"Fifth Brother—!"
The Bull Demon King's eyes widened in fury as he witnessed his sworn brother's death. His crimson brows furrowed tightly with rage, and the muscles across his powerful frame swelled as he exuded an overwhelming, ferocious aura. Gripping his immense iron staff, he swung it viciously toward the back of Artoria's head.
The sound of compressed air whooshing behind her was deafening. Yet Artoria didn't even flinch, let alone turn around. Instead, a flash of her sword streaked toward the incoming staff, resembling a shooting star streaking in reverse.
Schlunk!
The Bull Demon King stared in disbelief as his massive iron staff was cleaved cleanly in two. Blood spurted violently from the gaping wound in his chest.
"How… is this… possible…"
"Big Brother—!"
Their cries were a mix of panic, anger, and fear.
The sight of their strongest brother, the Bull Demon King, being effortlessly defeated sent a chill through the remaining demon kings.
Artoria stood at the center of the chaos, surrounded by the four remaining demon kings. Yet the way they reacted made it seem as though she were the one encircling them.
Her pale golden hair, tinged with ash, billowed in the wind as she strode forward with an almost casual grace. Her unhurried steps were as if she were taking a leisurely stroll through a summer garden.
With every step she took, a lightning-quick slash streaked through the air, and one by one, another demon king fell, their bodies reverting to myth as they were vanquished.
By the time the storm subsided, the waves calmed, the dark clouds scattered, and sunlight bathed the land once more, only Artoria remained, standing tall and motionless in the sky.
Her breathing was steady, as if she had merely gone for a walk.
---
Elsewhere, Mordred battled alone against three rogue gods: Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing. The fight was nothing short of apocalyptic, with thunder and lightning tearing through the heavens, and the earth trembling under their clashes.
Lightning crackled violently, striking toward Sha Wujing. Mordred raised her magical sword, [Clarent], just in time to block Sun Wukong's descending [Ruyi Jingu Bang]. Gritting her teeth, she lashed out with a vicious kick, sending Zhu Bajie flying into a distant mountain range.
Sun Wukong leapt away nimbly, spinning his staff in a horizontal sweep. The [Ruyi Jingu Bang] extended to over a hundred meters in length, catching Mordred off guard and knocking her into the air.
Turning toward the direction Zhu Bajie had crashed, Sun Wukong shouted, "Hey! Stupid Pig! Are you still alive?"
"Still kicking… Monkey Bro."
Zhu Bajie emerged from the rubble, rubbing his belly. "That chick packs a hell of a punch. Nearly knocked out everything I ate last night…"
"That's what you get, dumbass," Sun Wukong retorted without a hint of sympathy. "Didn't I tell you not to mess with her? You're lucky her focus is all on you now. If she wasn't beating the crap out of you, I'd be under way more pressure!"
"How is that my fault, Monkey Bro? You know me—what's the point of life if I can't flirt with beautiful women?" Zhu Bajie scratched his head and muttered, "Besides… how was I supposed to know she'd be so feisty? She's like a lioness. Sure, she's pretty, but her temper's way too much. I definitely prefer the gentle, ladylike kind."
Their banter came to an abrupt halt as both noticed the surging crimson lightning growing ever more intense. In an instant, they snapped back into battle readiness.
"Here it comes again?!"
Zhu Bajie's groan was cut short as the violent crimson lightning bypassed Sun Wukong and slammed directly into him, sending him hurtling backward once more.
Sun Wukong, momentarily ignored, scratched his cheek awkwardly before turning to Sha Wujing. "You good, Sha Bro?"
"No problem, Big Brother."
The flame-haired Sha Wujing met Sun Wukong's gaze and suggested, "Big Brother, you should go help Second Brother. If this keeps up, he's going to get beaten to death by that crazy woman."
"That's his own damn fault. Maybe he'll finally learn not to mess with every pretty face he sees."
"Big Brother… hasn't Second Brother gotten into situations like this multiple times during our journey to the West? And he hasn't changed at all."
"…Fair point."
Sun Wukong rested the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] on his shoulder, scratching his fur in irritation.
A piercing scream suddenly rang through the air.
"Big Brother! Big Brother, help! Save me! This crazy chick's going to kill me! Don't hit my handsome face! I still need it to find a wife—aaaaaaah!"
Sun Wukong sighed deeply, his expression full of resignation, while Sha Wujing chuckled nostalgically.
Meanwhile, Mordred, enraged at being mistaken for a woman and shamelessly flirted with, took out all her fury on Zhu Bajie.
Though Zhu Bajie's thick hide and abundant fat gave him some durability, he wasn't as indestructible as Sun Wukong, and Mordred's relentless assault left him in utter misery.
Suddenly, a sharp sound split the air behind Mordred, accompanied by a booming, confident shout.
"Halt, little girl! Take this strike from your Grandpa Sun!"
The [Ruyi Jingu Bang], forged from divine iron by the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord and later claimed by Sun Wukong after it had been used by Yu the Great for flood control, weighed an astonishing 13,500 pounds. Wielded with effortless precision, the staff came crashing down toward Mordred's head.
Reacting instantly, Mordred transformed into a streak of lightning, covering hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye.
But Sun Wukong's speed was even greater.
"Your Grandpa Sun can leap 108,000 li in one somersault!"
In a flash, Sun Wukong caught up to Mordred, bringing the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] down on her with terrifying force. Mordred barely managed to block it with [Clarent], the deafening clash of metal ringing out like a thunderclap.
Her arms trembled, and her hands stung from the force of the blow.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!"
Electric-red lightning exploded from Mordred's body as she charged at Sun Wukong with a furious slash, only to miss as the wily monkey leapt out of range.
A towering wave suddenly rose behind her and crashed into her with immense force, halting her pursuit.
From within the waves emerged Zhu Bajie, his enormous body surging forward as he swung his [Nine-Toothed Rake] to engage Mordred once more. Sha Wujing joined the fray, attacking from the side.
"Enough! I'm done with this! Die already!"
Mordred erupted with overwhelming power, driving both Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing back. But as her momentum waned, Sun Wukong seized the opportunity, slamming her with the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] and sending her flying.