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✩*:.˶˃ ________________ ˂˵ .:*✩
The skies over the Celestial Realm were still.
Not peaceful. Just waiting.
Within the sacred vault beneath the Jade Emperor's chambers, an ancient map hovered midair—sealed behind golden light, humming with divine protection. It pulsed like a heartbeat, sensing the disturbance coming for it.
A ripple.
Then—
CRACK.
The doors were torn open with raw force.
Sun Wukong limped inside, his robe torn, chest heaving, burned hand clutching his side. He was injured—wounded from a long journey of chasing whispers and old legends.
But his eyes gleamed with mischief, and desperation.
"There you are," he muttered to the map. "Let's make this quick—"
"You dare return here."
That voice froze Wukong mid-step.
It was quiet. Controlled.
But shaking with buried rage.
From behind the divine pillars, Nezha stepped out. Alone. No guards. No formality. Just fury radiating off his golden armor like wildfire. His spear gleamed in his hand. His hair was loose. His eyes were bloodshot.
"Nezha—" Wukong raised a hand, but flinched when Nezha threw his spear into the floor, splitting the tile at Wukong's feet.
"You should've died with her," Nezha growled.
Silence.
Wukong stared at him. "You know that's not fair."
"Don't. You. Speak."
The walls trembled.
"You brought her down into your world of lies. You poisoned her with your loneliness, your cowardice, your pathetic rebellion." Nezha stepped forward. "She was everything pure—and now she's... a demon."
Wukong swallowed, jaw tightening. "She made her own choice."
"BECAUSE OF YOU!"
The blast of divine fire that erupted from Nezha's hand nearly cooked the room. Wukong dodged left, barely avoiding the blow, but stumbled. He didn't have his staff—MK still had it. All he had were his hands and a fractured reputation.
Nezha didn't hesitate. His fists slammed into Wukong's ribs, elbow to his jaw, and a burst of flame knocked Wukong back across the hall. He hit the pillar hard.
"Do you think she's safe with you?!" Nezha shouted. "Do you know what she's become?! What she's lost?! She doesn't even know what you've hidden from her!"
Wukong coughed, blood at the corner of his mouth. "I've protected her... I've protected all of you!"
"You abandoned her!"
Nezha's voice cracked.
"I watched her scream as they ripped her wings away. I watched her fall! And where were you?! WHERE WERE YOU?!"
Wukong was silent.
"...Gone. Again."
Nezha's body trembled, chest heaving as his spear returned to his hand. The room was hot now. Glowing. Smoke curling up from the cracks in the marble.
Then Wukong looked up, gaze steady. No smirk. No sarcasm.
Just grief.
"I'm sorry."
Nezha lunged. His spear flew for Wukong's heart—
—but missed.
Wukong had vanished, teleported just before impact, appearing behind the map's barrier. He thrust his hand into the divine seal—screaming as golden fire seared through his flesh—but didn't let go.
"I don't have time for this," he groaned through his teeth. "MK's in danger. The Lady Bone Demon—"
Nezha's eyes widened. "She's back?"
But Wukong didn't answer.
With one last pull, he ripped the map free from its spell. Light exploded around him, scorching the ground. When it faded—
He was gone.
Nezha was left in silence.
Alone.
His spear clattered to the floor.
He stared at the mark scorched into the stone where Wukong had stood... and his voice broke into a whisper:
