The second stage of the dungeon began with ominous heat, molten rivers crisscrossing the cracked obsidian ground, and a bridge that had long since given up on being structurally sound. As the guild surveyed the deadly scene, the temperature rising with every step, MC casually stretched his arms.
"No worries, I got this," he said confidently, his System glowing.
He stepped right onto the lava.
Everyone screamed.
But instead of bursting into flames, MC strolled across the molten river like it was a warm beachside trail.
"Relax," he called back over his shoulder. "I copied that lava-walking ability from that salamander boss two floors ago. Perks of the Harem King, baby!"
"You idiot!" Iris shouted. "You didn't bring us!"
MC paused halfway across, turning slowly with the realization dawning on his face like a delayed software update.
"…Oh."
"OH?!"
"Wait right there! I'll fix this!" he shouted, then cheerfully sprinted away… in the wrong direction.
The others stared.
Minutes passed.
Finally, just as Lina was attempting to cobble together a raft of flame-resistant shields and Kira was muttering about cooking MC in the lava herself, he reappeared—arms full of snacks.
"Good news! I found a vending machine three rooms over," he beamed. "I brought spicy chips, lava-proof jerky, and mystery soda!"
"You went shopping?" Ciel gawked.
"You left us to roast and you come back with snacks?" Lina screamed.
"I panicked and used a teleport scroll," he shrugged, offering Iris a drink. "Want grape or '???" flavor?"
"…Why is that even an option?" Iris muttered.
Kira grabbed a jerky stick, muttering about emotional damage, while Ciel stared at him with an expression that was somewhere between disbelief and reluctant amusement.
"Next time," she growled, "use your overpowered System brain before walking into lava."
He gave a thumbs-up. "Noted! Next time, snacks after the rescue."
Everyone groaned.
But somehow, morale was back. Even in a dungeon where lava could fry a dragon, they were still the same ridiculous, chaotic team — snacks, bad jokes, and all.
END OF CHAPTER 78