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

reached Austin, the light took the shape

his red pupils stark against his fair, white

man met

skills are impressive, young

he drawled.

felt alert and cautious. The man had

Austin responded carefully, remaining on his

this was probably the legendary creature

he was most appreciative of young

doubt he would have taken you on as

on, looking

taken

"Your master?"

wasn't the master of this

this palace had

This is my master's

you didn't know that, then I do

the man replied curtly.

here for

if they're

help

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

planted by

my master has died, the tree that

looked crossed the man's face. It seemed

hearing that, Austin felt relief wash over

followed by

all, he had come all this way to look for the fruit of supreme

here was confirmation of its

fruit of supreme enlightenment,

asked, bowing respectfully to the

planted by my master

its fruits, you must ask

man told Austin after

"Ask your master?

that your master

Austin asked, confused.

But he

with him

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

please take me

Austin answered reverentially.

challenge to get the fruits of

The man nodded.

you

hallowed ground. Not everyone