The dream characteristic possessed by Syndrome's Dream was [Severance].

While it might sound simple at first glance, things change when you cut everything regardless of an object's strength.

Approach slowly with stealth that no one can detect, then cut straight through.

Syndrome's ability was, in fact, specialized for assassination but now, for the first time, Syndrome's stealth was seen through, and it failed to cut something.

'I can understand a hundred times over that my stealth was discovered, but to think that I couldn't cut a mere human...'

Syndrome's power of severance originates from dreams.

Dreams are the source that constitutes Dreamland and an extremely powerful force.

These dreams are manifested based on the user's beliefs and imagination.

There exists a word called paradox.

A spear that pierces everything and a shield that blocks everything.

What result occurs when these two collide?

In Dreamland, this result is simple.

The person with stronger mental power wins.

If you're determined to cut anything, there really isn't anything you can't cut.

Yet it failed, which means.

'Are you saying this human's mental power is equal to mine, a dream subordinate?'

It was unacceptable.

How could a mere human possess mental power equal to its own?

It was one of the five subordinates created by Nirva, the ruler of Dreamland.

It possessed power rivaling the adversary in this world.

Syndrome's hand moved.

The five blades at its fingertips gleamed in the light and flew at Alex from their respective directions.

Like snakes targeting prey, the slashes flew while writhing.

It was an intense blade intent that cuts into skin but Alex calmly regulated his breathing while adjusting his grip on the sword.

Watching the incoming slashes, Alex's sword drew a circle in place.

It was such a beautiful circle that it would be hard to draw even if asked to.

That perfect shape absorbed Syndrome's slashes like a whirlpool.

The absorbed slashes gathered in one place like twisting a rope, then stabbed at the innocent ground.

[Huh?]

It was incomprehensible.

Blocking its slashes was surprising enough, but this time naturally deflecting those slashes and gathering them in one place?

While Syndrome was surprised, Alex thrust his sword toward its exposed abdomen.

-Bang!

Though it was a light thrust, it made the sound of a cannon firing.

Syndrome's body flew backward like an arrow and crashed into a huge rock.

A massive crater formed in the rock as it cracked.

The impact wasn't limited to the rock. The ground around it also cracked and scattered debris.

Seeing this, Violetta swallowed hard.

'My goodness. I knew he was strong, but not to this extent. Did his skills improve in the meantime?'

What played a decisive role in Alex becoming stronger was probably when he went to the Elven Forest following Rudger.

From what she heard, there was an incredible battle there, and he clearly made remarkable progress through that fight.

Even so, Alex's rate of growth was unbelievable.

It wasn't for nothing that Rudger highly valued his talent.

"Hey, what are you doing there?"

Alex pointed his sword at Syndrome embedded in the rock and flicked the tip.

"Are you going to stay stuck in the rock? Is it that comfortable? Or was all that bluster earlier just because you're only at this level? That would be too disappointing."

[...How dare you!]

A voice full of rage boiled up from within Syndrome's helmet.

Like thick magma from deep underground about to overflow.

Pulling itself from the rock, Syndrome lowered its body while ignoring the falling rock pieces.

-Swoosh.

Its crouched thighs swelled up like a balloon filled with wind.

-Bang!

Along with a powerful push-off, Syndrome's form shot out like a shell.

‘Here it comes.’

Just as Alex was about to meet it with his sword, Syndrome's form cutting through the air melted away and disappeared.

‘That stealth.’

Alex's eyes quickly scanned the surroundings.

It wasn't something that could be seen just by looking with eyes in the first place.

If anything, it was intuition.

How should one describe the tickling sensation in the brain?

Unconsciously recognizing that something is there.

Alex naturally broke through Syndrome's stealth in that way but this time wasn't easy because Syndrome's movements were too fast.

Even when trying to unconsciously grasp its position, Syndrome had already passed that spot.

Alex's mind was spinning rapidly.

It was clear that the best option was to counter-strike in that split second of where and what it would target.

However, Alex rather dampened his fighting spirit and a relaxed smile formed on his lips as if showing no sign of tension.

Syndrome, quickly moving around the area, quietly raged at that sight.

'You dare lower your sword?'

That expression was too irritating to think he had given up.

Isn't it like saying he doesn't even care what something like you does?

'Fine. If you want to die that badly, I'll kill you.'

The thought of toying with him was completely abandoned.

Syndrome quickly moved and approached Alex's blind spot, swinging its hand.

More precisely, it tried to swing.

-Bang!

Until it was struck down on its back by a massive impact.

[Wh-What...!]

The stealth was broken, and its body was planted into the ground like a flattened frog.

Alex turned his head at the thunderous sound from behind to observe Syndrome.

"Oh. You were there?"

Syndrome had no energy to react to Alex's mockery.

It was hard to even get up from the spot due to the enormous pressure pressing down on its back.

[Y-You.]

Only then could Syndrome realize who was pressing down on it.

The large-bodied beastkin male, Pantos.

He had reversed the situation and hunted Syndrome, who was targeting Alex, by using it as bait.

After all, the best way to hunt prey is to throw out attractive bait.

Pantos was stepping on Syndrome's back plate, and he seemed slightly curious about the unexpectedly solid armor's strength.

"Hmm."

So he applied more force.

-Crack! Crackle!

But armor is armor. There was nothing that couldn't be broken.

As Pantos put strength in his leg, Syndrome's armor made creaking sounds.

-Boom!

The ground where Syndrome was planted sank in once more.

It looked as if gravity had become excessively heavy just in that area.

[Kuaaah!]

Syndrome screamed as it realized Pantos intended to stomp it to death like an insect.

[How dare an arrogant beastkin try to kill me?!]

Not even an intense fight, but to be killed by being stepped on.

There could be nothing more humiliating.

Syndrome's hands dug deep into the ground.

The moment Pantos saw this, he lifted his foot from Syndrome and leaped backward.

Animal instinct warned him.

-Whoosh!

Countless white slashes swept in all directions from around Syndrome, as if a volcano had erupted from underground.

It was like a scene of pure white bone spikes indiscriminately shooting up.

"Dodge!"

Violetta shouted while taking Arpa and Bellaruna to safety.

The slashes persistently swept through a narrow area like a localized tornado.

Alex and Pantos were precisely within that range.

[I'll turn you into finely minced meat!]

Syndrome rose from within the whirlwind of blades.

After some time passed, the whirlwind subsided.

It was an attack that would have split even an ant into hundreds of pieces if it had been inside.

But both Alex and Pantos were fine.

They hadn't completely avoided damage, as there were cuts across their skin and their clothes were torn, but that was all.

It was an inexplicable situation where they were alive when they should have died.

[These bastards!]

Syndrome's pride was hurt once again.

While Alex was one thing, it hadn't expected Pantos to be fine too.

To see the one who dared try to kill it like an insect standing there with arms crossed made its internal organs twist with rage.

[I'll slice you up first!]

Syndrome's form vanished from its spot like a snuffed candle.

It reappeared right in front of Pantos' face.

Until then, Pantos had remained still with his arms crossed.

Syndrome's hands left afterimages as they swung.

Dozens of slashes in less than a second were enough attacks to turn Pantos into a 3D puzzle but Pantos was fine.

Rather, Syndrome was shocked to find nothing left at the tips of its hands.

[H-How...]

In Pantos' hands, which had uncrossed at some point, were the sharp claw blades that Syndrome had been swinging.

Syndrome groaned at the incomprehensible sight but what came in return was Pantos' fist.

-Boom!

It was like lightning striking right in front of its face.

While Alex's thrust was strong, Pantos' punch was far more destructive.

The solar plexus area of Syndrome's armor is carved in the shape of a fist.

As Syndrome was sent flying, Alex swung his sword from his position as if he had been waiting.

Syndrome tried to flail and counter-attack but belatedly realized its weapons in both hands were gone.

-Slash! Slash!

Countless straight lines carved in the air flowed along Syndrome's armor.

It was an attack that precisely targeted the seams of the armor.

Unable to withstand it, Syndrome's left side from the shoulder joint fell off with a thud.

Alex whistled at the sight.

"What's this? I thought you were wearing armor, but the armor itself was actually your body?"

There was nothing inside Syndrome's armor.

Only black smoke-like substance flowed from the cut cross-section.

Syndrome wasn't a person wearing armor, but that armor itself was part of its body.

[Kuuu.]

Syndrome couldn't even respond to Alex's provocation.

Its body was completely broken, leaving no energy for that.

"What's this? After acting so high and mighty, is this all you amount to?"

[Y-You insolent human!]

The flat hole in Syndrome's helmet split open with a crack and the armor fragments scattered around the forcefully opened mouth.

Syndrome's body began to swell greatly.

Despite being armor that should have no elasticity, muscles grew as if bulking up.

Black smoke soared from the cross-section of the arm and regenerated the severed limb.

Several horns grew from the top of the helmet, and the claws broken by Pantos regrew into longer and more vicious forms.

[You may rejoice. You are the first to witness this power!]

Though it only opened its mouth, the voice felt like a storm.

With each word spoken, massive waves of energy spread out in concentric circles.

The surrounding earth shook and the sky rumbled.

It was an enormous power that shook the area with voice alone.

Alex frowned at this sight that was quite contrary to what had been shown until now.

"That looks like you're pushing yourself too hard no matter how I look at it."

[Yes. I won't deny it. Now that I'm burning all my power, I only have about 10 minutes of life left.]

Syndrome honestly admitted it, having heard Alex's voice through that explosive sound.

[But, so what?]

Although it was acknowledging its weakness to the enemy, Syndrome didn't mind.

[The current me can butcher all of you within 5 minutes!]

Syndrome opened its chest wide and spread its claws like a peacock's tail.

Its rampaging dream force soared into the sky, forming a pillar.

Alex and Pantos weren't intimidated even after seeing such a Syndrome.

Without anyone taking the lead, both took combat stances.

[I'll kill you all!]

Syndrome kicked off its spot and charged at the two.

And

[This...can't be.]

On the partially destroyed floating island, countless craters filled the surroundings as if a world war had occurred.

Syndrome lay fallen in the center of a particularly massive crater.

Its enlarged body was covered in fist marks and sword wounds.

One leg was severed, and one arm was crushed.

Those were wounds beyond recovery.

Leaving such a Syndrome behind, Alex and Pantos rejoined their group.

"How long did that take?"

"Hmm. I didn't keep track."

"Roughly 3 minutes? Something like that?"

"Let's say around that."

To be precise, it was 2 minutes and 42 seconds.

The two who had suppressed the dream subordinate's ultimate technique using every ounce of its power far too easily were having their usual leisurely conversation.

Syndrome couldn't even feel anger at their behavior.

With its life hanging by a thread now, it didn't even have that luxury.

[Ah...Lord Nirva.]

Syndrome's body scattered into golden sand.

To the two who had suppressed the dream subordinate, Franz in his black hood muttered in disbelief.

"You two, just what are your true identities?"

Suddenly, he recalled what Zero Order had said.

Didn't he say there were people in Dreamland who could help him?

He hadn't thought much of it, but who knew it would be like this.

"Is our identity that important? Or should we all stop here and do proper self-introductions?"

"...True. I'm in the same position, so I spoke unnecessarily. Let's head down right away. We need to be careful from here on, so stay focused."

Franz gave a warning to everyone.

"From now on, we'll be entering the middle section of the middle layer."

* * *

"This is..."

Sedina couldn't continue her words at the sight before her eyes.

It was the same for Hans and Seridan.

Below the endlessly spread floating island, there was, naturally, an ocean.

But it was different from ordinary oceans.

First, there was no wind, and not even waves.

It was so still that it felt like looking at a dawn lake, no, beyond that, like looking at the world's largest and most transparent glass.

A place that evoked strange feelings just by looking at it.

"This is the entrance to the middle section. In fact, from that surface is what can be called the midpoint of Dreamland."

Looking at the water surface that was eerily quiet brought an inexplicable fear.

Though the surface was calm, it felt like a massive storm was raging below.

It felt like just dipping a foot in would instantly pull you in up to the top of your head.

If there was fear, they should stop here.

"Is everyone ready?"

"B-Brother. Are we really going down? Wouldn't it be better to wait here and join with the others?"

"The moment we go down to that water surface, joining up becomes meaningless. You know that too, right?"

"That..."

Hans couldn't make any meaningful objection.

He knew better than anyone that this place wouldn't become any safer just because more people gathered.

"Do you remember the precautions for going there?"

"Don't be enchanted by anything. I don't understand what that means though."

"I only heard that much too. We'll have to find out the details once we go in."

The warning that Julia had given to Rudger just in case they went down to the middle section—

—Don't be enchanted by anything.