Emperor's Citadel

The cloud sped onward, Timothy and Kyora riding it to the Celestial Tree's top. Their road ahead became more treacherous as the wind grew more forceful due to them approaching the upper islands.

The heavy gust distressed the aerial creatures from progressing and stopped several of them in the middle of their flight. Some clouds started becoming dimmer and took on a grey color as if a thunderstorm was about to encircle the Sanctum Islands.

The cloud sped around the tree, heading higher, slowly closing in on the clouds above them. Neither knew what the tallest peak had in store for them.

They knew the dangers up ahead, but the thought of saving the people prevailed in Timothy's mind, and he couldn't afford to back down now.

But he had second guesses about confronting one of the divinities, but the self-assurance rose stronger, and the burning sensation in his heart to save these people kept pounding and boosting his desires.

Would he have the strength to face one of the gods if it came to that? Would he be enough to prevent another disaster from rapidly forming in the Sanctum Islands? Only time would tell the outcome.

It didn't take them much time to speed over the clouds and reach their destination successfully.

The sun shone brightly, reflecting off the water's surface, creating an idyllic scene. In the distance, a building soared through the air.

Its bright colors stood out against the blue sky. It seemed to be a tower nestled among the clouds.

Perhaps something like an imaginary landscape?

To complete this picture-perfect view was another building with what appeared to have been a cross on top, and even further up above was an impressive hot air balloon gliding gracefully across the blue sky.

It didn't surprise them. They were on a floating island, to begin with. It wasn't odd to see another hovering foundation existing in a place that made no sense. It became a natural habit. Something they could see every day and wouldn't make them nervous.

"That's a structure held up by an air balloon." Neither anticipated that a god, someone of divine ranking, would live in a practical balloon. However, its sheer size exceeded their expectations.

Before they witnessed the reality, they envisioned a sanctuary or an ancient temple. Something as simple as a balloon didn't cross their mind once.

But after the bizarre scenery, the two noticed the entrance; they had no intentions of using it. Their only objective was to confront Ivione head-on, and that urge would soon come true.

"Time to meet him..."

He straightened up and hurdled off the cloud, horrifying Kyora, who expected him to plunge to his death.

She squealed as she watched his arms flare out into flames wings. It had a mixture of blue and yellow, enabling him to soar over narrower openings. It made it possible for him to reach the structure alone.

She complained about his sudden move, rode the cloud, and landed beside him. She experienced his wings exploding into a resonant, heavy, and fiery sound, forming his arms back together.

It was the first time she witnessed Timothy regulate fire to shape his arms into wings. However, their primary mission was to confront Ivione, so they scampered inside the flying balloon to locate and meet him face-to-face.

They didn't hesitate and entered the giant room that reminded them of a sanctum. The roof was peaked. The inside was dim, apart from a few sunbeams that illuminated the pathway before them.

Statues of various heavenly beings, angels, stood on the sides of the interior, each posing differently.

A magnificent seat resembling a throne resided at the end of the corridor where an individual sat above. They were leaning forward, supporting their head with their hand.

Next to them lay a trident, similar to a polearm. It was crafted out of pure gold and silver with a throbbing crystal — a diamond — at the tip of its handle.

That one person appeared as a young, middle-aged teenage boy.

The hair that covered his head was of mocha brown color and curly, braided into a dropped ponytail with a crystal in between. His jungle green eyes were easily seen in the darkness as they glowed and pierced through the shadows.

He wore a winter coat with faux fur and an extremely long hem. Round silver earrings hung from his ears that glowed in the shadows.

The boy grinned. "Visitors? I haven't had those in a while." It was Ivione, no doubt. Despite his deceptive appearance, Timothy couldn't sense his pressure. It was a perk that the gods shared across the world and heavens.

To be continued...