In the direction Yolanda pointed stood a member of the Royal Family with choppy, crimson hair—Yaligong, who was staring coldly in their direction.
Upon seeing the interaction between Westheid and Reiya, His Imperial Highness Prince approached with a squad of Knights in gleaming armor.
"So that's how it is... It was Duke Qinghui who gave you courage, was it?"
Yaligong spoke, his voice low and sinister. "A mongrel and a piece of trash. The two of you are quite a match. Pinning your hopes on the Trial? How foolish. If I weren't barred from participating, I'd go over and slaughter you like pigs and dogs myself... But letting someone else do it for me is a fine alternative."
The dashing Prince then turned to face the entire assembly, raised his arm, and bellowed:
"All Trial Takers! Whether you are the Knights under my command, the scions of other noble families, or guests from our allied nations! Anyone who can eliminate this mongrel will earn my friendship and a reward! And if you can utterly humiliate them, no matter who you are, I will grant you a fiefdom over a major city!"
HISS—
The moment Yaligong's words fell, a series of sharp gasps echoed through the area.
'How could this Prince be so terrifyingly... generous?!'
A major city... That meant a population of at least a million and incalculable wealth. Even with the Royal Family's vast resources, it was a difficult prize to offer. This was tantamount to creating a new Lord with true power!
Wealth, status, power... all of it was within reach.
The foundation for a family legacy that could last a hundred, even a thousand, years might be laid today!
The area immediately broke into fervent discussion. For the vast majority of Trial Takers, their goal was simply to try their luck and see if they could win a prize. As for glory... that was too much of a luxury.
But now, here was a shortcut to the top, an opportunity that didn't require currying favor with the Divine Ancestor... To refuse a gift from the heavens would be to invite disaster upon oneself.
Instantly, countless hostile and covetous gazes landed on Reiya and her companions. In the shadows, some were already rubbing their palms together, preparing to claim this grand prize in the Secret Realm Trial.
After all, one was a [Branch of Prosperity] who had lost her lands, and the other was a mongrel with Dragon Blood. Neither had power or influence; there was truly nothing to fear.
"Heh heh, ha ha ha! Go on and struggle pathetically in the Trial! I will savor every moment of the mongrel's and the trash's miserable suffering. I only hope the fun doesn't end too soon."
Laughing heartily, Yaligong turned and walked away.
The Regent King, watching this scene unfold from the floating platform, did not intervene.
Forming factions to attack one another and settling personal grudges during the Trial was certainly considered dishonorable, but it wasn't against the rules.
It was all part of the game's mechanics. If you didn't like it, you didn't have to play.
Besides, Sylvia actually wanted to use her foolish, hot-headed brother to test the waters a little.
'What exactly is the Divine Ancestor's attitude toward this mongrel Dragon Girl?'
Westheid watched the Red-haired Prince return smugly to the Royal Family's floating platform and raised his eyebrows.
'Prince Yaligong...' Westheid thought. 'To be honest, the name means almost nothing to me. In the entire Royal Family of the Radiant Holy Tree Empire, only Reiya and Sylvia are worth remembering. I wonder what fate would have befallen this Prince, who hates Reiya so much, in the original storyline.'
'But the [Withered and Flourishing Dragon Emperor] is definitely not the type to repay malice with kindness.'
"His Highness seems a bit agitated, Yolanda. Do you have any idea why?"
"Because Prince Yaligong doesn't have a mother," Yolanda replied succinctly.
"How can you use such foul language?"
Westheid's eyes widened as he chided her. "Take it back! I'm the only one who gets to use foul language around here."
Yolanda elaborated, "No, Brother, what I mean is... because of Her Highness Reiya, Prince Yaligong's mother was also found guilty and executed during the purge sixteen years ago. That is why he despises Her Highness Reiya so intensely."
Westheid had a moment of realization. "Ah, so his mom really is dead. That explains it, that explains it. Still, if you ask me, it's just impotent rage. Shouldn't the one he hates be Emperor 'Old Deng'?"
"Is that really the point, Brother?"
The platinum-blonde girl sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Given His Highness Yaligong's hatred for the Fourth Princess, his War Knights have surely received orders to use underhanded tactics against us in the Secret Realm Trial."
"What do you mean, 'underhanded tactics'? It's just free competition."
Westheid cut in, "Yolanda, don't make it sound so grim. No one actually dies in the Secret Realm Trial."
Yolanda said coldly, "But if we're eliminated without accomplishing anything, not only will it be humiliating, but it will defeat the entire purpose of participating in the Trial, won't it?"
Westheid smiled. "You're right. That would be a bit too cruel for them."
Yolanda: "..."
'Wait, are you already assuming *they're* the ones who will be eliminated? Shouldn't you take a look at the disparity in strength between them and us?'
'And it's not just Prince Yaligong's forces. Because of the Prince's bounty, more than half the Trial Takers will be watching us like hungry tigers.'
'Even though the Secret Realm Trial isn't a directly competitive game, the interactions between Trial Takers can't be ignored.'
Yolanda was already thinking about how to make a reasonably graceful exit.
"Don't be afraid. I'm a god-tier carry."
Westheid gave the hand he was holding with Reiya a little shake and said to the platinum-blonde girl:
"Just follow my lead. I guarantee an easy win; you won't even have to lift a finger!"
"I simply have to consider more factors. I can't be as blissfully innocent as you," Yolanda pouted. Though her words were cautionary, her body was honest, and she took her place obediently behind Westheid.
'She was the blade of the Qinghui Clan. Since the Patriarch had chosen a path, her only role was to be wielded according to his will. Besides... her brother seemed worthy of a little trust, at least.'
Once the Trial Takers were all prepared, the sound of a grand chorus, formed from forty-eight separate choirs, resounded through the air.
"Our God, Our Ancestor, the Radiant Holy Tree."
"In reverence, we speak Your name, O God of Radiant Sun."
"Compassionate and virtuous, elder to all creation."
"Through the Holy Root System, we flourish and prosper."
"Ancestor, Forefather, Grandfather..."
"..."
As the melodious and sacred chorus echoed, a projection descended from above the Holy Tree Illusion, large and clear enough for every spectator to see.
And the image on the projection revealed the content of this Secret Realm Trial.
On a vast, boundless land, a towering spire seemed to connect heaven and earth. Above mountains, rivers, and towns, a wingspan so immense it blotted out the sun cast everything into shadow.
Countless Dragon Beasts swarmed the sky like a dark cloud. These chimeras, mixed with Dragon Blood, let out hoarse roars. And surrounded by them, the colossal shadow of a Giant Dragon loomed, sometimes visible, sometimes not.
That was a True Dragon.
In Imperial propaganda, Dragons had long been thoroughly demonized and vilified, with every effort made to portray them as ugly and ferocious.
But as for the True Dragons shown in the projection, no matter what preconceptions one held, no matter how one might scorn or detest them...
...it was impossible not to admit that their sun-blotting forms were majestic and awe-inspiring.
They were beyond description. Mortals who had not yet stepped onto the Extraordinary path felt their breath catch just from watching the lifelike images in the projection.