Two days later, Karin and Riolu are in her backyard discussing their plan to defeat the orc. Riolu questions why they have to focus on a particular technique and suggests normal training instead. However, Hex explains that even with intense training, it is impossible to reach the orc's power level in the limited time they have. Hex explains that the technique they will learn allows Riolu to explosively increase his mana strength and thus his overall strength. Riolu asks if he can achieve the same power level as the orc, but Hex says no and reminds him that they must also discuss a tactic to beat him. The tactic is to beat him with brains, not strength.
In the middle of the night, Karin wakes up from hearing a noise coming from her backyard. She sees Riolu punching a log the size of an orc. Karin comes down to comfort him and asks why he hasn't slept. Riolu responds that he can't ignore someone bullying others just because they are stronger. He was bullied in the past before Hex saved him, so he can't stand and see others being harassed. He tells Karin that everyone has a weakness, but they also have strength. He reminds her that even if someone calls her ugly, she can prove them wrong. Riolu and Karin spend the entire night talking about their experiences.
On the day of the tournament, they go to the arena together, and Hex explains the rules to Riolu on the way. Riolu asks if he can win now, but Hex responds with a no, explaining that a human cannot enter the tournament freely, but can only challenge the champion. If the champion is not the city guard captain's second son, Riolu doesn't need to fight. As expected, the city guard captain's second son is the champion, but what they didn't predict is that there were no fights happening before the final match, as all his opponents were surrendering one after another. Riolu stares at Hex with a worried expression.
Hex says reassuringly, "Don't worry, I'll take care of you even if you're crippled."
Riolu replies, "Don't lose your trust in me like that."
Suddenly, the orc yells loudly, "WHERE ARE YOU, LITTLE HUMAN? ARE YOU TOO AFRAID TO FACE ME?"
Riolu stands up and walks down to the arena. "Why should I be afraid of a big idiot?" he retorts.
The city guard captain intervenes, "My Lord, this human has offended my son's pride over and over again. I propose a deathmatch."
The Orc Lord wants to agree, but remembers what Karin's father reported to him. He then thinks about it again.
Orc Lord thinks to himself, (Killing the kid didn't really bring any problems, but his master is a gold-plated merchant. If he thinks this is an insult, we can't escape from the conflicts.) "Where are our manners if we don't ask permission from his master? Let's ask for his master's approval first."
Hex looks at Riolu, and realizing his friend's worry, Riolu waves his hand at Hex, asking for help so that the match will be a fair one. Hex sees this and puts a little smile on his face before saying, "Of course, why don't we give them each a weapon?"
Hex throws a knife to Riolu, and the orc gets an axe from his father.
Riolu sees this and puts on an angry face towards Hex. He takes the knife and grumbles, "Just you wait. If I die, I will haunt you for eternity."
The Orc Lord announces, "Since both parties agree, let's start the deathmatch!"
The crowd starts chanting, with most of them supporting the orc, but a few give their support to Riolu because of his courage.
The orc makes the first move by swinging his axe at Riolu, who manages to dodge the swing. Although he hasn't activated his skills yet, his agility and training are helping him. Not to mention, the axe is pretty big, so the swing was pretty slow. Riolu is looking for an opening for his attack.
A few swings go by, and the orc starts to realize his swings are meaningless. He plans a strategy and first swings to the left. Riolu dodges it, but because the attack was always a swing, he doesn't realize the orc is already waiting for him to dodge and kick him.
The kick blasts Riolu into a wall, cracking it. He stands up, coughing blood, but when he looks to his front, the orc is already in front of him, ready to swing his axe.
Riolu had just won a fierce battle against an orc, and he couldn't contain his excitement as he ran towards Hex, screaming and jumping.
"Why didn't you tell me you were this strong?" Riolu exclaimed.
Hex replied calmly, "You know I'm strong. You just don't want to admit it."
Riolu scoffed, "No, I don't. Why would I realize that?"
Hex explained, "Well, a merchant traveling alone and selling items is asking to get robbed. But I never got robbed. Why? That's because I beat the crap out of everyone who tried to rob me."
Suddenly, they heard someone yelling, "Riolu!!!" When he turned his head, he saw Karin jumping at him and hugging him tightly. She was crying and said, "I thought you were going to get killed."
Riolu responded sarcastically, "Thank you for your faith."
Karin apologized, "I'm sorry. It's just that no one has ever beaten him except his brother."
Hex then suggested, "Let's go celebrate his victory. Food and drinks are on me."
They partied all night, eating and drinking. While they were drinking, Riolu asked Hex, "Teacher, why can this small knife cut so deep through his skin? I heard normal weapons will bounce off when clashed against orc skin."
Hex quickly snatched the knife and put it back into his pocket. "This is a high-rank artifact. Of course, it can even penetrate an obsidian armor. Orc skin is nothing," he explained.
Riolu apologized, "I'm sorry. I can't shake my negative thinking. You're indeed a good man. I promise I will follow your every advice and guidance."
Hex, who had fallen asleep, didn't hear Riolu's apology. Riolu covered him with a blanket instead of slapping his head.
Riolu then approached Karin father and asked how strong the head city guard was. Karin father answered, "Around a normal-ranked C adventurer."
Riolu then asked, "How about my Teacher?"
"I don't know, but he's at least a highly ranked C adventurer," Karin father replied.
Riolu asked, "Is that strong?"
"Yes," Karin father said. "You can say that no one except the king is stronger than him around here."
Riolu laughed, "Hahaha, I never expected him to be that strong."
Karin father then asked, "What are you planning to do after this?"
Riolu responded, "Maybe go to another city. I don't know. The reason we stopped here was to buy a chart and supplies."
Karin father suggested, "You can try to stay here. The orc king already acknowledges you."
Riolu declined, "Thank you for the offer, but I have to decline. This is an orc kingdom after all. Even though the king acknowledges me, the people don't. Not to mention, my teacher killed your head city guard."