Breeze filled Raiden's lungs as their ship neared the shore of an island - Hanuman Island. After 6 days of traveling they reached an island. From a distance, the island looked peaceful—lush forests, towering cliffs, and a small village by the coastline. But something felt off.
"This place is too quiet," Astrid muttered, leaning against the ship's railing.
Ash crossed his arms. "Could just be a small village. Not every island we visit has to be a battlefield."
Raiden said nothing, watching the villagers move about the docks. They weren't bustling with life like most towns. Instead, they worked in silence, heads down, moving with caution.
As the ship docked, a few villagers hesitantly approached, eyes looking between the crew members. An elderly man stepped forward. His wrinkled face held a worried expression.
"You're travelers?" he asked.
Raiden nodded. "We don't mean any trouble. Just looking to restock and maybe hear a few stories."
At the mention of stories, the elder flinched. He hesitated before glancing around, then lowered his voice. "Stories can be dangerous here."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Before the elder could answer, a loud crash erupted from the marketplace. A group of armored soldiers shoved over a fruit stand, sending apples rolling across the dirt. A vendor scrambled to pick them up, but a soldier kicked him back, laughing.
The villagers didn't react. They simply turned their heads, pretending not to see.
Astrid clenched her fists. "Who are they?"
The elder sighed. "General Gao's men. They take what they want."
Raiden's expression darkened. "And no one fights back?"
"There was someone," the elder whispered. "A warrior who challenged Gao's rule. The Monkey King."
Ash scoffed. "Monkey King? Sounds like some old legend."
The elder shook his head. "He's real. A trickster, a fighter… but even he cannot defeat Gao's army alone. We call him the monkey king "
Before Raiden could ask more, a blur shot past them—a shadowy figure leaping across rooftops, moving faster than the eye could follow. Soldiers shouted, scrambling to chase him.
A sack of stolen food swung over the figure's shoulder. A wild, mischievous laugh echoed through the village.
Raiden's crew watched as the soldiers gave chase, but deep down, Raiden already knew.
The Monkey guy was real.
And they were about to meet him.