"Elisa!"
Anna’s cry reached Elisa’s ears, but she had no time to respond.
Rocks from the crumbling wall fell from above.
The shadow beneath her feet vanished under their dark shapes.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
Memories surged one by one.
She recalled being six years old.
Her parents’ eyes held deep disappointment when she showed no magic.
She remembered her fierce yearning for Heroes.
And the shock of seeing Lena reject a Hero’s advances.
She envied Lena.
Even without magic, Lena befriended Heroes.
If only she had that talent, her parents wouldn’t be disappointed.
Even if she could never become a Hero herself.
Images flashed through her mind.
Elisa gazed at the rocks inches away.
She closed her eyes in resignation.
In the end, she still couldn’t save the poor girl on her back.
If there was a next life, she wanted to be a Hero.
Boom—!
A deafening blast unleashed a savage wind.
It stung her face painfully.
Then came the dull thuds of rocks hitting the ground.
“Are you okay?”
A gentle, water-like voice flowed into her heart.
Hesitantly, she opened her eyes.
A faint light from the newcomer illuminated her world.
Silver hair fell spotless over her chest.
The black hood couldn’t hide the girl’s breathtaking beauty.
Worry rippled in her golden eyes.
A faint floral scent emanated from her.
It made the exhausted Elisa relax instantly.
She sank into the girl’s gentle presence.
Elisa just stared blankly, silent for a long time.
The girl smiled helplessly.
She pinched Elisa’s cheek with her small hand.
“Snap out of it.”
“Ah, th-thank you, Hero-sama!”
Elisa remembered her dazed reaction.
Her face flushed instantly.
Anna approached and took the injured girl from her back.
The girl lightly touched the girl’s forehead.
Magic flowed into her body.
It smoothed her furrowed brow.
Her breathing eased.
“Take her away quickly,” the girl said.
“My magic can only keep her alive.
You need a doctor to save her.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
Elisa hoisted the girl again.
She walked a dozen steps.
Unexpectedly, the girl called out:
“Wait.”
Puzzled, Elisa turned.
Her savior tilted her head slightly.
She smiled softly.
“You looked really cool saving her just now.”
Elisa’s heart raced.
Courage surged from nowhere.
Her lips parted slightly.
Finally, she asked loudly:
“Hero-sama, c-can I know your name?”
The roar of exploding buildings continued.
She didn’t know if the girl heard her.
Her courage vanished after speaking.
She didn’t dare ask again.
She even regretted asking for the Hero’s name.
Elisa couldn’t look at her.
Time passed in silence.
Just as she thought there’d be no answer, the gentle voice spoke:
“Dorothy.”
Slightly stunned, Elisa looked up.
As if fearing she missed it, the girl repeated:
“Dorothy.”
She waved her hand.
Her figure dissolved into silver-white petals.
They vanished before Elisa’s eyes.
“That Hero-sama looked amazing!” Anna marveled.
“Much stronger than the usual ones pursuing Manager Lena.”
“Dorothy…”
Elisa murmured the name.
A sweet, lovely smile spread on her face.
Anna poked her cheek.
“Elisa, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing! Let’s hurry her to the doctor!”
Carrying the unconscious girl, Elisa’s steps grew lighter.
A hint of rivalry and envy stirred in her.
She wanted to tell Manager Lena about this.
After all, she had met a Hero too.
After Elisa and Anna left, more Hero squads rushed from Vedona.
They joined Roland in surrounding the scorpion-like monster.
But the situation remained grim.
Even with other Fourth Rank Heroes present, they only trapped it.
It couldn’t advance further.
“Captain, this monster isn’t ordinary,” a teammate reported.
“Our attacks can’t break its defense!”
Roland’s eyes turned cold.
She retreated to the rear.
“Give me some time.”
She gathered all her magic.
Her mouth chanted a complex spell.
Her teammates guarded around her instinctively.
Soon, her chant ended.
The sky turned an eerie red, as if scorched.
A fireball pierced the clouds.
Slightly smaller than the monster, it slammed straight down!
“What’s that?!”
Heroes retreated in horror.
One who recognized the spell explained:
“It’s Captain Roland’s Meteor Magic.
That hit will cripple the monster!”
Roland’s Meteor Magic had never failed.
They believed even a Fourth Rank monster would be crushed.
The fireball crashed onto its back.
Its sturdy black shell dented deeply.
Blood splattered out—then evaporated in the heat.
The monster lay flat on the ground.
Its tail stinger and claws drooped limply.
But Roland felt no relief.
Sensing surging magic within it, fear flickered on her face.
The wound healed visibly.
The monster’s aura exploded stronger.
Its deadly pressure intensified.
“What? How?!”
“Did it level up?!”
It stood fully healed.
Ferocity blazed in its eyes, chilling the Heroes.
Fifth Rank.
It had crossed into Fifth Rank territory.
Heroes who saw this felt their hearts sink.
Vedona was a small city.
It had only one Fifth Rank Hero.
“Quick! Notify the Guild President!” Roland ordered.
“Only she can defeat this monster!”
She took out a magic communicator and contacted the president.
