Wu-Ji sat in a dimly lit chamber, his golden eyes fixed on the streams of data flowing across the holographic screen. The Rat's time rift, the disappearance of Gok Sun Ji, and the cryptic actions of the Zodiacs—everything pointed to a secret buried deeper than he had imagined.
The screen displayed a recording of the moment Rat used the time rift to banish Gok. Wu-Ji watched it again and again, trying to decipher the technique.
"So, the Rat trapped him in the void," Wu-Ji muttered. "And the rest of the Zodiacs approved of this? Why? Gok is the only one with the strength to stand against the coming war."
He clenched his fists. The Zodiacs are hiding something. If they won't help, then I'll do it myself.
---
Betrayal in the Hall of Zodiacs
Wu-Ji entered the Hall of Zodiacs, the sacred meeting place of the thirteen. The other Zodiacs were gathered, their symbols glowing faintly in the dim light. At the center sat Rat, smug and confident as ever, his golden eyes surveying the room.
"Why did you trap Gok Sun Ji in the void?" Wu-Ji demanded, his voice cutting through the silence.
Rat smirked. "Because he's too dangerous. Even you, Ophiuchus, cannot comprehend the scale of his power. He could destroy everything, including Earth itself."
Wu-Ji's eyes narrowed. "And what about the war you've been preparing for? You claim to be defending Earth, but you've cast aside our greatest weapon. That's not strategy; that's fear."
The Zodiacs murmured among themselves, their unity wavering.
Bull, the 5th Zodiac, stood abruptly, his massive frame towering over the others. "Enough of this insolence!" he roared, his deep voice reverberating through the hall. "If Ophiuchus wants to side with the enemy, then he's no Zodiac. He's a traitor."
Rat smiled faintly. "If you wish to rescue Gok, Ophiuchus, you'll have to get through us. Starting with him."
---
The Battle with Bull
The hall transformed into a vast arena, the symbols of the Zodiacs glowing brighter as the challenge was accepted. Bull stepped forward, his muscular form radiating raw power. His weapon, a massive iron hammer etched with runes, gleamed ominously.
"I'll crush you, little serpent," Bull snarled.
Wu-Ji took a deep breath, focusing his energy. He was no ordinary fighter—his Zodiac power allowed him to manipulate dual forces of serpent agility and cosmic disruption, making him unpredictable in battle.
Bull charged, swinging his hammer with earth-shattering force. Wu-Ji dodged, his movements fluid and serpentine, striking Bull's exposed side with a burst of energy.
"You're strong, Bull," Wu-Ji said, smirking. "But strength alone won't save you."
The battle raged on, each clash shaking the arena. Bull's overwhelming strength was countered by Wu-Ji's speed and precision.
As Bull prepared a devastating final blow, Wu-Ji revealed his trump card: a fragment of the Infinite Blade, glowing with golden energy.
"Let's see how your brute force handles this," Wu-Ji said, channeling the blade's power.
With a single slash, Wu-Ji unleashed a wave of energy that shattered Bull's hammer and sent him crashing to the ground.
---
A New Mission
As Bull lay defeated, the other Zodiacs watched in stunned silence. Wu-Ji turned to face them, his golden eyes blazing with determination.
"I'm going to the void to rescue Gok," he declared. "And if any of you stand in my way, you'll end up like him."
Rat's smirk faded, replaced by a look of intrigue. "Bold words, Ophiuchus. But the void is not a place you can simply walk into. It's a realm of chaos, beyond even your comprehension."
Wu-Ji sheathed the fragment of the Infinite Blade. "Then I'll make it comprehensible. Gok trusted the Infinite Blade, and now I will too."
---
The Path to the Void
With Bull defeated and the Zodiacs divided, Wu-Ji set off to locate the portal to the void. His journey would take him through dangerous lands, where enemies and allies alike awaited.
Unbeknownst to him, the void was already stirring. And in its depths, Gok Sun Ji, the once-great MAD, was preparing for his return.
The chapter ends with Wu-Ji standing at the edge of a massive rift in reality, the fragment of the Infinite Blade glowing in his hand.
"I'm coming, ," he whispered. "Wait for me."