Calling it a statue was not quite right. The cross-legged figure had a soft glow flowing over its skin. Its complexion was ancient and yellowed, and it wore strange garments that looked neither Buddhist nor Taoist. Its expression was serene, and it seemed almost alive.
Apart from its stone-gray skin, anyone could have believed it was a living man.
More importantly, anyone who saw him, even at first glance, would inexplicably feel that he was still "alive."
It was not the impression of breath or a heartbeat, but of a surging life force that continually spilled outward and drew back in.
"She... is a man?"
Ron froze for a moment, then shook his head.
That was clearly not her.
Not only because of his appearance. Against the wall opposite the temple entrance, directly behind him, stood another statue. Seven or eight meters tall, it had a human face and upper body, but its lower half was a fish tail—exactly like a female merfolk!
But unlike Princess Shirahoshi's gentle appearance, this statue had a spirited, heroic air. Rather than a princess, she looked more like... a queen?
Whatever she was, it did not matter now.
Imu turned into a black streak and rushed to the statue seated at the center of the temple. He pressed his fingers together like a blade and slashed viciously at its neck.
Boom!!
The immense force struck, sending a shockwave through the air.
Crack...
Crack, crack!
A fracture suddenly appeared on the statue's neck beneath the impact. It spread wider and wider until, with a bang, the head fell to the floor.
The broken surface was flecked with translucent blue fragments. "Alive" or not, he was still a statue.
Whoosh!!
As the statue broke, a visible column of white mist suddenly sprayed from its neck, as