Reinhard blinked.

The memories vanished like smoke dispersing in the wind with a golden light receding, pulling back his mind. His mind returned to his body before he became aware of the oppressive forest, the sounds of combat, and creatures rushing towards him all around.

For a split moment, he felt golden light stretching out to his friends and allies. He also felt their wishes for help rushing past before the feeling and golden line faded away. He stood in the same position where he'd closed his eyes, but now something else occupied the space before him.

Commander Dune appeared in his spectral form. His armor shimmered with the same golden and iron plates Reinhard had seen in the memories, but now composed of light rather than metal. The large golden cape hung from his left shoulder, rippling despite no wind.

His pauldron caught and reflected the forest's dim illumination, creating patterns that danced across nearby trees. The leather belt running across his chest gleamed as if freshly polished.

Dune's form was more solid than when he had seen him in Melo City, with a far stronger presence. It was like he was standing near Vlad or Brunhilde, making Reinhard idly wonder if Dune was also a First Class Beast Master.

Dune hummed thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping the battlefield. Janus crimson claws tore through a root-humanoid, the construct shattering under the expanded blades. Casseo's black-scaled form rushed through the area, his sword trailing with a shadowy aura that split attacking tendrils.

Veryn's light beams punched holes through Night Terrors, attempting to flank their position. Honor's banner swept through clusters of enemies, black aura causing rapid deterioration wherever it touched.

Joseph uses the wind to force the roots to wrap around the root humanoids before Marie's golden light burns them away. Amiya fought with her weapon, defending the perimeter with determined strikes.

"Haha," Dune laughed softly as his expression softened. "I'm glad you called on me. Now let me help out."

Dune stretched out his hand, and a massive great sword materialized in his grip. The blade was composed entirely of golden light that blazed with intensity, painful to look at directly. The weapon's size dwarfed even Reinhard's Zenuken, easily six feet of surging destruction that hummed with barely contained power.

Dune swept the blade out.

A wave of golden energy erupted from the cutting edge, expanding as it traveled. The shockwave burst with a radiant light, a visible wall of force that crashed through everything in its path.

Root-humanoids disintegrated on contact, their wooden bodies unable to withstand the concentrated power. Night Terrors scattered as the wave passed through them, their shadowy forms destabilizing while Phantasm Beast constructs shattered, fragments scattering across the forest floor.

The wave continued traveling, clearing through the enemies that had been overwhelming the group seconds before. Trees beyond the immediate battlefield bent under the force, leaves torn free by the passing energy.

Before the enemies could recover, Dune pointed toward the sky.

Light erupted from his fingertip, a single brilliant beam that shot upward. It climbed until it disappeared beyond the trees, piercing through clouds and darkness.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then dozens of individual light streams separated from the main column, arcing back downward in graceful parabolas. They fell like golden rain, each stream targeting a different enemy position.

The first impacts came as it slammed into a cluster of root-constructs and erupted. Golden flames spread from the impact points, consuming wood with terrifying speed. The fire didn't produce smoke or heat in the normal sense, but rather seemed to unmake the constructs. As anything the golden flames touched, component particles of it were being shattered.

More impacts followed rapidly.

Each light stream quickly smashed down, targeting enemies without fail. Root-humanoids began to burn while Night Terrors shrieked as golden fire consumed their shadowy forms. Phantasm Beasts tried fleeing, but the large numbers struck their limbs, forcing them to be consumed by the flames soon.

Within seconds, the immediate area was cleared of threats, only burning remnants remaining as evidence of their existence.

Dune clenched his fist, muscles in his spectral arm bulging with the motion. He brought his fist down, smashing it into the ground despite his incorporeal nature.

The impact created a crater perhaps three feet across, before light erupted on the ground. A golden veil rushed out from the impact point, spreading outward in an expanding dome. It moved fast, accelerating as it grew, washing over the battlefield like a tidal wave made of light.

When the veil crashed into roots still emerging, they blasted into fragments. Tendrils attempting to regenerate from previous damage simply exploded, unable to withstand the concentrated energy.

The root barricades that had been reforming around their position shattered, wood pulverizing under the onslaught. The veil continued spreading, creating a clear zone that extended hundreds of feet in all directions.

Then, as quickly as they'd been destroyed, the roots began regenerating. Wood knitted together with that same terrifying speed, gaps closing, barriers reforming. The forest wasn't giving up merely acknowledging a temporary setback.

Dune chuckled, the sound carrying amusement rather than concern. "Are you all okay?"

Marie blinked, her light-gold eyes widening with recognition before laughing. "That's why you wanted the Star Jewel. You wanted to use it to summon Dune? That's a good plan!"

Veryn stared in shock, her purple slitted pupils dilating. "But he's a First Class Beast Master…" Her voice carried disbelief that bordered on denial. "How is it possible the Star Jewel could not only summon him but also back when he was at his peak?"

Honor said softly. "It's simply the logic-breaking powers of the Star Jewel."

Dune chuckled again, his spectral form flickering slightly. "Well, it's not permanent. As the seconds pass, I'm losing magic and will eventually fade away."

Everyone's eyes widened simultaneously before sighing at the unfortunate limitation.

Reinhard nodded with a slight frown. "Well, it does make sense that there are limitations."

Joseph's lips twitched, expression caught between appreciation and exasperation. "I can't say these are limitations, considering a First Class Beast Master was still summoned fully."

Amiya's eyes shined. "Will you be helping us reach the center?"

Dune smiled as he clenched his free hand. "It should have been us who dealt with the Dark Silence instead of leaving it to the future. But we failed and were forced to have you all shoulder the burden, you and many other generations." He swept his gaze over all of them, making eye contact with each person individually. When he reached Amiya, his voice softened further. "It would be my honor to help guide you all to the center."

Marie laughed, the sound mixing relief and excitement. "Alright!"

Janus and Amiya glanced at each other, matching grins spreading across their faces.

Honor spoke softly, his nebulous cloak billowing. "Then we'll be relying on your strength, Commander Dune."

Reinhard's tactical mind engaged immediately, organizing their new formation. "Amiya, you continue guiding us. Dune will focus on stepping in when it gets too much-"

Dune shook his head, the motion making his spectral form ripple. "It's better for us all to work together. At the very least, I can help take the burden off you all before I fade away."

Reinhard nodded, accepting the correction.

"Then let's move," Reinhard commanded.

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