---
The battlefield crackled with tension, the oppressive weight of Rat's presence suffocating the shattered streets of Seoul. Wu-Ji stood at the center, his body battered and bruised, yet his resolve remained unbroken. His hands tightened around his staff, the only weapon between him and the chaos Rat sought to unleash.
Rat, with a twisted grin on his face, loomed ahead, his aura blackened and monstrous. "You think you can stop me, Wu-Ji?" His voice was venomous, taunting. "I've already won. Your friends are broken, your world is in ruins, and your so-called strength will never match mine."
Wu-Ji's eyes burned with defiance. "Strength isn't about what you take—it's about what you protect."
---
Devourer Monkey King
With a guttural roar, Wu-Ji tapped into the depths of his Zodiac power. His body began to shift and transform, his frame growing larger and more feral. His staff split into three, each radiating an ancient golden energy. His eyes turned to pools of molten gold as the power of the Devourer Monkey King consumed him.
The air around him shimmered with a radiant heat, as though the very sun had descended upon the battlefield. His voice echoed, otherworldly, as he pointed one of his staffs at Rat. "This ends now."
Rat's smile faltered, if only for a moment. "Finally, some entertainment."
The clash began.
Wu-Ji's movements were a blur, each strike of his staff resonating with the power of a thousand suns. Rat dodged with inhuman speed, countering with bursts of shadowy energy that warped the space around them. The two forces collided, creating shockwaves that shattered what little remained of the city.
---
The Angel's Glimpse
As the battle raged on, Wu-Ji's form began to shift once more. The feral energy of the Devourer Monkey King subsided, replaced by a serene and radiant glow. His body became lighter, almost translucent, as wings of golden light unfurled from his back.
He had become a glimpse of something divine—an Angel of justice and retribution.
Rat sneered, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. "You think you're some kind of savior now?"
Wu-Ji didn't respond. Instead, he raised his staff, the golden energy intensifying into a beam of pure sunlight. It tore through Rat's defenses, sending him skidding across the rubble-strewn streets.
But Rat wasn't finished. He stood, blood dripping from his mouth, and grinned. "You're impressive, Wu-Ji. But you're not enough."
---
Sung Min-Ki's Resolve
In the chaos of the battle, Sung Min-Ki, thought to be out of the fight, slowly pushed himself to his feet. His blade, cracked but still sharp, glinted in the dying light of the sun.
He watched Wu-Ji's struggle, the flames of determination igniting in his chest. No matter how broken, I will not stand idle.
With a cry of defiance, Sung-Min-Ki raised his blade and charged, aiming to strike Rat from behind.
---
Gok's Return
Before Sung-Min-Ki could land his blow, the air around them grew heavy, a suffocating darkness descending upon the battlefield. From the shadows emerged Gok, his figure shrouded in an ominous aura.
Wu-Ji froze mid-strike, his glowing eyes widening in disbelief. "Gok…?"
But something was different. The man who had been their ally, their leader, was no longer the same. His presence was overwhelming, his aura dripping with malice.
From behind Gok, a shadowy figure loomed, barely visible—a foreshadow of the Devil.
The System activated, its voice booming across the battlefield:
[WARNING: USER HAS ACTIVATED FORBIDDEN PROTOCOLS. CEASE IMMEDIATELY.]
Gok ignored it. His voice was cold, detached, as he looked at Rat. "The name of the Devil. The hand of the Devil. It will remain on humanity forever."
Wu-Ji's heart sank as he realized the truth. "You… you're Venik."
Gok turned his gaze to Wu-Ji, a flicker of sorrow in his eyes. "I always was."
---
The Devil Unleashed
Without warning, Gok extended his hand, summoning a massive blade of pure darkness. It was the Infinity Crossblade, corrupted and twisted into a weapon of destruction. The System's warnings grew louder, more desperate, but Gok paid them no mind.
Rat's grin faltered for the first time. "You… you're him."
Gok's expression remained cold. "I didn't come back to save this world. I came back to end it."
With a single swing of the Crossblade, the battlefield was consumed in a wave of darkness. Rat screamed, his body engulfed in the shadowy energy. Wu-Ji and Sung Min-Ki were thrown back, barely able to withstand the force.
As the dust settled, Gok stood alone, his figure towering over the battlefield like a vengeful god.
---
The Beginning of the End
Wu-Ji struggled to his feet, his body trembling. "Gok… you don't have to do this."
But Gok didn't respond. He turned his back to them, his voice echoing in the silence. "The world has already been broken. I'm just finishing what was started."
And with that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Wu-Ji and Sung Min-Ki to face the aftermath of his devastating return.