What kind of existence was the Ancient Sun God to Aucuses?
Even Aucuses himself couldn't quite put it into words.
At first, the Ancient Sun God was his savior.
In an era where ancient gods reigned, and humans were reduced to slaves or food, the Ancient Sun God brought light to the world. When Aucuses's tribe faced annihilation, he appeared, halting the monstrous creatures that threatened to destroy them and saving the near-dead Aucuses from their clutches.
Back then, a young Aucuses saw the Ancient Sun God as his sole savior, his pillar of strength. He chose to follow him, harboring a secret desire to grow closer to this radiant figure, embarking on the Sun pathway.
Aucuses was exceptional, always had been. So, after stepping onto the Sun pathway, his progress was swift, and he soon became one of the Ancient Sun God's most trusted lieutenants.
Through this journey, Aucuses's feelings toward the Ancient Sun God evolved. His faith never wavered, but in their day-to-day interactions, he witnessed the compassion beneath the god's majesty. Having followed him from a young age, Aucuses couldn't help but come to see the Ancient Sun God as a father.
Yet, he never dared voice this secret sentiment. How could he, a mere follower, presume to be the child of such a great being?
As time passed, more people gathered around the Ancient Sun God, including some Aucuses found distasteful. He disliked Leodero, who seemed crude and thoughtless.
He also resented the ancient dragon, the last to join the Ancient Sun God's side yet still treated with such favor. Aucuses couldn't fathom why the Ancient Sun God showed it such kindness.
As for Medici, though his sharp tongue was grating, Aucuses could tolerate him for his loyalty to their lord.
Later, when the Ancient Sun God had his true children, Aucuses's feelings grew complicated, though not with jealousy. He simply found himself curious about the divine sons.
Aucuses was a man of action. Driven by curiosity, he sought to interact with the two divine sons, but the results were disappointing.
Adam, the elder son, gave Aucuses an odd feeling, while Amon, the younger, was thoroughly mischievous, making Aucuses fear his antics might bring shame to their lord.
Unfortunately, the divine sons were entrusted to Medici and Ouroboros, leaving Aucuses with little room to intervene. Otherwise, he would have done his utmost to correct Amon's shameful behavior.
But despite these annoyances, Aucuses was largely content with his life. He followed his lord, his father, helping to end the dark, chaotic era of the ancient gods. Together, they became humanity's saviors. Aucuses rose to become the White Angel, one of the Ancient Sun God's most trusted... though not the only one.
What could be more fulfilling than this?
But fate, it seemed, was never kind.
Aucuses couldn't recall when it began, but he started struggling to suppress the awakening will of the Primordial God Almighty within him. He began doing things that, upon reflection, he couldn't comprehend, and even his habits started to shift.
Another consciousness seemed to have awakened within him. It didn't seize control of his body outright but influenced his every action.
This went on for a long time until, one day, Aucuses awoke to find he had no memory of the previous day.
The Primordial God Almighty had suppressed his will, fully controlling his body the day before.
It was hard to say if Aucuses felt fear in that moment. He only felt cold. Then, he thought he heard a soft chuckle.
Who was laughing?
Instinctively, Aucuses sought the source, only to see himself in a mirror.
That figure was laughing... not wildly, but with a composed air of having everything under control, as if amused by something intriguing.
The memories that followed were hazy. Aucuses sometimes wondered why the Primordial God Almighty didn't fully awaken within him. Was it unable, or unwilling?
One day, he awoke in an unfamiliar hall, bewildered, staring at a table surrounded by angels. His gaze settled on the head of the table, where two figures sat.
One was deeply familiar... the Ancient Sun God's avatar, his right hand, Dark Angel Sasrir.
The other was equally familiar... a being who had long collaborated with the Ancient Sun God but never submitted to him, the Evernight Goddess Amanises.
Beyond them, Aucuses saw other familiar faces: Medici, lounging with his legs crossed; Ouroboros, sitting silently, perhaps lost in thought; Leodero; Herabergen. All the Kings of Angels, save the two divine sons, seemed to be present.
There were also less unfamiliar figures, like the former God of Dawn and the former Goddess of Harvest.
What were they doing?
Aucuses was puzzled but didn't voice his confusion... not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.
He could only sit silently as a listener.
Then he learned the truth: the Primordial God Almighty wasn't just awakening within him but also within the Ancient Sun God. Led by Sasrir and the Evernight Goddess, those gathered had formed an organization called the Rose Redemption. Their goal was to save their lord... they planned to kill him and resurrect him to free him from the Primordial God Almighty's influence.
But… why am I here?
I shouldn't be here!
Aucuses felt a rare pang of panic, but he was powerless.
He heard the laughter again.
It carried disdain, as if anticipating a spectacle.
In that moment, Aucuses felt as if he were plummeting into an abyss. He knew this plan couldn't continue.
But he could do nothing.
Like a puppet, Aucuses was maneuvered onto the stage, aware the story was hurtling toward tragedy yet unable to change it.
He couldn't even stay lucid for long, sinking into madness and chaos.
Until the tragedy struck. Until the Ancient Sun God's blood soaked the earth, the cataclysmic fallout of his fall nearly obliterating the Eastern Continent. On the chaotic battlefield, Aucuses finally regained clarity, first noticing the disbelieving stares of others.
What were they looking at?
Aucuses was confused for a moment before realizing they were looking at him. Then he sensed something new within himself.
It was the final Sequence 1 characteristic of the Sun pathway, along with its uniqueness.
He had become a god.
***
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