After receiving their classes, the group decided to rest for the evening and found an inn.

Mary Rose lay in Johnny's arms happily. She was so happy these days, she couldn't even describe it. After they got married, Mary Rose was able to feel it, that she would be with him forever. She didn't have to worry for the rest of her life. She truly felt like a princess, like she was floating on clouds.

“Johnny?” Mary Rose says.

“Hmm? What's up?” He asks.

“Hmm. Nothing.” Mary Rose says, smiling. Elation wouldn't stop flowing from her heart. Mary Rose truly felt like she could die now and have no regrets.

“Hmm.” Johnny says, continuing to rest his eyes.

Mary Rose was still unable to sleep, so she decided to continue talking. “Johnny?” She says.

“Yes?” He says.

“What level do you think the gods of this world are?” She says, hoping to pass the time.

“Hmm. I don’t know. I should have a better understanding after we level up. Depending on how strong level 300 is, I should be able to gauge their strength.” He says.

“Hmm.” Mary Rose says before another question appears in her mind. “Johnny?” She says.

“Hmm?” Johnny says.

“What’s after the Sky Piercing stage?” She asks.

“Hmm… The Nirvana stage…” He says.

“What’s the difference between the Sky Piercing stage and the Nirvana stage?” She asks.

“The Sky Piercing stage is when you realize you have no limits, and the Nirvana stage is when you realize you’re invincible and nothing can harm you.” He says.

“Hmm.” Mary Rose says, wondering if she would ever make it to that stage.

“What about after the Nirvana stage? Is there something greater?” She asks.

“Hmm.” Johnny says, opening his eyes. “That’s called the Ancient stage.” He says.

“Ancient stage? What’s that?” Mary Rose asks, curious.

Johnny lets out a sigh. If he was being honest, he was the one who called it the Ancient stage, because he didn’t know what else to call it. He’s the only person he knew of who had reached that stage. At that stage you would have experienced the vicissitudes of time, the relentless flow of the universe, the endless flow of karma and entropy. You began to see the universe at a higher level, and you began to see how the heavens according to their order; you began to realize what was trash and what was true treasure. Heaven hid in the unlikeliest of places, and it was only those who were truly deserving of it that were able to experience it. Heaven was not any place for trash, it was for those of pure spirit, it was for those who earned it.

But although you could see these things at that stage, you couldn’t necessarily reach for them. At this stage, you also begin to understand the rules, why certain things were so universal, and why sins that were so simple for mortals, were impossible to achieve as an Ancient. It was at this stage, that Johnny lost his purpose. But the heavens offered him grace, they allowed him to meet with Mary Rose once more.

After reaching that stage, Johnny didn’t know what else to call it. It wasn’t that he reached this stage through any greatness of his own, it was just the inevitable result of countless experiences. He simply called it what it was, he had become old. He was so old and so jaded that he called it the Ancient stage.

“The ancient stage… It’s the same as growing old, the same as your hair greying, and your limbs weakening. Although you’re older and wiser, you become more limited in the things you’re able to do.” Johnny says.

Mary Rose’s eyes widen. “How is that greater than the Nirvana stage!?” She exclaims.

Johnny lets out a chuckle. “I know, right? Sometimes its better to be young.” He says, helpless in the matter.

Mary Rose raises an eyebrow. “You sound like an old man. You’re still young, Johnny. We have our whole future ahead of us.” She says.

Johnny lets out a smile and kisses Mary Rose on the cheek. “Yes. Yes, we do.” He says with relief. The heavens always provided a way forward, no matter how hellish the situation or how badly you messed up. Johnny knew this from experience. But even if he understood the concept, he didn’t quite know how he would make it forward. All he knew was that Mary Rose was someone to hold onto. For a man caught in a storm with no land in sight, Mary Rose could save his life.