Chapter 702: Entering the Zenith Heaven

The Sect Leader brought them aboard a Stellar Vessel waiting above the main hall. Grey took a place on the open deck as the ship rose over the mountains and left the sect behind.

Alissa stayed beside him while Eterna checked the route on the system panel. Ouroboros had already found a seat, and Lily joined them after speaking with Elder Tharos.

The first passage through space brought them above a sea filled with floating islands. Ships moved between the islands while huge shadows passed beneath the water.

Grey watched one of those shadows follow their vessel for a short distance before it sank out of sight. He hoped the beasts here had better things to do than bite every ship they saw.

"How far is the palace?" He asked.

"We still have several crossings ahead of us." The Sect Leader replied.

The vessel entered another passage and came out above a wide stretch of red land. Long rivers ran between the cities below, and bright towers marked the routes used by the ships.

At the next crossing, they waited while a large vessel passed through ahead of them. It carried rows of sealed metal containers that filled most of its deck.

"There's quite a lot of traffic." Eterna said.

"These routes lead toward the capital, so they're rarely empty." Tharos explained.

Their turn came, and the Stellar Vessel passed through into colder air above another ocean. The Sect Leader guided it upward through a thick bank of clouds.

A vast city stood on floating platforms high above the sea. Hundreds of Stellar Vessels moved between its districts, while larger ships waited at docks around the city's edge.

Grey could barely see the ocean below by the time they reached the outer platforms. At the center of the city stood a palace surrounded by rings of red towers.

"That's the Red King's palace." The Sect Leader said.

A guard vessel approached and sent them a request to stop. The Sect Leader gave his name and showed the invitation, after which the guards led them through the traffic.

They landed beside a wide stairway where a palace attendant was waiting.

"His Majesty is expecting you, please follow me."

Grey walked with the others through the palace and into a large hall. A man in red robes stood near the far end, and his attention settled on Grey as soon as they entered.

The Red King made no attempt to hide that he was checking him, so Grey spoke to the Chaos Emperor within the Lesser Heaven Space.

"Let him sense your power, just enough to match what I used at the sect."

"Of course, Lord."

The Emperor released his aura through Grey without showing himself. The pressure lasted only a moment, but the Red King had felt enough.

"To think another 14th Rank powerhouse would visit our realm. Please come in."

He invited them to sit while the Sect Leader and Tharos greeted him. Grey waited until they finished before speaking.

"I'll be clear, I want to reach the Zenith Heaven Realm."

"Why do you wish to go there?" The Red King asked.

"It's somewhere I want to visit."

Grey had no plans to mention his grandfather before learning what the man had been doing all this time. If he was wanted by some powerful sect, announcing their link would be a rather stupid way to find out.

The Red King accepted the answer without pressing him.

"Reaching Zenith Heaven is not difficult if you have a Stellar Vessel that can make the trip. Getting through its borders requires a pass for those coming from our part of the Higher Realm. Zenith Heaven is on a higher level than the realms here."

Grey had expected some sort of entry rule. At least he had found someone who could explain it before they arrived at the border.

"Can you arrange a pass for us?"

"I can, but I would like your help with something in return."

The offer did not surprise Grey, especially after the king had checked his strength so closely.

"As long as it's within what a 14th Rank can do, I'm willing to help."

"I can give you the pass today if you swear to help me once, though I won't need that help right away." The Red King replied.

"I'll do it."

Grey answered so quickly that the Sect Leader turned toward him.

He had no reason to refuse those terms. Getting into Zenith Heaven now and dealing with the favor later was much better than being sent on another task first.

Grey began the vow himself and kept the terms they had agreed on.

"In return for passage into Zenith Heaven for me and my companions, I swear to help you with one task within the ability of a 14th Rank."

The king accepted his side of the agreement, and the vow took hold.

"Someone with your power is exactly what I need." He said.

He took out a red token and handed it to Grey. A mark on its surface glowed when Grey touched it, then faded into the metal.

"Show this at the border, and your group will be allowed through."

Grey put the token away after checking its mark. The Red King had given him what he needed without making him wait, which was already better than most of his recent encounters.

"There is a tournament in Zenith Heaven at present, and many people are traveling there." The king continued.

"Are you going too?" Grey asked.

"Yes, you're welcome to travel with me if you wish."

"Let's do that."

The Red King was a disciple of Zenith Heaven, so going with him would make their arrival easier. Grey would rather have someone introduce them than spend his first day trying to get answers from border guards.

Why did the king need help from a stranger when he belonged to such a powerful sect? Perhaps the favor involved something he could not bring up with the people above him.

Grey would find out when the king asked for his help. For now, he had the pass and a way to reach Zenith Heaven.

The king gave an order to the palace staff and led them toward his private dock. A large red Stellar Vessel waited there, with several smaller guard ships nearby.

The Sect Leader stopped beside the boarding ramp.

"We should return to the sect, there's still much to deal with after the attack."

"Thank you for bringing us." Grey said.

"You're welcome to visit again, though I hope the next trip is less eventful." Tharos added.

"I'd settle for everyone arriving in the same place." Grey replied.

Alissa kept hold of his arm as they boarded, and Eterna followed close behind. Ouroboros and Lily joined them while Tharos left with the Sect Leader.

The Red King's vessel lifted from the dock once everyone was aboard. The guard ships moved aside as it passed the palace towers and climbed beyond the city's highest platforms.

Grey watched the capital shrink below them until the cloud cover hid it from view. The vessel kept rising, and the red mark on its bow began to glow.

A broad path opened ahead, and the view of the Red Realm disappeared as the ship entered it. Pale lines of light passed outside the barrier while the vessel traveled through the higher pathway.

"Many kings and queens will be in Zenith Heaven for this event." The Red King said.

Grey had been checking the route with Eterna, but he turned back when the man spoke.

"Is the tournament that important?"

"Talents from many Higher Realms take part, and the host changes each time. This time it is being held in Zenith Heaven."

"Is that so?" Grey replied.

He had little interest in watching people fight for places on a list. Finding his grandfather and learning more about the Core mattered far more to him.

"The sects will also be there to choose new members from those who do well." The king added.

"Then there should be plenty of people to ask about things." Grey said.

That was more useful to him than the tournament itself. If someone knew his grandfather, this might be a good time to find them.

The king seemed pleased that he had found some interest in the event and began naming a few of the realms attending. Grey listened while the vessel passed several branches in the pathway.

Other ships joined their route, including one so large that it blocked the view beyond the barrier for a while. Several carried royal flags, and their guards stayed close as the traffic grew thicker.

Grey felt the vessel slow before the bright lines outside spread apart. It left the pathway and came to a stop among rows of waiting ships.

Beyond them, a gigantic planet filled the view ahead.

The planet ahead was surrounded by rings of floating stations, with countless Stellar Vessels moving between them. Some carried royal flags while others were large enough to hold entire cities on their decks.

Grey had thought Red Realm had a lot of traffic.

Compared to this place, it had been rather empty.

Huge screens floated above the stations and showed news about the tournament. One displayed the names of those taking part, while another showed a fight from an earlier event.

A young woman on the screen raised her sword and split an enormous beast in half. The image froze as her name appeared beside her.

"They're showing records of the contestants?" Eterna asked.

"Some are from past tournaments, and others are people expected to do well this time." The Red King explained.

Their vessel passed beneath a screen showing the different arenas. Grey could see forests and mountain ranges inside them, though each arena appeared much smaller when shown from outside.

Several ships left the main route and headed toward a station marked for contestants.

The Red King's vessel continued toward the planet.

Beyond the traffic, Grey could make out huge cities spreading across the land below. Towers rose through the clouds while floating platforms held more buildings above them.

Long lines of light connected the different districts, and ships moved along them without crossing into the paths beside them. Even the space between cities was filled with stations and smaller ports.

Eterna opened a connection and checked the information being sent to arriving vessels.

"They have a public network covering the entry routes." She said. "It includes maps and live updates on the tournament."

"That should help us find our way around." Grey replied.

He had expected Zenith Heaven to be more advanced than the Red Realm, but he had not expected this much. There seemed to be a screen trying to sell him something everywhere he looked.

One offered rooms with a clear view of the main arena.

Grey checked the price and closed it before anyone could ask whether he was interested.

The ship slowed as a metal ring moved into place ahead of them. Several guard vessels waited nearby, though none approached with their weapons raised.

A pale beam swept across the deck and stopped briefly on the Red King. A system panel appeared before him with his identity already displayed.

"Please confirm your guests." A voice came from the panel.

"They're traveling with me." The Red King replied.

He touched the panel and added the pass he had given Grey. The beam crossed the rest of the vessel, then the ring ahead lit up.

"Entry approved, welcome to Zenith Heaven."

The guard ships moved aside as an opening formed within the ring.

"That was easier than I expected." Grey said.

"It takes longer without a pass, especially with this many visitors." The king replied.

The vessel entered the opening and crossed the realm's boundary.

Just then, his nexus energy begin reacting.

It moved through his Source without him calling on it, then pressed outward as though it had sensed something beyond the ship. Before Grey could examine the change, the deck disappeared from his sight.

He stood in an empty void.

There were no stars or worlds, and he could not see anything beneath his feet. He spread his perception but found no edge to the space around him.

His Nexus Energy continued to stir.

Grey released a small amount into the void, and it moved away from him instead of spreading evenly. He tried to follow its direction, but the vision ended before he could take another step.

The ship returned around him.

Alissa was still beside him, and the Red King was speaking with Eterna about the city below. Only a moment had passed.

Grey immediately checked his Source.

The reaction had weakened, but it had not stopped.

Was that where the Entrance was?

He had been confident that Zenith Heaven held a way to find it, but this was the first response he had received just by entering a place.

A grin appeared on his face before he could stop it.

"Did you find something?" Alissa asked.

"I might have, give me a moment."

Grey turned his attention toward the direction his energy had moved in the vision. Finding his grandfather still mattered, but he now had another reason to stay in Zenith Heaven.

At the same time, deep within the halls of Zenith Heaven, a young man sat alone behind closed doors and his eyes slowly opened.