"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955).
Talus's eyes widened in shock as the mask shattered, revealing Daniel's face. Silence fell for the briefest moment as realization set in. Then, the air around Talus ignited with violent energy, his violet flames surging like an inferno. His claws flexed, his breathing ragged with fury. "You," Talus snarled, his voice a guttural growl. His entire form trembled with barely contained rage. "You were among us this whole time... and now you're trying to kill Hermes and everyone I swore to protect?" Daniel didn't flinch. Instead, he straightened, his expression calm—eerily so. "You never did see the bigger picture, Talus. All of you are clinging to a doomed existence. The Prophet must die, she'll kill you and everyone else if she isn't stopped. The future demands it." Talus erupted forward without another word, his rage given form in a massive explosion of dark fire. He struck at Daniel with devastating force, claws tearing through the air. Daniel barely had time to block, raising a shimmering barrier of golden energy. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, shaking the very ground beneath them. Nearby, Hermes turned, her eyes widening at the sight. "Daniel…? No…" But she had no time to process as Qora pressed her advantage, forcing Hermes and Mark back once more. Daniel gritted his teeth as he braced against Talus's relentless assault. Sparks and embers flew as his barrier cracked under the weight of the onslaught. Talus wasn't fighting with technique anymore—he was pure, unfiltered rage, a maelstrom of destruction. "You betrayed us!" Talus roared, his claws finally shattering the golden shield. Daniel barely dodged as Talus's next strike raked across his shoulder, drawing a deep gash. "We trusted you!"
Daniel staggered but remained resolute. "Trust is a weakness." Talus's fury boiled over. His form blurred as he vanished and reappeared behind Daniel in an instant, slamming him into the ruins with bone-crushing force. The ground cracked beneath the impact, dust and debris filling the air. From above, the rift pulsed violently, its tendrils of darkness expanding further, warping the battlefield. Elias and Arinsu, watching from their warship, felt the shift in energy. Arinsu's gaze darkened. "This battle is spinning out of control." Demi, still recovering from her clash with Kalkia, turned her focus to Talus and Daniel's fight. She could see the sheer instability in Talus's energy—his flames were growing wilder, more uncontrollable. "We have to stop him," she said, moving toward them. But before she could act, Daniel counterattacked. A wave of golden energy surged from his palm, sending Talus flying backward. Talus twisted mid-air, landing on his feet, but his breaths came in ragged gasps. Daniel wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes cold. "This world is already lost. You're fighting a pointless battle." Talus spat to the side. "Then I'll go down swinging." With a furious roar, Talus charged again, his violet fire flaring brighter than ever. The battlefield trembled as the two warriors clashed once more, their fight sending shockwaves through the very fabric of reality.
In this chaos, Kalkia lunged forward to kill first Mark and then the Prophet Hermes but instead when she shot several lasers out of her eyes it struck Phyron in the gut. Phyron fell to the ground coughing up blood. This confused Kalkia so she briefly stopped. "What on earth is this silliness?" Mark ran over to Phyron. "What the hell did you do that for?" Phyron coughed up blood: "Damnit, how the fuck did this happen. All of your softness and friendship has rubbed off on me. I used to be the greatest super villain the world had ever seen and now look at me laying down my life for a pathetic kid." Phyron continued: "The truth is we haven't talked much but you remind me of myself growing up we have a similar background. And if you could turn out okay maybe I wondered if there was no excuse for my actions." Phyron continued to cough up blood. "STOP TALKING! You're wasting energy!!"
Mark pressed his hands against Phyron's wound, his heart pounding. Blood seeped between his fingers, warm and unforgiving. "Damn it, Phyron, hold on," he gritted out, panic creeping into his voice. "We'll get a healer, we'll—" Phyron chuckled weakly, his lips stained red. "Nah, kid. Don't waste your breath. We both know this is it for me." His fingers grasped weakly at Mark's sleeve, his eyes flickering with something between regret and peace. "Just… don't waste the second chance you've got." Mark clenched his teeth, shaking his head, but before he could respond, the battlefield erupted in chaos once more. Kalkia's momentary distraction ended as a vicious snarl escaped her lips. "Enough of this nonsense," she spat. The dark tendrils coiling around her flared with unnatural energy, twisting through the air like hungry vipers. "I find sentimentality to be so tedious." She moved faster than thought, her claws slicing through the space between them, aiming straight for Mark's exposed back.
But the strike simply turned into an explosion Mark was consumed by fire and anger he had unlocked his inner-strength. This surge of power startled Hermes: "Is this kid really that powerful? Is this truly the power of me the Prophet's right-hand man?" Mark's scream tore through the battlefield, a sound raw with grief and fury. The flames engulfing him roared like a living entity, crackling with newfound intensity. The air vibrated with energy as his silhouette became barely visible through the inferno. When he stepped forward, the fire parted, revealing his transformed form. His once-tattered clothes had been replaced with armor forged from the very flames that now surrounded him. His eyes glowed with a searing golden light, his body pulsating with unchecked power. Every breath he took sent waves of heat radiating outward, scorching the ground beneath him. The warriors around him instinctively took a step back, sensing something primal and overwhelming awakening within him. Kalkia tilted her head, her pink eyes narrowing in mild curiosity. "Well, well, well... I must admit, I didn't see that coming. What exactly are you, little boy?" Mark didn't respond. Instead, he raised his hand, and the flames twisted, forming a massive spear of condensed fire. His grip tightened, the heat intensifying until even the air shimmers around him. "You talk too much," he growled, his voice layered with something ancient, something beyond himself.
Without warning, he lunged. The battlefield erupted as Mark clashed with Kalkia, the impact sending shockwaves in all directions. She barely managed to dodge his first strike, but the sheer force of it shattered the ground where she had stood. For the first time in the battle, she was on the defensive. Mark was relentless. His movements were no longer those of an inexperienced warrior but of a force of nature. He struck with precision and fury, his flames licking at Kalkia's form, forcing her to evade rather than counter. The smug amusement in her expression was gone, replaced by something dangerously close to irritation. Arthur, still gripping Excalibur, watched in awe. "That power... it's beyond anything I've ever seen." Hermes clenched her fists. "It's more than power. It will." Talus, still recovering from his battle with Daniel, wiped blood from his mouth, his violet flames still smoldering. "Mark's changed," he murmured. "This isn't just rage. This is something else." Daniel, watching from a distance, furrowed his brow. His golden energy flickered as he assessed the battlefield. "No… this isn't right. That power… it feels like…" His eyes widened in realization. "The God of Darkness."
At those words, the sky seemed to darken even further. The shadows around Mark deepened, writhing unnaturally as if responding to his emotions. Kalkia noticed it too, her smirk slowly returning. "Oh, now that is interesting," she purred. "I was wondering when you'd wake up." Mark gritted his teeth, ignoring her words as he pressed his assault. He swung his fiery spear in a wide arc, sending a wall of flames hurtling toward her. She countered with a pulse of dark energy, but for the first time, her attack faltered against his. The fire consumed her darkness, pushing her back. She landed on a broken pillar, surveying him with renewed intrigue. "I see now. You're not just some brat with a grudge. You're the vessel, aren't you? The one chosen by the void." Mark hesitated, confusion flickering in his eyes, but the fire within him refused to wane. The shadows around him twisted more violently, the battlefield reacting to his very presence. Demi's expression darkened. "We have to stop this now. If Mark loses control—" Before she could finish, Kalkia burst forward, this time with genuine intent to kill. She was done playing. Her claws elongated, her movements sharper, faster. But Mark didn't retreat. He met her head-on, his spear colliding with her attack, and in that instant, the battlefield shattered. A deafening explosion of light and darkness erupted, swallowing everything in its wake. The warriors were thrown backward, their cries lost in the chaos. And at the center of it all, Mark and Kalkia stood, locked in battle, the power of the God of Darkness awakening within him at last.
On the ground Narcis Matreya had just finished healing Phyron. Phyron held his head, "How is this possible? I should be dead." Narcis looked up: "If another minute had gone by you would have died, you're lucky I got here in time." Zed approached Daniel, "It's time, we can't win now we'll have to regroup and try again." Daniel nodded. Zed used the same spell he used on Lupus before to paralyze Talus and then Daniel went inside the portal followed by Qora. Ungar was looking directly up at Zed as his cape fluttered in the breeze. "It's been fun old friend, hopefully some day you'll understand." The man took off his mask it was the Wind God and Daniel's father who was supposed to have been killed 1,000 years ago, Ebisu. Ungar was in shock, "Master?! How are you alive?!" Ebisu entered the portal knowing that Kalkia could leave on her own so he waited for her to get tired and then she would return.
Meanwhile Kalkia was wrapping up her fight with Mark, "Well I think we've played around enough today, it's about time we wrapped this up wouldn't you say cutie?" Mark's grip tightened around his spear, his fiery aura pulsating with renewed intensity. He knew Kalkia was toying with him, but the power surging through his veins demanded he strike her down. The flames crackled louder, responding to his rage. "I'm done with your games." Kalkia tilted her head, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Oh? And what exactly do you plan to do about it?" She flicked her wrist, and the shadows around her coiled like living serpents. "You might have tapped into something special, but raw power alone won't save you." Mark lunged, his fiery spear aiming straight for her heart. Kalkia sidestepped with ease, but this time, the flames twisted mid-air, adjusting their trajectory. Her smirk vanished as she narrowly avoided the inferno, flipping backward onto a crumbling pillar. Mark didn't give her time to recover. With a roar, he thrust his hands forward, sending a massive wave of fire hurtling toward her.
Kalkia clicked her tongue. "Persistent, aren't we?" She slammed her palm against the pillar, channeling dark energy into the stone. A surge of shadows exploded outward, meeting Mark's flames head-on. The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, the ground beneath them cracking from the force.
Demi and Elias watched from the warship, concern etched on their faces. Demi clenched her fists. "We need to do something before he loses control. That power… it's changing him." Talus, still recovering from his paralysis, forced himself to his feet. His violet flames flickered weakly. "No. Not yet. He has to face this alone." Demi shot him a glare. "If we wait too long, we might not get him back." Arthur gripped Excalibur, his knuckles white. "Then we step in when there's no other choice." On the battlefield, Mark's breathing was ragged, but his power showed no signs of fading. If anything, it was growing. The shadows swirling around him had taken on a life of their own, distorting the air with a malevolent presence. Kalkia raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating. You don't even realize it, do you? The more you fight, the more you surrender to it. And when you do…" She licked her lips. "You'll be mine."
Mark's vision flickered. The battlefield warped before his eyes, and suddenly, he was somewhere else. A void. Endless darkness stretching in every direction. A presence loomed over him, suffocating, immense. You are not yet complete. Mark turned, searching for the source of the voice. "Who's there?!" A figure emerged from the shadows, its form shifting and indistinct. It had no face, no defining features, only a pair of piercing, golden eyes that mirrored Mark's own. You are the vessel. But you are not yet whole. Surrender, and I will make you complete. Mark staggered back. "No. I'm in control. This is my power." The entity chuckled, a sound that sent chills down his spine. For now. The void shattered, and Mark was back on the battlefield. But something was different. The fire surrounding him no longer burned with the same warmth—it felt colder, sharper, tinged with darkness. His fingers trembled, and for the first time, doubt crept into his mind. Kalkia noticed immediately. She grinned. "Ah, so you finally heard it. The voice calling to you from the abyss. Do you understand now? You were never meant to be a hero, little boy. You were meant to be his." Mark's heartbeat thundered in his chest. He couldn't deny it. The power within him was no longer just his own. Demi saw the hesitation in his stance. "That's it. We're stopping this. Now!" She leaped from the warship, landing between Mark and Kalkia, her energy flaring with radiant light. "Mark, listen to me! Whatever's happening to you, you don't have to face it alone!"
Kalkia sighed, rolling her eyes. "How predictable. A friend trying to pull him back from the brink." She flexed her claws. "Fine. If you want to get in my way, I'll just have to kill you first." A voice was heard in Kalkia's own mind. "Kalkia, enough return to the realm of the Gods immediately. King Apollo wants to speak with you as soon as possible." Kalkia was disappointed: "Aww really… Well okay an order's an order, I'll be right there." Kalkia opened a portal: "Sorry guys, the boss wants me and that means I have to split, Ciao!" She opened a portal and disappeared. What was left behind was a city that was largely in ruin. Mark lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. There was a lot to unpack including the fact that Ungar had seen Ebisu. Mark's body hit the ground with a dull thud, steam still rising from his scorched armor. His unconscious form radiated with residual heat, the embers of his power flickering weakly in the air around him. Demi rushed to his side, her hands glowing with healing light as she pressed them against his chest. "Stay with us, Mark," she murmured, desperation edging her voice. Talus staggered forward, his violet flames dimming. "He's alive," he rasped, relief flickering across his exhausted face. "But barely. That power nearly consumed him."
Elias and Arinsu leapt down from the warship, their expressions grim as they surveyed the wreckage of the battlefield. Smoke curled from the ruined city, the remnants of a once-thriving civilization reduced to rubble. Elias let out a weary sigh. "We've won this battle, but truly at what cost?" Ungar, however, wasn't listening. His gaze was fixed on the spot where the portal had closed, his hands clenched into fists. "Ebisu..." The name felt foreign on his tongue, like uttering the words of a ghost. His old master—his god—was alive. He turned to Elisa, eyes burning with betrayal. "You knew, didn't you? You knew he was alive this whole time." Elisa remained impassive. "I had my suspicions. But now we have confirmation." "And you didn't tell me?!" Ungar's metallic voice cracked with emotion. "He was my master! My god! We all thought he had died a thousand years ago! He was brainwashed and we had to destroy him. Do you have any idea what this means?!" Elisa sighed, his expression unreadable. "I do. But right now, we have more pressing matters. Daniel, Ebisu, and the others have escaped. The war isn't over." Ungar shook his head, fury boiling just beneath the surface. "No, you don't understand. If Ebisu is alive, then everything we thought we knew about the gods is a lie. And what Daniel is, he experienced Soul-destruction long ago. How could he still be alive? It doesn't make any sense." A tense silence fell over the group, the weight of the revelation settling upon them like an iron shroud. Suddenly, Mark let out a sharp gasp, his body jerking as he returned to consciousness. His golden eyes flickered open, hazy with exhaustion. Demi exhaled in relief. "Mark! Can you hear me?" Hermes put her hand on his shoulder: "We just met but I was still worried we lost you, are you okay?" Mark nodded.
He blinked slowly, his vision swimming as he tried to focus. "The voice..." he muttered, his tone distant. "It spoke to me. The God of of the Abyss... it wants me to surrender." Talus's eyes darkened. "Did you answer it?" Mark swallowed hard, his hands trembling. "I... I don't know." Elias stepped forward, his voice firm. "Then we need to make sure you never do." Mark turned his gaze to the destruction around him, guilt twisting in his chest. The city lay in ruins, the fires of his battle with Kalkia still smoldering. He clenched his fists. "I almost lost myself. If Demi hadn't stopped me, I don't know what would've happened." Hermes, silent until now, finally spoke. "You're not alone, Mark. You never were. But we can't ignore the truth—whatever's inside you, it's waking up. And if we don't figure out how to control it. I have a similar threat looming over my head. There's a powerful force inside of me and when I get heated in battle it sometimes comes out as well, as your leader I understand where you'r-..."
She didn't finish the sentence, but everyone understood the implication. If Mark couldn't control his power, he would be consumed by it. Or worse, he would become something else entirely. Ungar exhaled, regaining some composure. "Then we need answers. We need to find out the truth about Ebisu, about the gods, and about the power inside Mark and Hermes. And we need to do it before Daniel and his forces strike again." Elias nodded. "Then we move. There's no time to waste." Ungar put his hand up: "They're not coming back anytime soon, more importantly 15% of the city has been destroyed and the imperial administrators have their work cut out for them." Ungar walked over to Lupus who was just not crawling to his feet. "I'm fine, I can take care of myself." Ungar shook his head: "No you need to train harder, you will go with Talus. They're somewhere you need to go." Ungar turned around "Mark and Hermes half to come back to the Compound, Principle Elias I apologize but we must take them back. I must unleash their inner power." Elias nodded: "When they return I will admit them to the next floor of the tower they have both proven they are worthy." Nifty slapped her head with one of her tentacles, "Great, training…"
Prince Lupus & Talus trains with Sun Wukong and King Gilgamesh:
2 months later –
Meanwhile, on Flower and Fruit mountain a crowd of monkeys gathered around three figures on one side was Prince Lupus and Talus and fighting them by himself was Sun Wukong. In the audience the legendary King Gilgamesh stood and watched. A vast open training ground stretches out beneath the sky, surrounded by towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls. A horde of monkeys chatter excitedly, hanging from branches and perched on rocks, eager to witness the battle before them. Sun Wukong said (grinning, twirling his staff): "Come on, princes! You think you're gonna get stronger just standing there looking pretty?" Talus said (gritting his teeth, flames flickering in his eyes) "You're talking a lot for someone who's outnumbered." Sun Wukong said (laughing) "Outnumbered? Oh, you sweet summer child, that just means I get to have more fun!" Without warning, Wukong slammed his staff into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the earth. Lupus and Talus barely leapt back in time as the ground cracks beneath them. Prince Lupus said (landing, drawing his futuristic-blade) "He's fast. We need to box him in." Talus (nodding, summoning violet flames) "You flank left, I'll hit him with—" Before they could even finish, Wukong vanished in a blur, appearing behind them. Sun Wukong said: (grinning) "Flanking? You should know better than to talk strategy out loud!" He swings his staff, and Lupus barely blocks with his blade while Talus counters with a burst of flame. Wukong backflips away, landing effortlessly on one foot. King Gilgamesh said (smirking, arms crossed) "Amusing. They're improving, but they're still thinking like mortals." A mischievous glint flashes in Wukong's eyes as he suddenly plucks a strand of his own fur and blows on it. Instantly, dozens of clones materialize, surrounding Lupus and Talus.
Prince Lupus said "You've got to be kidding me." Talus said: "Yeah, that's fair. We probably should've seen that coming." The clones all smirk in unison. Sun Wukong said: "Oh, you should've, but you didn't. Now, let's make this interesting!" The clones attack from all angles. Lupus slashes through one, only for it to dissolve into mist. Talus unleashes a wide blast of fire, incinerating multiple copies, but more keep coming. Prince Lupus said: (panting, deflecting blows) "There's no end to them!" Talus said (gritting his teeth) "Then we stop aiming for the copies. We found the real one!" Closing his eyes for a split second, Talus hones in on the energy signatures around him. His eyes snap open as he launches a blast of condensed fire directly above him. Sun Wukong said (startled, from above) "Oh-ho! Nice trick!" Wukong dodges mid-air, but Lupus is already moving. With a burst of speed, he leaps up, slashing at the Monkey King. Their weapons clash, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. King Gilgamesh said (nods approvingly) "Finally, they adapt. Let's see if they can keep up." The battle intensified. Wukong was still grinning, but there's a glint of respect in his eyes. Talus and Lupus coordinate, their attacks sharper, their movements more fluid. The fight rages on as the gathered monkeys cheer, their king testing the limits of his new students. Above them, King Gilgamesh watches in silence, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. Wukong would finally end the fight putting Lupus and Talus in their place.
Their weapons clashed in a brilliant explosion of sparks and force. The sheer impact of Lupus's blade against Wukong's staff sent a shockwave rippling through the air, rustling the treetops and sending the watching monkeys chattering in excitement. Wukong grinned mid-air, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief. "Not bad, princeling," he mused, twisting his staff to redirect the force of Lupus's attack. "But still not good enough!" With an effortless flick of his wrist, Wukong sent Lupus hurtling downward. Talus was already moving, his violet flames roaring to life as he intercepted Lupus's descent, softening the impact with a controlled burst of energy. "Damn it!" Lupus hissed, steadying himself. "He's playing with us." "Of course he is! He's Sun Wukong," Talus snapped. "But we need to focus. We only win if we outthink him." Above them, Wukong flipped lazily in the air, spinning his staff with one hand. "What's the holdup, boys? Don't tell me you're tired already!" Lupus clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around his blade. "Time to change the strategy. We force him to the ground." Talus nodded, taking a deep breath before unleashing a roaring inferno directly upward. The flames erupted like a violent geyser, their heat warping the air around them. Wukong's eyes widened slightly before he somersaulted backward, narrowly evading the blaze. But Lupus was already moving, dashing through the fiery haze, his blade flashing like silver lightning.
"Oh? Clever!" Wukong chuckled, landing on the ground just in time to parry Lupus's rapid strikes. "Using the fire as cover—nice teamwork!" Lupus's strikes came fast and relentless, his futuristic blade clashing against Wukong's staff in rapid succession. Sparks flew with every collision, and for the first time, Wukong looked like he was actually exerting himself. But then, with a single calculated move, he twisted his staff, locking Lupus's sword in place. "But you're still too slow!" Before Lupus could react, Wukong swept his leg under him, knocking him off balance. He whirled his staff around and slammed it toward Lupus's chest—only for Talus's violet flames to intercept, forcing him back. Wukong landed gracefully, shaking his head with a playful smirk. "Not bad. But still—" A voice interrupted from the side. "Enough." The playful aura surrounding Wukong shifted as King Gilgamesh stepped forward. The golden king's presence was suffocating, his piercing eyes sweeping over the battlefield with disapproval. "They are not here for your amusement, Monkey King. They are here to grow. If you're only going to toy with them, this training is worthless." Wukong's grin faltered. He exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, alright. Guess I should stop holding back then." In the blink of an eye, Wukong vanished. Lupus's instincts screamed at him—he barely had time to raise his sword before Wukong appeared behind him, slamming his staff against his guard with such force that Lupus was sent skidding back. Talus barely turned before Wukong was on him next, driving an open palm into his gut, sending him crashing into the dirt.
"You want me to stop playing? Fine," Wukong said, twirling his staff before slamming it into the ground, sending shockwaves outward. "Then fight like warriors, not children." Lupus wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes narrowing. Talus pulled himself up, his flames burning hotter. "Now we're talking," Lupus muttered, stepping forward as the real battle began. Wukong declared: "That's enough, I think that's enough for today, Old Monkey has been through enough, we'll spar again tomorrow." Lupus was shaking with anger as he thought to himself, "It would be long you filthy primate as I stand before you as a god." Lupus looked up and saw something that looked like a meteor descending to the earth. "LOOK OUT!" scream Lupus. Lupus and Talus leapt backwards in one direction while Wukong lept in the other direction. It was Kakia who appeared as she did before as a little girl with pink hair and pink eyes and pigtails. She was filled with the same evil energy that emanated before from her cold black heart. "You again, what do you want? You already bested me. The so-called Prophet is not here." Kakia laughed: "I know that's silly, and I could care less that you two are here (meaning Talus and Lupus) . I heard this monkey king guy was super duper pooper strong. So I just wanted to fight him, you're both welcome to watch as are you," as she pointed to King Gilgamesh. Wukong twirled his staff around intrigued: "You came here on your own accord, no one ordered you to fight Old Monkey." Kakia responded: "Heavens, no I haven't received orders from King Apollo in at least 2 days. I came here just to have some clean fun and let loose. Would you be a gentleman and fight me, little monkey?"
Wukong narrowed his golden eyes, tapping his staff against his shoulder as he observed Kakia. Despite her childish appearance, the air around her crackled with malice. He could sense it—her strength was real, and her intentions were anything but playful. "Alright, little miss," Wukong said, rolling his shoulders. "You want a fight? I'll humor you." Kakia clapped her hands together, her pink eyes shimmering with delight. "Oh, goody! But don't hold back, okay? I want to see if you're as strong as they say." Lupus and Talus exchanged glances. They had seen what Kakia could do before, and the thought of her facing Wukong sent a shiver down their spines. Even Gilgamesh remained silent, observing the situation with a stoic expression. With a flick of his wrist, Wukong spun his staff before slamming it into the ground. The earth trembled at the force, sending ripples through the air. "Well? Are you making the first move, or do I have to invite you in?" Kakia tilted her head. "Oh, you're fun." In the next instant, she vanished. Wukong's instincts screamed at him, and he barely had time to bring his staff up as Kakia reappeared inches from his face, her tiny fist rocketing toward him. The impact sent a deafening boom through the air as Wukong's staff absorbed the force. His feet dug into the dirt as he slid backward, the sheer force of her attack leaving cracks in the ground beneath him. "Hah!" Wukong laughed, his arms vibrating from the impact. "You're stronger than you look!"
Kakia didn't respond. She was already moving again, her speed absurd as she launched a barrage of strikes at him. Wukong twisted and flipped, his staff moving like a blur as he deflected each blow. But with each clash, the force behind her attacks increased. Lupus and Talus watched in awe. "She's keeping up with him," Talus muttered. "No," Lupus corrected, his eyes narrowing. "She's pressing him." Wukong smirked as he flipped back, putting some distance between them. "Alright, alright, you got some power behind those tiny fists. Let's see how you handle this." In an instant, he spun his staff, and suddenly there were a hundred of him. Each clone wielded an identical staff, their grins matching his own. "Let's play tag!" Kakia's eyes widened in surprise for only a moment before she grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be fun." She burst forward, her small frame twisting through the air as she collided with the first Wukong. It dissipated into mist, but another was already behind her, swinging down. She ducked, grabbed the staff mid-air, and used it as leverage to launch herself higher. Wukong— the real one—was waiting. With a wide grin, he slammed his staff down, an explosion of golden energy erupting upon impact. The force sent Kakia hurtling toward the ground, but she twisted mid-fall, landing gracefully on her feet. Her pink eyes gleamed. "Not bad." Then, the air around her darkened. The playful amusement on her face twisted into something more sinister. "But now, it's my turn." A black aura pulsed from her form, swallowing the light around her. The ground beneath her cracked, the very air growing heavy. Wukong's grin faltered slightly. Gilgamesh's eyes sharpened. "Enough." The single word cut through the battlefield like a blade. Even Kakia hesitated for a moment, her dark aura flickering. "You came here to play," Gilgamesh continued, his golden presence overpowering. "But if you truly wish to let loose, I will not allow this realm to suffer the consequences." Kakia pouted, her aura receding slightly. "Tch. You're such a killjoy." She turned back to Wukong. "You're fun, monkey. We'll finish this another time." With that, she vanished into the air, leaving only the lingering chill of her presence behind. Lupus exhaled, his hands still tight around his blade. "She's getting stronger." Talus nodded. "And she's not even serious yet." Wukong let out a breath, twirling his staff before resting it across his shoulders. "Well, that was interesting." Then he grinned. "I like her. She's got spunk."
Gilgamesh shot him a warning glance. "This is not a game, Wukong." Wukong smirked but didn't argue. Instead, he looked up at the sky where Kakia had disappeared, his golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Oh, I know," he murmured to himself. "And that's what makes it fun." The battlefield was still humming with residual energy as the dust settled. The gathered monkeys whispered amongst themselves, their excitement tempered by an undercurrent of unease. Even the most playful among them could sense that something darker loomed on the horizon. Prince Lupus sheathed his tech-blade, his heart still hammering in his chest. Kakia had grown stronger since their last encounter. The malice in her energy was deeper, more insidious. He clenched his fists. If she continued to evolve at this rate, even Wukong might struggle to hold her off next time. Of course Wukong was immortal; he could not be killed but that didn't necessarily mean he could stop her from killing others if she grew more powerful than him. Talus wiped sweat from his brow, his violet flames flickering out. "That could've gone worse." "It could've gone a lot worse," Lupus muttered. Gilgamesh turned to Wukong, his golden gaze piercing. "You entertained her. You let her test her limits. Why?" Wukong twirled his staff lazily, his smirk never fading. "Because, Golden King, you don't learn anything about an opponent unless you let them think they have the upper hand." His grin widened. "Now I know how she moves. How she thinks. Next time, she won't surprise me." Gilgamesh studied him for a long moment before exhaling through his nose. "Foolish, but not entirely without merit. Still, you toy with dangers beyond even your understanding, Monkey King." Wukong shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time." Lupus, still staring at the spot where Kakia had vanished, exhaled sharply. "She's not done with us. She didn't come here for a real fight. That was just a game to her."
Talus nodded grimly. "And if that was her playing... imagine when she actually wants to kill." A silence fell over the group, the weight of the realization settling over them like a storm cloud. Even the monkeys in the trees seemed subdued. Gilgamesh turned on his heel. "Enough for today. Return to your training. We will be prepared." Wukong stretched, cracking his neck. "Well, I'm beat. Suppose I'll take a nap before we all start doomsday prepping." Lupus shot him a glare, but Talus put a hand on his shoulder. "Let him be. Wukong will fight when the time comes." The prince exhaled through his nose but said nothing. He still didn't trust the monkey's carefree attitude. But for now, all he could do was train. Because the next time Kakia appeared, she wouldn't be looking for fun. She'd be looking for blood. Kakia was a creature of pure evil and malice, and she was not to be trifled with. Lupus and Talus both already knew this all too well, she was one entity they all had to keep an eye on going forward.
Meanwhile back on Helios, Xelious University was finally wrapping up the final semester which meant they would be shipped off in a few months to fight in campaigns for the empire, by this point Hermes had a license to pilot a Gundam and Mark was well on his way as he was a quick learner. Nelly had now joined them. They were preparing to fit in a training tournament, a small bout between four students: Hermes, Mark, Nelly and Khadija. They were up against four distinct fighters from another academy Zoozoo Academy - being Glorio, Cratako, Gator and Frim. The day before the tournament Nelly, Mark and Hermes along with Niffy (in Niffy's case floating) and Martreya Buddha Narcis were walking through the orange groves of the school until they were approached by the four bullies from Zoozoo Academy. The leader of the group, Glorio, was tall and broad-shouldered, his sharp golden eyes gleaming with arrogance. His long, slicked-back hair shimmered under the warm glow of the setting sun. Cratako, a lean but wiry fighter with jagged scars across his arms, stood beside him with a sneer. Gator, true to his name, had a mouth full of sharp teeth and an unnerving way of grinning too wide. Frim, the shortest of the four, was silent but exuded an eerie stillness that made him the most unpredictable. "Well, well, if it isn't the 'star pilots' of Xelious," Glorio drawled, crossing his arms. "Heard you lot think you stand a chance against us tomorrow." Hermes smirked, stepping forward without hesitation. "That's right. Got a problem with that?" Glorio's grin widened. "Oh, no problem at all. Just figured we'd get a little preview before the main event. You really are moving out of your league. It's not every day that the super elite like us play in the dirt with trash like you." He cracked his knuckles. "Wouldn't want you running away when you realize how outclassed you are. That we are the superior beings and you are nothing more than refuse." Mark rolled his eyes. "You talk too much." Cratako scoffed. "Big words for a rookie. Let's see if your fists back them up."
Before anyone could react, Gator lunged forward, his speed unnatural for someone his size. But Hermes was faster—she sidestepped just as Nelly whipped out her leg in a well-placed kick, slamming it into Gator's side. He stumbled but caught himself, his grin never fading. "Ooh, feisty," he chuckled, rubbing his ribs. "This one's got some bite." Khadija, standing at the back, narrowed her eyes but didn't engage. "You guys seriously wanna do this here?" she asked, gesturing to the orange trees around them. "We've got a whole arena tomorrow. You scared we'll humiliate you in front of a crowd?" Glorio's smile tightened. "Careful with that mouth, girl. Wouldn't want you regretting it later." Martreya Buddha Narcis, who had been silent until now, finally sighed, adjusting his robes. "You lot are boring. If you're going to fight, at least make it interesting. Otherwise, leave. For your arrogance wears away my patience like the sand on the ocean shore." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight to it. Even the Zoozoo Academy fighters hesitated. Frim, still wordless, finally turned and walked away, his presence fading into the distance like mist. The others hesitated, but then Glorio chuckled. "Fine. We'll wait for tomorrow." He glanced at Hermes one last time. "Try not to disappoint." With that, the four vanished into the grove, their laughter echoing in the wind. Nelly scoffed. "What a bunch of clowns." Hermes grinned. "They'll regret showing up." Mark cracked his knuckles. "Tomorrow's gonna be fun." Martreya Buddha Narcis just shook his head, his gaze distant. "We'll see." The tournament was less than a day away, but one thing was clear—this wasn't going to be just a friendly match. It was a test. And only the strong would walk away standing. After they left Mark quipped: "You know before I met you guys I would never have stood up for myself like that. I guess you guys are rubbing off on me."