Miss Hebe is Fighting Her Way Out of the Lostbelt!

Ozymandias wasn't a fool. He surely knew Hebe was heading to Heliopolis, but what could she possibly change by going to the City of Obsidian? Abydos, on the other hand, housed the Temple of Kings and was under the protection of God Horus, making it the most suitable place for a refuge.

In the Red King's eyes, even if the Egyptians fled with all their might, not many would escape. Compared to an unrealistic plan of exile, establishing an oasis that could resist natural disasters was a far more practical endeavor.

The sun had already risen above the horizon, and Hebe's gaze was distant.

She knew Ozymandias was an outright tyrant. Therefore, when the Red King confirmed she was truly going to Abydos, he would undoubtedly cause a natural disaster there, even destroying Abydos itself.

Hebe was using Abydos to draw the Red King's fire away from Heliopolis, buying herself time. However, she wouldn't stand by and watch Abydos be destroyed for this reason.

So, she implored Nitocris to establish her Merit there first, having Abydos absorbed into the mirror. This way, it could be spared from destruction by natural disasters.

'Ozymandias isn't in peak condition. He's currently focused on advancing further and can't spare much power for destruction. He can only choose between Heliopolis and Abydos. And brewing a natural disaster takes time and shows multiple signs,' Hebe chuckled softly.

The sun was rising high. She began to use the Secret Teachings of the Lion School, stomping her foot down heavily. The intense power instantly shattered her strapped sandals, yet the footprints left on the sand were incredibly shallow.

The young girl shook her leg, kicking off the somewhat cumbersome, broken sandals. Then, she leaped high, like a nimble lioness chasing the sunlight.

The sand gradually grew hotter, but this didn't hinder Hebe. On the contrary, her speed increased further.

Under this stealthy march, she successfully arrived near Heliopolis. Here, the sun carried the scent of pine resin, and the obelisks outside the city always shone brightly.

The Red King had abolished the worship of all gods, but people's habits were not easily changed.

The ancient Egyptians had walked with gods for thousands of years, integrating rituals and faith into their daily lives. This was especially true in Heliopolis. Even now, the place was still enveloped in thick incense, and cats could be seen everywhere in the streets and temples.

The Lion School was stationed here. Hebe knew their guard and shift change procedures, allowing her to pass through multiple defensive lines without hindrance and enter the city's interior.

In the shade of the palm trees, Hebe rested briefly. Her gaze swept over the passing pedestrians, and combining it with the information she possessed, she deduced the location of the "Thrice Great Hermes" temple from their conversations.

— The northwest corner of the city.

It was a small temple shaded by date palms, fig trees, and plane trees. Its outer walls were carved with eye symbols, and the main entrance was cast from pure metal, inscribed with profound proverbs.

The worship at this temple was not fervent. Compared to the Bestet temple diagonally opposite, it appeared quite deserted.

The priest at this temple also seemed rather unconventional. When Hebe arrived, besides a raised platform enshrining a jade-green stone tablet and papyrus scrolls and clay tablets inscribed with proverbs, there was no one else in the temple.

Hebe said nothing, merely flipping through the papyrus scrolls and clay tablets. They did not contain any Secret Teachings but rather described details to pay attention to in daily life: the boundaries of marital life, and the rules to follow in work and study.

Just as Hebe put the clay tablets and papyrus scrolls back in place, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance. A young boy, about her height, entered quickly with a basket full of dates and poured them before the jade-green stone tablet.

He picked out two large dates from the basket, rinsed them in clear water, and then offered them to Hebe.

"There's not much to entertain you with here, so I went to pick some dates from the back. Please try them."

Hebe took a date. Indeed, it was large, juicy, and delicious.

Seeing Hebe eat without hesitation, the young boy smiled, his eyes narrowing. "Heh, aren't our dates delicious? You can't get them in Memphis. Perhaps they're also afraid of Pharaoh Ozymandias's might."

"You are the priest of the Hermes temple, aren't you?" Hebe wasn't surprised that the priest in front of her could call out her name in one go.

After all, the March Archon, The Raven, came from the future, and some divine signs were bound to appear.

"Yes, as you can see, I am indeed the priest of this temple." The young boy bowed humbly. "My name is Tutankhamun. I've been waiting for you for a long time, Your Highness Hermes."

37 When We Speak of Ozymandias, What Are We Thinking Of?

"Tutankhamun?"

Hebe was stunned. This young pharaoh, who ascended the throne at nine and died at nineteen, had left no praiseworthy achievements in history. Yet, due to the mysteries uncovered after his death, the Egyptology craze reached its peak.

It could be said that in Hebe's previous life, Ramesses II might not be known to everyone, but whenever Egypt was mentioned, Tutankhamun and his mysterious curse were inseparable.

However, that was in Hebe's previous life. In this world, even Egyptian civilization itself had silently faded into the yellow sands, let alone this young pharaoh, Tutankhamun.

"You know me?" Tutankhamun smiled in surprise. "Hmm, I thought it would take more effort. Please, sit, sit... Don't mind the papyrus scrolls and clay tablets; they are just fakes without any mystical power."

He adjusted his attire and sat down at the desk, reaching out to the candlelight on the table.

Immediately, the sunlight filtering through the window lattices and doorframes flickered. The distant scenery became illusory, then real again. This space was isolated, hidden in the crevices of time and secrets.

"The following conversation involves history, gods, and the future, so we must pray for the protection of the Lord of Secret Arts." The young pharaoh smiled humbly. "I hope you understand."

Hebe frowned. Tutankhamun's attitude was too humble. As fellow pharaohs, setting Ozymandias aside, even by Nitocris's and Pepe's standards, Tutankhamun fell far short.

She looked at the boy intently. "How much do you know about Ozymandias's situation?"

Tutankhamun laughed easily.

"Hmm... Starting with the greatest pharaoh right away. Not bad, not bad."

He sighed.

"Ozymandias holds the key that can open the gate to the Wasteland. When he was still active under the name Ramesses II, he already drove his people like cattle and horses, making his will the will of all under heaven.

It can be said that the one-eyed Father loves such tyrants the most.

If Ozymandias had continued on the Authority Path, he would have been favored by the Father and even become one of the Father's Four Faces."

Hebe nodded slightly. She knew that Father was the February Archon, Scarred Father, the deity who governed the Authority Path.

And after the first Calamity of the Ennead, Ramesses II abandoned Scarred Father's path and took on the title of Red King. What happened during this process?

Tutankhamun smiled gently.

"It's normal that you don't know, as this concerns the fundamentals of the Ascenders."

He reached out, dipped his hand in the water basin, and drew a straight line in the air. The water line trembled slightly and automatically divided into four segments.

"The Path of Ascension, also known as the Path of Merit, originated from the September Archon, the master of merit. It is divided into four statuses: Dawn, Daylight, Twilight, and Crimson Dawn, corresponding to the four stages of Alchemy: black, white, yellow, and red.

To ascend from Dawn to Daylight, one must establish their own rules and condense their unique mark.

To ascend from Daylight to Twilight, one must combine their marks and, following secret rituals, achieve merit.

Miss Hebe nodded. She could understand up to this point. During the Rose War, she had reached Twilight. In Egypt, she had received a bestowal from Ozymandias. When activating her Authority, she was in Twilight, but normally, she was only in Daylight.

In fact, among the Nine Sages, besides Ozymandias himself, only the Three Kings were of Twilight status. As for Bennu, Shesepenhe, Hermanubis, and Apep, they were all only at the peak of Daylight status.

'Demigods of Twilight status can exist for a long time because the merit they achieved is still remembered by the world.'

Tutankhamun took a sip of water from his bowl, narrowing his eyes. 'Merits vary in strength. The weakest merits may become precarious after two hundred years, while the strongest merits are engraved in the foundation of the world since the First History, renewing themselves daily with the world's rotation.'

Demigods of Twilight status achieved merit, and merit, in turn, guaranteed the demigods' survival. This is the principle of internal and external correspondence.

Miss Hebe recalled the process of advancing from Daylight to Twilight and couldn't help but sigh at its complexity, hardship, and the incomprehensible nature of the rituals.

If advancing from Daylight to Twilight was like this, then advancing from Twilight to Crimson Dawn...

Tutankhamun's voice was calm. 'No, it's not necessary. Merit is the pinnacle of the Path of Ascension. In other words, Twilight is the most stable status. As for Crimson Dawn, calling it a separate stage is stretching it too far.'

He raised his hand and pointed at a water line in the air. The water line instantly became scorching hot, infused with the color of fire.

Water turned into fire.

'Dawn, Daylight, Twilight—it's like the Sun rising, reaching its zenith, and then setting below the horizon.

This is a complete process, while Crimson Dawn requires reversing this step, rising again. Other than merit, nothing else can provide the impetus.

Do you understand?

To ascend from Twilight to Crimson Dawn, besides the necessary rituals, demigods must burn the merit they hold, destroy it with fire, and recreate it with fire, burning away their mortal nature along with their merit to forge the truth called Gold.'

Merit can be falsified, overturned, or forgotten, but the Golden Truth cannot. Once declared, it exists forever.'

Miss Hebe was shocked.

As she remained silently speechless, Tutankhamun continued to speak.

'Therefore, looking back and looking forward, those who ascend from Twilight to Crimson Dawn will either further ascend and exist eternally with the world, or become a pool of ashes, not worth calling noble, and be utterly forgotten by the world.

This process will not take long, from an instant to seven days at most, but it will not exceed twelve days.'

Miss Hebe understood his meaning from Tutankhamun's tone: these were rules established by the Archons.

Tutankhamun then sighed.

'Ozymandias has resided in the Crimson Dawn status for hundreds of years. What price did he pay?'

At this point, a hint of indiscernible coldness finally crept into the young man's voice.

'You know very well that the Three Kings and Four Sages, and all the people of Egypt, were merely fuel. But Ozymandias only divided the Nine Sages more than a hundred years later.

When he first became the Red King, his target was the successive Pharaohs enshrined in the Temple of Kings in Abydos.

Ozymandias consumed the Authority of all famous Pharaohs... except for a few whose paths did not align with his, such as Their Majesties Nitocris and Junapekape. Of course, Pharaohs like me, who never truly held great power, were hardly worth his dharma eye.'

Tutankhamun lowered his eyes meaningfully. 'So, do you understand Ozymandias's current state? Maintaining the Crimson Dawn status for hundreds of years, he has long since gone completely mad.

He cannot retreat, so he can only climb higher, but the Father-King will not accept traitors... and Ozymandias is certainly not one to willingly submit to others, not even God Horus.'

'It seems that mentioning the March Archon gave him unrealistic ambitions.'

Miss Hebe was referring to her mentioning the March Archon, The Raven. Since Ozymandias did not intend to submit to the Ennead, he must be seeking to ascend in one leap, for example... becoming an Archon.

'It's not unrealistic,' Tutankhamun said softly, sitting in secret light. 'It's not unrealistic.'

'When the first Calamity of the Ennead arrived, Ozymandias was shaken by it. He began to realize that there were powers far beyond Royal Authority in the world, and thus he sought a path that would not be subject to any god...

Heh, that's true. Even for the true Eternals, their Golden Truths are merely residual positions of the Archons.

But you must be wondering why the first Calamity of the Ennead occurred. The answer is actually very simple.'

38 Only One Archon is Needed, It Doesn't Matter Who She Is (Seeking Collections, Seeking Follow-ups)

Tutankhamun's eyes were smiling, his tone gentle.

'The answer is simple: the nine Archons were discussing whether a new Archon should be born.'

A look of realization appeared on Miss Hebe's face, and she nodded calmly and respectfully. 'So that's how it is!'

All the mysteries had been answered.

The nine Archons were discussing in the Wasteland whether a new Archon would be born. Their opinions would certainly not be entirely unified, so the conflict between the Archons affected the present world from the Wasteland, forming the first Calamity of the Ennead.

Ozymandias then realized that there were even greater powers in the world and learned of other paths that existed. For this reason, he was forced to take a crucial step but could not ascend higher.

He first devoured the successive Pharaohs, then divided the seats of the Nine Sages, and then unleashed a natural disaster, seizing countless lives as fuel to sustain himself.

Even so, Ozymandias could not continue to support himself. In at most seven years, he would make a desperate gamble and plunge the entire Egypt into the abyss with him.

Miss Hebe uttered the true name of the March Archon, The Raven, causing this young Archon to come from the future and bringing a new turn of events. Ozymandias realized that he might even become an Archon—the flame of ambition would not let him let go.

For this, he would not hesitate to sacrifice all of Egypt to achieve his unparalleled great deed.

If Ozymandias were here, he would surely laugh loudly: 'I am the Sun, the God-King who reigns over the Great Crimson Desert, all the oases, and the entire land. Should Egypt not die for me?!'

Miss Hebe's heart sank. She carefully gazed at the smiling Tutankhamun before her.

The sunlight streamed in brightly through the window, but the seat was empty. There was no Tutankhamun, only an empty carpet.

Hebe remained composed, gazing quietly at the spot before her. Instantly, her brow twitched, and a shimmering ripple appeared in the air, like layers upon layers of feathers.

The layered feathers vanished in an instant, seeming like nothing more than a fleeting illusion. Tutankhamun was still sitting properly in his seat, gnawing on a fresh date.

'Is the Tutankhamun before me truly the pharaoh of history who met an early end?' Hebe's mind flashed with this thought. 'Is he an avatar of the March Archon, or...'

The thought quickly faded. Hebe suppressed the emotions welling up inside her. "So, if I don't intervene, Ozymandias could genuinely become an Archon?"

Hebe recalled the terrible white skeleton that descended from the clouds at the end of every seven years, trampling deserts and oases, and devouring flesh to sate itself. If she had to find a corresponding Archon, it would surely be the December Archon, the Duke of Sighs.

Could Ozymandias be the later Duke of Sighs?

As Hebe entertained this speculation, the progress on conquering the Lostbelt surged forward by a significant margin.

The sunlight distorted, forming words only she could see.

"The truth of history is finally revealed. In the chasm between natural disasters and ambition, Ozymandias found the path to the Archon's throne, and he now holds the key to opening the ultimate gate."

"Ozymandias is touching the forbidden, but forbidden things possess their own power. The Red King uses all of Egypt as the foundation for his ascension. Amidst the rise and fall of civilization, he will seize the authority of natural disasters, despair, and death."

[The truth of history cannot be changed, and neither can the fate of the December Archon, the Duke of Sighs, being born.]

Hebe raised her head and met Tutankhamun's gaze.

The young pharaoh was happily eating dates. Noticing Hebe's stare, he gave an awkward smile.

"I believe the gods probably wouldn't welcome a companion who is tyrannical, arbitrary, and acts without restraint," Hebe said to Tutankhamun with a smile. "When it comes to arbitrariness, there's the February Archon, the Scarred Father, before us; and when it comes to cruelty, there's the August Archon, the Cruel Wolf, after us."

"Moreover, I believe a deity who governs a Path under the Winter's Tenets should remain silent and respectful of death, at the very least, of proper death."

Hebe's smile grew brighter, yet the chill emanating from her grew more intense.