Chapter 22: The Gears of Destiny
The Professor's finger pressed the trigger.
The barrel was aimed at Mayu.
She saw her own death.
She felt time slow down.
Then—
A sword slash sliced through the air.
---
**CLANG!**
The impact deflected the shot, the bullet lost in the wall behind her.
The Professor barely had time to retreat before Akira charged at him.
— Don't touch her, you bastard!
His sword sliced through the air with fury.
But the Professor was quick.
Too quick.
He dodged every attack with an unnatural fluidity, as if he were dancing.
His smile didn't waver.
— What a show.
With almost lazy precision, he pulled out a second gun and aimed at Akira.
---
**BANG!**
Another bullet fired.
But before it could reach Akira…
Someone interposed.
A body appeared like a shadow.
An arm rose.
And the bullet was deflected by a black blade.
The Professor arched an eyebrow.
— Oh?
---
A new arrival.
A man in a long dark coat, his face partially hidden under a hood.
His cold gaze fell on Mayu.
— Get up.
His voice left no room for hesitation.
Mayu, still on the ground, stared at him, still in shock.
She recognized that voice.
A voice from the past.
Someone who shouldn't have been there.
Her heart tightened.
— You…
The stranger didn't look away.
— If you want to live, get up.
---
The Professor chuckled.
— How interesting…
He took a step back, calmly putting away his weapon.
— We'll stop here for today.
Mayu gritted her teeth.
— Why? she spat.
Why when he had the upper hand?
Why when he could finish her right here and now?
His smile widened.
— Because the game is just beginning.
---
A sound of detonation.
But this time, it wasn't a gunshot.
An explosion rang out at the other end of the building.
A cloud of smoke engulfed the corridor.
Mayu felt a hand grab her.
— Move!
The stranger yanked her violently backward.
Akira followed without hesitation as the smoke swallowed their silhouettes.
The Professor, however, didn't move.
He watched them disappear, still smiling.
Then, slowly, he turned on his heel.
The game was far from over.