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

He leaned closer.

37.60

<

189 Chapter 189


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

“Nine PM.

“I’ll be fine.”

out of the ring, my body screaming in protest. Every muscle ached. My head throbbed. My knuckles were raw and bloody

Perfect.

I stripped off my gloves and

reflection in the mirror looked like hell. New bruises blooming across my cheekbone. Split lip. Cut eyebrow still bleeding through the butterfly bandage. Dark circles under

exactly how I

Broken.

it. Don’t

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

welcomed it.

Focus on the pain.


drifting back

tightened. I pressed my forehead against the shower tiles, letting the water pound against my

moved on. Of course he moved

soap stung when I scrubbed at my face. Good. I

skin was red and raw. I pulled on clean clothes with mechanical movements. Jeans.

bruises.

waiting when I

me,”

It wasn’t a request.

fighters warming up, past equipment and heavy

of sweat and

news,” Rico

“What kind of news?”

kind. Maybe.” He glanced at me. “There’s been talk.

17:06

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189 Chapter 189

frowned. “What kind

says you’re one of the best female fighters this circuit has ever seen.” He stopped near the back exit. “And

talk? It attracts attention.”

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

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