NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: Journey and Training Arc (Part 1)
Behold, Peasants!
I... HAVE RETURNED!!!
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Haaaahhhh, I'm so tired right now.
I really should be sleepin', and I got work in the mornin', sooo…
Yeah.
Welp.
Imma keep this short, nerds ^w^
Enjoy the chapter!
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The air was thick with the smell of stale wine, roasted meat, and something else—something unmistakably pig-like. Wukong wrinkled his nose in distaste.
"So this is where the mighty Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy ended up," he muttered to himself, stepping toward the ruined temple ahead. "Buddha really has a sense of humor."
He didn't bother knocking. The doors creaked open under his touch, revealing a dimly lit hall littered with overturned bowls, half-gnawed bones, and jugs stacked high like some shrine to drunken excess. At the center of it all, sprawled lazily across a heap of stolen treasures, lay the creature he was looking for.
Zhu Bajie.
The pig demon was everything Wukong expected—bloated, sluggish, and stinking of grease. His robes were stretched tight over his belly, stained with wine and sauce, his tusked grin wide as he tore into a chunk of meat, juice dripping down his chin.
Wukong leaned against his staff, unimpressed. "You know, I thought I'd have to fight a great warrior today. Instead, I find a fat pig who mistook himself for a king."
Bajie froze mid-bite. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward Wukong, small, beady eyes narrowing. "And who are you to barge into my home, insulting me like a stray dog looking for scraps?"
Wukong smirked, tapping his staff against the ground. "A stray dog? Please. I'm Sun Wukong—the Handsome Monkey King, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and your new senior in this little pilgrimage."
Bajie blinked. Then he snorted, shaking with laughter. "You? My senior?" He waved a greasy hand in dismissal. "You're just a flea-bitten ape who got himself stuffed under a mountain for biting off more than he could chew. And now you're running errands for a bald monk? Tsk, tsk. How the mighty have fallen."
Wukong's grin sharpened. "Oh? And what about you, Marshal Zhu? You had a high seat in Heaven, didn't you? Commanded a million heavenly soldiers, wore silken robes, drank divine wine… And now look at you." He gestured around the filthy temple. "Rolling in filth like a hog in a trough, stuffing your face with stolen food. Tell me, do you oink in your sleep, too?"
Bajie's laughter cut off with an irritated snort. He wiped his mouth, sitting up. "Watch that tongue, monkey. You're talking to a warrior of Heaven."
"A former warrior," Wukong corrected, grinning. "Now, you're just a pig who couldn't keep his hands off the Jade Emperor's maidens."
That got a reaction. Bajie's face darkened, his tusks bared in a sneer. "You little—"
Wukong spun his staff lazily in one hand, tilting his head. "What? You gonna fight me? Go ahead. Let's see if all that fat can keep up."
Bajie didn't need another word. With surprising speed, he grabbed his nine-toothed rake and surged forward, the ground trembling under his weight. Wukong leapt back with a laugh, eyes glinting with excitement.
Now this was more like it.
The temple shook as the two warriors clashed, insults and blows flying in equal measure.
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The dust was still settling from their fight, the temple walls cracked, its offerings shattered. Smoke curled from the ground where Wukong had slammed Bajie into the floor—not that the pig had fared much better himself, having nearly knocked Wukong through a support beam earlier.
Now, Bajie lay sprawled on his back, gasping for breath, his massive belly rising and falling like a storm-tossed sea. His rake was a few feet away, wedged into the broken stone where Wukong had disarmed him.
Wukong, standing over him, rested his staff on his shoulder and smirked. "Well, that was disappointing. I thought Heaven's great marshal would last a little longer."
Bajie groaned, rubbing his bruised ribs. "Oh, bite me, monkey… I've had enough for today."
"You sure? We can go another round. Maybe this time you'll actually hit me before falling on your ass."
Bajie shot him a glare, then hauled himself up with a grunt, brushing dust off his robes. "I hate your face."
"Understandable," Wukong said, grinning. "It is the face of a winner."
Bajie muttered something about insufferable primates, then sighed. "Alright, fine. You win. What now?"
"Now?" Wukong spun his staff once and planted it into the ground. "Now, you come with me."
Bajie raised a brow. "Come with you where?"
"To meet the master. Tripitaka's waiting for us."
At that, Bajie scoffed, crossing his arms. "You think I'm just going to up and follow some monk?"
Wukong shrugged. "You got a better plan? Because as far as I see it, you've got two options. One—stay here, keep stuffing your face with stolen food, and wait until some demon hunter comes knocking. And let's be honest, you aren't clever enough to talk your way out of that. You'd probably get yourself turned into bacon by sundown."
Bajie frowned. "And option two?"
"You come with me. You join the pilgrimage, follow the master, maybe work off that gut swinging your rake at something other than dinner, and—" Wukong leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "—you might even get some divine forgiveness out of it."
Bajie snorted. "Forgiveness? From Heaven? After everything I've done?"
Wukong smirked. "Hey, they forgave me. And I'm pretty sure I broke more rules than you did. What's a little… harassment of celestial maidens compared to my glorious rebellion?"
Bajie gave him a flat look. "You say that like it's not a crime."
"Everything's a crime if you annoy the right people." Wukong stretched. "Look, I don't care what you choose. Stay here, rot away—whatever. But I guarantee you, a thousand years from now, when people tell stories about us, do you really want to be remembered as some fat bandit pig who sat in a ruined temple and ate himself to death?"
Bajie opened his mouth to argue—then hesitated.
Damn. The monkey had a point.
He let out a long breath. "...Alright. Fine. I'll go with you. But only because I'm getting bored of this place."
"Of course, of course," Wukong said, waving a hand. "Nothing to do with the whole 'divine redemption' thing, I'm sure."
"Shut up."
Wukong chuckled. "Welcome to the pilgrimage, pig boy."
Bajie groaned, already regretting this decision.
But, deep down, he had to admit—this might be the first time in years he had actually looked forward to something.
With that, the two of them left the ruined temple behind, side by side, the start of a new journey ahead.
And thus, Wukong gained his first companion; the loyal pig, the gluttonous swine.
And for better or worse, the pilgrimage had just gotten a lot louder.
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"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies, it comes from those you trust the most"
Unknown Author
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Journey and Training Arc
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The sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the shoddy, rundown warehouse district as shadows darted between cover. Muffled yells in Spanish and English mingled with the roar of an automatic rifle tearing through crates, scattering splinters and contraband in equal measure. Valerie Tepes crouched low behind a steel support beam, her crimson eyes narrowed as she scanned the chaos. She adjusted her gloves, the thin leather stained dark from weeks of wear and the occasional smear of blood.
"Kid! You good?" Sun Wukong's voice cut through the clamor, clear and calm despite the chaos. The Monkey King swung down from a metal rafter overhead, his Ruyi Jingu Bang smashing into the ground with a resounding thud that sent a shockwave through the concrete. Men and women alike shouted in alarm as they were knocked off their feet, their guns skittering out of reach.
Valerie didn't look up. Her focus was locked on a figure across the room, a man in a tailored black suit barking orders into a handheld radio. His features were sharp, his stance poised—a clear leader, and her target. "I'm fine," she replied curtly. "But that's their boss. If he gets away…"
"He's not getting away," Wukong assured her, stretching languidly, before spinning his staff as it expanded with a sharp metallic groan. He smirked, a glint of mischief in his golden eyes. "You handle the grunts. Leave him to me."
"Oh. Also…" He side-eyed her and smirked. "This is still your mission, kid, so don't expect me to babysit you, okay? I'm sure that as my student, you should be able to defeat a few dozen mages and Sacred Gear Wielders without any problems~" Before she could protest, Wukong launched himself forward, his staff whirling in wide arcs that deflected bullets and sent his attackers scrambling. Valerie sighed, muttering under her breath, "Show-off." She stepped out from behind the beam, her movements fluid and precise as she ducked under a hail of bullets, her vampiric speed turning her into a blur. Her hands moved swiftly, disarming one man with a sharp twist of his wrist before driving a stake into the shoulder of another, incapacitating him.
As Valerie advanced, the air grew thick with the hum of magic. A group of cartel enforcers, their faces etched with grim determination, activated glowing spell circles beneath their feet. Symbols of various magical schools flared to life, bathing the room in an eerie light. One man unleashed a torrent of fire, the blazing inferno hurtling toward Valerie. She spun her newly acquired spear—a sleek, obsidian weapon engraved with intricate Chinese kanji—to intercept. Wukong had enchanted the spear himself, imbuing it with resilience and the ability to disrupt magical constructs. The flames parted around the spear's blade as if split by an invisible force.
"Nice try," Valerie muttered, lunging forward with a graceful thrust. The spear pierced the spellcaster's defenses, shattering his protective barrier before he collapsed, clutching his side.
A roar of anger drew her attention to another adversary wielding a Sacred Gear. Valerie recognized the gleaming gauntlet of Twice Critical, its clenched glowing with raw power as he Boosted. The man charged at her, throwing punches to her abdomen and face leaving trails of destructive energy in their wake. She dodged and weaved in between attacks, parrying with her spear and lunging in a thrust. Valerie sidestepped a right hook and countered with a calculated strike, kicking up and hitting his chin, knocking him airborne. She leaped up and aimed her spear, piercing through his defenses, the kanji glowing faintly as the spear tore through another body.
From above, Wukong continued to wreak havoc, his staff extending to knock enemies into walls and interrupt spellcasters before they could unleash their attacks. "That's two points for me!" he called out, grinning as he deflected a volley of glowing projectiles launched by a magic user wielding Mirror Alice. The reflective barrier of the Sacred Gear shimmered as it absorbed and redirected attacks, but Wukong's unorthodox combat style overwhelmed its user. He closed the distance in an instant, delivering a blow that left the man sprawled on the ground.
"Focus!" Valerie snapped, her eyes narrowing as she took on two opponents simultaneously. One wielded a large kite shield infused with Twinkle Aegis, its radiant surface deflecting her initial strikes. The other was a sorcerer weaving complex patterns in the air, summoning chains of glowing energy that snaked toward her. Valerie darted between the attacks, her spear spinning in a blur of motion. She fainted left, drawing the shield user off balance, before delivering a precise thrust that struck the sorcerer's focus point, dispelling the chains in a burst of light.
"Not bad, kid," Wukong remarked as he swung down from a rafter to land beside her. "You're getting quicker. Maybe I'll stop calling you slowpoke."
"Don't push your luck," Valerie replied, parrying a heavy strike from a rare Sacred Gear user wielding Gravity Jail. The air around her seemed to compress, the weight of the gravitational field threatening to pin her in place.
"Ack-! *Crack*! Aaagghh, This fucking bitch!"
Her leg cracked, and she grunted as she kneeled on the ground under the immense pressure of the increased gravity. With a determined glare, she activated a countermeasure Wukong had taught her, calling her blood forth. With a wave of her hand, a red magic circle materialized behind her back. Countless blood spears materialized in the air beside her, and, with a snap of her fingers, were launched faster than the eye could see, dozens of spears suddenly appearing as they pierced through many of the remaining cartels. The wielder of Gravity Jail coughed out blood as she stared at Valerie in shock before she fell over; dead.
As she kneeled there, nursing her broken leg, the warehouse became a maelstrom of energy, gunfire, and clashing steel as the tide turned steadily in Wukong's favor. As the last of the cartel enforcers fell, the leader made a desperate attempt to flee. Wukong intercepted him effortlessly, pinning him to the ground with his staff.
"Any updates, kid?" Wukong called out as he tightened his grip on the struggling man. "Any juicy intel while you've been snooping around their operations?"
Valerie landed lightly on the balls of her feet, leaning heavily on her spear, and brushing her short, dark cape back as she wiped her hands clean of splinters and blood. "Not much. Their records are encrypted, but I've been piecing things together. Khaos Brigade's leadership is keeping their distance, but their name's all over this." She approached him, taking slow, painful strides, her tone shifting to something softer, almost hesitant. "Still no sign of Gasper, though."
Wukong's grin faltered for a fraction of a second, but he quickly masked it with his usual swagger. "We'll find him," he said, his voice steady. "That kid's too stubborn to stay lost forever." He glanced down at the cartel leader, who was groaning and trying to crawl away. "Now, my new friend here is gonna spill his guts… metaphorically speaking, of course. Right?" He pressed his staff down harder, making the man yelp in pain.
Valerie huffed, her expression unreadable. She'd heard that promise too many times in the past two years. Every lead, every scrap of information, had brought them closer to the truth but never close enough. Gasper's disappearance weighed heavily on her, a constant ache she refused to let show.
The cartel leader spat out something in Spanish, and Wukong's eyes narrowed. "Huh. Didn't catch that," he said, his grin turning sharp. He swung his staff down, stopping it just short of the man's throat. "Care to try again in a language I understand?"
The man's resolve crumbled under her gaze, and he began to stammer out details—drop points, shipments, names of minor operatives. Valerie memorized every word, her mind working quickly to fit the pieces together. It wasn't enough to lead them to the leaders, but it was another thread to pull.
As the cartel leader finished speaking, Wukong knocked him unconscious with a quick strike to the head. "Well, that was almost too easy," he said, twirling his staff and shrinking it back to its portable size. He turned to Valerie, his tone light but his eyes serious. "Still no Gasper, huh?"
"No," she said quietly, her fists clenching at her sides. "But we're closer. We have to be."
Wukong placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression softening. "You're doing good, kid. Better than most people twice your age would manage. Don't lose heart."
"I'll find him," she said firmly, more to herself than to Wukong.
The Monkey King leaned back, balancing effortlessly on his tail. "You will," he agreed, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "But not if you burn yourself out first. You're good, kid, but you're not invincible."
She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she looked out over the warehouse. The fight was over, but the war was far from won. Somewhere out there, Gasper was waiting for her. She just had to keep moving forward, no matter how long it took.
"Thanks, teacher," Valerie said quietly as they walked away; her body leaning against his as he helped her walk with her arm around his shoulders, and her grip tightening on her spear. Wukong's smile widened, and he gave her a playful nudge.
"That's the spirit. Now, let's see what kind of trouble we can stir up next."
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-On the Outskirts of Michoacán, Mexico-
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"Really, Valerie. A broken leg? That's your excuse for skipping out on training?" Sun Wukong sighed, shaking his head in exaggerated disappointment, his tail flicking irritably behind him. He rested his staff on his shoulder and gave her a stern look, though the mischievous glint in his golden eyes betrayed his amusement. "I thought I taught you better than that…"
"What?" Valerie Tepes blinked at him, her expression caught between annoyance and disbelief. She gestured to her hastily wrapped leg, still splattered with blood from the earlier fight. "I can barely walk, and you want me to train?"
"Excuses, excuses." Wukong wagged a finger at her. "You've got two arms, don't you? And your spear? That's all you need!"
Valerie groaned, leaning back against a weathered boulder. "I think the cartel and their goons gave me plenty of training today, thanks."
The jungle around them buzzed with life, the chirping of cicadas almost deafening in the humid dusk. The clearing they'd chosen as their temporary base was full of life, though many boxes and two tents stood out in the very middle of the area.
He squatted down beside Valerie, poking at her injury like an overly curious monkey. "Broken leg? Pfft. Your regeneration will fix that in a few hours, tops."
"Not if you keep poking at it," Valerie muttered, swatting his hand away.
Wukong grinned, his fangs flashing. "Fair enough. I'd rather not let my prized apprentice keel over from something as insignificant as a broken leg~. "
Valerie shot him a sideways glance. "You're starting to sound like you care."
"Don't get used to it," Wukong quipped, his grin returning. He pushed himself to his feet and stretched, his staff twirling lazily in one hand. "Now, come on. Let's get you moving before you turn into a statue."
"Are you serious?" Valerie stared at him, incredulous. "I just fought off a cartel with magic users and Sacred Gear wielders. My leg is literally broken. And you want me to train?"
"Yup," Wukong said cheerfully. "You know what they say—pain is the best teacher. Besides, you're my student, and I have a reputation to uphold."
Valerie groaned, dragging herself to her feet with the help of her spear. The glowing kanji along its shaft seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat. She grimaced as pain shot through her injured leg, but she refused to let it show.
"Fine," she muttered. "But if I collapse, it's on you."
Wukong smirked, already moving toward the edge of the clearing. "That's the spirit! Now, let's see if you can hit me without falling on your face."
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Valerie Tepes stood at the center of a cleared space, gripping her spear tightly. Her crimson eyes, once dulled by fatigue, now burned with focus. Across from her, Sun Wukong twirled his Ruyi Jingu Bang lazily, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.
Before the fight, Valerie placed a hand over her chest, drawing on the power of the Sephiroth Graal. The Sacred Gear pulsed within her, stirring to life. A golden light seeped into her wounds, knitting torn muscle and banishing the dull ache that had settled into her limbs over the past few days of grueling training. The process left her slightly breathless, her body heavy with the unnatural fatigue that followed such rapid healing, but she refused to face Wukong at anything less than her best.
Wukong arched his brow. "Not bad. But let's see if it'll help you keep up."
Valerie exhaled, adjusting her stance. "No holding back?"
Wukong grinned. "Oh, I'll hold back plenty. Don't want to heavily injure you, right? But don't expect me to go easy~"
Then, without warning, he moved.
One moment he was standing lazily, the next he was in front of her, his staff crashing down toward her shoulder. Valerie barely had time to react. She threw up her spear, intercepting the strike, but the impact sent a sharp jolt through her arms, forcing her to slide back. Dust kicked up around her feet.
"Sloppy," Wukong chided, already moving again. He swept low, his staff aiming for her legs. Valerie jumped, twisting midair to avoid the follow-up strike that would have cracked her ribs.
Landing on one knee, she lashed out with her spear, aiming for his midsection. Wukong sidestepped effortlessly, then flicked his staff forward, catching her in the side. Valerie grunted, rolling with the blow before regaining her footing.
"Faster than before," Wukong acknowledged, nodding. "But you're still too rigid. You fight like you expect people to move predictably. I don't."
Valerie narrowed her eyes, steadying her breathing. He was right. She had fought against spellcasters, Sacred Gear users, even cartel warriors—but Wukong fought like no one she'd ever faced. Unpredictable, fluid, like a storm that changed course on a whim.
She adjusted her grip, shifting her stance. She needed to stop reacting and start anticipating.
Wukong smirked as if he could read her thoughts. "That's the spirit. Now, again."
He vanished, appearing behind her this time. Valerie spun, already bringing her spear up. Their weapons clashed, sending out a shockwave that rustled the sparse grass around them. Wukong didn't relent, pressing forward with rapid, precise strikes, forcing Valerie on the defensive.
But then, she saw it. A fraction of a second where his rhythm changed. A moment of stillness before his next move.
She struck.
Her spear blurred as she thrust forward, aiming for his chest. Wukong barely dodged, eyes widening slightly in surprise before he countered with a quick flick of his staff. Valerie blocked, sliding back but grinning despite the ache in her arms.
"Not bad, kid," Wukong admitted, spinning his staff back to his side. "You're learning."
Valerie exhaled, steadying her grip. "Let's go again."
Wukong laughed, pleased. "That's what I like to hear."
This time, Valerie took the initiative. She lunged forward, spear tip slicing through the air in a rapid series of thrusts. Wukong deflected each with practiced ease, his staff a blur of motion as he countered every attack. But Valerie didn't stop. She twisted her weapon, striking from unpredictable angles, forcing Wukong to step back for the first time.
"Better," he admitted, his grin never faltering. Then, in a burst of motion, he ducked under her next thrust and retaliated. His staff slammed toward her ribs, but she managed to twist at the last second, the impact glancing off her reinforced stance instead of landing cleanly.
She countered with a sweep of her own, aiming to unbalance him. Wukong simply jumped, flipping over her and landing lightly behind her.
Valerie spun just in time to see his staff coming down. She raised her spear in defense, the force of the strike rattling her bones, but she held firm.
"Not bad, not bad," Wukong mused, stepping back. "You've got the endurance, and your instincts are improving. But you still hesitate."
Valerie gritted her teeth. He was right. She had seen an opening earlier, but fear of overextending had held her back.
Wukong planted his staff into the ground, his golden eyes piercing. "If you're going to fight, fight. No half-measures. If you see an opening, take it. You're strong, Valerie, but hesitation will get you killed."
Valerie tightened her grip on her spear, then nodded. "Again."
Wukong chuckled, his tail flicking playfully behind him. "That's the attitude."
And with that, they clashed once more, their battle continuing as the sun dipped lower in the sky, and the night cast its shadows across the land.
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Valerie groaned, sprawled on the ground, her body aching from head to toe. The once-pristine battlefield was now a war zone of smoking craters, upturned trees, and shattered rock formations. In the distance, several mountain faces bore deep scars and gaping holes from their battle, the evidence of their training carved into the land itself.
By the campfire, Wukong sat with his hands propped behind him, leaning back as he stared up at the night sky, his tail lazily flicking beside him.
"Ow…" Valerie muttered, trying to move but wincing at the sharp protest of her muscles. "You really don't know how to hold back, do you?"
Wukong snorted. "Hey, you're still breathing, aren't you? That means I went easy."
She shot him a glare, then groaned again, rolling onto her side. "Remind me why I agreed to this again?"
"Something about finding Gasper," Wukong said nonchalantly. "Big adventure, proving yourself, all that dramatic stuff."
Valerie sighed, staring at the fire. "Yeah… finding Gasper. Seems like a lifetime ago. I've been through so much, but I still feel like I have a long way to go."
Wukong smirked. "Of course you do. You're not done getting your ass kicked yet."
A tic mark formed on Valerie's forehead. "You are unbelievably annoying."
Wukong chuckled. "It comes with being as handsome, amazing, handsome, incredible, handsome, and as awe-inspiring as me. Oh, and did I mention handsome?"
She groaned, tossing a small rock at him. He caught it effortlessly, twirling it between his fingers. "Look, kid. You've got potential. You've come this far, and you're still pushing forward. That's more than most people can say."
Valerie huffed but found herself smiling slightly. "You know, sometimes you actually say helpful things."
"Don't get used to it," Wukong replied, grinning cheekily. "Now get some rest. You'll need it."
Valerie sighed, letting her eyes drift to the fire. The warmth, the exhaustion, the quiet presence of her mentor—it was enough to ease her mind, if only for a little while.
She closed her eyes.
"Night, teach'."
"Hmph. Sleep well, brat."
She grinned slightly, and soon succumbed to the warm embrace of slumber.
Wukong stayed awake for a few moments more, staring at the night sky with content, reminiscent eyes. The stars shone in the night, seen in his glossy eyes, and a shooting star passed across the sky, reflecting off his eyes.
"...Hm… this kid… she would've fit right in with the rest of our merry band…" He chuckled, closing his eyes, and putting his back against a tree.
He sighed, and he too soon fell asleep.
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I… HAVE RETURNED!
And I… Am burdened with GLORIOUS PURPOSE!!!
AND THAT!!!
IS TO GET MY PAYCHECK!!!! AAAAGAGAGAGAGHHAGAHAGHAGHAGAHGGHAHA!!!!!!!.
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*Ahem*
Anyways, I'm back. Long-story short, my employers (damn them) are assholes, they didn't pay me for like A MONTH, and some things and other things happened, and yeah.
Chat, I win.
I FINALLY HAVE MONEY!!! UWU :)
I'M NOT POOR ANYMORE ^w^.
…
But yeah. Anyways, apologies for the wait.
What did y'all nerds think about the chapter? I think it was, well, not too bad, but maybe I'm wrong. I still kinda suck at fighting scenes, but eh, it's whatever.
Welp. There's nothin' left to say, so I'll see y'all losers in the next chapter~
Whenever that comes out~ uwu
Later!~