Dimensional Descent

Leonel and Aina locked gazes for a moment before simultaneously jetting off in the same direction.

Aina couldn't help but look toward Leonel with a hint of surprise.

"When'd you get so fast?"

Leonel turned toward Aina and winked. Leaping off the ground, he shot into the trees like a swallow, the faint image of an illusory pair of wings appearing to his back.

"…" Aina shook her head. "Show off."

Aina's body was instantly wrapped in a thick crimson fog. Her thighs bulged to a one size increase, causing her body to catapult forward.

The couple almost instantly made it to the source of the sound. But, they weren't foolish. Rather than instantly jumping into the fray, they both hid in the trees, watching what was happening below with furrowed brows.

The beast could only be described as grotesque.

It stalked forward on four legs, its jagged teeth dripping saliva that stunk of rotting flesh. It was two and a half meters in length, not including its tail which seemed to have had a chunk bitten out of it.

Its body was covered in patchy, mustard yellow fur with a sprinkle of black spots. Somehow, though it was clearly a four legged creature, its upper half was far bulkier, manifesting itself in a large hunched back that bulged with muscles that could make one's scalp tingle.

The creature's claws were about the only clean thing about it. They were so polished and sharp that dirt, grime and blood couldn't seemed to get any hold on them. They almost seemed completely out of place.

was even missing

its every step made the ground quake. The rippling of its muscles bulged with energy,

tell that this creature had the strength of someone at Tier 6 at the very least, and that was only if he considered its lack of intelligence. Objectively, it had the strength equivalent to someone at Tier

in a cold breath. What kind of monster was this? And what the hell

that the screams from below were from black belts just like them. In fact, Leonel recognized two among them: Irolana

be the cream of the crop of this freshmen batch. And, as expected, they didn't disappoint, joining a Peak not even a few days after

hadn't seen

they tried to draw a line between him and them so as not to offend their seniors. But, Leonel didn't

he was in a bit of a dilemma. A fight against a beast with Tier 7 strength most

fighting against his own morality, he found Aina looking at him with a blazing gaze. Within it, he saw excitement and anticipation, as well

regard, she was

grinned. "Alright. Let's do

"Yip! Yip!"

"Sit tight Little Blackstar."

"Yip! Yip!"

you want to fight too. But I want

shot out of the tree that instant, leaving

reveal an ax shimmering of gold and

slowing to a crawl. Every blade of grass seemed to be reflected in his mind. The speed of the wind, the humidity, the shade of

happy beyond measure, but when

of them