---
Wukong sat in the damp sewer tunnel, his head resting against the wall. His body ached, his mind raced, and for the first time in his existence, he felt truly… powerless.
Tian and Lily sat across from him, still catching their breath. The air was thick with silence.
Then—
"Alright," Wukong finally muttered. "I need to get stronger."
Tian blinked. "Yeah, no kidding."
Lily sighed, rubbing her temples. "That's what we've been saying! But how? Your powers aren't coming back anytime soon, right?"
Wukong frowned. That was the real problem. His golden aura—his divine power—was still there, buried deep within him. But the curse suppressed it, keeping it just out of reach.
He clenched his fists.
If he couldn't rely on his old powers…
Then he'd just have to get new ones.
---
A Monkey Seeks Strength
Wukong stood up, stretching his sore muscles. "Alright, I need to learn magic."
Lily nearly choked. "Excuse me?! You barely understand how magic even works in this world!"
Tian nodded. "Yeah, and even if you do learn, it'll take years to get anywhere near strong enough to fight those Mage Hunters!"
Wukong smirked. "Nah. Years are for mortals. I'll figure something out."
Lily groaned. "You're impossible."
Tian scratched his head. "Well… if you really wanna learn magic, I might know someone who can help."
Wukong raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
---
The Underground Mage
After sneaking through the city's sewer system, the trio arrived at a hidden underground marketplace. Dim lanterns flickered over makeshift stalls, and shady figures in cloaks whispered in hushed voices.
This was the Black Market—a place where magic was bought, stolen, and sold.
Tian led them through the winding paths until they stopped in front of a small, wooden shack covered in strange symbols.
Inside, a hooded figure sat at a messy desk, scribbling on parchment. The room smelled of ink, old books, and burnt herbs.
The figure slowly looked up. Golden eyes gleamed beneath the hood.
"Well, well," the stranger said, voice smooth as silk. "Tian, you brought me something interesting this time."
Tian gulped. "Uh, yeah. We need help."
The stranger leaned forward, studying Wukong. "Hmmm… you don't smell like a normal human. There's something… ancient about you."
Wukong smirked. "You have no idea."
The stranger chuckled. "Oh, I think I do. And if you want power…"
They pulled out a black tome, its pages glowing faintly.
"…I just might have what you need."
---
To Be Continued…
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