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

soon as it reached Austin, the light took the shape of a

handsome, looked somewhat sinister, his red pupils stark against his fair, white

man met

are impressive, young

he drawled.

and cautious. The

flattered, sir," Austin responded carefully, remaining on his

the legendary creature

alive, he was most

you, no doubt he would

looking

taken

"Your master?"

the master of this

guard of this palace

master. This is

know that, then I do wonder what

the man replied curtly.

I come here for the fruits of

wondering if they're

help

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

planted by

has died, the tree that grows the treasured fruits

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

felt relief

by a rush of

come all this way to look for

here was confirmation

need the fruit of supreme

respectfully to the middle-aged

tree was planted by my master

fruits, you must

middle-aged man told Austin

"Ask your master?

didn't you just say that

Austin asked, confused.

he left a spiritual

with him through

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

take me

Austin answered reverentially.

get

The man nodded.

only you may

understand, this palace is hallowed ground.