Dimensional Descent

Compared to the dress of the youths, the elders of Valiant Heart Mountain weren't dressed much differently at all. In fact, there were only two differences one could point out.

The first was the color of their cloth belts. What dangled between their legs wasn't the black of the youths, but rather a striking red. At least, most of them wore this red as though dyed by centuries of blood. The old man that led them, though, wore one of copper, as though the blood that had once drenched his had rusted over with age.

The second difference was a shawl draped over their shoulders. This matched the color of their cloth belts, giving them a more dignified appearance than the kids below.

The old man's exposed torso was just as hollowed out as the pale young man from before. But, though his body seemed worn with age, his back was as straight as a javelin despite the fact he simultaneously used a walking stick.

The atmosphere fell into silence as this group of five walked forward.

One could feel the difference between realms of existence when standing before the powerful. Though these five elders had yet to speak a word, it felt as though there was a mountain weighing down on them all, as though they wouldn't be satisfied until they all kneeled in deference.

Though the Dimensions felt like 'power levels', this wasn't the case. In fact, only talents like Leonel and Aina would feel this way… like crossing Dimensions and evolving to a higher state of being was no different than crossing any other barrier.

However, to middling existences, the barrier between Dimensions was akin to Heaven and Earth.

There was no doubt that each and every one of these elders stood as a Fifth Dimensional entity, a barrier that more than half of those here would never even cross, let alone travel so deeply into.

This was a strength that they idealized, that they aspired to, that they respected from the deepest recesses of their hearts…

"… Stop playing around."

He looked up to see what all the commotion was about only to find that

the very

refreshing breeze was wrapping around his body. Unfortunately, he couldn't enjoy it very much because he seemingly only now remembered that he was still injured. Though Aina's food had helped him along, he was still only about 70% of his normal self, which was a miracle unto itself considering the state of his

Leonel thought about it, Aina's food was definitely not enough for such

'Oh…'

had entered when he was completing his Divine Armor. Back then, he had vaguely felt an energy integrating with his body and improving it. If it wasn't for the fact he hadn't been swallowing any Metal

now that Leonel understood that that feeling must have come from the energy he absorbed from

wasn't really his fault. He was so

to a Variant Invalid on the verge of entering the Fifth Dimension. The difference

absorbed about 20 or 30% of the energy. Unfortunately, his body was too injured to absorb any

seemed he would have to

to a perfect state immediately. But it seemed a waste to use in this situation considering how

be

in silence, allowing the youths to soak up the feeling of being

to give them a goal to aspire to while also making their authority unquestionable. Every organization was built from the bottom

It also most definitely didn't help that there was a small clearing around this person and

Leonel. The change should have been enough to shock him awake, but Leonel continued to be lost in his own world as though his daydreaming was far more important

wasn't doing this on purpose. What these else thought should have been obvious pressure was like a spring breeze to Leonel. If it wasn't for Aina pinching his waist

keeping his hands to his sides. There was truly nothing about his actions that the