The battlefield was chaotic, a whirlwind of destruction. Faces of the damned swirled in the air, their haunting screams slicing through Wu-Ji's focus like daggers. Hantengu loomed above them, his grotesque body pulsating with malicious energy.
Wu-Ji tightened his grip on the Infinity Dagger, his breathing steady despite the madness surrounding him. "It's time," he muttered, closing his eyes.
A surge of power coursed through his veins, the Zodiac Monkey's mark on his chest glowing with a fiery red. His body began to shift and change—muscles coiled tighter, his limbs elongated, and two spectral arms appeared behind his back, moving with unnatural grace. His eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence and a wild, untamed fury.
"Zodiac Form: Monkey!"
The ground beneath Wu-Ji cracked as he landed, the force sending a shockwave outward. Hantengu's laughter faltered for the briefest moment, his many faces twisting in confusion.
"You think a parlor trick like that will save you?" Hantengu sneered.
Wu-Ji spun the staff that materialized in his hands, the weapon radiating with celestial energy. "It's not about saving myself," he said, a smirk curling on his lips. "It's about sealing you once and for all."
---
The Staff's Wrath
Wu-Ji moved like a blur, his staff striking with impossible speed and precision. Each blow connected with Hantengu's body, shattering faces and dispersing the dark energy that clung to him.
"Enough!" Hantengu roared, extending his claws. He swung wildly, sending a wave of Faces hurtling toward Wu-Ji. The disembodied heads screeched as they closed in, their mouths opening wide to devour him.
Wu-Ji planted his staff into the ground, spinning it in a wide arc. "Celestial Seal: Monkey Cage!"
Golden energy erupted from the staff, forming a shimmering cage that trapped Hantengu in place. The faces clawed at the bars, shrieking, but they couldn't break through.
Hantengu thrashed inside, his grotesque form writhing. "You can't contain me forever!"
Wu-Ji smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "I don't need forever. Just long enough."
---
The Wave of Faces
But Hantengu wasn't done. He let out an ear-splitting roar, and a massive wave of Faces burst forth from his body, overwhelming the cage. Wu-Ji gritted his teeth, his form flickering as he struggled to maintain the seal.
The pressure was immense, the sheer number of Faces pushing him to his limit. Just as the cage began to crack, a voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
"Well, well. Looks like you could use some help."
Wu-Ji's head snapped toward the source. Standing on the edge of the battlefield, cloaked in shadows, was King D, the infamous Yakuza boss. He strolled forward, his twin daggers gleaming ominously.
"What took you so long?" Wu-Ji asked, his voice strained.
King D shrugged, a crooked grin on his face. "Had to make an entrance, didn't I?"
---
King D Joins the Fight
King D leapt into the fray, his movements smooth and calculated. His daggers danced through the air, cutting through the wave of Faces with ease. Each strike seemed to sever not just flesh but the very essence of Hantengu's power.
"Don't lose focus now, Monkey Boy," King D called over his shoulder, slashing another face in half.
Wu-Ji laughed, despite himself. "Don't call me that."
Together, they pushed forward, their attacks synchronized. The battlefield was a storm of light and darkness, the combined energy of Wu-Ji and King D finally turning the tide.
Hantengu let out a final, defiant scream as the cage reformed around him, the Faces retreating into the shadows.
King D wiped his blades on his coat, nodding to Wu-Ji. "Not bad, kid."
Wu-Ji smirked, his staff glowing faintly as he reinforced the seal. "Not bad yourself, old man."
---
The Aftermath
As the battlefield quieted, Wu-Ji turned to King D, his expression serious. "Why are you here? This isn't your fight."
King D's grin faded, his eyes narrowing. "I've been tracking something—or someone. And from what I've seen, Hantengu isn't the real threat here."
Wu-Ji's grip on his staff tightened. "Then who is?"
King D looked toward the horizon, his voice low. "The one pulling the strings. Venik."
The mention of the name sent a chill through Wu-Ji, his mind racing. Before he could respond, the ground trembled, and a new presence made itself known—a faint but unmistakable trace of Void Energy lingering in the air.