---
Wukong's blade of black mist plunged toward the Guardian's crimson core—
But at the last second—
BOOM!
A shockwave of raw energy exploded from the Guardian's chest!
Wukong was blasted backward, skidding across the stone floor.
Tian yelped. "Oh, COME ON! That should've worked!"
Lily's eyes widened. "It activated a failsafe! The core is shielding itself!"
The Guardian snarled, chains snapping free as the runes on its body flared with golden light.
"YOU CANNOT STEAL WHAT WAS FORGED BY THE GODS!"
Wukong wiped blood from his lip and grinned.
"Oh yeah? Watch me."
---
A Desperate Battle
The Guardian's wounds were closing.
Its core pulsed violently, golden veins of energy spreading across its body.
Lily gasped. "It's repairing itself! If we don't finish it now, we'll lose our chance!"
Tian groaned. "HOW do we finish it? The core's invincible!"
Wukong narrowed his eyes.
"No. It's not."
He glanced at the black sigil burned into his hand.
It pulsed, responding to the same energy inside the Guardian.
Then it clicked.
"This thing's core isn't unbreakable—it's just rejecting us."
Lily blinked. "Wait, you mean—"
Wukong grinned wickedly.
"I need to make it accept me."
Tian paled. "That sounds like a terrible idea."
Lily nodded. "Agreed. What does that even mean?!"
Wukong flexed his fingers.
"It means I'm about to do something really, REALLY dumb."
Then he lunged at the Guardian.
---
Stealing the Core
The Guardian swung all four of its arms.
Wukong dodged the first, leapt over the second, then barely twisted past the third and fourth.
Then—
He grabbed onto its chest, clinging directly to the core.
The Guardian roared, golden energy burning into Wukong's skin.
"FOOL! YOU CANNOT ABSORB A GOD'S POWER!"
Wukong just grinned through the pain.
"Then let's see what happens if I try!"
He pressed his cursed hand against the core.
BOOOOM!
A massive surge of black mist erupted, wrapping around the Guardian's chest.
Its body convulsed, the golden veins flickering—
As Wukong's energy invaded it.
Tian's jaw dropped. "IS HE SERIOUSLY TRYING TO POSSESS THE CORE?!"
Lily's face was pale. "That's insane! The divine energy could kill him!"
But Wukong wasn't stopping.
His mind plunged into darkness.
---
Inside the Core
Wukong found himself floating in a void.
A single golden flame burned before him—
The Guardian's Will.
"YOU ARE UNWORTHY."
The voice rumbled like a storm, shaking Wukong's very soul.
"YOUR EXISTENCE IS A MISTAKE."
Wukong just grinned.
"Yeah? Well, so was this curse. And I'm still here."
He reached out—
And crushed the golden flame in his hand.
---
Back to Reality
The Guardian screamed.
Its golden glow flickered—then shattered.
The core turned black, energy ripping free from its body and flowing straight into Wukong.
BOOOOOOM!
A tidal wave of power exploded outward, blasting through the dungeon walls.
Tian and Lily barely shielded themselves from the blast.
When the dust settled—
The Guardian's massive body collapsed, turning to stone and dust.
And Wukong?
He stood in the wreckage, his eyes burning with black-gold flames.
In his hand—
Was the crimson core, now pulsing with his energy.
Wukong grinned.
"Looks like I win."
---
To Be Continued…
---