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 suddenly

the light took the shape of a

looked somewhat sinister, his red pupils stark

met

skills are impressive,

he drawled.

felt alert and cautious.

Austin responded carefully,

probably the legendary creature

still alive, he was most appreciative of young people as exceptional

he would have taken

man went on, looking

was taken

"Your master?"

wasn't the

guard of this

master. This is my master's final

I

the man replied curtly.

I come here for the fruits of supreme

I'm wondering if they're even here in

help

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

planted by

tree that

It seemed to

Austin felt relief wash over

followed by a rush

this way to look for the fruit of

here was confirmation

need the fruit of supreme enlightenment, sir. Can

respectfully to the

was planted by

want its fruits, you

Austin after

"Ask your master?

say that your

Austin asked, confused.

But he left a spiritual

with him

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

please take

Austin answered reverentially.

was willing to face any challenge to get the fruits of supreme enlightenment at this

The man nodded.

only you

this palace is hallowed ground. Not everyone can