Alex and Volks landed right in front of the [Angel Bloodline Temple], their feet touching the ground just outside the massive structure.
The temple loomed ahead, its towering white walls gleaming under the sky, a sign of the angel race’s divine heritage.
“Alright, follow me,” Volks, the Angel King, said as he took the lead, walking toward the temple entrance without hesitation.
Alex, as usual, hid his wings inside his back before stepping forward.
He had always preferred to keep them concealed when he wasn’t flying.
Of course, there was always the possibility that this was a trap.
Even though Volks had agreed to let him take part in the bloodline ceremony, the angels weren’t the type to submit easily.
There was still a chance that they might try something, but even if they did, Alex was confident he’d manage.
Especially with [Destiny Shift] on his side.
Besides, would the entire angel race really be foolish enough to risk their entire future just to eliminate him?
He hadn’t asked for much from them.
If anything, he had only brought them benefits.
‘No, they wouldn’t be that reckless.’
With that in mind, Alex followed Volks inside.
The temple’s interior was nearly empty, with only one major centerpiece: a massive statue of a ten-winged angel.
The statue stood at nearly fifty meters tall, towering over everything else in the temple.
The walls were lined with white marble pillars, but aside from that, there was nothing.
No decorations, no relics, nothing that made the place feel lived-in.
A long red carpet stretched across the floor, leading directly to the statue.
And above, a massive rainbow-stained glass window let beams of colorful light shine down onto the temple.
“Nobody really uses this place,” Volks said, walking ahead on the carpet toward the statue, “It’s extremely rare for us to grant outsiders access to our bloodline, so there’s not much reason to come here.”
Alex smirked.
“I guess I should feel honored?”
“Hm… maybe?” Volks shrugged, “You already killed a god without an angel bloodline, so I don’t see the point to joining it.”
“But it benefits us as well, so why not?”
“You can never be strong enough,” Alex said simply, “That’s why I’m still looking to get stronger.”
Volks raised an eyebrow at that but quickly dismissed the thought.
To him, killing a god was already more than enough strength.
Anyone who reached that level could live the rest of their life in luxury without a care in the world.
But hearing the way Alex spoke, feeling the weight of his words… it was as if this human knew something was coming.
Something big.
Something so overwhelming, so terrifyingly powerful, that even slaying a single god wasn’t enough to guarantee survival.
Volks shook off the thought and continued walking.
Eventually, they arrived at the base of the statue, and Alex took a better look at it.
It depicted an extremely handsome angel, wearing long, flowing robes with ten wings stretching out behind him.
Right in front of the statue, just beneath its gaze, was a small basin, large enough to fit a human head.
Alex narrowed his eyes.
“So what do I need to do?”
“Almost the same as every other powerful bloodline ceremony,” Volks said, pointing upward.
The statue’s two hands were extended forward, palms facing up, as if waiting for something to be placed in them.
“You need to place two Angel Wings in the left hand,” Volks explained, “and another special item in the right hand.”
Alex nodded.
For comparison, the Dragon Bloodline Ceremony had required three different items, while this one only needed two.
A difference in difficulty, but not by much.
“Usually,” Volks continued, “you would have had to undergo a personal trial, like fighting in an arena or reaching the end of the [Double Experience Zone] but… well, we’re skipping that part.”
Alex didn’t particularly mind.
“And the items? I already have one angel wing,” he said, “but I still need another.”
Volks snapped his fingers, and a second Angel Wing appeared in his hand.
It was pure white, beautiful, and pristine.
Unlike dragon wings, which varied in strength and quality, angel wings all looked the same.
Their hierarchy wasn’t determined by the appearance of their wings, but rather by the number of wings they had.
Every race had different ways of determining status and strength.
Alex tapped his [Digital Inventory Watch] and pulled out his own Angel Wing, bringing the total to two.
“And the last item?”
“That one’s much rarer,” Volks said, scratching the back of his head, “You need a Golden Scroll…”
“Oh,” Alex blinked, “I have that.”
Volks looked surprised.
“Really? I brought one for you just in case, but that works.”
Alex reached into his [Digital Inventory Watch] and pulled it out.
He had received this scroll way back during the entrance exam at [Golden Star Academy], when he had placed first.
He never expected it would be useful after all this time.
With both required items in hand, Alex unfolded his dragon wings and flapped them, rising into the air.
The statue’s hands were well above the ground, this was part of the test.
Whoever made it this far had to prove they could reach the hands, whether by flying or by some other means.
For anyone who had passed the Angel Trial, failing here would be ridiculous.
Alex hovered in front of the statue, placed the two Angel Wings in its left hand, and placed the Golden Scroll in the right hand.
The moment he did, Volks clapped his hands together, activating the ceremony.
A high-ranking angel was required to initiate the process.
This was a security measure, to prevent outsiders from sneaking in, gathering the required items, and activating the bloodline ceremony on their own.
[Initiating Angel Bloodline Ceremony…]
The items in the statue’s hands began to glow.
Then, in the next instant, they disappeared, dissolving into golden particles of light that seeped into the statue’s body.
Its eyes glowed gold.
Then… it moved.
Alex’s eyes narrowed.
“What the…”
“This is the founder of Angel City,” Volks called out from below, “Don’t falter!”
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Even though the statue was made of stone, it had begun moving, its limbs shifting as though it were alive.
It was being powered by the energy of the items Alex had placed inside it.
Then, suddenly, the statue crouched down, lowering itself to Alex’s level.
Now, instead of looking up at its hands, Alex was face-to-face with the glowing, golden-eyed angel.
The air in the temple trembled.
Then, the statue spoke.
“You wish to join us?” its voice rumbled, deep and ancient, “You are… strong.”
Alex said nothing.
His wings continued to flap gently, keeping him at eye level with the statue.
“That’s the final part of the trial,” Volks shouted, “The founder must acknowledge you! Many fail here!”
“Oh.”
Alex had expected this ceremony to be straightforward, but looks like it wasn’t.
The Angel Race was SS-Rank, one of the strongest in existence.
Of course, they would be protective of their bloodline.
This was just like [The Dragon’s Judgment] back in [Dragon City].
The final trial of approval.
And right now, Alex was face-to-face with the judge.
The strongest angel in history.
The founder of the Angel Race.
It may have been a statue, but it was moving.
It was watching him.
Its golden eyes pierced through his soul, as if reading everything about him.
Alex had thought he had seen everything strange in this world.
But once again, he was proven wrong.