Chapter 38: The Final Assault

The clash of bodies echoed throughout the ruined laboratory.

Mayu and Mayu Zero.

Two opposing forces, one driven by perfection, the other by an indomitable will.

Mayu gasped, her breath ragged.

Her body was on fire.

Her arms trembled under the pain of the blows she had taken.

But she couldn't fall now.

She gripped her knife, the blade covered in her own blood.

Mayu Zero remained impassive.

She slowly advanced, her cold eyes analyzing every movement of Mayu.

Then, in a single step… she vanished.

Mayu sensed the danger before she even saw the strike coming.

Her instincts screamed.

She ducked just in time.

A hand sliced above her, cutting through the air.

Then a monstrous sidekick.

Mayu raised her arms in a cross to block…

Impact.

A shockwave exploded within her body.

She was propelled backward, rolling across the metallic floor.

Her breath caught.

Her ribs felt like they were on fire.

She grimaced.

Damn, she's fast…

Mayu Zero was already upon her.

Her fist sliced through the air.

Mayu rolled to the side.

BOOM.

The floor exploded beneath the strike.

Metal shards flew in all directions.

Mayu sprang to her feet.

She stepped back, her gaze fixed on her double.

She couldn't afford a mistake.

Her mind raced, analyzing the fight.

She's faster. Stronger. More precise.

But…

She squinted.

She doesn't fight with instinct.

She executes patterns.

Mayu felt her heart pound.

This was her only chance.

She attacked.

With a fluid motion, she threw her knife directly at Mayu Zero's face.

A trap.

Mayu Zero dodged exactly as planned, tilting her head by a few millimeters.

Now!

Mayu lunged forward.

She caught her own knife mid-flight.

Mayu Zero tried to retreat, but it was too late.

The blade sank slightly into her shoulder.

Her body tensed under the impact.

A first drop of red stained her outfit.

Her eyes widened.

She hadn't anticipated that.

She couldn't have predicted it.

Mayu smiled despite the pain.

— You're not infallible.

Mayu Zero stepped back.

She touched the wound, observing her own blood.

For the first time… she hesitated.

Her cold gaze flickered slightly.

Mayu felt a spark of hope.

But she didn't have time to react.

Mayu Zero raised her head, and her eyes changed.

A flash of terrifying intensity.

In an instant, she vanished.

Mayu didn't even have time to see the attack.

She only felt a searing pain explode in her abdomen.

BOOM.

Her body was lifted off the ground and thrown backward.

She slammed into a wall.

Breathless.

Her vision blurred.

She collapsed to the floor, unable to move.

Blood trickled from her lip.

Mayu Zero approached slowly.

Her gaze had returned to cold.

— You cannot win.

She raised her hand.

A bluish spark crackled in it.

A shiver ran through Mayu.

No… not again…

Her mind screamed, her body refused to move.

Then, a flash.

A distant memory.

A voice.

— Get up.

Mayu opened her eyes.

A new spark burned within them.

She moved.

Mayu Zero lowered her palm, the energy surged.

But this time…

Mayu was already gone.