Chapter 37: Heart Against Perfection

Heavy breaths mingled with the crackling of broken screens.

Mayu and her double faced each other.

Mayu Zero, perfect, flawless.

Mayu, broken, exhausted… but alive.

A heavy silence stretched, then they moved simultaneously.

Their bodies collided with unimaginable violence.

The first exchange was a blur of punches and dodges.

Mayu Zero advanced like a lethal shadow, every one of her movements precise and relentless.

Her arm shot forward, aiming for Mayu's throat.

Mayu ducked just in time and countered with a knee strike.

But Mayu Zero blocked.

Her cold, emotionless gaze analyzed every movement with terrifying efficiency.

Mayu gritted her teeth.

She makes no mistakes.

She suddenly pivoted, executing a spinning strike with her knife.

The weapon sliced through the air, whistling toward her opponent's flank.

Mayu Zero stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blade.

But this time, Mayu was ready for it.

She instantly changed angles and struck with her elbow right into Mayu Zero's jaw.

Impact.

The hit made Mayu Zero stagger slightly.

It was minimal.

But it was a crack.

Mayu immediately followed up, diving forward.

She swept Mayu Zero's legs with explosive speed.

Her double anticipated the move and jumped to avoid…

But that was precisely what Mayu wanted.

She leaped as well and struck her opponent in the gut with her knee.

BOOM.

The shock resonated throughout the room.

Mayu Zero was thrown backward, sliding across the metallic floor.

She almost immediately rose again, but this time…

A trace of red beaded at the corner of her lips.

Mayu smiled as she wiped the blood from her forehead.

— So? It's not the same as in your simulations, is it?

Mayu Zero didn't respond immediately.

She stared at the blood on her fingers.

Then, without a word, she attacked again.

A breathtaking chain of strikes.

A right jab.

Mayu barely blocked, feeling her bones vibrate under the impact.

A sweep.

She jumped to dodge, but this time Mayu Zero anticipated.

She caught her foot mid-air and slammed it to the ground.

BOOM.

Mayu screamed in pain.

But she didn't get a moment's respite.

Mayu Zero lifted her by the collar and delivered a monstrous hook to her ribs.

A crack.

The pain exploded in her body like an electric shock.

She gasped, blood choking her throat.

Mayu Zero didn't stop.

She grabbed her arm and twisted it violently.

Mayu screamed.

Her vision blurred.

Another strike.

This time, a palm strike directly to her sternum.

Mayu felt her body lift under the impact before being sent flying across the room.

She smashed into a wall and collapsed to the floor.

Her breath came in ragged gasps.

Her muscles trembled.

She coughed up blood.

Damn… she is stronger than me.

Mayu Zero approached slowly, with not an ounce of emotion on her face.

— You cannot win, she stated simply.

Mayu panted, one hand on her burning ribs.

She lifted her head, her gaze burning with determination.

— Maybe…

She forced her body to rise.

— But you still don't understand why I fight… and that's why you're going to lose.

A moment of hesitation.

It was now or never.

Mayu clenched her fist.

Then, she charged.

The final assault began.