Dimensional Descent

[Bonus chapter courtesy of Mr. Mostert <3 3/6]

Leonel continued to sit there, staring into space. He didn't really feel depressed; he just felt a bit empty. And then, the anxiety came.

What was he doing? Facing off against Ninth Dimensional experts like he was on the same playing field as them? Was he insane?

These weren't even normal Ninth Dimensional experts either; these were Ninth Dimensional experts that could take someone like Clarence and turn him into a prop-up toy to be skewered and humiliated before the masses.

The moment Leonel had this thought, he felt disgust. This wasn't him. But why did the lines feel so blurred?

The immediate assumption was that his Dream Force was turning him into someone he was not, but this was clearly not the case. He wanted to be confident; he wanted to face off against enemies who scorned him and make them eat their words. That sort of anxiety wasn't something he would have normally.

Even when the influence of his future self was muted, and he had yet to enter the Dimensional Verse, he had always been the same. He hated to lose; he was willing to suffer for a victory, and he hated the idea of others controlling him.

He didn't even necessarily hate football back then; he loved the sport, even if he might have lied to himself and others in saying that he didn't.

He loved the control it gave him, that feeling of combat and war...

He suddenly remembered the first time he had stepped onto a real battlefield, back in the Camelot Zone. He had felt his blood boiling and the excitement spilled over into his actions. He had rushed headfirst into that army of Demons as though they weren't fantastical creatures he had never laid eyes on before.

He had loved every second of it.

That was true... that was another aspect of himself... he loved battle...

No, what he loved was competition. The more thrilling it was, the better.

around back then, to the point that his future

feelings, it wasn't to

being thrust into unbeatable

was an adrenaline

the foot. He loved the adrenaline, but if

continuously did things that could only be considered stupid and more stupid, throwing himself at enemies he couldn't hope to defeat

They never did.

spread across Leonel's face. He was staring into space, and yet a wild, shit-eating grin was on his

he have ever gone down this

what his path was; why would he second guess it? Maybe

his final breath. But if it took him so long to acknowledge him, could it have shaken

what he did know was that he had a streak of completely ignoring his

that he took bits and pieces of those teachings and finally gave his spear a life of its

was even more unruly

wanted

above his head vanished, and the robes that had adorned

was likely that by now, those watching were madly cackling at his misfortune, but Leonel didn't

skin was slightly flushed. His mind was filled with thoughts of the Owlans,

his irises as he continued

basked in that feeling of anxiety, of sweaty palms,