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.

a ray of light suddenly burst out

it reached Austin, the light took the

handsome, looked somewhat sinister, his red pupils stark against

man met Austin's

array skills are impressive, young

he drawled.

alert and cautious. The man had that

responded carefully, remaining

the legendary

was most appreciative of young people

master had met you, no doubt he would have taken

went on, looking

taken aback

"Your master?"

wasn't the master of this

legendary guard of this palace

my master. This is my master's final

then I do wonder what brings you

the man replied curtly.

I come here for the

I'm wondering if they're even here in this

couldn't help but

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

planted by my

tree that

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

felt relief wash over

by a rush

all this way to look for the fruit of

confirmation

need the fruit of supreme enlightenment, sir. Can you help

asked, bowing respectfully to

planted by

fruits, you must ask him

Austin after a

"Ask your master?

you just say that your master has passed

Austin asked, confused.

But he

converse with

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

take me to see

Austin answered reverentially.

face any challenge to get

The man nodded.

you may

is hallowed