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?”

going on. I just want

closer.

37.60

<

189 Chapter 189


about.” I stood up, ignoring the way my legs shook. “I’ll be here tomorrow. What

studied me for a long moment. Then he sighed. “Nine PM. But Sera?

“I’ll be fine.”

protest. Every muscle ached. My head throbbed. My

Perfect.

got there. I stripped off my gloves and wraps,

New bruises blooming across my cheekbone. Split lip. Cut eyebrow still bleeding through the

looked exactly how I

Broken.

it. Don’t think. Just

it would go and stepped under the spray. The water burned against my cuts

welcomed it.

the


wouldn’t cooperate. It kept drifting back

I pressed my forehead against the shower

he moved on. What did

soap stung when I scrubbed at

the time I got out, my skin was red and raw. I pulled

bruises.

waiting when

with me,”

It wasn’t a request.

silence, past other fighters warming up, past equipment and heavy bags and the

of sweat and

got some news,” Rico said

“What kind of news?”

Maybe.” He glanced at

17:06

214

189 Chapter 189

“What kind of

kind that says you’re one of the best female fighters this circuit has ever

talk? It attracts attention.”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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