41 What hides in the darkness is the unknown.

(THIRD PERSON)

Okhwang gazed at a small crystal sphere, lifting it delicately before placing it on a nearby table.

"Ha... I haven't conversed with that 'individual' in quite some time... I hope he can reach out to you..." Okhwang offered a faint smile, though an underlying nervousness tinged his demeanor.

As Okhwang focused on the crystal sphere, he uttered unintelligible incantations. With each whispered word, the space around him seemed to warp, and fissures materialized in reality itself.

The cracks expanded relentlessly, shattering everything in their wake. An abyssal darkness enveloped Okhwang, yet he remained composed; this was a ritual he had performed before.

With a sigh, Okhwang proclaimed, "I'm here!"

In the boundless darkness, myriad eyes materialized and fixed upon Okhwang before vanishing into oblivion moments later.

"It has been some time, Okhwang... Eight hundred years, correct...?" An ethereal voice reverberated omnipresently.

"Yes... Nearly a millennium..." Okhwang replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Abruptly, a small dark orange light manifested before Okhwang.

"What is your request...?" The ethereal voice emanated from the luminous speck, its tones echoing as if uttered by countless individuals of varying ages.

"I have come seeking answers..." Okhwang stated with a serene expression.

"What inquiries do you possess...?" the faint light inquired.

"It won't be long until... 'that,' will it...?" Okhwang's smile held a tinge of curiosity.

"No... It is imminent. This Earth is on the brink of transformation. The forthcoming G.O.H. tournament presents a prime opportunity..." The voice resonated within the darkness. Okhwang's anticipation grew; such opportunities were rare, if not unprecedented.

"How fares the boy named Jegal Taek...?" The voice queried. Okhwang's smile widened as he explained, "He is... stable. He appears resilient against the influence of 'greed.'"

"The boy possesses but a fraction of the power of a Deadly Sin... Yet, he may ascend to a quasi-divine state, albeit inferior to the gods of the heavenly realm... Though undoubtedly formidable..." The voice intimated, and the small light before Okhwang seemed to brighten, expressing a hint of satisfaction.

The voice rang out once more, asking, "And how is that woman doing...? The one you refer to as the 'prophet'..."

Okhwang's smile widened as she replied, "She's fine. Your ability to come back from the brink of death is remarkable; she's nearly perfected...although I'm still working out some kinks."

"Reviving is a trivial matter, almost effortless. A simple click, and I can bring back countless beings. But let's leave that aside... What about the woman known as Sanzang? Can she be granted the power of a Capital Sin? She asked the voice, conversing with Okhwang in the darkness.

"It's conceivable...although it might be complex. She's not exactly Sanzang as you know her..." Okhwang commented, a touch of mystery lacing her words.

"Ha... that wretched place... how I hate it..." the voice echoed with annoyance, his anger palpable from him.

"But fear not, I have some 'items' that will prove useful... They have quite a bit of utility..." Okhwang's smile took on a chilling tone.

"Hehehe... And how are the two monkeys doing...?" The voice asked Okhwang, who replied with a smile: "They are thriving. Although currently one surpasses the other in strength..."

"Ah, yes... It's logical. One leans more towards the darkness of the heart, while the other remains more 'pure'... However, once their memories return, their mental states can improve or deteriorate. .." The voice laughed softly and his laughter echoed.

"In fact... It's quite likely..." Okhwang mused, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

The voice murmured, "Mmm... it's so near... almost within reach... I can sense it... I yearn to act once more, as I did before..."

Okhwang's smile widened knowingly as he replied, "Indeed... the main event draws near... closer than ever before."

"Well then, it's time for me to depart. Thank you for addressing my inquiries..." Okhwang expressed with a serene smile.

"Yes... farewell," the voice reverberated throughout the void, its presence fading into the ether.

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"Park Ilpyo doesn't hold back!" The voice blared from the television set as Okhwang sat watching the tournament unfold. "Not much longer now... it's time for some excitement..."

Okhwang observed as Mori flung Ilpyo against the ring floor, shattering it into pieces.

"Ilpyo Park fights back fiercely!" The announcer's voice echoed in the room.

"It's a relentless battle! The ring trembles, the tension fills the air! Who will emerge victorious?! Jin Mori or Ilpyo Park?!" The announcer's excitement was palpable, but for Okhwang, these were mere skirmishes of strong individuals, inconsequential ants in the grand tapestry of fate he sensed approaching.

"Is it over...?" Okhwang watched as Mori delivered a decisive blow to Ilpyo Park, leaving him sprawled on the ground amidst the wreckage of the ring.

"No... not yet..." Okhwang murmured, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

But then, to Okhwang's surprise, an old "acquaintance" appeared on the screen. Okhwang couldn't contain his laughter. "Haha... Destiny truly has its twists. Long time no see, Hojosa..."

On the screen, Ilpyo Park now sported white hair and nine fiery orange tails behind him. "Hmm... A reincarnation...? Or a charyeok...?" Okhwang mused aloud.

As "Hojosa" effortlessly dispatched Mori, Okhwang chuckled. "The victor is Ilpyo Park!" The announcer declared to the roaring crowd.

"So, the monkey lost..." Okhwang remarked. It was understandable; Wukong may have been formidable once, but now he was weakened. Ilpyo's victory was predictable.

///

"The winner is Mira Yoo!" Okhwang observed as "Hojosa" suffered defeat. With a sigh, he muttered, "What a disappointment... Finding him again, only to see him fall to a mere human..."

///

Meanwhile, Mori and his friends discussed charyeok in a recovery room where Mira rested.

"I'm not a fan of borrowing power. I prefer relying on my own strength," Mori confessed to Daewi.

"Well, to each their own," Daewi replied with a sigh.

Mori rose from the ground. "I'm going to meet the guy who bested me," he declared.

Daewi and Mira nodded in agreement.

As Mori departed, Mira pondered, "Which charyeok is the strongest...?"

Daewi considered her question. "It's hard to say. Charyeok abilities vary widely, depending on the individual's compatibility with the god they choose."

Mira winced in pain. "What kind of charyeok does Ilpyo have to be so strong...?"

"It resembles a nine-tailed fox," Daewi explained as he took a seat.

"Like something out of mythology?" Mira asked, her interest piqued.

"Most likely. Charyeoks can be based on animals, mythological creatures, or even gods themselves. Experienced fighters with skill can even wield 'weaker' charyeoks to defeat those with stronger ones," Daewi elaborated.

Mira nodded, feeling the strain in her body. "My body aches..."

///

"Let the fight begin!" The announcer's voice reverberated as Ilpyo Park and Taek Jegal launched into combat, Ilpyo unleashing a barrage of swift and precise strikes.

Utilizing his newfound power, Ilpyo aimed a blow at Jegal's chest, shattering the ring and engulfing the arena in flames. A shockwave rippled through the stadium, eliciting a grunt of pain from Jegal Taek.

"Huh...?" Ilpyo muttered in confusion, feeling a sudden bite on his hand as it connected with Jegal's chest.

Suddenly, Jegal's clothing tore open, revealing a mouth with teeth that clamped down on Ilpyo's hand.

"Haha..." Jegal smirked, delivering a swift punch to Ilpyo, whose charyeok seemed to diminish, his form fading gradually.

Hurled into the air by Jegal, Ilpyo found himself ensnared by his opponent's grip. However, he quickly broke free, launching himself into the air and delivering a powerful kick to Jegal's face.

Jegal staggered backward, but Ilpyo followed up with another kick to the back of his head, sending him crashing to the ground.

As Ilpyo prepared for another strike, iilpyo, with great power countered swiftly, sending jegal flying through the air, defeated.

"How... unexpected..." Ilpyo murmured, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

"The winner is Ilpyo Par--" The announcer's declaration was cut short by a surge of power in the air, causing Ilpyo to tense up as an aura of terrifying strength enveloped the arena.

Suddenly, Jegal rose to his feet, his body undergoing a grotesque transformation. His chest mouth expanded, his eyes turned pitch black with small dark orange irises, emitting an aura of pure menace.

Ilpyo began to sweat profusely, realizing his chances were slim against this new threat.

Jegal vanished with astonishing speed, reappearing with the severed arm of the announcer, X, in his grasp.

"Ah, reminiscing about the good old days..." Jegal's voice carried an eerie undertone, as if another presence spoke through him.

In an instant, Ilpyo lunged at Jegal, but his strike had no effect. Jegal merely brushed him aside with a flick of his finger, sending Ilpyo hurtling out of the ring and crashing into a distant wall, defeated in a single blow.

"The threads of destiny are on the verge of unraveling... just a little further," Jegal murmured, his demeanor shifting, embodying a different persona.

The nurses rushed to attend to Ilpyo, attempting charyeok treatment to no avail.

"I'll take over," Mori intervened, applying acupuncture to Ilpyo's injuries.

Grateful, one of the nurses thanked Mori sincerely.

As Mori observed Jegal, he couldn't shake off a feeling of revulsion. "That man... disgusts me. It's like he's someone else entirely..."

Judge X suddenly materialized behind Jegal, threatening him with death.

"Haha, I'm afraid that's not in the cards," Jegal retorted dismissively.

Without hesitation, Sang Mandeok, a bishop of NOX, swiftly dispatched Judge X by impaling him through the chest with his hand. Withdrawing his hand, Mandeok left X lifeless on the ground.

Kneeling before Jegal, Mandeok inquired, "Are you pleased with his new vessel, sir...?"

"I suggest you accompany us. You could become even more accustomed to this body," Mandeok suggested, his smile unwavering.

"Yes, it's adequate. Although my son might be a tad upset with me for borrowing his plaything... While I previously suggested that Jegal Taek would be prone to 'greed,' I simply wished to inhabit his body temporarily... to relive the glory days," Jegal explained with a smile.

Mujin Park, accompanied by some judges, approached Jegal and Mandeok at the stadium.

"You've caused quite a mess... the two of you. I can't let you simply walk away," Mujin Park stated with a smile, addressing Jegal and Mandeok.

Mandeok let out a sigh and, with a wave of his hand, erected a small dome to shield himself and Jegal.

"I won't allow that insolence..." a voice interrupted suddenly. It belonged to an elderly man with white hair and glasses, towering over others with his impressive physique. Clad in wizard's attire and wielding a wand, he was Jeon Jaesan, one of the six.

Mujin acknowledged Jaesan with gratitude. "Thank you for intervening."

"I'm not doing this out of altruism. I'm here to obliterate that scoundrel for killing my grandson," Jaesan declared angrily.

Mujin recalled the events preceding the fight, where Jugok had transformed into a monstrous entity, only to meet his demise at the hands of Jegal Taek.

Mori grabbed the small fireball and turned to Jegal Taek with a smile. "So, you're behind this, huh...?"

Jegal Taek, with a slight smile, asked: "Give it to me..."

Mori simply smiled back, while Mujin Park urgently shouted, "Give it to me!"

"Don't play. I don't trust you," Mori replied firmly to Mujin.

Jegal Taek laughed lightly. "Well, it looks like it's time to have fun..."

With a powerful kick, he shattered the ground beneath them, causing them all to fall. In the midst of the chaos, Jegal Taek approached Mori and commented, "It's time to take control of this body..."

Quickly, Jegal aimed a kick at Mori, who managed to evade it and counterattack with a kick of his own. As the confrontation escalated, Mori narrowly dodged a punch, a thin trickle of blood staining his cheek from the near impact.

"Hand it over," Jegal insisted, reaching for the fireball, only to receive another swift kick from Mori, sending him careening in a different direction.

///

"Very well... it looks like we landed safely... but where is Jegal Taek?" Mori surveyed the area and noticed Mira next to a red horse, the manifestation of her charyeok. On top of the horse were the two nurses, friends of Ilpyo and Ilpyo Park. It seemed that not only had the ring broken, but the ground beneath Ilpyo had also given way, causing him, the nurses, and his two friends to fall.

Next to Ilpyo was Park Seungah, with her long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. She was dressed in a modified traditional 'dobok', a type of garment used in certain martial arts.

Next to her was Park Seungyeon, with short, light brown hair and amber eyes.

Both Seungah and Seungyeon were friends of Ilpyo Park and had come to witness his fight against Jegal. Unfortunately, they found themselves near the ring and were trapped on the floor when Jegal broke it up.

Suddenly, Daewi descended to the ground in a water bubble and saw Mori and Mira. "Well...this seems pretty complicated," he commented.

"I know, and it seems that Jegal is behind this little fireball," Mori replied, looking at the fireball in his hand.

"What if we give it back to Ilpyo?" Mori suggested, curiosity evident in his tone.

The nurse intervened, expressing her concerns. "He is unstable. I don't know what could happen if he absorbs that fireball..."

Mori sighed, as Mira suggested an alternative. "What if you absorb him...? He could help us defeat Jegal."

"No, I prefer not to trust Charyeok. There's something about it that doesn't sit well with me. Besides, I have the feeling that I can defeat him with what I have. It's an interesting feeling," Mori explained with a slight smile.

Daewi, scratching his head, proposed a plan. "Let Mori take care of Jegal Taek. Mira and I will go after the Gyeongsang team. They landed here too."

Mira nodded and added, "That sounds good. But we should probably hide the key, just in case. We don't want them to get their hands on it. Things could get even more complicated if that happens..."

Mori smiled. "I'll take care of the blue-haired boy. Go find the others!"

Suddenly, some bushes rustled, causing Mori, Mira, and Daewi to tense up, ready for potential danger. However, a woman emerged from the foliage. She had light brown hair tied in two buns on either side of her head—it was Ma Bora.

Ma Bora emerged with a wound on her arm, blood trickling down slowly. "Help... Jegal went crazy..." she pleaded, her voice filled with urgency and fear.

Mori gazed at Ma Bora . "Where is he?" he inquired, his voice steady.

Ma Bora quickly relayed the address to Mori, who nodded in acknowledgment. Without wasting a moment, Mori turned and swiftly departed.

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(POV: Mara)

I was training in the messy training room, as usual, finding solace in the routine of combat and exercise. My strength had grown remarkably during my time here.

Suddenly, a sense of unease washed over me, causing my hands to tremble ever so slightly.

"So, you were in this place... underground," a voice broke the silence, startling me. I spun around to see a figure—a blonde-haired individual clad in a coat of blue, orange, yellow, and black, with black gloves.

"I finally found you, damn monkey," the blonde man spoke with a smirk, instantly marking him as one of the adversaries. The NOX symbol on his shoulders confirmed my suspicions.

"Haa... right, I forgot to introduce myself... my name is Xiaochen," he introduced himself with a slight bow, his smile unsettling.

"My king tasked me with capturing you... quite an interesting assignment. So, are you going to escape or fight?" Xiaochen's gaze pierced through me, as if delving into my very soul.

"Where are the others?" I asked, attempting to maintain a facade of calm despite my inner turmoil.

"Don't worry, I knocked them out. A woman put up quite a fight, but she wasn't much of a challenge," Xiaochen replied casually, his smile unwavering.

"So, you've come to capture me, then?" I questioned, a wild grin spreading across my face. Though I knew I was outmatched, I was eager to test my abilities against him.

"Haha... it seems like the threads are about to break," Xiaochen remarked cryptically. His words puzzled me, but I brushed them aside, focusing on the impending confrontation.

"Haha!" Xiaochen's laughter echoed through the room. "I hope you lose quickly... I want my vacation."

In an instant, Xiaochen vanished from sight, and before I could react, I felt a powerful impact to my face, sending me hurtling through the air until I crashed into a nearby wall. The force was staggering, and I struggled to regain my bearings, feeling the sting of blood on my lips.

"Shit... that hurt," I grumbled, wiping the blood away with my hand, the pain pulsating through my face.

"Interesting, you withstood a blow from me," Xiaochen remarked with a small smile.

I braced myself as Xiaochen disappeared once more, but this time, I couldn't evade his attack. I felt an immense force pressing me against the wall, my bones vibrating with the impact. Another hit like that, and I knew I'd be in serious trouble.

Xiaochen reappeared beside me, his presence unnerving. "How lucky..."

Before I could react, a blow landed on my ribs, sending me crashing through a nearby wall and into a hallway beyond. The pain was excruciating, and I could feel my ribs protesting with each breath.

"Shit... fuck..." I cursed through gritted teeth, the agony coursing through me.

As Xiaochen approached, seizing me by the neck, I spat defiantly in his face, my anger overriding the pain. "Fuck you, asshole."

Xiaochen's expression darkened. "Okay... now I'm a little angry."

With a sudden, brutal blow to my stomach, I couldn't suppress the involuntary spew of blood. The pain was unbearable, and Xiaochen regarded me with a cruel smile before hurling me aside. I spiraled through the air, disoriented and battered, until I crashed painfully onto the unforgiving ground below, my head throbbing with agony.

Suddenly, a shout pierced the air: "MY KING!!" My gaze snapped towards the source of the cry, and there she was: Bi Lou, badly wounded, blood seeping from her arm, yet determined. She sprinted towards me, positioning herself protectively in front of me.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on my king!" Bi Lou's voice trembled with anger as she glared at Xiaochen.

"How intriguing... I thought I incapacitated you... you're a resilient one, aren't you?" Xiaochen remarked, eyeing Bi Lou with interest.

"Apologies, but if you obstruct me, I'll be forced to eliminate you," Xiaochen warned, advancing towards Bi Lou.

My mind raced with a tumult of thoughts—I couldn't bear to witness Bi Lou's demise. She had aided me, imparted knowledge and skills.

"No... stop..." I croaked, anguish tainting my voice as she pulled me closer to the confrontation.

I watched as Bi Lou launched a series of strikes at Xiaochen, but he effortlessly evaded them, seizing her by the throat. "It's time to end this," he declared.

"NOOOOO!" My scream echoed through the stillness as everything seemed to freeze.

My mind ceased its frantic churn as if time itself had paused. Amidst the silence, a voice reverberated within me: "Wake up, Wukong... wake up." It stirred something within me, unlocking a flood of memories—fleeting glimpses of battles against colossal foes, the annihilation of armies. Yet, abruptly, the vision shattered, like a reel of film abruptly severed.

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(third person)

Xiaochen was on the verge of thrusting his arm through Bi Lou's chest when he suddenly felt a chill permeate the air. "Hey..." a voice interrupted him from behind.

Startled, Xiaochen whirled around to find himself face to face with a pair of piercing blue eyes, adorned with a golden cross that extended to the edge of the iris. The intensity of the gaze conveyed anger and power. In an instant, Xiaochen felt an immense force collide with him, slamming him into a nearby wall and shattering his arm.

Struggling to regain his composure, Mara seized Bi Lou, who lay on the ground, and whispered, "Calm down... I'm here. You're safe now."

Mara voice cut through the tension as he addressed Xiaochen, "You're in trouble... you bastard."

As Xiaochen surveyed the scene, his eyes fell upon something peculiar—a headband materialized on Mara's head. Its design resembled a bow-shaped white metal ring, forming half of a crown. The crown floated above Mara's head, an enigmatic symbol of power.

Observing the half-crown, Xiaochen muttered, "So it's true... half, yet not quite... alike, yet distinct..."