The Roadmap to the Upper Realm

The only person or living being he could see completely was the girl with the golden eyes. To him, she looked like an ordinary human, with no sign of a magic core, mana, or aura. However, Mahendra knew that this girl possessed a few abilities.

"Ningsih has even saved me multiple times, whether it was when I fell into this cold sea or when I lost control," Mahendra said.

"Ningsih? Is that her name?"

"I don't know her real name. I call her Ningsih because that's my little sister's name. I'm just afraid of forgetting that name, so I call her that."

During their conversation, the Wandering King asked for a piece of paper and a pen. He drew an unfamiliar map that Mahendra, of course, didn't recognize.

"You have to be careful, Mahendra."

"To me, she's like a savior. Why should I be careful?"

The Wandering King's gaze, which had been on the paper, now shifted to Mahendra. He seemed to be staring intently. Mahendra frowned in confusion, not understanding why the person next to him was showing that expression.

"I knew he wasn't just an ordinary blind man. I'm sure he can see now," Mahendra thought to himself.

"Whatever. Suit yourself." He now ignored him.This man was hard to read. There were some things that felt familiar and comforting in their long conversation, yet at the same time, he felt like a stranger.

The Wandering King went back to drawing the map on the paper. Little by little, a path, hills, mountains, and rivers began to take shape. It looked like a typical map at first glance, but the Wandering King added dots along the dirt path toward the hills and the river.

"By the way, I'm surprised you're on this ship. I'm sure you and Liliana had never met before," Mahendra pondered.

"This person was once kidnapped by pirates on the way here," Liliana interjected. She came over, glaring at the blind man with an expression that was easy to read—it was hatred.

"Kidnapped?" Mahendra clearly didn't believe it, because the man was so strong. He was supposed to be very strong, so why could he be kidnapped by low-level pirates?

Originally, on his journey to the Northern Region, the Wandering King was swimming in the ocean. He was searching for something with a happy and enthusiastic expression. Suddenly, a large, unfamiliar ship appeared from behind him, and the captain ordered his crew to capture the Wandering King.

In an unfavorable position, the Wandering King's leg unfortunately got a cramp. This made it impossible for him to swim, and he almost drowned, so he was ultimately kidnapped by the pirates.

The Wandering King was tied up, soaking wet. No one could interrogate him because he kept getting into trivial arguments.

When The Sun found the pirate ship, Liliana saw the Wandering King whining to be released. He also complained about various things, like his leg still hurting and his whole body being wet.

The entire crew of the foreign pirate ship was exasperated by him. Their intention was to capture him to sell him as a slave, as they knew from his clothes that the Wandering King was from the Eastern Region.

They just captured the wrong person.

"He was rolling around, yelling, and complaining the entire time, and he even hid behind me." Liliana mercilessly exposed all of the Wandering King's shame.

"Master, why do you look like you respect him? He's just a cowardly old man. I have never in my life seen a man this cowardly." This was the reason Liliana's hatred arose.

Mahendra stared at the man in surprise. He couldn't believe everything Liliana had just said. However, Liliana had never lied to him, so it must be true.

"Why?" As if he felt no guilt, he asked.

"I... at that time... I couldn't do anything." 

Afterward, his voice got quieter and quieter, and he looked away to save his pride.

"Is it true that you are one of the four strongest legends?" Mahendra asked, now starting to feel that he had mistaken someone for someone else.

"I am one of them," the Wandering King answered confidently.

What strong person could be kidnapped by a low-level pirate? And this strong person wasn't just an ordinary person. Mahendra kept wondering if he had mistaken someone or if he was expecting too much from this blind man.

"But the strength and aura of this person can't be a lie. My cursed eyes prove it."

"Why did you appear from the sea?" the Wandering King asked.

"See? He even knew I was in the sea. I'm sure he's not a person to be underestimated."

"I suddenly fell from the sky. You probably won't believe it, but a mysterious hole seems to have brought me from the Northwest to this Northern Region," Mahendra revealed.

"Oh, I believe it."

"You... believe this nonsense?"

"If you're being honest, then I'll believe you. Besides, what can't the Devourer Destiny do? Even the laws of space and time are trivial matters for you."

"That's... weird."

The map was finished. The Wandering King then showed it directly to Mahendra.

"This map is based on my memory. The Memory Pool is in the Upper Realm. The fastest way to get there is through death."

"Death? You mean I have to die first?"

"That's right. Because the Upper Realm is the last of the heavenly realms. Only a soul can go there, but you are a Devourer Destiny who can ignore everything. So I made another way, like a path to a treasure."

The black dots connecting the path to the hill and the river were a path to a staircase to the Upper Realm. Even though the drawing made it look like it was just a simple up and down, the Wandering King said it was a bit different.

"Walk until you climb a small hill. Across from it, there will be a river that flows higher than the hill path."

The map that was drawn was the border between the Northern and Northeastern Regions. The Wandering King pointed out that the hilly path was in the direction the ship was sailing.

"After you find a path to the left, you'll reach the border and find the places I drew on this map."

"This path is so simple that I'm not sure if it's really the way to the Upper Realm."

"I know what you're thinking, but I shouldn't be wrong about my memory."

After climbing the hill and crossing the river, there would be a cluster of white clouds as far as the eye could see. That's where the Upper Realm is, located above this human settlement. The Memory Pool would also be there.

"How do you know this place?" Mahendra asked, curious.

"I died twice," the Wandering King replied, touching his cloth-covered eyes.

"I crossed a bridge, and below it was the path I used to take when I was young. This path and scenery," he continued, pointing to the map he had drawn.

It seemed to have something to do with the Wandering King's past. He even touched his own eyes as if remembering a painful time.

"From what you said about the Upper Realm and the scenery you passed from above, I feel like the Upper Realm is not normal."

"Heaven has seven layers of realms. From the second to the seventh layers are there is a place for people who have died and have become figures considered gods by humans."

"So, everyone in the Upper Realm is dead."

"Yes, that's right. They have great potential to reach the peak of human strength—to become gods with immortal bodies."

Mahendra frowned again, as if he couldn't believe his enemies were immortal.

"But of course, only you and the Creator God can kill them," the Wandering King said with a smile.

Suddenly, the wind blew very hard, and the once-calm sea waves suddenly shook their large ship. In a flash, a mysterious figure appeared, floating above.

A man with a white right wing and a black left wing. His clothing was all-white and feathery, typical of the Northern Region. He didn't look like a bad person, but his expression was angry.

"It's you," he said in a firm and emphatic voice. 
He extended his hand and made Mahendra float into the air. 

Then he pointed his hand toward the sea, and Mahendra followed the man's hand motion. Everyone on the ship was in a panic because of someone who had suddenly thrown Mahendra far into the sea.