Heavenly Sun Apostle

In the presence of her Lord, Liyanda couldn't help but shiver with awe.

She still remembered that fateful day not too long ago when she and her people had encountered the Lord. That day, her tribe had been in a very perilous situation. Their stressful yet peace-filled days had been torn apart by the arrival of beings they had never seen before, predators. Before then, they had never seen a predator in their life. They had only seen the docile herbivores that paid them no mind so long as they weren't trying to contest for resources.

Although they had to struggle every day just for scraps, they had never been in danger and to a certain extent, they were able to prosper.

Alas, such days were never meant to last, their territory was invaded by groups of predators that slaughtered them like insects. There were Wolves, Bears and the worst, Eagles. 3 whole races of the likes she had never seen before.

By then, the herbivores had long run away. Even though her tribe had tried to follow in their footsteps they would never be able to keep up with the speed of Beasts. One by one, her brethren were culled until only a little over 2000 were left. From 32,000+ healthy Humans to just a bit over 2000.

The thought still gave her heart a terrible ache.

But gripped by desperation, she had steered her Tribe to a land that had quickly become forbidden to all things.

A few days before then, there had been a terrifying explosion at the peak of a tall mountain. Everything on the mountain and even 2 miles outside of it had been obliterated with only scorched charcoal and ash remaining.

Naturally, nobody dared to get close.

They didn't even care about the rising ambient Magical Energy because it didn't matter if they were killed. Liyanda had also thought the same, but they were going to die anyway. And if they were to die on that mountain, then they hoped that whatever killed them decided to kill those blasted predators too.

So she forced her tribe up the mountain.

That was when the predators finally stopped chasing. They had already killed so many and didn't necessarily need to run into dangerous lands just for small returns, so they decided to return and arrange their spoils.

Liyanda remembered being overjoyed by the beautiful turn of events, yelling for her tribe to halt, halfway up the mountain.

Unfortunately, she didn't see the Eagles coming.

Even if the Wolves and Bears couldn't afford the risk, the same couldn't be said about the Eagles who possessed the ability to fly. They were very capable of swooping down quickly and fleeing back into the sky with prey caught in their claws.

And that was what they did.

It was only when her tribe had gotten 8/10 of the way up the mountain that the Eagles had decided that continuing was far too risky. Probably wary of the extreme heat that had only got hotter the higher they got.

But at this point over 500 more of her brethren had died. She was so, so angry and it was only that anger that prevented her from retreating when she made it up the mountain. She wanted revenge but she could only acquire it if she survived. At that time, she was unable to reason well and failed to realise that anything that hot from so far away, wasn't something that anyone could freely come close to.

That was when she met her Lord. The descendant of the Sun. The embodiment of all that was Sacred. The epitome of power itself… The Heavenly Sun Flame!

She still remembered that even from half a mile away, she had been struck with awe, almost prostrating herself with reverence at the magisterial aura of the flame. Thinking back on it, she felt like a fool for not kneeling straight away.

Back then, she had actually thought she had been unworthy of witnessing such a beautiful existence. Even thinking that she would be smited in the next moment. But no, her great and merciful Lord was not such an unfair existence. Something completely beyond her wildest expectations occurred in that moment. Something that changed the fate of her and her tribe forever.

DING!

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]

<You have been offered a Contract by the Heavenly Sun Flame.>

<The Heavenly Sun Flame would like to make you an Apostle in exchange for eternal servitude, protection and a copy of your memories. Do agree?>

She had been so stunned back then. But even though she didn't understand what was going on, she could tell that she was being offered something. A gift from such a mighty existence was definitely something that could benefit her and perhaps her whole tribe. On top of that, if she was the servant of such a figure, wouldn't that mean that she would have a powerful backer?

She obviously accepted.

But she was certainly not ready for what occurred next.

DING!

<Congratulations. You have made a Contract with the Heavenly Sun Flame.>

<Congratulations. You have become the Apostle of Heavenly Sun Flame.>

<Congratulations. You have gained the Heaven Grade [Sun Apostle Physique].>

<Congratulations. You have gained the Earth Grade [Heavenly Sun Bloodline].>

<Congratulations. You have gained comprehension of the Law Fire.>

<Congratulations. You had gained the title [Heavenly Sun's First Apostle].>

<Congratulations. You have been named [Liyanda] by the Heavenly Sun Flame.>

<Congratulations. Your Mana has been reforged by the Laws of Fire.>

<Congratulations. You have entered the 3rd Stage of Body Refinement.>

<Congratulations. You have entered the 4th Stage of Body Refinement.>

<Congratulations. You have entered the 5th Stage of Body Refinement.>

System notifications rang out in her head continuously as she was engulfed in golden fire.

…

(Present Time)

'Aaah…~ I still remember the fantastic rush I felt. The ethereal concepts of the Law of Fire, the amazing body I was granted and… my name. My Lord is indeed the most amazing thing in existence. Who would have thought that the abysmal fate of me and my tribe would be changed in such a way?'

The Heavenly Sun Flame had even made contracts with the rest of her brethren even if on a lesser scale. They had only gained the Earth Grade [Heavenly Sun Bloodline] and an affinity with the fire element along with a small boost in cultivation. All in exchange for 10 years of servitude, protection and copy of memories. Quite different from her eternity, but it was them that had lost out, not her.

'But all of this is probably nothing to my magnificent Lord, I must make sure to pay him back in full! No, 2, 5… 100 times over!'

--Liyanda. Your cultivation has increased.--

The androgynous voice of her Lord resounded in her mind.

"Ah? Yes! I am now in the 9th Stage of Body Refinement thanks to my Lord's grace. The Magic Stones that keep on appearing have been extremely beneficial to all of us." Liyanda responded with the utmost respect clear in her voice… along with her face still pressed to the ground.

--Perfect… Make sure to protect me well.--

"Yes, my Lord!" Liyanda almost squealed with joy.