In the open space before the Great Holy Hall, Trial Takers were getting into position one after another. They all tightly gripped the Holy Emblems in their hands and stood close to their teammates. This way, they would be quite close to each other after being teleported into the Secret Realm.
In the Secret Realm Trial, acting in teams was not forbidden; in fact, teamwork was encouraged.
Of course, there were lone wolves as well. Such people could be found anywhere, especially among the more confident experts who were unwilling to share their achievements with others.
Closest to the Great Holy Hall was Reiya, who had been standing before its doors from the very beginning. Just like at the ball, a Vacuum Side automatically formed around her. Everyone avoided her as if she were a plague, even though Reiya was clearly more qualified to be a Trial Taker than anyone else.
Only Westheid, with Yolanda in tow, walked over openly and stood shoulder to shoulder with Reiya.
Upon hearing the approaching footsteps, Reiya already knew who it was. Just like that night, only one person would approach her without hesitation.
The Silver-haired Dragon Lady turned her head and asked:
"West, can I team up with you?"
"Of course. I was the one who invited you in the first place. I just didn't expect you to do... this. The consequences could be unimaginable."
Westheid sighed. Although he had thought about asking Reiya to be his teammate, he had dismissed the idea after learning it was impossible.
But for Reiya to actually run to the Great Holy Hall and hurl Dragon Thunder at the Radiant Holy Tree... such a blasphemous, provocative act was simply asking for death!
Of course, Westheid knew the inside story: the Radiant Holy Tree wouldn't punish a Demigod descendant it favored. Reiya herself, however, could only make a slight guess at best; she could not be certain. Therefore, to take such a drastic step, she must have been prepared to die.
"But if I didn't, I would have regretted it."
Reiya looked up at the Holy Tree Illusion. By now, it was showering down particles of golden light, illuminating the entire Holy Tree Palace as if it were day, even without any lamps. Lowering her gaze slightly, the Princess said faintly:
"Death isn't frightening. What's frightening is despair. For that reason, I didn't hesitate to use the Dragon's power. At least now I have a chance to participate in the Trial."
Westheid gazed silently at the Silver-haired Dragon Lady's profile. Bathed in the radiant light, her hair, as if forged from pure silver, was brilliant and beautiful. Faint Dragon Scales had appeared on her fair cheeks. The pure white scales resembled fragments flecked with stardust; far from looking ugly, they gave Reiya an extraordinary Charm.
Evidently, Reiya was no longer suppressing the power in her bloodline. The wounds inflicted by the Radiant Holy Tree had been impossible to heal through any conventional means, but by unleashing the blood of the Demon Dragon, even these scars from the Divine Punishment could be cured.
This was only natural. After all, if one had to be precise, the Dragon God's Divine Blood in Reiya's veins was even more abundant than the Tree God's.
'Good. It's about time she used it,' was Westheid's assessment. 'It isn't that I'm trying to put one down to praise the other, but the Dragon God's authority is far more violent than the placid Holy Tree's.'
For years, Reiya had been suppressing the Dragon Blood in her body. Now that she had unleashed it... she had likely stepped directly onto the Path of Transcendence. He just didn't know if she was now at Tier One, Origin, or had gone straight to Tier Two, Elite.
Westheid shook his head and chuckled. "You wanted to join the Trial that badly? You're not even afraid of death?"
"It's all West's fault."
Westheid: "Huh? How is this my fault again?"
Hearing this, Reiya turned her head and answered seriously:
"I'm not noble enough to resist temptation."
Her magnificent eyes, a mix of cerulean and violet, were filled with an emotion that made Westheid unable to look at her directly.
"..."
Just as Westheid was wondering how to respond, he saw Reiya clutch her own arm and sigh deeply.
"So I don't want to die anymore. I want to keep living—to live like a normal person. But if I remain trapped in this broken body, stripped of my freedom and at the mercy of others, none of that will be possible. And if my fate is to meet a powerless end... that is a kind of despair my will alone simply cannot withstand."
The silver-haired girl's body trembled slightly, as if the mere thought of it made her shudder.
"I want to live. I want to be whole. I want to..."
'I want to be someone worthy of West.'
Reiya shook her head, keeping the last sentence locked in her heart. She then gazed at the black-haired, purple-eyed Duke Qinghui and lowered her head.
"So, West... please help me. No... I'm begging you to help me."
Westheid was dumbfounded. "You're... begging me?"
He was truly stunned into silence.
In this world, no one understood Reiya's heart better than Westheid—not even Reiya herself.
The world hated the Sinful Blood Princess, but didn't the Silver-haired Dragon Lady, in turn, sneer at this world that had never treated her kindly?
Her resilience and pride didn't make Reiya appear overly tough or cold, but she would never expose any inner weakness, let alone beg someone for help.
She despised everyone and everything, holding fast to her solitary pride and dignity.
Westheid admired, even worshipped, this version of Reiya. Even setting aside whether or not he could freeload her Talents, the heart of a Powerhouse like that was enough to earn his respect.
Her posture just now, in particular, had overlapped with his impression of the Withered and Flourishing Dragon Emperor. 'This is how a Powerhouse should be!'
'Using a heart of solitary pride to rebel against authority and mock the petty. Since this world hardened me, I'll humiliate and conquer the entire world! Conquer it!'
But this very Reiya—resilient and powerful, the one Westheid saw as a role model—was now begging him for help?
Westheid suddenly felt like his idol's image had just collapsed. He was furious.
'Oh... wait, I think I'm the one who made her like this. Never mind, then.'
Reiya nodded. "You're the only one I can rely on."
"...What reason do I have to refuse?"
Though his heart was a tangle of mixed emotions, Westheid still accepted Reiya's request. Putting everything else aside, just for the fact that she had shared the Withered Glory Sun with him, Westheid could not allow anything to happen to her.
Westheid firmly took Reiya's hand and promised her with conviction:
"You will get better. Your future is absolutely something to look forward to. You will become incredibly beautiful, powerful, and awe-inspiring. I swear I will make sure of it."
"Mm."
Reiya smiled and took a small step closer, carefully pressing her cheek against the back of Westheid's hand.
"Ahem... Brother, I don't mean to interrupt you two, but the difficulties we're about to face are not to be underestimated."
Just then, Yolanda's cough came from behind them. The platinum-blonde girl subtly pointed into the distance.