The Monarch
Chapter 652 652: The great sea

"This sprout requires celestial soil and celestial water," the turtle began explaining to Kayden, "these are found only in a few places across Atherion. It's one of the rarest materials in all of reality, but the celestial tree contains secrets that only a select few are able to reach."

Kayden didn't need much time to grasp the magnitude of the gift he was receiving. This wasn't just something simple, nor merely valuable. There was no way to declare its worth—placing any value on a gift of this scale would be idiocy. This was a gesture of friendship.

Oogway's gesture was, in truth, also an investment in Kayden. It was a way of making it very clear that he was placing a bet—something none of the other gods had the courage to do, and even after this god made such a move, the others still didn't change their minds. It wasn't even a question of courage, really—it was all about probability.

The path Kayden had followed was insane. It was something meticulously crafted and perfectly walked. Every second of his life had led him to reach this exact point, and to continue his development effectively, he would now need to accomplish many practically impossible things.

"I appreciate the gift, God Oogway, and the guidance. I'll take my leave now." Kayden did not bow before the god. The most he offered was a nod of his head. That decision no longer came from within him.

Kayden had bowed for the last time in his life to the Monarch of the Celestials. From that moment onward, he would never bow again before another being, whether god or celestial. His path no longer allowed him to kneel before any existence.

"Good luck, boy," the turtle said as he left, granting Kayden full freedom to resume his fate.

The boy began flying, with no rush whatsoever. The turtle had spoken of many places, yet hadn't given any direction. He left Kayden free to walk his path—and since he didn't know any particular route or destination... he simply chose one and moved forward.

To the man who is lost, every wind is favorable.

"The north is going through a divine war." The sound of a cup slamming onto the table echoed through the tavern.

In a major city in the northern part of Olympus, there was a three-story tavern with an open center and the bar at its heart. The atmosphere was somber as a god drank and told the latest news. The rest of the customers were a mix of mortals and gods, with the former being a small minority—yet they were all unique geniuses.

Any mortal without talent was not permitted a remotely decent life. A failed mortal would be forced to live a life of servitude in deplorable places—or, with luck, live a normal life as an employee in some random establishment.

"Those damn divine birds are massacring the good gods." Before the god could continue, a bird on the third floor released all its aura and roared against him.

"Do not blaspheme against the Revoada." The god didn't accept that pressure and immediately struck back.

"To hell with those flying bastards!" A fight seemed about to erupt—but another aura appeared.

Silent.Suffocating.Crushingly heavy.

"Continue the story," Kayden's voice echoed through the establishment. None of the gods dared to continue the dispute. Kayden's pressure was like a bucket of cold water poured over their heated minds.

The most amusing part was that none of them could feel that Kayden was a mortal. His law exuded an extremely strong divine aura. None of them dared to gamble on whether this was merely a powerful god hiding in some remote corner of the world.

"Dozens of major organizations are at war in the north. The great gods don't give a damn—they're just playing bets while we kill each other," the man spat on the ground. "All the mortals have been wiped out. The treasures of the region are completely abandoned." Kayden could tell there was more to this.

"Is the Great Sea blocked?" one of the nearby gods asked.

"No, but it's impossible for any goods to cross because of the war." The Great Sea was a colossal ocean that even gods took millions of years to traverse.

It had been a few decades since Kayden left Olympus. During that time, he had simply wandered while learning as much as possible about his law—and about the laws in general. The period was too short for him to make any vast gains in knowledge.

The only thing Kayden had done during that time was consolidate his laws—and occasionally fight some random gods whenever he saw the opportunity. His strength had grown tremendously with the consolidation of his abilities, but he was still far from mastering his law perfectly.

After a while of fighting out there, Kayden encountered a major problem: his body and foundations could no longer handle his strength properly. He was simply too strong for a mortal. Even though he could use his power to the fullest, he felt something fragile—or about to break—when he pushed himself too far.

It was just too much power for a mortal to wield without any direct consequence. But this wasn't a problem Kayden needed to resolve immediately. He could delay it for the future, because it was only beginning to become a real issue.

"Are there any ships crossing the Great Sea, or has everything been frozen for now?" Kayden asked. That was his ultimate goal, and waiting for the war to end could take far too long.

"There are," the god answered after a brief thought. "But only combat gods are being accepted. Mortals can only come if accompanied, or by paying an enormous fee. Most are going through the bay high in the sea. That's the zone the war hasn't reached yet—but it should get there in the next few years."

Kayden grew thoughtful. That meant he probably only had a few short years to get to that location. Otherwise, he would have to wait for the entire war to end, which could mean either a few decades… or a few billion years. That was simply far too long for him to wait.