Illusia used to be a regular guy, but he suddenly awakens reincarnated as a dragon egg. He finds himself completely alone since neither parent showed up for his birth—just like Heinz. The first thing he sees is a screen, and a Voice in his head introduces a status window displaying his abilities. When Illusia asks if this world is a game or where he is, the Voice explains her skill level is too low to answer non-status questions. Frustrated, Illusia accidentally rolls off a cliff. He gains falling damage resistance but loses one of his precious five HP.
Rolling to a lake, Illusia finally sees his reflection and realizes he is literally an F-rank egg. The Voice warns that if his shell breaks, he dies. To make matters worse, dragon eggs are currently powerless with single-digit IQs, capable only of rolling. Though he has the potential to become a fearsome dragon, his current odds of surviving the wild are incredibly low. Panicking, Illusia shakes and accidentally rolls off another ledge, dropping his health to three HP. He decides to stay put and heal.
By nightfall, his HP regenerates, and Illusia resumes his slow roll, determined to survive long enough to hatch into a powerful dragon. However, he soon encounters a Dark Worm. Checking its stats, he discovers its title is “Egg Eater.” Realizing his own max HP is lower than the worm’s eight HP, Illusia desperately rolls away for his life, though simply fleeing might not be enough to escape.
Realizing a direct attack would be fatal, Illusia uses his newly acquired fall damage resistance to his advantage. He lures the Dark Worm to a cliff and tricks it into jumping off with him. By using the worm to cushion his fall, Illusia survives the drop, earns 12 experience points, and reaches the level required to evolve.
The Voice presents two evolution paths: a Little Dragon or a Baby Dragon. While Little Dragons grow to the size of a bear and breathe fire, Baby Dragons are incredibly weak and considered delicious to eat, though they hold immense evolutionary potential. Illusia initially leans toward the safer Little Dragon to avoid becoming someone’s meal. However, an unfamiliar, mysterious voice suddenly urges him to grow stronger and aim for the top. Convinced, Illusia takes a risk and chooses the Baby Dragon path for its superior long-term growth.
After evolving, his stats increase, though his HP still needs time to recover. Driven by his new dragon instincts and a lack of other options, a starving Illusia forces himself to eat the worm’s corpse—which tastes just as terrible as he expected. After resting through the night, Illusia wakes up fully healed and ready to face his new reality as a baby dragon.
Illusia realizes he has no memories of his past human life or how he reincarnated. Suddenly, a group of Dark Worms attacks. No longer a helpless egg, he easily slices them to bits, instantly jumping to level three. Unlocking a baby fire-breathing ability, he continues farming worms until he reaches level 15, eager for his next evolution.
Growing hungry again, Illusia refuses to eat the gross worms and tries some wild mushrooms instead. They turn out to be highly poisonous; he barely survives, but he gains a poison resistance skill in the process.
Seeking better food, Illusia explores the forest and spots a Grey Wolf. Although the wolf is larger, his superior stats allow him to defeat it with a fire punch. Realizing he can use his flames to cook, he roasts the wolf meat, finding it incredibly delicious. Deciding to exclusively hunt wolves for food, Illusia grinds his way to level 20 by evening, knowing his next evolution awaits at level 25.
Leveling up gradually becomes harder, but Illusia has at least mastered grilling meat with his fire breath. Feeling lonely since the system ignores his important questions, he decides to investigate some nearby voices. He spots a group of human adventurers and, despite the risks of his dragon form and their numerical advantage, reveals himself in hopes of finding companionship.
Unfortunately, he forgets that baby dragons are considered a delicacy. Unable to speak their language, he can’t stop them from attacking. One adventurer slashes his chest, while another paralyzes him with a lightning spell. Helpless and regretting his mistake, Illusia braces for death. At the last second, the young girl in the group intervenes out of pity, convincing her companions to spare him.
When Illusia opens his eyes, the girl is healing his wounds. Checking her stats, he learns her name is Myria. Seeing her use the last of her magic to save him, he feels deeply grateful. Although he has already regained mobility in his legs, Illusia pretends to still be injured so Myria will stay by his side a little longer.
While listening to Myria, Illusia acquires the Greek Language skill, realizing that leveling it up will allow him to understand her. Suddenly, loud screams echo from the forest. Illusia deduces that the other adventurers have encountered a terrifyingly strong monster and likely won’t survive. He tries to stop Myria from running toward the danger, especially since her MP is depleted, but she doesn’t understand and rushes off.
Despite his numb legs, Illusia forces himself to follow, determined to save her. He arrives to find a massive C-rank Rock Dragon boasting over 200 HP—dwarfing his own 30 HP. Though his survival instincts and the Voice urge him to flee, Illusia sees Myria collapsed on the ground. Refusing to abandon the girl who saved his life, he stands his ground.
Illusia reveals himself to draw the dragon’s aggro, dodging its charge with his roll skill and slamming into its face. He quickly assesses the remaining adventurers: one is already dead, and the other is trapped under a tree with only five HP left. Acting quickly, Illusia provokes the dragon by bouncing off its head and running away, planning to lure the beast away so he can circle back and rescue the survivors.
Instead of blindly chasing Illusia, the Rock Dragon uses a skill to destroy the ground in front of him, sending him crashing down. As the beast lunges, Illusia counters with a fire punch directly into its mouth, dealing significant damage. However, to his horror, the dragon instantly regenerates all its health. Realizing he cannot win in his current state and is unable to carry both survivors, Illusia makes the agonizing choice to save Myria and leave the other adventurer behind.
Myria is losing HP rapidly from blood loss. Since he lacks healing skills, Illusia follows a distant human scent, hoping to find a settlement that can treat her. Along the way, they are surrounded by dozens of Gray Wolves hungry for Myria. Forced to set her down, Illusia fights the pack off alone. Myria briefly regains consciousness to see him fiercely defending her before passing out again.
Exhausted and on the verge of collapse, Illusia finally reaches the human village late at night. He cries out for help, but to the villagers, he simply sounds like a roaring monster. Seeing a dragon holding an unconscious Myria, they assume he is a threat and immediately attack. Since he cannot speak their language, Illusia is completely unable to explain the truth.
Realizing he cannot convince the villagers he isn’t a threat, Illusia sets Myria down and retreats into the forest.
Two days later, Myria wakes up in bed with Marielle beside her. Marielle explains she used extensive white magic to heal her severe injuries. With hazy memories of the incident, Myria assumes someone must have carried her back.
Marielle scolds her for recklessly entering the forest with only Doz and Grantz. When Myria asks about them, Marielle reveals grim news: search parties found Grantz dead, and a massive bloodstain near a tree suggests Doz was eaten by a monster.
Devastated, Myria breaks down, blaming herself for not stopping the expedition. Marielle calls Doz a hot-headed fool, but Myria defends him, remembering him as a brave protector adored by the village children. His downfall was his warrior’s pride; after a bar patron claimed he could never defeat a Rock Dragon, Doz set out the next day with Grantz to prove him wrong. Myria had only tagged along to keep them safe.
Marielle warns Myria not to repeat his prideful mistakes. She then praises Myria for managing to return to the village alone despite her injuries—leaving Myria confused, as she is certain she was unconscious the entire time.
Marielle is confused, having assumed Myria walked back to the village and was attacked by a baby dragon there. However, Myria clarifies that she was knocked unconscious by the Rock Dragon deep in the forest, meaning someone else must have carried her. Recalling hazy memories of the small dragon fighting off wolves, Myria begins to suspect he was actually her savior.
Meanwhile, Illusia wakes up from a nap, amazed that his severe injuries have already completely healed. He hopes Myria is safe but knows returning to the village to check on her would be suicidal. Frustrated by his powerlessness against the Rock Dragon, he vows to never be that weak again.
To gain power, Illusia massacres an entire colony of Dark Worms. Farming all that XP pushes him to level 25, unlocking his next evolution. Sitting by the lake, he listens as the Voice presents five options, including small dragon variations and a Plague Dragon. Rejecting the plague route, he asks for advice. The Voice explains that while Little Dragons gain strength quickly, they have a low level cap. In contrast, Kid Dragons are advanced Baby Dragons that retain massive long-term growth potential.
While Mini Dragons offer a stable path, Illusia leans toward the Kid Dragon variants and asks for detailed descriptions. The Mini Dragon has good prospects but slow early development. The Mini Angel Dragon offers strong healing magic—which reminds him of Myria—but lacks the combat strength needed to survive the harsh forest. The Kid Dragon is simply a stat-boosted version of his current form, while the Kid Marble Dragon adds a high magic affinity.
Illusia favors the Kid Marble Dragon until he hears the details of the Young Plague Dragon. Initially repulsed because it is an evil, disaster-spreading monster, he instantly reconsiders upon learning it eventually unlocks a human transformation ability. Realizing this is his only chance to safely converse with others and reunite with Myria, he accepts the risk and vows to be a benevolent Plague Dragon. After completing the evolution, however, he immediately begins to second-guess his choice upon seeing his terrifying new appearance.
The system informs Illusia that his new form grants powerful skills like flight, venom fangs, and paralysis, though he is disheartened by the more sinister abilities. Despite his efforts, he discovers he did not receive the human transformation he desperately wanted. After a period of despair by the lake, Illusia decides to investigate his new status.
He learns that his “Dragon Scale Power” releases a deadly miasma capable of wiping out nations at max level; a quick test confirms this as it instantly wilts a nearby flower. Furthermore, his “Disease Breath” can inflict terminal illnesses, making him a literal walking bioweapon. While he fears becoming an evil dragon, Divine explains that his “Itty Bitty Hero” title—earned by saving Myria—offers a path toward true hero status. Illusia hopes that by cultivating this kindness, he can overcome his darker titles and avoid a villainous fate.
The “Wrongdoer” title, earned by leaving a mountain of corpses, increases Illusia‘s dark damage but makes learning healing magic significantly harder. This revelation sends Illusia into a tantrum, as he desperately wanted to master healing spells.
Meanwhile, in the human village, Myria assists Marielle with maintaining the magical wards that subconsciously repel monsters. Despite the danger, Myria cannot stop thinking about Illusia and asks if a monster could truly want to save a human. Marielle, slightly concerned by Myria‘s fixation, explains that monsters grow more ferocious as they level up and evolve. She also reveals that humanity understands these mechanics through individuals who can hear Divine, the same voice that provides information on levels and titles. Marielle warns Myria that even if the dragon saved her once, it will likely be a terrifying, bloodthirsty predator the next time they meet.
Marielle insists that monsters operate solely on instinct and are incompatible with humans, but Myria remains skeptical. Nearby, Illusia embraces his identity as a plague dragon, aiming to level up his hero traits and discover the requirements for human transformation so he can reunite with Myria.
While hunting for weak monsters, Illusia is ambushed by a giant spider. Finding his fire breath effective, he engages the creature with claws and paralysis, but the spider’s high health proves overwhelming. Forced to flee, Illusia finds his flight skill failing and is pursued relentlessly. During the chase, his “Roll” skill levels up, allowing him to outpace the predator but earning him the “Chicken Runner” title. His relief is short-lived, however, as he realizes he is barreling toward the edge of a massive, deadly cliff.
To avoid the spider, Illusia decides to leap across the ravine. Realizing his wings allow him to glide, he manages to clear the gap, only to discover the spider has built a web bridge to continue the pursuit. As he flees, his “Roll” skill reaches level four, and he inadvertently tramples several monsters, boosting his level to eight.
Feeling empowered by his new stats, Illusia stops to face his pursuer. After Divine scans the creature, revealing its “Double Poison” ability, Illusia formulates a plan. When the spider releases a toxic cloud, Illusia uses his poison resistance to feign weakness, luring the predator close. Once the spider is in range, he unleashes a powerful fire blast, burning the monster to a crisp.
Following his victory, Illusia reaches level 14, yet the human transformation remains locked. After hunting a wolf for dinner, he discovers an empty cave to use as a base. He roasts the meat using forest herbs that taste like pepper, earning the “Mr. Chef” title. Despite his culinary success, he laments that no human would ever trust food from a plague dragon, fearing that Myria wouldn’t even recognize his current form.
In the village, Myria hears a chilling rumor at a bar: an old man spotted Doz in the forest looking like a mindless zombie. Feeling responsible for her companions, Myria wants to investigate, but Marielle insists on hiring professional adventurers instead. The next morning, Illusia encounters a moving puddle that causes Divine to glitch, unable to read its overwhelming power level. Realizing the slime is a lethal threat, Illusia narrowly escapes and retreats to a different part of the forest, where he stumbles upon a mysterious small pot sitting by a tree.
Illusia tries to claim the pot for fruit storage, but it reveals itself as a D-rank monster. His fire-infused punch fails to deal significant damage, and the creature quickly heals itself during their struggle. Frustrated, Illusia hurls the monster off a cliff into the water, successfully defeating it. However, the nearby pots retaliate by merging into a bizarre fusion. Illusia finds the combined form laughable and easily smashes it, gaining over 500 experience points and reaching level 30.
Though the pots shatter, leaving him without a container, Illusia soon spots a Clay Bear. Realizing he could use its remains to craft pottery and furniture for his cave, he decides to hunt it. He attempts a stealthy approach but impulsively shouts as he leaps from the high ground to attack. The bear calmly turns around and opens a massive, terrifying mouth on its stomach, catching Illusia completely off guard.
Disappointed that the Clay Bear isn’t more bear-like, Illusia engages the monster, only to find it instantly regenerates from his attacks. Realizing he lacks the power to one-shot the beast and cannot carry it to a cliff, he attempts to drain its mana through a hit-and-run strategy. The bear counters by transforming into a spiked form, making Illusia‘s rolling attacks dangerous to perform.
However, Illusia notices a spike lose its shape once detached, giving him a brilliant idea. He rushes in, rips off one of the bear’s arms, and molds the clay into a ball. Jumping high, he slams the mass back down with immense force, obliterating the monster. This victory brings him to level 33 and unlocks the “Nutcracker” skill. With the battle won, Illusia collects the remaining clay, returns to his cave, and molds his first bowl, placing it in a makeshift kiln to bake while he hunts for food.
Illusia continues foraging, discovering “Lightning Mushrooms” that are delicious but carry a paralysis risk. Since he lacks resistance, he skips them and instead finds a carnivorous flower. Divine explains the plant stores salt in its base; despite the gross source, Illusia is thrilled to have seasoning for his meals.
Meanwhile, driven by guilt, Myria ignores Marielle‘s orders and enters the forest alone, hoping to find Doz. Back with Illusia, he finds walking mushrooms that are currently safe to eat and stumbles upon a group of A-rank fungi. While Divine notes their immense value, Illusia burns them instantly upon learning they are used to produce drugs, refusing to become a dealer. As Myria hides from monsters she cannot fight, Illusia moves on to discover a patch of berries.
Illusia discovers berries with a B-rank value, essentially the saffron of this world. While he eagerly prepares to use them for dinner, Myria begins to have second thoughts as she nears the dangerous heart of the forest. Unaware of her proximity, the “terrifying monster” Illusia is simply geeking out over his spice haul. Myria decides to stick to the outskirts for safety, which proves to be a wise choice.
That night, Illusia uses glow mushrooms for lighting and finally retrieves his finished clay bowls. He crafts a stew using his scavenged ingredients and salt, enjoying his first truly “human” meal since his reincarnation. Meanwhile, two adventurers sent by the guild arrive in a carriage to investigate the local monster activity. By the next morning, Illusia has filled his cave with pottery and wolf pelts for future clothing. To deal with thieving monkeys, he concocts a plan to create “special” jerky loaded with every poisonous plant he can find to teach the scavengers a lethal lesson.
Illusia ventures into a field of vibrant flowers searching for toxic ingredients but is ambushed by a Venom Princess. The creature bites his shoulder, delivering a poison so potent that even his resistance cannot prevent him from collapsing in agony. Divine reveals that the lizard’s body naturally produces an antivenom from the plants it consumes, meaning Illusia must capture it to survive.
Feigning a retreat to lure the predator out, Illusia is shocked to find the Venom Princess can also use the “Roll” skill. He pivots to a new plan: leading the monster toward the familiar cliff to gain a tactical advantage. However, the chase turns treacherous when the lizard trips him with a spike, proving it can use multiple skills simultaneously while rolling—a feat Illusia has yet to master. Despite the unfair disadvantage, he pushes forward, desperate to reach the ravine before the toxin claims his life.
Illusia lures the Venom Princess to the cliff, but he realizes that if she falls, he loses his only source of antivenom. Ignoring his blurring vision, he dives into the ravine, using his fire breath to blast them both back to safety before losing consciousness.
Meanwhile, Myria returns from her secret search for Doz. She encounters Marielle, who is relieved to find her safe. Myria lies about entering the woods, and Marielle informs her that the guild’s adventurers are already en route to handle the situation.
Back in the forest, Illusia wakes up, surprised to be alive. He finds the Venom Princess standing over him, but instead of attacking, she remains peaceful. He realizes she provided the life-saving antidote while he was out. Despite their initial battle, Illusia thanks her, acknowledging that survival in the forest often means temporary labels of enemy or ally.
Illusia is thrilled to finally have a companion, sparing him from constant monologues. That night, he brings the Lizard back to his cave and prepares a meal they both enjoy. When the Lizard discovers his barrel of homemade toxins, she begins drinking it; Illusia initially panics before remembering her immunity. His own attempt to taste the concoction, however, quickly reminds him that he is not similarly blessed.
The following day, the duo displays flawless teamwork while hunting, their bond strengthening through combat. Their harmony is briefly tested when Illusia takes her to pick spicy berries; the Lizard finds them distasteful and instead gravitates toward a foul-smelling, poisonous mushroom. To avoid the stench of decay, Illusia incinerates it, upsetting his new friend. He quickly apologizes, but the Lizard suddenly shifts into a defensive stance, sensing a threat. A two-headed dog monster emerges from the brush, and Illusia immediately senses that this new foe will be a difficult challenge.
Divine scans the monster, revealing it as a level 39 beast with overpowered stats and gravity manipulation. Illusia breaks into a sweat, realizing its tracking skills make escape impossible. He and the Lizard coordinate a simple strategy: Illusia acts as a decoy while the Lizard waits for a poisonous opening. However, the two-headed wolf proves formidable; as Illusia lunges at the blue head, the red head knocks him down, allowing the blue head to trap him in a crushing gravity field.
The Lizard saves him by firing a clay bullet to disrupt the spell, enabling Illusia to retaliate with a torrent of dragon breath. To his frustration, the wolf begins healing mid-fight. When the blue head prepares an even more powerful incantation, Illusia charges in, willingly taking a bite from the red head to punch the blue one out of its cast. This sacrifice allows the Lizard to drop from the trees and deliver a lethal dose of venom. Though the wolf attempts to regenerate, the poison outpaces its healing, ensuring its inevitable defeat.
In a desperate move, the wolf’s red head bites off its own poisoned blue head to survive. Illusia is stunned, especially when the severed head returns as a vengeful ghost through a “Sacrifice” skill. As the spirit lunges for the Lizard, Illusia is forced to battle the physical wolf first, eventually slamming it into the earth. Terrified of losing his only friend, he franticly searches for the Lizard, discovering a grim trail of blood.
He finds her badly wounded beneath some bushes, but his relief is interrupted when the ghost head returns for a final strike. Illusia obliterates the spirit with a flurry of punches and tenderly carries the Lizard back to their cave. He realizes that her friendship is more important to him than any biological change; ironically, Divine then announces that he has finally leveled up enough to unlock his human transformation. Meanwhile, in the village, Marielle presents Myria with an ancient tome on monster lore to satisfy her growing curiosity.
The ancient tome details forest creatures ranging from weak F-rank dark worms to B-rank monsters that only legendary heroes can defeat. Marielle emphasizes that even C-rank threats, like the Rock Dragon, are lethal to average humans, justifying her strict warnings. Meanwhile, the guild adventurers Meltia and Yuno arrive at the village. While Yuno worries about the difficulty of a C-rank mission, Meltia jokes about abandoning her before clarifying that their task is primarily reconnaissance rather than combat.
They meet with Marielle, who provides the mission specifics: a man named Doz vanished after a Rock Dragon attack. Because Myria feels responsible and has been secretly searching for him, Marielle tasks the duo with finding proof of Doz‘s death. She hopes that bringing back a body—or at least a definitive report of his demise—will finally stop Myria from risking her life in the woods.
In the forest, Illusia treats the Lizard‘s wounds with herbs before stepping out to test his long-awaited human transformation. He muses on the irony of gaining the skill just as he accepted his dragon life, briefly worrying he might turn into a “cute girl.” However, the activation is a disaster; instead of a human, he becomes a hideously deformed, slightly upright dragon. The form is useless, halving his combat stats while rapidly draining his mana, leaving Illusia feeling scammed by Divine.
Elsewhere, Meltia and Yuno are exhausted after battling a spider. As they push deeper into the darkening woods, Yuno argues that no human could survive such conditions, making their search for Doz feel futile. Their perspective shifts when they stumble upon Illusia’s cave. Seeing the handmade clay statues and smelling the professionally preserved meat hanging nearby, Meltia becomes convinced that a human must be living in the heart of the forest.
Meltia investigates the cave, discovering glow mushrooms, furs, and a stash of “Red Gold” fruit so valuable that Yuno is tempted to steal some. Meltia stops her, fearing the cave belongs to dangerous thieves. When the Lizard wakes and threatens them, she suddenly relents and leaves; unknown to the adventurers, Illusia had signaled her to stand down.
Outside, Illusia paces nervously, hoping the knight and demi-human were impressed by his interior decorating. Realizing his dragon form is too scary, he gambles on his “ugly” human transformation, hoping to pass as a lizard-type demi-human. However, when he approaches and greets them, Yuno and Meltia are paralyzed with terror. Yuno strikes him with a mallet while Meltia slashes him with a sword skill. Though unharmed due to his superior stats, Illusia watches in despair as the girls flee for their lives, leaving his first attempt at socializing a total failure.
Meltia and Yuno stop their flight, relieved Illusia isn’t pursuing them. Yuno suggests returning to the village, but Meltia refuses to report a failed mission. Instead, she decides to call for the rest of their party to bolster their strength before heading deeper into the forest.
The next morning, Illusia prepares a trap for the monkeys that have been stealing his food. He asks Divine—or rather, the Lizard—to produce a colorless, odorless toxin. Impressed by her skill, he douses a batch of meat in the poison and waits. The bait works instantly, leaving one monkey incapacitated while Illusia leaps out to confront the others. The monkeys attempt a coordinated counterattack, but Illusia and the Lizard easily overwhelm them with their combined power. However, one monkey manages to emit a piercing whistle, summoning their alpha. Illusia soon senses a massive presence approaching as the alpha monkey arrives, ready to defend its pack.
Illusia is intimidated by this unexpected boss fight, but with no escape, he scans the Alpha’s stats. While they are on par with his own, the Alpha’s leadership skills have buffed the other monkeys into serious threats. The battle turns sour as the Lizard is nearly flung into a tree, forcing Illusia to save her. Desperate for an advantage, he asks Divine for info, but the lore about the Alpha’s rise to power feels useless—until he notices the “Telepathy” skill.
Hoping to negotiate, Illusia takes the poisoned monkey hostage. The Alpha halts the pack and uses telepathy to question him. Illusia offers the antidote in exchange for their freedom, but the Alpha cold-bloodedly refuses, willing to sacrifice his subordinate to eliminate such dangerous threats.
Thinking fast, Illusia challenges the Alpha to a duel, knowing monkey tradition brands any leader who refuses a coward. The Alpha accepts but has his pack seize the Lizard to prevent interference. Relieved to have a one-on-one, Illusia quickly realizes the Alpha has “certified jungle hands.” After being knocked around by several heavy punches, Illusia concludes he cannot win through raw strength alone.
Illusia attempts to create distance by rolling away, but the Alpha mocks his “cowardice,” threatening the Lizard to force Illusia into a direct confrontation. Realizing he must end it fast, Illusia launches into the air, using the downward momentum of his roll to disorient the Alpha. He follows up with a rapid-fire barrage of blows, shaving off a massive chunk of the boss’s health.
Just as victory seems certain, the Alpha triggers a terrifying “Second Phase,” converting all his remaining mana into agility. Now a blur of speed, the Alpha overwhelms Illusia, who can no longer track the movements. In a desperate gamble, Illusia challenges the Alpha to a pure fistfight—no dodging, no running. Bound by his pride, the Alpha accepts. The two trade devastating hits until they are both on the verge of collapse. With one final, perfectly timed counter, Illusia delivers a finishing blow, but the Alpha lands a simultaneous strike that knocks Illusia unconscious.
Illusia later wakes up in his cave, confused as to how he returned. He looks to the Lizard, who gestures toward a group of monkeys loitering in the shadows of his home. Expecting a revenge squad, Illusia is shocked to find them peaceful. A quick status check reveals he has earned the title “Monkey Chief.” By defeating their leader in a formal duel, he has inadvertently inherited the entire pack as his loyal followers.
While Princess is clearly apprehensive about sharing Illusia’s attention, Illusia is thrilled by the utility of his new minions. He immediately begins delegating the “day-to-day” chores, tasking the monkeys with foraging. Their efficiency is staggering, but as Illusia praises their haul, Princess‘s jealousy only intensifies. To reward his new workers, Illusia allows them to snack on his hanging jerky, though this means he now has even more food prep to manage.
Recognizing an opportunity to fully automate his kitchen, Illusia begins teaching one particularly attentive monkey the art of butchery and meat preservation. As the monkey eagerly takes up the knife, Illusia feels a murderous chill and turns to find Princess fuming with rage, though he remains hilariously oblivious to her hurt feelings.
With more mouths to feed, Illusia realizes he needs a massive upgrade to his storage capacity. He begins molding clay for new pots, only to be interrupted by another curious monkey. Noting that their opposable thumbs are far better suited for pottery than his own dragon claws, Illusia puts the monkey through a rigorous “training course” in ceramics. Once the lesson is over, he points his new apprentice toward the clay deposits, eager to see his cave transform into a fully functional, monkey-staffed production hub.
Illusia continues to be hilariously dense, dismissing the Lizard’s attempts to mold clay by pointing out her lack of thumbs. While he sees it as a simple anatomical fact, the Lizard takes it as a heartbreaking rejection of her usefulness and flees in tears. Undeterred, Illusia crafts clay tools for his other monkey subordinates, putting them to work expanding the cave’s interior to accommodate the growing household.
In the village, Meltia and Yuno remain in a holding pattern. Meltia is certain their teammates, Doz and Roina, received the summons but suspects they are finishing another contract. One thing is certain: they aren’t stepping back into the woods to face a “Plague Dragon” without a full party.
Back at the cave, the “Plague Dragon” in question is just trying to nap. The Lizard tries to wake him, but Illusia finds himself pinned down by a pile of sleeping monkeys and decides it’s too much effort to move. His rest is cut short, however, by the sound of monkeys panicking—one of their own is near death. A quick scan reveals the monkey has been poisoned by the Lizard. Illusia demands she hand over the antidote immediately, saving the subordinate just in time. When he scolds her for attacking allies, the Lizard reveals her true motive: she noticed the meat supply was low and wanted to prove her hunting prowess before the monkeys could interfere.
Gemini said
Illusia finally realizes he has been neglecting the Lizard and apologizes, promising a hunting trip “just like old times.” She is momentarily thrilled, but her joy sours when Illusia decides to bring the monkey pack along to test the new clay weapons he crafted for them. As they venture out, the Lizard acts as a silent scout, her frustration mounting as Illusia remains hilariously oblivious to her feelings due to their language barrier.
When the Lizard signals that monsters are ahead, two wolves emerge from the brush. Before she or Illusia can strike, the monkeys swarm the predators, beating them to death with their primitive tools. While Illusia is impressed by his minions’ newfound combat efficiency, the Lizard is left fuming, her “special” role as his hunting partner seemingly replaced by a crowd of primates.
Meanwhile, Myria‘s impatience gets the better of her. Ignoring the risks, she pushes deeper into the forest once again to search for Doz. However, as the canopy thickens and the atmosphere grows heavy, she realizes she has wandered far beyond the safe outskirts. Sensing she is in over her head, she contemplates turning back before a true monster finds her.
Gemini said
Just as Myria begins to retreat, she spots Doz through the dense foliage. Overjoyed and ignoring the eerie lack of a response, she chases him deeper into the woods, failing to realize it’s a trap until she is cornered by a pack of wolves.
Meanwhile, Illusia finally has a breakthrough with the Lizard. He explains that his new duties as “Monkey Chief” don’t mean he values her any less, promising that their next hunt will be strictly a duo. The Lizard is so delighted she jumps into his arms, and Illusia reaffirms that she is the most important person in his life.
The moment is shattered by Myria’s scream. Illusia is torn; he wants to save her but fears the hostility of other humans. He orders the Lizard to stay behind for her safety, but she refuses to be sidelined again and chases after him. In her frantic dash, she accidentally headbutts a rock and knocks herself out. After confirming she is stable, Illusia rushes to the source of the scream.
He arrives just as the wolves are about to tear Myria apart, leaping in to deck one of the predators. Illusia hopes for a warm reunion, but he realizes a major problem: between his various evolutions and his “Plague Dragon” aura, he looks nothing like the creature Myria once knew. To her, he isn’t a savior—he’s just a terrifying new monster.
Illusia focuses on the wolves, scanning them to find they are low D-rank. However, a system anomaly prevents him from viewing their full stats, and he realizes their “Vision Sharing” ability means a larger pack is already converging on them. Illusia acts quickly, incinerating two with fire breath and knocking out the others.
Myria is initially paralyzed with fear, but Illusia’s frantic arm-flailing reminds her of the baby dragon she once saved. Realizing his true identity, she joyfully mimics his movements in recognition. As more wolves emerge, Illusia signals for Myria to climb onto his back and bolts into the forest to find safety.
In the village, panic sets in as the residents realize Myria has disappeared. Marielle is furious that Myria ignored her warnings and decides to head into the woods alone to rescue her, ordering Gregory and the others to stay behind. Meanwhile, Yuno and Meltia are joined by the rest of their party, who remain dangerously overconfident about the “easy” mission ahead.
Yuno finds the situation suspicious, noting the cave filled with “Red Gold” and the presence of a plague dragon as major red flags. Because the risk was too high, she and Meltia wait for their full party before heading to the village to update Marielle. Once their reinforcements are briefed, they plan to push deeper into the forest to finish the investigation.
Meanwhile, Illusia realizes the wolves are too persistent to shake off, so he makes a stand in a ravine to shield Myria. He incinerates three wolves with fire breath and crushes the final attacker in a single strike. Divine informs him that he has reached his current form’s maximum level, meaning he can no longer gain experience until he evolves. Illusia finds the wolves’ lack of fear strange but focuses on Myria, worrying that returning her to the village will only trigger another human attack.
As he listens to Myria speak, he realizes the language barrier is slowly fading. Before he can decide their next move, Divine presents four new evolution options. Illusia is shocked to find that, for the first time, his potential future forms aren’t all restricted to the plague dragon lineage.
The first option is Dark Dragon-Human, a demi-human species covered in dark scales. Illusia is initially excited since it is the closest he has come to a regular human form, but he remains wary of the system after his last failed transformation. The second path is the Rolling Dragon, a speed-specialist that is essentially a “speed demon.” While the mobility is tempting, Illusia doesn’t want to limit his skill tree to just rolling.
The third option is the Little Ark Dragon, which specializes in light and healing magic. Illusia is strongly considering this because being a healer would make him much more “human-friendly,” even if the “Little” title implies limited growth. The final choice is a Large Poisonous Snake that withers the land wherever it crawls—an option Illusia immediately rejects.
As Myria stops for a drink at a nearby spring, Illusia sits on the rocks to weigh his future. The snake is out, and the rolling dragon feels too much like a “circus act.” The Little Ark Dragon has the benefit of healing, but the Dark Dragon-Human is arguably the best for social interaction. However, he worries that humans might still reject a demi-human, and he fears the Lizard might abandon him if he changes too much. Sensing his inner turmoil, Myria watches as Illusia continues racking his brain by the water.
Myria walks over to ask Illusia what is bothering him. While Illusia tries to explain his evolution dilemma, she cannot understand his draconic speech. To bridge the gap, Myria begins teaching Illusia her language by pointing at objects and naming them. By evening, Illusia has mastered enough vocabulary to understand that Myria has been sneaking into the forest to find someone.
When Illusia imitates Yuno to ask if she is the target, Myria clarifies she is actually searching for Doz. This confuses Illusia, as he distinctly remembers seeing Doz‘s lifeless body earlier. He imitates Doz to show he understands, which confirms to Myria that this is the same dragon she met as a hatchling. Overjoyed, she hugs him tightly, and Illusia revels in the human affection, vowing to find a way to be accepted by society.
The moment is shattered by heavy footsteps. Illusia recognizes the thunderous gait of a Rock Dragon. He is baffled as to why it has wandered so far from its nest on the opposite side of the forest, but he has no intention of staying to investigate.
Illusia gestures for Myria to climb onto his back, planning to drop her near the village before searching for Doz. As they flee, they are ambushed by another relentless wolf. Illusia notices a magical reception tag above its head, suggesting the creature is being controlled. He bats it away with his tail, only to find the path ahead blocked by a pack led by Doz. However, Doz is acting strangely; a system scan reveals he possesses no skills or abilities, which should be impossible.
Myria tries to reason with him, but Doz ignores her and attacks, forcing her to defend herself with magic. After Illusia knocks him off his mount, Doz frantically lunges for a dropped egg. As the thunderous footsteps of the Rock Dragon grow louder, the pieces fall into place: Doz is using the dragon’s own egg to bait the massive beast toward the village.
While Illusia is swamped by the remaining wolves, Myria realizes her weight is slowing him down. She begs him to leave her and stop Doz before the village is destroyed, but Illusia refuses to abandon his friend to the pack. Instead, he sets her down to make a stand. He lures the first wolf into a bite to land a devastating pile driver, but the other wolves seize the opening to lung at Myria. Though Illusia rushes to intervene, one wolf manages to wound her before he can obliterate it. Heartbroken, he immediately rushes to her side to check her injuries.
Myria survives her injury, though she remains in a weakened state. With the last of her strength, she pleads with Illusia to save her village. He promises to protect it but refuses to leave her side, carrying her on his back as he chases Doz.
Back in the village, evening falls as Gregory ushers the children indoors. The terrifying roar of the Rock Dragon sends him into a panic. Even Marielle, deep in the woods, hears the sound but dismisses it as a trick of her mind, consumed by her desperate search for Myria. Meanwhile, Doz successfully lures the dragon to the village gates with Illusia trailing close behind. On the way, Myria regains consciousness; instead of healing herself, she uses her magic to mend Illusia, expressing her gratitude for his protection.
In the village, Gregory faces an encroaching wolf. Panicked and fearing the village wards have failed, he manages to impale the beast with his spear, though its carcass pins him to the ground. As he recovers, he looks up to find the “Plague Dragon” looming over him. Gregory thrashes and screams in terror until Myria interjects, explaining that Illusia is a friend and their protector. Gregory falls silent in pure confusion, while Illusia recognizes Gregory as the man who stabbed him in the leg during their first encounter.
Gregory recognizes Illusia as the dragon from their past encounter and realizes the creature was only trying to help back then. He offers a sincere apology, which Illusia happily accepts, relieved by the man’s reasonableness. However, the roar of the Rock Dragon cuts the moment short. Gregory explains that Doz set a wolf on him before fleeing, so Myria insists they find him immediately. To prevent the villagers from panicking at the sight of a dragon, Gregory joins them, climbing onto Illusia’s back as they race through the town.
The villagers are initially terrified to see the plague dragon, but their fear turns to confusion when they spot Gregory and Myria riding him. As the Rock Dragon draws closer, Gregory and Illusia advise the injured Myria to stay behind so she isn’t a liability in the coming fight. She agrees, and the duo takes off to confront Doz, who is currently unnerving the cowering townspeople with his strange, vacant behavior.
Upon arrival, Gregory orders Doz to drop his weapon, but Doz retaliates with a strike so powerful it knocks Gregory off Illusia’s back. Illusia seizes the opening, slamming Doz around before pinning him to the earth. Though his claws are poised to strike, Illusia hesitates; he realizes this would be the first time he has ever intentionally killed a human, and the weight of that choice stays his hand.
Illusia hesitates, fearing that killing Doz would prove he is nothing more than a mindless monster to the watching villagers. Choosing mercy, he instead incapacitates Doz with a precise, powerful flick. The onlookers begin to see Illusia as an ally, but the relief is short-lived. Doz abruptly regains consciousness and seizes a young boy named Gan, holding a blade to his throat. Despite Gan’s pleas to their former friendship, Doz remains cold and unreachable.
Illusia is trapped; he cannot approach without risking the boy’s life, yet the Rock Dragon is moments away, drawn by the egg positioned directly behind Doz. Suddenly, Doz secretes a strange slime from his mouth to swing himself onto an overhead platform—an inhuman ability that baffles Illusia. The Rock Dragon finally bursts onto the scene, and Doz taunts the massive beast by holding the egg aloft, preparing to shatter it and incite a total frenzy.
As Illusia takes to the air to intervene, Doz callously hurls Gan off the platform. Forced to choose, Illusia dives to save the child, playing right into Doz‘s hands. By the time Illusia recovers, Doz has leapt from the ledge, leaving the smashed remains of the egg behind. Consumed by grief and rage at the sight of its destroyed offspring, the Rock Dragon enters a catastrophic rampage, beginning to level everything in sight.
Marielle finally returns to the village and is relieved to find Myria safe, though she is stunned by the chaotic report: Doz has returned and lured a Rock Dragon to their gates using its own egg.
On the battlefield, Illusia shields Gan from the dragon’s initial rampage. He watches in fury as Doz performs a twisted victory dance, only for the traitor to be instantly crushed into a red paste under the Rock Dragon‘s massive foot. Illusia bitterly regrets not killing Doz sooner, but with the village at stake, he hands Gan over to Gregory and signals for them to flee. Despite Gregory’s protests, Illusia remains insistent on staying to fight.
Once they are clear, Illusia scans the Rock Dragon’s stats; the outlook is grim. He charges anyway, dodging a tail swipe to land a dragon punch, but the beast’s armor is too thick. His fire breath and rock tosses prove equally useless. A single counterstrike from the dragon slams Illusia into the dirt, leaving him paralyzed and at the monster’s mercy.
Just as the dragon closes in for the kill, an arrow whistles through the air. While it deals no damage, it distracts the beast, allowing Gregory and a few brave villagers to launch a desperate interference. As Gregory’s spear bounces harmlessly off the scales, Illusia finds the opening he needs to lung upward and deliver a heavy dropkick to the dragon’s neck. Simultaneously, a villager’s arrow finds the dragon’s eye. Despite their coordinated effort, a quick stat check reveals they have only drained 8% of the boss’s health. They have a long, brutal climb ahead of them.
The Rock Dragon retaliates with a devastating Earth ability, erupting jagged stone spikes from the ground that impale one of Gregory’s allies and pin Gregory himself in place. Distracted by the carnage, Illusia takes a brutal kick to the back, crashing into the dirt as his health hits a critical low.
In this dark moment, the Divine Voice speaks, coldly advising him to flee. It informs him that his Divine Voice skill has reached level four, granting him access to simplified battle simulations. The entity mockingly notes that while it has enjoyed watching his journey, this appears to be the end. Illusia fiercely rejects this fate, vowing to prove the system wrong by using his pending evolution as a final trump card. Though he fears the Lizard and the villagers won’t recognize a new form, he commits to the transformation.
The system consumes his remaining mana to run the simulations:
- Little Ark Dragon: A mere 1% chance of victory; it lacks the raw power needed.
- Poisonous Serpent: A 98% chance to force a draw, but the collateral venom would rot the entire village and kill everyone he is trying to save.
- Rolling Dragon: A 99% chance of survival—but only if he abandons the village and runs away.
With those three failing his morals or the mission, only one path remains: the Dark Dragon-Human.
Meanwhile, at the evacuation point, Marielle oversees the wounded. Myria confirms that while Gan and his family have safely arrived, several villagers are still missing in the chaos. The tension peaks as the village waits to see if their monstrous protector can undergo a miracle.
Marielle is informed that Gregory and a few others are still in the village center attempting to stall the Rock Dragon. Though she initially tells Myria to stay with the wounded, Myria insists on coming along, arguing that her healing magic will be needed on the front lines as more casualties come in. Marielle relents, and the two head toward the chaos.
Back at the epicenter, the Rock Dragon continues its rampage. Illusia looks at Gregory, who is pinned and bleeding out between two stone pillars, and decides that saving him is his only priority. He prepares to choose the Little Ark Dragon evolution for its healing magic, despite the system’s cold reminder that the odds of victory—and of actually saving Gregory—are nearly zero.
Illusia rushes to Gregory’s side, but the man’s condition is critical. Just as Illusia prepares to evolve, Gregory reaches out and grabs the dragon’s claw. In a moment of grim self-sacrifice, Gregory tells Illusia not to worry about him. Still operating under the logic of the world’s brutal leveling system, Gregory believes that monsters like the “Plague Dragon” only grow truly powerful by consuming humans. He begs Illusia to kill and eat him, hoping the resulting massive experience boost will give the dragon the strength needed to defeat the Rock Dragon and save the rest of the village. Illusia is left in absolute shock, his heart breaking at the request of the man he was just about to sacrifice his own potential to save.
Gregory urges Illusia to use his life as a stepping stone, believing that the only way for a monster to reach its true potential is through cold-blooded sacrifice. Illusia violently shakes his head, trying to explain that he doesn’t need to eat humans to grow, but he suddenly realizes the grim logic of the system. Despite being a “Plague Dragon,” his evolution tree lacked an adult “Calamity” form because he had been too kind—his actions didn’t fit the profile of a legendary monster.
Gregory expresses his final gratitude for the dragon’s protection and begs Illusia to end his “good streak” to save the village. With a heavy heart and tearful eyes, Illusia follows Gregory’s final wish and beheads him. Instantly, the system announces that his Calamitybringer title has jumped from level 1 to 3, unlocking the matured B-rank Plague Dragon evolution.
Knowing this is the only path to victory, Illusia selects it without a second thought, even as he sinks into a deep depression over the cost of this power. He undergoes a massive transformation, his body growing to match the Rock Dragon in scale and intimidation. Now a true engine of destruction, he vows that Gregory’s sacrifice won’t be in vain. The two titans charge, clashing with a force that shakes the earth, but even in this matured state, Illusia quickly realizes that a direct contest of raw strength against a creature made of stone is a losing battle.
Gemini said
Illusia realizes that even with his evolution, he cannot match the Rock Dragon in a test of pure strength. He uses his wings for leverage to strike at the creature’s throat, but its hide remains impenetrable. To protect the town, Illusia takes to the skies, successfully luring the beast into the forest for a final showdown.
Back in the village, Marielle and Myria arrive to find a scene of heartbreak. Oris, the surviving witness, leads them to Gregory‘s remains and identifies the plague dragon as the killer. Myria is devastated and refuses to believe Illusia could commit such an act, but Oris insists he saw the dragon grow to an enormous size immediately after the deed. Marielle realizes this confirms an evolution has occurred. Though she is skeptical of the dragon’s motives, she warns Myria that if either of these titans returns, the village is doomed.
Deep in the woods, Illusia tests his new abilities, including a powerful Wind Slash launched from his wings. While effective, the damage is still minimal. With the system refusing to highlight a specific weak point, Illusia decides to focus his fury on the dragon’s head. After a relentless barrage, he successfully gouges out the beast’s remaining eye.
However, his plan backfires. Blunted by pain and blinded by his attacks, the Rock Dragon begins to stampede in a random, panicked direction—straight toward the village. Refusing to let the people suffer any more loss, Illusia dives from the sky to block the path of the blind, charging juggernaut.
Marielle finishes tending to the wounded, but her relief turns to horror when she realizes Myria has vanished, likely heading deeper into the woods to find Illusia.
In the forest, Illusia struggles against the Rock Dragon‘s momentum. Pushed to his limit, he beats his wings to gain leverage and activates his Plague Scale ability, saturating the air with a lethal toxin that rapidly withers the titan’s strength. With the beast weakened, Illusia targets its throat. The system triggers his new Neckbreaker skill, highlighting the exact structural weak point in the dragon’s stony armor. With a final, thunderous strike, Illusia snaps the Rock Dragon‘s neck, securing a hard-fought victory.
The kill sends Illusia’s level skyrocketing from 1 to 19, but the power feels hollow. His somber reflection is interrupted by Myria, who comes running through the brush. To his surprise, she recognizes him instantly despite his terrifying new form. However, the reunion is shattered when Marielle arrives, blasting Illusia with light magic. Though her attacks are harmless against his high-level hide, she screams for Myria to retreat, labeling him a cold-blooded killer for what happened to Gregory.
Myria shields the dragon, insisting he is a protector, but her heart sinks when she looks into Illusia’s eyes and sees the silent admission of Gregory‘s death. Even then, she refuses to move, trusting there was a reason for the tragedy. Illusia is moved by her unwavering faith, but the moment turns tragic: Myria begins to cough violently. His Plague Scale aura is still active, and his very presence is poisoning her.
Realizing that as a matured plague dragon, he is a walking catastrophe to those he loves, Illusia makes a heartbreaking choice. He gently pushes Myria toward Marielle and takes to the sky, disappearing into the night. He eventually collapses by a remote lake, staring at his reflection in utter despair, haunted by the cost of the strength he never truly wanted.
Gemini said
Illusia lies by the lake, spiraling into hopelessness. He feels his ties to Myria are severed forever, and his purpose in this world remains a cruel mystery. When he hears a presence approaching, he doesn’t even bother to defend himself, closing his eyes and waiting for the end.
Back in the village, Meltia, Yuno, and their party arrive to find the massive carcass of the Rock Dragon. They are stunned, unable to fathom what force could take down such a titan. They quickly locate Marielle and Myria tending to the wounded. Marielle explains the catastrophic clash between the two dragons, noting that while most evacuated, several villagers are still missing. The adventurers volunteer for the search and rescue mission, and Myria insists on acting as their guide. Marielle is visibly worried that Myria is simply using the search as an excuse to find the “Plague Dragon” again, but Myria quietly reassures her.
Meanwhile, Illusia wakes up to find the Lizard perched happily on his chest. He is stunned that she recognized him instantly despite his terrifying evolution. He offers a heartfelt apology for leaving her behind, but the Lizard is simply overjoyed to be reunited. While Illusia finds comfort in her loyalty, he remains haunted by his new reality. He is officially a “Calamity” in the eyes of humanity—the monster that killed Gregory.
Furthermore, he realizes his Black Scale poison makes him a walking death sentence even to his monster allies like the Lizard and the Monkeys. He decides he must eventually leave the forest to protect them, though the Lizard cannot understand his silent resolve. Before he disappears forever, Illusia vows to finish one last task: uncovering the truth behind Doz‘s bizarre transformation. He wants to ensure the forest is truly at peace before he exiles himself into the unknown.
Illusia resolved to uncover the truth behind the chaos, realizing he couldn’t leave the forest until the threat was neutralized. As he flew toward his cave, he realized his massive new frame would no longer fit inside. His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, terrifying presence below. Scanning the forest floor, he spotted the same strange slime racing through the undergrowth.
With his increased level, Illusia was finally able to partially bypass the corrupted data in his status vision. He identified the creature as a unique entity, possessing a staggering array of abilities that shouldn’t belong to a single organism. The screen flickered with skills stolen from the wolves and even Doz. The pieces clicked into place: the slime was a parasite capable of stealing abilities and hijacking bodies. The substance he saw leaking from Doz‘s mouth wasn’t a mutation—it was the mastermind itself.
Knowing his friends and the village would never be safe while this predator existed, Illusia prepared to pulverize it. He signaled the Lizard to assist but strictly warned her to flee if the tide turned. As Illusia dove for a lethal strike, the slime reacted with preternatural speed, detonating a dense cloud of mist. Illusia braced for poison, but the vapor was a simple, effective smokescreen.
As the mist began to thin, Illusia frantically searched for the slime’s signature. Instead of a monster, however, he found himself staring down at two small, seemingly helpless children standing exactly where the creature had been a moment before.
Gemini said
Illusia is stunned, knowing no human children could survive this deep in the woods. His hesitation is nearly fatal as the slime suddenly lunges with a razor-sharp slash. Illusia barely twists out of the way, leaving the slime visibly disappointed that its “guaranteed kill” missed. It quickly becomes clear: the children were merely a gruesome disguise. The slime—identifying itself as Remoru—reveals it has been tracking Illusia since his earlier forms, calling him a persistent nuisance.
The Lizard attempts a daring ambush from the trees, landing three direct hits. Illusia checks the stats, but his relief turns to horror as the slime’s health bar refills instantly. He realizes Remoru has likely stacked regeneration skills from dozens of forest creatures, meaning only a single, overwhelming blow will end this.
Unexpectedly, the slime raises its hands, calling for a ceasefire. It casually suggests they stay out of each other’s way, but Illusia cannot fathom making a deal with the monster that orchestrated the village massacre. Since Illusia cannot speak, the slime assumes he is looking for a specific “meal” and begins cycling through a horrifying catalog of human forms it has consumed. Illusia watches in revulsion as Remoru explains how it found Doz‘s corpse, hijacked it to bait the Rock Dragon, and then “harvested” the fallen villagers for their skills while the chaos unfolded.
The slime is genuinely confused by Illusia’s rage, assuming the dragon only protected the village to keep the “food” for himself. It even offers to turn the village into a shared hunting ground and a “competitive eating” contest. Enraged by the creature’s complete lack of empathy, Illusia readies his final reserves of strength. He vows that he won’t rest until he has reduced this parasitic nightmare into a lifeless, gooey puddle.
Back in the village, Myria and the adventurers continue their grim search through the wreckage. When Meltia overhears Myria murmuring about Illusia, she is shocked to learn that the “Plague Dragon” is the one the girl is worried about. However, the discovery of a new group of survivors temporarily pulls their focus back to the rescue effort.
Once the survivors are safely returned to Marielle, a tense debate breaks out. Marielle is relieved to see Myria back, but she is firm: the dragon is a murderer who poisoned her. Myria remains unshaken, insisting there must be a reason for Gregory’s death and begging for one last chance to see Illusia and find the truth. Meltia surprisingly takes Myria’s side, pointing out that she’ll likely sneak away regardless. Reluctantly, Marielle caves, agreeing to a final meeting—provided she and Meltia come along as armed escorts.
In the forest, the battle reaches a fever pitch. Illusia blasts the slime with a torrent of fire and hurls it into a canyon, only to watch in horror as it shifts into a spider and skitters back up the cliffs. Remoru, now thoroughly annoyed, forms twin blades from its gelatinous mass and launches a barrage of fire slashes. Illusia tanks the hits, charging in to shred the slime to ribbons, but the creature simply knits itself back together instantly.
“You can’t kill me,” the slime taunts, its form shifting into a massive, lethal blade. Just as it prepares a finishing blow, the Lizard (Venom Princess) ambushes it from behind. The slime swats her away like an insect, but then recoils in genuine pain—her special venom has actually managed to bypass its defenses.
Recognizing her as a legitimate threat, the slime’s demeanor turns cold. It snatches her out of the air before Illusia can react. Another thick smokescreen erupts, and when the air clears, Illusia finds himself staring at a translucent, impenetrable bubble. His loyal friend is trapped inside, and the slime is no longer playing games.
As Meltia, Myria, and Marielle trek through the dense forest, the tension between them is palpable. Meltia listens with growing intrigue as the sisters recount the chaotic return of Doz and the subsequent Rock Dragon rampage. While Marielle remains fixated on the “evidence” of Gregory’s death, Myria desperately tries to pivot the narrative, insisting Illusia only acted on her plea to save the village.
Meltia drops a bombshell of her own: she had actually spotted the Plague Dragon earlier but chose to retreat and wait for her team, feeling she was no match for a “Great Calamity” alone. She offers a rare, somber apology for her absence during the attack, but Marielle quickly absolves her, noting that no one could have predicted such a coordinated disaster. Interestingly, Meltia adds a layer of doubt to Marielle’s prejudice, pointing out that most “Plague Dragon” lore is based on ancient myths rather than hard facts—the creature might not be the bloodthirsty demon the legends claim.
Deep in the woods, the battle has turned into a race against time. Illusia scans the translucent pod holding the Lizard (Venom Princess) and is horrified to see her HP and MP visibly ticking downward. The slime is literally digesting her to fuel itself.
The pod is a dense, rubbery prison. While the slime seems less mobile in this “storage” state, Illusia realizes a blunt Meteor Toss might crush the Lizard along with the barrier. Drawing inspiration from the slime’s own tactical versatility, Illusia decides to innovate. He synchronizes his movements, layering the cutting force of a Wing Slash with the explosive thermal energy of a Fire Punch.
The combined force of the Wing Slash and Fire Punch creates a thermal explosion that shatters the pod, allowing Illusia to catch the weakened Venom Princess just in time. He waits for the poison to finish the job, but his relief turns to dread as the slime emerges from the wreckage, looking perfectly healthy. A quick scan reveals a new addition to its status: Poison Neutralization. The parasite didn’t just trap the Lizard; it analyzed her and systematically stripped away her biological defenses while she was inside.
The slime, sensing Illusia‘s hesitation, smugly suggests he finally go home. But Illusia is stuck on a chilling realization. The way the creature talks—referencing “stats,” “skills,” and “status screens”—is identical to his own internal monologue. In this world, humans don’t see the world through a gaming interface, but this slime does.
“Are you checking my stats again?” the slime asks with a distorted grin.
The truth hits Illusia like a physical blow: the slime is a reincarnator, just like him. It confirms it can see statuses and, even more disturbingly, it hears the Divine Voice. According to the slime, the Voice has been whispering the same command it gave Illusia: Get stronger. Evolve. Rise. To the slime, this world isn’t a land of living people; it’s a sandbox game where the villagers are just experience points and skill nodes to be harvested.
Assuming they are kindred spirits, the slime offers to end the fight so it can return to the village and “farm” more skills. The thought of this monster treating Myria and the others like data to be deleted snaps Illusia out of his shock.
He doesn’t just see a monster anymore; he sees a dark reflection of what he could become if he loses his humanity. With a roar of defiance, Illusia ignites his mana, manifesting a towering Ring of Fire that traps them both in a searing arena. He isn’t just fighting for the village anymore—he’s fighting to prove that the Divine Voice’s path of “strength at any cost” is wrong.
The slime may have every skill in the forest, but Illusia has something it will never understand: a reason to stay “weak” enough to care.
The battlefield has become a literal pressure cooker. Inside the Ring of Fire, the Slime (Remoru) remains genuinely baffled by Illusia’s “malice.” To the Slime, the Divine Voice isn’t just a guide—it is the literal source of the world’s physics and morality. It views following the Voice’s prompt to “get stronger” as the only logical way to exist, much like a player following a quest marker.
Illusia, however, rejects this pre-programmed destiny. He roars his defiance, declaring that he lives for his friends, not for a system. As they clash, the stalemate becomes apparent: Illusia has the raw power, but the Slime has a utility belt of stolen skills that allows it to parry, regenerate, or dodge every heavy hitter.
To break the deadlock, the Slime summons a pack of spectral wolves. Illusia initially dismisses them as fodder, but he quickly realizes their true purpose. As he watches the Slime touch a wolf, the status screen reveals a terrifying mechanic: the Slime isn’t just commanding the pack; it’s using them as living mana batteries, draining their MP to fuel its own high-tier magic.
Illusia lunges to sever the Slime’s arm and stop the harvest, but the pack swarms him. In the frantic blur of claws and fur, Illusia cleaves through a wolf, only to realize the “corpse” isn’t bleeding. Before he can process the visual glitch, the wolf’s body erupts into a mass of jagged, obsidian-like spikes. The Slime didn’t just summon the wolves—it was one of them.
The trap springs perfectly, and Illusia is caught at point-blank range as the “wolf” he just struck transforms into a lethal, multi-directional piercing weapon.
On the forest path: Myria, Meltia, and Marielle crest a hill and see the horizon glowing orange. The roar they hear isn’t just a dragon’s cry; it’s a sound of absolute, desperate war. Myria recognizes the frequency of Illusia’s voice and breaks into a sprint, her heart hammering against her ribs. She doesn’t care about the “Great Calamity” myths—she only knows that her friend is fighting for his life.
The battle ends not with a surgical strike, but with a terrifying, sacrificial plummet. As Illusia spirals toward the clouds with the Slime (Remoru) rooted in his flesh, he ignores the creature’s frantic spikes tearing at his vitals. He looks at the rising sun one last time—a silent goodbye to the world he tried so hard to join—and then tucks his wings for a terminal descent.
The Slime’s “gamer logic” finally fails it. It realizes too late that Illusia isn’t falling out of exhaustion; he is transforming himself into a kinetic hammer. Despite the Slime’s desperate pleas and promises to leave the forest, Illusia tightens his grip. The impact with the riverbed rock is cataclysmic, the sheer force displacing the entire river in a thunderous wall of water and stone.
Myria, Meltia, and Marielle reach the bank just in time to see Illusia’s broken form collapse before the displaced river rushes back like a tidal wave, sweeping his body into the depths. Marielle is forced to strike a hysterical Myria to keep her from diving into the lethal currents, a harsh wake-up call that the dragon they knew is gone.
Back in the hollowed-out remains of the village, the atmosphere is heavy with unspoken grief. Meltia explains the “Great Dive” to Yuno, framing it as a titan fighting an unknown shadow. To the world, it was a clash of monsters; only Myria sits in the corner, clutching the truth that her friend gave everything to keep them breathing.
Marielle, watching her sister’s hollow gaze, realizes the village can no longer hold her. The trauma of Doz and the sacrifice of Illusia have shattered the peace of their home. She asks Meltia to watch over Myria, knowing that when the girl finally stands up, it won’t be to return to her chores—it will be to follow the trail of the dragon who proved that even a “Calamity” can have a hero’s heart.
The conviction in Myria’s eyes confirms Marielle’s fears: her sister isn’t mourning a death; she’s preparing for a search. While the village begins its long recovery, the Lizard and the Monkeys take up a silent vigil at the mouth of Illusia’s cave, refusing to believe the “Calamity” that protected them could be snuffed out so easily.
Deep down the river’s course, the darkness finally breaks. Illusia claws his way through the suffocating weight of wet sand, the cold grains falling away to reveal a sky he doesn’t recognize. For a terrifying moment, the familiar “restarting” sensation makes him fear he’s been reset to an egg, but his massive, aching limbs prove he is still the B-rank Plague Dragon.
He survived—though by what miracle of stats or sheer stubbornness, he isn’t sure.
As he shakes the brine from his scales, the silence is broken only by the rhythmic crashing of waves. He calls out for Myria and the Lizard, but his voice is swallowed by the vastness of an open coastline. There is no forest here, no familiar mountain peaks—only the endless sea and the salt spray of a distant territory.
Illusia stands alone on the shore, a Level 19 monster in a land where he is a stranger. He has no way of knowing if the Slime was truly pulverized or if it, too, was carried away by the currents. All he knows is that the river has delivered him to a new chapter, far from the only people who ever saw the soul behind the dragon’s mask.
