The true worth of the Tier T0 Talent, Withered Glory Sun, became more apparent the longer he used it. Westheid hardly needed to make any defensive moves; he just had to protect vital spots like his head and heart.
Trading injuries was more than worth it! Not to mention, with a constant surge of Life Force, Westheid's wounds would stanch in the blink of an eye and heal completely a few breaths later. The Trial Takers surrounding him felt increasingly helpless the more they fought.
His regeneration is faster than our damage output! This is bullshit!
"Reiya! It's ready! Now!"
Westheid wasn't completely lost in the thrill of battle. Catching the look Reiya gave him from the corner of his eye, he shouted out.
"Understood!"
The silver-haired Dragon Girl immediately took a deep breath and let out a sharp, esoteric chant toward the sky—one that sounded ancient and timeless.
On the other side, however, Yolanda was gradually losing ground under Kaplan's fierce assault. Facing a War Knight who was going all out, the fact that the platinum-blonde girl—a full Tier lower—could hold out for so long was an incredible feat. Even Kaplan himself couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
But no matter how talented she was, her defeat was only a matter of time. Kaplan was even able to spare a glance toward Westheid's side, where he saw Duke Qinghui single-handedly dominating the other Trial Takers.
'Duke Qinghui can actually fight so many at once? And that hybrid, what in the world is she doing?'
The suppression from a higher Tier was absolute. While there were cases of people challenging those of a higher Tier, they were special circumstances, like a Warrior fighting a non-combat class. He was a Tier Four Exemplar; did he really need to fear a Technique from someone who was, at most, a Tier Two Elite?
They had only brought a few items with them into the Trial. The idea that she could use them to cast a Technique capable of threatening him was simply preposterous. It was impossible!
'Besides, I've kept my Rhythm of Battle Intent active this whole time. Dragging things out this long is actually to my advantage.'
For some reason, however, a foreboding premonition grew stronger, making Kaplan's scalp tingle. He felt an instinctual urge to flee.
'I can't drag this out any longer!'
'Retreat is definitely not an option, which leaves only one solution.'
"I originally wanted to save this for later. There's nowhere to recharge in the Secret Realm Trial."
The War Knight shook his head. Then, the Light Armor on his body was covered by expanding Living Metal.
The streamlined Battle Armor, which seemed alive, was completely different from his previous Plate Armor. Its ergonomic, mechanical structure was lightweight and stylish, with silver metal plates that seemed to mimic the very texture of his muscles.
Not only did it look extraordinary, but the Battle Armor's defensive capabilities were also remarkable.
Kaplan completely ignored any counterattacks, letting Yolanda's Light Blade slash against his body, only for it to produce a shower of sparks.
"Mechanical Battle Armor! This is just…"
Yolanda cried out in dismay. Kaplan had clearly equipped his Mechanical Battle Armor.
This extremely expensive armament was almost exclusively supplied to elite military Warriors. Even Yolanda didn't have the savings to purchase a set—or rather, even if she could afford it, she couldn't afford the upkeep.
Its cutting-edge technology, terrifying energy consumption, and hefty price tag resulted in unparalleled defensive performance and physical enhancement. Any Transcendent specializing in combat was in a completely different league with their Mechanical Battle Armor on.
"Brother! I can't hold on much longer!"
Yolanda shouted to Westheid, ready to retreat at any moment.
"You've done very well. Come back now."
Westheid replied to Yolanda's warning, locking a Trial Taker's throat in the crook of his arm and forcefully 'adjusting' the position of his skull.
Then, he looked toward the sky and said,
"It's arrived."
'What's arrived?'
Kaplan saw Westheid's action, but the War Knight had no idea what he meant. 'Could his opponent possibly have reinforcements in the Secret Realm Trial?'
'Who would risk universal condemnation to help a Dragon-blooded Hybrid? Or had the dirt-poor, utterly destitute Duke Qinghui managed to pull some strings for outside help? Who could it be? Another Branch of Prosperity?'
But Kaplan recalled that the other Branches of Prosperity weren't participating in this Secret Realm Trial.
All these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. The War Knight didn't just stand there; in the blink of an eye, he leaped over a hundred meters, targeting Reiya. The heavy Great Swords he dual-wielded, blazing like light and fire, let out a piercing shriek as they cut through the air.
"Dragon-blooded Hybrid! Die!"
"ROAR—"
At that very moment, a deep roar accompanied a searing, brilliant breath attack that swept down from above.
A focused stream of scorching flame, like a descending pillar of light, engulfed Kaplan, instantly halting the War Knight's charge.
Kaplan scrambled out of the pillar of fire, rolling away in a sorry state. His Mechanical Battle Armor was immediately scorched. If he hadn't deployed the Battle Armor, that single searing blow would have been enough to render him combat-ineffective.
The War Knight realized the attack had come from the sky. He looked up and heard an enraged roar.
"Ant?! What did you just say? You dare speak of hybrids with such disdain?!"
Diving down through the clouds was a being that made the War Knight's eyes nearly split from their sockets.
Majestic, magnificent dragon wings descended with a sound that tore through the air, whipping up a chaotic storm. In an instant, a Giant Dragon covered in Scale Armor cracked with molten fissures was nearing the ground. Accompanying it were dozens of soaring Dragon Beasts.
"A Dragon!"
Kaplan gritted his teeth and immediately adjusted his combat stance.
Without stopping to wonder why a Demon Dragon would appear at this moment, the War Knight focused all his attention on the suddenly-arrived Giant Dragon.
Kaplan had long been mentally prepared for the fact that he would inevitably have to fight a Demon Dragon during this Trial.
Although he had never fought a Dragon before, as a qualified Imperial Knight, he was still knowledgeable about them.
'Looks like a Giant Dragon Execution Officer, which is equivalent to somewhere between Prominent and Exemplar. So, it's the same Tier as me? It's not impossible to fight. My Mechanical Battle Armor still has more than half its energy; slaying this Giant Dragon isn't out of the question.'
Kaplan's calm analysis, however, only enraged the Giant Dragon further:
"Ant! Slave! You dare look up at me? You dare raise your sword against me?!"
"I will grind you to dust!"
Its cold, dark-yellow vertical pupils radiated chilling killing intent. The Giant Dragon landed, and a sweep of its wing sent the War Knight flying in a blast of wind. Then, he was snatched out of mid-air by a dragon claw.
SLAM—
The dragon claw slammed heavily into the grassy ground, splattering a blur of flesh and blood. The War Knight was knocked unconscious on the spot from the violent impact.
One-shotted!
Kaplan's confident analysis didn't even last a second. He was casually one-shotted by a single swat from the attacking Giant Dragon, with only the Mechanical Battle Armor left to protect his fragile body.
"Annoying iron shell!"
The Molten Giant Dragon forcefully hammered at the Mechanical Battle Armor on the War Knight, peeling it off layer by layer with its fangs and claws.
Meanwhile, the other Dragon Beasts circled the area, tearing the remaining Trial Takers to shreds. They dared not, however, set a single foot near Reiya.
Panting, Yolanda retreated to the Patriarch's side and asked,
"Brother, this is…"
Westheid watched the Giant Dragon toy with the War Knight, dismantling him like a machine part, and couldn't help but remark,
"Unbeatable within the same Tier, a reaction speed seven times that of a human, able to escape from enemies it can't beat and chase down any it can. This is a Hachimi!"
Invincible in its tier, seven times the reaction speed. It leaves if it's uncomfortable, and if it doesn't leave, it's comfortable.
"That's not what I was asking! Of course I know how much more powerful the Dragon Species is compared to mortals!"
Yolanda was exasperated. She took a deep breath and retorted, "Besides, what in the world is a 'Hachimi'? A codename for Dragons?"