Wendy responds to Mereoleona with sincerity.
"I heard that there was once a person from the Vermillion family in the royal capital who could defeat Magic Knights even without a grimoire."
"I've never had the chance to test my strength against someone strong enough."
"After doing some research, I discovered that this person spends most of their time in strong magic regions of fire."
"That's why I've been waiting for that person here for almost a week."
"I assume that person is you, Mereoleona Vermillion."
"I want to challenge you to a duel."
After finishing explaining her purpose, Wendy awaits Mereoleona's reaction.
"Hahaha!"
A cheerful and enthusiastic laugh is Mereoleona Vermillion's response.
With a joyful expression, Mereoleona tosses the bag she was carrying over her shoulder to the side. Then, she stops laughing and says with delight:
"You want to challenge me? Then I'll fight you, Wendy Belserion. But let's get one thing straight: I won't hold back in the slightest just because you're a little girl," says Mereoleona, preparing for battle.
Wendy, taking a combat stance, replies:
"That's exactly what I'm looking for. Fight me with all your strength."
(Author's Note: Imagine little Wendy putting her clothes on while explaining to Mereoleona her intention for being at the volcano.)
"I hope you don't break so easily, kid!" Mereoleona roared before rushing forward like an incandescent comet.
In the blink of an eye, Mereoleona closed the distance and threw a punch wrapped in scorching fire. The impact sliced through the air. In an instant, without warning, Wendy was hit right in the face in less than a second.
Wendy's eyes contracted in surprise. Moving purely on instinct, Wendy arched her back and leaned toward the ground. Capitalizing on that exact motion, she launched a kick wrapped in razor-sharp wind toward Mereoleona's head.
However, Mereoleona narrowly dodged it, grabbed Wendy's leg, and threw her out of the hot springs area. After all, that was the only hot spring nearby.
With a leap, Mereoleona pursued Wendy.
I knew she was strong, but this is too much, Wendy thinks as she watches her accelerate. She hasn't even used her grimoire yet. I have no choice but to use Shunko to match her speed.
These clothes I bought are going to tear, and I haven't even had them for long, Wendy sighs.
"Show me what you're made of, or I'll reduce you to ashes right here!" Mereoleona shouts fiercely.
Another strike hits Wendy.
Wendy crashes into the ground, creating a deep crater. Landing right beside the hole where Wendy fell, Mereoleona says:
"What? Is that all?"
"Of course not. I haven't even hit you once yet," Wendy says as she heals her broken arm, which she used to block that last attack.
Without saying a word, Wendy activates Shunko. With a shout:
"Shunko!"
A massive surge of white wind covered Wendy's delicate frame. The clothes on her arms and back tore apart in an instant, and an enormous amount of mana took their place.
The wind swirled between her back and legs.
The butterfly wings of Mukyu Shunko enveloped Wendy.
With a single movement and in under 0.5 seconds, Wendy was already right in front of Mereoleona. Channeling a huge amount of wind magic into her left hand, Wendy unleashed her attack:
"Mukyu Shunko!"
With a heavy punch, a wind drill the size of a two-story building struck Mereoleona.
Mereoleona went flying at incredibly high speed. She slammed into the side of the volcano and fell into the lava.
"Hahaha..."
Euphoric laughter, accompanied by a massive amount of mana, erupts from the hole in the mountain. With a maniacal smile and battle lust, she says:
"Not bad... That's how you fight!"
With a burst of speed, Mereoleona charges toward Wendy at full throttle. Wendy also rushes to intercept her at top speed.
The two met halfway and crossed fists. Fists wrapped in fire and fists surrounded by sharp winds collided at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people. They seemed evenly matched, but Mereoleona still hadn't used her grimoire. And even though she was going all out, she wasn't using Mana Zone nor had she cast a single long-range spell; it had been pure hand-to-hand combat the entire time.
But as they continue to fight, Mereoleona notices something about Wendy.
After driving a knee into Wendy's stomach, Mereoleona refrains from pursuing her, letting Wendy catch her breath. Taking the blow, Wendy involuntarily spits up saliva. After crashing into several rocks, Wendy stands up, preparing for the next attack, only to realize Mereoleona isn't advancing.
"Hey, kid," Mereoleona says, a hand on her hip. "I've noticed something over these last few blows."
What? What is she talking about? Wendy thinks.
"It seems you don't have any drive to fight at all."
Hearing those words, Wendy freezes for a second.
It's true. What is my motivation to fight? Am I fighting just to prove my strength? Or is it because I reincarnated into this world and feel obligated to become strong? Or maybe I just want to fight to experience this supernatural power I didn't have in my previous life? Or do I want to be the strongest in the world simply because I'm a reincarnated person? Truth is, I've never really thought about it.
I don't consider myself an arrogant person, even though when I laugh with joy or try to put on a sincere smile, my expression turns haughty and disdainful. In fact, most of my emotions are dulled when I'm alone and not talking to anyone. I don't consider myself a battle maniac either, nor do I think I'm doing this to protect the children at the church—knowing that everything will be fine in the future and that nothing will happen to them, I don't have those worries. So, what is my reason for fighting?
While she was lost in these doubts, she felt Mereoleona Vermillion's ki and fiery magic bearing down on her at a ridiculous speed.
"If you don't know the answer, combat will help you figure out what your motivation to fight is!"
And a punch to the jaw sent Wendy flying.