Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Brugia, Lisa had joined the Mercenary Guild.
Right now she stood in front of the massive request board with her arms folded while scanning through the available missions.
"Oh, a job request huh… that's cool…" she muttered casually. "And that's a lot of money too."
Her eyes suddenly paused on one request.
"Huh?"
Lisa grabbed the paper.
"Wait what a group of bandits took over a small village called Canu… in the northern side of Lumeria…"
She let out a long sigh.
"This is going to be a drag." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I will need a squad on this one…"
Then her eyes shifted back toward the reward amount.
"6000 gold coins…"
A dangerous smile slowly formed on her face.
"I guess I will do it alone."
She stretched lightly.
"This is a good opportunity to train and work up my strength and improve my skills." Her expression sharpened slightly. "Tonight, I will head out for the mission."
Then suddenly her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"Hmmm…I wonder what Dranexx is doing now."
Her voice softened.
"I hope he's doing well and I hope he's eating well."
Lisa looked down quietly.
"I need to get stronger so I can be right beside him."
A faint image of Dranexx appeared in her mind.
"There's no doubt what I witnessed in that realm of the Grandmaster made me realize I am far behind Dranexx no matter what."
Her fists tightened slightly.
"But this time I won't take chances."
"I must grow stronger… so he can acknowledge me."
Then suddenly her face turned bright red.
"Oh my…"
She covered her face slightly.
"I really can't get his image out of my head."
A calm mechanical voice echoed inside her mind.
"Ma'm."
Lisa immediately frowned.
"Be quiet, Asha."
"It would seem you are overheating." Asha responded calmly. "Your body temperature is high and your face has turned red."
"Quiet, Asha."
"Oh… okay Ma'm."
Lisa sighed before rubbing her stomach lightly.
"What do I eat now for lunch?"
"Grilled steaks would be better."
"Hmmm… don't know yet but sure. I will go for that."
"You're always welcome Ma'm."
Later…
Lisa sat quietly at a restaurant table while eating.
"Hmmmm… this is yummy."
She leaned back slightly while staring at the ceiling.
"Hah… wish Dranexx would be here to enjoy this with me."
Then another thought crossed her mind.
"Oh about that… how is Akube doing too?"
Her expression immediately became annoyed.
"Not that I like him very much…"
She sighed again.
"I hope he's okay too and he better take good care of Dranexx."
After a few seconds, she shook her head lightly.
"Anyway, I am sure they're fine."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Now I need to worry about my quest."
Nightfall.
"Alright… time to move."
Lisa stretched slightly before looking toward the dark sky.
"I can use spatial movement but it only works for places I've been before…" She clicked her tongue. "Damn, why did I wait this long?"
She thought quietly for a moment.
"I have to minimize and coordinate my movements then."
"Asha, got any idea?"
"You can create a spatial portal. You can cross over there instantly."
Lisa blinked.
"Wait… can I move across dimensions with it?"
"Likely so but it's limited."
"Huuuh… bummer."
A small grin appeared on her face.
"Anyways, let's go."
Meanwhile at the enemy camp the bandits were casually relaxing around bonfires.
But these weren't ordinary bandits.
Ogres.
Werewolves.
Weretigers.
Several demi-human races occupied the camp.
"Ahh… looks like the day is already gone by huh," a werewolf muttered lazily.
"What a drag."
"Well yeah," the ogre beside him replied.
From a nearby ridge Lisa quietly observed the entire camp.
"Man… they're tough."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Do you think we can take them on, Asha?"
"With ease."
Lisa smirked.
"Some confidence."
She stepped forward.
"Let's go then."
The moment she entered the camp's view the enemies reacted instantly.
"Who's there?!"
"I don't know who you are."
Lisa folded her arms calmly.
"My name is Lisa Shawatani."
She shrugged.
"Not like my name is relevant… not like you will be alive soon to remember it."
A weretiger burst into laughter.
"Some balls you got girl,oh sorry ladies don't have one! Hahahaha!"
Lisa laughed right back at him.
"Hahaha… said by an animal."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What a joke."
The weretiger's expression twisted immediately.
"What did you say to me?!"
"I called you an animal." Lisa smiled. "Got any problem with that?"
"Oh you're gonna regret that word!"
His aura exploded violently.
"I am gonna make you my personal play toy!"
"Lightning Thunder Strike!"
BOOOOM.
A massive bolt of lightning slammed directly into Lisa.
Smoke filled the area
she casually stepped out completely unharmed.
"Hahaha…" Lisa smiled proudly. "Lightning immunity. Cool."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Are you surprised?"
"The lightning had no effect on her…" the ogre muttered in disbelief.
"Yeah yeah…" the werewolf growled. "That's not my problem."
"Boulder Rave!"
The earth exploded upward.
Ten gigantic boulders launched toward Lisa simultaneously and instantly split apart midair.
The pieces scattered everywhere.
The werewolf froze.
"What are—?! What just happened?!"
Lisa sighed deeply.
"This has gone long enough right guys?"
Her eyes glowed faintly.
"So I will end this all with one attack."
"Meteor Flare."
Above the battlefield a colossal formation of fire appeared.
The sky turned crimson.
thousands of blazing meteors descended upon the camp.
BOOOOOOM.
The entire battlefield exploded in flames.
The ground collapsed.
Everything was destroyed.
Everyone died.
Except one.
A mage wearing black and blue robes calmly stood inside a defensive barrier while holding a staff.
He slowly lowered it.
"It would seem you're not a joke."
Lisa looked at him carefully.
"Well… I would've gotten rid of those nuisances myself but thank you for doing that for me."
A slight smile appeared on his face.
"Still, that doesn't mean I will let you off the hook."
His mana began rising.
"You seem pretty strong… so I will have it out with you. What do you say?"
Lisa grinned immediately.
"Oh I would love to."
Her flames flickered lightly around her fingers.
"You seem strong too. Now it's a perfect opportunity to test out my strength… so I will oblige."
"My name is Ryio Ruane."
He pointed his staff toward her.
"And by the name I remember… Lisa was yours, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then shall we begin?"
"Oh yes."
"Hell Flare."
"Water Barrow."
BOOOOM.
Their magic collided violently.
Fire and water exploded across the battlefield
yet both of them remained calm.
Both were clearly holding back.
Lisa clicked her tongue.
"Damn it."
She pointed at him.
"Show me full power. Why are you holding back because I'm a girl?!"
Ryio shook his head slightly.
"No."
His eyes sharpened.
"It's because you're holding back too."
Lisa laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha!"
"Don't make me laugh."
She grinned confidently.
"You believe you can stand on equal footing with me at my full strength?"
Ryio's gaze became cold.
"That's my line, girl."
He raised his staff slowly.
"Astral Dominion."
The sky shattered.
Massive constellations unfolded above the battlefield while layers of celestial formations rotated endlessly like a divine machine.
Then Ryio's voice echoed everywhere.
"Starfall Edict… Fall."
Every particle of mana trembled.
And then the world collapsed beneath them.
Thousands of condensed stellar beams rained down from the heavens.
Not ordinary light.
Compressed fragments of stars.
Barriers evaporated instantly.
Magic itself burned away upon contact.
Ryio stood calmly beneath the cosmic destruction.
Lisa didn't move.
A golden radiance slowly bloomed behind her.
"Cool…"
Her molten crisom eyes ignited brightly.
"Now this is more like it."
"Sacred Sunfire."
A radiant solar halo erupted behind her.
The descending star beams collided with the black flames and instantly began distorting.
Because Starfall Edict burned magic.
But Sacred Sunfire did not rely on external mana.
It burned spiritual impurity itself.
Lisa's flames wrapped around the astral beams.
The more violent the attack became the stronger her flames grew.
Star fragments melted.
Purified.
Black sunlight climbed upward through the collapsing heavens.
CRACK.
The astral formation shattered.
Because Sacred Sunfire didn't block magic.
It judged it and Ryio's attack carried aggression.
To the Sun's judgment that was impurity.
The remaining starfall dissolved into harmless golden embers.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Lisa lowered her hand slowly.
Flames danced around her body calmly.
"You burn magic…" Her gaze locked onto Ryio.
"I burn what shouldn't exist."
Ryio smiled faintly.
"Oh… I see."
His mana rose once more "You're quite the intriguing one."
"I shall take you more seriously."
Lisa's smile widened.
"Oh please."
"Don't hold back."
"With pleasure."
Ryio lifted his hand.
"Orbit Reversal."
The domain shifted instantly.
Every spell previously cast inside Astral Dominion left magical vectors behind.
Ryio reversed them all
Lisa's Sacred Sunfire returned toward her from every direction.
Not visually.
Mathematically.
A solar implosion swallowed her completely.
Ryio laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha! How do you like this now, Lisa?!"
The smoke slowly cleared.
Lisa still stood there.
Her multi-dimensional barrier flickered weakly.
She exhaled slowly.
"Oh… you're good."
A grin spread across her face.
"I'm loving this fight."
The halo behind her compressed into a tiny point of infinite light.
"Judgment of the Rising Sun."
A radiant spear formed in her hand.
she thrust forward.
BOOOOM.
The beam erased the distance between them instantly.
Ryio's defenses shattered apart.
Astral Dominion collapsed completely.
The heavens cracked like broken glass.
Only golden embers remained floating in the air.
Ryio wiped blood from his mouth.
"Damn… you're tough."
He laughed weakly.
"For a long time I have never been pushed this far."
"Good one."
Lisa raised her sword calmly.
"Then let me finish it here."
Ryio's eyes widened.
"Huh?!"
"Crown of Eternal Noon."
Her body erupted with unbearable solar radiance.
She became a living sun.
Before Ryio could react she appeared beside him.
One strike
All his defenses shattered
Ryio collapsed to his knees.
"This is your fate, Ryio." Lisa lowered her sword slightly "Thank you for the fight"
Ryio smiled weakly.
"You're welcome…"
"Thank you as well."
The battle ended
Lisa let out a tired sigh while lowering her sword slightly
"That took a lot of energy from me… haah."
Asha's voice echoed calmly inside her head
"Are you feeling well? That was too much for you, Master."
Lisa smiled weakly
"Don't worry. At least I won right?"
A familiar presence appeared again
Lisa's eyes widened instantly
"Impossible…"
She turned around quickly
"You managed to survive that? No way."
Ryio slowly stood back up while wiping blood from the corner of his mouth
"You're strong."
A faint smile appeared on his face
"I would like to fight more but I need to retreat for now."
His eyes locked onto hers
"Next time we battle… I will win."
"You better be ready."
Lisa smiled confidently
"Oh sure thing buddy."
Ryio chuckled lightly
"See ya."
"Yeah."
And then he vanished completely
Silence returned
Asha spoke moments later
"He survived. Looks like he's trouble."
Lisa nodded slowly
"Yeah…"
She glanced toward the destroyed battlefield
"If he wanted a rematch right now… I believe I lack the strength to fight him again."
"That wouldn't be a problem, Master." Lisa blinked
"Really?!"
"Yes."
Asha responded immediately
"With 'Dawn Resurrection' you could still fight on equal footing…"
A brief pause followed
"Or even grow stronger as the battle progresses." Lisa's eyes lit up slightly
"Ahh…I see."
A confident smile spread across her face
"Then next time I will win."
"No doubt."
Back in Brugia Lisa returned to the Mercenary Guild quietly
The moment she approached the counter the receptionist noticed her immediately
"I cleared my mission."
The receptionist froze
"Oh really—wait…"
Her eyes widened in shock
"You did it alone?!"
Lisa nodded calmly
"Yes."
"It wasn't easy… but I did it."
"Wow…" the receptionist muttered in disbelief
"You're strong Lady Lisa."
Her face brightened with admiration
"Truly, I admire your strength!"
Lisa smiled slightly
"Thank you."
"I will get the Guildmaster!"
Moments later the Guildmaster arrived
"Ahh, you cleared the mission."
He laughed while placing a large bag of coins onto the counter
"Everything was confirmed."
"6000 gold coins. Here is your reward."
Lisa accepted the bag politely
"Thank you very much sir."
The Guildmaster shook his head in amazement
"Honestly, it's shocking."
"That quest sat there for seven months and nobody accepted it"
His eyes narrowed slightly
"But you cleared it in only three days."
He laughed again
"You're amazing girl…"
"And beautiful too."
Lisa scratched her cheek awkwardly
"Thank you sir."
"It was rough out there. Those bandits were no joke."
Her expression sharpened slightly
"I even fought a mage amongst their group."
The Guildmaster's eyes widened immediately
"Seriously?!"
"And you still managed to walk out alive?"
He stared at her in disbelief
"You're one talented young lady."
A grin slowly formed on his face.
"Any guy dating you would have absolutely nothing to worry about."
Lisa froze slightly
Her thoughts drifted elsewhere instantly.
Yeah…Only one guy can date me and that is Dranexx
Her cheeks slowly became red
My body and soul…I will give it all to him
But first i need to grow stronger
Strong enough to prove I am worthy to stand beside him
Possibly… as his girlfriend
Maybe even his wife
"Master."
Asha suddenly spoke
"Your temperature is high. You're about to explode."
Lisa immediately frowned
"Quiet, Asha."
"Yes Ma'm."
Lisa stretched lightly before turning around
"On that note…"
"Time to get some good clothes and rest up for a week"
A bright smile appeared on her face
"Then start my journey to catch up to Dranexx and the others"
She looked toward the night sky quietly
"I promise you, Dranexx…"
"The next time we meet I will be stronger"
Her eyes shimmered with determination
"Strong enough that you will admire my strength"
A soft smile formed on her lips
"Just you wait for me."
And with that Lisa walked off into the glowing streets of Brugia while smiling brightly to herself.