ch 23 : lin vs oni (3)

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System Notification: "Congratulations, user has unlocked UI Mode!"

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Gun's eyes narrowed as he realized what was happening. Lin's aura had shifted, becoming something more dangerous, more precise. It was like watching a beast hone its instincts into something razor-sharp. "But you're not a Yamaz—" Gun's protest was cut short as Lin's fist connected with his jaw, the impact echoing through the air with a bone-crunching sound.

The blow sent Gun staggering back, struggling to maintain his balance. He tasted blood in his mouth, a bitter reminder that he had underestimated his opponent. But he wasn't about to be intimidated. "Just like I said, you talk too much, Yuzuru-san," Lin's voice was cold, almost mechanical, as if all emotion had been drained from him.

Not wasting a second, Lin closed the distance between them with frightening speed. His movements were fluid, each strike a deadly blend of martial arts. He swung a low, sweeping kick at Gun's legs, forcing him to jump back, but Lin was already anticipating his move. As Gun lifted his foot, Lin pivoted on his other leg, spinning into a powerful roundhouse kick aimed directly at Gun's ribs.

Gun blocked the kick with his forearm, but the force behind it made him wince. He countered with a swift jab, aiming for Lin's face, but Lin dodged, weaving under the punch with a grace that seemed almost inhuman. Gun's frustration grew. This wasn't the Lin he knew—this was something else entirely.

Gun didn't let up. He lunged forward, feinting a left hook before shifting his weight to deliver a brutal knee strike to Lin's abdomen. The knee connected, lifting Lin off his feet and sending him crashing into the wall behind him. But even as he hit the wall, Lin bounced back, using the momentum to launch himself at Gun with a spinning backfist.

The backfist landed with a sickening thud, snapping Gun's head to the side. But Gun barely registered the pain. UI mode dulled it to a distant sensation, allowing him to focus entirely on the fight. He retaliated with a series of quick jabs, each one aimed at Lin's face and chest. Lin parried most of the blows, but a few slipped through, striking his jaw and ribs.

Lin grunted, feeling the impact but not the pain. He responded with a low kick, followed by a swift Brazilian kick aimed at Gun's head. The kick was perfectly executed, but Gun ducked just in time, feeling the wind of Lin's foot as it whooshed past his ear.

"You're fast," Gun admitted, his voice calm despite the adrenaline surging through him. "But speed alone won't save you."

Lin's eyes narrowed, and without a word, he launched himself at Gun again, this time with a combination of Capoeira kicks and Judo throws. Gun blocked and countered, the two fighters moving in a deadly dance of strikes and counters, each one trying to gain the upper hand.

Gun threw a powerful right hook, aiming for Lin's temple, but Lin ducked under it and countered with a knee to Gun's ribs, aiming for the same spot he had already injured. The knee connected, and Gun felt the bone crack under the pressure, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he grabbed Lin's leg and twisted it brutally, using his superior strength to fracture the bone.

Lin felt the bone snap, but the pain was distant, almost unreal. The UI mode was working to its full capacity, numbing his senses and sharpening his focus. He twisted his body in response, driving his elbow into Gun's jaw with enough force to dislocate it.

Gun's head snapped back, and he staggered, his vision blurring for a moment. But he wasn't about to go down so easily. With a roar, he lunged at Lin, driving his shoulder into Lin's chest and slamming him into the wall. The impact cracked the plaster, and Lin felt the air rush out of his lungs, but he didn't let it slow him down.

Lin retaliated with a vicious elbow to Gun's side, targeting the broken ribs. Gun grunted in pain but didn't let go, using his other hand to grab Lin's throat and squeeze. Lin gasped for air, his vision darkening as Gun's grip tightened. But even as he struggled to breathe, Lin's mind was working, calculating his next move.

With a sudden burst of strength, Lin grabbed Gun's arm with his free hand and twisted, breaking the hold on his throat. He then drove his knee into Gun's abdomen, forcing him to release his grip entirely. Gun staggered back, clutching his side as Lin pressed the attack.

Lin unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each one aimed at Gun's vital points. Gun blocked most of the attacks, but the sheer speed and ferocity of Lin's assault were overwhelming. A punch slipped through, catching Gun on the chin, followed by a spinning kick to the side of his head. Gun's vision blurred, but he forced himself to stay on his feet, his body screaming in protest.

"You think... you can beat me?" Gun panted, wiping the blood from his face. "I've fought tougher opponents than you."

Lin didn't respond. His focus was absolute, his mind completely in sync with his body. He stepped forward, his movements fluid and deadly as he delivered a series of quick, precise strikes. Gun countered with a knee to Lin's stomach, followed by a powerful elbow to Lin's face. Lin's nose shattered under the impact, blood pouring down his face, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he countered with a spinning back kick that caught Gun in the ribs, lifting him off the ground and sending him crashing into the opposite wall.

Gun hit the wall hard, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He felt the broken ribs grinding together, but the pain was muted, more of an inconvenience than a real hindrance. He pushed off the wall, his eyes narrowing as he studied Lin. "You're good," Gun admitted grudgingly. "But it's not enough."

Lin's eyes glinted with a cold determination. "It's enough to beat you," he replied, his voice calm and steady.

Gun's lips curled into a smirk. "We'll see about that."

They charged at each other again, their fists and feet blurring as they exchanged blows. Gun threw a powerful roundhouse kick, aiming for Lin's head, but Lin ducked and countered with a low sweep, knocking Gun off his feet. Gun rolled with the fall, coming up in a crouch and launching himself at Lin with a flying knee. The knee connected with Lin's chest, sending him crashing to the ground, but Lin rolled to his feet in an instant, his eyes blazing with fury.

Lin launched himself at Gun, his fists a blur as he pummeled Gun with a series of rapid punches. Gun blocked most of the blows, but the sheer speed and ferocity of Lin's assault were overwhelming. A punch slipped through, catching Gun on the chin, followed by a spinning kick to the side of his head. Gun's vision blurred, but he forced himself to stay on his feet, his body screaming in protest.

With a growl, Gun grabbed Lin's arm and twisted, pulling him into a vicious knee strike that cracked one of Lin's ribs. Lin gasped, feeling the air rush out of his lungs, but he didn't let it slow him down. He responded with an elbow to Gun's face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch.

Blood poured down Gun's face, but he barely noticed. The UI mode had dulled the pain to a distant sensation, allowing him to focus entirely on the fight. He retaliated with a brutal punch to Lin's stomach, doubling him over, followed by a spinning kick that sent Lin crashing into the wall.

Lin hit the wall hard, his vision darkening for a moment. He could feel his body breaking down, but the UI mode kept him going, pushing him beyond his limits. He pushed off the wall, his eyes locked on Gun as he charged at him again.

Gun met him head-on, their fists and feet flying in a blur of motion. They exchanged blow after blow, each one trying to outdo the other. Lin threw a powerful roundhouse kick, but Gun ducked and countered with a knee to Lin's ribs. Lin grunted in pain, but he didn't let it slow him down. He responded with a spinning back kick that caught Gun in the side of the head, sending him staggering back.

Gun shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. He could feel his strength waning, but he refused to back down. He charged at Lin again, throwing a series of quick jabs and hooks. Lin blocked most of the blows, but one punch slipped through, catching him on the jaw. Lin's head snapped back, but he quickly recovered, countering with a powerful uppercut that lifted Gun off his feet.

Gun hit the ground hard, the breath forced from his lungs. He barely had time to react before Lin was on him again. Lin attacked gun with copious amount of punches.

"Just... stay down!" Lin growled through gritted teeth, his voice strained from exertion.

But Gun was just as stubborn. He grabbed Lin's wrist and twisted, forcing Lin to roll off him. Both men scrambled to their feet, their bodies screaming in protest, but the UI mode refused to let them quit. They charged at each other again, fists and feet flying in a brutal exchange of blows.

Gun threw a powerful right hook, but Lin ducked under it and countered with a knee to Gun's ribs. Gun winced, but he grabbed Lin's head and drove his knee into Lin's face, shattering Lin's nose with a sickening crunch. Lin stumbled back, blood pouring from his face, but he refused to fall. Instead, he lunged forward, tackling Gun to the ground.

They rolled across the floor, grappling for control. Gun managed to get on top, pinning Lin down and slamming his fist into Lin's face over and over, his eyes wild with fury. "You're nothing! Just give up!" Gun roared, each punch emphasizing his words.

But Lin, even as his vision darkened and blood filled his mouth, somehow found the strength to fight back. He grabbed Gun's arm with his one hand, twisting it until he heard the satisfying pop of Gun's shoulder dislocating. Gun yelled in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Lin to push him off.

Lin staggered to his feet, his body barely holding together. He could feel the world spinning around him, but the UI mode kept him grounded, kept him moving. "I won't... lose to you," Lin panted, wiping the blood from his face.

Gun, his arm hanging limply at his side, forced himself to stand as well. "You're insane," he hissed, his voice a mixture of anger and disbelief. "But it doesn't matter. I'll end this now."

They both knew this was it—the final clash. With a roar, they charged at each other one last time. Lin's fist connected with Gun's jaw just as Gun's fist slammed into Lin's chest. The impact sent shockwaves through their bodies, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Gun's legs finally gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, his body unable to take any more. Lin, barely conscious, staggered back, his back hitting the wall as he slid down to the floor. He was breathing heavily, every breath a struggle.

As Lin's vision began to fade, he saw Gun's body starting to disintegrate into nothingnes. With a faint, exhausted smile, Lin allowed himself to slip into unconsciousness, the last image in his mind being the dissolving form of his opponent.

"Congratulations user has beaten Shiro Oni!!"

Chapter Ends Here.