Every day, Ra sailed a shining golden solar boat, rising in the east and crossing the sky, bringing light and warmth to the whole land. Several other gods accompanied him on the boat, helping guard the journey. In the evening, the solar boat slowly sank below the western horizon, bringing the daytime journey to an end.

Far from it! As soon as the solar boat sank below the western horizon, it entered the dark underworld, and had to sail all night through pitch-black underground rivers before it could rise again in the east. This underground journey was far more dangerous than the day, because a massive serpent of chaos named Apophis lurked there, hating all light, determined to swallow the solar boat and plunge the world into eternal darkness.

Every night, Apophis showed up right on time, opening its enormous jaws to try to block the solar boat's path, stirring up towering waves in the dark river. Ra and the gods on his boat never backed down — they chanted ancient spells together, using spears and light to drive back Apophis's assault. Once, Apophis was fiercer than usual and nearly succeeded, when the cat goddess aboard the boat suddenly leapt up and used her sharp claws to slash open Apophis's body, forcing back its attack. As dawn approached, Apophis's strength would gradually fade, and it had no choice but to retreat, grudgingly — though it never truly vanished, and the next night, it would return again. This contest between light and darkness continued, night after night. And every single time, the solar boat made it safely to the east, ensuring a new day arrived as promised.