"You two God-Slayers and two of my own kind over there, what business brings you to my palace?"
"How strange. We should be fighting to the death the moment we meet, so why are you all able to get along so peacefully? And you even seem to be quite intimate."
The monkey rested its chin in its hand and looked at Sora and the Cult Leader's group, clicking its tongue in wonder.
"Hehe... Hello there. My name is Kusanagi Sora. Should I address you as the Monkey God-King, or as the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal—Sun Wukong?"
With a wicked smile, Sora looked at the small monkey before him.
As Sora's words fell, Erica and the other girls all showed expressions of shock.
The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, Sun Wukong—this was a legendarily powerful god, an existence even more famous than Athena and Metis!
There were many monkey gods, but not a small number either. Could this small, seemingly easygoing, 80cm-tall furball really be the Great Sage who stole the Peaches of Immortality, pilfered the Pills of Elixir, wreaked havoc in the Underworld, and beat a hundred thousand celestial soldiers so badly they couldn't fight back? It was all just a bit hard to believe...
"You're quite an impressive fellow, figuring out Old Sun's true form so quickly."
Although a bit surprised, the monkey appeared very calm, nodding its head placidly in acknowledgment.
The legendary Great Sage was known for his fiery temper, but it seemed the seal had turned him into a very easygoing fellow.
"How pathetic. A hero god of a rare generation has become so short and lowly, just like a beast... It's too shameful. You should know shame!"
This was the Cult Leader's voice, cold and indignant.
"My, my, even if you call me a beast, as you can see, I am a beast to begin with."
Faced with the beautiful Cult Leader's harsh criticism, the Monkey God-King, Sun Wukong, nodded thick-skinnedly.
"The fellow who built this palace used a spell to seal my riotous divinity. Thanks to that, the former Heretic God has become a mere joke-telling monkey."
"My friend, I smell the scent of a fellow countryman on you, but you seem to have a problem with me. I don't recall ever offending you."
His eyes narrowed slightly. Facing the Cult Leader's hostility, the Great Sage didn't back down in the slightest. Deep within his blood-red pupils, a cunning and intelligent light flickered.
"Hmph! My surname is Luo, style name Hao, given name Cuilian. Although I have long heard of it, seeing it with my own eyes is something I cannot ignore. A hero god of my country being raised here like a beast by others—what a great humiliation!"
With a cold snort, the Cult Leader's voice was filled with endless anger.
"So, are you going to rescue me from here?" the monkey asked, a hint of expectation in its voice, completely ignoring her anger.
"Heh, you still wish to be saved? You've truly thrown away all your past dignity and shame. You're hopeless!"
Laughing out of extreme anger, a cold, bloodthirsty curve formed on the Cult Leader's lips. The meaning was clear: a creature like you is not worth saving, you should just be eliminated!
"Then what about you two? As my own kind, please state your names."
Shrugging, seeing that the Cult Leader had no intention of saving him, Monkey Bro couldn't be bothered with her anymore and turned to Metis and Athena.
"Pathetic ancient monkey war god, this one has heard of your martial fame. I am the daughter of the Greek gods, Athena."
"Metis."
Although their opponent was now sealed and fallen, Athena still introduced herself with a solemn and serious expression. Metis, by comparison, was much colder, but this proud loli goddess was like that with everyone except her master.
"Tsk tsk... Interesting, interesting. Little bro, can you tell me, how exactly did you do it?"
"I can see it clearly. Whether it's that fierce woman or these two proud goddesses, they've all been conquered by you!"
Stroking his furry chin, the Great Sage looked at Sora with deep interest.
"Well, well, it's actually quite similar to how you recruit your underlings, Great Sage. First, you beat them into submission, then you drag them home for some training, and then they become like this."
With a wicked smile, Sora answered honestly.
He felt quite a kinship with this monkey. It recruited underlings, and he recruited beautiful women. They had something in common. Perhaps they could even discuss their methods together!
Hearing Sora's wicked words, a faint blush appeared on the Cult Leader's cheeks, and her cold, majestic aura vanished. A trace of shame and anger flashed in Athena's expression, and she reached out a small, jade-white hand to pinch the soft flesh at Sora's waist.
As for Metis, she actually thought Sora was quite right. That was how she herself had been conquered by her master. She continued to nestle obediently in Sora's arms with a look of quiet enjoyment.
"Hahaha... Truly interesting! If it were the old days, I, Old Sun, wouldn't have been able to resist drinking and becoming sworn brothers with you, little bro!"
The Great Sage jumped up and down, laughing heartily.
It was one thing for him to take a few small snakes and dragons as underlings, but this guy had actually taken these proud, beautiful God-Slayers and goddesses as his women. How interesting! So very interesting!
If it weren't for the fact that he wasn't interested in women, the monkey would have wanted to try it himself!
"So, state your purpose, little bro. Don't tell Old Sun that you brought all these women of yours here just to send this miko over to play with me. Although my divinity and true body are sealed, Old Sun's mind isn't!"
His expression turned serious, losing its earlier playful and casual look, as the Great Sage questioned Sora.
"Heh... You figured it out so quickly."
"Just as the Great Sage said, I did indeed come with another purpose. I came precisely for you, Great Sage!"
A strange light flashed in his eyes as Sora admitted it without concealment.
The scene fell silent, and the atmosphere began to grow tense.
His eyes narrowed, his scarlet pupils staring unblinkingly at Sora. But in the end, the Great Sage returned to his previous demeanor and was the first to break the silence.
"I may have to disappoint you, little bro. Old Sun's divinity and true body are sealed. I am now only at the rank of 'Protector of the Heavenly Horses.' Even if you slay Old Sun, you won't obtain my power and Authority."
After a pause, the Great Sage continued:
"Hehe... If you can break Old Sun's seal, little bro, I wouldn't mind having a bout with you after I've recovered my true form and power."
"In that case, however, your chances of winning wouldn't be very high."
A cunning smile appeared on his furry face, and the Great Sage's voice was filled with unconcealed provocation. Everyone present could tell that this monkey was deliberately goading Sora.
"Sora, don't!" Yuri cried out, grabbing Sora's clothes. Her face was tense and agitated, afraid that Sora would be provoked by the Great Sage's words and do something irrational.
"Erica, what about you all? Do you have any opinions?"
Raising a hand to gently stroke the agitated Yuri's back, Sora asked Erica and the other girls.
"Oh my, so this is the King's true goal? I find it quite interesting. If we can slay the legendary Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, the King will obtain even greater power, won't he!"
Her beautiful eyes shone with a strange light as Erica elegantly brushed back her golden hair.
As Sora's knight and woman, everything Erica thought about was centered on Sora's interests. Although releasing the Great Sage might bring some disaster upon the earth, it was all worth it to allow her King to obtain even greater power!
As for whether Sora could defeat the Great Sage, Erica had never even considered such a question. She had that kind of blind confidence; her King would not lose to anyone!
"I, Liliana Kranjcar, will follow the King's steps at all times."
Placing a hand on her chest, Liliana performed a knight's salute, her expression full of determination.
The girl's thinking was simple. Having already sworn an oath, she didn't need to think too much. No matter what the King wanted to do, she just needed to be his sword and his shield!
"Heeheehee... Are we fighting a god again? Great, great, Ena has been looking forward to this for a long time!"
Taking out her divine instrument, Ame no Murakumo, this was the excited and carefree Ena.
Looking at the three girls' expressions, a slight curve formed on Sora's lips.
"Erica, Liliana, Ena, you all..."
"Sora, I... I..."
For some reason, Yuri suddenly felt as if she had lost. Endless shame filled her. Erica and the others always believed in and supported Sora, but she...
"Silly girl, don't overthink things!"
"Yuri is gentler and kinder than anyone, than Erica or the others, and I love that about Yuri. So don't worry about what they do. Yuri only ever needs to be herself."
Knowing that this simple, silly girl was probably getting lost in her own thoughts again, Sora tapped her on the head and spoke with a sincere expression.
"Big Sister..."
Seeing her sister biting her lip with her head lowered in shame, the little miko Hikari had a worried look on her face.
After a moment of silence, the girl seemed to have made up her mind. She raised her head again to look at Sora:
"No, I still don't want to lose to Erica and Ena!"
"Sora, can you fight without hurting everyone on the ground? That's my only request."
There wasn't a single impurity in her bright pupils. After hearing Yuri's words, smiles appeared on the faces of Sora, Erica, and the other girls.
"Ah, since that's Yuri's request, I'll do it no matter what!"
Placing his hand on the girl's head, Sora's voice echoed through the air...