Meanwhile in the Kingdom of Brugia, Lisa joined the Mercenary Guild. She accepted a quest to take down a group of bandits that had taken over a small village in the northeast region of Lumeria.
Lisa looked over the request board.
Lisa: "Oh, a job request huh… that's cool… and that's a lot of money. Let's see… huh? Wait what… a group of bandits took over a small village called Canu… in the northern side of Lumeria…"
She sighed.
Lisa: "This is going to be a drag. I will need a squad on this one… but the money… it's huge. 6000 gold coins. I guess I will do it alone. This is a good opportunity to train and work up my strength and improve my skills. Now first thing tonight I will head on the mission."
She paused, staring off for a moment.
Lisa: "Hmm… I wonder what Dranexx is doing now. I hope he's doing well… and I hope he's eating well. I need to get stronger so I can be right beside him."
Her expression softened.
Lisa: "There's no doubt what I witnessed in that realm of the Grandmaster made me realize that I am far behind Dranexx no matter what. But this time I won't take chances. I must grow stronger so he can acknowledge me."
An image of him appeared in her mind.
Lisa: "Oh my… I really can't wait to see his face. Even now I can't get his image out of my head."
Her face suddenly turned bright red.
A calm voice echoed in her mind.
"Ma'm."
Her system called out.
System: "It would seem you are overheating. Your body temperature is high and your face has turned red."
Lisa: "Be quiet, Asha."
Asha was the name she gave the system.
Asha: "Oh… okay Ma'm."
Lisa rubbed her stomach.
Lisa: "What do I eat now for lunch?"
Asha: "Grilled steaks would be better."
Lisa: "Don't know yet… but sure I will go for that. Thanks Asha."
Asha: "You're always welcome Ma'm."
Later
Lisa sat at a table eating.
Lisa: "Hmmmm… this is yummy. Hah… wish Dranexx would be here to enjoy this with me."
She leaned back in her chair.
Lisa: "Oh about that… how is Akube doing too? Not that I like him very much… I hope he's okay too. And he better take good care of Dranexx."
She sighed again.
Lisa: "Anyway I am sure they're fine. Now I need to worry about my quest…"
Nightfall
Lisa: "Alright… time to move."
She stretched slightly.
Lisa: "I can use spatial movement but it can only work for anywhere I have been before… damn, why did I have to wait that long."
She thought for a moment.
Lisa: "I have to minimize and coordinate my movements then. Asha, got any idea?"
Asha: "You can create a spatial portal. You can cross over there instantly."
Lisa blinked.
Lisa: "Can I move across dimensions with it?"
Asha: "Likely so… but it's limited."
Lisa: "Huuh… bummer. Anyways let's go."
Enemy Camp
At the bandit camp the enemies were relaxing.
But they were not ordinary bandits.
Most of them were demi-humans ogres, werewolves, weretigers and more.
Werewolf: "Ahh looks like the day is already gone by huh… what a drag."
Ogre: "Well yeah."
They continued chatting casually.
Lisa watched from a nearby ridge.
Lisa: "Man… they're tough. Do you think we can take them on, Asha?"
Asha: "With ease."
Lisa smirked.
Lisa: "Some confidence… let's go then."
She stepped into the open.
Immediately the enemies reacted.
Werewolf: "Who's there?!"
Ogre: "I don't know who you are."
Lisa folded her arms.
Lisa: "My name is Lisa Shawatani. Not like my name is relevant… not like you will be alive soon to remember it."
A weretiger laughed loudly.
Weretiger: "Some balls you got girl—oh sorry, ladies don't have one! Hahahaha!"
Lisa laughed right back.
Lisa: "Hahaha… said by an animal. What a joke."
The weretiger's eyes flared.
Weretiger: "What did you say to me?!"
Lisa: "I called you an animal. Got any problem with that?"
Weretiger: "Oh you're gonna regret that word! I am gonna make you my personal play toy"
"Lightning Thunder Strike!"
A bolt of lightning slammed into Lisa.
It did nothing.
She stood there smiling.
Lisa: "Hahaha… lightning immunity. Cool. Are you surprised?"
The ogre stared.
Ogre: "The lightning has no effect on her."
The werewolf growled.
Werewolf: "Yeah yeah… that's not my problem."
"Boulder Rave!"
Ten massive boulders erupted from the earth and launched toward her.
In the next instant
They were sliced into pieces.
Werewolf: "What are ?! What just happened?!"
Lisa sighed.
Lisa: "This has gone long enough, right guys? So I will end this all with one attack."
"Meteor Flare."
Above them a massive formation of fire appeared.
A colossal meteor shower of blazing flames crashed down.
The entire bandit camp was engulfed.
The ground exploded.
Everything was destroyed.
Everyone died.
Except one.
A mage in black and blue robes stood within a defensive barrier, holding a staff.
He slowly lowered it.
Mage: "It would seem you're not a joke. Well… I would have gotten rid of those nuisances myself, but thank you for doing that for me."
He smiled slightly.
Mage: "Still, that doesn't mean I will let you off the hook. You seem pretty strong… so I will have it out with you. What do you say?"
Lisa grinned.
Lisa: "Oh I would love to. You seem strong too. Now it's a perfect opportunity to test out my strength… so I will oblige."
Mage: "My name is Ryio Ruane. By the name I remember you said Lisa was your name… enh?"
Lisa: "Yes."
Ryio: "So shall we begin?"
Lisa: "Oh yes."
"Hell Flare."
Ryio: "Water Barrow."
Their spells clashed violently.
But both were holding back.
Lisa clicked her tongue.
Lisa: "Damn it. Show me full power. Why are you holding back because I'm a girl?!"
Ryio shook his head.
Ryio: "No. It's because you're holding back too."
Lisa laughed loudly.
Lisa: "Hahahaha! Don't make me laugh. You believe you can stand on equal footing with me in my full strength?"
Ryio's eyes sharpened.
Ryio: "That's my line, girl."
He raised his staff.
"Astral Dominion."
The sky shattered into constellations.
Above them, a colossal astral formation rotated—layers upon layers of celestial script unfolding like a divine machine.
Ryio's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Starfall Edict… Fall."
Every particle of mana trembled.
Then—
The earth collapsed.
Thousands of condensed stellar beams tore downward.
They were not simple light attacks.
They were compressed fragments of stars.
Shields dissolved.
Barriers evaporated.
The ground melted.
Anything touched by the astral rain had its magic burned out of existence.
Ryio stood calmly beneath the cosmic storm.
Lisa didn't move.
A golden radiance bloomed behind her.
Lisa: "Cool… now this is more like it."
Her eyes ignited molten gold.
Lisa: "Sacred Sunfire."
A radiant solar halo erupted behind her.
The descending star beams struck—
and instantly began to distort.
Because Starfall Edict burns magic.
But Sacred Sunfire does not rely on external mana.
It burns spiritual impurity.
Lisa's flames wrapped around the astral beams.
The more violent they became—
the stronger her flames grew.
Star fragments melted mid-descent.
They purified.
Golden sunlight climbed upward through the falling stars.
The astral array cracked.
Because Sacred Sunfire doesn't block magic.
It judges it.
And Ryio's spell carried aggression.
To the Sun's judgment
that was impurity.
The remaining starfall disintegrated into harmless golden embers.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Lisa lowered her hand slightly.
Flames danced calmly around her.
Lisa: "You burn magic…"
Lisa: "I burn what shouldn't exist."
Ryio smiled faintly.
Ryio: "Oh I see… you're quite the intriguing one. I shall take you more seriously."
Lisa's flames brightened.
Lisa: "Oh please. Don't hold back."
Ryio lifted his hand.
Ryio: "With pleasure… Orbit Reversal."
The domain shifted.
Every spell cast inside Astral Dominion leaves a magical vector.
Ryio reversed them.
Suddenly—
Lisa's previous Sacred Sunfire eruptions returned.
Not visually.
Mathematically.
Their trajectories inverted.
Golden flames rushed back toward Lisa from every direction.
A solar implosion swallowed her position.
Ryio laughed.
Ryio: "Hahahaha! How do you like this now, Lisa?!"
The dust cleared.
Lisa was still standing.
Her multi-dimensional barrier flickered.
She exhaled slowly.
Lisa: "Oh… you're good."
Lisa: "I'm loving this fight."
The solar halo behind her compressed into a tiny point of infinite light.
Lisa: "Judgment of the Rising Sun."
A radiant spear formed in her hand.
She thrust forward.
The beam fired.
It erased the space between them.
Ryio's defenses shattered instantly.
His Astral Dominion collapsed.
The sky formation broke like glass.
Silence returned.
Only golden embers floated in the air.
Ryio wiped blood from his mouth.
Ryio: "Damn… you're tough. For a long time I have never been pushed to this point. Good one."
Lisa raised her sword.
Lisa: "Then let me finish it here."
Ryio's eyes widened.
Ryio: "Huh?!"
Lisa spoke calmly.
Lisa: "Crown of Eternal Noon."
Her body erupted with unbearable solar radiance.
She became a living sun.
Her speed surpassed light itself.
Before Ryio could react
She appeared beside him.
One strike.
All his defenses shattered.
Ryio collapsed.
Lisa: "This is your fate, Ryio. Thank you for the fight."
Ryio smiled weakly.
Ryio: "You're welcome… thank you as well."
The battle ended.
Lisa sighed.
Lisa: "That took a lot of energy from me… haah."
Asha: "Are you feeling well? That was too much for you master."
Lisa: "Don't worry. At least I won right?"
Suddenly—
Ryio's presence appeared again.
Lisa's eyes widened.
Lisa: "Impossible… you managed to survive that? No way."
Ryio stood up slowly.
Ryio: "You're strong. I would like to fight more, but I need to retreat for now. Next time we battle… I will win. You better be ready."
Lisa smiled.
Lisa: "Oh sure thing buddy."
Ryio: "See ya."
Lisa: "Yeah."
He vanished.
Asha: "He survived. Looks like he's trouble."
Lisa nodded.
Lisa: "Yeah… if he wanted a rematch right now I believe I lack the strength to fight him again."
Asha: "That wouldn't be a problem, master."
Lisa blinked.
Lisa: "Really?!"
Asha: "Yes. With 'Dawn Resurrection' you could still fight on equal footing… or even grow stronger as the battle progresses."
Lisa smiled confidently.
Lisa: "Ahh I see… then next time I will win. No doubt."
Back in Brugia
Lisa returned to the guild.
Lisa: "I cleared my mission."
The receptionist looked shocked.
Receptionist: "Oh really wait… you did it alone?!"
Lisa: "Yes. It wasn't easy… but I did it."
Receptionist: "Wow you're strong Lady Lisa! Truly I admire your strength!"
Lisa: "Thank you."
Receptionist: "I will get the Guildmaster."
Moments later he arrived.
Guildmaster: "Ahh you cleared the mission. Everything was confirmed. 6000 gold coins here is your reward."
Lisa: "Thank you very much sir."
The Guildmaster laughed.
Guildmaster: "Honestly it's shocking. That quest sat there for seven months and no one took it. But you cleared it in three days. You're amazing girl… and beautiful too."
Lisa scratched her cheek.
Lisa: "Thank you sir. It was rough out there. Those bandits were no joke. I even fought a mage amongst their group."
The Guildmaster's eyes widened.
Guildmaster: "Seriously?! And you managed to walk out alive? You're one talented young lady. Any guy dating you would have nothing to worry about."
Lisa's thoughts drifted.
Yeah… only one guy can date me.
And that is Dranexx.
My body and soul… I will give it all to him.
But first I need to grow stronger so I can prove I am worthy to be his girlfriend… possibly his wife.
Asha: "Master your temperature is high. You're about to explode."
Lisa: "Quiet Asha."
Asha: "Yes Ma'm."
Lisa stretched.
Lisa: "On that note… time to get some good clothes and rest up for a week. Then start my journey to catch up to Dranexx and the others."
She smiled brightly.
Lisa: "I promise you Dranexx… the next time we meet I will be stronger."
Lisa: "Strong enough that you will admire my strength."
Lisa: "Just you wait for me."
She smiled heavily.