Dimensional Descent

Joel felt like he might snap, and he wasn't the only one.

To his back, the towering walls that were Raj and Milan were like raging bulls wanting to go. Even the rookie, Drake, who was usually the most quiet and reserved of them was staring daggers at Yuri. If it wasn't for their being raised on Earth and being uniquely keen on the differences between men and women—something that was far less prevalent in the Dimensional Verse, at least in terms of strength—they would have most definitely lashed out already.

It was safe to say that had Yuri been a man, even Joel would have thrown the first punch already.

It was one thing for Yuri to be speaking so rudely to them, but it was something entirely different for Aina to not even try to speak at all. Even if it might not be the case, it felt like she was looking down on them.

While others might have been inclined to go easy on her because of her beauty, Leonel's teammates felt the exact opposite. They had never looked toward Aina as a potential partner to them. In their eyes, she could only be with Leonel and no one else. For all they cared, she could be a goddess and it would still be the same.

If anything, her beauty made them look at her with an even harsher light.

On the other side, it wasn't that Yuri wanted to be harsh, but if she wasn't, how would she move the spotlight from Aina to herself? With how fragile Aina was now, could she handle the scrutiny of these men?

None of them were Leonel, but they were the closest things to brothers that Leonel had in this life. It felt as though she was facing the derision of his family. The fact that she could even stand here right now was the strongest display she could muster. Anything else was too much.

"So." Joel took a long pause. "My Captain is out there risking his life for our sakes. But, your destination is so important to you that it's not even possible to wait for him to be safe? Is it really that this is so important? Or is it that you can't stand to look him in the eye?"

trembled, something that many might have missed due to its subtlety, but

point,

"Or I'll watch it for you. Do you think I'm afraid

mist. His blood had revved to such a high level of revolutions that

I swear to God if you stop me from talking I'll fight it out with you too, Joel. Who do you think you're talking to, tramp?! If I ate you, you wouldn't even fit

fuming, his big belly rumbling as he tried to step past Joel. If it wasn't for the

thinks she can just say whatever she wants without getting punched in the lip! Then there's the one behind her

his words when he spoke of Aina. He still felt that there were some line he shouldn't cross over. Even for a man who usually always spoke his mind without the hint of a filter, he had

but

I always said Captain wasted his time on her! She

to add insult to injury, oblivious to what was happening, the talisman shone with a bright light once again, sending

they learned about Aina's scars, the team had always thought it was ridiculous that Leonel was so focused on one girl, they even teased him endlessly

just a coverup