As for the treasure inside this Oak Tree Stump.

Although its location had been changed many times, the resources inside were more or less the same.

The core resource was the Sun King’s Staff, which was forged using Flame Demon Horns as a material and infused with the blood of three Upper Rankers.

Back when he was a Player, Zorn had opened it many times.

Each time, the process was to kill the guards from the Sun Secret Cult here, then grab the treasure and make a run for it.

If the interference ritual wasn’t done properly and they left a trail,

they would be hunted by members of the Sun Church for at least half a month—a relentless pursuit that forced you to flee at a moment’s notice!

But this time,

no one would be coming after Zorn and the others.

The Evil Spirit Divine Mage, Francis, had already revealed himself.

The fleeing Church members would conflate all the information about the Evil Spirit Calamity, the Evil Spirit Divine Mage, and the Sun Church.

This time, the Sun Church would take the full blame.

Moreover, Zorn planned to write a report to the Holy Fierce Sun Church,

reporting some of the Sun Church’s planned actions in the Autanston Republic Capital.

Normally, part of the Crying Blood Sun ritual would take place in the Republic Capital.

Zorn’s report could effectively halt the progress of the Crying Blood Sun.

Deep within the treasure vault,

the four powerhouses were gathered.

As the four of them exerted their strength in unison,

K-K-KRAK...

The stone coffin was slowly pushed open.

BZZZZMMMM~~

A thick, rich golden light seeped out from the opening.

For a moment, the entire secret chamber trembled slightly.

TSSSSS~~~

TSSSS...

Everyone’s exposed skin began to sizzle as it burned.

Intense pain flooded Zorn’s senses.

He could vaguely see the Sun King, seated high on the Golden Throne, wielding his staff, which had transformed into a flaming demon’s whip. He was lashing at everyone’s souls, as if whipping slaves.

"Kneel, you damned slave!"

"How dare you try to claim the staff of the great Sun King."

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

With every lash that fell,

a fiery, scorched whip mark appeared on each of their bodies.

’This version of the Sun King is much stronger than I expected, and so is the staff!’

Enduring the stinging pain of the lashes, Zorn struggled to push the coffin lid.

At this moment, a layer of gold glazed over the pupils of Alvin, the Doomsday Shadow Stab, who was at his side.

His expression went vacant, and his legs began to tremble slightly.

’This guy has a certain Spiritual defect. Even though I helped patch it up... in the face of this ancient object of Authority, he’s about to perform his signature move of collapsing to his knees.’

The one least affected, conversely, was the Lantern-carrying Elder.

When the stone coffin’s lid had been pushed to a certain point,

he quickly raised his Lantern.

BZZZMMMM~~

After a slight tremor, the scorching, brilliant golden light transformed into streams that were steadily absorbed by the Lantern-carrying Elder’s Lantern.

At the same time, Zorn activated his Evil Spirit Authority,

and began to draw out the Spiritual Essence of the Sun King’s Staff.

Francis also activated his Great Prophecy Technique to suppress the staff’s power.

The Sun King’s Staff itself had already been sealed for a very long time, so the power it could exert was only at the Lower Rank Level.

With the three of them working together,

the figure on the hazy Golden Throne was already starting to waver.

"Get the hell down from there!"

Zorn’s voice was grim and profound, like a wind of death rising from the endless Abyss.

"I am... the great... Sun King..."

The will within the Authority still tried to struggle.

"Get down!"

Zorn roared, his majestic voice crashing like thunder, wave after wave, upon the throne.

POOF!

The body on the Golden Throne instantly exploded and shattered.

At the same time, the golden light inside the coffin quickly receded and dimmed.

Previously, when he was Level 2, Zorn had needed to summon his hidden self just to fight the remnant power of the Sun King.

But now,

as a Level 4, Zorn had grown far more powerful.

By joining forces with other Lower Rankers, he could completely contend with the powerful remnant will of the Sun King, and even shatter it.

"That damned thing,"

Alvin, having broken free from the influence, cried out. If it had gone on any longer, he would have knelt.

"Not a bad performance. At least you didn’t actually kneel!"

the Divine Mage Francis teased from the side.

"I’m only Level 3! When I get to Level 4, I won’t be affected either,"

Alvin said, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth as if making a solemn vow.

While the two were bickering,

Zorn had already taken the Sun King’s Staff in his hand. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The Sun King’s Staff was about as tall as a person and looked as if it were cast from solid gold. Its top was adorned with a goat’s skull and Demon Horns.

Golden flames danced and burned within the eye sockets of the goat skull.

The Sun King’s Staff possessed the power of the Sun Authority.

Using the staff, one could temporarily summon a miraculous Sun.

When the Sun appeared,

it could greatly enhance Sun System Magic.

It could also dispel many negative effects.

At the same time, it could also alter the surrounding environment to a certain extent.

Even the deepest darkness could be transformed into a world under a blazing sun.

Evil Spirit and the Sun were not compatible.

But this was only temporary.

Once Zorn used the Sun as a "forge" to gradually perfect himself, he could slowly gain mastery over the power of the sun.