The Ancient Monster Labyrinth was silent.
For countless years, this place had been a battlefield.
Warriors had entered seeking power.
Monsters had fought for survival.
Countless battles had taken place beneath the earth, leaving behind only broken weapons, forgotten bones, and ancient memories.
But now...
The battlefield had found its victor.
Emil Myers stood at the center of the final arena.
His clothes were torn.
His body was exhausted.
His sword carried cracks from the battle against the Ancient Wyvern Lord.
But his golden eyes remained steady.
He had survived.
He had conquered the labyrinth.
---
The massive gate before him slowly opened.
Golden light poured out.
Unlike the darkness of the labyrinth, this light felt warm.
Familiar.
Like the Sun God Fragment itself.
Emil stepped forward.
Inside was not a treasure room filled with gold.
Instead...
There was a single ancient platform.
Above it floated a crystal.
Half golden.
Half silver.
Energy flowed around it like a miniature galaxy.
---
Ding!
[Ancient Monster Labyrinth final chamber discovered.]
[Analyzing reward...]
[Connection established with Lost Civilization.]
---
Emil approached the crystal.
His Sun Eyes activated.
The moment he looked at it, his expression changed.
"This energy..."
It was similar to the Energy Core he discovered before.
But thousands of times more powerful.
---
Ding!
Artifact Identified
Ancient Trial Core
Origin:
Lost Civilization
Purpose:
Records combat experience and rewards worthy challengers.
---
A message appeared.
---
"The path of power is not measured by talent alone."
"Only those who endure suffering, overcome fear, and continue forward deserve the light."
---
Emil remained silent.
Those words felt strangely familiar.
Almost as if they had been written for him.
---
The Ancient Trial Core released a wave of energy.
The entire labyrinth responded.
Every battle.
Every enemy.
Every moment of survival.
The memories of the trial flowed into Emil.
The goblin army.
The orc warriors.
The lizardmen.
The wyvern.
Every fight became experience.
Not just memories.
Understanding.
---
Ding!
Labyrinth Completion Confirmed
First Clear Bonus Activated
---
Experience Reward Increased
Calculating...
---
Experience acquired.
---
Level increase detected.
---
Level:
5 → 68
---
Emil's eyes widened.
A massive amount of energy flooded through his body.
His meridians expanded.
His physical strength increased.
His spiritual energy multiplied.
The power he gained from months of training suddenly evolved.
---
Ding!
New Reward
Skill Mastery System Unlocked
Description:
The host can improve techniques through understanding and combat experience.
Effects:
- Faster skill growth.
- Better technique control.
- Ability to reach higher mastery levels.
---
Emil looked at the notification.
A system designed for growth.
Not simply giving him power...
But helping him understand it.
---
Then another notification appeared.
---
Sword Mastery Reward
Swordsmanship Understanding Increased
Current Level:
Master
---
Emil froze.
He looked at his sword.
Before entering the labyrinth, he used his sword as a weapon.
Something that helped him survive.
But now...
He understood.
The sword was not just steel.
It was his will.
His determination.
His path.
---
He slowly swung his blade.
No unnecessary movement.
No wasted energy.
Just a simple strike.
Yet the air itself trembled.
---
Ding!
[Sun Sword Technique upgraded.]
[Sun Step upgraded.]
[Advanced skills increased by two levels.]
---
Skill Improvements:
Sun Sword Technique
Advanced → Advanced Level 3
Sun Step
Advanced → Advanced Level 3
Energy Absorption
Advanced → Advanced Level 3
Sun God Breathing Technique
Advanced → Advanced Level 3
---
Emil clenched his fist.
The difference was enormous.
His power had reached a completely different level.
---
Then came the final reward.
---
Ding!
Sun Contribution Points Obtained
+10,000 SCP
---
Emil stared at the number.
He had struggled to collect hundreds before.
Now...
A single reward gave him ten thousand.
---
Ding!
Sun God Store Available
---
A massive list appeared.
Countless items.
Techniques.
Artifacts.
Resources.
Cultivation materials.
Everything he had once been unable to access.
---
But Emil did not immediately choose anything.
Power was important.
But he had learned something in the labyrinth.
A person who only chased power would eventually lose themselves.
Strength needed purpose.
---
He opened his status.
---
STATUS
Name:
Emil Myers
Level:
68
Title:
- Village Abominable Child
- Void Slayer I
- Labyrinth Conqueror
Affinity:
- Sun
- Void
Skills:
- Sun God Breathing Technique (Advanced Level 3)
- Sun Sword Technique (Advanced Level 3)
- Sun Step (Advanced Level 3)
- Sun Eyes (Beginner)
- Energy Absorption (Advanced Level 3)
- Battle Awareness
Swordsmanship:
Master
SCP:
10,000
---
Emil looked at his status.
A few months ago...
His status was almost empty.
Strength: 2.
No skills.
No cultivation.
No future.
Now...
He had changed.
---
But before he could celebrate...
The system spoke again.
This time, its voice was unusually serious.
---
[Warning.]
[Host has completed the Ancient Monster Labyrinth.]
[New information unlocked.]
---
A new image appeared.
A vast world.
Countless kingdoms.
Powerful cultivators.
Ancient clans.
God-like beings watching from above.
---
[The outside world has detected abnormal energy growth.]
[The awakening of the Sun God Fragment is no longer hidden.]
---
Emil's expression changed.
"Detected?"
---
The system continued.
---
[Warning.]
[Divine entities have become aware of the host's existence.]
[Current strength is insufficient to face true enemies.]
---
The golden crystal in front of him disappeared, transforming into energy that entered his body.
The labyrinth began collapsing.
---
Emil walked back toward the entrance.
The monsters he had defeated watched silently.
The strongest creatures of the labyrinth no longer saw him as prey.
They saw him as someone worthy.
---
When Emil reached the exit...
The ancient gate opened.
Sunlight entered.
Real sunlight.
After so long underground, it felt different.
Warm.
Free.
---
He stepped outside.
The Forbidden Forest stretched before him.
But Emil was no longer the same person who entered.
He entered as a survivor.
He left as a cultivator.
---
He looked beyond the endless trees.
The world outside waited.
Clans.
Kingdoms.
Gods.
Secrets.
Enemies.
---
Emil gripped his sword.
"I came here because I had nowhere else to go."
A golden glow surrounded him.
"But now..."
His eyes shone like the rising sun.
"I have somewhere to go."
---
Deep within the heavens...
Ancient beings opened their eyes.
A forgotten power had returned.
The Sun God's successor had awakened.
And the world would soon learn his name.
Emil Myers.