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.

ray of light suddenly

soon as it reached Austin, the light took the shape of a middle-aged man in

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

met Austin's gaze

skills are impressive,

he drawled.

cautious. The man had

responded carefully, remaining on

presumed this was probably the legendary creature

was most appreciative of young people as

no doubt he would have taken you on

went on, looking

was taken aback

"Your master?"

man wasn't the master of this

the legendary guard of this palace had

my master. This is my master's

didn't know that, then I do wonder

the man replied curtly.

I come here for

they're even here in

couldn't help but

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

were planted by my master

has died, the tree that grows

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

hearing that, Austin felt relief

followed by a rush of

this way to

confirmation of

really need the fruit of supreme enlightenment, sir.

asked, bowing respectfully to the

planted by my master

want its fruits, you must ask

middle-aged man told Austin after a moment's

"Ask your master?

say that

Austin asked, confused.

he has. But he left a

may converse with

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

sir, please take me to

Austin answered reverentially.

to get the fruits of supreme enlightenment at

The man nodded.

only you

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