The Supreme God

"What? What did you just say?"

Austin may have spoken normally, but his words were like rumbling thunder in the monks' ears.

They all stopped dead, standing motionless and staring at Austin at the same time.

Every face that looked at him wore a mask of utter disbelief.

"Sir, forgive me. What did you say?

Can you say it again?"

the old monk asked Austin slowly.

"I said that if you want to get out of this valley, I can help you at any time. I can break this array pretty effortlessly,"

Austin replied, speaking a little louder this time.

He knew what was running through these monks' minds. They had been here for so long that they no longer thought it possible to ever leave. The sudden revelation that they might have their freedom back was naturally hard to believe and had shaken them at their core.

"Sir, do not play such jokes on us."

The old monk seemed to have a glimmer of hope when Austin had spoken.

But now, when he looked him up and down, he shook his head bitterly, feeling he could not possibly be telling the truth.

After all, all of the monks trapped in this valley were at the level of gods of chaos.

They had consumed a tremendous amount of time and energy, using all the methods they had over the years, trying everything they could to break free from their imprisonment. But they simply could not do it.

They had resigned to accepting their fate that they'd be here forever. Now some young governing god came along and told them he could help them escape whenever they wanted, and that the array was nothing to him.

How could they believe him?

"Ah, young man, quit making such cruel jokes. It is not funny."

The other monks seemed to come to snap out of their daze as well, shaking their heads dejectedly. They did not believe Austin one bit.

They were displeased with him now and started referring to him as "young man" rather than "sir".

"I understand your feelings, young man. You have just come into this valley and now you're trapped. It's going to take you a while to accept that you're stuck here. But you will have to get used to it. You're going to have to stay here and live with us. Perhaps we will find a way out in the future," the old monk said to Austin after thinking a while.

difficulty coming to terms with that fact that he was trapped

young man. Help yourself. We have to

gave Austin a slight nod and turned back to their small worlds where

swear. If you want

a smile, looking around at the monks

please stop. We can't take

go in and get a good rest. Perhaps time will calm you

the old

his hand out to a clearing nearby and gently scratched the

thought Austin was spewing nonsense and did not want to give him any

don't believe me, then I will

Austin said, smiling proudly.

so could not blame

"Show me?

a rest right away and calm yourself first before

monk

seemed to be

"Now, please watch."

walked

he really having such a

frowning at Austin's strange

soon arrived at the array's edge, and

the absolutely astounded gaze of the old monk watching him, Austin

"Austin, you're out!

to the

they difficult? Did they

the water source beast rushed to his side and hounded him with

of the array, they had not been able to hear what was

didn't make things difficult for me. They're not our enemies. They're actually

fine. I

Austin replied casually.

"On our side?"

three companions were

in the valley

"How can this be?"

Austin walk out so easily had stunned the old monk. He stood there,

"It's... It's impossible!

It can't be!