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 burst out of

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 Austin's gaze

skills are impressive,

he drawled.

felt alert and cautious. The man had

responded carefully, remaining on

presumed this was probably the

he was most appreciative of young people

he would have

looking

taken

"Your master?"

the master of

guard of this

is my master's final resting

that, then I do wonder what

the man replied curtly.

come here for the

if they're even here in this

couldn't help but

The man nodded.

"I see.

Yes, they're here.

were planted by

master has died, the tree

face. It seemed to happen every time he mentioned

felt relief wash

by

way to look for

confirmation of

the fruit of supreme enlightenment, sir.

respectfully to the middle-aged

treasure tree was planted by

fruits,

Austin after a

"Ask your master?

that your master has passed

Austin asked, confused.

he left a spiritual

with

said the middle-aged man.

"I see.

sir, please take me

Austin answered reverentially.

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

The man nodded.

you may

palace is hallowed ground. Not everyone can