Chapter 247: The Drying Crimson Blood

Even though Hayato's entire body was covered in wounds, he still laughed wildly in midair like an uncontrollable madman. His broken voice taunted Leo's defeat: "Haha! Idiot! Can't catch me now, can you? Ha... hahaha!" His laughter was fragmented, mixed with gasps and pain, yet carried a twisted sense of triumph.

The moment Leo's radiance exploded, Usagi had used every last drop of her crimson blood to forcibly neutralize that devastating force. But as the cannon's energy dissipated, Hayato noticed that the girl in his arms had completely lost consciousness.

"Usagi?" Hayato lowered his head to look at her. His manic eyes instantly turned to panic. His smile froze, his breath quickening. He raised a trembling hand and lightly patted her pale cheek. "Hey... Usagi? Wake up! Wake up! Don't scare me!"

Usagi didn't respond. Her face was as pale as paper, and her chest barely moved. Hayato's eyes widened, his breaths quickening like a helpless child: "No... no way... this can't be happening. You're strong, aren't you? You're the strongest! How can you just stop like this?"

Suddenly, he screamed: "Wake up! Wake up! Wake—wake—!" His voice cracked with sobs, his throat raw. He shook Usagi, but his movements were clumsy and restrained, afraid of hurting her fragile body.

With the cannon's energy gone, they began to plummet. Hayato snapped back to reality, cradling Usagi tightly like a delicate porcelain doll as they crashed into the ground, rolling several times. When they finally stopped, Usagi's condition was even worse.

Hayato struggled to get up, his entire body smeared with blood. His movements were like those of a fumbling child as he anxiously checked her over. "Does it hurt? Does it? Tell me, please..." His voice trembled with helplessness. Usagi's unchanging state shattered his heart.

"No, no, no... this can't be happening!" he muttered, shaking his head as he paced in circles. Then, as if struck by an idea, he blew a sharp whistle. The sound was piercing but met with silence.

"Akari! Akari! Get out here! Now! Hurry up! Hurryhurryhurry—!" Hayato's cries grew more frantic, his voice desperate: "Where are you?! Where are you?!"

He clutched Usagi so tightly that his arms ached, running a few steps before pausing, his head twisting back and forth as if expecting someone to appear. His breathing was ragged, his gaze unfocused. "Akari... come on, come on... please..."

But no one came.

Hayato looked down at Usagi's face. Her skin was ice-cold, her breathing faint to the point of vanishing. His eyes lost their light, his lips whispering, "This can't be it... this can't be how it ends..."

Suddenly, panic overtook him, and he shook her violently. "You can't die! You hear me?! I won't let you die! Do you hear me?!"

He picked her up again and sprinted forward, driven by pure instinct. His lips whistled again and again into the night, the sound sharp and desperate as it echoed across the empty plains.

"Akari! Usagi's dying! Get out here!" Hayato's legs wobbled, his entire body drenched in blood, yet he pressed on. His heart raced with fear, his mind clouded by dread. The icy night air cut at his skin, but his arms never loosened their grip.

"Akari... stop playing around... please..." His plea dissolved into the dark.

The wind howled around them. No answer came.

Hayato lowered his gaze to Usagi's lifeless face. Her lips had turned a dangerous pale-blue. He instinctively leaned in to listen for her breath but heard only the wind's hollow whisper.

"Please, Usagi... hang in there... you're supposed to kill me yourself, remember? You can't abandon me now..."

Tears blurred his vision. The stars above seemed dimmed, mourning the girl cradled in his arms.

Hayato slammed his fist into the ground with a guttural roar. His knuckles cracked and bled, but pain was insignificant compared to the anguish gripping his heart.

"I won't let you die," he said through clenched teeth. "You hear me, Usagi? I forbid it!"

He staggered back to his feet, cradling her against his chest. His legs burned, his vision swam, but he kept running. Each step was a battle against gravity and despair.

"Akari! We need you! Usagi needs you!" His whistle pierced the night once more.

No answer.

"Damn it..." His teeth ground together as he ran. His strength ebbed away with every heartbeat, yet he didn't dare slow.

Then, he felt it: Usagi's fingers twitched—an almost imperceptible movement. His breath caught. He stopped and stared at her.

"Usagi! You're awake, aren't you?!" His voice cracked with hope. He shook her gently, searching her face for any sign of life.

Nothing.

Desperation surged again. He forced himself to breathe deeply, to think clearly. His gaze swept the surroundings and spotted faint lights in the distance.

Hope ignited in his chest. He adjusted his grip and charged toward the lights. His feet pounded against the ground, his breath ragged, his heart begging for salvation.

He dared not speak, dared not whistle anymore. Every ounce of energy went into running. He was a broken warrior, driven by love, fear, and desperation.

The lights grew brighter.

Someone had to be there.

Someone had to save her.