At Morris’s command, the colossal Riding God Giant Statue awoke from its stasis. A crimson light flared from the gaps of its helmet, and its mountain-like steel body rose to its feet. Sunlight enveloped its Mithril frame, which was covered in Techniques, making it shine with endless brilliance.

The Divine Structure’s exceptionally advanced intelligence immediately locked onto its enemy. With a surprising agility that defied its size, it reversed its grip on its Lance and viciously thrust it down toward Reiya. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The White-haired Dragon Lady did not dodge. Instead, she raised a hand and parried the giant statue’s Lance with a Sword Spear formed from golden Dragon Thunder.

The moment they made contact, however, a shower of sparks erupted where the weapons clashed. Reiya felt an extreme pressure crush her arm, and her bones began to creak.

After clashing with the massive Lance for a few seconds, Reiya realized the Riding God Giant Statue’s stats were higher than hers. She immediately abandoned the idea of a head-on confrontation and dodged sideways to evade the Lance’s fierce thrust.

RUMBLE—

The unopposed Lance plunged into the ground, shattering the earth. Its spiraling tip glowed with a faint blue light as immense energy was poured into it.

Then, faint blue flames and shockwaves erupted. Vicious cracks spread across the ground, and a moment later, large swaths of the forest floor were shattered and sent flying by the gushing Magic Power.

Reiya watched this scene, her eyelids slightly lowered. Her snow-white lashes fluttered as she blinked.

’The Riding God Giant Statue... It really lives up to its reputation. Its raw power already surpasses that of a Legend.’

"Haha, of course! This is the Divine Structure of us Yonglan! It’s something you Imperial Citizens have never seen in your entire lives!"

Morris laughed maniacally, spreading his arms wide.

"Oh, avatar of the Divine Ancestor in the Mortal World, crush her! Let this inhuman mongrel witness the steel soul of a Riding God!"

As Morris’s voice fell, the Riding God Giant Statue’s metal shell seemed to lock the sunlight within its body, taking on a layer of shining, silvery gray.

"Sword of storm, soul of steel." This was the hymn to the Yonglan Riding God. Naturally, the Divine Structure was designed with this in mind. The towering construct possessed several Techniques that imitated the Riding God, personally passed down by the Yonglan Riding God himself. It was, of course, far beyond any technology of the Mortal World.

"...You seem to have misunderstood something."

Reiya glanced coldly at Morris and said,

"When were you ever at an advantage?"

"A Riding God Giant Statue... what is that compared to a Legendary True Dragon?"

The Riding God Giant Statue was indeed powerful, but only as a weapon of war. If it were to truly clash with Legendary Powerhouses, it could only gain a slight edge through its superior base stats. However, such a statistical difference was nowhere near enough to bridge the immense gap in their mechanics.

Reiya rolled up her sleeves. Dragon Thunder raged around her, tossing her molten-silver hair into the air. The Sword Spear in her hand shattered completely, and the stray lightning bolts coalesced in the sky to form an even larger Thunder Spear.

The Dragon Thunder expanded and contracted. In the blink of an eye, it had formed a colossal weapon comparable to the one held by the Riding God Giant Statue.

BANG—

Then, Reiya shot straight into the sky, maintaining a distance just above the giant statue’s head. A Thundercloud haze materialized around her out of thin air, showering down golden arcs of electricity.

Countless Sunlight Spears forged from Dragon Thunder materialized within the Thundercloud as Reiya dove, washing over the giant statue’s Steel Soul Armor like a torrent.

Meanwhile, the mobile Thundercloud continuously circled the Riding God Giant Statue, battering the massive construct until it staggered. Sparks flew from its battered frame.

[Thundercloud Incarnation].

Every Legend receives a guaranteed reward upon their ascension, things like Legendary Specialties or Talents. It’s quite luck-based.

However, those with special classes can receive a fixed reward. For example, a Yonglan Knight ascending in the Pool of the Holy Grail will inevitably awaken the [Blessed Chalice] Talent.

The Imperial Family is the same. As bearers of the Blood of the Holy Tree who walk the Holy Tree Path, they also gain a special Talent after ascending to Legend.

Normally, members of the Imperial Family would awaken [Thousand Suns and Ten Thousand Stars], but Reiya didn’t awaken this signature royal Talent. Her attributes, however, leaned more toward the Dragon side.

Thus, the Silver-haired Princess awakened the Legendary Talent of the Dragon God’s True Blood: [Thundercloud Incarnation]. It was a Swift Body Technique that greatly increased mobility. Compared to the brute-force, spell-enhancing power of [Thousand Suns and Ten Thousand Stars], a True Dragon’s Legendary Talent was actually more powerful.

Even though the Riding God Giant Statue in its Steel Soul Armor was absurdly tough and its stats were ridiculously high, if it could only serve as a punching bag and couldn’t even touch its opponent, then its high stats were useless.

’Can you even react to this speed?!’

.........

While Reiya was locked in a fierce battle with the Riding God Giant Statue, Mivana had also begun her Holy Grail Trial.

The main force sent to intercept and kill them had been drawn away by the Silver-haired Princess. After cutting down a few small fry along the way, the Lady Knight stepped into the area of the Pool of the Holy Grail.

The storm surrounding the high mountain was forged by the Celestial God’s Power. These miracles possessed an internal Magic Pool that stored Divine Energy, allowing them to persist for a long time even in the current era where gods and mortals are separated.

The moment she stepped into the storm, Mivana felt a tearing sensation all around her. The howling gales ignored the Beastman’s tough exterior, constantly ripping small wounds into her skin. The injuries didn’t look serious—they were merely superficial.

But the pain it caused made even Mivana frown. The feeling was like death by a thousand cuts, which was not pleasant at all. Even a Transcendent would find it uncomfortable and instinctively want to flee at incredible speed.

’So, it starts with Ten Thousand Blades on Body...’