Chapter 33: On The Edge of The Abyss

Mayu lunged, knife forward, aiming for the clone's throat. But, as before, he anticipated her move. He sidestepped with a simple motion and seized her wrist mid-air.

A brutal impact.

Mayu felt her arm twist as she was thrown to the ground. A searing pain shot through her shoulder, but she immediately rolled to the side to avoid the foot that came crashing down where she had just been.

— You're slow, her opponent murmured.

She gritted her teeth. This wasn't mere taunting. It was a fact.

He was faster. Stronger. More efficient.

Haru and Akira were still on the ground. Akira struggled to rise despite his unusable arm, while Haru was panting, blood trickling from his temple.

She was alone.

Her opponent wasted no time for her to think. He lunged at her with terrifying speed, his fist aimed at her stomach. Mayu barely had time to cross her arms in defense. The impact lifted her off the ground and slammed her against a metal wall.

She coughed up blood.

Her body screamed to stop, but her mind refused to give in.

She propped herself on one knee, raising her gaze filled with burning determination.

The enemy stopped a few meters away, staring at her.

— Why do you resist? he asked in a cold voice.

Mayu wiped the blood from the corner of her lips and managed a bitter smile.

— Because I'm not a machine like you.

Something flashed in the clone's eyes. Almost… hesitation.

Mayu felt her heart race.

He wasn't just a tool of the Professor. He was someone.

She clenched her fists.

— You feel something, don't you?

The clone didn't respond. But his silence spoke volumes.

She leaned against the wall to stand up.

— I wasn't meant to survive either. I was just a prototype. A failure. But look at me… I'm here.

The enemy didn't move.

Then, slowly, he lowered his fists slightly.

— It's impossible…

Haru, still on the ground, understood what was happening. He murmured:

— Keep going, Mayu…

She took a step forward.

— What they did to you… They tried to erase me too. But I found my own existence. You can too…

— No.

The clone moved so quickly that Mayu had no time to react. In an instant, his hand was around her throat, lifting her off the ground.

His blue gaze shone with a troubled light, but his voice was hard.

— You're trying to manipulate me.

Mayu struggled to breathe, but his grip was unyielding. Black spots danced before her eyes.

She had no strength left.

Was this… the end?

Suddenly, a gunshot shattered the air.

The clone recoiled, releasing Mayu.

A bullet had struck him in the shoulder.

Akira, still on the ground, held a stolen weapon from a guard, his gaze blazing with defiance.

— Let her go…

The clone looked at the wound. Dark fluid seeped from the injury. He gritted his teeth and slowly stepped back.

His gaze met Mayu's one last time.

— This isn't over.

Then he vanished into the shadows.

Silence fell once more.

Mayu collapsed to her knees, breathless.

Akira and Haru joined her, injured but standing.

— He's gone… murmured Haru.

Mayu fixed her gaze on the spot where her opponent had vanished.

She knew this fight was just the beginning.

The clone would return.

And next time, he would not hold back.