Phew, Nearly Died!

"Phew, nearly died."

It really was a close call. He'd figured the enemies would catch on quick and give chase if they were sharp, but he hadn't expected them to close in this fast.

Still, he'd escaped successfully, and the odds of them following him here were zero percent. Only Tud's incarnation—that is, himself—could enter this place.

"Gah! Why's it so damn hot?"

Vulcan, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who'd been grinning smugly, snapped back to reality as scorching heat seeped into his lungs.

Even without flame resistance gear, climbing Hirros Volcano hadn't felt this bad—and now he had the Fire Salamander King set boosting his flame resistance skill rank to boot.

Yet here he was, feeling this intense? Getting a warning like this?

—Better move quick. Stay put and you'll roast.

As Tud warned, his HP was already dropping for real. What the hell was going on? No time to ponder—he had to move.

He dumped Chill Potions all over himself, but no dice. The effects vanished instantly, HP draining again, making Vulcan anxious.

"Which way?"

But panic was the enemy. One misstep here and it was game over.

Sizzle—

Where he stood—Tud's workshop—was smack in a lava zone. Fall in there, and he'd melt on the spot.

—Already overheating? Workshop's right there.

His head spinning from the heat, Vulcan saw what Tud pointed to: dead center in the lava flow. Beyond the river of molten rock sat a forge, anvil, and workshop ruins, just like Tud said.

"Where's the path? You aren't saying swim the lava, right?"

—Path? Uh... none?

"What the—?!"

But the path—or lack thereof—was the problem. Urged by his plummeting HP, Vulcan prodded Tud, who sighed pitifully before dropping the bombshell.

—Looks like time sealed it off. There used to be stepping stones there.

"Then what?! No other way?"

—Probably not? I never cared about paths anyway.

Utterly irresponsible. Maybe trivial for a dragon like Tud, but Vulcan was on track to burn alive.

Any ideas? Judging the distance to leap—nope. Anxiety mounted as he chugged more Chill Potions and HP restores, while Tud just looked sheepish, offering no alternatives.

"Damn it..."

This way, he'd run dry and die. Rely on Indomitable Invincibility and swim? Nah—three seconds max wouldn't cut it.

'Gotta get away from the lava first... wait?'

Buy time somehow. Then it hit him.

"Screw it, all or nothing."

He checked his inventory, yanked out a pickaxe, and started digging furiously. A shovel would've been ideal, but beggars can't be choosers. He hammered the ground, carving a pit.

"Should've stocked more potions."

—What're you up to?

HP kept dropping fast. The pit formed, dirt piling like walls, but it barely blocked the heat. If anything, rising floor heat made it worse—HP seemed to drain even faster.

"This!"

Vulcan climbed out abruptly. More potions would've let him dig longer, but he was tapped out—no more delays. He strode toward the lava river.

"Pack it, pack it, pack it...!"

At the lava's edge, he dumped his dug-up dirt at his feet. Using Pack skill, he hardened it instantly, stacking like building a tower pillar.

"Huh?"

Once he'd used all the dirt and climbed high, the system recognized it as a structure. No more Pack skill hassle—he could build faster with Construction next time.

He hesitated. Gather more materials and come back? Skip the risk?

'Screw it. Fortune favors the bold.'

Nah, commit. Worst case, die and retry with know-how. He steadied his breath.

—Oh? Gonna jump? Smart thinking. Not sure if you can make it.

Tud finally got it, nodding. He watched like it was someone else's problem, unimpressed by odds. The tower was tall-ish, but no runway, and height was iffy from time/material limits.

"Gonna dive in lava? Just jump."

—So what's the plan?

"Hoo. Like this."

Luckily, that wasn't Vulcan's play. He carefully pulled a yellowish potion from inventory. Dangerously glowing, he gripped it, exhaled shallowly—then slammed it down.

BOOM!!

Definitely a potion shatter, but no tinkle. A solid blast rocked the pillar.

Explosion Potion. Bomb Flower fruit, Fire Salamander tailflame, dried Makasus powder—impact triggered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kaboom.

"Here we gooo!!"

He hurled more in rapid fire. The 1-Pyeong Tower shook violently, then tilted and toppled. Shoddy materials couldn't take the blasts.

'Angle's good.'

Straight to lava doom. But that was the plan. Braced for fall, body curled, he arced down with the tower—in prime position for another leap.

—Collapse the tower to close the gap? Clever. Still short?

"Tch. Coming up. Blessing of Strength, Muscle Boost!"

Still too far. Lava river too wide—jump power wouldn't suffice. Time for backup.

"Raaagh!!!"

Curl for thrust. But he wasn't flying solo. He chucked his heaviest inventory item: steel breastplate roped with steel manacles.

Blessed strength surged. Plate soared, rope pre-attached (no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hunter skill for mid-air). He grabbed the whipping line, let it yank him airborne.

"Tud!!"

Still razor-close. Might miss the central island workshop by inches—he bellowed Tud's name.

—Was wondering when you'd call! Whack!

Tud's signature flying sidekick nailed him mid-air. Tiny boost, but enough extra lift and distance.

"Owowow."

Thud!

Thanks to that, Vulcan landed safe in the workshop. Safe zone...

"What? Why's it still going?!"

Something was off. HP scraping bottom, but he'd figured landing here ended it. Nope—still draining.

No dragon magic cooling the place? Or time broke it?

—Quit panicking. Wrap that workshop apron over there.

"Huh?"

Workshop apron? Now? Baffled, but no choice. Potions gone, HP tanking—he'd try anything to avoid dying in minutes.

He bolted up, grabbed the red leather apron by the anvil, and tied it on.

"...Huh?"

Instantly, HP stabilized. Sauna-hot air vanished. More like... immune to heat now.

"What the hell?"

"...Legendary?"

A Legendary-grade item. Aprons usually shielded from sparks, debris, blasts during crafting—yet Legendary? Defense 1,000? Flame immunity? Subspace pocket? And that's the sealed power?

—Yeah. Made it casually back when I was green, but good materials—solid for a while. Unseal it, and it'll last ages.

"As expected! I knew it—Tud's stuff is never ordinary. What do you crave? Chocolate pool?"

—Huh? Still not made? Uwhehehe.

"Ehehehe!"

Vulcan, options confirmed, groveled eagerly. God-tier grade and perks—he'd do anything. Weak to praise or picking up Vulcan's habits? Tud grinned idiotically back. Vulcan dumped all inventory chocolate on him, then rechecked the item.

Defense first: 1,000 solid, but underwhelming for Legendary. Lv300 Unique Faith's Denial topped 1,200.

Key: Blacksmith-only restriction. Any smith could wear it regardless of level—naked + this beat his prior defense. Add Item Master boost? Or swap for offense gear ignoring defense?

Thrilling possibilities.

"Flame immunity—how'd you make this?!"

But the real star: Only two options, but flame immunity was immunity, not resistance. Zero flame damage. Swim lava? Fine. Peak Legendary power.

"Wait...?"

Tud ignored his stunned question, but Vulcan paused, realization dawning. Hint in the hidden option.

"No way... Red Dragon's...?"

Why Red Dragon blood to unseal? Tud smirked slyly at shocked Vulcan—smug as ever—then dove back into his chocolate puddle.