Dimensional Descent

The words rung in Old Bastian's heart like a bell. It almost felt like Leonel was attacking his soul with his Dream Force, and maybe he was... but Old Bastian had the clarity nonetheless to realize that he was correct.

They were already in a passive position. If they didn't take action now, when would they? They were already looking for an excuse to target them anyway... so let them come.

At that moment, Old Bastian had the momentum to make a unilateral decision for the whole of the Dwarven Race.

In reality, he had the prestige to do so... but in practice, he knew that he shouldn't.

He was most definitely one of the top three experts of the Race, and due to his position as the head of the Dream Pavilion, he was even faintly beyond the other two. But it wasn't to the point that he could unilaterally suppress them. In fact, in a true battle where he didn't have the support of the Dream Pavilion, he would lose to them both. Dream Force simply didn't translate well to battle for most.

However, when it came to intelligence, they took his word for most things and his thoughts definitely weighed the heaviest.

The camaraderie of the Dwarven Race went all the way to the very top. He saw those two as his siblings and he wouldn't have it any other way.

There was no time to consult them even if he wanted to. The challenge would start very soon, and even if he did have the speed to inform them... would they have the time to have a deep back and forth? What would even be the point in a half-assed conversation?

There was really only one choice to make.

He exhaled slowly.

"I'll trust you in this matter for now."

Leonel nodded. When he turned away, vanishing, his expression was incredibly solemn. He barely registered the Pavilion Head position being transferred over to him.

about wasn't the coming battle. Even if it was a tall mountain, he would climb it if it meant crushing the

Bastian's decision. He knew that it wasn't easy to make such a decision, and

he wanted to,

...

Dream Pavilion projections clashed

"The situation is a bit odd now.

it was the Dream Pavilion's choice of who to send up. Because of this, Leonel understood what Aina's worry was. If they suddenly appeared as a man and a woman, and Aina was registered as the

don't have to worry about that," Leonel replied. "The Dimension requirement

eyes lit up with understanding and she

use her Fourth Dimensional body to deal with someone who was clearly in the Ninth Dimension, she didn't even

Leonel would ever put her in danger. If he was doing this, it meant he was confident,

This was his Domain.

wasn't Old Bastian acting. But

because it wasn't Aina

It was Lyra.

have time to understand how the hell any of this could be happening. Let alone him, even the

wasn't that he didn't think it was potentially a disguise, but he simply couldn't see

it was too late to retract the command now. They were

...