"…Then everything… Was it a lie?"
Leo's voice was quiet, but heavy.
Iris looked straight at him.
"No," she said softly. "Those feelings… were real."
Leo's eyes filled with confusion.
"…Real?"
Before he could say anything else, Iris stepped forward and gently took his hand, pulling him up.
"Come with me."
She began walking through the endless white space, still holding his hand.
Leo didn't resist.
He simply followed.
"…In my life," Iris said slowly, "I've killed many people."
Leo's steps faltered—but she didn't stop.
"But you…" her grip tightened slightly, "…you're the only one who ever made my heart skip a beat."
Silence.
"The moment I saw you…" she continued, "…I fell in love."
Leo couldn't respond.
"With your strange way of talking… your confused expressions…" she smiled faintly, "it only made me fall deeper."
She stopped.
Then—
She hugged him.
Tightly.
But Leo didn't hug her back.
His arms stayed still.
His mind… blank.
"I love you," Iris whispered, her voice trembling. "I love you so much… please… don't reject me."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
She looked up at him—
Waiting.
Hoping.
Leo's heart pounded.
His thoughts were chaos.
What should I say…?
"…Yeah," he finally muttered.
Iris blinked.
"…Say that again."
Leo hesitated—
"…I love you too."
A bright smile broke across her face.
She hugged him even tighter.
Meanwhile—
Back in the room.
Null and Lana entered.
"…Leo?" Lana called.
No response.
They searched the entire room.
"He's not here," Lana said, frowning.
Click.
The door opened.
They both turned.
Leo stood there.
"…Yo."
Something was off.
His clothes were different.
And—
The ring was gone.
Null's eyes narrowed.
"…How did you get outside?" he asked calmly.
Leo shrugged.
"Just as I expected."
Lana frowned. "What does that even mean?"
Leo's expression sharpened.
"We were attacked."
Null's gaze turned cold.
"…By whom?"
"Twin siblings," Leo replied. "One human. One ghost."
He stepped further into the room.
"When I went out last night, I ran into them."
Lana crossed her arms. "Then who was the one with us?"
Leo smirked faintly.
"One of them has a shapeshifting ability. He turned into me and came back here."
Null didn't move.
"And you?" he asked. "You fought the other one all night?"
Leo nodded.
"But you have no injuries," Null said. "Explain."
"I didn't fight him the whole time," Leo replied smoothly. "He created a realm where time flows slower."
"And the injuries?"
"I learned healing magic."
Lana blinked. "Just like that?"
Leo ignored her.
"I knocked him out. When he lost consciousness, the realm collapsed. I came back to get you."
He turned toward the door.
"I know where they are. Let's go."
"…Stop."
Leo paused.
Null stepped forward.
"As you said—we're under attack," Null said calmly. "One enemy can shapeshift."
His eyes locked onto Leo.
"So we trust no one."
Lana moved closer.
"…A test," Null continued.
Leo clicked his tongue.
"That's unnecessary. You're wasting time."
"That response," Null said, "is exactly why you're suspicious."
A tense silence filled the room.
Then—
Lana suddenly grabbed Leo's arm.
Null stepped into his Axiom range.
In that instant—
Leo moved.
BAM!
His elbow slammed into Lana's face with brutal force.
She was thrown back—
And vanished.
Null's eyes sharpened.
"…Who are you?"
Leo exhaled slowly.
"You're really stubborn."
His body began to change.
Like a layer of skin peeling away—
Melting.
Blue light emerged from within.
A different presence.
"…My name is Blue," the voice shifted. "And I was assigned to kill you."
In an instant—
He disappeared.
Then—
From behind—
Two arms slipped past the edge of Axiom—
Grabbing Null's neck.
Choking him.
Null struggled—
For the first time—
Struggling to breathe.
Elsewhere—
Lana hit the ground.
Hard.
She pushed herself up—
"…Where am I…?"
Everything was white.
Endless.
Silent.
Then she saw them.
Two figures.
One hugging the other.
As she got closer—
Her eyes widened.
"Leo…?"
And—
"Iris…?"
Before she could react—
A presence appeared behind her.
Cold steel touched her neck.
"…So you're my target."
Lana froze.
Leo turned—
"Iris, stop! Please—don't hurt her!"
Iris tilted her head slightly.
"…Alright," she said softly. "If that's what you want… my love."
Her gaze shifted to Lana.
"…You know her?"
Leo nodded quickly.
"She's my friend's sister."
Iris smiled faintly.
"So that means… she's important to you too?"
"…Yes."
That was enough..