The eagerly anticipated season 3 of Fire Force premiered in April 2025, captivating viewers with a stunning twist surrounding the character of Leonard Burns. This season sees the Special Fire Force banding together to confront the formidable Evangelist, while the White Clad make significant strides toward their dark ambitions.
In a shocking turn of events, the White Clad infiltrated the Imperial Army and the Holy Sol Temple, successfully recruiting Leonard Burns—the Captain of Company 1. This unexpected alliance left many fans pondering, “What led Leonard Burns to join the White Clad?”The answer lies in Haumea’s manipulative abilities and Burns’s tumultuous past experiences with the Adolla Link. Under Haumea’s influence, Burns finds himself drawn into the White Clad’s ideology.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Fire Force anime and manga.
Understanding Leonard Burns’s Manipulation by Haumea
As the season unfolds, we witness a pivotal sequence where Leonard Burns and his Company 1 Lieutenants are called to the Holy Sol Church by Raffles III. This meeting serves as a backdrop for a critical discussion about the Empire’s current state—an ideal moment for the White Clad to reveal themselves. The ensuing confrontation prompts immediate outrage from Burns and his team, pushing them towards confrontation.
Central to this twist is Haumea, a third-generation pyrokinetic and the second pillar, who deploys her unique power, known as Talking Head, against Burns. This ability enables Haumea to decipher and manipulate the thoughts and emotions of others by aligning her speech with their internal signals. As she engages this power, Haumea delves deep into Burns’s psyche, exploiting their shared goals and his connection to the Adolla Link.
Ultimately, Haumea’s manipulation proves effective; Leonard Burns, influenced by her rhetoric, begins to perceive her words as divinely inspired. This profound mental intrusion leads him to realign his loyalties, resulting in his transition to a member of the White Clad.
Leonard Burns’s Embattled Past with the Adolla Link
To understand the depth of Burns’s character, we must reflect on season 2, episode 13, titled “A Pair of One-Eyes.”Here, a flashback depicts the initial encounter between Burns and Joker as they experienced the Adolla Link amidst a catastrophic Infernal outbreak in Amaterasu. In the heat of battle, as they prepared to eliminate the last Infernal, a sonic wave from the creature disoriented their minds and propelled them into the Adolla realm, where they first confronted the Evangelist. Tragically, this encounter cost Burns his right eye while Joker lost his left.
Conclusion and Future Insights
As fans eagerly await the release of the second episode of Fire Force season 3, the ramifications of Burns’s allegiance to the White Clad remain to be fully revealed. However, his influence is already evident, particularly in directing the fate of Akitaru Obi, who has been captured by the White Clad—an unsettling development showcased in the season’s premiere.
Burns’s evolution within the narrative is critical, as it leads to significant revelations that could reshape the series’ trajectory. Known as one of the most formidable figures in the story, even his peers, like Shinmon Benimaru, show caution around him. This unexpected shift in Burns’s character has left viewers both bewildered and captivated, setting the stage for deeper storytelling ahead.