Scene: Quarterfinals – Central Ring
The tension in the stadium could be sliced with a blade. Two girls stood on opposite sides of the mat.
On the left: Han Areum. Bruised but burning with resolve.
On the right: Rael. Calm, graceful… unnervingly perfect.
The announcer's voice thundered:
> "Quarterfinal Match! Han Areum versus Rael!"
The referee raised his hand.
> "Begin!"
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Opening Exchange
Areum exploded forward with a textbook front kick. Rael dodged effortlessly, sliding to the side and countering with a high roundhouse kick—Areum barely blocked it.
> "She's faster than yesterday," Areum thought.
They exchanged blows in rapid succession—Rael's movements mechanical, flawless. Areum's, rougher, but fueled with grit.
The crowd was stunned. Two students—both with elegance and power. But Rael's strikes had a sharper edge, a precision that seemed… unnatural.
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Middle Round – Control Shift
Rael landed a clean blow to Areum's ribs, causing her to stumble. The referee didn't stop the match.
"What's wrong?" Rael whispered as she stepped closer. "Losing to the better version of yourself?"
Areum gritted her teeth. "You're not me."
She charged again. This time, she ducked under Rael's kick—pivoted—and slammed her heel into Rael's thigh.
A hit.
Rael blinked in shock. A slight stutter in her stance.
> She can be hurt.
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Flashback – The Night Before
MC: "Her movements aren't flawless. They're programmed. Predictable. If you stop reacting—and start calculating—she'll fall apart."
Areum: "So I fight her like I'd fight you?"
MC: "…Exactly."
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Final Exchange – Heart Over Code
Rael came in with a flying side kick—Areum sidestepped, grabbing her arm mid-air and flipping her. The crowd gasped.
Rael scrambled back up—but her rhythm was broken.
Areum's eyes were focused now. Cold. Determined.
Every strike, every dodge—she was leading Rael into a trap.
And then—
—A spinning back kick to the chest.
Rael hit the ground.
Three seconds passed.
She didn't move.
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Victory: Han Areum.
The crowd exploded in cheers.
But Rael didn't rise.
The referee called medics, and as Rael was lifted away, her eyes flickered toward the MC.
He stood expressionless.
> She's not stable yet, he thought.
But she'll learn.
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Final Panel: Areum Exiting the Ring
She didn't smile. She didn't celebrate.
She simply walked past Rael's stretcher, stopped for a second… and whispered:
> "You'll never be me."
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