---
The Battle Rages On
Wukong stood tall, his eyes narrowed as he faced Ikigai, the Shadow God, who was now tightening his hold on Fujin.
Fujin, struggling to break free, his body frozen under Ikigai's shadow magic, cursed under his breath. "I'll never bow to you!"
Ikigai simply smiled, his dark energy swirling around him like a suffocating cloud. "You're already mine, Fujin."
But Wukong wasn't concerned with Fujin's predicament. His focus was entirely on Ikigai.
This new god was a dangerous force, someone on a whole new level compared to the gods he'd faced before.
The air around them tensed, crackling with the opposing powers at play.
"So, you want to join the fun too, Ikigai?" Wukong said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're a country-level threat, huh? Good. That means I can finally stretch my legs."
Ikigai raised an eyebrow. "You think you can handle me?" he said, his voice cool and collected. "You've barely scraped the surface of your true power, but your time is running out."
---
The Awakening of 5% Power
Wukong knew that he needed to act fast. Ikigai's shadow magic was already spreading, and every second counted.
"I can't play around anymore." Wukong's mind sharpened with determination. He took a deep breath, centering himself.
He could feel the curse still suppressing his full potential, but this time, he wasn't going to hold back.
Wukong closed his eyes, focusing on the dark, deep core of his power—he knew it was buried deep inside, sealed by the curse. But now, he could feel the crack starting to form in the seal.
The golden aura flared, not as bright as before, but stronger. His body shook with the strain of unlocking even more power.
"5%!" Wukong roared, and the earth beneath him shuddered.
---
The 5% Awakening
The ground cracked, and a golden shockwave rippled outward, knocking back both Fujin and Ikigai for a brief moment.
Wukong's body glowed with a golden light as the aura surged around him, more intense than it had ever been.
"Is that all you've got, Wukong?" Ikigai sneered, stepping forward. "Your power is still a flicker compared to mine."
But Wukong's grin widened. "You still don't get it, do you?"
The wind around them started to pick up, spiraling into vortexes as Wukong's power began to clash with Ikigai's dark influence.
"I don't just have power," Wukong said, his voice taking on an eerie calm. "I've survived things you wouldn't even dream of."
With a single swing of his arm, Wukong sent out a wave of golden energy, crashing into Ikigai. The shockwave sent Ikigai skidding backward, his feet digging into the earth as he tried to maintain his ground.
"Impressive, but not enough!" Ikigai shouted, his hands coming together to form an orb of shadow energy, larger than any attack he had summoned so far.
But Wukong was already moving. With a burst of speed, he teleported behind Ikigai, his hand striking out to deliver a crushing blow.
The impact sent Ikigai flying through the air, his body crashing into the ground with a deafening thud.
---
Fujin's Fury
Fujin, who had been trapped in Ikigai's shadow, managed to finally break free from the god's influence. His body crackled with wind energy, fury in his eyes.
"I'm not finished yet!" Fujin roared, his body transforming as he released a torrent of wind that tore through the ground, launching himself toward Wukong with all his might.
Wukong's senses heightened as the tornado of wind approached. He dodged just in time, barely avoiding Fujin's attack, which leveled the surrounding trees in an instant.
"Not bad for a windbag," Wukong quipped, his voice laced with confidence.
But Fujin wasn't done yet. His body crackled with raw energy as he summoned more gale-force winds, intending to overwhelm Wukong.
"Get ready!" Fujin shouted, sending another powerful gust straight for him.
---
Wukong's Response
Wukong stood his ground, not even flinching as the wind sped toward him.
"I've had enough of your storms, Fujin!" Wukong's eyes glowed with intense golden light. With a single motion, he extended his hand, and the golden energy erupted, creating a barrier that blocked the wind completely.
The force of Fujin's winds rippled around Wukong's barrier, but it was no match for the god's newfound strength.
"You're not the only one who can control the elements." Wukong's voice echoed with power.
With another movement, he sent a blazing torrent of energy back at Fujin, catching the wind god off guard.
Fujin gritted his teeth, desperately trying to deflect the attack, but the force of the blast sent him flying backward, crashing into the mountain's side.
"Not bad for a monkey," Fujin gasped, trying to regain his footing.
---
Ikigai's Counterattack
Ikigai, meanwhile, had already recovered, his shadow magic swirling around him in response. His body shifted and morphed as he began to absorb the surrounding shadows, growing in size and power.
"You can't keep up with both of us, Wukong!" Ikigai bellowed. "You're still just a flicker of what you once were!"
Wukong didn't respond. Instead, he focused, focusing every ounce of his new power. The golden aura around him grew even more intense, surging with the force of a mighty storm.
"We'll see about that."
He clenched his fist, the ground shaking beneath him as he prepared for the final clash.
---
To Be Continued…