Macaque called forth his shadows, absorbing the figure as soon as they touched the cool metal of the train, absorbing them into the darkness. Nezha yelped, unable to escape as he plunged into the shadows. The warrior turned to the others with a smirk, "I'll take care of him. You guys go ahead."

He sank into his shadows, ignoring the team's protests. Just as he dipped in fully, he caught sight of saddened, ruby-gold eyes that gave him a sweet farewell.

---

Wukong walked along the ruins, looking around before exhaling slowly, "Mei, step forward." The dragon girl nervously obeyed, not saying a word. Wukong gave her a soft smile, "Relax. I know what I'm doing."

He held his hands out, letting them glow. His eyes blazed a deep red, two pinpricks of gold narrowed down on her soul, examining the foreign energy inside of her. The king flicked his wrists, carefully maneuvering the Samadhi piece out of her bright soul. It weaved itself out slowly before fully submerging from her body with a startled gasp.

Wukong took the ring, holding back a hiss as the volatile energy bit into the skin of his palms, "You alright, Mei?" She nodded blankly, patting her chest, "It tickled. Dude, I was trying so hard not to squirm!" The ginger snorted, gesturing for Red Son, "Tang, get into position. Everyone hide behind...something."

"Things are gonna get messy."

---

He dodged the spear with a snarl, his right eye throbbing with a phantom prick of pain.

Nezha flinched from the sound subtly, huffing angrily, "This is dangerous! This ritual could end us all!" Macaque sent a flurry of shadows to lurch themselves against the deity, "Red Son can control himself fine now." The brunette blinked in surprise.

"He'll be receiving the fire..? But the dragon girl has the--"

Macaque grinned smugly as he managed to use his shadow tendrils to slam the prince against a mountain side, "Wukong knows how to get it out, no thanks to your precious emperor." The words bit viciously into Nezha's very core, and he didn't bother getting up.

The warrior stood beside his crumbled state, glaring down at him, "What? Don't tell me you pity Wukong. I thought you two were some sort of friends or something." Nezha didn't respond, simply squeezing his eyes shut. Rough hands pulled him up, forcing him to gasp in surprise.

"Nope. Get up, get the hell up and help us." Macaque stiffened, ears flaring out, "...Shit."

---

"Tang, wait don't! Not yet--" Wukong snarled as the haunted spider he was holding back thrashed in his hold, fighting to be set free.

The king was terrified.

He didn't want to...to kill the possessed arachnids by accident. Not like... And Red Son! He was in danger, being stared down by the largest spider. And if the Samadhi was set off, it could kill Goliath.

But the scholar wordlessly began the ritual.

The world glowed golden. Time slowed down as Wukong shoved Huntsman aside, lurching forward. He barely managed to push Goliath to safety as the air ignited into an unforgivable red haze.

"Wukong!"

Red Son laughed, giddy as his soul felt whole once more. Icey blue chains crumbled loudly in the air, and the flames died down as the demon landed on his feet, "Success! Simian, it work--"

Silence.

Macaque rushed forward, and it was a wonder when he'd arrived. MK followed closely, and the fire user watched mutely as they dropped beside Wukong.

Wukong, who looked oddly dazed as he sat on the ground. Wukong, whose clothes were charred in specific areas. Wukong, who'd been knocked over by the violent sparks and flares of the Samadhi. Wukong, who was suddenly staggering to his feet.

Huntsman and Goliath had left long ago, having taken their bit of freedom to most likely hunt down the rest of their small family.

"Where are you going?" Macaque grabbed his king's arm, pulling against the singed sleeve. Wukong glanced back, smiling sweetly, "Lady Bone Demon definitely knows what has happened. She'll be here soon, I need to buy you all time." MK frowned, stomping his foot, "No! What if she does something big and you don't come back?"

Wukong snorted, shaking off Macaque, "Don't worry, bud! I'll be fine." Nezha snarled, "That is foolish, Sun Wukong! You mustn't be so brash!" The king gave the prince a knowing look, "She can't kill me. And I--" Nezha cut him off, pressing his finger harshly against the ginger's chest, "As your older brother, I demand you stop this nonsense of yours!"

"...Oh."

Wukong blinked, stepping away from the deity, "I can't do that. You need to be here, you understand what it is like to wield powerful magic. I can buy time, I can fight for days on end. I'm your best bet."

The air chilled dangerously.

Wukong turned, facing Macaque with frantic eyes, "Get everyone out of here!" Pigsy tried to object, worry evident in his angry eyes as he stared at the great sage. Wukong looked away, squeezing his eyes shut as everyone sank into the shadows.

Just to make sure Macaque wouldn't be able to drag him away, he hopped onto his cloud.

And flew away towards the upcoming danger.

---

As soon as Sandy nodded an 'All clear' the fire user suddenly moved, scooping up a bunch of papers he'd taken from the scholar.

"We need a plan!" Red Son slammed papers down, his temper making his hair flicker, "Noodle Boy, do what you're talented in and make a plan!" MK startled, frantically taking out his crayons, "But Monkey King isn't here! I-I can't plan without--"

Tang placed a hand against the hero's shoulder, patting it gently, "He'll be back, MK! For now, make a plan without him included. He'll be able to adjust accordingly, I'm sure." Nezha nodded, trying to encourage the boy, "He is used to battling, Wukong will be able to understand just what to do when the time comes."

He wasn't the Intelligent Stone Monkey for the fun of it, after all.

MK hummed, beginning to draw. Mei beamed, sitting down to watch him. Red Son joined, though seemingly only to critique him as a plan slowly began to form. Everyone else simply waited, nervously listening for something big.

---

Wukong fought, snarling as the ice crumbled beneath his fists.

Lady Bone Demon hummed, watching him with odd fascination, "I thought your days of slaughter were over, your majesty." Wukong ignored the harsh thrum of his heart in his ears, shoving aside a wall of frozen spikes. The woman continued her cruel taunting.

"It seems I'm missing my dear thrall, do you perhaps know where he is?"

Wukong grunted as Syntax leaped at him, trying to jab him with his metal appendages. Spider Queen joined as well, trying to overtake him. The king pushed them away, fists carefully avoiding contact with their too-frail mortal bodies. The demoness seemed to take notice of his hesitance in properly strike.

She smiled cruelly.

---

This was making MK lose his mind.

"Ugh! No, this is all wrong!" He crumpled up the paper, throwing it onto the pile of ruined pages. He buried his face into his hands, feeling agitated. A hooved hand pressed against his back, followed by a gruff voice, "Hey, it's okay, kid. You'll think've somethin'." MK looked up, glancing over at Pigsy.

"But what if I'm too late?" Worry bubbled in his gut, making him clench his fists. The chef rubbed his back, "It won't be too late. You're smart, you'll figure it out."

There was a sudden disturbance as shadows opened up, revealing two familiar spiders. MK tensed, glancing over at Macaque. The shadow user huffed, "They were looking for us. Thought it'd be fair to question them."

Goliath waved shyly, and Huntsman simply grumbled, eyeing Sandy. The blue giant hummed in understanding, "They want us to help them get back the others!" Huntsman grumbled beneath his breath, crossing his arms, "We can't free Syntax or Queenie on our own. We need your fire brat for that, or a way to defeat that stupid bone witch."

MK glanced over at the warrior, questions clear on his face. Macaque nodded, confirming their honesty despite glaring at them blatantly.

"I...I can work with this." A wave of dawning realization and relief washed over the hero as he scooped up some paper, doodling madly on it. The spiders awkwardly watched, being closely monitored by Nezha and Mei.

"I think I've got something!"

---

"If you kill me, you'll kill the host!"

The hand reaching for her stilled, fingers twitching. Lady Bone Demon grinned, subtly taking back some of her magic from her two defeated puppets. She spoke once more, "Or are you desperate enough to give her the same fate you've given countless others before you?"

Another twitch of hesitation.

Lady Bone Demon threw her hands up, forming a large symbol. Blue cracks of magic peeked through her host's skin, framing her desperate grin. The king screamed as a cold sensation pierced through into his spine, spreading throughout his body and mind.

---

MK nodded to himself, observing the frozen wasteland. The others moved cautiously into position, waiting for him to make the first move.

The hero ran forward, and that was enough to kickstart the battle.

Huntsman hissed as Syntax appeared, using his extra limbs to fight against the other. Goliath assisted as best he could, breaking the metal appendages as the queen leaned into the fight. She fought viscously, yelling wordlessly. Webs were shot out, and Huntsman used her attacks to secure Syntax, placing him down as Goliath managed to smash through her mechanical lower body.

Red Son was ready, using small amounts of the Samadhi to free the remaining puppets, causing both Syntax and Spider Queen to gasp. Huntsman and Goliath filled them in, dragging them to safety, as Mei scooped up the fire demon.

They raced forward, wrecking what they could of the ice demoness's mech, hoping it would be enough. Pigsy, Tang, and Sandy saluted them, busy fighting blue-tinted robots.

Macaque transported himself with MK and Nezha, sending them to the top. The staff was there, frozen to the metal. MK stepped forward--

A thud echoed out.

His blood seemed to freeze.

Another echoed out.

Macaque nervously spun his shadows.

A third sounded.

Nezha's eyes widened as he looked towards the sounds.

A fourth thump.

MK realized they were footsteps.

---

Wukong knew this feeling well. He hadn't felt it in a while, but it fit like a glow. He felt empty, a vacant spot.

His body was not his own.

His soul twitched, and he opened his eyes. The monkey looked around, dazed, "What is this?" A laugh mocked him, startling the newly made prisoner.

"You are my champion now! You will bring forth my destiny."

Wukong gasped, looking around for a way out, "No!" He held his hands out, reaching against the abyss. Chains were absent, though that wasn't strange. After all, you don't need anything to hold down a lonely soul.

---

She needed more power, her new puppet was quite resistant.

Lady Bone Demon let go of her host, barely paying attention as the spiders caught the child. That was of no concern on her end.

She channeled the bit of magic towards her champion's mind, and watched with a snarling smirk as he mercilessly fought against the Lotus Prince and his loyal warrior.

They fought back, of course, pushing him back as best they could as he hounded them with harsh blows.

---

Nezha grunted, blood dripping from his nose as he held back the king's right arm with all his might. Macaque was just as disheveled, holding the other arm along with his shadows. Their feet slid against the frosted metal, and they fought to gain some sort of friction.

The king continued forward, eyes an empty blue.

MK struggled against the staff, grunting as he pulled. Flames appeared, and the hero gasped in relief as his staff was freed from the evaporating ice, "Red Son!"

Macaque and Nezha let go, scrambling down as violent flickering flames washed over Sun Wukong. But the monkey didn't even flinch.

Red Son frowned, standing beside MK in confusion. "But he...It should've worked!" A laugh echoed out, and a figure floated down.

"He has more of my power than any other! He is my champion!" She was in her original form, wispy white hair flowing in the wind. Her red eyes blazed with insanity, and a cackle erupted from within her thin frame.

MK stepped forward.

"Sun Wukong. I know you can hear me. Will you follow my voice?"

---

MK was speaking. Wukong pushed towards him.

"Red Son, when I drop down, flare out as much as you can." MK took another step forward. The king's body did the same.

Wukong pushed, straining as ice pierced through his soul.

Macaque and Nezha subtly used their magic, surrounding the area. Lady Bone Demon ignored the petals and wisps of darkness, they would do nothing. Could do nothing. But they were strange. "This world is full of pain. Why do you fight against bringing forth a better life for all?"

The ginger laughed, finding a tear as his body leaped towards his successor.

A clawed hand wrapped around the staff, sending laser beams of golden light splashing across the sky. MK dropped down, followed by Macaque and Nezha as the shadows took them in. Red Son grinned with savage glee as the fire within him suddenly flooded out, combining with the golden magic, petals, and swirling ebony wisps of shadow magic.

Lady Bone Demon gasped, feeling the swirls of power clashing into her fragile soul. The sky lit up, highlighted by symbols the team had made down below the mech, combining even more magic signatures.

Everything faded away.

---

She floated aimlessly in the white void, "We both fight for what we believe is right. You and I...are not so different..."

MK shrugged, "No. But I like how the world is, y'know? Sad stuff and all. If everything was only good, there wouldn't be any balance. Yin and Yang stuff, or whatever." Lady Bone Demon smiled, reminding herself that this was a cub she was speaking one last time with.

"Well, know this, monkey. The pursuit of saving everything leads to one thing." MK frowned, tilting his head, "Sleepless nights?"

She laughed, peace worming its way into her heart.

"No...to pain."

She dissipated, leaving the hero behind.

---

Wukong ate his noodles, leaning against Macaque as MK commented on the view. The king agreed, watching the sun make its way down.

"Man, after this we are definitely taking a break for a while, bud." MK nodded to his mentor's words, sagging against him, "Agreed." He frowned, tapping his bowl idly.

She'd called him a monkey.

Why did that feel so right? So natural? Why did it fit like a missing puzzle piece?

Wukong suddenly scurried to his feet, "Tag!" He ran, laughing giddily as his student chased after him, and was soon joined by Mei and Bai He.

Whatever other mysteries there were could wait, for now, he was simply content in playing childhood games with the ghost he'd grown up with.