Chapter 217: The Son of the Sun
"I did it! I successfully cleared the awakening instance! In the end, I was not crushed by despair!"
Kean gazed at the sun hanging in the sky and exclaimed this with a hearty laugh.
Kean felt that successfully clearing the awakening instance in such dire circumstances was an extraordinarily rare achievement.
He believed that accomplishing this feat was certainly worthy of celebration.
However, after reflecting on this, Kean suddenly realized that he seemed to have overlooked a crucial piece of information.
He recalled the moment when he was on the verge of losing consciousness, and the golden arm made entirely of light had appeared at the entrance of the awakening instance.
As this information dawned on him, Kean abruptly sprang to his feet, alertly scanning his surroundings.
"Is there anyone nearby? Since you just offered me assistance, it implies that you are not my enemy. Therefore, I assure you that I will not launch any attack against you."
While keenly observing his environment, Kean spoke these words in a resounding voice.
He was not lying, he genuinely believed that the owner of the golden, light-formed arm was not adversarial towards him.
If they were indeed enemies, that being would not have come to his rescue earlier.
Kean vigilantly surveyed his surroundings for an extended period but found no indication of anyone else's presence.
In light of this situation, Kean gradually began to relax a bit.
"Perhaps that was merely an illusion I experienced before losing consciousness? Perhaps it was simply a mirage created by my subconscious to provide me with information?"
Kean murmured to himself.
He suddenly felt that the golden arm he had seen before losing consciousness should not exist in reality. Perhaps it was just a figment of his imagination, conjured up in his mind.
However, no sooner had he finished speaking these words to himself than a golden, ethereal figure materialized not far in front of him.
The instant the golden, spectral figure appeared, Kean readied himself for battle.
He gripped his weapon tightly in his hand, pointing it directly at the golden apparition.
"Who are you? Why have you suddenly appeared?"
Kean hurled these two questions at the figure in quick succession.
Although Kean had already discerned that the arm of the golden phantom bore an exact resemblance to the golden arm he had seen within the awakening instance.
However, he still did not lower his guard.
After all, when Kean had been vigilantly observing his surroundings, the figure had deliberately concealed itself.
This indicated that the entity also harbored a degree of suspicion towards Kean.
In response to Kean's inquiries, the golden, ethereal figure answered directly.
"I am your ally, and I have appeared here to save you."
Kean was not entirely satisfied with the golden apparition's response.
"You claim to be here to save me, that is an answer I can accept. However, your assertion that you are my ally is something I cannot accept, for I have never encountered you before."
The golden, spectral figure took two steps closer to Kean.
"Do not come any closer, if you continue to approach, do not blame me for being impolite!
Until you have completely earned my trust, we must maintain a distance."
Kean remained vigilant.
In his mind, he even suspected that the golden, ethereal figure could very well be Jeremy in disguise.
Jeremy might have orchestrated this ruse to mock him deliberately before attempting to kill him.
In Kean's eyes, Jeremy was certainly capable of such treachery, as he had always perceived Jeremy to be an exceedingly vile scoundrel.
If Jeremy were to know Kean's thoughts, he would undoubtedly retort.
For Jeremy, it was Kean who epitomized the very essence of a vile scoundrel.
"I will not approach you any further, for this is the extent of my proximity. If I were to come any closer, the overwhelming power of the sunlight would turn you to ashes."
The golden, ethereal figure spoke these words in a gentle tone, and then extended his left hand.
Upon the golden figure's left hand, a mirror slowly began to materialize.
Within the mirror, a figure emerged—one that Kean was most familiar with: The Person in the Mirror.
The appearance of The Person in the Mirror alleviated Kean's earlier tension.
After all, he had collaborated with The Person in the Mirror for a considerable length of time.
If the golden, ethereal figure was capable of summoning The Person in the Mirror, it suggested that they, too, shared an alliance.
Thus, Kean and the golden apparition might not be as adversarial as he had initially presumed.
The moment he beheld The Person in the Mirror, Kean lowered his weapon.
"What exactly is going on? You must provide me with a thorough explanation. If you cannot clarify matters, our future collaboration will undoubtedly be exceedingly challenging."
When confronted with The Person in the Mirror, Kean was no longer as courteous as he had been previously.
Without any hesitation, The Person in the Mirror proceeded to explain the current situation.
"Before you stands a being of immense significance, this great entity is the son of the deity we, The Person in the Mirror, revere—the deity known as the Sun. We refer to him as The Son of the Sun."
Upon hearing the name The Son of the Sun, an expression of profound shock spread across Kean's face.
Kean had already gathered a considerable amount of information concerning the Sun.
Moreover, he was aware that The Person in the Mirror's objective was to revive the Sun.
Did The Son of the Sun's appearance here signify that The Person in the Mirror's plan to resurrect the Sun had made substantial progress?
"Your speculation is correct, my father will successfully be resurrected through my body."
The Son of the Sun spoke slowly, gazing at Kean with his golden eyes.
A look of even greater astonishment crossed Kean's features, for he had not anticipated that the entity could discern his innermost thoughts.
"This is nothing extraordinary, it is merely a fragment of the divine power possessed by my father.
Had my father appeared before you, you would have divulged every piece of information you possess to him long ago.
Furthermore, you would swiftly transform into one of his fervent followers. No matter how formidable your power may be, you cannot evade such an outcome, for it is the nature of my father's rules."
The Son of the Sun conveyed this profoundly shocking information to Kean in an exceedingly calm tone.
After a brief moment, Kean managed to regain a semblance of composure.
"I have now come to understand your identities, but there are still certain matters that remain unclear to me. What is the true purpose of your appearance here? Surely, you are not here solely to rescue me, are you?"
Kean did not believe himself to be worthy of direct intervention from The Son of the Sun.
The Son of the Sun nodded in affirmation.
"My true purpose for being here is certainly not to save you. I am here awaiting the arrival of a particularly challenging instance that belongs exclusively to my father."
The moment The Son of the Sun finished speaking, a dazzling spot of light suddenly materialized in the sky.
This brilliant spot of light did not last long, from it, a magnificent door radiating golden luminescence slowly emerged.
As the door fully detached from the radiant spot of light, the dazzling light vanished in an instant.
The door then swiftly descended, landing not far from the positions of Kean and The Son of the Sun.
"Is that the instance that belongs to your father?"
Kean gazed at the location where the instance was descending and slowly inquired,
"Is that indeed the instance exclusive to your father?"
"Indeed, that is the instance that belongs solely to my father. What we must do next is ensure that a sufficient number of powerful awakened individuals enter the instance. Only in this way can my father swiftly reclaim the power that rightfully belongs to him."
As The Son of the Sun spoke these words, his eyes were fixed intently on Kean.
"I learned of your true identity from The Person in the Mirror. You wield considerable influence in the human realm, and you should be able to facilitate the entry of many humans into the instance that is dedicated to my father."
As he continued speaking, The Son of the Sun's tone gradually grew colder.
Kean was acutely aware that should he refuse The Son of the Sun's request, both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror would undoubtedly seek to eliminate him.
Without hesitation, Kean responded, "That poses no problem at all. However, may I pose a question regarding this instance?"
Kean cautiously broached his query.
The Son of the Sun remained silent, while The Person in the Mirror interjected, "You may ask one question, but we cannot guarantee that we will answer it."
Kean nodded in acknowledgment and asked, "If the instance exclusive to the Sun exists to reclaim the power that rightfully belongs to the Sun, does that imply that any awakened individual possesses a fragment of the Sun's power?"
Though Kean's question was not overly difficult to answer, it directly touched upon the greatest secret held by the architects of the apocalypse game.
Upon hearing this question, The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror did not provide an immediate response, nor did they outright declare that they would not answer it.
After a brief pause, The Person in the Mirror spoke slowly,
"We will indeed answer your question, but the time for that answer is not now.
Only after you undergo your awakening will you be able to discern the answer to this question.
For it is only when your own strength reaches a certain level that you will be deemed worthy of such corresponding knowledge."
Kean regarded The Person in the Mirror's response with agreement. He recalled having read books in his family's library that contained information pertinent to this matter. He understood that certain knowledge came with a curse attached.
If one were to acquire such knowledge before reaching a specific level of power, they would inevitably be destroyed by the curse inherent in that knowledge.