’What... what’s happening to me?’

Wei’en’s eyes fluttered open in a daze. He had no idea how much time had passed.

A blinding golden light filled his vision, forcing him to shut them again.

After letting his eyes adjust, he carefully opened them. The sight that greeted him left him stunned.

He found himself in a boundless sea of clouds, where a colossal sun was slowly rising, radiating a warm, brilliant light.

A magnificent rainbow pierced through the clouds, arching over a cluster of golden palaces.

A gentle breeze swept past, carrying a sweet fragrance that filled him with a sense of peace and joy.

A host of Angels in white robes flew by in formation, their perfect physiques like exquisitely carved works of art.

’So pale and... large...’

It was a beautiful and wondrous panorama, and he couldn’t help but be mesmerized.

’Is this... heaven?’ 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Wei’en got up and looked at the winged people, then toward the majestic palaces in the distance.

’I don’t get why I’m here...’

’Melbel?’

Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure among the winged people—it was the mysterious masked man from the chapel.

Wei’en shouted at the top of his lungs, "You! Melbel! Where is this?!"

But his voice, like the sound of the world itself, began to echo throughout the entire space. "Where is this... is this..."

The piercing sound seemed to shatter the peace and harmony of this world.

The golden palaces began to crumble, the rainbow slowly faded, and the winged people flew into the clouds one by one...

Only Melbel turned to him, a mysterious smile on his face...

Then, in an instant, the entire world plunged into darkness.

Just like when he was pulled into the world of Gulaier, the Lord of Despair, he once again sank into an endless void.

Wei’en paused. ’This scene feels familiar. Is that giant eye going to appear next?’

He soon realized he was only half right...

It was giant, that was true, but it wasn’t the eye.

A colossal sun broke through the darkness, rising slowly.

But it wasn’t the dim, yellow sun he saw every morning. This one was shrouded in a blinding red light.

The sight gave him the feeling that... it was as if the sun was wearing the Red Moon’s cloak.

’A red sun?’

"Light is eternal, and darkness endures, but neither is primordial..."

"Only the Dawn is at once one side light, one side dark..."

The murmuring voice surrounded him, like an ancient deity speaking of the meaning of Dawn.

"Only the Dawn, only the Dawn, ONLY THE DAWN!!"

Wei’en stared blankly at the red sun, his mind completely captivated by it, as if he had become a part of it.

What he didn’t know was that, at this very moment, the panel in his mind was being flooded with one blood-red message after another.

[You have been struck by a holy attack from Melbel Osiris and pulled into the Spring of Dawn Faith. Evaluation: Pathetic. Reward: Survival Points +3.]

[You are trapped in the Spring of Dawn Faith. Partner Contract subject - Calamity Species Tina Closterman has entered a dormant state. Evaluation: You like it? Like hell you do. Special Reward: Resilience +1.]

[You are being corrupted by the Spring of Dawn Faith. Your Origin is about to mutate. Evaluation: This is fucking ridiculous. Special Reward: Survival Points +10, Spirit Level +2, Resilience Level +2.]

[You have witnessed an alternate incarnation of the Lord of Dawn, Orpheus. Evaluation: I don’t understand, but I am greatly shaken. Special Reward: Origin +2.]

[You have learned the name of the Lord of Dawn, Orpheus. Orpheus’s attention toward you +1. Current rank: 9789. Evaluation: Badass!! Special Reward: Origin +3.]

As Wei’en sank deeper and deeper, he felt as if he was the red sun, and the red sun was him...

It was as if his entire being was immersed in a warm, peaceful state, a floating sensation.

"Sass!" (Demon.)

Just then, an imperious and majestic voice rang out.

Then, a jet-black character in the Gonzalez language tore through space and instantly pierced the red sun.

As the red sun trembled, a grand and holy voice sounded, seemingly tinged with confusion and surprise, "Leonard?" (Clown?)

But that was all.

As the voice faded, the entire red sun began to shatter.

After the world before him completely fell apart, clarity returned to Wei’en’s eyes. He stared at the chapel in front of him, gasping for breath.

He knew at once he had almost been killed by that red sun!

’Holy shit,’

’I just came to the Dawn Church for a simple mission. Did it have to be this dramatic?’

[You have been rescued by Ales Kilibali using Forbidden Item 1-83, Demon Clown. You have escaped the Spring of Dawn Faith. Evaluation: I don’t even want to talk about it. Reward: Survival Points +3.]

[Your Partner Contract subject - Calamity Species Tina Closterman has recovered. Evaluation: Honestly, you could consider dissolving the contract. Reward: Survival Points +2.]

Only after reading through all the panel messages did Wei’en understand just how dangerous the situation had been.

Not only had he almost been taken down, but Tina had been affected as well.

’This mission...’

’Shit, I’m almost out of time.’

’I have to go!’

Wei’en scrambled to run outside. He had just glanced at his pocket watch—there were less than five minutes left. If he didn’t leave now, the effects of the Magic Potion would wear off.

When that happened, he wouldn’t be able to leave even if he wanted to.

The silver lining was that after this ordeal, his Resilience Level had increased considerably.

Aside from a feeling of hunger, his entire body felt stronger and faster, allowing him to sprint out of the church in less than a minute.

Under the slightly frowning gazes of the Dawn Church’s believers, he sped across the plaza and ran out of the Church District.

The church guards merely gave him a surprised look before returning to their own business.

Even believers of the Dawn were allowed to be in a hurry, but such a thing was only permitted once!

"HUFF, HUFF..."

Wei’en sprinted at full speed until he was far away from the Church District before finally stopping.

’Melbel...’

’That masked bastard. I won’t forget this!’

"Wei’en?"

Wei’en looked up nervously. Seeing who it was, he let out a sigh of relief. "Brother Marco."

The flippant, carefree expression was gone from Marco’s face. He said with extreme gravity, "Don’t talk. Come with me, now."

’Huh???’