As an ancient god who dominated the Second Epoch, the strength of the Giant King Aurmir cannot be underestimated. However, no matter how powerful he was, he was no match for the Ancient Sun God, who had already defeated the Elven King, claimed the uniqueness of the Tyrant Pathway, obtained the characteristic of the Thunder God, and was in possession of the Sea of Chaos, having even touched the threshold of becoming a Great Old One.
Especially since the Ancient Sun God had the Evernight Goddess Amanises aiding him, and Aurmir was backstabbed by his own son, Badheil. This made the already unbalanced scales tip further in favor of the Ancient Sun God.
As a result, the War of Gods didn't last long before it came to an end, and the Giant King Aurmir officially fell.
"Sun God, remember your promise." The Evernight Goddess Amanises clearly had no intention of staying longer. After the fall of the Giant King Aurmir, she immediately chose to withdraw.
The reason was simple—there was another battlefield where her help was needed. However, it wasn't to fight but to use her authority over concealment to accomplish certain tasks.
Thinking of what Lilith was about to do, the Evernight Goddess Amanises glanced briefly at Badheil, who was gazing at the corpse of the Giant King Aurmir in a daze.
She turned around and quickly left the palace that had once belonged to Aurmir.
The Ancient Sun God watched the Evernight Goddess's departing figure in silence. He then turned to Badheil and smiled, saying, "As promised, the uniqueness and characteristic of the Twilight Giant belong to you."
…
"This is the uniqueness of the Hermit Pathway?"
After Badheil, having inherited his father's legacy, left with his belated mother, Lynn and his companions naturally arrived at the palace of the Giant King Aurmir. Lynn received the Hermit Pathway's uniqueness from the Ancient Sun God.
Unlike later times, when the uniqueness mysteriously developed a personality, the current Hermit Pathway's uniqueness, although slightly active, had yet to reach the level of the later Hermit. The only thing that caught Lynn's attention was the faint aura he sensed lingering around it.
Though the aura was faint, and most people might overlook it, Lynn, having dealt with Sefirah Castle and the Sea of Chaos for many years, was certain that the aura entangled with the uniqueness came from a Sefirot.
Based on his speculations from the original work, it was most likely from the Knowledge Moor, which belongs to the Hermit and Paragon Pathways.
'So, the emergence of the Hidden Sage was indeed related to the corruption of the Sefirot,' Lynn thought, nodding in understanding.
Although the aura was still too weak to cause significant changes, just as Bansy Harbor had changed due to the invasion of the City of Calamity, Lynn knew that as the seal on the Western Continent weakened over time, the Hermit Pathway's uniqueness and its connection to the Knowledge Moor would only grow stronger, eventually developing a personality due to the corruption.
Others might hesitate to absorb this uniqueness, knowing that Sefirot can be both a blessing and a curse. After all, even Medici had to avoid Bansy Harbor in the original story.
If a Beyonder could perfectly absorb the Sefirot, it would be a great boon. But if not, they could be corrupted by it or, like the Ancient Sun God, trigger the revival of an Original.
Lynn even suspected that Klein's ability to perfectly adapt to Sefirah Castle was due to his status as a vessel for the resurrection of the Celestial Worthy, along with the many years he had spent marinating in the influence of the castle. For anyone else, it would be like the ordinary people who came into contact with Beyonder characteristics—those with good luck became Beyonders, while those without either lost control or exploded.
"Do you intend to absorb the Hermit Pathway's uniqueness now?" the Ancient Sun God suddenly asked with his usual gentle smile.
"Of course. Now that I have it, it would be a waste not to." Lynn tossed the uniqueness in his hand lightly and smiled brightly. 'Besides, I'm curious what will happen to the Hidden Sage once I absorb it.'
"Do you need my assistance?" the Ancient Sun God offered again. Though he hadn't yet fully accumulated the Visionary and White Tower Pathway's uniqueness from the dragon side, his control over the Sea of Chaos allowed him to help others forcibly absorb uniqueness to some extent.
"No need. I've already completed the ritual to absorb the Hermit Pathway's uniqueness. Or rather, for me, there's no need for a ritual to absorb it." Lynn shook his head, his gaze distant as he looked at the uniqueness in his hand.
If he had only suspected before when the Knowledge Emperor potion melted on his tongue, now that he held the Hermit Pathway's uniqueness in his hand, Lynn was certain. Even without relying on his original body's power, he had some unique traits.
These traits allowed him to absorb the Knowledge Emperor potion instantly and would now allow him to absorb the Hermit Pathway's uniqueness without needing any ritual.
Because he was the Lord of Knowledge, the natural apex of this pathway. Nothing could change that fact.
Not even if he severed his connection with his original body.
Lynn was even sure that if he were to drink a Hermit potion now, he could instantly become a true Hermit.
'But thinking about it, I'm a complex blend. I have innate abilities related to time, like creating alternate accounts in different eras. On top of that, I have knowledge-related traits… The only thing missing is spatial abilities, but doesn't that make me a miniature version of my True Self?' Lynn mused, smiling as he thought about it.
After all, he was just a 'small version' of his True Self.
'But I still want to be an independent little bubble!' Lynn murmured softly, then decided to absorb the Hermit Pathway's uniqueness.
For others, absorbing a uniqueness might feel like risking their life, but in Lynn's hands, it was as obedient as a toy. With his command, it merged with him as easily as a fish entering water, blending seamlessly with his Knowledge Emperor traits and becoming a part of his power.
At that moment, Lynn felt the pull of time and space. It wasn't from his True Self but from his 'main account' in the Fifth Epoch.
'As expected, once I reach Sequence 0, or even now after absorbing the uniqueness, returning to my main account would only take a thought,' Lynn noted, unsurprised by the fact. What interested him more was something else.
—He finally had a new 'smurf account' slot and could create another persona in a new time period. This time, he could even more accurately choose the era for his next 'smurf account.'
(End of Chapter)
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