The God-Given Land and the Answer

Two figures swam through the ocean, passing through the Deep Sea Abyss, a cursed land that made all Trilobite Men tremble in fear.

Even the People of the Abyss were unwilling to approach this place, afraid of being banished once more by God into that eternal realm of darkness.

Below, one could see a bottomless trench extending to the deepest part of the seabed. The dark world seemed like a devouring mouth, and passing over it felt like escaping from between the teeth and lips of the most terrifying monster in the world.

Tito surfaced and used the power of the Divine Cup to survey his surroundings.

Although his eyes couldn't see, the light leading to the God-Given Land still guided his direction.

"It's over there," he said, pointing. "We have to go that way."

Old Stone Helm caught up from behind, much slower than before, appearing rather sluggish.

Tito even heard his irregular panting, which made him sound incredibly weak.

The poet sensed something was wrong. "You're injured."

Old Stone Helm's chest armor had several cracks, indicating he had indeed suffered some injuries, though the severity was unclear from the outside.

The old man himself didn't seem too concerned. "I'm getting old, not like I used to be."

"Even a few collisions are hard to bear now. This body has become as fragile as sand and stone."

The shells of the People of the Abyss would gradually weaken with age, the opposite of Trilobite Men.

The bone armor of Trilobite Men would become harder with age, gradually becoming like stone.

Tito asked with concern, "Is it serious?"

He had never thought he would care so much about the safety of one of the People of the Abyss, let alone become friends with a king of the Abyss Kingdom.

Old Stone Helm stopped to catch his breath. "Not too serious. Let's hurry on our way."

They dove back into the water, passing through the azure ocean and the abyss.

A few days later, the two followed the guidance of the Divine Cup and traveled all the way, no longer seeing any landmarks in the vast sea.

No islands, no Yinsai settlements, and no ruins.

They didn't know where they were or how far they had come from the Deep Sea Abyss.

They could only be certain they were heading in the right direction, but as for where exactly the God-Given Land was, how long it would take to reach it, or whether they could reach it at all, both were clueless.

Old Stone Helm had become too weak to continue. His injuries were much more serious than he had let on.

As he swam, he began to sink towards the bottom of the sea.

Tito suddenly grabbed Old Stone Helm and lifted him onto his back.

"I'll carry you," Tito said.

Old Stone Helm was silent for a moment, then uttered two words.

"Thank you."

The two continued forward, supporting each other. Tito was Old Stone Helm's walking stick, while Old Stone Helm was Tito's eyes.

Dusk descended, and the two slowly swam through the golden sea.

The lingering rays of the sun penetrated the sea surface, casting into the water, bringing warmth and hope to both of them.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared on the golden horizon.

At first, the two didn't notice. As they drew closer, the shadow kept growing larger.

Old Stone Helm finally saw clearly what it was.

An island.

Old Stone Helm grabbed Tito, his pupils dilating in an instant.

What an island it was, radiating a dazzling brilliance under the sun's embrace.

From afar, it looked as if it were made of pure gold.

Sacred, holy.

And possessing the eternity of gold.

"It appeared?" Tito asked in disbelief.

"It really appeared!" Old Stone Helm exclaimed.

Tito was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized what had happened.

"Really? Is it really..."

"Just... ahead?"

The poet's voice trembled.

From the Sky Temple, he had come so far, encountering countless difficulties. Was this finally the end of the journey?

Old Stone Helm was even more excited than the poet. He gazed at the island, speaking incessantly.

"The God-Given Land, it really exists."

His voice filled with awe, he whispered, "So God truly exists!"

The two quickened their pace, heading towards the God-Given Land.

The water grew shallower, and they gradually emerged from the sea, stepping onto God's domain.

Tito couldn't wait to ask, "Quickly, tell me."

"What exactly does the God-Given Land look like? Is it as beautiful as the legends say?"

Old Stone Helm lifted his head from Tito's shoulder, finally seeing clearly what the golden color was.

It was a boundless sea of flowers.

He had never seen such a magnificent sight. Suddenly, he felt strength surging within his body. He broke away from the poet and moved forward.

The flower sea swayed, parting to make way.

They were welcoming the arrival of the poet and the old man.

"The sea of Sun Cup Flowers, just as you said. There's an endless sea of flowers here," Old Stone Helm said, his voice filled with wonder.

Tito responded excitedly, "The records in the Sky Temple were true. High Priest Schlode had indeed seen the God-Given Land before."

Old Stone Helm raised his head.

Following the boundless flower sea towards the center, he finally saw the pyramid temple amidst the flowers.

A giant dream bubble enveloped the magnificent pyramid, with countless iridescent streams flowing over it.

He used his power of wisdom to project his voice, shouting with all his might.

It seemed he was telling Tito everything he saw, but it was more like an outpouring of his inner excitement.

"The temple," he said, his voice trembling with emotion.

"The pyramid, and the temple of the Yinsai God."

"God is still here. The divine still stands here."

Tito also groped his way forward. He smelled a fragrance.

A powerful force emanated from his consciousness, probing his surroundings.

He sensed the scene around him.

Sensed, not saw.

The ground, the flower sea, the stone tablets, the ruins.

It was as if the images were directly projected into his mind, appearing in his brain.

"The God-Given Land," Tito whispered reverently.

"I see it."

"It's... so beautiful."

Old Stone Helm turned to look at Tito and noticed the change in him.

"The blood of King Redlichia is boiling within you."

"Congratulations, poet. You have awakened your power of wisdom."

The two walked along the path opened by the flower sea. They saw the God-Descended City and the stone tablet standing before it.

The poet eagerly stepped forward. His psychic power swept over the tablet, immediately seeing what was carved on it.

"Look," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

"This is the stone tablet erected by your ancestors, His Highness Ense and His Highness Boon, the children of King Redlichia."

"It also records their story, the story of how they built Ense City and Boon City."

Old Stone Helm approached the stone tablet, personally touching the patterns on it.

He knelt down, holding his arms in front of him.

Paying homage to his ancestors.

After Tito finished reading, he walked past the stone tablet.

He wanted to enter the God-Descended City, to have an audience with the great Yinsai.

However, Old Stone Helm stopped in his tracks. He prostrated himself before the stone tablet, not rising again, unable to move forward.

Or rather, he didn't dare to proceed.

Tito turned his head and called out to Old Stone Helm.

"Aren't you going up?"

"Didn't you come here to find an answer?"

Old Stone Helm raised his body, gazing at Tito. A smile suddenly bloomed on his face.

Tito had never imagined that a smile from one of the People of the Abyss could be so peaceful and blessed.

"No need," Old Stone Helm said softly.

"I have... found my answer."

After saying these words, Old Stone Helm remained motionless.

"Hey!" Tito called out.

"Hey!"

Tito called out to the old man but received no response.

The nameless king had died.

The wind stirred up waves in the flower sea. The Sun Cup Flowers that had parted to make way closed back in, one by one, submerging him until he was no longer visible.

The poet stood there, dazed.

Until the moment of his death, the poet still didn't know Old Stone Helm's name, nor did he know what answer he had been seeking.