Dimensional Descent

[Thanks to Mr. Ham (6/6)]

It could be said that Somnus' words were excellently timed. He had given up on trying to deal with Leonel in a head-on confrontation. If they played a game at Leonel's pace, they would end up losing.

"I don't believe that you're acting with good faith, nor are you in line with the spirit of the Gathering of Minds. If it was just a matter of your abrasiveness, I could let it go. But commandeering the rules of the event in order to avoid exchanging ideas about what amounts to half of our purpose for being here... are you looking down on Force Pill Crafters?"

It was an accusation that held a lot of weight, and one that had the potential to be extremely dangerous depending on the situation. Who didn't know that Force Pill Crafters were far rarer, but also held far more influence as a result?

"If I might make a suggestion to help get things back on track to avoid turning this into a farce..."

Somnus looked toward Aerin and Lyra, both of whom almost immediately paled. "Please challenge him in the alchemy stream after he takes his turn. It is a bit unfair, but I believe this was your original intention, correct? This way, you get to force him into the challenge you wanted originally."

Somnus' plot was quite clever, and unavoidable.

It was distasteful to use his status to pressure Aerin, but as he had said, Aerin had tried to challenge Leonel in the Force Pill Crafting Stream before, that was his first choice. Somnus was just giving him an opportunity to do it again.

So, instead of looking like he was pressuring Aerin and Lyra, it actually looked like he was helping them.

But that was just the first layer. Once this round was finished, it would be Talon and Somnus' turn again. Leonel could turn that down, but then it would be Celestia's turn once more. At that point, what could he do?

There was a hole in this plan... or so it seemed.

According to the rules, Leonel didn't have to participate anymore after completing three challenges. He had already completed one, his turn was coming up now and that could be the second, and finally Aerin and Lyra would be the third.

After that point, Leonel could just pat the dust off of him and leave. And because of Talon's loss, he would have accumulated far more points than anyone else. A Demi-God World Spirit was too valuable to even scale properly, it would probably be hundreds of points at worst. That was more than enough for Leonel to be number one.

But there was an obvious flaw to that line of thinking as well...

count as a challenge and following his "battle" with Aerin

was an excellent plan. Truly an excellent

and Lyra... but would any of them choose

Of course not.

of failed participants, looked toward one another, greatly worried. How could they not know

at Somnus

your solution to me angering you within the rules

rules? Now, if you would please proceed with your turn," Somnus said

scanned everyone one

proceeded or retreated. Whether he participated or gave up now,

a Dream Asura latching onto him, Leonel's gaze seemed to lose

Owlans in Crafting. I've heard that they're

they seemed like they

"We refuse."

gaze met Celestia's and she felt a cold

his fists hard, his bottom lip trembling. Even if they challenged Leonel and let him win, it

similarly

over that made Aerin feel as though he had fallen into

"Sure," Leonel said lightly.

and looked toward Lyra.

and set the parameters of the battle. When

moment, are you the

there a problem?" Leonel

it means that you would have been disqualified before the round of debates even began. Of course, if your

say?" Leonel asked in a