"So long ago that elves still lived in Vizima, before they were driven out and massacred by humans—
during those chaotic years."
Her voice carried a trace of ancient weight as she continued, "One day, high in the sky, a rift appeared—as if the world itself had been torn open for a brief moment."
"Something fell from that rift and plunged into my lake."
Nymph pointed toward the fragment. "At that time, it exerted a strange attraction on me, though it was very faint."
"I collected it, hoping to uncover its mysteries."
"As time passed, that attraction grew weaker and weaker, until it nearly disappeared altogether."
"I tried many different methods to destroy it or activate its power."
"But the result was always the same. It was almost indestructible and completely unresponsive to any form of energy—like a truly stubborn rock."
Karl El nodded. Nymph's description further confirmed his suspicions.
He reached out cautiously, extending his fingers toward the citrine fragment suspended within the pillar of water.
The instant his fingertips touched the cold surface—
The fragment, previously motionless and icy, suddenly became scorching hot without warning.
It vibrated violently in Karl El's palm before instantly disintegrating into countless tiny, dust-like specks of dazzling golden light.
They burst forth like a summoned swarm of fireflies, spiraling around Karl El.
The sudden change made Nymph instinctively retreat half a step, surprise flashing across her face.
Karl El was also startled, but he could clearly sense that these golden specks carried no malice.
His Bio-Force Field expanded instinctively, forming an invisible barrier to block the unknown energy.
The golden lights paused briefly outside the Bio-Force Field, as if confirming something.
Then, without attempting to force their way through, they merged effortlessly into it—gentle, joyful—and flowed directly into Karl El's body.
"What is this…?" Karl El's heart trembled violently.
He immediately closed his eyes, focusing intently on the changes occurring within him.
An indescribable warmth surged through his limbs and bones—comforting, intense, and faintly scorching.
The sensation was strikingly similar to basking in sunlight while absorbing solar energy.
But this was purer. More comfortable. More fundamental.
Every one of his billions of cells seemed to awaken at once, expressing unprecedented joy and exhilaration.
They greedily absorbed the peculiar energy carried by the golden specks.
What shocked him even more was that he could clearly feel his body's rate of absorbing and converting solar radiation had increased dramatically.
If before it had been a narrow stream, now it was at least a babbling brook.
Without hesitation, Karl El summoned the System panel, which he had not actively checked in a long time.
His eyes scanned the information rapidly.
[Absorbing low-intensity solar rays — Energy Reserve +0.1 — +0.1 —]
[Absorbing low-intensity solar rays — Energy Reserve +1! +1 —]
Previously, the increase had always been a sluggish +0.1.
Now it was a stable +1—a tenfold improvement in efficiency.
Then another message appeared, shimmering with faint golden light, making his pupils constrict.
[Detecting and absorbing Advanced energy — Analyzing —]
[Confirmed absorption of "Sun God" Godhead Fragment]
[Gained trace divinity — Individual life essence has undergone a slight leap]
[Energy absorption, conversion, and storage efficiency increased]
[Unlocked hidden authority: World Travel (Current energy insufficient; minimum requirement not met)]
Karl El briefly glanced at the grayed-out World Travel option before his gaze locked onto the words Godhead Fragment.
His heart pounded with disbelief.
"Godhead Fragment…? Sun God?!"
No wonder his body had reacted so violently.
No wonder his solar absorption had surged.
That crystal had never been a magical artifact.
It was a fragment of a deity's Godhead—one perfectly compatible with his physique.
A Sun God.
Combined with what Nymph had said earlier—about the world's upheaval, the disappearance of the gods, and the invasion of Chaos magic—
A terrifying hypothesis formed in Karl El's mind, one he was almost ninety percent certain was true.
This unknown Sun God had likely fallen completely during that ancient catastrophe.
The deity had been unable to preserve even their own Godhead, which shattered and scattered across the world.
What Karl El obtained was merely a tiny, insignificant fragment.
A god who wielded the authority of the sun had fallen.
The reasons behind such a downfall were deeply unsettling.
Karl El raised his head and looked at Nymph, who stood not far away, his gaze complex.
The moment he did, Nymph seemed to sense something.
Her body trembled violently, and she instinctively took a step back.
Her emerald eyes were fixed on Karl El, filled with shock and confusion.
"You… you seem to have changed somehow," Nymph said, her voice trembling slightly.
She hesitated, as though trying to confirm her own perception.
Tilting her head, she carefully sensed the subtle, indescribable changes radiating from him.
Her tone grew more certain—and more bewildered.
"This feeling… it's very strange."
"It's like… like the feeling I had when I first saw Mother, long ago. Somewhat similar…"
She struggled to find the right words.
"There's a sacred, transcendent aura—something fundamentally different from mortal life."
"It's still very faint, nowhere near Mother's presence. Mother feels closer to nature itself, encompassing all things."
"But you…" Nymph looked directly at Karl El. "You're more like the blazing sun hanging high in the sky, radiating light and heat."
"I wouldn't mistake that difference in life essence."
Karl El listened quietly, understanding that this so-called sacred feeling was likely the effect of the trace of divinity he had absorbed.
Even though it was only a minuscule fragment, for an elemental spirit like Nymph—one born of nature and touched by divine grace—it was more than enough to perceive the difference.
He looked down at his palm, feeling the surging power flowing steadily within him.
This seemingly inconspicuous Godhead fragment had given him far more than improved energy absorption.
Karl El looked up at Nymph and smiled softly.
"Nymph," he said, "perhaps… we have hope."
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