Dimensional Descent

Leonel slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a long breath. He didn't seem to look much different than he had just a few months ago.

'Hm…'

Leonel passed a hand across his face. He remembered that in his youth he had always wanted a full, connecting beard. But, ever since his hair changed, he had stopped growing facial hair. He couldn't decide whether this was a good or a bad thing.

Regardless, if his facial hair came out as difficult to cut as his bronzed hair, it might be better that he never did. As things stood now, Leonel wasn't even sure if a full force swing from Syl's elder brother's sword could cut his hair. It would probably only get worse when he entered the Perfect Stage.

Leonel shuddered slightly, thinking about what it would mean if he had to take a blade with such force to his face.

'Ai, what would happen if I had to kiss Aina with such tough facial hair? Would I pierce her skin? Forget it, forget it… I'll just give up on that dream…'

Just like that, Leonel had gone from a youth who dreamt of having a full beard to one who would stay cleanly shaven for the rest of his life. Sometimes, the dream of a man could only die as he matured.

[Author's Note: A moment of silence for our favorite MC…]

…

Leonel walked down the stairs of the Dream Abode. Not much had been touched in his absence, at least not on the second or third floors. It was only after he made it down to the first that he found Jerach.

"You're finally out!"

Leonel gave Jerach a weird look. It wasn't because of what he said, but because of the enthusiasm he said it with. Was there a need to look so happy?

Jerach's expression wasn't one of meeting a friend for the first time in a long time. It was more like he had just spent weeks in a bone dry desert and finally found some water. The reaction was completely disproportional to the situation.

"What's wrong?" Leonel asked.

shook his head and stood

no longer wearing his heavy armor and had swapped it out for some lighter

can't even cultivate. If I absorbed this Dream Force,

hardly shone through them at all so it was impossible to see what was on the outside. But, clearly Jerach had taken a

words, Leonel

in so that he would be safe. But, he had forgotten to consider that it would be difficult for Jerach to

to stay here and not fall into an illusion. In fact, even

It would have definitely been better

you mean by that?

bitterly. "Check for

When he saw

"What the hell…"

of people outside his home. Though it wasn't as exaggerated as being within the hundreds, there were definitely more than a few dozen. If such a

of these people were frozen solid, not moving a single inch or saying a single

protections of this Abode are even better than I thought… Let alone challenging it, they can't even look

He had wanted to become known all this time so that Aina would know to

all these people, he had no reason

word to Jerach, Leonel made his way to the door and swung it

hey!

need it."