Isekai Striker: A Kickboxer’s Journey in Another World

Tyler was about to leave the field, his thoughts racing after his victory against the 15 goblins. "Well, that's one mission down," he said to himself, stretching his arms. "Not bad for my first big fight."

Just as he turned to head back, a sharp whistling sound filled the air. His instincts kicked in, and he glanced upward. Hundreds of arrows and magic spells rained down from the sky, their trajectories aimed directly at him. Tyler's eyes widened, and he yelled, "What the hell?!"

He braced himself, ready to dodge, but the sheer number of projectiles made it impossible to avoid them all. Just as the attacks were about to hit, a figure appeared in front of him in a flash.

The figure raised a gleaming sword, its blade radiating with magic. "Skill: Sword Tempest!" she shouted. With one fluid strike, a powerful gust of wind erupted from her sword, disintegrating the arrows and spells in mid-air. The battlefield fell silent for a moment as the debris from the destroyed attacks scattered harmlessly to the ground.

Tyler stared, his mouth slightly open in awe. "What… was that?" he muttered. His eyes locked onto the figure who had just saved him. It was the older girl from the farm, now wearing light armor and carrying a rogue's assortment of tools at her belt.

She turned to him with a smirk. "You're welcome," she said. "The name's Lyra. Rogue adventurer."

Tyler blinked in confusion. "Wait… weren't you at the farm?"

Lyra's grin widened. "Guilty as charged. I was pretending to be the farmer's daughter. Needed to lay low for a bit and gather intel on the goblins. Didn't expect to run into someone like you."

Tyler folded his arms, a hint of amusement in his voice. "So, you're not actually related to them?"

"Nope," Lyra replied, flipping her dagger casually. "I'm just really good at blending in when I need to. It's part of the job."

Tyler couldn't help but laugh. "Well, thanks for saving my skin back there. I'm Tyler, by the way."

Lyra nodded. "I know. Heard your name when you were talking to the old man. You're not bad for a rookie."

Before Tyler could respond, the ground began to shake. From the surrounding fields, 134 goblins emerged, their guttural screeches filling the air. Tyler's jaw dropped slightly. "That's… a lot more than I was expecting."

Lyra unsheathed her twin daggers, her expression sharpening. "Looks like they weren't too happy about you taking out their buddies."

Tyler smirked, his fists tightening as he dropped into his fighting stance. "Well, this just got interesting. Let's have some fun."

Lyra matched his grin. "You read my mind."

The goblins charged, their numbers a chaotic swarm. Tyler called out, "Lyra, cover the left flank! I'll hold the center!"

"Got it!" Lyra dashed to the left, her movements swift and precise. With a single leap, she flipped over a goblin, slashing downward with her daggers and taking it out instantly. "Don't let them surround you!" she shouted.

"On it! Skill: Energy Wave!" Tyler yelled, thrusting his hands forward. A burst of raw energy rippled out, knocking back a dozen goblins and creating a brief gap in their ranks. He followed up with a powerful Flame Kick, sending one goblin flying into its companions.

Lyra darted through the horde like a shadow, her daggers flashing in the sunlight. "Skill: Shadow Step!" she called, vanishing from sight and reappearing behind a cluster of goblins. With a swift spin, she took out three at once.

"Nice moves!" Tyler shouted, delivering a series of Lightning Jabs to a particularly large goblin. The electricity coursed through the creature, dropping it in seconds.

"Thanks! Keep them off my back, will you?" Lyra quipped, dodging a goblin's spear thrust and countering with a stab to its side. She kicked another goblin away and spun to face Tyler. "These things just keep coming!"

"Skill: Arcane Leap!" Tyler shouted, vanishing and reappearing next to Lyra. "I've got your back. Skill combo: Shadow Strike + Flame Kick!" His fist, shrouded in dark energy, connected with a goblin before he followed up with a fiery kick, taking down two more.

The pair moved seamlessly together, Tyler calling out instructions and Lyra adapting to the flow of the battle. "Lyra, push them toward the tree line! We can bottleneck them!"

"On it!" she replied, weaving through the goblins and herding them with well-placed strikes. As the goblins funneled into a tighter group, Tyler grinned.

"Skill: Energy Wave!" he bellowed, unleashing another powerful shockwave that sent the remaining goblins sprawling.

Breathing heavily, Tyler glanced at Lyra. "How're you holding up?"

Lyra smirked, wiping her blade clean. "I've handled worse. You?"

"Same," Tyler said, his grin widening. "Let's finish this."

Together, they charged into the remaining goblins, their combined skills overwhelming the horde. The battlefield fell silent as the last goblin collapsed, leaving Tyler and Lyra standing victorious amidst the chaos.

Tyler let out a breath, glancing at Lyra. "Not bad for a first team-up."

Lyra chuckled. "You're not half bad yourself. Maybe we should do this more often."

"I'd like that," Tyler said with a grin.

Carter and Lyra stood amidst the aftermath of their battle, surveying the countless goblins they had defeated. The field was littered with bodies, and both of them were catching their breath. "Alright," Tyler said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Let's gather proof of all this."

Lyra nodded, pulling out her item box, a magical container that could store objects with ease. Together, they worked to collect proof from the goblins, taking small tokens like their ears or insignias that would verify their kills to the guild. Once their item boxes were filled, the two began walking back toward the farm, the warm glow of the late afternoon sun lighting their path.

As they walked, the tension of the battle gave way to casual conversation. Tyler glanced at Lyra. "So, what's your deal? Why were you out here chasing goblins in the first place?"

Lyra smirked, flipping one of her daggers casually in her hand. "I'm a rogue adventurer, remember? Taking down goblins is part of the job."

"Yeah, but you're clearly good at what you do," Tyler pressed. "You could have taken any mission. Why this one?"

Lyra's smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. She sighed. "Alright, fine. You got me. I've been tracking goblins for a while now—ever since they raided a caravan I was guarding. They… they hurt people I was supposed to protect. I've been trying to make up for it ever since."

Tyler's expression softened. "That's tough. But it's not your fault, you know. You're doing something about it now, and that's what matters."

Lyra looked at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, Tyler. You're not as clueless as you look."

"Hey!" Tyler protested, laughing. "I'll take that as a compliment… I guess."

They walked in companionable silence for a few moments before Tyler asked, "So, how long have you been an adventurer?"

Lyra glanced at him. "About three years now. Started out doing small stuff—retrieving lost items, delivering letters. Eventually, I worked my way up to more serious jobs."

"And you've been solo this whole time?" Tyler asked, genuinely curious.

"Mostly," Lyra admitted. "I've teamed up with people here and there, but nothing permanent. I guess I like my freedom."

Tyler nodded. "I get that. But doesn't it get… lonely?"

Lyra hesitated, her pace slowing slightly. "Sometimes. But it's easier than dealing with people who can't pull their weight. You know how it is."

"Actually, I don't," Tyler said with a grin. "You're my first real teammate."

Lyra laughed. "Well, you're not doing too bad for a first-timer."

"Thanks," Tyler said. "What about family? Anyone waiting for you back home?"

Lyra's expression grew distant. "Not really. I've been on my own for a while now. My parents passed away when I was a kid, and the village I grew up in… well, let's just say it's not there anymore."

"I'm sorry," Tyler said softly.

Lyra shrugged, though her voice was gentler. "It's alright. It's part of why I became an adventurer. Keeps me moving forward. What about you?"

Tyler scratched the back of his head. "Pretty normal, I guess. Grew up in a small town, trained in kickboxing. When I got the chance to come here, I figured… why not?"

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "So, you're just winging it?"

"Pretty much," Tyler admitted with a laugh. "But hey, it's working so far."

They shared a laugh, the mood lightening as they neared the farm. The old man was waiting for them, leaning on his walking stick. He waved as they approached. "You're back! Did you take care of the problem?"

"We did," Tyler said with a grin, pulling out the goblin tokens as proof. "It wasn't easy, but we got them all."

The old man's face lit up with relief. "Thank the gods. You don't know how much this means to us. You've made the farm safe again."

Lyra stepped forward, crossing her arms. "It was a team effort. Your new adventurer here's got some serious skills."

The old man chuckled. "I can see that. You've got a bright future ahead of you, lad."

They spent some time talking about the mission, with Lyra filling in the details of the larger horde they encountered and Tyler adding his perspective. The old man listened intently, occasionally nodding in approval.

After some time, the old man handed Tyler a sealed document. "Here's your proof of mission success. Show this to the guild, and they'll handle the rest."

Tyler accepted it with a bow of his head. "Thank you."

As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, Tyler turned to Lyra. "So, what are you going to do now?"

Lyra hesitated for a moment before flashing her trademark grin. "Honestly? I've been thinking. I've been running solo for a long time, but watching you out there…" She paused, her expression softening. "You've got something special, Tyler. Strength, leadership… and, frankly, it's nice not having to do everything alone."

Tyler raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, you're saying…?"

Lyra shrugged. "I'm saying we make a good team. If you'll have me, I'd like to stick around."

Tyler smiled, his excitement evident. "Are you kidding? Of course, I'd have you. We'd be unstoppable together."

Lyra smirked. "Don't get too full of yourself, rookie. I'm not here to hold your hand."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Tyler said, laughing. "Welcome aboard, Lyra."

As the two shared a moment of camaraderie, the old man watched from the side, his expression warm. "You two make quite the pair. I've got a good feeling about you."

With their partnership solidified and the mission complete, Tyler and Lyra set off toward the city, chatting and laughing as they planned their next adventure.

To be continued...