Dimensional Descent

Leonel couldn't put his fury into words. Even seeing Raynred's pathetic display did nothing to make him feel better.

Just months ago, he had been with these young men and women, fighting to keep their lives, growing friendships, talking about life. Yet, no amount of anger would bring them back. Nothing he did to Raynred would appease him.

Leonel was so agitated that he began to cough violently, the injuries that had yet to heal from his battle with the Puppet Master flaring up.

Soot and char covered air surged out from his mouth. His coughing became so violent that blood began to appear once again, sending his body into complete disarray.

"Leonel!"

Aina worriedly placed a palm against Leonel's chest, her expression warping.

The headpiece that had been in possession of the Puppet Master was burnt to ash by Leonel. He knew well that Aina wouldn't want to have anything to do with a treasure tainted by that thing, nor did Leonel need it. It might have been a Quasi Bronze treasure, but it simply had no ability to boost the strength of Leonel's mind which already had a Fifth Dimensional foundation.

Though it seemed as though the Puppet Master's mental strength was beyond Leonel's due to the range of its ability, this was a misconception. Leonel was well aware that the Puppet Master used a few tricks to accomplish such a feat. Plus, the current Leonel could create such treasures on a whim as long as he had the ores necessary.

This aside, Aina's birthday present more than covered for her weaknesses. It allowed her to see the true state of Leonel's body and the reality made her expression warp.

To say that Leonel was injured was an understatement. And, maybe the worst part about it all was that most of it was self inflicted.

Leonel purposely made use of his Scarlet Star Force in those final moments. Without it, it would have been impossible to burn such a powerful existence to ash.

Unfortunately, even in such a measured and controlled fashion, the use had practically turned Leonel's insides into a charred mess. Not a single one of his inner organs were spared.

If it wasn't for the insane amount of vitality the complete Metal Body provided, along with the fact Leonel's body had entered the Fourth Dimension, he probably would have formed a second pile of cremated remains beside the Puppet Master.

Leonel's body had already been in a terrible state, but he had practically pushed himself over the edge.

Scarlet Star Force

to realize something was wrong, especially with how his murderous aura seemed to have

temper flared once more, but this time he wasn't foolish enough to voice it again. He had already embarrassed himself enough today. Now... he just wanted

up from his coughing, his

simply impossible for him to be everywhere at once. He didn't even know the Slayer Legion was taking part in this battle. It was an irrational guilt that weighed even heavier on his consciousness than

the first time Leonel had felt survivor's guilt, but this time

no matter how injured he was, he would still

aura came back like an endless tide. This time, it

across his body as though prepared to

"I'll kill you."

dripped with venom, frying the nerves and fraying

move, Aina gripped his wrist

meeting Leonel's reddened gaze as though she couldn't sense his murderous intent. Even at this

reaching out into empty space only for a golden red ax to shoot

he was swimming in a quagmire, hardly able to budge an inch. But, seeing that it was Aina who actually dared to attack him like this, he roared, trying to expand his chest until

Aina he knew before was completely unlike the

Aina had descended onto the building, her

into the skies,

blade wind of Aina's ax

knees, grasping

"You ugly bit --!"

another arm flying, taking with it yet

finally land, her leg angled forward, the sole of her feet slamming Raynred's face into the steel

Aina and Raynred followed it to the ground. But, unlike Aina who stood on

BANG!