Sun God's Flame
'Ah, I want to try it out right now.'
How powerful would a Triple S-rank ability be? I was dying to test it, but scrounging up a dungeon to enter would take time.
'Should I tap my connections after all?'
Using Park Hayul's network like last time would probably get me in easy, but Hana noona was the snag.
Noona had made her peace with me seeing other women, but her own daughter? That was a whole different beast. And that parting attitude from Park Hayul.
I'd caught a whiff of jealousy there, so my gut screamed not to hit her up about dungeons.
'Ha… damn, what now?'
I fired up the Hunter app first. Already fully authenticated.
Sure enough, every dungeon was booked solid. The earliest slot was a week out.
And even that was some unpopular backwater a full week away. A week of waiting if I wanted in.
But my chest was pounding. Use the Triple S ability. Now.
'Screw it.'
I dialed Park Hayul, heart ruling the day.
"Hello?"
"Hayul-ah, long time no see."
"Long time? "
Oh, right.
I'd forgotten—time in this dimension froze while I was on that commission.
"Ahaha, a day's an eternity for me."
"What the hell's that about?"
Thank god she brushed it off as a joke.
"Whatcha doing tomorrow?"
"Just chilling at home."
Perfect, a day off.
"Wanna meet up?"
Park Hayul went quiet for a beat.
"Is that a date invite?"
"Obviously."
The words slipped out on instinct.
"Cool, see you tomorrow."
Her voice lit up with excitement.
'Gotta make tomorrow a real date.'
Play it by ear, gauge the vibe.
The date with Park Hayul went smooth as silk. Your standard outing.
Lunch was Western grub, then karaoke.
'Even this vanilla stuff hits different.'
After the grind of that tutor gig in Melt's world, normalcy felt like bliss.
"So, what's the real agenda?"
Over drinks at that bomb nakgopsae joint, Park Hayul cut to the chase. Sharp as ever, hunter instincts.
"Got any spare dungeons lying around?"
Guilds bulk-book 'em, so stragglers pop up sometimes. I probed gently.
"Aha~ So that's your angle."
Gulp, gulp…
She slammed her shot and pulled out her phone.
"Yeah, Guildmaster!"
Direct line to the boss? B-rank perks.
"Any dungeons going unused?"
Straight to business. What'd come back?
Heart thumping, I waited.
"Nah, not going in myself."
Her guildmaster fretted she'd drag her day-off ass into one. Legally barred on holidays anyway.
"Yeah, yeah… Hold on."
She pulled the phone away. "Unpopular one, gotta party with my guildmates. Cool?"
"Totally."
She hopped back on, chatted a bit, hung up, and grinned.
"Tomorrow, 7 a.m. sharp, Myeongdong Station. Time good?"
She slid her glass over. I poured, matching her smile.
"Hell yeah!"
Gulp… gulp…
We knocked back drinks till we split.
"Hngh!!"
Myeongdong Station entrance. Stretching, I waited for Hayul's guild crew.
"Um…"
Some lady approached.
"Park Kiyong-ssi?"
"That's me."
One of Hayul's guildmates. She led me to the dungeon gate.
Participant enters at own risk. Guild assumes no liability for accidents or incidents during solo or unmonitored activity.
"Sign here, please."
Standard waiver. No liability if shit hits the fan.
'Par for the course.'
I scrawled my name and strode to the entrance. Hunters buzzed at the no-name riding connections.
They'd clawed their way in; some rando coasting on nepotism? Gripes flew.
'Ignore the noise.'
One-and-dones. Why sweat randos?
I blew past 'em into the dungeon.
"Ugh… hot as balls."
Unpopular joint, alright. Sauna from hell, dripping humidity.
"Test-fire once and bail."
Quick in, quick out. Pushed ahead till a swamp loomed.
'Explains the steam.'
Wade in? Then a monster slithered out—an alligator-type, Dyle.
Saw the Dyle and grinned.
'Perfect inaugural guinea pig.'
How strong? Would it scratch me?
Curiosities piqued, palm out. Focus.
Whoosh—!
⟨ Sun God's Flame ⟩
Orange flames bloomed, etching a magic circle.
'Huh?'
Something off. Summon flames, sure—but drawing a circle with 'em?
Flames swelled. Circle near complete.
'Where've I… oh, that one?'
Like Melt's trump card in the honor duel. Circle done—a humanoid flame spawned.
"So you're the one invoking the Sun God's Flame without permission…"
A voice thick with grating. Familiar.
Not looks—grating? Aura? Vibe? My instincts screamed match.
Never wrong. I tensed, battle-ready, eyeing the summon.
It peered down imperiously.
"So it is you."
Knew me? It approached, shifting to full human form.
Gulp.
Friend or foe? I held steady, watching.
"Grrr…!"
Staring down as we sized up—Dyle crept from behind.
"Filth dares approach her side…"
Whoosh—!
She barely moved—Dyle ignited. Ash in a blink. No trace left.
"Hm~"
She circled me, appraising.
"I sense your grating, yes?"
That guy's got jokes.
Gibberish. She caught my confusion, realization dawning.
"Ah, right—introductions."
Sounded Korean, lips all wrong. Weird.
"I am—"
Oblivious, she pressed on.
"The Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Ōkami."
Name clicked—Japanese features: raven hair, petite frame. Traditional robes.
'Wait, Sun God? Why her?'
Hold up—Melt summoned her too? Nearly croaked for real?
Chill down my spine.
"No need to panic."
Amaterasu smiled reassuringly.
"No intent to harm you."
Implying she could have. Dead otherwise.
'But her grating's weak for a god.'
Demon King level. Half-unshackled, maybe.
She read me. "A mere avatar, naturally weaker."
Avatar, huh? That summon too.
'Melt's was this dimension's Sun God avatar.'
Pieces fell. One query left: Can I wield this skill?
Her words on arrival:
"Who invokes the Sun God's Flame without my leave…"
No permission, no skill. I eyed her hopefully.
Dusted the Dyle quick, but scoped me? Shot.
"No enmity toward you. Quite the opposite—aid is due."
Goodwill, pure. Zero malice.
"Why the favor?"
Dumb question, but felt safe.
"When your grating grows, you'll know."
She giggled, poking my chest.
Sizzle—!
Sting and heat bloomed.
"There. Sun God's Flame is yours."
Some ritual, apparently.
"Give it a go."
Hand out, as suggested. Willpower triggered it.
Mana drained hard.
'Good thing I didn't skip sex with Platina.'
Tiny flame sparked. Shot forward.
Hit ground—
Whoosh—!
—exploded massive.
"Kyaaaa—!"
Beast howls overlapped. One cast—total wipe.
"This… Triple S power!"
Awe hit. From zero to this? Chills.
Amaterasu slipped behind, backhugging. Hands roamed.
"This is just the start."
Higher grating, bigger flames. Her touch dipped south, to my crotch.
"Work hard… and summon the Sun God herself?"
She smirked at my reaction, then vanished.
"Mm… worth the grind?"
New goal, commissions aside.