"I did it! I successfully cleared the awakening instance! In the end, I was not crushed by despair!"
Kean gazed at the sun hanging in the sky and exclaimed this with a hearty laugh.
Kean felt that successfully clearing the awakening instance in such dire circumstances was an extraordinarily rare achievement.
He believed that accomplishing this feat was certainly worthy of celebration.
However, after reflecting on this, Kean suddenly realized that he seemed to have overlooked a crucial piece of information.
He recalled the moment when he was on the verge of losing consciousness, and the golden arm made entirely of light had appeared at the entrance of the awakening instance.
As this information dawned on him, Kean abruptly sprang to his feet, alertly scanning his surroundings.
"Is there anyone nearby? Since you just offered me assistance, it implies that you are not my enemy. Therefore, I assure you that I will not launch any attack against you."
While keenly observing his environment, Kean spoke these words in a resounding voice.
He was not lying, he genuinely believed that the owner of the golden, light-formed arm was not adversarial towards him.
If they were indeed enemies, that being would not have come to his rescue earlier.
Kean vigilantly surveyed his surroundings for an extended period but found no indication of anyone else's presence.
In light of this situation, Kean gradually began to relax a bit.
"Perhaps that was merely an illusion I experienced before losing consciousness? Perhaps it was simply a mirage created by my subconscious to provide me with information?"
Kean murmured to himself.
He suddenly felt that the golden arm he had seen before losing consciousness should not exist in reality. Perhaps it was just a figment of his imagination, conjured up in his mind.
However, no sooner had he finished speaking these words to himself than a golden, ethereal figure materialized not far in front of him.
The instant the golden, spectral figure appeared, Kean readied himself for battle.
He gripped his weapon tightly in his hand, pointing it directly at the golden apparition.
"Who are you? Why have you suddenly appeared?"
Kean hurled these two questions at the figure in quick succession.
Although Kean had already discerned that the arm of the golden phantom bore an exact resemblance to the golden arm he had seen within the awakening instance.
However, he still did not lower his guard.
After all, when Kean had been vigilantly observing his surroundings, the figure had deliberately concealed itself.
This indicated that the entity also harbored a degree of suspicion towards Kean.
In response to Kean's inquiries, the golden, ethereal figure answered directly.
"I am your ally, and I have appeared here to save you."
Kean was not entirely satisfied with the golden apparition's response.
"You claim to be here to save me, that is an answer I can accept. However, your assertion that you are my ally is something I cannot accept, for I have never encountered you before."
The golden, spectral figure took two steps closer to Kean.
The Son of the Sun conveyed this profoundly shocking information to Kean in an exceedingly calm tone.
After a brief moment, Kean managed to regain a semblance of composure.
"I have now come to understand your identities, but there are still certain matters that remain unclear to me. What is the true purpose of your appearance here? Surely, you are not here solely to rescue me, are you?"
Kean did not believe himself to be worthy of direct intervention from The Son of the Sun.
The Son of the Sun nodded in affirmation.
"My true purpose for being here is certainly not to save you. I am here awaiting the arrival of a particularly challenging instance that belongs exclusively to my father."
The moment The Son of the Sun finished speaking, a dazzling spot of light suddenly materialized in the sky.
This brilliant spot of light did not last long, from it, a magnificent door radiating golden luminescence slowly emerged.
As the door fully detached from the radiant spot of light, the dazzling light vanished in an instant.
The door then swiftly descended, landing not far from the positions of Kean and The Son of the Sun.
"Is that the instance that belongs to your father?"
Kean gazed at the location where the instance was descending and slowly inquired,
"Is that indeed the instance exclusive to your father?"
"Indeed, that is the instance that belongs solely to my father. What we must do next is ensure that a sufficient number of powerful awakened individuals enter the instance. Only in this way can my father swiftly reclaim the power that rightfully belongs to him."
As The Son of the Sun spoke these words, his eyes were fixed intently on Kean.
"I learned of your true identity from The Person in the Mirror. You wield considerable influence in the human realm, and you should be able to facilitate the entry of many humans into the instance that is dedicated to my father."
As he continued speaking, The Son of the Sun's tone gradually grew colder.
Kean was acutely aware that should he refuse The Son of the Sun's request, both The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror would undoubtedly seek to eliminate him.
Without hesitation, Kean responded, "That poses no problem at all. However, may I pose a question regarding this instance?"
Kean cautiously broached his query.
The Son of the Sun remained silent, while The Person in the Mirror interjected, "You may ask one question, but we cannot guarantee that we will answer it."
Kean nodded in acknowledgment and asked, "If the instance exclusive to the Sun exists to reclaim the power that rightfully belongs to the Sun, does that imply that any awakened individual possesses a fragment of the Sun's power?"
Though Kean's question was not overly difficult to answer, it directly touched upon the greatest secret held by the architects of the apocalypse game.
Upon hearing this question, The Son of the Sun and The Person in the Mirror did not provide an immediate response, nor did they outright declare that they would not answer it.
After a brief pause, The Person in the Mirror spoke slowly,
"We will indeed answer your question, but the time for that answer is not now.
Only after you undergo your awakening will you be able to discern the answer to this question.
For it is only when your own strength reaches a certain level that you will be deemed worthy of such corresponding knowledge."
Kean regarded The Person in the Mirror's response with agreement. He recalled having read books in his family's library that contained information pertinent to this matter. He understood that certain knowledge came with a curse attached.
If one were to acquire such knowledge before reaching a specific level of power, they would inevitably be destroyed by the curse inherent in that knowledge.