NOVEL FROG Chapter 20: Hunting the Chief Fire Lizard
Cale stood amidst the charred remains of the Fire Lizards, the lingering scent of smoke and scorched earth wafting through the air. The surroundings were completely burned.
“Too easy,” he muttered under his breath, brushing off a few stray embers that clung to his red armor. The disappointment lingered, like a shadow he couldn't shake off. He had hoped for a more challenging encounter—something that would truly push him to his limits. Instead, the creatures had crumbled beneath his power, their fireballs barely leaving a mark on him.
“Level 26. Not bad, but I want more. I need stronger opponents,” he murmured, tapping a finger against his chin. He could feel the familiar itch for growth in his bones; the urgency to climb ranks and get stronger.
'I guess I should go find the "Chief Fire Lizard." Not only would I level up, but perhaps I will be able to test my skills on him,' Cale thought as he jumped down from the body of the dead Fire Lizard.
As soon as Cale jumped down, he looked around. 'I should probably go where the energy is the strongest,' Cale thought as he started running ahead.
Ding!
[Host has killed another Fire Lizard]
[Reward: 3,000 EXP]
Cale was sitting on dozens of corpses of Fire Lizards, maybe 15 or 17. It seemed as if he had been there for quite some time now, as he wore a bored expression on his face.
'Where is this "Big Lizard"? I just killed its companions, and it still hasn’t shown itself,' Cale thought angrily, frowning.
'I have been waiting for one hour. I even leveled up and became Level 27!' Cale shouted inside his head, glancing at the System Panel.
"I need to find him quickly,” he murmured, tapping a finger against his chin. He could feel the familiar itch for violence in his bones; the urgency to beat the hell out of the "Big Lizard."
'Come to think of it, all the Lizards run straight to one point,' Cale thought, and his eyes widened as he came to a realization. 'I see. I only need one of your own to find you!!' As Cale considered this, he remembered one of the Fire Lizards that had run away from him not too long ago.
'Chasing time~,' Cale thought playfully as he began to run at full speed again, moving from one tree branch to another.
After some time of following the path left behind by the Fire Lizard, he found it but didn't kill it. Instead, he followed it, keeping himself hidden from above as he watched.
The Fire Lizard finally reached a larger and more imposing Fire Lizard. This was the Chief Fire Lizard, who emerged from the trees, ready to see if he had any foes, but he only saw the Fire Lizard in front of him approaching.
To its surprise, a large iron rod was thrown from above the trees, thrusting through the approaching Fire Lizard's skull and pinning its dead corpse to the ground.
The Chief Fire Lizard roared loudly, as if asking who the culprit was behind the slaying of his kin.
"Haaah~ My gosh, you are loud as hell!" Cale said with an annoyed expression. But the Chief Fire Lizard, who was at quite a distance, could not hear him. All it knew was that Cale was mocking him.
In front of Cale, his System opened the Chief Fire Lizard's information.
[Information (Info):
Name: Chief Fire Lizard
Level: 27
Rank: D++ Rank
Species: Fire Lizard
Description: Born in hot atmospheres, highly aggressive, attacks with fire
Weakness: Water, cold]
"My, my, you are quite the big fish compared to what I was told~!" Cale voiced happily as he walked toward him.
The Chief Fire Lizard did not understand what he was trying to say. One thing he knew for sure was that he was here as a hunter, not as prey.
The Chief Fire Lizard quickly formed a fireball by opening its mouth, but to Cale's surprise, the Chief Fire Lizard did not throw it. Instead, it put it inside its mouth and shot out multiple small fireballs.
Cale quickly took out his Dark Scythe from his inventory and shouted, "I guess a Big Fire Lizard is different, huh?!" Cale was intrigued by this new way of attacking from the Fire Lizard as he smiled at the incoming fireballs.
"You will be an amazing test subject, HAHAHA!" Cale laughed deviously as he cut down some of the fireballs with his Dark Scythe imbued with water.
The Chief Fire Lizard started firing more fireballs at him. In response, Cale began running toward him without stopping or changing direction. He silently slashed at any and every fireball thrown at him, smiling deviously and sending a cold chill toward the Chief Fire Lizard.
Sensing that this man was dangerous, the Chief Fire Lizard quickly began throwing bigger, multiple fireballs at him, using more of his mana.
"Would you look at that? You're smarter than the rest, but still stupid," Cale shouted as he cut through more fireballs while dancing with his scythe and then again running toward the Chief Fire Lizard, slashing at the fireballs.
As soon as the Chief Fire Lizard prepared the next fireball, Cale was already in front of him, smiling deviously.
The Chief Fire Lizard shot a single big fireball at him. Only smoke was left in front of him as the Chief Fire Lizard looked at the smoke, face to face with Cale, thinking it was over. It relaxed a little. But what it saw next terrified it.
From the smoke, Cale stepped out with his forearm held upwards, enveloped by a water shield, although some parts of the shield were burned, scorching some of Cale's skin.
[Super Regeneration Activated!] His body regenerated quickly.
Cale quickly charged at the Chief Fire Lizard with his scythe and slashed vertically upwards. But this time, something was different. The scythe was not enveloped by water. It was...
Ding!
[Host has used Aura]
His scythe was imbued with Aura. The entire body of the Chief Fire Lizard was cut in two, destroying the trees and the ground. As he held the scythe above him,
Ding!
[Host has defeated a Chief Fire Lizard (Level 27)]
[Reward: 34,000 EXP]
Ding!
[Host has leveled up]
[Congratulations, Host is now Level 30]
[30 Points are rewarded]
Ding!
[Host has used up all the Aura]
[Aura: Depleted]
Ding!
[Due to leveling up, Host's Aura has recovered and improved!]
Ding!
[Host has enough Prestige (REP)]
[Host has unlocked Divine Power!!]
Ding! Ding! Ding!
[Host has unlocked his second Trait!]
[Error!]
[5 points are rewarded]
Ding!
[For being the first in the world to unlock a second Trait, Host has been rewarded 5 points.]
Ding!
[Host has become a C-Rank]
[For being the first in the world to become a C-Rank, Host has been rewarded 2 points.]
Ding!
[All upgradable skills/techniques have been increased in rank.]
Ding!
[System has been upgraded, and synchronization has increased to "30% out of 100%"]
Ding!
[Monarch’s Blood (5% usable) has been increased to (30% usable)]
[Use with caution!!]