Kai stood at the edge of the empty parking lot, his fists clenched and his body tense. The air was still, heavy with anticipation. He glanced at the horizon, the sun dipping lower into the sky, casting long shadows across the asphalt. This was it. Ten days of brutal training had led him to this moment. Everything he’d endured, everything he’d sacrificed, had been for this fight.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the far side of the lot. Kai didn’t need to turn to know it was Hana. Her presence was palpable, like a storm rolling in, slow and deliberate. He felt her eyes on him, a piercing gaze that seemed to cut through the cool evening air. She was coming, and there was no turning back now.

“Right on time,” Hana said, her voice calm, almost amused as she approached. She was dressed simply, in dark athletic gear, her hair tied back in a tight ponytail. She looked at Kai with a slight smile, her expression unreadable, but her confidence was clear. This wasn’t just a fight to her—it was a lesson, a reminder of who had the upper hand.

Kai turned to face her, his heart pounding in his chest, but his resolve solid. “I said I’d be here, didn’t I?”

Hana raised an eyebrow, a small chuckle escaping her lips. “You always were stubborn, Kai. I’ll give you that.” She circled him slowly, her eyes taking in every detail. “But stubbornness doesn’t win fights.”

“We’ll see about that,” Kai muttered, tightening his fists, the knuckles turning white under the strain. He could feel the adrenaline surging through his veins, the instinct to fight ready to take over.

Hana stopped in front of him, her arms loosely at her sides. “So, this is what you want, huh? You really think you can take me without the Ledger? After everything you’ve seen?”

Kai glared at her, his jaw tightening. “I don’t need the Ledger to beat you. I’ve trained harder than I ever have in my life. I don’t care what you’ve got—this fight is happening.”

Hana tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. “You think training for ten days makes you my equal?” Her voice dropped, growing colder. “You think those hours in the gym can make up for what the Ledger can do?”

“I’m not using the Ledger. I’m not like you,” Kai shot back, his voice firm. His muscles tensed, preparing for the inevitable clash.

Hana’s smile faded, replaced by something darker, more serious. “That’s your first mistake. You think you can fight fair and win. You think strength alone is enough.” She shook her head, stepping closer, her tone sharpening. “But this world doesn’t care about fairness. The strong crush the weak, Kai. And you’re weak.”

The words stung, but Kai didn’t flinch. He had heard them before—from Hana, from Jin, from everyone who had ever doubted him. But this time, he was ready. This time, he wasn’t going to let those words define him.

“I’m not weak,” Kai said through gritted teeth, his eyes locked on hers. “Not anymore.”

Hana sighed, a hint of disappointment in her voice. “I was hoping you’d see sense. But I guess you’ll have to learn the hard way.”

Without another word, Hana’s foot shot forward in a sharp, precise movement, aiming a roundhouse kick directly at Kai’s midsection. It was fast—faster than he expected. But Kai had spent the last ten days preparing for this. His reflexes kicked in, and he managed to sidestep the attack, the force of her kick brushing past him.

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He didn’t waste a second. Using the momentum of his dodge, Kai launched a counterattack, throwing a right hook aimed at Hana’s jaw. But Hana was ready. She ducked under his punch with a grace that seemed almost effortless, her movements fluid and practiced.

“You’ve gotten faster,” she remarked, her tone casual, as if they weren’t in the middle of a fight. “But you’re still too predictable.”

Kai didn’t respond. He couldn’t afford to. His mind was racing, analyzing every move, every possible opening. He threw a quick jab, followed by a low kick aimed at Hana’s legs, but she danced away, her movements light and agile. She was toying with him, he realized. Testing him.

“Come on, Kai,” Hana said, her voice mocking now. “You’re going to have to do better than that if you want to stand a chance.”

Kai gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. He lunged forward, aiming a powerful kick at her midsection, but Hana anticipated it. She sidestepped again, grabbing his outstretched leg and twisting it with expert precision.

Pain shot through Kai’s body as Hana yanked his leg, throwing him off balance. He stumbled, barely managing to keep himself from falling.

“You’re too reckless,” Hana said, releasing his leg and stepping back. “You’re relying on brute force, but that’s not enough.”

Kai steadied himself, the pain in his leg throbbing, but he refused to back down. He couldn’t let Hana get inside his head. Not now. He forced himself to focus, to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside him. He had trained for this. He could do this.

He moved in again, this time more cautiously, his stance lower and his movements controlled. He threw a feint, a quick jab to distract her, and followed it with a swift kick aimed at her side.

For a moment, it looked like the kick would land, but Hana reacted at the last second, blocking the attack with her forearm. The impact sent a jolt of pain up Kai’s leg, but he didn’t retreat. Instead, he pressed forward, throwing a series of punches, each one faster and more precise than the last.

Hana blocked most of them, but one punch slipped through her guard, connecting with her shoulder. She staggered back, her eyes narrowing as she regained her balance.

“Not bad,” she said, her voice cold now. “But you’re still not thinking. You’re just reacting.”

Kai didn’t reply. He couldn’t let her words distract him. He had to keep his focus.

Hana’s expression darkened, her playful demeanor gone. “Alright, Kai. Let’s see how you handle this.”

She moved faster than before, her attacks sharper, more aggressive. Kai barely had time to react as Hana closed the distance between them, her fists flying in a blur of motion. He blocked the first few punches, but she was relentless, her strikes coming from every angle.

A punch slipped past his guard, landing squarely in his ribs. Kai gasped, the air knocked out of him, but he didn’t stop. He threw a wild punch, hoping to catch her off guard, but Hana ducked under it and swept his legs out from under him in one fluid motion.

Kai hit the ground hard, his back slamming against the asphalt. Pain radiated through his body, but he forced himself to get up, his vision swimming. He couldn’t stay down. Not now.

Hana stood over him, her eyes cold and calculating. “Stay down, Kai. You’re only going to hurt yourself.”

Kai wiped the blood from his mouth, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “No,” he said, his voice hoarse but defiant. “I’m not giving up.”

Hana sighed, a look of disappointment crossing her face. “You really are stubborn, aren’t you?”

She reached down, grabbing him by the collar and hauling him to his feet. Kai winced as her grip tightened, but he didn’t struggle. He met her gaze, his eyes burning with determination.

“You’re going to regret this,” Hana said softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Kai didn’t flinch. “Maybe,” he said. “But at least I’ll go down fighting.”

Hana’s grip loosened, and for a moment, there was something like pity in her eyes. But then her expression hardened, and she shoved him back.

“Fine,” she said, her voice cold again. “Let’s finish this.”

Kai braced himself, knowing that the real fight was about to begin. Hana wasn’t holding back anymore. This was it—the moment he had been preparing for. The moment he would prove to her, to himself, that he could stand his ground.

He squared his shoulders, raising his fists. The pain in his body faded into the background as the adrenaline surged through him. This was his fight. He wasn’t going to lose. Not to her. Not to anyone.