Chapter 29: The Ultimate Truth

Silence weighed heavily.

Only the hurried footsteps of Mayu, Akira, and the stranger echoed in the narrow tunnel.

The smoke from the grenade was dissipating behind them, but they were not yet safe.

Mayu stumbled.

The poison continued its work.

She felt her muscles tightening, her breath becoming heavier.

Every step was a struggle.

Akira, though injured, forced himself to support her.

— Hang in there, Mayu…

But she wasn't really listening.

An image haunted her mind.

Saya.

Her cold, calculating gaze.

Her words.

— Finally, I recognize you.

Why?

Why did Saya seem to know more about her than she did herself?

She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the pain.

She needed to know.

And there was someone who held those answers.

She looked up at the stranger.

---

This man…

He had been guiding them from the start.

But he had not yet introduced himself.

And he fought like someone who knew the enemy.

An ex-member of Project Azur?

Or worse…

Someone directly linked to the Professor?

— You're going to talk now, Mayu said, her voice hoarse.

The stranger didn't respond immediately.

Then he slowed his pace.

— Do you really want to know who I am?

Mayu furrowed her brows.

— Stop with the riddles.

The man sighed… then removed his hood.

A brutal shock.

Mayu's eyes widened.

Blurred memories returned.

A fuzzy face…

A distant voice…

And a name.

Haru.

Her eyes went wide.

— Impossible…

Her heart tightened.

— You were… dead.

Haru fixed her with an impassive gaze.

— That's what they made you believe.

---

Mayu staggered.

She had grown up thinking she was alone.

That all the other subjects of Project Azur had been eliminated.

But Haru was here. Alive.

Why?

Why had he never shown himself before?

— Why… are you here now? she asked, her throat tight.

Haru averted his gaze slightly.

— Because the Professor has decided that the project must be… reactivated.

He locked his eyes with hers.

— And you are the centerpiece of this revival.

A chilling shiver ran down Mayu's spine.

---

But she didn't have time to process the information.

A metallic beep echoed.

Then a synthetic voice resonated through the tunnel.

— Targets detected.

The ground trembled.

Mayu, Akira, and Haru looked up.

Combat drones emerged from the walls of the tunnel.

Behind them, armed silhouettes blocked the exit.

An ambush.

— Damn, they found us! Akira hissed.

Haru tightened his grip on his katana.

— Get ready.

The fight was on.

---

The drones opened fire.

Shots rang out in the narrow tunnel.

Mayu dodged reflexively, despite the pain.

Akira took cover, drawing his pistol.

Bang! Bang!

Two precise shots took down a drone.

But at least six remained.

And the Professor's men were already advancing.

---

Haru moved like a shadow.

He leaped onto the first soldier, slicing his throat in a fluid motion.

A strangled cry.

Then he continued.

His katana traced perfect arcs, taking down enemies one by one.

But Mayu was not to be outdone.

Her body moved almost instinctively.

Memories returned in fragments.

Training.

A white room.

Orders shouted.

"Again! Faster!"

And in that moment, she understood.

She had never forgotten how to fight.

It was etched into her flesh.

A drone dove at her.

She pivoted and sliced through its circuits with a sharp motion.

A bluish spark.

The drone crashed to the ground.

She gasped.

But she held firm.

---

Only three soldiers remained.

Akira rose, gripping his knife tightly.

Haru charged.

A flash of steel.

The first enemy fell, throat open.

Mayu lunged at the second, driving her blade into his chest.

The last, paralyzed with fear, tried to flee.

Bang!

A bullet pinned him to the ground.

Akira lowered his weapon, breathless.

Then…

Silence.

---

Mayu dropped to her knees.

Her arm still burned.

The poison coursed through her.

She felt her strength waning.

Haru crouched in front of her.

— We need to treat you quickly.

She raised an exhausted gaze.

— If… if this project restarts…

She clenched her fists.

— The Professor will create more like me.

She locked her eyes with Haru's.

— We have to stop him.

Haru stared at her for a long moment.

Then…

He smiled coldly.

— That's why I came to find you.

He extended his hand.

— Ready to destroy everything that created you, Mayu?

She took a deep breath…

Then she grasped his hand.