Leonard! Why aren't you in Tingen? What are you doing in Backlund?!
For a moment, Klein almost thought he had been dragged into a dream, or was hallucinating from excessive tension.
He instinctively reached out and pinched himself hard.
Ow!
Damn it! This isn't a dream!
Watching Leonard advance on him menacingly, Klein felt his heart sink.
He instinctively glanced at the conspicuous imitation Red Gloves uniform he was wearing. I'm done for! If Leonard really catches me, I'll never be able to explain this!
What do I do? What do I do?!
"Don't move!" Leonard clearly had no intention of giving him much time to think. He drew his pistol and trained its dark muzzle squarely on Klein.
"Hands on your head! Crouch down!"
Under Leonard's wary gaze, the "fake Red Glove" seemed frightened into submission and proved quite cooperative. He made no move to resist, merely raising his hands slowly.
"Phew..."
Just as Leonard relaxed a little, the "fake Red Glove" curled his fingers slightly and gave a crisp snap!
Snap!
A surging Flame Flow instantly erupted from his fingertips and rushed straight at Leonard's face!
What...?
Almost entirely on instinct, Leonard twisted sharply to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Damn it!
Recovering his senses, Leonard immediately raised his pistol and took aim!
In the darkness, Beyonders of the Sleepless pathway had far keener vision than other Beyonders!
Bang!
A silver Demon-Hunting Bullet struck the "fake Red Glove" squarely in the back!
But the expected dull sound of a bullet entering flesh and the accompanying scream never came. The struck "figure" rapidly warped and collapsed like a punctured airbag, finally becoming a crumpled paper figurine torn by the bullet, which fluttered to the ground.
Damn it, Leonard! You really don't hold back, do you?!
Having evaded that