The turmoil continued, the roars of the demon masses echoing in every corner, shaking heaven and earth.
Dim crimson flames illuminated those faces—birds and beasts alike, each with a different form, yet all equally ferocious in this moment.
The Monkey King suddenly remembered what Big Bull had said to White Ape.
“I’m a bull, you’re an ape—what exactly are those things outside?”
In truth, he was right.
Demons have never been a single race. Never. They belong to all kinds, simple creatures born into this world, who, after absorbing enough spiritual energy to take form, are exiled by fate and forced together.
It is a race steeped in tragedy.
The Heavenly Court called them demons, and so they were branded as such—outcasts, rejected by heaven and earth.
Sometimes, the Monkey King wondered: If the world rejects them, why allow them to exist? Was it only to glorify the military exploits of the Heavenly Army?
Perhaps this was the same question lingering in White Ape’s heart.
They did not know why they were born, but they refused to die so easily.
For tens of thousands of years, they fought in every corner of the world, seeking only a place to survive. Some vanished quietly, some became kings of mountains and scourges of the land, some crawled beneath the Heavenly Court’s feet, willing to serve as slaves.
Yet all, without exception, struggled against their unjust fate in their own way.
The Monkey King had witnessed Skyward Rangers slaughtering demons—without reason, and needing none. The Heavenly Court was justice, no matter what it did. Demons were evil, no matter what they did.
Even the demons themselves accepted it as normal, as if it were truth—like the fabricated name ‘demon’ itself.
Fate forced every demon to take up arms and learn to fight. They became a true warrior race; from the moment they existed, battle never ceased.
Sometimes the Monkey King wondered: If fate no longer allowed them to choose, then why not fight a grand and glorious battle?
Even in death, it should be heroic.
The blazing flames lit up the entire valley, dyeing the Monkey King’s eyes red. Amid the play of light and shadow, no expressionless face could be seen.
He and Miles Moon, restored to his true form, sat dazed on the hillside, quietly watching—watching the frenzied demon crowd tear apart any demon soldier they found, watching the panicked soldiers scramble to hide, watching the crowd dig three feet into the earth in their search.
They watched this battle, like the end of days—a slaughter between demons.
Time ticked by, and soon not a single demon soldier was left. The blood-crazed mob kept searching, howling at the sky.
Miles Moon lowered his head in silence.
"I don’t understand why you did that… I’ve already found a cure for the Serpent Lord’s curse. If only you took it, you’d escape easily, with no risk at all."
The Monkey King’s lips curled slightly, but he did not smile. He answered calmly, "I could survive if I escaped, but should I live in a world without friends?"
"Friends…" Miles Moon turned to look at him. "You really see them as friends?"
The Monkey King took a deep breath. "I am a demon, and I can only be a demon. No matter how profound my cultivation, I am still a demon. Isn’t that right? Every inch of space we carve out in this world must be won through battle. It’s only a matter of time."
Miles Moon let out a bitter laugh, his eyes full of helplessness. "So, you’ve decided to stand with the demons?"
The Monkey King covered his face with his hand and sighed. "Maybe. I don’t know. I just feel it’s the right thing to do."
"You’re becoming more and more like White Ape, the one who died by your hand. They often mention him to me. I think those words suit him better. Has his soul possessed you?"
"Maybe. I think so too." The Monkey King smiled bitterly, his smile full of sorrow.
"You’ve changed. You’re not the same Uncle Sun I first met." Miles Moon looked up at the sky. "Back then, you only sought the Dao, caring nothing for demons or immortals. Now, you’ll become a hero—but not a hero to mankind."
[Author's Notes and Acknowledgements skipped; not part of the novel narrative.]
"You know, Belle really likes you. I think her feelings go beyond her age. I came here to deliver her letter, and it’s because of her that I stayed to help you. At first, I thought as long as I got you out, that would be enough. But I didn’t expect you wanted to stay with the demons. Sigh… Some things just can’t be changed."
He pursed his lips and was silent for a while, then said, "Her letter is still with me. Do you want to see it?"
"No." The Monkey King took a deep breath and looked up. "I’ll read it after I get through this. Don’t tell her what happened here."
"I understand." Miles Moon nodded quietly.
No more sounds of weapons came from afar, only the roars of wild beasts persisted.
All the demons gathered together, led by a Lion King. Dozens of great demons, who looked like leaders, headed toward the Monkey King’s hillside.
Every one of them was covered in blood.
"Time to get down to business." The Monkey King slapped his thigh and stood up.
The Lion King, panting heavily, came before the Monkey King, his sharp triangular eyes glancing repeatedly at Miles Moon.
Perhaps it was because Miles Moon looked so human.
"Cavalry Marshal, thank you."
"Don’t call me Marshal. I’m no marshal."
The Lion King glanced back at the demon crowd and asked, "Then what should we call you?"
"Just call me Monkey."
From within the group of great demons, Boar Pete shouted, "Call him Brother Monkey!"
"That works too." The Monkey King smiled.
The Lion King took a deep breath, pounded his chest with a fist, and asked, "So, Brother Monkey, about that curse… What’s your plan? We want to follow you."
(This chapter isn’t finished yet~.~ Please click next page for more!)
"I know how to break the curse."
No sooner had he spoken than someone cried out urgently, "How?"
The Monkey King shot a glance at Miles Moon, who was sitting cross-legged on the grass.
Miles Moon cleared his throat and, under the gaze of all the demons, slowly said, "I’ve already prepared the medicine. I’ll give it to everyone soon. But it takes time to work—about ten days."
"Ten days!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.
All the leaders exchanged looks, their eyes full of fear.
Ten days—they all knew what that meant.
Ten days—long enough for every demon here to be hunted down by the Celestial Army.
"Ten days…" The Lion King lowered his head, blinking rapidly, his breathing quickening. "What do we do?"
After a long silence, the Lion King finally looked up and saw the Monkey King's face—calm and unshakable.
The Monkey King smiled faintly. "There is a way."
"What is it?" the Lion King pressed, unable to hide his urgency.
All the leaders behind him widened their eyes, staring at the Monkey King with anticipation.
This was perhaps their only hope of survival.
The Monkey King pursed his lips. "No matter which way we try, with ten thousand Skyward Legionnaires here and Skyward Rangers encircling us, almost no demon can escape. Unless… we defeat the Legionnaires, then break through the Rangers’ defensive ring. After that, we scatter and go our separate ways."
"But won’t Heaven just send more troops after us?"
"A day in Heaven is a year on Earth. By the time their reinforcements arrive, we’ll have vanished without a trace."
That single remark eased much of their anxiety.
Still, unease lingered in their hearts.
An elephant demon stroked his trunk and asked, "But can we really defeat the Celestial Army?"
"They have only ten thousand, but we have twenty thousand."
"But… but… they have warships, and they can fly."
"If they have warships, we’ll destroy their warships. If they can fly, we’ll make sure they can’t." The Monkey King spoke as if discussing trivial matters.
Yet, to the leaders, this was hard to believe.
They all fell silent, their eyes full of confusion.
They had just defeated so many demon soldiers, and morale should have been high. But in this world, especially among the lesser demons, there was an innate fear of the Skyward Legionnaires.
From the day they were born in this world, these were their mortal enemies.
The Skyward Rangers circling overhead were like vultures, just waiting for them to slip up, then swooping down for the kill.
Any demon standing here had seen countless of their kind die miserably at the hands of the Skyward Legionnaires.
"Can we… really do this?" someone asked.
No one answered.
The Monkey King rubbed his face, took a deep breath, and sighed tiredly. "Whether we can or not is only what you believe in your hearts. If we don’t try, how will we know? Two hours ago, did you think you could defeat the Serpent Lord’s army?"
No one answered.
"I’ll have someone distribute the medicine. As for the Celestial Army, give me your answer before dawn. If you’re unwilling, I’ll take my own people and leave."
With that, the Monkey King gave them one last look and turned to leave.
Just then, the Lion King suddenly raised his head and shouted, "No, we don’t need to wait until dawn. We’ll follow you."
"How can we? We can’t beat the Celestial Army!"
All the leaders began whispering among themselves.
The Monkey King vaguely saw the Lion King’s once gentle face twist into ferocity. His hand gripped the war hammer tightly.
He turned and swung his war hammer at the leaders, roaring, "Anyone who doesn’t want to go, get out here! Don’t take the medicine, and I’ll kill you now! Save you from running back to report to the Serpent Lord!"
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