Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Fallen Sun (1)
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So much had changed.
The biggest revelation was learning that the Tower of Gold extended beyond just the 2nd floor—way beyond. Until now, I'd assumed the authority I'd gained was limited to the 1st floor.
'Of course. The hidden stage I spotted right before I died had in its name, and so does my authority. Why did I ever think it was just one floor?!'
That thought naturally led to another: What lay on the 3rd floor? The 4th? Whatever was slumbering there, it was bound to grant me tremendous power.
Gulp!
I swallowed hard, forcing down the surging excitement of my inflated expectations. Then I projected a random item from the 2nd-floor Armory onto the Versa-Brace on my wrist.
With a smooth slide, the bracelet melted into liquid form, and the dagger I'd seen in my inventory appeared in my hand. Selecting another armament brought forth spears, swords, blades, shields—the weapons cycled endlessly through my grasp, appearing and vanishing.
'So that's how you acquire armaments with it.'
It was a mixed bag. On the plus side, I'd never run short on gear. On the downside, I couldn't sell any of it.
'But right now, the Frostfire Sword is better.'
I could withdraw five high-grade items, but my ownership level was too low for anything top-tier. So, Frostfire Sword as my main weapon, and Versa-Brace for versatility—that seemed optimal.
I reverted the Versa-Brace to bracelet form, closed my inventory, and activated the authority with a pounding heart.
But the response was a flat denial.
'Is it because we're inside a hidden stage? Can't enter the Tower of Gold.'
Disappointing, but it looked like entry would have to wait until this raid was over.
After that brief but intense battle with the Sphinx, I rested up while waiting out the cooldown on the First Wing of Pride.
-Are you heading out?
"Yeah. To the 7th floor."
-Don't forget our vow. You must conquer this pyramid perfectly.
"I haven't forgotten, so stay holed up there and pray to your precious sun god."
-Heh! Fine, suit yourself. He won't answer anyway.
With that, we were teleported to the 7th floor.
The 7th floor was unnaturally dark compared to the others. Even the headlamp on my forehead couldn't pierce the gloom properly.
There were no monsters on the 7th floor. It was also much smaller than the others—about the size of a soccer field, though still respectable.
"Looks like that thing chained up on the altar is the hidden boss, right?"
"Yeah, definitely. Now I get why the Sphinx insisted on a perfect clear."
Two choices.
One: Use the key to unlock the seal on that coffin bound tight with iron chains, awaken it, meet the other conditions, and claim the reward.
Two: Instead of assembling the six key pieces we'd gathered climbing to the 6th floor, just toss them onto the altar holding the seal and grab the reward.
The answer was obvious. The first option was harder, so it had to offer better rewards.
The verbal vow with the Sphinx? I could blow that off. But if it meant bigger loot... I'd take the challenge.
I pulled out the six pieces right away.
Clack. Grind. Click!
They snapped together like puzzle pieces finding home, forming the most radiant key in this dark pyramid.
"Let's do it."
"Yeah, get ready."
As Seo Mi-na drew her spear and sparks danced across her body, I inserted the key into the lock at the center of the chains.
Kirrik! Clank! Fwoooosh!!
A blinding flash erupted in an instant. A chill ran down my neck, and I instinctively hurled myself backward. Good call.
Boom!
The chains shattered as the massive coffin exploded, a gigantic arm thrusting out to smash the spot where I'd stood.
"What the...?"
Just a casual swing of its arm... and the floor erupted like a bomb had gone off.
Krunch! Crack! Shatter!
Starting with the hand, the final boss sealed in the coffin began to emerge. Bronze skin, a body dozens of times larger than a normal human's, and above its head—a half-broken sun, drained of light, floating there.
No, the sun itself had descended.
The boss's name appeared, and Ra, fully freed, let out a roar toward the sky.
'It's not right!'
Its eyes were vacant, its movements unnatural, and above all... no mana emanated from it.
Ra—who wouldn't know that name? I'd been fascinated by myths and legends since I was a kid.
The supreme creator god of Egyptian or Heliopolitan mythology, the greatest and highest in the world. The sun god Ra.
This pyramid's final boss was a fallen great constellation, stripped of its power and glory!
'Ra is at least on par with Lucifer—maybe even above!'
The primordial first, the supreme one, worshipped by all— a true god.
'Why the hell is a constellation showing up in a tutorial!?'
Now I understood the Sphinx's hollow, pained expression when I'd told it to pray to the sun. Its own god was trapped in here—prayers wouldn't reach, and it knew it.
No time for stray thoughts.
'Even if I die and respawn, I can't beat this!'
Scratch that—I'd already died once and come back. Even twice wouldn't help.
Every berserk motion from the mindless Ra was lethally ferocious and overwhelming.
"Seo Mi-na! We need a plan! They wouldn't throw a constellation at us in a tutorial hidden stage, no matter how fallen! Find it! I'll hold its attention!"
The altar—the only thing left in this space—had to hold the key. I shot her a meaningful glance, then unleashed Equivalent Exchange and spread my wings.
My Infinite stat rose in rank, flooding me with massive, thrilling power again... but no room for awe now.
The thing before me dwarfed even this boosted strength several times over.
It had lost its mythic rank, its primordial creative authority dimmed, but it was still the sun, the king, the creator.
That mighty fist swung down like it was swatting a buzzing fly.
-Grraaaah!!!
Like a giant's punch, irresistible destruction crushed toward my head like a vice.
"Damn it!"
Boom!
"Gah!"
It merely grazed me, but the shockwave hurled me far away.
The Sphinx had been slow despite its size and strength, letting me dodge everything. But Ra dominated in every stat, overwhelming me.
"Not enough! I need more power!"
I hadn't planned to fight head-on anyway. Egg against diamond rock? No dice—not even a scratch.
'Blocking's impossible too.'
To block, you need comparable levels. Attempt it here, and I'd be paste.
Small mercy: Ra's mind was shattered, like it was permanently enraged.
-Grroooar!!
As it clutched its head and bellowed, I hurriedly opened my inventory and chugged the doping set.
Even greater power surged through my body, accompanied by heart-wrenching pain like it was being squeezed.
'Over the limit.'
Buffs have optimal doses too. Excess is poison. I'd crossed that line.
'No choice, though.'
My opponent was a mythic god five ranks above me.
-Groooar! Kill... ing... all...!!!
"Crazy bastard!"
Its eerie eyes locked on me, and fists rained down like massive rebar from the sky—overwhelming force.
All I could do was trust my Infinite stat and evade.
"Damn it!"
But this time, even Infinite failed me. The gap in level and power too vast?
I couldn't sense it. Attack paths, dodges... nothing. Survival on raw power alone.
"Found it! There's a keyhole in the altar! Plugging in the key has to be it! Insane heat and massive mana dormant here!"
Seo Mi-na's urgent solution at a critical moment. Halfway to clear, but the biggest hurdle remained.
'The key... damn it!'
The key for the altar was lodged in the shattered sun above Ra's head.
Dodging was life-or-death already—now climb that hulking body and yank the key from its head?
'Just kill me already, you damn hidden stage!'
No more aids. Fortune dormant, Equivalent Exchange spent, First Wing of Pride nearly timed out.
To top it off, doping overload was wrecking my body worse by the second.
No retreat now. One way: evade every attack while snatching that key.
"Seo Mi-na! Can your strongest attack stun it even for a moment?!"
"Not even three seconds! Stat gap's too huge!"
"That's enough!"
Collateral damage be damned—this was it. I opened the 1st-floor Golden Treasury, withdrawing all five high-grade potions allowed.
Strength. Agility. Stamina. Senses. Endurance.
The basics, reliably potent. Dodging slams by hairsbreadths, I downed them one by one.
Each potion amplified the strain. My gut twisted, blood filling my mouth... no alternatives.
"Cough! Urk!"
Internal damage burned my throat, but I endured. To live, fight like you're dead.
"Now!!"
With Seo Mi-na's shout, blinding light poured onto Ra.
"Versa-Brace!"
I kicked off the ground, racing across Ra's body.