Kai’s knuckles ached as he tightened his fists, the sting of his earlier strikes still lingering in his bones. Hana’s eyes bore into him, sharp and unyielding. The intensity in her gaze told him that this was no longer a game. The time for holding back was over.

"You’re persistent, I’ll give you that," Hana said, her tone eerily calm as she slowly circled him, her movements fluid, almost predatory. "But persistence alone won’t win this."

Kai’s breath was heavy, his body already showing signs of wear and tear, but his spirit was far from broken. He squared his shoulders, never breaking eye contact with her. "You keep saying that. But you haven’t beaten me yet."

Hana’s smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Don’t mistake endurance for strength, Kai. The real test is how long you can keep going before you break."

She lunged at him, her speed almost inhuman. Kai barely had time to react, his instincts driving him to sidestep her punch. But Hana was fast—too fast. She shifted her weight mid-attack, catching him off guard as her knee came up and slammed into his side. The impact sent a sharp wave of pain radiating through Kai’s ribs.

He grunted, staggering backward but keeping his balance. His vision blurred slightly, but he didn’t let it slow him down. He had been training for this—every punch, every bruise was part of his preparation.

"You’re getting predictable," Hana said, her voice laced with a hint of boredom. "You think brute force and a few weeks of training can make you a fighter? I’ve been doing this for years."

"Then why haven’t you finished me yet?" Kai shot back, his tone more confident than he felt. The pain in his ribs was growing worse, but he couldn’t let her see it. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

Hana’s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "You think you’re clever. But you’re only delaying the inevitable."

With a sudden burst of energy, Kai launched forward, using the momentum to deliver a swift jab aimed at Hana’s head. She dodged, but this time, Kai was ready for her counterattack. He feinted to the left, drawing her guard, then delivered a low kick to her legs.

The kick connected, but Hana barely faltered. She spun with the impact, using the motion to aim a backhand strike at Kai’s temple. He ducked, feeling the rush of air as her fist sailed past his head.

"You’re learning," Hana said, a glint of amusement in her eyes now. "But you’re still slow."

Kai didn’t respond. He couldn’t waste breath on words. Instead, he focused on controlling his breathing, steadying his stance. He had to pace himself. The longer the fight dragged on, the more Hana would press her advantage.

Hana stepped in closer, her strikes becoming sharper, more deliberate. She aimed a series of quick punches at Kai’s midsection, each one designed to exploit the damage she had already inflicted. Kai blocked what he could, but some punches slipped through, landing with sickening thuds against his torso.

Each hit sent fresh jolts of pain through him, but Kai grit his teeth, refusing to back down. He swung wildly, trying to regain control of the fight, but Hana was too skilled. She ducked under his punch and countered with an elbow to his sternum. Kai gasped, stumbling backward.

"Your anger’s getting the better of you," Hana said, her voice low as she took slow, measured steps toward him. "That’s always been your problem. You fight like you’ve got something to prove. But real strength—real control—it comes from knowing when to strike."

Kai glared at her, his breathing ragged. "And what’s your excuse? You use the Ledger to control people. How’s that any better than fighting with anger?"

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Hana’s expression darkened, her jaw tightening. "I use the Ledger to survive. I do what I have to. You’re too naïve to understand that."

"Maybe," Kai said, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, "but at least I don’t hide behind it."

Hana’s eyes flashed with something—anger, maybe. Or perhaps it was something deeper, something Kai couldn’t quite place. Whatever it was, it only seemed to fuel her resolve. She darted forward, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Kai barely had time to react as her fist came crashing toward him.

This time, though, he was ready. Kai deflected her punch, pivoting on his heel to throw her off balance. For the first time in the fight, Hana stumbled, if only for a second. It was all the opening Kai needed. He followed through with a hard punch to her side, the impact forcing her to take a step back.

Hana winced, but quickly composed herself, her expression icy. "You’re getting cocky," she said through gritted teeth. "Don’t let one lucky hit get to your head."

"I’m not done yet," Kai shot back, his confidence growing despite the pain coursing through his body. He knew he couldn’t outlast her in a battle of endurance, but he didn’t need to. All he needed was one decisive strike.

Hana’s fists tightened, her demeanor shifting from casual to deadly serious. She wasn’t going to toy with him any longer. Kai could see it in her eyes—the cold, calculating determination of someone who had fought countless battles and won them all.

"You think you’re ready?" Hana asked, her voice low and dangerous. "You think you can handle what’s coming next?"

Kai didn’t answer. He simply readied himself, focusing on his breathing, calming his mind. His muscles screamed in protest, his body teetering on the edge of exhaustion. But he wasn’t going to stop. Not now.

Hana’s next attack came like a whirlwind. She was faster than before, her strikes more precise, more vicious. Kai barely managed to keep up, blocking and dodging where he could, but Hana was relentless. She aimed a punch at his face, which he barely deflected, only for her to sweep his legs out from under him with a low kick.

Kai hit the ground hard, his back slamming against the pavement. He gasped, the air knocked from his lungs. Hana loomed over him, her expression unreadable.

"This is the difference between us," Hana said softly, her voice almost gentle now. "You fight with heart, but heart won’t save you from reality."

Kai glared up at her, pain flashing through his body. "Maybe not," he wheezed, struggling to catch his breath. "But it’s the only thing that’s kept me going."

Hana’s gaze softened, just for a moment, but it was gone as quickly as it came. "You’ve fought well, Kai. Better than I expected. But it’s time to end this."

She raised her fist, ready to deliver the final blow.

But Kai wasn’t finished. In a last-ditch effort, he kicked out, catching Hana off guard and knocking her backward. He scrambled to his feet, his body screaming in protest, but his mind focused only on one thing—survival.

Hana steadied herself, her eyes narrowing. "You’re still fighting? You really don’t know when to quit, do you?"

Kai wiped the sweat and blood from his face, his chest heaving. "I’ll quit when I’m dead."

Hana smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Fine. Let’s see how far you’re willing to go."

They clashed again, their fists flying, the sound of their blows echoing in the empty lot. Kai could feel his body breaking down with every punch, but he refused to stop. His mind screamed at him to give in, to let the pain wash over him, but his heart wouldn’t allow it. Not yet. Not until he had given everything.

Hana’s strikes were brutal, her movements faster and sharper than before. She wasn’t holding back any longer. Every punch, every kick was meant to end him. But somehow, through sheer willpower, Kai stayed on his feet, blocking, dodging, and countering when he could.

The fight dragged on, each moment feeling like an eternity. Kai’s vision blurred, his body trembling with exhaustion. Hana was relentless, a force of nature that seemed unstoppable. But Kai wouldn’t give in. He couldn’t.

With a final burst of energy, Kai threw a wild punch, catching Hana off guard. The blow landed squarely on her jaw, sending her stumbling back. Kai staggered forward, ready to follow through, but his legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Hana wiped the blood from her lip, her eyes narrowed as she watched him struggle to rise. "You’re done, Kai. Stay down. It’s over."

But Kai shook his head, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Not yet."

Hana stepped closer, her expression unreadable. "Then get up. If you can."

Kai tried to push himself up, his arms trembling, but his body refused to cooperate. He collapsed again, his breath ragged.

Hana sighed, kneeling beside him. "You fought well. But you need to learn when to stop."

Kai looked up at her, his vision swimming. "I’ll... never stop."

For a moment, Hana said nothing. Then, softly, she replied, "I know."