Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Rising Sun
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【It has truly been a long wait.】
Within the pitch-black pyramid interior, where only suffocating darkness had reigned, the concept of light began to take root, and the phenomenon of flame flickered to life.
The bisected sun restored its complete form, its colossal body shrinking to a size comparable to my own. The being floated proudly in the sky above, gazing down upon all creation as if reborn.
Its once enormous body had contracted to slightly larger than an ordinary human, and the sun descending from the heavens above gazed upon Seo Mi-na and me with profound joy.
【To you who have liberated me from this eternal abyss, I, Ra, humbly bow my head in gratitude.】
"......No need for such formalities. We did it for our own gain, after all."
【Indeed, this was a hidden stage. Then you shall require compensation befitting the lives you risked.】
Honestly, having cleared this hidden stage so flawlessly, I had no idea what rewards awaited. Each floor's clear rewards had been at least Sacred Relics, with Mythic-grade abilities at minimum—or Legend-grade at the very least.
'Maybe even an Authority?'
As my expectations swelled, Seo Mi-na made a request to Ra.
"Please give my reward to Shin Juha as well. I would be grateful."
"......"
Seo Mi-na, honoring the vow we made before entering. Truth be told, without her, we couldn't have achieved such perfect results. Still, I didn't refuse.
It would put her mind at ease, and I'd get something even better. But her request was denied by Ra.
【Well... mortal woman, I understand your intent, but alas, the laws of the Abyss render it impossible.】
Ra waved his hand dismissively as he approached Seo Mi-na. From a height three heads taller than hers, he plucked the sun embedded at the back of his head and handed it to her.
【Deliver it to him yourself. Only then will it hold true meaning.】
Ra alternated his pleased gaze between Seo Mi-na and me, seemingly under some misunderstanding, but I quietly accepted the sun she passed to me.
What she had received as her reward was the true form of the Sacred Relic we should have obtained on the first floor: the Noon Sun Disk. Not the weakened artifact drained of power by its master's death, but the supreme divine object in possession of its genuine might and stature.
【Humans are ever amusing. Now, it is your turn.】
Ra approached slowly and placed his hand atop my head. He examined me intently, then opened his mouth wide in astonishment.
At the same time, Ra's voice echoed in my mind.
-You are already a seed of myth bearing an Authority. You even possess a domain. Are you truly human?
"How did you...?"
-A being qualified to be an Abyss Lord. Then you shall accept my gift all the more readily.
With those enigmatic words, Ra's eyes curved into crescents, and immense power surged from his hand into my body.
【Receive it. The power denoting Ra's epithet—the very origin of Ra itself!】
"Grrraaah!!!"
"Shin Juha! A-Are you... okay!?"
My entire body burned as if aflame, excruciating pain ravaging every nerve. Paradoxically, amid that agony, I felt exhilaration and thrill.
Not some masochist, yet pain excited me! But it was justified.
I bit my lip until blood flowed, my eyes widening in shock at the messages before me.
What Ra had given me was his Authority itself—containing everything he was!
In horrified awe amid the torment, I barely lifted my head to look at Ra. His expression remained utterly emotionless, so I held back my questions.
Reading my doubt, perhaps? Ra chuckled softly and spoke quietly.
【Ra's tale holds no grand saga. Ra created and ruled the world alone, only to grow unbearably lonely. Thus, Ra's brothers and children stole Ra's power and stature. Cast out from the world Ra forged, Ra was imprisoned here.】
As his succinct summary ended, the Authority fully took root in my body.
My third Mythic stat—the power of a Great Constellation that had created and ruled an entire world—had now taken residence within me.
【No need for such grateful expressions. It is but a third of the original power. Should you wish to make it whole, slay Ra's brothers and children. Well... having freed Ra, you have already made enemies of the entire Heliopolis dimension. Consider the extra compensation for placing you in such a plight.】
"Hoo... Is that so? Then the one possessing your body, driving you mad, was one of your brothers."
【Correct. Atum, who stole the Twilight Sun of night from Ra. The other is Khepri, who took the Dawn Sun of morning.】
Three beings described in myths as merely changing forms with time were brothers? All born from the hands of the original body, itself.
"But giving me this Authority—what will you do, Ra?"
You can't return to your dimension of Heliopolis, nor receive their worship anymore. Is it right to give it away so easily? As concern creased my brow, Ra let out an arrogant, leisurely chuckle toward me.
【The dimension Ra created rejected Ra. The creations Ra molded with care sealed Ra away. Those Ra called children and brothers severed Ra's limbs, sealed Ra's stature, and tore Ra's power asunder. Think you Ra would return to such a place?】
"Ah......"
【Fret not for Ra. Ra is Heliopolis itself. Ra is the beginning, middle, and end of all. Wherever Ra treads becomes Ra's domain; wherever Ra rises becomes Ra's world. Ra shall rise again—to punish the betrayers.】
With that, Ra ascended into the sky. Frankly, watching him, I marveled: this was a true god.
Betrayed by those he trusted, his body rent by the blades of his own cherished creations—yet he exuded unyielding dignity and majesty.
【To you, only regret remains. This domain, which should have been your reward, Ra shall claim. As a foothold for Ra's new beginning.】
I nodded at Ra's words. The pyramid's ownership must have been among the hidden stage rewards.
Just as the Golden Goblin's tower had transformed into the Authority of the Tower of Gold and become mine.
But I had little need for it. Nice to have, but no great loss without. I'd already received far greater.
"It's fine. It suits you more than me, and I've already been overly blessed."
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from my hand—radiant, beautiful flames surging with presence.
Energy (mana), accessible only to E-rank Hunters or chosen prodigies, had bloomed through my hand.
Freshly acquired, yet thanks to [Skill: Heart of the Giant God], it had already reached plain F- (50/100).
【Once Ra's origin, now it is power you must nurture anew. It shall grow into the form you desire. May it aid you well. Ra's Eye shall grow alongside your strength.】
With those words, Ra swept his hand through the air. The pyramid shuddered violently and began to rise.
The divine artifact, buried underground for eons as a sealing mechanism, pierced the sands and soared into the sky.
At the same moment, astonishing messages appeared before Seo Mi-na and me.
The Tutorial, sustained by Ra's power, crumbled as Ra awakened from his seal and reclaimed all his strength.
【Now, we part. My esteemed benefactors. May your path be filled with blessings alone. And may we meet again someday, to proclaim each other's radiance.】
Ra's hand sliced through the air once more, opening a portal back to Earth behind us.
"Farewell!"
Seo Mi-na was first sucked into the portal. Yet even after some time passed, I remained in place.
As I turned to Ra with puzzlement, his mouth opened, and utterly unexpected words flowed out.
【I lingered to share one final word with you. It scarcely seemed fit for the woman's presence.】
"What is it?"
【That vile yet wondrous curse upon you—I, Ra, sought to break it while granting you power, but these shattered fragments proved insufficient. It seems akin to—or greater than—the burden Ra bore before sealing. Who have you so offended?】
My face hardened instantly at Ra's words. The Curse of Misfortune!
Now I knew: even Elixir couldn't dispel it. Not even the power of a mythic existence—a top-tier Great Constellation like Ra.
【Ra has little dealings with other Constellations, so I know not who cast such a vicious curse.】
"It's fine. I'm so used to it now, it barely annoys me. No wonder a mere Unique Ability—not even an Authority—possessed its own ego......"
【Nay, it is equivalent to an Authority. Your growth is yet too low; it hides within the shell of a Unique Ability. Astonishingly, the curse itself is tantamount to an Authority. The unknown entity did not curse you—it granted you an Authority. Even Ra, in all these long ages, has never seen its like. The more you strive and grow that power, the stronger it shall become. Such is its nature.】
"I see... So that's why it was always 1 higher than the Fortune stat. Without even raising it."
Disguised as such, a Legend stat rivaled the Mythic Fortune!
"How do I break it? This damned curse."
【But three paths alone. First, find and slay the one who cast it. Second, grow Ra's Authority to incinerate and purify the curse itself. The third... impossible, it shall be.】
"Tell me. What must I do?"
【Overcome and transcend that curse. Yield not to the ego's machinations—endure, endure, prevail! Should even the ego submit to you... you may seize that power as well. No longer a curse, but true Authority.】
"In the end, no solution for now."
I ground my teeth, suppressing rage, and bowed to Ra in final thanks.
"Thank you for granting me so much."
【Ra has received far more from you; think nothing of it. 'Tis time to part. Linger longer, and you may be forcibly exiled to some corner of the Abyss.】
Suddenly, immense suction from the portal yanked my body inside.
【Until we meet again, inheritor of Ra.】
With Ra's words, my vision warped, accompanied by that familiar floating sensation.
"Are you okay?!"
"The final survivor from here has arrived! That's 8 out of 10 who entered Tutorial-7 Zone today returned!"
"Quick! Handle it fast!"
I had returned to Earth.