Dimensional Descent

[Woke up with a splitting migraine this morning, so that why chapters are even later than usual. Really not sure if I'll be able to write a third and a fourth today... Anyway, here's at least two to enjoy]

Leonel's gaze flashed with something that looked like rage. However, this only made Miya feel emboldened, his chest spilling over with a sense of satisfaction.

Leonel took a deep and steady breath, looking over the crowd of freshmen that had followed him to this point. But, not a single one seemed to want to meet his gaze. Without fail, they all looked away.

Senior Lu's sneer deepened when he saw such a scene.

"What are you trying to do right now, exactly? Didn't you say the strong should take the vanguard? Since you're so bold, why are you trying to pressure the group of us who are so much weaker than you?"

The heads of many of the freshmen remained lowered. But, after hearing Senior Lu's words, a small number of them regained enough courage to look up and meet Leonel's eyes.

That was right. Since Leonel had said that the strong should sacrifice, why wasn't he sacrificing now?

Leonel's hand trembled. But, he slowly retracted his bow, putting his arrows away. Without a word, he turned toward the forest and began to walk into it.

Seeing such a scene, Miya and the three were stunned for a moment before they erupted into an uproarious laughter. They really didn't think that things would end so easily. To think that he was actually such an idiot.

"That's right, scuttle away little doggie. I almost feel a bit bad, look at how pitiful he looks." Yako laughed so hard he could barely breathe.

Miya's lip curled. But, his smile froze not long after.

Among the freshmen, Aina didn't hesitate to follow after Leonel. It would have been fine if it was just one, but outside of even Leonel's expectations, Ingkath, Irolana and Moos clenched their fists tightly, turning away with stiff steps and following Leonel as well.

Balthorn's expression warped. It looked like she too wanted to follow, but before she could, a slender hand chopped at the back of her head. She couldn't even understand what happened before she collapsed into darkness.

an eye. It was as though it

cares if a few chose to follow him? A mere four out of over a hundred,

after Leonel was gone. He hadn't even opened his

enter the mines, if you

"Oh, that."

was only now that Miya remembered that he had indeed promised such a

life was even on the line now, he didn't really care

some thought, he realized that there was really no point in humiliating Leonel if no one could spread the tale later. So, he had to make sure that at least some of them survived in

up when it landed on Jaelis. How could he not be drawn

was a different matter entirely if there was someone who could actually

Miya said after some thought.

still looked toward Jaelis almost immediately, a pleading look in his

in her arms, standing beside Jaelis as though she had always been there. Even to this point, no one seemed to realize that Balthorn was knocked out. Or, maybe, they simply didn't care about

gaze over.

toward the mine, not bothering to pick out two more to fill

the latter had clearly cleansed his hands of the matter. He wanted nothing to do with it.

the freshmen began to silently set up camp, quietly vying for position closer to

Lu clenched his fists, a hint of despair marking his brow. The complicated looks he received from the other freshmen only

…

entrance to maintain order, Miya and Yako led Jaelis and the two women into

nearing the night, and possibly lit by torches,

sparkle with their own pale light. The visibility wasn't as bright as day, but it wasn't as poor as dusk either. It was a nice, gentle in between

of silence, Jaelis