The ocean around me was calm and only small ripples could be seen on the surface. A single bird tried to land not far from me, but was frozen solid when got too close and shattered on the ground. I retracted my gaze from the orb in my hands and grimaced when looked at the scene.

This was third already!

With a burst of wind, I blew away fragments from the iceberg and looked back at the orb.

"I give up!"

My clothes started to change, creating a new pouch at my belt and I placed the orb inside.

With transmutation, I could tell what it was made from to a single atom, but its enchantments and their workings were a complete mystery to me. I have no idea what this orb does.

Will just have to ask Sei directly, I could contact him with the amulet he gave me... but that will have to wait, I can't squander mana out of curiosity.

My gaze stopped at my clothes. Just as my hair, they were white as snow... It looked pretty, but for me, it only symbolized my dark side...

I... I need them black. Just like what I used to wear before meeting the devil. As I willed it, the color started to change and slowly all my clothes became black. Unlike my previous creations, these clothes were... alive, a part of me. It was an experiment of sort.

Turned to stone, frozen, ripped to shreds by my own body... too many times I lost my clothes in this short amount of time. I hope that this will change things.

With the dust of metal spread through the fabric and mana pulsing within, they should be sturdier than any armor, yet mobility not affected in the slightest. They could 'heal' if damaged, and even if for some reason my body once again grew in size, to some extent can even change so I don't tear them apart.

At the moment they feed on my mana, but I planned to change that once have more time and resources.

I looked at the iceberg under my feet. On the surface, it looked like a small island, but with the mass underwater, was actually the size of a mountain.

Shouldn't take long now.

My mana regeneration was fast, but with devour soul and heat absorption working in tandem, its speed has increased even further. When I got there, I had very little remaining, yet I recovered enough for teleportation just in a few moments.

But...

Enhanced mind is nice and all, but if I let emotions rule over me and just act ten times faster on the first thought that hit my head, it doesn't make me smart. It was about time I start using my head!

I was away for a while, and have no idea what is the situation out there. I need to be battle-ready. I can't just rush there blindly practically without mana...

I once again reached out for my bond with Phoenix.

So far...

This bond was nothing like one with the dungeon and was actually severed the moment I left this world. But now that I was back, I could vaguely feel him again.

While it was hard to tell his exact location, I could feel that Phoenix was far from Endorod City...

Okay, I admit, this is probably the only reason I had enough wits not to rush back.

*

The moment I teleported near the dungeon, an unimaginable amount of mana flooded my body. What I had just a moment ago, felt like a drop in the ocean.

I closed my eyes, feeling my surroundings, and hurricane-like winds started to dance around me, lifting me in the air. I missed this feeling... the feeling of power.

"Hey, watch it! Go practice your petty magic somewhere else, no need to spread that stench." shouted cat beastkin down below, from the looks of it, an adventurer.

"That's right!" joined another from a group of adventurers nearby.

A group of guards started to approach me.

Hmm, there was a lot of soldiers near the dungeon. Too many just for guard duty. Was there another attack? Doesn't look like. Walls looked new, there was no sign of damage or repairs. Also, adventurers acted way to carefree...

"You there! Flying within the Outpost is strictly forbidden!" shouted leading guard. He was the only elf from his group, others were either humans or wolf beastkin.

"I am sorry, wasn't aware of that..." I said while descending.

"State your name and show your guild badge!" he demanded when I finally landed.

Great, not even a minute there and I already managed to get into a trouble.

"My name is Melissa, as for my guild badge... at the moment it's outside my reach." I almost whispered the last part. The badge was in my pocket dimension but without access to it, it was as good as lost.

"Yeah, right... yet somehow you are within the Outpost, I don't think it's a coincidence my analyze doesn't work on you either," said the elf. "Brian, go fetch shackles her size, seems we found another spy."

"Hey, wait a second, no need to go that far. I am sure someone there could confirm my identity. A few weeks ago I was quite famous..."

"Oh, yeah?" mocked the elf then looked around us. "Does anyone here know this cat beaskin?! The name was... Melissa."

People started to scratch their heads while thinking.

"I think I heard that name somewhere," one adventurer started to speak. "But I am not sure it was a cat beastkin."

"They probably know me as Red Beast..." I quickly added.

"Red Beast?! You?!" started to laugh elf. Other guards joined him as well and even some adventurers shortly.

"If she is Red Beast, then I am a Champion." one fox beastkin adventurer held her stomach.

Some adventurers looked uncertain, or even excited, but most were leaning to the same opinion as the elf.

"Do you take me for a fool?!" he shouted. "Everyone knows that she is a dragon. You look nothing like..."

No one noticed my body trembling with rage. The skin started to crack and blue glow leaked from inside.

"I..." I shouted while summoning my phantom beast.

"...AM NOT!" a thunder-like voice now continued from jaws of the beast.

My size started to increase... ten meters, twenty, a hundred, three hundred...

"...A DRAGON!!" a loud roar echoed far and wide and everyone started to run while screaming.

"Kitty?" when I heard a voice in the distance my phantom beast vanished like a smoke and a moment later I was gone.

"Phoenix!" I shouted when teleported right in front of him and with a leap, tightly hugged with my arms and legs. I then planted a kiss and continued it for a while.

"It's really you," he whispered when our lips finally parted.

"I missed you so much." I said with a trembling voice as tears of happiness slid my checks.

"I missed you too... when I felt your presence earlier, no one believed me... Goddess claimed you are in another world and even she can't help you... but, well it doesn't matter, you are back now."

"Yes," I said while happily sniffing at his neck.

"By the way, want to let go of me? I need to talk with the guards, I promise I will not..."

"No!" I cut him off and embraced him even tighter. After waiting for so long, this felt like a dream. If I let go of him even for a moment everything might just vanish.

After some time I reluctantly released my koala grip and we approached guards of the Outpost.

"I am Reveon Sile'dur, sorry for her behavior, she doesn't like when people call her a dragon. If there is any damage, I will compensate... No? Wonderful. Now, if you excuse us..." He turned around and started walk away... guards were still shocked and had no chance to reply, which Phoenix used to his advantage.

"It's really her..." finally whispered the elf.

Other people have already stopped to panic and started to gossip about me.

"But she said she isn't a dragon. What does it mean?" I overheard someone while Phoenix was explaining our destination in the city.

I nodded my head to Phoenix and prepared to teleport.

"How should I know... Probably just angry at her father or something..." and just before activating blink, heard something disturbing.

In the next moment, we were back in the city, near the guild. Surroundings were bursting with life, and not a single sign could be seen of the battle that happened there before my departure.

"Hey! Don't leave us like that, we thought... Melissa?" Tia stopped in her tracks and looked at me with wide eyes. Jack who was nearby looked surprised as well, but it seems his mind was preoccupied with Goddess, why else would he mention her tits...

*

"Seriously?! A slime?" shouted Elmor slamming a mug of beer on the table. "Your strongest opponent was a slime?!"

"Never. Underestimate. A slime!" I said emphasizing each word.

We were talking at the table near the bar inside the guild and only Darson with his slaves was missing from our group.

"She is right!" joined conversation Tia. "I once fought one when Jack said it's impossible to kill them..."

"What?!" shouted minotaur surprised. "Don't tell me you lost to a slime!"

"Of course not!" shouted back, Tia. "But after the battle, I had to buy new armor and weapons."

This wasn't the slime I meant earlier, but as I heard her, I was reminded of my own battle with slimes in the dungeon. As I choose to not use it, my sword at that time was spared, but my clothes had quite a few holes...

"Oh..." Elmor looked at her up and down, then licked his lips and added, "How unfortunate I wasn't there to see you..."

"Hey! We are talking about acid, I was seriously wounded back then.." complained Tia while blushing.

"So, how long is he free?" I asked while looking at Elmor.

"A few days," said Phoenix while scratching my ears. Like usual, I was sitting on his lap, best chair in the world.

"Oh? Then I guess that elder's speech from the Order has nothing to do with it." I said.

"Speech?!" chuckled Jack. "Not even close! If not for our friend elf, I am sure the collar would be still on his neck."

"Hey. It's not like that! I... I planned to do that on my own." complained Tia.

"Yeah, yeah..." waved his hand, Jack.

Elmor looked at them for a moment, then shrugged and when raised the mug to his face, beer started dripping from the corners of his mouth.

"Elf?" I looked at Phoenix but he shook his head.

"Darson. I don't know the details, but he had some disputes with his family and when they threatened to take custody of his slaves, set them all free..."

"And since it's Darson we are talking about, my cousin quickly followed his example just to not look bad." Jack interrupted him.

"It... it's not true!" complained Tia.

"I see. By the way, where are they? I don't see them..." I stopped when saw a group of people approaching us.

"So it's really you..." I heard a familiar voice.

Judging from their gear, they were high-rank adventurers, and guild master was leading them personally.

"When I was informed that a dragon has returned to the city, I was confused. Though people were making fun of me." said Averon while stroking his beard. "I might be old, but I am sure I would remember its first visit. Luckily, someone mentioned the name 'Red Beast' before I issued emergency request. It's not every day that we have visitors from another world... So, how was the trip? Miss Dragon."

"Oh, you know... met a devil, got a job to conquer the world... the usual." I answered with a grin.

"Ah, yes, of course. Silly me. If you are not too busy, I would like to discuss about the dungeon. I am sure Wiliam has already sent people to invite you."

Ah, that's right. There was still a matter with the dungeon...

*

Just as guild master predicted a few minutes later a dryad, followed by a squad of soldiers, personally came to invite me to a meeting with the Lord of the City. She was his right hand, Lady Ramella.

*

Contrary to my expectations, his mansion wasn't that eye-catching. I imagined a large castle in the center of nobles district, but the manor was no different from any other. Enchantments and guards on another hand was another story entirely... almost all of them were above my level, which means that each of them won at least three sacred battles.

Once inside, we were asked to leave our weapons, which Elmor didn't take well. A silly notion considering our group has two space-time mages, and guild master alone could topple this building with his earth magic. Well, my pocket dimension was still ruined, but still...

As we were escorted to the meeting with the Lord, I looked at various paintings decorating the walls. Most of them were just portraits, family members or just ancestors of the household. When we approached close to the office, I heard man's voice from behind the door.

"...I have nothing more to say. Daniel, please escort Miss Kalh'dor outside."

Kalh'dor?

"Could you at least give me a hint?" a voice of a woman followed shortly, and it sounded... familiar.

By now we have reached the door, and when our escort led us inside, Lady Ramella started to introduce us. William was sitting at the desk and a woman I saw in one of the paintings, stood slightly behind him. Just like William, she was human and was probably his wife.

A few guards stood at the walls, and one of them was approaching their guest I heard earlier. She was an elf and was wearing a white one-piece dress, oriental in design. I recognized her immediately...

Aurora!

"Ah, there you are. I was sent to find you." she smiled when saw me, she then glanced back at William. "Seems I no longer need your help, Lord William. A pity..."

"Why are you there?!" I summoned my phantom tail and guards quickly reacted by drawing their weapons.

"Whoa, whoa, easy there. I work with Silver Sword Order now. Ask your boyfriend if don't believe me." quickly stepped back Aurora.

I looked at Phoenix and he nodded his head.

"Working? Doing what exactly? Sleep with them?" I taunted her but released my phantom tail.

"That too... but let's not get into the details, your friend there might get a little jealous." when I followed her gaze, Jack quickly looked to the side and Tia looked quite angry.

Just what happened while I was away?