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.

of light

the light took the

his

man met

array skills are impressive,

he drawled.

and cautious. The man had

flattered, sir," Austin responded carefully, remaining on

this was probably the

my master was still alive, he was most appreciative of young

had met you, no doubt he would have taken you

looking

was taken aback at

"Your master?"

man wasn't the master of

this palace had already

is

didn't know that, then I do wonder what

the man replied curtly.

I come here for the fruits of supreme

now I'm wondering if they're

couldn't help but

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

planted by my

my master has died, the tree

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

Austin felt

by a rush

this way to look for the fruit

was confirmation

of supreme enlightenment, sir. Can you help

respectfully to the

planted by my master

its fruits,

man told Austin

"Ask your master?

just say that your

Austin asked, confused.

he has. But he left a

may converse with him through

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

take me

Austin answered reverentially.

face any challenge to get the fruits of supreme

The man nodded.

you may

must understand, this palace is hallowed ground. Not everyone can be