Chapter 81: The Decisive Battle is on Sunday (4)

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Translator: Soafp

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The underground parking lot is cool and damp. The unfinished concrete walls have a slight sheen of moisture, reflecting the dull light faintly. The sound of Kyoko’s heels hitting the hard floor is the only noise breaking the silence of the space.

Her slow steps are an intentional act to let her guard down, a deliberate performance. She can feel Akutsu's presence following her without turning around. His gaze pierces her back, and the pressure is so cold it feels like it could freeze her.

Though she maintains a calm demeanor, a slight tremor remains in her fingertips. At the far end of the parking lot, in the shadows, is Koda's car, where Marin and Kagura are hiding. Normally, the car would be inconspicuous, a plain sedan. But tonight, it's the focal point of their plan.

Marin holds her phone tightly and plays a prerecorded sound of a security alarm. She exchanges a glance with Kagura, nodding slightly, and the high-pitched alarm rings through the underground space.

The mechanical sound echoes off the concrete, disorienting the senses. Before they could pinpoint the source of the sound, Akutsu's steps falter. Kyoko doesn't miss this. Akutsu, still moving steadily, approaches Koda’s car cautiously, but the hazard lights remain unresponsive to the alarm. The unnatural stillness twists his lips into a faint smirk.

“What's this? What are you trying to do with such a childish trick…?”

His voice, low and mocking, echoes in the underground.

Akutsu halts and senses Kyoko's presence behind him.

“Is that it? You can see through everything?”

Kyoko smiles, trying to appear nonchalant. But the subtle tension in her eyes isn't lost on Akutsu.

Akutsu's lips curl into a grin.

“Bringing you here was the goal in itself. There's no problem with that.”

Kyoko responds lightly, but beneath her words, her resolve is firm.

Akutsu, however, doesn't seem to care and shrugs with a laugh.

“No problem? You've misunderstood.”

Kyoko glares at him and asks sharply.

“What…?”

Akutsu's lips curl again, and an arrogant smile appears.

“Is this your attempt at holding me off? Sorry, but that's impossible… I'll get everything from you right now, and I'll return to my room in no time. The problem is on your side.”

With that, Akutsu carelessly tosses off his jacket. His physique, visible even through his shirt, is muscular, with no excess fat. His body is a solid mass of strength, like armor.

Despite seeing this, Kyoko doesn't drop her smile. But the slight unease hidden beneath her composure hasn't gone unnoticed by Akutsu.

At that moment, Marin and Kagura, who were hiding in the shadows, rush towards the exit of the parking lot. They sprint as fast as they can. Akutsu's eyes gleam with sharp focus.

“You think you can get away…?”

Akutsu moves with terrifying speed. But Kyoko steps in front of him, blocking his path.

“You're dealing with me now…!”

Her voice echoes sharply. Akutsu's smile widens.

“Not a chance!”

In an instant, he closes the gap between them. His punch is fast, a brutal one-two combination followed by a spinning kick. Kyoko narrowly dodges the punch and avoids the kick, then crouches low, spinning, and delivers a sharp water-surface kick.

However, Akutsu seems to anticipate it, leaping effortlessly into the air and retaliating with a flying kick.

Kyoko blocks the kick with her arms, but the force sends her crashing backward. She slides on the floor but immediately regains her stance, panting, though she doesn't let her guard down.

Akutsu steps forward with the rhythm of boxing, analyzing Kyoko's movements.

“Karate, huh?”

Kyoko smirks and retorts.

“Then you're into mixed martial arts?”

Their eyes lock in a fierce exchange, sparks flying in the tension. In the next instant, Akutsu charges with rapid jabs, and Kyoko uses her karate technique to deflect them, striking with an elbow and palm strike in quick succession.

But Akutsu dodges effortlessly, as though he can see through all her moves. Undeterred, Kyoko moves in and lands a sharp knee kick.

Still, Akutsu catches it easily with both hands.

“Tch…!”

Kyoko clicks her tongue and tries to back away, but Akutsu doesn't give her the chance. He grabs her knee and lifts her forcefully, slamming her back onto the hard concrete floor.

“Ugh…!”

A dull sound rings through the parking lot as Kyoko is thrown down, the impact making her twist slightly in pain.

Akutsu's combat experience and overwhelming strength are evident. The confident smile vanishes from Kyoko's face.

“What's wrong? Are you out of breath now?”

Akutsu grins smugly, looking down at her.

“Hah!”

Kyoko cries out, slashing through the air as she dives into Akutsu's range. Without hesitation, she delivers a straight punch, but Akutsu sidesteps with a slight shift of his weight, swatting her punch aside and countering with a hook from the other hand.

Kyoko narrowly avoids the blow by twisting her neck, then uses her position to spin and aim an elbow strike. But Akutsu had already predicted her next move. Before the elbow can land, he grabs her upper arm and sweeps her legs, throwing her off balance.

—Thud.

The sound of Kyoko's knee hitting the floor echoes. She tries to stand immediately, but Akutsu's knee strike lands without mercy. Kyoko crosses her arms to defend, stepping backward, but there's nowhere to retreat. She's trapped against the wall.

Even so, Kyoko doesn't falter. She uses the wall to her advantage, deflecting his kick and countering with a low kick aimed at his supporting leg. Her strike lands firmly on Akutsu's leg.

Yet, Akutsu's expression remains unchanged. He shifts his weight and brings his fist crashing down.

Kyoko rolls to the side just in time to avoid the blow, but Akutsu quickly closes the distance, his relentless assault never ceasing. Jab, straight, hook, knee strike. The barrage of attacks pushes Kyoko to her limits. She deflects, absorbs, and dodges, but she struggles to find an opening for a counterattack.

Gradually, her movements become sluggish. Her breathing shallow, her arms heavy. Akutsu notices the change instantly.

“What's wrong? Is that it…?”

He grins, but his eyes are cold, like a predator cornering its prey. Kyoko's vision starts to blur slightly as she searches desperately for a chance to fight back.

(At this rate… I'll be overwhelmed…)

A sense of growing desperation begins to spread through Kyoko's chest, consuming her from within.