Celeste was stunned. 'He's completely insane.' She opened her mouth to curse him again, but he cut her off. "I promise you, Celeste… or whatever your name is, you won't have to wear that mask to survive anymore. Never again."
Before she could respond, Leorio lunged. Despite his battered body, he found the strength to throw himself at the twin not carrying Celeste. His fist smashed into the man's jaw, a precise hit that made him stagger. The twin, enraged, roared and grabbed Leorio by the hair, lifting him like a rag doll. "You little punk!" he bellowed, slamming Leorio's head into the ground.
Leorio crumpled, motionless. A trickle of blood ran from his forehead, pooling in the dirt. His half-open eyes looked vacant. Celeste's breath caught. 'Is he… dead?' Panic surged, but she shut her eyes, forcing herself to breathe. 'No. That's how the world works. Heroes die. The weak die. Only the cunning survive.' She repeated the mantra in her head.
The twin carrying her snickered. "Let's go. Leave that trash to rot." He tightened his grip on Celeste, who forced her face into a mask of cold indifference. The other twin, still fuming, gave Leorio's limp body a final kick before joining his brother. "Yeah, we've got better things to do with the chick."
They walked off, their laughter echoing through the forest. Celeste, slung over the twin's shoulder, kept her eyes closed. 'I survive. That's all that matters.' But the image of Leorio, broken and bloodied, wouldn't leave her mind.
*You won't have to wear that mask.*
She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.
'Idiot.'
They trudged on for what felt like forever, the twins joking in their coarse, vulgar voices, shattering the forest's silence. Celeste stayed quiet, her mind racing. She noted every detail: the strength of the twin's grip, the direction they were heading, the weight of the other's club. 'I can still get out of this,' she thought. 'I always do.'
A sudden crack sounded behind them. The twins froze, bodies tense. "What was that?" the one carrying Celeste growled, spinning around. Celeste opened her eyes, heart racing. Through the trees, she saw a staggering figure.
'No… it can't be.'
Leorio emerged from the bushes, face caked in blood, right arm dangling uselessly. He breathed heavily, each gasp seeming to tear at him. Yet he kept moving. "You bastards…" he muttered, barely audible. "I told you… I won't let you take her."
The twins burst out laughing. "This guy's unkillable, damn it!" one swore, raising his club. "This time, I'll finish you for good!"
Celeste felt her mask waver.
'Why? Why are you doing this?'
She shut her eyes again, unable to watch.
'That's how the world works. Heroes die.'
The twin dropped Celeste, tossing her to the ground like a sack. She landed hard, gasping, but scrambled up, eyes darting between the twins and Leorio. He, despite his state, raised a trembling fist, ready to fight. "Touch her… and I'll kill you," he growled, voice broken but defiant.
The fight was quick and brutal. Leorio, barely standing, dodged one club swing, but the second twin struck his side, dropping him to his knees. Celeste, still on the ground, felt a new rage rising.
'Enough.'
She grabbed a nearby rock, her fingers closing around its rough surface.
'I'm not letting this idiot die.'
"Hey!" she shouted, drawing the twins' attention. She stood, brandishing the rock like a weapon. "Want a real target? Come get me!" Without waiting, she hurled the rock with all her strength, aiming for the nearest twin's head. It hit his temple, making him stumble. Seizing the moment, she rushed him, scratching and swinging like a wildcat.
Leorio, seeing his chance, summoned a final burst of energy. He staggered up and tackled the other twin, pinning him to the ground with strength he shouldn't have had. They rolled in the dirt, trading sloppy blows. Celeste fought her opponent, her nails leaving bloody streaks across his face.
The twin with the blood-stained club advanced on Leorio, who lay barely moving. His muscles flexed as he raised his weapon, ready to end it. "You're done, hero!" he roared, swinging the club down with brutal force. It crashed into Leorio's already-injured shoulder, tearing a hoarse cry from him. Leorio collapsed, body shaking, blood oozing from fresh wounds.
Celeste, still grappling with the other twin, tried to break free, her nails clawing frantically at his arm. But the hulking man, with a twisted smirk, slapped her hard, his broad hand leaving a red mark on her cheek. Pain exploded across her face, and she stumbled, falling to her knees, breathless.
"Stay still, chick!" he spat, yanking her up by the hair. She winced, eyes watering from pain and humiliation.
"You maniac!" she screamed at Leorio, voice shaking with frustration. She pointed at him, despite the twin's grip. "Look what you've done! We're gonna die because of you, you idiot!"
Leorio, on all fours, spat blood onto the ground. He looked up, his cracked glasses slipping down his nose. Despite his state, a faint, defiant smile curved his lips. "You're… just as crazy as me," he panted, eyes gleaming with stubborn resolve. "You went after that guy with a rock, didn't you?"
Celeste blinked, thrown by his response. She opened her mouth to retort, but fear choked her. "We're gonna die!" she cried, voice breaking. "Got a plan, or are you just happy playing martyr?"
He coughed, clutching his aching ribs. "No… we're not dying," he growled, words chopped by pain. "I've got… to become a Hunter. I can't die here." He tried to stand, legs shaking, but his gaze stayed locked on the twins, unyielding.
Celeste stared, stunned. A nervous laugh escaped her, and she shook her head. "You're such an idiot," she muttered, almost fondly, despite the chaos. But her smile faded as the twin with the club stepped toward Leorio again, weapon raised for a killing blow.
Suddenly, a shiver seemed to ripple through the twins. Their laughter died, and they turned simultaneously toward a dark corner of the forest.
A figure emerged from the foliage. Blond hair glinted under the filtered sunlight, and a cold, almost menacing aura radiated from the newcomer.
It was Kurapika.
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