Chapter Text
In the sanctuary of Wukong's treasure chamber, the quintet sought refuge whilst Tang attended to Sandy's wound. The absence of Pigsy hung heavily in the air, his demise quietly commencing an undeniable impact on Tang's spirit. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Tang's tear-filled eyes brimmed as he utilized a tattered fragment of his attire to tend to Sandy's injury. In this moment of vulnerability, Sandy tenderly reached out to touch Tang's trembling hand, offering solace in their shared plight.
"Are you okay?" Sandy asked.
"I don't think so." Tang whispered.
"What the fuck is going on?"
Redson's heart leaped at the menacing timbre of Mei's voice, and as he gazed at her, he discerned a matching intensity in her countenance.
Macaque let out a sigh and casted his gaze upon the woman before him. "I thought Mk would've told you-"
"Well he obviously COULDN'T AND NEVER CAN!" Mei hollered.
Macaque's brow furrowed slightly as he averted his gaze. "It's called The Gowling. I don't know how it got to flower fruit mountain, but it did, okay?"
Redson's attention was seized by a subtle, yet discernible, movement that pervaded the air.
"I feel like you do." Mei narrowed her eyes.
Macaque cast a lingering gaze upon Mei, his tail swaying with a reduced tempo. "Are you saying I somehow brought that thing here?"
"It had to be you!" Tang butted in. "That thing can't be The Gowling!" With tears streaming down his face, Tang angrily marched over to Macaque.
"It took over Mk's body, the GOWLING.CAN'T.DO.THAT!" With each word, Tang delivered a forceful jab to Macaque's chest, causing the primate to stagger backwards.
"Guys, calm down!" Sandy intervened. "We have to solid proof to link this to him!"
Mei growled. "No, we have all the proof we need!"
Mei gestured beyond Sandy's figure, her finger extending towards Macaque. "He's tried to kill Mk and the Monkey King multiple times! And now look, they're both dead!"
Mei forcefully pushed past Sandy, boldly stepping into the personal space of Macaque. "And not only that, the little angry emo phase you've been having has gotten Pigsy killed too!"
Macaque's gaze grew piercing as he focused his narrowed eyes on Mei. "Get out of my face."
Mei's hands curled into tight fists. "Make me."
With a forceful push, Macaque sent Mei flying, her balance disrupted and her body crashing to the ground. In response, she emitted a low, feral growl, swiftly regaining her footing before launching herself at Macaque, bringing him down to the floor. Sandy, driven by an innate desire to quell the conflict, exerted every ounce of his strength to intervene, enduring a few disconcerting blows along the way.
"Stop it! Stop you two!"
Redson remained transfixed, his gaze fixed in the direction from which the sound had emanated. Gradually, he rose to his feet, his eyes captivated by a subtle luminosity. Within moments, a profound understanding coursed through Redson's being.
"It's here!"
Macaque hesitated briefly, deftly evading Mei's oncoming fist. Tang's gaze followed Redson's, as the luminous figure gradually approached, accompanied by an encroaching mist.
"Macaque!" Tang panicked. "Please, call it off!"
Macaque emitted a pained grunt as he was propelled into the surface of the wall. "I'm telling you that I didn't-"
"Liar!" Mei's hands swiftly enclosed around Macaque's throat.
"It's yours! You killed them! You killed my bestfriend!" Mei screamed.
Macaque's gaze widened as sorrow cascaded down Mei's countenance, manifesting in a torrent of tears.
"A- And now you're... just gonna sit here and LIE through y- your teeth?!"
Redson's heart raced with fear as the advancing fog closed in upon them with alarming speed. In a desperate bid to escape its clutches, Redson swiftly seized Tang's hand and fled from the encroaching mist.
"M- Mei! Let go!" Macaque, with an unwavering desperation, fought relentlessly to liberate himself from the clutches of Mei, his eyes expanding in sheer horror.
In an instant, Mei and Macaque were seized by Sandy, compelling Mei to relinquish her grip on Macaque. Sandy sprinted, bearing the weight of the duo, desperately fleeing from the peril of the lethal mist.
"It's behind you! Keep running!" Redson yelled.
Tang seized hold of Redson, rescuing him from the clutches of the treacherous mist that threatened to engulf him.
Sandy tripped over an assortment of Wukong's disordered relics, falling and consequently cascading Mei and Macaque haphazardly onto the ground.
Macaque glided across the surface before casting a glance behind at Sandy. "No, hurry and get up!"
Sandy turned, his eyes fixated on the mist which loomed dangerously close. Reacting swiftly, he harnessed the ancient art of Chi manipulation, enveloping himself with its protective energy, effectively repelling the corrosive fog. The mist billowed upwards, relentlessly cascading down upon him, desperately attempting to breach his impenetrable shield.
As the ethereal mist veiled Sandy, a portion of it veered towards Mei and Macaque, compelling them to rise from their positions and hasten away from its impending presence.
From the recesses of the room, a piercing screech reverberated, capturing the attention of Tang and Redson. Intrigued, they turned their heads to the source, only to discover a dense fog materializing before their very eyes. Gradually, the mist dissipated, revealing an imposing figure - a skeletal being, hunched upon all fours. Its luminescent gaze, an ethereal white, conveyed an anguish akin to that of a tormented soul. Its countenance, marred with agony, manifested in a gaping maw, unveiling a grotesque assembly of misaligned and shattered teeth. A rotund, pallid torso appeared, adorned with jagged bones protruding from its lower extremity.
The countenances of Tang and Redson became shrouded in sheer dread. In a moment of utter alarm, the creature's head swiftly pivoted towards them, emitting a resounding snap. Its gaze meandered aimlessly, until eventually fixing upon them and enlarging in size.
"That's... t- that's The Gowling?" Redson whispered.
A momentary silence hung in the air, only to be shattered by the thunderous approach of The Gowling. In a desperate panic, Tang let out a piercing scream and hastily seized Redson, fleeing from the scene. Swift and merciless, The Gowling launched forth a bone, piercing Tang's back knee with a brutal force. Agony consumed Tang's being, his visage twisting in torment as he crumpled to the ground, his body reduced to a feeble stance on all fours.
"Tang!" With a sudden halt in his run, Redson swiftly retraced his steps, reaching out to seize Tang's arm, exerting a strenuous effort to hoist him back onto his feet. "G- Get up! You have to get up now!"
Tang's ears were met with the resounding echoes of approaching footsteps, growing louder with every passing second. Summoning an immense reservoir of fortitude, Tang mustered the audacity to push Redson aside.
"Tang!" Mei yelled.
Redson descended into the heap with a grunt, gradually raising himself up and locking gazes with Tang.
With a mixture of fear and sorrow, Tang swiftly displayed a pained smile to Redson, his eyes already brimming with tears. "It's oka-"
Tang's efforts were abruptly halted as a relentless onslaught of bones struck him mercilessly, one piercing his throat with precision. He crumbled completely to the ground, desperately struggling to breathe in vain. The impact caused his spectacles to be flung off, shattering upon contact with the unforgiving floor. Redson, filled with terror, observed Tang's once-vibrant eyes gradually losing their vitality, as if a flickering flame had been extinguished. In a macabre display, a pool of crimson swiftly materialized, engulfing his lifeless form and saturating his unassuming attire.
"TANG!" Mei's piercing scream resounded through the air, her voice tinged with a hint of hoarseness as a deluge of tears streamed down her face. Momentarily pausing to offer assistance to Tang, Mei's noble intentions were thwarted by the firm grasp of Macaque, who guided her away from death's path.
As the events unraveled with unprecedented speed, Mei and Macaque found themselves cornered, their options for escape dwindling with each passing moment. Sandy's chi, was rapidly diminishing, teetering on the brink of extinction. Meanwhile, Tang, displaying both courage and fear, had fearlessly ventured into the abyss of the creature's maw, ultimately succumbing to its insatiable hunger.
And Redson was next.
Redson's breath quickened as the enigmatic Gowling advanced towards Tang, its misty exhalations obscuring him with an audibly searing haze. Fixing its gaze upon Redson, the creature embarked on a deliberate approach.
"N- no." Redson rose unsteadily and retreated, the Gowling shadowing him with the stealth of a predator closing in on its prey.
Macaque and Mei found themselves trapped in a narrowing corner, as the thick fog ominously enveloped their surroundings.
"Redson! Run!" Mei yelled.
Macaque glanced in the direction of Redson, observing his clumsy navigation amidst a chaotic assortment of obstacles in his desperate bid to flee from the menacing Gowling. Redson displayed audacious maneuvers, deftly sliding through narrow crevices and leaping over towering heaps, albeit enduring slight scorching from the encroaching fog along the way.
"Fuck." Macaque grumbled. "Mei, we can't stay here or we're going to die."
Mei gazed at him. "But, there's no way out!"
Silently, Macaque firmly clasped Mei's wrist, conjuring a shadow gateway. Casting a remorseful gaze towards Redson, he embarked upon it, pulling Mei along.
"No! What about Sandy and-"
Redson beheld the departure of Macaque and Mei, a profound sense of desolation enveloping him. Bereft of all that mattered, he propelled himself into a frenzied sprint, igniting a faster pursuit of the Gowling. Its anguished cries, akin to a desiccated creature, resounded as it vaulted over mounds of riches in its fervent quest to apprehend him. Alas, the chase proved fleeting, for Redson found himself cornered, with no escape route left to traverse. The encroaching fog, accompanied by the relentless presence of the Gowling, sealed his fate.
Redson watched as the Gowling gradually rose to its feet, its ascent accompanied by nasty cracks echoing through the air.
"G- get AWAY!" Redson conjured a scorching fireball and launched it at the Gowling.
Redson's trepidation deepened as he witnessed the fiery orb dissipate into oblivion upon collision. All along, Redson had harbored the understanding that such a scheme was destined to fail; yet, a flicker of hope had lingered within him.
The Gowling loomed large, its gaze fixed upon Redson as he instinctively took a step back.
Sandy found his footing, seeking refuge in a corner untouched by the relentless veil of fog. Yet, the fog persisted, relentlessly assaulting his shield. Glimpsing Redson's precarious state, Sandy exhaled wearily and surrendered himself to the inevitability of mortality, his eyes shutting gently in quiet resignation.
In a remarkable turn of events, a portal materialized beside Redson. Emerging from within was Macaque as a multitude of celestial warriors, accompanied by a monk, emerged in a flurry. Nezah, too, emerged from the portal's confines, its ethereal expanse expanding and ensnaring Redson inside.
"Okay! Do it now!" Nezah yelled.
With a staff raised high in hand, the Monk intoned a sacred chant. As the ethereal glow enveloped the wooden staff, a beam of luminous energy erupted forth, finding its mark upon the formidable Gowling.
In a crescendo of anguish, the Gowling emitted a shrill cry resembling that of a woman, as its skeletal structure succumbed to decay, disintegrating into a powdery residue upon the ground.
With a wave of his hand, Nezah held his staff aloft, summoning a resplendent lotus flower that materialized before him. Its ethereal radiance encased the remnants of lingering fog, sealing away the ominous presence of the Gowling. As this mystical act unfolded, the remaining mist in the chamber dissipated, liberating Sandy from his harrowing battle for survival.
In the midst of it all, Redson emerged through the portal, falling into the arms of Mei.
"Are you okay?!" Mei asked.
Redson found himself immersed in a state of profound disbelief and lingering bewilderment. The events transpired with such astonishing celerity that he struggled to reconcile with the whirlwind of occurrences. "What just..."
Mei lifted Redson upright and enveloped him in a warm embrace. "It's okay... it's over now."
Redson remained silent, his gaze fixed into the distance, while Mei hugged him.
-
"It was... her?"
Nezah's head inclined in agreement, his gaze fixated upon the mound of ashes strewn across the ground.
"Yes, it was the Lady Bone Demon." Nezah answered.
The Monk turned, fixing her gaze upon the cluster of individuals who had managed to prevail against the odds. "We found her Lackey at the original place the Gowling was sealed, it seems as if he had tried to resurrect her by combining her ashes with the beast."
The woman sighed. "In a way, he did succeed. Instead of the beast absorbing just her powers, he absorbed her goals and personality. It changed itself, turned into an image of her based on all of that. The new form gave birth to developing new abilities."
In a moment of profound stillness, the quartet found themselves immersed in a state of disbelief and weariness. It became abundantly clear to them that the Monk's words pertained to none other than the Mayor, the confidant of Lady Bone Demon.
"Oh." Mei spoke. "So... how do we get Mk back? And Pigsy?"
Nezah's eyes grew tender as he looked away. Mei nervously nibbled her lower lip and approached Nezah, positioning herself directly in front of him.
"A- And Tang! Let's n- not forget about Tangy!" Mei let out a shaky chuckle, her voice quivering with a delicate vulnerability.
"Mei..." Sandy's gaze descended upon the earth beneath him, as his hands clenched into tight balls.
"We all lost a lot of people over the past three days." Nezah started. "I lost my comrades, you people lost friends. But... we will all heal from this with time."
That was enough to bring Mei to the edge of her overwhelming emotions, her frame succumbing to uncontrollable sobs as she descended to the cold, unforgiving ground. In an act of unwavering compassion, Redson approached her, assuming a seated position before her. With tender care, he enveloped her trembling form within his embrace, the shared vulnerability reflected in the glistening droplets that silently cascaded from his own eyes.
Nezha pivoted to depart, locking gazes with Sandy, whose incredulity was palpable.
Nezah frowned. "I apologize."
Nezah, the Monk, together with the celestial warriors, departed, leaving the four companions to grapple with their grief. Following their departure from flower fruit mountain, Macaque and Sandy returned to their homes, while Redson escorted Mei to her residence.
"Thank you." Mei mumbled.
"You don't have to thank me, dragon girl." Redson opened the door. "Just... stay safe, okay?"
With a feeble smile, Mei stepped inside, pausing in the threshold to face Redson.
"Hey... maybe you could stop by tomorrow. Sandy's therapy cats are... really nice to hold."
Redson was aware of Mei's desperate need for solace. The absence of Mk, her steadfast pillar of support, had left a void that Redson felt compelled to fill. It was time for him to rise to the occasion.
"Okay, goodnight Mei."
Mei slowly closed the door. "Goodnight, Redboy."
As the door gently shut, Redson found himself compelled to retreat from the dwelling, extracting his cellular device from his pocket in a deliberate manner. His fingers tapped out a sequence of digits, a heavy exhalation accompanying his descent onto an adjacent curb. And soon, the call was answered.
"Hello? Redson?"
"Mother, I have bad news."