Chapter 9

Ajisaka stood in the corner of the bunker, watching every move Linda and Dave made. The dim light flickering from the bunker’s failing bulb only heightened the tension in the cramped space. Linda, with a crazed grin that made Ajisaka’s blood boil, gripped Binar’s shoulder tightly, and the young girl started to sob softly. Behind her, Dave remained silent, his cold eyes fixed on Ajisaka’s every move.

“Damn it, what should I do?” Ajisaka thought, his breathing heavy—not just from the bruises scattered across his body, but from the tension pressing down on him. He knew that one wrong move could be the end of them both.

“This place is ours now,” Linda said, her voice icy but laced with a twisted glee that rang in each word. Her sharp eyes locked onto Ajisaka’s with an insane glare. In her grasp, Binar looked small and terrified, her body trembling. “Come on, let’s have some fun.”

Binar cried softly, her fearful voice barely a whisper amid the bunker’s suffocating tension. “B-brother... Ajisaka...” she called, her tone filled with terror and helplessness. Ajisaka felt his anger flare, though he knew that giving in to rage would only make him reckless.

“Linda... let her go!” Ajisaka’s voice was hoarse but steady. He clenched the blunt weapon he had prepared earlier—a rusty pipe he’d found in the bunker. His eyes darted briefly to Dave, well aware that the man could attack at any moment. Though quiet, Dave’s stance was guarded, as if ready to protect Linda at a moment’s notice.

“Or what?” Linda sneered, flashing a menacing grin. Without warning, she shoved Binar roughly into the corner. The young girl hit the floor hard, her sobs now louder. Ajisaka held his breath, his heart breaking as he watched his sister curl up on the floor, crying in pain.

In that moment, Ajisaka knew he had to act. Without another thought, he rushed at Linda, swinging the iron pipe with all his might. The sound of metal slicing through the air made the tension in the room even thicker. But before he could strike Linda, Dave leapt forward, blocking the blow with his thick arms.

Ajisaka staggered as Dave shoved him back with brutal force, but he wasn’t about to give up. Using the agility he’d honed over years of survival in the bunker, he struck out again, aiming a swift kick at Dave’s ribs. A fierce battle erupted.

Ajisaka swung the pipe toward Dave’s head, but the man was stronger than expected. His first strike missed, but the second hit Dave’s shoulder, making him grunt in pain. Before long, however, Dave retaliated with a powerful punch to Ajisaka’s stomach, sending him sprawling backward.

Linda laughed in the background, enjoying the show as though it were a game. “You think you can win, kid? I love watching people like you struggle. Keep going!”

Ajisaka struggled to his feet, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. His vision blurred momentarily, but he bit his lip, pushing through the pain. He couldn’t afford to give up—not with Binar still there. He glanced toward his sister, who continued to cry in the corner. The sight fueled his determination.

With a ragged breath, Ajisaka launched himself forward again, this time faster, more relentless. A series of punches and kicks followed, each one aimed at pushing Dave back. Finally, he managed to drop Dave to the floor with a fierce kick to the man’s knee, making him buckle with a groan of pain.

But before Ajisaka could savor his small victory, Linda lunged at him with a knife in hand. “Enough games,” she said, her voice sharp and seething with anger. The blade flashed toward Ajisaka, grazing his arm. He flinched, pain searing through his skin, but he knew the fight was far from over.

Linda pressed on with her assault, the knife glinting in the dim light. Ajisaka dodged, but a few times, the blade nicked him, leaving stinging cuts. Every time she drew closer, he swung back with whatever strength he could muster. Though injured, he managed to hit her hand with the pipe, making her stumble backward.

“Come on, keep fighting!” Linda laughed wildly, her breath ragged but her fervor unbroken. “I like kids like you. You make things exciting!”

Ajisaka didn’t reply; he focused solely on one thing—getting Binar to safety. With a quick, decisive movement, he shifted his attention from Linda and sprinted toward his sister, still huddled in the corner. He knelt beside Binar, but before he could reach her, Linda lunged once more, her attacks now even more frenzied. The knife slashed toward Ajisaka, but this time he was prepared.

In one swift move, he dodged and spun, swinging his pipe with all his strength at Linda’s head. The sharp crack of metal on bone echoed in the room as the pipe connected, sending Linda sprawling to the floor with blood trickling from her temple.

But Linda wasn’t finished yet. Though gravely injured, she smiled, a twisted grin stretching across her blood-smeared face. “You’re tough, kid. But I’m tougher.” She tried to get back up, but her body trembled. Ajisaka, battered and breathless, stood over her, ready to end this once and for all.

Before Linda could move again, Ajisaka swung the pipe down one last time. The sickening crunch of bones shattering resounded as the blow landed squarely on Linda’s chest, leaving her sprawled out, gasping for breath, her eyes slowly dimming.

Shaking, Ajisaka stood, gazing down at Linda’s body lying motionless on the bunker floor. Blood trickled from his own wounds, but he knew the fight wasn’t over yet.

Before he could reach Binar, who sat frozen in fear, Dave, whom he thought he had subdued, slowly rose again, fury blazing in his eyes.

The battle was far from over.

Binar was trapped in the corner of the room, her body trembling, her sobs stifled, but her breathing ragged. Before her eyes, Ajisaka fought desperately against two adults far stronger and far more ruthless. Each time Linda or Dave attacked, Ajisaka responded with swift movements, like a wind that couldn’t be caught. But Binar could see her brother growing weary. Blood trickled from numerous wounds on his body, yet he remained standing, every move surely filled with pain.

Binar wanted to scream, to run, but her legs felt rigid, as if they were rooted to the floor. "Brother Ajisaka... brother..." The words echoed only in her mind, unable to escape her lips. Fear gripped her, paralyzing her as she watched, her heart breaking at the sight of her brother relentlessly under attack.

Linda grinned broadly when Ajisaka stumbled momentarily, blood dripping from his badly wounded arm. "You’re a stubborn kid, aren’t you?" she sneered, wiping blood from her own face. "I thought you’d give up right away. But it seems you’re tougher than I expected."

Ajisaka rose again, though his breaths were heavy. He shifted his feet slightly, readying for the next strike. Linda's eyes glinted with madness, while Dave, though more composed, looked irritated, surprised the boy could still stand after enduring so many blows.

"We need to finish him now," Dave said coldly, clutching his side where Ajisaka had kicked him earlier. "Enough playing, Linda."

Binar’s entire body trembled harder. She wanted to flee, to help Ajisaka, but her body refused to move. She could only watch her brother, bloodied and battered, standing alone in the tension-filled room. "Brother Ajisaka... don’t die... don’t leave me," she thought, tears once again streaming down her face.

Linda and Dave moved more cautiously. They knew Ajisaka was strong, but they also knew the boy was drained. Each of Linda's steps slowed, her gaze calculating, while Dave grimaced with every move. This fight wasn’t over, but both sides sensed the end was near.

Ajisaka gripped the metal pipe tightly. Years in the bunker had hardened him, forced him to survive in nearly impossible conditions, but he had never imagined fighting humans this cruel. Binar had always been his reason to keep going, and now, more than ever, he couldn’t give up. "I have to protect Binar," he muttered to himself, pushing back the pain gnawing at his body.

Suddenly, Linda lunged at him, her knife flashing. Ajisaka had only a split second to raise his metal pipe in defense, but the knife still managed to graze his side, fresh blood seeping out. He winced, nearly falling, but with the last of his strength, he struck Linda, causing her to stagger back.

Dave, seeing the opportunity, attacked from the other side. A heavy blow struck Ajisaka’s jaw, snapping his head back. Binar let out a small cry, her heart sinking as she watched her brother almost collapse. Yet, somehow, Ajisaka remained standing, though his body swayed with exhaustion.

"Stop... brother... stop...!" Binar screamed silently, though her voice never left her throat. She wanted her brother to stop, wanted all of this to end, but she knew Ajisaka would never surrender for her sake. Her small legs tried to move, but her body felt frozen.

Linda approached again, blood trickling from a wound on her temple. She swung the knife at Ajisaka once more, but this time he moved faster, blocking her attack with his battered metal pipe. Linda stumbled back, losing her balance, and with a reflexive movement, Ajisaka kicked her legs out from under her, sending her crashing to the floor.

For a moment, silence filled the room. Ajisaka stood, panting, his gaze fixed on Dave, who was still standing. But there was no time to think. Dave had already lunged again, this time with full force. The fight intensified, and Ajisaka knew he was at his limit.

"You’re going to die, boy," Dave growled, his fist driving into Ajisaka's stomach. Ajisaka dropped to the floor, blood streaming more heavily from his mouth. But once again, he stood up. This time, not just for himself, but for Binar.

"You won’t kill me that easily," Ajisaka replied, his voice low, filled with both despair and determination. His eyes locked with Dave’s, and for a moment, they both knew this was the endgame. Neither could predict who would be the last one standing.

Binar watched, her heart pounding. She had never seen Ajisaka like this before—so strong, yet so fragile. Each time Ajisaka was injured, she felt the pain as if it was her own. Her body still trembled, but a small hope began to bloom in her heart that maybe, just maybe, her brother could win.

Linda, still on the ground, began to rise. "We need to finish him now, Dave," she hissed, her voice hoarse with fury. "This kid has become a nuisance."

Ajisaka, blood dripping from every wound, still stood, still fought. They only saw a 16-year-old, but inside, he was far older than his years. Five years in the bunker had taught him survival, and today, he would show them he was not just a child they could dispose of.

Ajisaka struggled to stay upright, blood flowing relentlessly, yet he was still prepared to fight. Linda and Dave, now bruised and beginning to underestimate Ajisaka’s resilience, realized this boy was stronger than they had imagined. Their fight was nearing its peak, and no one could predict who would emerge victorious.