder.
Lizard: Just this once…
The man began speaking, and the lizard seemed to repeat his words.
Froggy: A pleasure to meet you, honorable dwarf
Lizard (translating): A pleasure to meet you, weakling.
Twar: What the hell?
Froggy: Tell him this. I am the great hero Froggy Green, the one who defeated that lizard causing all this heat.
Lizard (translating): I am a stupid mortal who— …HOW DARE YOU SAY YOU DEFEATED ME?!
After a heated exchange that involved much hissing and gesturing , the lizard finally turned back to Twar with forced calm.
The lizard growled in disgust.
Lizard (translating): I defeated some lava lizard, blah blah…
The whole situation felt like one of those drunken nights that ended with waking up in a stranger's bed. Twar rubbed his aching head. His skin, he noticed, had taken on a faint scorched tint… light brown now instead of its usual pallor.
The man offered a hand.
Froggy: Get up Brother.
Man: Get up, insignificant Dwarf.
Twar: Who are you, and what are you doing here?
Froggy: I'm The hero Froggy green. I'm just a guy who helps out a bit.
Lizard (translating): I am Froggy Green. A man who defeated the creature tormenting you and freed you from your miserable, pathetic and poor life.
Twar: Right…
Twar stood up. His companions were still sprawled on the ground. He shook his head again, dizzy. He nearly fell, but the man caught him.
The masked man gazed toward the horizon.
Froggy: Maybe… we can go to your city.
Lizard (translating): Your city… perhaps that is where we should go.
Twar: How…?
Twar had no time to process the endless absurdities piling up before him. Now he faced a man who seemed to know more than he let on, and whose presence felt disturbingly familiar.
Twar: Fine. Fine.
He stared at him.
Twar: Why are you in your underwear? Are you some kind of pervert?
The masked man, after hearing the lizard's translation, looked offended.
Froggy: Who the hell are you calling a pervert? I simply have a wardrobe issue.
The lizard tilted its head.
Lizard (translating): Because I am a stupid mortal.
Twar: ...Okay?
Together, the two of them woke the other dwarves, explained the situation, and prepared to move.
???: You really saved us.
Froggy: Thanks, Thanks It's not a big deal. You're going to make me blush.
Lizard (translating): Yes, yes. All thanks to the Absolute Lizard on my shoulder. You should thank him. WORSHIP HIM!
The lizard lifted its head proudly under the dwarves' stares.
???: Could you tell us your name?
Lizard: Human, they ask for your name.
Froggy: My name? I am the great Froggy Green!
The lizard looked at him, then grinned through its teeth as a sudden idea formed.
Lizard (translating): You may call me, idiot.
???: ...Alright?
Lizard (adding quickly): Or Froggy Green… but I prefer the first one.
The dwarves nodded uncertainly.
Together they gathered their weapons and, despite the weight still hanging on their shoulders, walked toward the entrance of their city, led by Twar.
When they arrived, it was destroyed. Nothing remained but collapsed earth. Several dwarves dropped to their knees at the sight. Others simply stared in resignation… at the remains of their home, their lives.
Twar: The city…
Froggy looked over the devastation. What had happened?
Froggy: Ask them—how did this happen?
Lizard: What happened, mortals?
Twar: This… this must be the fault of that demon.
The dwarves' faces twisted with rage—a fierce hatred aimed at one being, a demon they believed monstrous, the creature that had appeared and thrown everything into chaos.
Froggy: Well?
Lizard: They say some demon attacked them.
Froggy: A demon?
He hadn't seen any demon so far. But if one was nearby, it had to be part of that so-called Demon King's army.
Froggy: This is bad… a demon… How can anyone be so vile? Ask them what it looked like.
Lizard (translating): What did this being look like?
???: Horrible. Ugly as death itself. A face carved by the Demon King's own hand. Half-naked, speaking demonic tongues.
Lizard: ...
Froggy: What did they say?
Lizard: Isn't there something you should mention?
Froggy put his hand to his head, stroking his mask, deep in thought. Would someone speak in demonic language and wear only a pair of underwear? He didn't speak demonic language, so he concluded it couldn't be related to him.
Froggy: I have nothing to say
The lizard sighed.
Froggy thought for a moment. If they could dig through the blocked entrance, maybe they could get inside the city.
Froggy: Ohh… Something just came to my mind! I have a pickaxe.
Lizard (translating): I have a pickaxe.
Twar looked him up and down. He carried nothing except a knife.
Twar: This is no time for jokes.
Froggy: Inventory.
From within his inventory, buried among old potatoes, he searched for the pickaxe. It materialized before them, shocking the dwarves.
Twar: You…
Froggy: I know I'm incredible, but I only have one.
Lizard (translating): I only have one.
The dwarves stared in disbelief.
???: You're a hero.
Froggy smiled. At last, they recognized him for what he was. He threw them an arrogant glance. The lizard straightened proudly as well. This time, the lizard listened carefully to Froggy before speaking.
Froggy: Of course I am The Great hero and my Teammate Lava Lizard
Lizard: It's The Absolute lava lizard.
Lizard (translating): A hero? Of course I am. I am the great hero Green… Froggy Green… and my master. The absolute lava lizard.
The dwarves looked at him strangely. The man was far too eccentric for dwarven taste, but they took the pickaxe and, combining it with their own tools, had enough to begin digging.
It wasn't easy, but it was a start—a small attempt to learn what had happened. A sliver of hope.
After a while, they opened a path. The fallen rocks left just enough space for a few dwarves to squeeze through.
Twar: Me and you three are going in. The rest guard the entrance.
Twar also looked at Froggy.
Twar: Are you strong?
He took a couple of seconds before answering.
Froggy: The Strongest.
Lizard (translating): The Absolute lava Lizard will save my ass.
And together, they entered the tunnel.