The (Former) Dark Witch of Frost and Flames

Why is Life so Unfair?!

City Z. They do say that the city is one of the poorest, and has the least amount of hero patrols and activity. It would be seriously unfortunate if anyone were to live around here. Given how poor it is, I certainly stood out with my dress.

I roamed the streets, about to start my rampage. It almost feels like an eternity before I get my first chance to destroy any heroes walking on my path. How many people will I be able to put in despair? Which would be the highest class of heroes I will be able to kill? B class? A class? Or maybe even the famed S class? The thought of it made my heart race in excitement.

I looked to my left to see a bald man with his hands full of shopping bags, wearing a plain T-shirt, and a pair of sandals. He certainly is an unfortunate individual, to be my first target.

I approached closer, gleefully walking in my dark dress. I had my artifact on my hand ready to cast spells.

"Oh, dear!" I spoke. "Nice summer day we're having."

As I used my power to crank up the heat, the bald man began to sweatdrop. He looked at his shopping bags, and dropped them to stare at me.

He's probably in speechless fear right now. "What's wrong? Why are you sweating? Could it be the heat? Or could it be... cowardice?"

"...did you create this sudden rise in heat?" The bald man asked me seriously.

"And what if I did?"

"Who are you?"

"I am Vanessa, the Dark Witch of Frost and Flames! Representing the Sin of Pride within the Bloody Moon Group!"

"Can you cool it down please?" He said in a monotone reply. He must have gone insane.

"Well, I had my fun teasing you, but it's time for you to die now." My right hand is enveloped in flames, thanks to my artifact. As I was about to unleash my fire, my victim suddenly shouted something strange.

"YOU'RE GONNA MELT THE ICE CREAM I BOUGHT TODAY!!" He screamed, before appearing right in front of me in the blink of an eye.

'Huh...?'

All in the span of a half a second. No, possibly even shorter. This bald man was in front of me with his fist raised in the air.

I was gonna die. I didn't know how, but I was gonna die.

I felt an impact on my arm, the arm I used to instinctively cover my face. The impact was sure to have broken all my bones, carrying so much force. My weapon, which was a magical artifact that helped me manifest my magic power, probably absorbed far over 99% of the power put into that single punch.

As I was launched backwards in the air, I couldn't help but think what would have happened if I didn't have my artifact with me.

'I probably would have blown up into a million pieces of flesh.'

"Hm?" The bald man raised his eyebrow, his fist still outstretched forward. "Could it be... that you aren't dead?"

I remained silent, still on the ground. Though I didn't look too terribly injured, this man just destroyed my greatest weapon. An artifact that is supposed to be completely invulnerable to physical attacks, yet this man, defying all logic, managed to shatter it with pure brute force.

"A villain that didn't go down in one punch..." The bald man spoke, looking at his fist, still emitting steam. I noticed a glint in his eye.

"FINALLY! A worthy opponent!" He suddenly screamed, pumped. He slammed his right fist into his open left palm, with such mighty force that I thought his hand was gonna come off.