"Fuck the algorithm... "

Thunk!

The punch sent Hiro's face sharply to the side. The crunch of impact echoed in his ears, accompanied by the distant cheers of the crowd in the Junkyard.

He could taste the metallic tang of blood on his lip as he staggered backward, shaking off the impact, his vision momentarily blurred. The scuffed ground beneath his boots seemed to sway.

He wiped away the blood with the back of his hand, a determined glint in his eyes. The crowd, a mix of shady characters and thrill-seekers, erupted into cheers and jeers, their collective excitement adding an electrifying buzz to the already charged atmosphere.

"[Come on, Hiro! Dodge and counter!]" Nova's voice urged him through the neural link.

"How about we switch places for this fight? That would be nice." Hiro said as he sidestepped a follow-up attack, the adrenaline coursing through his veins heightening his senses.