Chapter 25: Deadly Dance

Time seemed to slow down.

Saya's black katana sliced through the air, quick as lightning.

Mayu barely had time to retreat, feeling the blade graze her face.

Just one more millimeter, and she would be dead.

---

Saya gave her no respite.

She unleashed a flurry of attacks with surgical precision.

Every strike was fluid, calculated.

Every movement intended to kill.

Mayu barely parried in time.

Her arms screamed under the impact of the repeated blows.

But she couldn't retreat forever.

— You've lost your instinct, Mayu.

Saya smiled.

A cruel smile.

— It's disappointing.

Then, in an instant, she vanished.

---

One second.

One mistake.

Mayu felt a blade press against her throat.

Too fast.

Too strong.

She had lost.

Saya was about to slice—

When a chilling voice rose.

— Get away from her.

---

The stranger leaped from the shadows.

With a fluid motion, he intercepted Saya, their blades crossing in a shower of sparks.

Mayu didn't have time to comprehend.

In an instant, the roles had reversed.

Saya recoiled, her eyes narrowed.

— You…

The stranger didn't respond.

But his gaze was a promise of death.

---

The fight resumed.

Violent. Fast.

The blades clashed, strikes deflecting in rapid succession.

Saya had speed.

The stranger had technique.

Every attack was an exchange of lethal intentions.

Then…

Saya feinted.

Her katana slipped under the stranger's guard.

She was about to hit him.

A gunshot rang out.

---

Saya narrowly dodged, the bullet grazing her arm.

She pivoted…

And saw Akira, a smoking gun in hand.

— Did you forget I was here?

He smiled, despite the pain twisting his face.

Saya fixed her gaze on him for a moment…

Then she smiled in turn.

— Another time.

And, in a fraction of a second, she vanished into the shadows.

---

Silence.

Mayu gasped, her heart racing.

She was gone.

But she would return.

She always did.

The stranger sheathed his weapon and turned to Mayu.

— Now do you understand?

She looked up at him.

And this time, she knew.

This wasn't just a mission.

It was a war.

And the Professor wouldn't play anymore.

He intended to crush everything.