Chapter 23: The Rising Sun
【It has been an exceedingly long wait.】
Within the previously dark and shadowy pyramid, the concept of light began to seep in, and the phenomenon of fire began to rise.
The broken sun regained its full form, and the massive body of Ra shrank down to a size comparable to mine, hovering majestically in the sky, looking down upon all creation with a renewed presence.
〚Great Celestial Being: The Noon-day Sun has manifested!〛
〚It is in a state where much of its power and stature have been lost!〛
The once colossal body shrunk to a size slightly larger than a normal human, descending from above. The sun, filled with a sense of relief, gazed at Seo Mina and me.
-To those who have freed me from this abyss of eternity, I humbly bow my head in gratitude.
“……It was nothing. We just did it for our own good, after all.”
-Indeed, this place is a Hidden Stage. Then, it is only right that you receive a reward for the life-risking efforts you put in.
Honestly, having cleared this Hidden Stage so flawlessly, I have no idea what kind of rewards we might receive. After all, each cleared floor offered at least a relic or abilities of mythical or, at the very least, legendary grade.
‘Maybe he’ll grant us an Authority?’
While I was swelling with anticipation, Seo Mina made a request to Ra.
“Please add my reward to Shin Juha’s. It would be greatly appreciated.”
“…….”
Seo Mina, honoring the vow we made before entering. Frankly, without her, achieving this level of success would have been impossible. But I did not refuse. It would bring her peace of mind, and I would also receive something better. However, Ra blocked her request.
-Well… Human woman, while I understand your intentions, unfortunately, that is impossible due to the laws of the Abyss.
Ra casually waved his hand and walked up to Seo Mina. From a height difference of about three heads, he removed the sun behind his head and handed it to her.
-You must deliver it yourself. Only then does it hold true meaning.
With a satisfied expression, Ra looked between Seo Mina and me, seeming to misunderstand something, but I quietly accepted the sun that Seo Mina passed to me.
The reward she received was the true form of the Noonday Sun Disc, which should have been acquired on the first floor. It was no longer a relic weakened by its master’s death, but a genuine sacred artifact imbued with its full power and dignity.
〚Sacred Artifact: The Eye of the Highest Sun [Mythical] has been acquired!〛
〚This is a bound item. To fully manifest its powers, Stat: Sun is required!〛
-Humans are indeed intriguing. Now, it is your turn.
Ra walked slowly over and placed his hand on my head. He observed me intently, then opened his mouth as if in surprise.
Simultaneously, Ra’s voice echoed in my mind.
-You already possess the Authority of a mythic seed. And you even have dominion. Are you truly human?
“How do you know…?”
-It seems you hold the qualifications of a Lord of the Abyss. If that’s the case, my reward will be easier for you to accept.
With those cryptic words, Ra’s eyes curved into a crescent shape, and a vast power began to flow through his hand into my body.
-Take this. It is the power that once symbolized my very name, a force that was once my essence!
“Ughhhhh!!!”
“Shin Juha! Are… you okay!?”
It felt like my entire body was burning, with an intense pain hitting me from head to toe. Yet, paradoxically, amidst the pain, I felt a thrill and exhilaration.
It’s not like I’m a masochist, but here I am, excited by pain! But it was understandable.
I bit down hard enough to draw blood from my lips, then looked at the message floating in front of me, and I couldn’t help but be shocked.
〚Great Celestial Being: The Noonday Sun is bestowing his fundamental Authority upon you.〛
〚Authority: Noonday Sun has been acquired!〛
〚Great Celestial Being – Ra’s Title: Noonday Sun has been revoked due to the loss of Authority!〛
What Ra had just given me was his Authority, containing everything he was!
I forced myself to look up through the pain, barely managing to raise my head to look at Ra with a face filled with shock. Yet, he remained expressionless, devoid of any emotion.
Did he read my unspoken question? Ra gave a small smile and began to speak quietly.
-There isn’t some grand story to my tale. I simply created, ruled, and reigned over the world alone, so I was lonely. I created two brothers and children, only to have my strength and status stolen by them. I was abandoned in the world I created and ended up trapped here.
As he finished his brief explanation, the Authority fully settled into my body.
〚Authority: Noonday Sun awakens within you!〛
〚Stat: Sun [Mythical] has blossomed!〛
〚Item: The Eye of the Highest Sun begins to manifest its full power!〛
My third mythical-grade stat, the power of a Great Celestial Being that once created and ruled an entire world, had now become mine.
-There’s no need to look so grateful. It’s only a third of the power anyway. If you wish to restore that power completely, you will have to kill my brothers and children. Well… now that you’ve freed me, you’ve already made an enemy of the entire dimension of Heliopolis. Consider the additional difficulty as part of my apology.
“Whew… I see. So, the one possessing your mind earlier was one of your brothers?”
-Indeed. It was Atum, the one who stole my Twilight, the Sun of Night. The other is called Khepri, who took Dawn, the Sun of Morning.
In mythology, they’re simply described as three forms that change with time, but in reality, they were brothers. And all of them were creations born from the hands of the original being, Ra.
“So, what will you do now that you’ve given me this Authority?”
You won’t be able to return to your dimension, Heliopolis, and you’ll no longer be worshiped there. Is it alright to give this away so easily? I worriedly asked, but Ra responded with a confident, almost arrogant smile.
-The dimension I created has cast me aside. My creations, whom I considered my children and brothers, sealed me away. They cut off my limbs, sealed my status, and tore apart my power. Do you really think I would ever return to such a place?
“Ah…”
-Do not worry about me. I am Heliopolis itself, the beginning, the middle, and the end of all things. Wherever I walk is my domain, and wherever I rise is my world. I will rise again, to punish those who betrayed me.
With those words, Ra ascended into the sky. To be honest, I was astounded, thinking that he truly embodied what it meant to be a god.
He had been betrayed by those he trusted, torn apart by the blades of those he had meticulously crafted with his own hands, and yet he stood there so confidently and majestically.
-I can only leave you with my apologies. The domain that should have been your reward… I must take for myself. I need it as a foundation for my new beginning.
I nodded at Ra’s words. It seemed that among the rewards of the Hidden Stage, the ownership of this pyramid was included as well.
Just like how the Golden Goblin’s Tower became bound to me through the Authority of the Golden Tower.
But I didn’t particularly need it. It would be nice to have, but not having it wouldn’t be a significant loss. After all, I had already received something much greater.
“It’s fine. It seems like it would be more useful to you, and I’ve already received more than enough.”
With a whoosh!
Flames surged from my hand, bright and beautiful, asserting their presence.
This energy (mana), which only E-rank hunters or chosen prodigies could possess, now flowed through my hands.
And even though I had just obtained it, thanks to the effect of <Skill: Heart of the Colossus>, I had already reached F-(50/100).
-It was once the foundation of my power, but now it is a power you must grow again. It will evolve into the form you desire. I hope it will be of great help to you. My Eye will also grow along with your strength.
With those words, Ra swept his hand through the air. The pyramid trembled violently, beginning to rise.
Below the ground, the divine relic that had served as a seal for countless ages broke through the sand, soaring into the air.
At the same time, a shocking message appeared before Seo Mina and me.
〚Astonishing Achievement that Stunned the Abyss!〛
〚You are the first in all dimensions to break the Tutorial!〛
〚As a reward, you receive 5 Black Coins and a Tier-0 Merchant Summoning Ticket!〛
〚Title: World Destroyer [Legendary-SSS] acquired!〛
The Tutorial, which had been sustained by Ra’s power, began to crumble as he reclaimed all of his strength.
-Now, I must bid you farewell, my benefactors. May only blessings fill your path. And may we meet again one day to share in each other’s brilliance.
Ra’s hand once more parted the air, opening a portal behind us that led back to Earth.
“Goodbye!”
Seo Mina was pulled into the portal first. However, even after a while, I remained outside the portal, unable to enter.
Perplexed, I turned back to Ra, and he spoke words I hadn’t expected.
-I wished to speak to you privately, as it didn’t seem appropriate to discuss this in front of that young lady.
“What is it?”
-I tried to lift the severe and remarkable curse afflicting you while bestowing my power, but even with my shattered fragments of strength, it was impossible. It seems that someone on par with, or even surpassing, me must have been involved. Who in the world did you manage to anger so gravely?
My expression hardened at Ra’s words. The Curse of Misfortune!
Now I understood. Even the Elixir couldn’t lift my curse. If the power of Ra, a Great Celestial Being among the highest ranks, couldn’t dispel it, then no lesser means would work.
-I do not interact much with other Celestial Beings, so I have no idea who placed such a malevolent curse on you.
“It’s alright. By now, I’ve grown quite accustomed to this infuriating curse. No wonder, despite not being an Authority, this so-called Unique Ability seems to have a will of its own…”
-No, it is indeed equivalent to an Authority. The only reason it’s disguised as a Unique Ability is that your growth is still limited. Strangely enough, the curse itself is akin to an Authority. The unknown entity didn’t place a curse upon you; they granted you an Authority. Even in my long life, I’ve never encountered such a type of Authority before. As you strive and grow stronger, so will this power. That’s the nature of this curse.
“I see… So that’s why it always stayed one point higher than my Heavenly Fortune stat, even though I never raised it.”
It was disguised, but that’s why it could match a Mythical stat like Heavenly Fortune!
“How can I break this curse? This damned curse.”
-There are only three methods. First, find and kill the being who placed this curse on you. Second, grow my Authority to the point where it can burn and purify the curse itself. And the third… is impossible.
“Please, tell me. What is it?”
-You must overcome and surpass the curse. Endure, fight, and prevail over the will inherent within the Authority! If you can withstand it until even that will submits to you… then you can claim that power as your own. It will become a true Authority, rather than a mere curse.
“So, in other words, there’s no immediate solution.”
I gritted my teeth, swallowing down my frustration, and bowed my head to Ra in gratitude.
“Thank you for giving me so much.”
-I have received far more from you, so you needn’t worry. Now, it’s time to part ways. If you delay any longer, you too may be forcibly expelled somewhere in the Abyss.
Suddenly, a powerful force pulled me from the portal behind, dragging my body inside.
-Until we meet again, my envoy.
With those final words from Ra, my vision warped, accompanied by the familiar sensation of floating.
“Are you alright?!”
“We have the last survivor here! Of the 10 who entered Zone 7 today, 8 have returned!”
“Hurry! Quick! Take care of it!”
I had returned to Earth.
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