The Azure-eyed assassin

The bullet flew straight at Mayu.

A flash of metal.

A shockwave shattered the ground behind her.

Too fast.

She dodged by a hair's breadth, instinctively performing a backflip.

But the impact of the attack sent concrete shards flying into the air.

The wall behind her was pulverized.

— Tch…

She landed gracefully, but a dull pain throbbed in her left arm.

Akira didn't even have time to retaliate.

The enemy had already vanished.

No.

Not vanished.

Moved.

A motion in the shadows.

Mayu felt the air tremble before she even saw the strike coming.

She raised her knife reflexively.

**CLANG**

Her blade blocked a long, thin black sword.

The steel vibrated against hers.

She lifted her eyes.

And finally saw her opponent's face.

---

The Shadow of the Past

The man had a pale, severe face.

A tactical helmet obscured part of his features, but his eyes shone with a chilling blue.

A blue… identical to hers.

— Tch… Mayu gritted her teeth. Another clone?

The man said nothing.

His expression was impassive.

Then he struck again.

His sword whistled through the air, as fast as lightning.

Mayu could only retreat.

She was faster.

But he…

He was stronger.

Each blow resonated like a hammer on an anvil.

Each parry numbed her arms.

She retreated.

Again.

Until…

A detail struck her mind.

Her opponent didn't tremble.

His rhythm was perfect.

His movements… precise, mechanical.

Exactly like hers.

A flash tore through her memory.

---

Flashback: The Training

"Again."

The voice was cold. Inhuman.

Mayu, on her knees, breathless, gripped an identical sword.

Another child stood before her.

He had her eyes.

He had her face.

They fought relentlessly.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Until one of them fell.

One day, it was her.

Another day, it was him.

"You are weapons. One of you must become perfect."

Her clone.

The last opponent she had never managed to defeat.

---

Present

— You… Mayu breathed, her pupils dilated.

The man didn't flinch.

Then, he spoke for the first time.

— Subject 09. Objective: eliminate Subject 07.

Mayu felt a chilling shiver run down her spine.

— They sent you to kill me?

— Correction.

The man vanished.

A second later, Mayu felt a blade graze her neck.

— I'm here to finish what we started.