By Zephyria “First, yes, that’s correct. My team members and I fell into the Abyss, and we came back alive from that Abyss.”
At once, the crowd began to murmur. Until now, we had relied on Go Jae-won’s testimony, so various hypotheses and speculations were rampant regarding the Sunrise Team’s disappearance. The most established theory was the assumption that they encountered a terrible monster in a Rift, fought it, and fell into the Abyss. Besides that, there were theories of exile abroad, self-destruction due to internal conflict, and seclusion disguised as retirement, among others.
After Lee Hyun-muk returned, the established theory that they came back from the Abyss was actually doubted. Coming back from the Abyss, from which no one had ever returned alive, was that unbelievable an event. Soon, questions from reporters rained down.
“What kind of place is the Abyss?!”
“Were there other missing persons in the Abyss?”
“Is it true that Go Jae-won betrayed you?!”
“Who is the other civilian who came out with you!”
“Is that hair evidence of contamination!”
Lee Hyun-muk raised one hand without answering any of the questions. He tended to wait without saying anything until it got quiet at press conferences like this. Recalling that, as the reporters quieted down, Lee Hyun-muk said slowly with a smile.
“I will give you time for questions and answers separately after the announcement, so please ask then. Now, I will continue with the announcement.”
The murmuring subsided. Lee Hyun-muk, who had instantly silenced the reporters, continued with his shocking announcement.
“The Abyss is a place where time flows faster than outside, it is more vast than imagined, and the concentration of Corruption is deeper than in Rifts. Unfortunately, with the exception of the single person who escaped with us this time, the other missing persons were already deceased, and we did not encounter any other survivors.”
Amidst the murmuring reporters, someone let out a loud sigh and sobbed. It was likely someone whose family member was missing in the Abyss. Lee Hyun-muk continued calmly.
“Second, as of today, I, Lee Hyun-muk, along with Lee Chan-ha, Seo Yakrin, Yoon Seung-ryong, and Joo Ho-young, will be disbanding the Sunrise Team and leaving the guild.”
Upon hearing this declaration, the reporters began to murmur even more. While the story about the Abyss was vague and unbelievable information, this story was more realistic and hit home. The live broadcast chat window was in chaos. As discussions about whether it was a retirement announcement or exile abroad began, Lee Hyun-muk drove the point home.
“This is not a retirement announcement. We are stating that we will form a new guild and operate under a new team name.”
Yohan, who had been nodding, having heard this much already, widened his eyes at the words that followed.
“The name of the new guild and team will be Sun.”
Sun! It sounded like a simple yet quite decent name. Considering their previous name was Sunrise, wasn’t it a significant choice? Did it mean they were finally breaking free from Sunrise and becoming a new Sun? As the announcement was made, the banner above unfurled, revealing itself.
[Sun (Tai Yang)]
“…Huh?””
The reporters, who had been enthusiastically applauding, paused and tilted their heads. Because it was in Chinese characters, it didn’t immediately catch their eye, and a few seconds later, someone said.
“It’s not Sun, it’s Sheep?”
Yohan realized it immediately. Wait, Sun wasn’t that Sun (Sun) but Sun (Sun)? Was I seeing this correctly? As he doubted his own eyes, Yang Hwa-pyeong, who had his arms crossed, muttered in a suspicious voice.
“Sheep? Sheep? A giant sheep?”
“Could it be a printing error?”
Kim Ye-ju also tilted her head in confusion. While the reporters were bewildered, only Yohan’s eyes widened. Surely not…? That sheep isn’t the sheep that is Yangyang, is it? Even as he thought that, it felt like his suspicion was correct, and he broke out in a cold sweat. No one had ever told me this…! They all deliberately hid it from me! He clenched his fist in betrayal.
“Third, my white hair is not evidence of Corruption. It is a physical change that occurred during my Re-awakening in the Abyss.”
As one shocking statement after another, like bombs, continued to be made, the reporters became even more agitated and murmured. Re-awakening, it was something they had never heard of before. Yohan tore his eyes away from the TV screen and glanced at the real-time search terms and trends, which were entirely filled with things related to Lee Hyun-muk’s announcement.
‘Lee Hyun-muk’, ‘Sunrise Team’, ‘Sun’, ‘Abyss’, ‘Missing Persons’, ‘Re-awakening’…. People, who always kept a close watch on topics related to Corruption and survival due to the Rifts, were frantically posting online.
“But you can say anything with words, can’t you? Therefore, I will show you proof of my Re-awakening.”
Lee Hyun-muk raised his hand and activated his ability. Immediately, a sphere of electricity, sparking, appeared above his hand. However, unlike before, it was not a sphere of lightning flashing white. It was lightning of dark light, greedily swallowing light. Flashes went off like crazy. The number of viewers on all broadcasting platforms relaying the live broadcast also surged. Lee Hyun-muk showed the sphere of dark lightning so reporters could observe and photograph it sufficiently before retracting it.
“Whether the reason for my Re-awakening was the countless threats to my life or because I am a High-level Awakener, I do not know precisely. I believe this is something that requires further research. However, what is certain is that my abilities have become even stronger after my Re-awakening. I believe I can save many more citizens with this ability.”
A smile that naturally inspired trust appeared on his handsome face as he spoke. After neutralizing the suspicion of being a Corrupted, which would have followed him like a tag, Lee Hyun-muk continued.
“Fourth, this… will be the most surprising announcement of what I will say today.”
After a brief pause, drawing more attention, Lee Hyun-muk gestured behind him, and Lee Chan-ha came forward with a small box in her hand. She carefully placed it on the podium, and the reporters murmured, paying attention. Opening the box and taking out was a small Eternal Stone, shimmering with pure white light.
“An Eternal Stone?”
“Isn’t that an Eternal Stone?”
Most people were bewildered, not understanding why an Eternal Stone would be the most surprising announcement, while the quick-witted reporters were already blushing with excitement and typing furiously. Soon, Lee Hyun-muk met their expectations.
“With this Eternal Stone brought from the Abyss, we can treat Corruption.”
Good heavens! Kim Ye-ju covered her mouth with a scream-like exclamation. Yang Hwa-pyeong also took a trembling breath. This was likely the reaction of many viewers watching the video at that moment.
“I will prove this right here, right now. Are there any reporters here who are contaminated? I will accept up to three volunteers.”
In this day and age, many people live with mild Corruption. Even if it was mild, only causing headaches, depression, or skin conditions, it was enough to make an individual’s life difficult. Soon, reporters eagerly raised their hands, and the number was unexpectedly large. About one or two out of ten. Yohan felt the proportion of contaminated people was this high for the first time. It might be even more if those who didn’t raise their hands were included.
“Me! I’ll do it!”
“Please, let me be the one!”
The voices, momentarily forgetting it was a press conference, were quick and desperate. Perhaps because he was a Purifier, Yohan felt an instinctive sense of pity and twitched his fingers. If he had been in that position, if he didn’t have to hide his abilities, he could have purified so many people at once…
Lee Hyun-muk scanned the volunteers with his eyes and personally selected them. Soon, three reporters stood beside the podium. All of them had physically apparent contamination symptoms. The three had, respectively, a disfiguring stain covering one cheek to their neck, fingernails grown into the shape of beastly claws, and skin that cracked open, revealing flesh and causing only pain.
“First, if you don’t mind, could you please introduce yourselves?”
“I am… Reporter Kim Seung-hyun of New World Media.”
“I am Reporter Yoo Ga-eun of Seomun Ilbo.”
“This is Park Ji-han of Daily Star.”
Even as they introduced themselves, their gazes were earnest as they looked at the Eternal Stone emitting a soft light on the podium. These were people who envied those whose contamination symptoms were not outwardly visible. They were also people who had tried everything to get rid of these unsightly symptoms. Unfortunately, the only method to treat Corruption in living beings currently was the amputation of the affected body part, but even this had low regeneration, and it was often impossible for ordinary people who struggled to earn a living day by day.
“Then, we will start with Reporter Kim Seung-hyun’s Corruption Treatment.”
If anyone else had done this, the first thought would have been fraud, but the speaker was none other than Lee Hyun-muk. Moreover, with the plausible reason of it being an Eternal Stone brought from the Abyss, the reporter did not doubt him.
He and the other two could not take their eyes off the Eternal Stone. As Corrupted individuals, they instinctively felt drawn to the purifying energy. Confirming that the cameras were close enough for a close-up shot, Lee Hyun-muk held the Eternal Stone and brought it over the reporter’s face.
The soft radiance emanating from the Eternal Stone covered the skin. Then, slowly, the unsightly stain began to fade. The reporters cheered and marveled. Only Kim Seung-hyun, who couldn’t see his own face, clenched his fists nervously. After a while, the stain finally disappeared completely. Kim Seung-hyun, after checking in a mirror, shed tears of emotion. He recalled the days when he had suffered so much because of the contamination symptom that appeared on his face, to the point where he couldn’t even go outside for a long time.
Subsequently, as the other reporters’ contamination symptoms also completely disappeared one by one, the press conference hall was completely engulfed in commotion. Yohan smiled bitterly as he watched the scene.
According to Seo Yakrin’s explanation, the variously shining Eternal Stones each had different properties. They possessed different natures, much like Awakeners. Among them were a few Eternal Stones that could hold a small amount of power, like batteries. What Lee Hyun-muk was using now was one of those Eternal Stones.
Although its purifying ability was negligible compared to Yohan’s, people were extremely excited. It was the world’s first method of treating Corruption. It took Lee Hyun-muk quite some time to calm the reporters.
“The Sun Guild owns several more of these Eternal Stones. Therefore, our guild intends to share the burden of Corrupted individuals for the stability of society. We will operate care facilities to safely protect and treat Corrupted individuals, thereby easing the government’s burden. Furthermore, we are planning to form a federation of guilds that support Awakeners. We will collectively refer to this as the Awakened Association.”
The Awakened Association! This was an announcement that would surely throw the government, which was already reluctant about the unity and federation of Awakeners, into a frenzy, especially the Rift Management Agency. Lee Hyun-muk, who had been relatively cooperative with the government until now, had changed his stance since returning from the Abyss. Some of the more astute reporters recalled rumors circulating in the stock market gossip circles about the government having dealt with the Sunrise Team.
“Guilds that join the Awakened Association will be considered for benefits such as low-interest loans, Eternal Stone rentals, and Subjugation support, so please contact us.”
After concluding his announcement, with the reporters, who were shedding tears of joy from being completely cured of Corruption, standing visibly beside the podium, Lee Hyun-muk continued.
“Now, I will take questions.”
The reporters in the press conference hall instantly turned into a swarm of bees and began bombarding him with questions.