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Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: The One Who Stands

Their fists collided again—dust spiraling, air howling.

Riku gritted his teeth, the force of Akuma's latest blow sliding him back across the cracked ridge. Blood dripped from his brow, but his stance remained centered.

Akuma's breathing was steady now—controlled. The longer they fought, the more he looked like a beast built for battle, as if pain and fatigue were foreign concepts.

Riku exhaled… then raised his hand.

In a flash of blinding silver light, a second form stepped out beside him.

Identical.

Focused.

Breathing in rhythm.

Akuma's eyes narrowed—but he didn't speak.

The clone nodded once.

Then, without a signal, both Riku and his double rushed forward, fists drawn, forms synchronized like twin storms. They crashed into Akuma, unleashing a perfect flurry of attacks from opposite angles.

Elbow to ribs.

Fist to jaw.

Knee to back.

Hook to temple.

Akuma snarled and blocked one, then pivoted with a violent spin, catching the other Riku across the shoulder—but the strike didn't slow them. The assault continued, seamless, overwhelming, relentless.

They weren't just attacking.

They were breaking his rhythm.

For the first time, Akuma was on the defensive.

He pushed off the ground, flipping backward into the air, then landed and charged again—targeting one of them directly. The Riku he slammed into grunted, caught the blow, and parried with a reverse elbow. They clashed again in a maelstrom of dust and fury—while the other Riku sprinted back toward the bunker, not missing a step.

Akuma noticed.

"Tch… malfunctioned," he muttered. "Couldn't handle the pressure."

He didn't give it a second thought.

Not when the real threat stood in front of him.

They re-entered the bunker in a storm of broken walls and splintered metal, debris raining as Akuma and Riku tore through corridor after corridor, their fists clashing like drums of war.

The lights flickered overhead.

Pipes burst.

Floor after floor caved under their blows.

But still—the fight didn't end.

Not even close.

Akuma's foot slammed into Riku's chest, sending him flying into a wall—metal bent inward, but Riku pushed himself free and shot forward again with a flurry of punches that echoed like cannonfire.

Akuma caught the last strike and grinned.

"Still standing?"

Riku's clone smirked.

"Always."

And the fight raged on.

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