The crowd roared like thunder.

I stood in the center of the ring, blood dripping from my split lip, my opponent unconscious at my feet. The referee grabbed my arm and raised it high.

“Winner! SERA

The noise crashed over me. Cheering, Screaming. Money changing hands. But I felt nothing.

Just the burn in my lungs. The ache in my ribs. The metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

Good. Pain was good. Pain meant I wasn’t thinking.

“Jesus Christ, Sera.” Rico appeared beside me, pressing a towel against my bleeding eyebrow. “You trying to kill yourself out there?”

“I won, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but barely.” He guided me toward my corner, his grip tight on my arm. “You took way too many hits. What the hell were you

thinking?”

I wasn’t. That was the point.

The medic appeared with his kit, dabbing at the cut above my eye. I flinched but didn’t pull away.

“This needs stitches,” the medic said.

“Later.” I grabbed the towel from Rico, wiping blood from my face. “When’s my next fight?”


Rico stared at me. “Your next–Sera, you just finished a fight. A brutal one. You need rest.”

“I don’t need rest. I need another match.”

“Tomorrow night. But seriously, you should–”

“Good. Sign me up.”

He opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. His eyes scanned my face, seeing too much.

“You’re going to burn out at this rate,” he said quietly.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You’ve fought six times in two weeks. That’s insane even for you.” Rico crossed his arms. “What’s going on?”

I just

leaned closer.

37.60

<

189 Chapter 189


nothing to talk about.” I stood up, ignoring the way my

for a long moment. Then he sighed. “Nine PM. But Sera? You need to be careful. This pace…

“I’ll be fine.”

of the ring, my body screaming in protest. Every muscle ached.

Perfect.

room was empty when I got there. I stripped off my gloves and wraps, wincing as the tape pulled

like hell. New bruises blooming across my cheekbone. Split lip.

exactly

Broken.

it. Don’t think.

on the shower as hot as it would go and stepped under the spray. The water

welcomed it.

the


wouldn’t cooperate. It kept drifting back to

against the shower tiles, letting the water pound against

course he moved on. What did

at my

skin was red and raw. I pulled on clean clothes with mechanical movements. Jeans. T–shirt. Hoodie to

bruises.

was waiting when I

me,” he

It wasn’t a request.

the warehouse in silence, past other fighters warming up,

of sweat

news,” Rico

“What kind of news?”

Maybe.” He glanced at

17:06

214

189 Chapter 189

frowned. “What

fighters this circuit has

talk? It attracts attention.”

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