The doorway to Floor Two opened with a burst of warm wind that slapped Tatsu directly in the face.He stumbled backward.
"Hot," he gasped. "Too hot. Why is it hot. This is unfair. I barely survived the cat."
Fridge Sama stepped past him calmly, hands behind his back.
"This is nothing," he said.
"Nothing," Tatsu repeated. "This is a sauna with murder!"
Floor Two was like a jungle grown inside an oven. Tall grass, boiling humidity, lava-colored sky. Somewhere in the distance something screamed like it stubbed its toe and wanted revenge on the universe.
Tatsu swallowed."Okay, what monster do you think is on this floor."
"A weak one," Fridge Sama said.
"You say that about everything."
"Because everything is weak."
"You are arrogant."
"You are breathing loudly."
"I cannot help that," Tatsu said.
"Try," Fridge Sama answered.
Tatsu wanted to punch him.But instead he adjusted his sweaty shirt and followed reluctantly.
The ground shook.Birds scattered.Something crashed through the bushes.
Tatsu readied himself for a dragon, a demon, a fiery beast worthy of a shonen magazine cover.
Instead, a small boar the size of a backpack ran out, squealed at them, and sprinted away like they owed it money.
Tatsu blinked."Oh. That was cute."
Fridge Sama nodded."Yes."
The ground shook again.
But this time… not cute.
The trees split open as a massive flaming lion beast stomped into the clearing.Eyes blazing red.Mane literally made of rolling fire.Claws dripping molten heat.
Tatsu's soul left his body."Okay. That is not cute. That is not cute at all. That thing is HR paperwork waiting to happen."
The lion roared, flames bursting outward.
Tatsu shrieked,"FRIDGE SAMA DO SOMETHING."
Fridge Sama held up his hand.The flames bent backwards like they suddenly remembered they were scared of him.
The lion blinked.It blinked again.Then roared louder, offended by physics.
Tatsu stepped back, holding a stick he found on the ground.
"Okay, big guy," he muttered. "I am warning you. I have anime spirit."
Fridge Sama looked at him slowly."You have no spirit."
The lion leapt.Tatsu screamed.Fridge Sama sighed like a disappointed dad.
He flicked his finger.
Just one flick.
A wave of cold burst outward, but instead of freezing, the cold compressed the air.The lion hit the invisible wall and was launched back into a tree.The tree caught fire.The fire froze.The frozen fire fell to the ground with a sad clink.
Tatsu stared."You froze fire."
"Yes."
"That is illegal."
"No."
"It feels illegal."
"Your face feels illegal," Fridge Sama said.
Tatsu gasped."Was that an insult."
"Yes."
"Good. Because I am building resistance."
The lion staggered back to its feet, shaking ice off its mane, angrier than ever.
Tatsu readied his stick."Round two. Let's go."
Fridge Sama looked at the stick."That will not work."
"It worked on the goblin."
"That goblin was frozen."
"This lion might freeze later."
"It is on fire," Fridge Sama said.
Tatsu frowned."You are ruining my optimism."
The lion charged again.Tatsu swung his stick with the determination of a man who had nothing to lose except maybe everything.
The stick broke.
The lion did not.
Tatsu ran behind Fridge Sama instantly.
"Okay yes fine this is your job, not mine, I am retiring, goodbye."
Fridge Sama stepped forward, expression flat.
The lion roared, flames spiraling around its body.
Tatsu whispered, "This is intense."
Fridge Sama responded quietly,
"Intense action arc begins now."
"Huh," Tatsu said.
Fridge Sama added calmly,
"Mystery is for the season finale."
The lion lunged with full force.
Fridge Sama raised his palm.
The entire floor blew back with a shockwave.
Wind blasted.Trees bent.Flames spiraled upward.
The lion froze mid leap.
Not physically frozenNot stopped timeJust stunned into complete, utter silenceLike it registered the difference in power and reconsidered its life choices
Fridge Sama stepped in front of it, lowered his hand, and tapped it on the nose.
The lion fainted instantly.
Tatsu stared."Did you just… boop it unconscious."
"Yes."
"That is humiliating."
"Yes."
"For the lion."
"Yes."
Tatsu ran over and poked the giant beast."It's out cold."
"Of course," Fridge Sama said. "Everything warms eventually."
"That sentence means nothing," Tatsu replied.
"It means everything."
"That is worse."
A glowing message appeared in the air.
Floor Two CompletedProceed Forward
Tatsu exhaled."Alright. I am getting used to this."
He wasn't.At all.
Fridge Sama walked toward the next door.
Tatsu followed from behind, muttering, "I almost died twice. Once to a lion. Once to heat. And once emotionally."
"That is three," Fridge Sama corrected.
"Do not correct my trauma math," Tatsu snapped.
"I will," Fridge Sama said.
"You are evil."