Death… And Me

Rean and Roan had noticed one important point in this Dream City. Everyone had their own defined roles. If you were a gangster, it was normal for you to be untrustworthy. They stabbed one's back without thinking twice. 

On the other side of the coin, if you were a City Guard, you were 100% trustworthy. Even if it cost their lives, they would try to uphold their word to the very end. This showed how this city was just an illusion, as one couldn't draw the lines that easily in the real world.

That's also why Rean and Roan never felt threatened by joining the City Guards. Once Rivaldo accepted them, they would follow the twins as long as they also upheld the rules of the city. It was that simple.

Roan then asked something else. "By the way, was it your idea or did everyone think of it together?"

Liana snorted, saying, "You should know the answer after what Venali said. I have nothing to do with them. I came here out of my own volition, that's all."

"Hahaha!" Suddenly, a loud laugh came from inside the City Guards' headquarters. Soon after, the terror of those who tried to join the City Guards reemerged once more. It was obviously Rivaldo! "I heard your conversation!"

Rivaldo then looked at Liana and said, "Girl, you're interesting. Trying to challenge one of my subordinates without my permission. However, I quite like your boldness, so I'll be the one holding those weird pearls you outsiders like so much. I'll give my name as the captain of the City Guards that I will only pass those pearls to the winner."

Both Roan and Liana were more than satisfied with that outcome. "Thank you, Captain Rivaldo."

Rivaldo nodded as he extended his hand. Soon after, Liana and Roan gave him 15 Existence Pearls each. With that, Rivaldo recognized the legitimacy of that challenge. "Very well. However, how do you want to go with this challenge? To be honest, I would prefer to not see a fight between the two of you. This girl seems quite capable, but she is absolutely not Roan's match."

Liana and everyone else outside were taken aback. If it was someone else, they wouldn't take those words to heart. However, the one to say that was Rivaldo himself. That was especially so for Liana, who knew that an ally of justice like the City Guards couldn't lie. However, she quickly recovered before saying, "That's only your opinion. You haven't seen how I can fight without Divine Energy and Soul power, so don't jump to conclusions."

"Divine Energy, Soul Power? What's that?" Obviously, Rivaldo had no idea what Liana was talking about as this Dream City doesn't have any. "Oh well, whatever. Since you want to suffer, I'm not the one to stop you."

Rivaldo then looked at the City Guards looking at the scene and gave his orders. "All of you, position yourselves in a circle around them. Make it big. If any of them tries to escape, kill without mercy."

"Yes, Captain!" Immediately, the guards formed the circle.

Rivaldo looked at Roan and Liana once that was finished. "It was the two of you who decided to fight, so you determine what the rules are. I just won't allow anyone to leave the combat range. Anything else is valid." Rivaldo went to the side of the arena after that. He made sure to put himself between the guards and the outsiders. He wouldn't allow a single fly to intervene in that combat, and his axe showed his determination.

Venali and the others couldn't help but feel tempted by that. After all, they knew Rivaldo was holding thirty pearls on his own. Well, they weren't suicidal either, so they knew better not to test that man out.

Roan then looked at Liana before saying, "Two options for defeat. One, the other side dies. Two, one of the sides admits defeat. Do you agree?"

Liana nodded. If Roan was as strong as Rivaldo said he was, she would obviously want the chance to gather more pearls for herself once she lost her own. Not that she planned to lose, though. "Fine by me."

Liana then assumed a combat position, which caught Roan's interest. 'Oh-ho...she wasn't kidding when she said she knew how to fight without Divine Energy.' The way Liana's limbs were positioned left little to no opening. From the looks of it, she didn't intend to use any weapons either.

Roan then took his armor and weapon out. Not that he was being lenient, but that he wanted to see what the girl was capable of in the same situation. Soon after... he assumed the exact same form as Liana.

"Are you making fun of me?" Liana asked, obviously thinking that Roan was joking.

"No." Roan shook his head. "This is indeed a good form, that's all."

Roan didn't say anything else before he shot in Liana's direction. Liana, of course, did the same.

Just as they got into close range, Liana punched out, trying to test her opponent. 

Roan moved his front hand to the side, attempting to parry her punch while following with a punch of his own with his other hand. However, Liana's punch ended up being way too weak for the form she took.

Suddenly, her hand that punched out closed, attempting to grab the hand that Roan used to parry her punch. 

*Grab!*

By forcing Roan's hand to the side, she prevented herself from receiving Roan's punch with his free hand before she contorted the hand that she had caught. 'Too easy!' Roan's display hugely disappointed Liana. Simply put, she tried to break Roan's hand, just like Roan himself did with Hedoi.

Roan couldn't help but faintly smile after seeing that. 'Well, I guess that makes sense,' Roan thought. 'In the real world, women's bodies are weaker than men's when no Divine Energy and Soul Power can be used. At least, that's the case if they're of the same race in normal circumstances.. That being said, a good choice would be to practice a defensive style of combat where grabbing attacks can be used.'