Leo slowly lifted his gaze toward the tree.
"…There."
Lana frowned. "Where?"
"Up there," Leo said calmly.
She followed his line of sight—
And saw it.
The rabbit sat on a branch, its red eyes staring down at them.
Lana reacted instantly.
She raised her gun.
BANG!
The shot rang through the garden.
The rabbit leapt down the moment the trigger was pulled, dodging the bullet effortlessly.
It landed lightly on the ground.
And then—
It lunged.
Straight toward Leo.
This time, there were no flames.
Leo's eyes sharpened.
"I'm ready."
He stepped forward and reached out—
—but the rabbit passed straight through the hole in his chest.
"…What?"
Leo froze for a split second.
The rabbit had already moved past him.
Its target—
Lana.
Flames erupted across its body again.
Lana fired rapidly.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Every bullet missed.
The rabbit closed the distance instantly.
Just before impact—
Leo grabbed its legs from behind.
"Got you!"
But the flames burned violently.
"AAGH—!"
Pain surged through Leo's hands as his skin burned.
He gritted his teeth and threw the rabbit away.
It crashed into a tree and dropped to the ground briefly.
Leo exhaled sharply.
"…This hole feels so normal now, I keep forgetting about it."
He glanced at Lana.
"But I didn't expect you to miss a target right in front of you… and instead shoot near my foot."
Lana frowned.
"This is not the priority!"
She pointed toward the tree.
"Look!"
Leo turned.
The rabbit—
Was gone.
"…We lost it again."
Lana crossed her arms.
"Because of your time-wasting skills."
Leo raised his hands.
"Okay, okay. I accept. Forgive me."
He sighed.
"I think we need to ask Chibi—"
He reached into his pocket—
Then paused.
"…Huh?"
Near his leg—
A small white fur ball lay on the ground.
Leo bent down and picked it up.
"…What is this?"
He examined it closely.
For a moment—
It looked harmless.
Then—
BOOM!
An explosion erupted in his hand.
"AAGHHHH—!!"
Leo screamed as the blast tore through his palm.
His right hand—
Gone.
Burned.
Destroyed.
Pain exploded through his entire body.
He collapsed onto the ground, clutching the remains of his arm.
"AAAH—! WHAT— WHAT IS THIS—?!"
The burning sensation spread further.
Every nerve screamed.
Lana staggered backward from the shock.
"…H-How… How did that happen?!"
Leo could barely speak.
"I— I don't— KNOW—!"
His voice broke under the pain.
Lana rushed toward him immediately.
"Don't worry! I can help you!"
She placed her hands near his arm and began casting a spell.
A soft blue light appeared again.
Healing energy flowed.
But—
Behind her—
The rabbit had returned.
Flames ignited.
It charged toward her.
Lana saw it.
She knew.
If she moved—
Leo would die.
If she stayed—
She might die.
Her mind froze.
She closed her eyes.
"…I can't leave him."
The rabbit leapt.
Closer—
Closer—
Then—
It suddenly flew past them.
"…What?"
It landed behind them.
Confused.
It tried again—
And once more—
It flew over them without hitting.
At that exact moment—
Leo stood up.
His breathing was unstable.
His arm burned.
His body trembled.
But his eyes—
Focused.
He grabbed the rabbit mid-air.
"…Got you."
He slammed it into the ground.
CRASH.
But pain weakened him.
Even standing was difficult.
The rabbit twisted free and escaped again.
Lana looked at him in disbelief.
"Why did you stand up?! You're not fully healed!"
Leo exhaled slowly.
"…Thanks for healing me."
He looked forward.
"But I'm fine now."
"…That's clearly not true," Lana muttered.
Leo didn't respond.
Because—
The rabbit was already far ahead.
It turned.
Flames ignited again.
But instead of attacking—
It ran.
"…Running?" Leo muttered.
Without hesitation—
He chased it.
Behind him—
A white fur ball floated silently.
Leo noticed it.
"…Not again—"
BOOM!
Another explosion.
His left foot—
Gone.
"AAGH—!!"
His leg burned violently.
This time—
Leo didn't scream for long.
He steadied himself.
His eyes locked onto the rabbit.
"…Do it again," he whispered.
"Come on."
The rabbit turned.
Flames surged.
It prepared to attack his head this time.
Lana reacted instantly.
BANG!
The bullet hit.
Directly into the rabbit's leg.
The force knocked it backward.
It stumbled.
tried to run again.
Leo growled.
"We can't let it escape!"
He tried to move—
But his leg failed.
He collapsed to one knee.
Lana kept firing.
But missed again.
The rabbit gained distance.
Just as it was about to escape—
A figure appeared.
Fast.
Silent.
A hand grabbed the rabbit mid-run.
"…So you're the one."
Null.
He lifted the rabbit calmly.
Then—
Slammed it into the ground.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
And again.
Each impact crushed it further.
Then—
BOOM.
The rabbit's body exploded.
Nothing remained.
Silence fell.
Lana ran toward Null.
"Brother!"
Null looked at her.
"How did you know we were here?" she asked.
"If you forgot," Null replied calmly, "we are in the castle garden."
He glanced around.
"The king and I heard explosions and gunshots."
He looked back at her.
"So I came."
Then his eyes narrowed.
He noticed burn marks on her hands.
"…You're injured."
Lana shook her head quickly.
"I'm fine."
Then she pointed.
"…Look at Leo."
Null turned.
And froze.
Leo stood there—
One hand destroyed.
One leg severely burned.
A hole in his chest.
"…Leo."
His voice dropped.
"What happened to you?"
Leo smirked weakly.
"Oh? You noticed?"
He tilted his head.
"Go check your sister first. She's injured too."
Null flinched.
"…Right. Sorry."
He stepped closer.
But the moment Leo entered Null's Axiom—
Everything changed.
Pain flooded back.
Full force.
Unfiltered.
Leo's vision blurred instantly.
His body couldn't handle it anymore.
"…Ah."
His legs gave out.
And he collapsed.