Chapter 21 : Iron blood Rabbit (2)

The rabbit fell like a meteor. Concrete split beneath its frame. Dust billowed, broken glass scattered. Its scythe-scarred chest heaved—black oil dripping in thick pulses onto the pavement. Then, impossibly, it stood. Burned. Broken. But not dead. Its soulless red eyes locked onto me again—wide, mechanical, unblinking. I crouched low, claws flexing, breath ragged, fur matted with sweat and grime. My beast form twitched with pain, but my claws dug into the pavement. I wasn’t done yet. Ready. Then— "False Healing!" Mother’s voice echoed behind me. A warm pulse rushed through my body—bones stitching, muscle tightening, breath returning. The worst of the pain faded, just enough.A pale light shimmered across my body. Cuts stitched shut. Bruises faded slightly. Just enough for another round. I sprang forward. The rabbit braced, claws twitching. Force Spike. A telekinetic jolt slammed into its chest from Seo-yeon weist, stunning it. Its body jerked, staggered half a step back. "Now!" Mother roared, launching herself forward with her scythe raised. She struck hard—metal shrieked as the blade dug deep into its side. Sparks flew. Oil splattered her coat. The rabbit howled. A warped, guttural machine-cry.The rabbit reeled back, and I saw my opening. I took my chance. I lunged again—climbing fast, one arm locking onto its shoulder, the other gripping the side of its face. Its joints creaked as I yanked its head backward. The monster roared and bolted. Then, it ran. Just like the first day—only this time, it was faster. Stronger. Desperate.It was chaos. We smashed through a butcher’s shop. A broken cafe . It barreled forward, tearing through a storefront wall like paper. I held on tight, riding it through debris, fire escapes, and broken glass. It crashed through one floor after another, concrete spraying as we slammed into walls, offices, lobbies.Then a half-collapsed parking garage Then I saw it—a fuel tanker. The rabbit didn’t. "Shit—" I kicked off the rabbit’s shoulder and somersaulted away—just in time.I leapt off, webbing to a lamppost just as— BOOM. The rabbit, too late to steer, slammed head-first into the tanker.The tanker exploded behind me. A wall of flame rose into the sky. I landed hard, rolled, chest heaving. And from within the fire— The rabbit emerged. Flames licked its back. Smoke curled from its ears. Its metal plating was scorched and cracked.The explosion shook the entire street. Fire tore through the air. Black smoke spiraled toward the sky. I landed hard, rolled, and tumbled across the cracked asphalt. Dazed, I slowly sat up—scanning the wreckage. The fire raged. Metal groaned. And then— From the flames, it emerged. But it kept walking. Burned. But not broken.Its armor now scorched black. One arm trailing oil. But still breathing. Still fighting. The rabbit had survived. My body screamed from the impact, but I forced myself to stand. I was alone now. Mother and Seo-Yeon were too far back. I was out of range—on the wrong side of the district. I scanned the area— Then I heard them. Coughing. Whimpering.Survivors. A group of three—an old man and two others, hiding near a half-collapsed pharmacy. The rabbit saw them too.The rabbit turned its head. Eyes flicking to them. It moved fast. "No—!" I launched, trying to intercept.The rabbit turned again—toward me. It struck. I dodged barely—spinning sideways—but the next blow caught me square in the chest. I flew, crashing through a storefront window.Glass exploded. Shelves crumbled. Dust and silence followed. It turned. Slashed. Blood. Screams. By the time I landed— It was done. All three—dead. I froze.I slid to a stop, eyes wide in horror. Breath frozen. Muscles trembling. I remembered how Sang-woo died in front of me. The system pinged. Again. [Boss has leveled up: Level 19] [Strength increased.] My chest tightened. The rabbit turned back toward me. Its strength surged. Movements grew even sharper. Stronger. I could see it in the way its frame shifted. In the way it moved. I gritted my teeth, forced my claws to tighten.I clenched my fists. "I was too slow..." I murmured. Fine. If this was how I went down—then so be it. I launched.The beast lunged again. This time, I used everything. Speed. Agility. Beast instincts. I whipped around it, ducked low, landed a sharp jab to its ribs. Another kick to the knee. Tail snapped across its back. Fast. Agile. I darted through rubble, slipping between its attacks, my fists hammering its side—kick, elbow, spin. Claws met metal. Sparks flew. I kept moving. Kept striking. Then something flew in from above—a car door.It smashed into the rabbit’s face. A surprise hit. "Seo-Yeon!" She stood on a ruined rooftop, one hand extended. Then came Mother’s voice."Not yet, bastard," Mother growled, stepping beside me. Her face was pale, blood streaked across her cheek, but her eyes burned with focus. She raised her hand. A dark curse circle spun around her palm. "Now—let’s numb you." [Level 15 : New ability unlocked] "Curse of Senseless!" Dark tendrils wrapped around the rabbit’s skull. It staggered, claws flailing blindly. [All senses are reduced: 30 seconds] The rabbit roared—now disoriented. It swung wildly, unable to focus. Vision. Sound. Smell. All faded. I struck again. Fur blurred in motion. My fists and feet became a cyclone. I pummeled the beast from every side, landing hit after hit, moving faster than the rabbit could follow I didn’t waste it. This wasn’t about technique anymore. This was rage. And survival. And the desire to make it pay. But even with its senses dulled, it was still strong. Still fighting. [Back in the Apartment] In-Ji sat on the edge, pistol still smoking, heart pounding.In-Ji sat panting, collapsed beside Ye-Rin. His chest rose and fell rapidly, eyes fixed on the distant streets. The rabbit had finally fallen. The street below was loud for the first time in hours. Then Smoke still spiraled into the sky from afar of the city. Then—he turned. A flicker of light behind him.A soft glow pulsed from her chest. Ye-Rin stirred. Her body shifted slightly. The glow around her faded. The dragonling beside her chirped once—soft and confused. She sat up, eyes half-closed. "...What’s going on?" she whispered.Ye-Rin sat up slowly. Dazed. In-Ji looked at her. Then the chaos from afar. "They’re fighting the boss," he said quietly."They’re fighting it. The boss. Three of them." Ye-Rin tried to stand. She wanted to participate. "Wait—" In-ji stopped her, pressing a hand to her chest. "If you’re going, wake the dragon." The three-headed beast is still asleep beside her bed. [Back in the battlefield] I was bleeding from the mouth. My claws were cracked. My tail was numb. Mother had collapsed beside a broken pillar. Barely conscious. Seo-Yeon, crouched beside her, raised one hand in desperation— We were out of options. Out of energy. Out of time. The rabbit was still coming. It was damaged, burnt, —but it refused to fall. It charged. That’s when the sky darkened. A roar echoed above us.A shape appeared above us. Wings wide. Shadows cast over the battlefield. Three reptilian heads snarled in unison. And from the sky— We all looked up. The dragon spiraled downward, fangs bared. And on its back—wind whipping through her hair—stood Ye-Rin.Ye-Rin dropped like a missile. Eyes glowing. Axe in hand. She leapt. Spinning. Falling like divine judgment,With a roar, she slammed it down—full force—onto the rabbit’s skull. BOOM. The street ruptured.Her axe cracked the rabbit’s skull. A roar shook the entire block.