Chapter 778: The Golden Palace

[Some Mysterious Moments Earlier]

"W-where am I?"

Kuzon Midas was beyond confused. However, because he had no other words to express himself, he asked this question out of complete ignorance.

The area surrounding him was literally covered in gold—golden floors, golden walls, golden ceilings, etc. Everything took on the luxurious color of gold.

The stairs that led to higher ground stood in front of him, but he currently stood in a place that resembled a ballroom. It was very big, and the golden chandelier that hung above him illuminated everything in its luxurious splendor.

He could not describe the shimmering beauty and grandeur of this place, even if he tried.

"Amazing..." Was all he could whisper—and this came from the boy who had seen the beauty and glory of his own Midas Empire.

Compared to the designs and beauty, this place seemed to have the upper hand. It was just so pristine and otherworldly, and yet something about it felt warm and welcoming.

Despite all of this, though, confusion remained foremost.

'The last thing I remember is dying with Kido. What's going on?' Kuzon thought to himself as he looked around him.

He had most certainly died back then. Was this life after death? If so, was Kido with him?

Kuzon looked around him to be certain, but he found no one. He also activated his senses, but those didn't seem to work here, either. Still, there was no place to hide here.

In this vast expanse, he seemed to be all alone.

'Our Lore states that when a Midas dies, they're taken to the Root. That they're welcomed by their people. But I see no one here. Is this the Root?'

Kuzon had a lot of questions—one of them was how he had gotten his body back.

It was a glowing form, but it was still a body nonetheless. Was this simply the manifestation of his Soul? He could stand around all day contemplating these issues, but he felt a rather urgent drive within him.

And as such, he proceeded to the stairs.

Upon leaving the massive hall through the wide golden gate that stood before him, he found himself in a hallway—one so exquisitely beautiful that he was nearly gawking.

Still, Kuzon did not lessen his steps.

He had already faced the reality of his death and the structures he was seeing here, as well as the unrealistic nature of his own body, proved that he wasn't in the normal plane.

'I'm definitely dead. I killed Kido, and I completed my mission.'

The thought alone gave him a good deal of satisfaction, but also a tinge of pain. After all, he'd had to leave some people behind.

'In any case, let's find out more about this place, shall we?'

In this place, which resembled an elaborate castle, Kuzon could sense nothing. He couldn't use Magic as well, so he was powerless.

Despite all that, though, this warm feeling of familiarity and safety enveloped him as he traversed the hallway—and even when he had been in the ballroom—so he felt no unease.

Finally, after walking past the hallway, Kuzon finally arrived at an even bigger door. It had markings on the surface—a mural carved in gold.

The mural depicted the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes, with two cards floating on both wings. Within the phoenix were three items—a ring on the right wing, a bracelet on the left wing, and at the center of the flaming bird, as though it was wearing it, was a necklace.

Kuzon recognized this image well. It represented the Midas Kingdom—more particularly, the Royals.

'The three items are my three treasures. The two cards are the Arcanas. The phoenix is the Midas... or at least, it represents him.'

Kuzon could tell that this place was linked to the Midas Empire. Even though he no longer had any of his treasures or even his Arcana with him, he could still resonate with the image.

Whatever reason there was to be in a new world that was clearly of the Midas Empire, even after death, he had a hunch he would find it on the other side of the door.

'Let's see, shall we?'

As Kuzon drew closer, the doors opened, and he found himself in a throneroom.

This throneroom was even grander than the other things he had already seen.

It was grand in splendour and massive beyond belief. A carpet spread itself before him, leading to the throne that seemed to be so far away. The chandeliers that hung on the ceiling spoke of class, and many murals were immaculately inscribed on the golden wall.

Yes, this place was the perfect form of the Midas palace.

However, rather than two thrones—one for the king, and one for the queen—there was only one. And it seemed much bigger than the ones his parents had used.

'Is this... for me?' Kuzon murmured as he stepped forward.

He still didn't fully understand what was going on, but he was beginning to have an inkling.

Drawing closer to the throne with steady steps, not missing a beat, Kuzon kept his eyes on the elevated platform where the golden throne stood.

And then, mere moments into his journey, he was already right in front of it.

No longer hesitating, Kuzon decided to take the throne for himself... and so he sat on it.

>SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!!!<

That very moment, the entire palace brimmed with such brilliance that Kuzon thought he was to go blind because of it.

He shut his eyes tight and clung to his seat, refusing to budge. For some reason, the throne seemed to call to him, and he did not want to part with it.

Finally, once the light subsided, Kuzon felt at ease. He felt warmth unlike ever before. And also... he didn't feel alone any longer.

"Open your eyes, Kuzon." He heard a voice—one that shook him beyond words.

He obeyed, and the moment he did, his eyes widened with both shock and joy.

Standing before him were the people he had lost.

All of them!