γπππππππ π: πππ ππππππ ππππ πππ πππππγ
β¦In the serene halls of the heavenly realm, where clouds drifted like lazy sheep and the air smelled eternally of lotus blossoms, Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, lounged on his golden throne. It had been ages since the Journey to the West endedβno more demons to smash, no heavenly armies to defy, just endless peace. Wukong scratched his furry head, his Ruyi Jingu Bang staff shrunk to toothpick size and used to pick his teeth after yet another boring banquet. "Peace? More like a prison sentence," he muttered, flipping somersaults out of sheer boredom. But deep inside, unknown to him, his powers had evolved infinitelyβstages, forms, strength beyond measureβall sealed away by Tang Sanzang's ancient vow to keep the monkey humble. If only he knew... but nah, that'd spoil the fun.β§
γπππππ ππ ππππ π ππππππππ πππππ πππππγ
γπππ ππππππγ β¦ Hey, Master! Buddha! You two got a minute? I'm dying hereβno, literally, from boredom! No fights, no chaos, just tea parties and enlightenment lectures. Can I bounce to another universe for some action? Pretty please? I'll bring back souvenirs!β¦
β¦Tang Sanzang, now a enlightened monk chilling in his eternal lotus pad, exchanged a glance with the Buddha, Ru Lai, who sat cross-legged on a massive flower, looking as zen as ever. The Buddha chuckled softly, his belly jiggling like jellyβwait, Buddhas have bellies? Anyway, Tang nodded, remembering how Wukong's wild side once saved their hides. "Fine, but no destroying universes, okay? And come back in one piece."β§
γππππ πππππππγ β¦ Wukong, you've grown wise, but your spirit is untamed. Permission grantedβjust don't cause too much trouble.β¦
γππ πππγ β¦ Go forth, Monkey King. May your journey bring balance... or at least some good stories.β¦
γππππππππππ ππππππππ ππππ π πππ ππ πππππππ πππππγ
β¦With a whoop that echoed through the heavens, Wukong somersaulted into the void, his cloud zooming faster than a caffeinated comet. "First stop: Astheriaya! Heard it's got warriors tougher than my staffβha, as if!" The universe shimmered into view, a swirling cosmos of floating islands, glowing crystals, and beings that looked like they bench-pressed planets for fun. Wukong landed on a massive arena island, where a tournament was raging. Crowds cheered as two hulking fighters clashedβ one a fiery dragon-man, the other a shadowy assassin. But Wukong? He yawned. "Amateurs." Then, spotting him, the crowd went wild. "Intruder! Challenge the king!" A massive warrior, King Zorath, stepped forward, muscles rippling like overcooked noodlesβwait, no, like steel cables. "Who dares enter Astheriaya's Grand Colosseum?"β§
γππππ ππππππγ β¦ Monkey? You look like a joke. Leave before I squash you!β¦
γπππ ππππππγ β¦ Joke? Buddy, I'm the punchline that knocks you out! Let's dance!β¦
β¦The fight erupted seriouslyβno jokes here. Wukong dodged Zorath's earth-shattering punches, each blow cracking the arena floor like thunder. His staff extended, clashing with Zorath's energy blade in sparks that lit the sky. Wukong flipped, twisted, his movements a blur of precision and power. But waitβsomething stirred inside him, a hint of that infinite strength peeking through, though he dismissed it as "just a good warm-up." Zorath charged with a roar, unleashing a vortex of dark energy.β§
π πππππ: ππππππ ππ πππππππ ππππππππ!
β¦Wukong countered with a serious strike, his staff glowing faintly with untapped infinity, sending shockwaves that hushed the crowd. The chapter ends on a cliffhangerβwould Wukong's hidden power awaken, or would he keep clowning around?β§