Ahrie, Daiki, and Henry spread out, eyes locked on the rabbit.
Only… the damn thing was the size of a dog.
Daiki squinted. "Wait… is this rabbit the size of a dog?"
Ahrie muttered, "The hell?"
Henry just chuckled, his grin sharp. "I'll block its escape."
Ahrie grinned back, tightening his grip—then rushed.
Daiki followed, blade raised.
Thrust.
Ahrie drove his rapier forward.
Slash.
Daiki's greatsword came down heavy, cutting high in case it jumped.
The rabbit blurred—fast. Too fast.
It vaulted over the thrust, kicked Ahrie square in the head—
CRACK!
—sending him flying.
Daiki's swing cut air.
The rabbit ricocheted off a tree trunk, twisted mid-air, and slammed its skull into Daiki's gut.
Thud!
Then it was gone.
Five seconds.
That's all it took for the rabbit to humiliate them.
Henry laughed as it happened.
Ahrie lay on the ground, conscious, grinning like an idiot.
Daiki was on his knees, hands clutching his stomach, gasping.
He could barely breathe.
Henry crouched by him. "You good?"
Daiki grabbed Henry by the collar. "You think I'm damn okay?"
Henry tapped his shoulder, still smiling. "Think of it as initiation, man. HAHAHA—don't underestimate shit. Everything can kill you here."
"Fuck you." Daiki hauled himself up and snatched his greatsword.
"Where'd you run off to… stupid rabbit…"he huffed.
"Hey—pssst." Henry called.
"WHAT?!" Daiki snapped.
Henry pointed toward Ahrie. "Is he okay?"
Daiki pressed a hand to Ahrie's forehead, then rolled his eyes.
"Oh—him. Let him be. That stupid rabbit's cooked now."
Ahrie was still flat on his back, eyes fixed on the sky, replaying the fight in his head.
Each strike he could have made.
Each dodge he might have pulled off.
Every angle the rabbit could have attacked from.
He sat up slowly, jaw tight.
"I'm gonna beat the shit out of it," he muttered.
Daiki squared at Henry. "See?... That monster's fucked up now . Let it be. I wouldn't go in that lunatic's way if I were you."
Henry just grinned awkwardly, shaking his head.
Ahrie's eyes locked on Daiki, a sharp and uncomfortable gaze.
Daiki blinked, confused at first—then his gaze slid to Henry. He whispered, "He's asking… where it went."
"Ahh… over there." Henry jabbed a finger toward the open grassland.
Ahrie moved slowly, each step deliberate as he approached.
Daiki and Henry followed behind him.
They came to a burrow.
Ahrie stopped, his gaze flicked between Daiki and the burrow.
It clicked.
Daiki's face hardened. "I see… I got it."
Henry tilted his head, clueless.
Daiki approached the burrow, energy crackling along his blade.
[QuadBreaker!]
The ground split open. The burrow collapsed, dirt and stone spraying into the air.
The impact echoed.
From the shadows, red eyes glared back.
The rabbit that had slipped past them earlier watched, body trembling, screeching so loud.
Ahrie's eyes locked on the rabbit.
Daiki crouched, spotting movement beneath the torn ground—an unconscious adult rabbit monster, two tiny kits curled beside it.
"Ohh… this your family? Ahrie muttered, voice low, almost mocking.
Daiki hauled the limp adult by the leg, smirking. "We've got your wifeee, you bastard—hehe… or husband?" He squinted, confused, then shrugged.
Ahrie leveled his rapier at the twitching body in Daiki's grasp. "Save them if you can. Hehehe…"
Henry froze where he stood. His gut twisted—was this awe, disgust, or just raw confusion? He couldn't even tell.
The rabbit didn't hesitate.
It blurred forward—too fast.
Ahrie barely registered the motion before a brutal kick sent him sideways.
The beast pivoted, slamming into Daiki. The blow sent him skidding back, dirt kicking up as the unconscious monster slipped from his grip.
Ahrie's grin widened.
He shot forward, rapier thrusting straight for its hind legs.
The rabbit twisted aside—faster than before. Its counterstrike slammed against Ahrie's left arm.
But Ahrie spun with it, rapier dragging a vicious line across the ground, carving smoke and dust into the air.
From the haze—steel flashed.
A surprise thrust pierced the rabbit's leg. Flesh tore. The beast stumbled, slowed.
Daiki let out a long whistle. "Whew… all done. We can finally go ba—"
His voice cut short.
Henry almost clapped, almost cheered. But the words stuck.
Ahrie wasn't done.
He slowly walked forward, steps deliberate, a grin stretched across his face.
His hand glowed faint with a sinister light.
[P.A.I.N.]
Ahrie's fist cracked into the rabbit's body—hard, vicious.
The beast shot through the air, skidding across the dirt.
Henry froze, face pale. "W-what the hell is that…?" His voice shook, nervous as fuck.
Daiki swallowed hard, gripped his sword. "H-he's healing the fucking thing…"
Henry whipped his head toward him. "...Huh?"
Ahrie posed, readying himself to strike.
The rabbit tensed, preparing to attack as well.
It launched forward, headbutt aimed dead-center at Ahrie's chest.
Ahrie read its movement, muscles coiling. He leapt—catching the rabbit mid-charge—and slammed it down. Dirt kicked up as it hit the ground.
Before it could recover, Ahrie dropped a low kick, sending it skidding back.
The rabbit leapt again—sharp claws glinting—aiming for his knee.
Ahrie twisted mid-air, switching into a high kick. The rabbit snapped at him, teeth and claws flashing.
Ahrie didn't hesitate. He spun, landing a butterfly kick squarely on its head, following up with a thrust while the rabbit was still airborne.
A solid hit.
It staggered, fear flickering in its eyes.
Ahrie pressed on. He unleashed a relentless barrage, slashing, thrusting, pivoting, forcing the rabbit to dodge and retreat. Every strike was calculated, almost playful—as if toying with it.
A minute passed in a brutal dance.
Finally, the rabbit fell. Twice defeated.
"You done?" Ahrie muttered, voice low.
"I'm not."
His hands flared, the air shimmering with mana.
[P.A.I.N.]
Ahrie's fist slammed into the rabbit's ribs—
The rabbit's wounds began to stitch themselves
Henry's laugh rattled out, shaky. "A-ain't n-no way man…"
Daiki sat in the dirt, wide-eyed. "...This is fucked."
The rabbit staggered back.
Trembling. Ears flat.
It turned, dragging its body to escape.
Ahrie caught its fluffy tail and yanked it back.
"We're not done, bud."
The rabbit froze. Then—sat.
Just… sat there. Waiting for it.
And Ahrie broke it.
Fist, kicks, merciless rhythm. Until the poor bastard finally collapsed.
A faint UI flickered before his eyes:
Exp +1
Ahrie blinked.
"...The hell?" he muttered.
"Glyph."
The profile screen snapped open.
Exp: 1 / 5000
"HAA?!" His shout cracked out loud.
Daiki jolted. "Whaat? What happened?"
"Kill that thing—you'll see!"
Daiki cursed under his breath, and stabbed the unconscious rabbit monster.
Another flicker:
Exp +1
He checked his own profile. Same thing.
1 / 5000
Daiki's jaw clenched.
"...Ohhh for fuck's sake."