“Let’s make a deal Hina.” Doriama said as his crossed his arms. “If my boy here beats your guards we get to go through the gate without any trouble, however, if he loses then I’ll quietly go back with you.”

Hina laughed. “These are some of my best guards, you think he can beat them?” She lifted her hand to her mouth and smirked. “You have yourself a deal, Doriama, you can’t back out of this one.”

Raion made his way towards the gate. However, several guards appeared in front of the gate. Raion stuttered stepped back and prepared to get into his stance.

“Man, why are people always so quick to fight.” He looked back at Doriama. “Can’t we all talk this over?” He shouted towards Doriama.

“She’s not someone who talks.” Doriama laughed.

Raion sighed as the guards started dashing towards Raion.

“Mhmm there seems to be only four guards here. I should be able to handle this swiftly.” Raion thought to himself as the first guard launched a fist at his face. Raion promptly dodged the fist and elbowed the guard in the face knocking him out in one blow.

“Oh...he’s got some skill.” Hina looked at Raion.

“You know this is actually the first time I’m seeing him fight.” Doriama watched Raion’s movements closely. “I’ve been itching to see this Beast Kenpo in action.”

Hina quickly turned to Doriama.

“You made that bet without actually seeing him fight? Where did you get this confidence to make that bet?”

Doriama waved his finger at Hina.

“Just a hunch.”

The next guard came at Raion with a flurry of punches. Raion was able to dodge these attacks with much ease. As the attacks kept getting faster, he was able to parry them and eventually landed a counter punch sending the guard flying into the trees. The other two guards nodded in an agreement to double team Raion next. They started to rush Raion.

Raion sighed. “Let’s get this over with quick.” Raion rushed to the meet the two guards. Both of them faltered a bit in their approach since they got startled by Raion’s speed. Raion jumped and did a spinning roundhouse kick blasting the first guard into the ground. After gathering his composure again Raion swiftly kneed the second guard’s chin rendering him unconscious.

Needless to say both Hina and Doriama were quite surprised at Raion’s skill. For someone without any special abilities his hand to hand combat was top tier.

“Looks like my boy won Hina.” Doriama chuckled and made his way towards Raion.

“How can this be...who is this boy Doriama?” Hina was left with a shocked expression.

“My trump card.” Doriama winked at Hina.

“Trump card? Don’t tell me Doriama you plan on entering him?”

“Yeah that’s right.”

“You think they will allow you to do as you please there Doriama?” Hina sighed and folded her arms.

“Well...” Doriama thought about it for a second. “We’ll see once we get there.” He let out a hearty chuckle.

“Hey kid.” Hina shouted towards Raion.

Raion having beaten the guards regained his breath and looked at Hina. “Yes...?”

“You’re strong, I’ll give you that.” She walked towards Raion. “But if you plan on entering the tournament, I’d advise against it.” She stood face to face with Raion. “The people you’ll be facing will be ten times no at least twenty times stronger then the guards you’ll be facing.”

Raion looked back down at the guards. “I’m sorry to say this, but those guards weren’t anything special.”

From the outcome of the battle Raion was barely even touched. If people saw him, it didn’t even look he’d just been in a fight.

“Well you do have a point there...”

Doriama stepped him. “You know Hina, he went up against that Baison and lived.”

“Baison? Oh...” Hina was intrigued now. “You fought against him? How’d that go?”

Raion recalled the fight and broke eye contact with Hina. “Well...he did have the upperhand. But I’m pretty sure if I went up against him again I’d fare pretty well.” Raion rubbed the back of his head.

Hina pointed her whip at Raion.

“Let me tell you this kid. Baison will be entering that tournament. He’s strong. But you know this already. What you don’t know is, that in this the tournament, his strength would probably rank 5th out of the candidates.”

“5th?!” Raion’s expression changed. “Tsk...monsters...”

“That’s right, monsters. Do you think you have the strength to beat them?”

Raion looked straight at Hina.

“Well reaching the top wouldn’t be interesting without the challenges right?” He clenched his fist. “But that just means I can test where I stand against them. This’ll a good way to see how ready I am.”

Hina acknowledged his resolve.

“Mhmm you have an interesting one here Doriama.” She sighed “Well a deal’s a deal you’re free to go.”

Doriama and Raion passed through the gate. As they left, Hina smirked.

“Poor kid...he’s gonna die. What’s Doriama thinking...”

END