Trickster Wukong

-ROAR

-WHOOSH

The Lion swung its paw amid the dimly lit shore of the river. 

However, the boy it was trying to hit simply leapt backwards leisurely.

The Lion roared, louder than usual as if it were trying to convince itself of its superiority.

But the boy was unfazed, instead noticing something else as his eyes drifted off.

'Wait a minute…I have a tail!!!'

Illian yelled inwardly with a dumbfounded expression, grabbing the golden furred tail that protruded from the base of his spine.

Only now did he truly conceptualise this fact as he caressed it, rubbing it on his face.

If the very vivid feeling he was getting from the tail wasn't enough, the control he had over it, which made it feel as though it had always been one of his limbs, convinced him this was real.

Illian soon scratched his head as he sighed. 

However, despite this, he didn't mind the tail. He felt quite fond of it.

'Status.'

Nothing.

Illian waited for a screen to appear but he was left staring into blank air.

'I don't understand. Can I use the system or not?'

Despite half a dozen screens appearing before him, he still couldn't use his Status.

'I guess it doesn't work in my favour. Which is disappointing. I was counting on it to answer these questions.'

[You have triggered a premature Progression]

[Ruyi Jingu Bang has undergone a transformation]

[Your Fiery Eyes have entered the next stage]

Illian could somewhat assume the meaning of the first message. 

It was most likely referencing his increased stats and the tail.

Though he didn't know why it was worded like that. 

'What exactly am I Progressing toward?'

Putting that aside, the next two messages left Illian clueless.

Tuning his head, he glanced at the expanded Ruyi. 

'Ruyi doesn't feel any different.'

Looking back, he stared into the blank air.

'Fiery Eyes? My eyes have a name?'

That was quite easy for Illian to believe. 

He always knew his eyes had become different since his awakening.

'What does the next stage signify? I guess my eyes feel a little more focused.'

Illian thought, blinking rapidly to try to spot a difference.

But in the next second, he paused as his eyes lowered, staring at his hands.

'I guess even the River can't dispel my curse. But I wonder if the time I have left has been altered. Ugh, if only I could open my status window.'

He stared at his pale hands with black veins, twitching every so often.

Despite this, the last screen that appeared just a few seconds ago somewhat made up for it as Illian grinned.

"Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners?" Illian looked up, locking eyes with the Lion who'd been quietly moving closer by the inch.

The Lion's eyes narrowed as it bent its legs, noticing Illian had caught onto it, lunging as it used its wings to boost its speed.

-WHOOSH

However, rather than dodging, Illian dug his feet into the ground, shooting forward with a BANG.

'I'm stronger.'

Illian noted coming face-to-face with the Lion.

Everything about him was superhuman. His speed was overwhelming and his strength felt limitless.

But most of all, the toughness in his body had increased. 

His bones felt like steel while the heavy atmosphere no longer felt heavy in his lungs.

'I can do it. It isn't like before. I don't have to run…'

-BOOM!!!

Illian's steps halted as he froze, watching an enormous arm smash down onto the Lion's back, crushing it and burying it under the earth.

The Lion was unable to even let out a cry, the loud CRACKS of its bones ringing out as its body contorted awkwardly, blood gushing from every orifice.

Illian simply stared as his heartbeat started to quicken, his eyes slowly moving up the large arm, his eyes soon falling upon it.

There it stood—an immense creature, towering at least seven feet tall, its powerful, muscular body covered in a thick coat of dark fur that shimmered ominously in the dim light. 

The air around it felt charged, heavy with an ancient energy. 

Its bull-like head was massive, adorned with sharp, curved horns that gleamed like polished obsidian, casting menacing shadows in the flickering torchlight.

The creature's eyes glowed with a fierce, almost unnatural intelligence, a deep, burning red that seemed to pierce through the darkness. 

They were filled with a feral hunger, a predatory gaze that sent chills racing down Illian's spine. 

Its broad chest heaved with each breath, its powerful limbs visibly sinewy and taut, poised as if ready to pounce at any moment.

Cold sweat ran down Illian's neck as he stared, his expression neutral as if his brain lagged to depict his tense emotions properly.

All his confidence drained from his veins as he watched the figure before him pick its arm back up from the now mangled and deceased Lion.

Standing tall before Illian, the figure took a step forward.

Illian stayed rooted in his position like a statue. 

It was as if the hybrid could sense his fear, its steps heavy and slow as if it were taking its time tormenting the boy.

The boy, his expression blank as if his mind was lagging to express his emotions properly, watched the Bull raise his arm, the fate of the Lion flashing in his mind.

The bull pulled back his arm, the veins on his body bulging as his shoulder tensed in preparation…

"Shrink."

-VUAM

In the same second, the bull didn't know what to focus on. 

Whether it was the monumental pillar disappearing from beside them or the fact his prey had bolted forward, closing the distance with a black staff in between his teeth.

Pulling back his head, the boy's golden eyes burned as he swung back, his staff landing in the Bull's chest.

-BANG!!!

Like a baseball being struck by a bat, the bull shot through the air, tearing through the ground as it crashed into a solid black wall, crumbling it as he was buried underneath.

"Holy shit, what the hell are you?!" 

Illian yelled, taunting the Bull-man. 

'Seems like its intelligence is similar to a human's, too. It fell for my bluff.'

Illian thought, remembering his petrified and terrified state previously.

However, despite him saying this, his legs still shook as his anxiety made his grin widen.

This was because he knew if the Bull landed even one of those punches, he would be dead, no matter how many times he bathed in the river.

'Heh, if only Grandpa could see me pissing my pants now. I'd never hear the end of it.'

He joked. 

However, he knew he was only as composed as he was because of the River. 

Bathing in it not only morphed him physically, but mentally too.

Illian from an hour ago wouldn't even realise it when he died.

Despite knowing the strength of the creature, he couldn't help but blink when he witnessed the damage Ruyi had caused. 

He expected to cause the bull damage but not to this extent.

'Is this one of the effects of the River?'

He asked, but before he could conclude, rumbling rang out as a familiar Bull emerged from the rubble.

Though its chest was caved in, it was visibly healing at a rapid rate.

Exhaling sharply, steam-like air escaped from the Bull's nostrils as its blood-red eyes locked onto the sweating boy.

-BOOM

The Bull appeared before Illian, shooting forth its fist, its heavy leap playing like a heavy explosion it caused the ground to quake violently.

'Fast!'

Despite this, Illian could see the bull. He could see every movement as if his opponent was in slow motion.

However, seeing and reacting were two different things.

And so, he was unable to properly prepare as he swung his head forward with his staff in his mouth.

-CLANG

The first and staff collided, both the bull's fist and Illian head ricocheting backwards, the air around them palpitating with disturbingly heavy force, causing the dust on the ground to scatter and Illian's hair to dance on his head.

'Shit!'

Illian yelled inwardly.

Despite his newfound durability, his jaw stung with pain as he tried to regain his composure.

However, the bull was able to recover faster, raising its cow-like leg and preparing to shoot it forward.

Clicking his teeth, Illian's head drew back to its original position but he didn't have time to swing effectively again.

'Fuck it.' 

He thought, dropping Ruyi.

But for some reason…this didn't bother him as much as it should have.

A lethal kick was about to hit him like a torpedo, but he didn't move.

'My hands…they might be crippled but that doesn't make them useless.'

Illian needed everything he could get. Everything had a use.

The kick inched closer to Illian, but his eyes never closed in fear, his muscles never tensed to brace themselves for the attack, and his heart never leapt in the face of death.

Instead, the boy raised his two pale and bony hands.

His eyes gave him perfect coordination, and his newfound concentration after bathing in the river, paired with his stubbornness to endure the pain, gave him just enough to do what he needed.

'What I lack, I'll make up for with everything else.'

As his hands brisked over the bare skin of the Bull, a familiar electrifying pain shot through his body as his hands started to shake.

"GRAWW!!!"

Illian let out a feral howl, the pain feeling just as bad as when he was cursed.

Despite this, Illian, gritting his teeth and his eyes widening in pain, never stopped.

Putting a little force into his hands at the perfect angle, he pushed the leg just as it was reaching its full extension, sending it off course as it shot past him, his legs struggling to keep him up.

Despite putting all his strength into the deflection, he was still only able to barely escape the attack.

With his legs shaking and the black veins in his hands bulging and pulsating violently, threatening to explode, Illian didn't stop as he stepped forward.

The bull saw this, its eyes also catching onto the staff, which was still lying on the ground, leaving the boy weaponless…

-STAB

The bull witnessed Illian pull something out from behind him. A familiar pink telson dripping with a see-through liquid.

Taking it, Illian stabbed the bull in the eye, blood gushing out as the bull roared, entering a frenzy, flailing its body in pain as Illian was unable to pull out the stuck telson, propelled through the air, tumbling violently before coming to a stop.

Slowly picking himself up, not without piercing pain shooting through his body, his head dripping with blood as he looked up to see…

"Human…I kill you!"

Illian paused as he took a second to look around, failing to find anyone or anything else near them.

'Did it just talk?'

He asked, watching the bull slowly regain his composure, widening its one red eye in rage and glaring at Illian.

"I kill human, for my lord…no, I kill human for myself!"

The bull roared, clenching his fist. 

However, despite his intimidating nature, it was obvious his movements were more sluggish and less aggressive.

His legs barely held him up, causing him to stumble every now and then, breathing heavily as his arms dangled by his side.

It was obvious the poison had done some damage, but the effect seemed diluted due to the large body of the bull.

But this wasn't what Illian was focused on.

'Lord? Someone capable of taming…no, it's more than that. Someone capable of enslaving that monster. It can only be him.'

Three things.

From everything Demeter had told Illian, three things were the most important, everything else being somewhat common knowledge. 

And he happened to come across one of them already.

"You wouldn't happen to be speaking about The Thunderer, would you?"

Illian spoke while ignoring the pain still in his hands.

The Bull showed no reaction to this name as his chest continued moving up and down rapidly, trying to find the strength to charge.

"I guess you don't know him by that name. How about Brontes the Titan?" 

Illian's lips curled in a sly grin as he witnessed the Bull fall silent, the air suddenly turning thick.

Brontes the Titan. 

A name that carried unspeakable weight within Tartarus. 

So much so that Illian knew he stood no chance in a direct confrontation.

After all, Brontes stood on top of Tartarus. This was his domain and Illian was a mere trespasser.

Despite this, it didn't change his plan.

'How can it? That Titan has the key I need to complete my Scenario.'

Meanwhile, the previous rage in the Bull's eyes faltered as it stared at Illian, a sense of bewilderment flashing on its face.

"How you know my Lord?"

"I'll take that as a yes. Thanks for the help."

-FLICK

Ruyi kicked off the ground, shooting toward the boy as he grabbed the staff in his mouth, lunging at the paralyzed bull.

The Bull watched Illian draw closer. 

Though its movement was heavy, it kept its eyes on the boy's teeth, more specifically the staff in between them.

After all, it knew the boy could only kill him with it…

-WHOOSH

Unexpectedly, the Bull watched the boy toss the staff high into the air, following the weapon as it did not show any signs of falling back down soon.

"I never knew I'd be this happy to be underestimated."

The Bull's eye quickly shot down, but it was too late as Illian had already appeared before it, widening his mouth as he did.

-CLASP

-CRUNCH

Illian dug his feet into the ground, leaping into the air and darted past the Bull's head, biting down on its horn as he went, pulling down as veins bulged on his neck and jaws.

The Bull's back arched as it failed to find the strength to stay standing straight.

"GRRAWW!"

Illian let out a feral and muffled howl, his feet touching the floor as he pulled with all the strength he had left.

His pupils dilated from the force as the Bull's feet started to leave the ground, following Illian's previous momentum and flicking over the boy in an arch.

-SMASH!!!

The Bull crashed into the ground facefirst, the solid black earth turning to dust as the air in the monster's lungs escaped from his lips, along with specs of blood.

Letting out a groan, the Bull perked its head up, scanning the surroundings despite his body lagging a few seconds. 

As he did, he was unable to locate the boy.

"Are you watching?!"

The bull looked up, watching the boy loom in the air as he held his Staff in between his teeth, yelling.

Though the Bull wasn't paying attention to what the boy was saying, it wasn't the one being addressed.

No, Illian had another on his mind. 

He knew the Gods in Olympus were watching but he didn't mean them either. 

It rather had something to do with the last message he'd gotten after bathing in the river.

[Due to bathing in the River of Styx, your connection to the Underworld has increased greatly]

"Hades."

Illian's eyes drifted away from the bull for a second as he grinned, staring toward a specific direction, his eyes narrowed as if he was seeing something past the darkness and horizon.

In the next second, his eyes turned back to the Bull desperately trying to flee from the large crater it rested in, most notably, a red blinking light flashing on the pelt around its waist.

"Ruyi…EXPAND!!!"

-BOOM!!!!!!

***

Illian breathed heavily, blood dripping from his head with Ruyi by his side as he bent over before the River of Styx, cupping both his pale hands together and shakingly carrying the luminescent water toward his lips, drinking it.

Instantly, the fatigue and pain he was feeling seemed to dwindle. 

His numb hands calmed as the shaking lessened while the wounds and bruises on his body healed.

'For some reason, the River no longer has any effect on me past the rejuvenation.'

He expected this. 

After all, Demeter did mention he would reap all the benefits from the river in the 10 seconds he bathed.

Therefore, he was happy with what he got. At least he had magic drinking water now.

Turning his head, Illian took a second to bask in the destruction caused by Ruyi.

The entire battlefield had crumbled, a limitless ditch tunnelling through the ground further than the eye could see.

'After bathing in the River, my control of Ruyi seems to have gone haywire. Does this have to do with the transformation the system mentioned?'

If so, what else did the River change other than his control over Ruyi?

'And what was that blinking red light on the Bull's back?'

In the next second, Illian sighed as he stood, dusting himself off.

Looking around, his eyes lingered on the dark forest not too far away from him, seemingly where the bull had come from.

'No, maybe 'Dark' isn't the best way to put it.'

Despite it having no sort of light source, there was more to it. 

The forest was enveloped in an eerie silence but the more Illian focused on it, occasionally that silence was broken by distant and muffled cries filled with torment.

The trees were twisted and contorted with bark that appeared almost blackened and scorched. 

Their branches reached out like skeletal hands, making the forest feel claustrophobic.

The shadows danced eerily, creating a sense of disorientation and unease, almost making it seem as though it were crawling to Illian, ready to leap…

'I see.'

Illian grinned widely as he stared at the forest. 

But this time, it wasn't because he was nervous like usual. 

No, rather because he'd discovered something interesting.

'So that's what these eyes do. Next stage. I get it.'

Thinking this, he looked back, staring in a familiar direction as he stared intently.

"We'll be meeting face to face soon. Just wait for me."

Illian spoke one last time, turning.

'Shrink.'

-VUAM

Ruyi suddenly disappeared, or rather, shrank to the size of a needle, shooting toward Illian as the boy opened his mouth, letting Ruyi enter, swallowing right after.

"But not yet. I have some unfinished business in Tartarus."

Illian cackled, walking toward the forest and disappearing into the darkness.