The Supreme God

As the days passed and as Austin and his companions pushed forward up the divine mountain, they continued to encounter more of the puppets, always a hundred-strong in number each time.

Fortunately, Austin's array skills were powerful enough to trap all the puppets every time, so there was never any need to fight.

By this time, they had already encountered more than three hundred puppets in total.

It began to dawn on the group that this meant there were more than three hundred gods of chaos guarding the divine mountain.

A sense of trepidation began to take hold of the group.

Finally, they arrived at the top of the mountain.

They gazed up at a magnificent palace, towering higher and higher above them.

It seemed the palace pierced right through the skies.

Austin and his friends felt infinitesimally small in the face of such grandeur.

"From what I know, the fruits of supreme enlightenment are in this palace.

It is said that there is a terrifying creature guarding it.

But no one knows what it is,"

Anakin said to Austin in a small voice.

Austin gave it some thought before nodding.

"I'll go on ahead first and take a look around, then."

He had already gotten this far. He couldn't back down now.

"All of you can wait for me here. There's no need for us to risk danger together,"

Austin said to his companions.

They all voiced their protests at once. "Out of the question! We made a promise! In exchange for saving Braden, we three brothers would help you get the fruits of supreme enlightenment.

And so we shall. We always keep our word,"

Anakin declared stubbornly.

"Yes. No matter how dangerous it is inside, the three of us will accompany you,"

Braden and Cayden chimed in, firm in their position.

"Austin, it will be better if we go inside together. The more people there are, the more powerful we will be,"

the old monk put forward sagely.

Austin nodded and smiled, finally coming around to his friends' point of view.

"You're right. Let's go, then."

He took the lead and walked toward the gates of the palace.

he did, a ray of light suddenly burst

the light took the shape of a middle-aged

though handsome, looked somewhat sinister, his red pupils

met Austin's

skills are impressive,

he drawled.

cautious.

flattered, sir," Austin responded carefully, remaining

this was probably the legendary creature guarding the

master was still alive, he was most appreciative of young

met you, no doubt he would have taken you on

looking Austin up and down

was taken

"Your master?"

wasn't the master of

of this palace had

This is my master's final resting

know that, then I do wonder what brings

the man replied curtly.

for the

now I'm wondering if they're

help but

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

by

has died, the tree that grows

crossed the man's face. It seemed to happen every time he

hearing that, Austin felt relief

followed by a rush

way

here was confirmation of

of supreme enlightenment, sir.

respectfully to the middle-aged

tree was planted

you want its fruits, you

Austin after

"Ask your master?

you just say that your

Austin asked, confused.

he has. But he

converse with him through

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

take me to see

Austin answered reverentially.

to get the fruits of supreme enlightenment at this

The man nodded.

only you may

palace is hallowed ground. Not everyone