---
BOOM!
The blast of magic struck Wukong dead center.
His body flew backward, crashing through a wooden stall in the alley. The impact knocked the air from his lungs, and for a moment, everything blurred.
Pain exploded in his chest. His limbs felt heavy, his mind hazy.
"…Damn," he muttered. "That actually hurt."
---
"Wukong!"
Lily's voice barely registered. He could hear footsteps—hers and Tian's—rushing toward him.
But before they could reach him, the Mage Hunters closed in.
The leader stepped forward, his cold gaze locked onto Wukong's crumpled form. "You fought well for a commoner. But it ends here."
Lily stood in front of Wukong, arms outstretched. "Stop! He's not—"
"—Worth saving?" The leader smirked. "You're right."
He raised his hand to finish Wukong off.
But then—
Wukong laughed.
---
A Monkey's Defiance
His laughter was weak, almost breathless, but still mocking.
The Mage Hunters hesitated. The leader's expression darkened.
"You think this is funny?" he growled.
Wukong coughed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "Yeah… kinda."
He slowly sat up, his body screaming in protest. His hands trembled. His vision swam.
But his grin never wavered.
"You really thought that would be enough to put me down?" He looked up at the leader, his golden eyes burning with defiance. "Pathetic."
The leader's face twisted in anger. "You—"
"—Are all talk," Wukong interrupted, forcing himself to stand. His legs shook, his breathing was ragged, but he still stood tall.
The Mage Hunters instinctively took a step back.
Because despite his injuries…
Despite his weak body…
There was something unnatural about the way Wukong carried himself.
Like a king who refused to bow.
Like a beast that refused to die.
---
A Monkey's Escape
Lily grabbed his arm. "You can't keep fighting! You'll die!"
Wukong clicked his tongue. "Tch. If I had my old powers, these clowns wouldn't last two seconds."
"But you don't have them!" Lily hissed. "And you're about to get us all killed!"
Tian pulled at Wukong's other arm. "Dude, she's right! We need to run!"
Wukong clenched his fists. He hated running. He hated feeling weak.
But he wasn't stupid.
With his body this injured, and his power sealed, he couldn't take on the Mage Hunters yet.
"...Fine," he muttered. "But just this once."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh, how generous of you."
Tian grinned. "I'll take what I can get!"
And with that—
They ran.
---
The Chase
The Mage Hunters pursued instantly, their movements precise.
"Don't let them escape!" the leader barked.
The slums became a battlefield. Spells flew, buildings collapsed, and the air was thick with magic.
Wukong, despite his injuries, moved like a shadow through the chaos. Jumping over rooftops, dodging through narrow alleys—his instincts, even in this weak body, were still sharp.
But it wasn't enough.
The curse weighed him down. His legs ached. His breath came in ragged gasps.
And the Mage Hunters were closing in.
Lily cursed. "At this rate, we won't make it!"
Tian pointed ahead. "There's a sewer entrance! We can lose them there!"
Wukong grimaced. "Ugh. Sewers? Seriously?"
"Would you rather die?"
"...Fair point."
They dived into the underground tunnels, just as a wall of fire erupted behind them, cutting off the Mage Hunters.
The leader skidded to a halt, glaring at the flames. "Tch. This isn't over."
---
Aftermath: A Monkey's Realization
Hours later, deep in the tunnels, Wukong collapsed against a wall, exhausted.
His body was wrecked. His head pounded. His whole existence felt heavier than ever.
For the first time in centuries…
He had run away.
His hands clenched into fists. Pathetic.
He looked down at his arms, at his frail, weak human form.
The Monkey King—the Great Sage Equal to Heaven—was now just another fugitive.
"...Damn you, Buddha," he muttered under his breath.
Lily sat beside him, panting. "That was the dumbest thing you've ever done."
Tian flopped onto the ground. "Agreed. But also the coolest."
Lily smacked his arm. "Not the time, Tian!"
Wukong exhaled, staring at the ceiling. His body was too weak. His powers were sealed. And the entire kingdom would be hunting him soon.
He needed to get stronger.
Somehow.
Some way.
Because if the past few hours had proven anything…
It was that he wasn't the Monkey King anymore.
Not yet.
But he would be.
And when that day came…
He would make Buddha regret ever cursing him.
---
To Be Continued…
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