---

「Lorenzo, your defense is abysmal. If that's not your forte, then focus on improving your offense. Waiting to strike an enemy's weak point is better than getting swept along by their rhythm.」

Training with Lia taught me how important openings were in real-life combat.

Unlike PvP battles—player versus player encounters in Battleshift—the combatants were not held back by game systems like skill cooldowns and level gaps.

Beating your enemies wasn't as easy as timing your hotkey activations.

You needed to observe your opponents, dodge and attack accordingly. Quick-thinking and fast reflexes were vital.

While I was endowed with wits beyond reproach from my days as a top-ranking player, my reflexes were terrible. It was hard to hone them when I'd lived most of my life on a computer chair.

As a result, my training matches had always ended in failure.

I had a flair for reading my opponents, but reacting with a counter-play was physically impossible. Especially in a world where everyone was capable of moving ridiculously fast.

Losing matches didn't faze me at all for that reason alone. The gap in our abilities would've always been my go-to excuse. Even Lia grew tired of hearing it.

As long as my brain could keep up with the action, I'd simply shrug it off.

---

「I finally caught you. All I had to do was provide you with an opening and you came running in like a fly to honey. Learn the breathing techniques before you pull sneak attacks, boy!」

She kept track of me this whole time?!

Seyna had extended her arm and caught me by the neck. I couldn't even react—her speed was unbelievable.

She looked apathetic, almost bored. As though our entire fight was nothing more than a warmup to her.

Her previous expression implied otherwise.

「How naïve... did you actually believe you'd get the jump on me..? Don't look down on me, you runts.」

I had accidentally dropped my wooden knife owing to immense shock.

I... can't... breathe...

I desperately tried prying Seyna's hands to loosen her grip, to no avail.

It was checkmate. I was totally beaten.

The Viridescent Queen glared at me with cold, unapologetic eyes.

「I thought you were one of us, Lorenzo... It's a pity you're no different than that craven musclehead...」

Melyn—who had hidden underneath the icepick-covered decoy—pushed it away and weakly got up.

Her left sleeve was drenched in crimson—blood dripped off her fingers as she tottered towards us.

「LET HIM GO!!! YOUR OPPONENT IS ME!!!」

She cried with the last of her strength, before shortly collapsing.

The thief girl must've lost a lot of blood. The excess magic usage had probably taken its toll on her as well.

「I was planning on letting you two go with a few cuts and bruises... but after witnessing what you brats are capable of... I can't in good faith let you live.」

What... is she... going on... about..?

My eyes gravitated towards Melyn lying on the ground. I tried calling for her, but not a sound left my mouth.

My gullet was squeezed shut.

「Hypocrisy runs deep in the slum dwellers. It's killing us from the inside, like cancer that slowly grows from within. If we don't cull the problem soon...」

Seyna tightened her grasp on my throat—any tighter and she'd crush it.

「Sorry kid, if I don't take action now, I'd never be able to forgive myself later on. This drug situation was the final straw; the complacency in our leadership is apparent. Your deaths will be the start of a revolution. Change needs to happen to ensure our survival.」

She dug her fingers deeper into my throat.

N-no good... I can't... stay awake...

My consciousness was steadily fading and my vision darkened with every passing second.

Memories of my murder propped up from the dark recesses of my mind. The powerlessness I experienced was uncannily similar.

Slowly, I came to accept my fate as I did before.

For some reason, I kept my sights on Melyn. Perhaps I was hoping she'd make it out alive, or maybe I was playing one good act to make myself look good in front of God.

Still and all, I was prepared to meet my maker once more.

I'm... certainly... headed... to hell...

...

.....

.......

「SEYNAAA!!!」

CLAP!

A powerful gust of wind blew me out of the Viridescent Queen's clutches. I landed right next to Melyn, who had fainted.

「Took you long enough you lout! I've been looking forward to a rematch from last time!」

Rysef stood beyond the churchyard remnants, bearing an enraged scowl. Smoke fizzled from where his two palms met.

The breadth of his shoulders broadened and his muscles rippled through his black leather regimentals. His size had miraculously doubled.

No doubt, thanks to his ani magic.

「Yer iniquity knows no bound Seyna! Anyone who plans t' kill me pupils sh' be prepared t' die themselves!」

Seyna's grimace intensified. She flitted three rows of icepicks from her pockets into her fingers and aimed them towards Rysef.

They were prepared to fight to the death.

I swiveled over to Melyn and flipped her over. She was cold and barely breathing. Without thinking any further, I ripped her sleeve off and fashioned it into a bandage over her wound.

That should do it for now...

「Come at me Ashen Thief! Let's settle this once and for all!」

Rysef instantly appeared in front of Seyna and landed a clean punch. She answered with a well-timed block, before getting sent flying backward from the force of impact.

Thip, thip, thip! Thip, thip, thip!

Six ice picks went whizzing by the Ashen Thief who dodged every shot. Though large, he was still as nimble as a fox.

Seyna clicked her tongue.

「Tch. Thanks to those sniveling pests, this place has become devoid of plants. You'd be on the ropes right now if I had them!」

Rysef pulled back his fist and closed his eyes. He had something up his sleeve.

「Ngh... Z-Zozo..? Is that you..?」

「Melyn!」

The thief girl had woken up. Her skin was pale and her words were shaky.

「Don't move around too much, you need to rest. Everything's going to be okay.」

I gently kept Melyn down and moved behind her, offering my lap as a pillow. Deep down inside, I hoped she wouldn't notice the two District Masters duking it out.

Knowing her, she would've pushed herself to help somehow. Last thing Rysef needed right now was a distraction.

The fog of steam was dissipating. It would only be a matter of time before the fight was in full view.

The water vapor shouldn't have lasted that long in any case.

「Charging up your special move hah?! I won't let you!」

Seyna charged forwards and threw an endless barrage of icepicks. There was no limit to how many she possessed.

「W-was that the Viridescent Queen..? Where is she..?」

Melyn was clearly lightheaded from the blood loss. I decided to take advantage of her dazed state and trick her into believing nothing was happening.

It'd be easier that way.

「It's all in your head. Seyna's long gone.」

「R-really..? Haha... I'm probably still shaken from our fight. I thought I'd lose you again back there...」

Again..?

She took my hand and hugged it tightly. Her icy touch let off an indescribable warmth.

Just then, the thief girl had undoubtedly seen me as her real little brother. The line in her mind separating the two entities was blurred.

Nearly dying in front of her had resurfaced her childhood trauma in all likelihood. Shielding her from the current situation was the best call I could've made.

「Say... Melyn—」

「CITY BUSTER!!!」

BOOM!!!

A large deafening explosion came from Rysef's direction. The ensuing shockwave cleared away the remaining steam fog.

Melyn and I couldn't help but shift our attention towards the source.

A staggering scene awaited us.

「Hrk.... d-damn you Rysef...」

Blood trickled down the Viridescent Queen's forehead. Rysef had broken her left arm—it limply swayed like a tree branch on a windy day.

「Haha! What good'll one arm do ya eh?!」

The Ashen Thief was peppered with icepicks like a pincushion. He too was bleeding and bruised all over.

Though both District Masters were heavily injured, their resolves to take up arms had not wavered.

The barren dirt land beneath their feet served as the grounds for their duel. They obstinately maintained their combat stances and prepared to attack one another again.

Then, a stentorian shout interrupted the whole ordeal.

「Cease this savagery at once!」

---