Trickster Wukong

How long has it been?

Illian asked himself this question over and over but could never conclude a definitive answer.

How could he? 

With no sun to indicate the days passing or start, he thought he could at least rely on the countdown from the curse in the system.

All he had was the constant reminder of his death as over time, he witnessed the black veins move further up his arm.

'The curse hasn't killed me yet so that counts for something. Besides, I doubt a whole two months has passed.'

Illian thought to himself, something he did often. 

Ever since making the Dark Forest his abode, when he wasn't hunting or being hunted, he found it was a good distraction.

His thoughts acted as something to save him from going mad while isolated in the darkness.

With his most common thoughts being his plans once he returned to Earth, Zoey, the I.A. and his curse, something else never left his mind.

Demeter. 

Or more specifically the three 'Tips' she was able to give him. 

The three tips that would help him complete his quest.

'After all, that is the only reason I spent so long hiding out inside the forest.'

One of these tips was currently bowing before Illian, in the form of a green humanoid figure with tusks and a pot belly.

"Grimnar the Whisperer. You're going to take me to Brontes the Titan." 

Illian took a seat before the sweating Grimnar who currently had his head lowered before the boy, a black pillar resting horizontally behind them.

As Illian said these words, Grimnar froze as his forced smile faltered, gulping widely.

"Good sir, I know not of this Titan you speak of…"

 Grimnar spoke in an overly respectful manner, his voice even shaking.

But before he could finish…

"Are you sure you want to lie to me?" Illian cut him off. 

His tone was neither threatening nor intimidating, his expression just as blank.

But for some reason, a shiver ran down Grimnar's spine as he tried to speak, but no words came out, causing Illian to raise both eyebrows.

'I know he's afraid after what he'd just seen but was it effective to such an extent?'

Illian asked himself. And for some reason, a devious grin presented itself on his face.

This was amusing to him.

"Now, Grimnar, I know you're a subordinate of Brontes. Your Whisper ability allows you to set up communication between any two parties, no matter the distance." 

Grimnar's breathing increased as Illian moved closer.

"But more importantly, I know you have one major role. You're the whistle that alerts Zeus if 'He' breaks free." 

Illian stared straight into Grimnar's eyes, his face dark as a cold aura exuded from him.

"Word on the street is Brontes a force to be reckoned with, which explains your hesitation."

"But ask yourself this, is he the one you should be worried about right now?"

Perhaps it was the silence that ensued after or the sight of the pillar lying behind Illian that could expand to decimate him at any moment, but for some reason, Grimnar lowered his head as he spoke.

"I-I'll do it. I'll take you to B-Brontes." 

'That worked…?'

Illian asked himself with the urge to smack himself on his forehead.

Not only did the obvious fact of Brontes being a far greater threat make Illian doubt his intimidation but he was also positive he stole that quote from a movie he'd watched.

'Who cares, it worked out better than my other plan to make him talk.'

"Great. Stay right there."

Illian nodded, walking toward Ruyi as Grimnar raised his head, sitting still as he was told.

"Shrink."

-VWIP

The black pillar suddenly disappeared, or rather, shrunk considerably to an average-sized staff.

It left a seemingly never-ending gap in the forest and plant life, the ground looking as if a herd of elephants had been dragged through it.

Grimnar watched this without much change to his sweating expression. 

He was slowly getting used to the surprises as Illian grabbed the staff with his teeth and stuck it in the ground.

While he did this, Grimnar's expression softened, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

'You bastard. I'll enjoy watching Lord Brontes rip you limb from limb.'

'Wait a minute, if I take him to the Lair, I can also take the credit of capturing and transporting someone the Lord has had his eye on.'

Grimnar's expression subtly changed from one to realisation then tried to hide his excitement upon thinking this.

'This can work in my favour.'

And so, Grimnar closed his eyes for a second, concentrating on the image of a figure.

[Lord Brontes…]

***

"I'm all done. Are you ready?"

Illian turned his head away from Ruyi which perked toward the air like a telescope.

However, he wasn't given a reply right away as Grimnar stared in blank air. 

But after a second, the usual bright smile returned to his face as he rubbed his hands together.

"Young master, I don't suppose you could inform this lowly servant of how you plan to escape this forest."

"After all, anyone inside the forest will surely succumb to its Glare."

"Might I suggest the tunnels the gremlin-kind have constructed under…"

"We won't be 'inside' the forest." 

Illian cut off Grimnar, walking toward him and grabbing him by the brown rag he called clothing, carrying him like a suitcase.

"Allow me to introduce you to my personalised form of transportation." 

Illian grinned as he stepped onto Ruyi, all while an unsettling feeling grew from within Grimnar.

"Wait, what exactly…"

"Expand!"

-WHOOSH

Ruyi suddenly expanded in length, Illian shooting past the tall trees of the Dark Forest. 

And for once, he took a deep breath as he stared at the Dark Forest underneath.

'Good riddance. That will not be someplace I revisit.'

Illian joked. 

Despite the surroundings still being dark, it was somehow lighter now that he was no longer in the forest.

Not that it mattered to him, his eyes disregarded such things.

But the air felt different. 

It no longer felt suffocating, where even the shadows seemed to pose a threat.

He was still in Tartarus, so nothing much changed, but he still felt far better than he did when he first entered the forest.

After all…

'Now I have a solid plan to get me where I need to be.'

Illian thought, soaring through the air as Grimnar's screams slowly came to a stop.

"Wow, the River of Styx." 

Grimnar stared in awe at the luminescent blue river that stretched farther than the eye could see.

It was easily the most alluring sight as they stared down upon all of Tartarus.

"Your control over this magnificent weapon is truly inspiring, Young Master." 

Grimnar returned to his grovelling as Illian simply sighed.

But he had to admit, controlling Ruyi was easier than it was when he first arrived. 

He could do it unconsciously now.

He remembered the difficulty of this before entering the Dark Forest but he could do it seamlessly now.

'Well, there is a reason for that.'

Illian grinned.

"Tell me about Brontes and his Lair."

Grimnar turned to Illian.

"My former Lord's lair is underground."

"He is a Titan of the Cyclops race and though imprisoned in Tartarus, he didn't let that write his end."

"As a Titan, his strength was enough to help him attain a high position of power."

"But his true power comes from his innovation as a blacksmith. With it, even Zeus knows not to take him lightly."

Illian stared ahead with a blank expression as Grimnar briefed him, answering with far more enthusiasm than before.

'A threat even acknowledged by Zeus himself, huh?'

"We seem to be heading in the right direction. We'll reach there in half an hour at this speed, quite fast…"

"Expand."

-ZMMM

In the blink of an eye, Grimnar paused as the surroundings seemed a little different. 

It was still Tartarus, but the landmarks on the horizon he was using to determine the distance were right beside him now.

"What just…"

"Where is it now?" 

Illian asked, bringing back Grimnar from his deep thoughts.

The green-skinned figure stammered to answer.

"J-Just a little further, it should be up ahead."

"But if you don't mind me asking, what has Brontes done to incur your wrath?" 

Grimnar asked while trying his best to seem respectful.

"He's the one who bothered me first. That's why you relentlessly sent your Gremlin after me, right? On his order?" 

Illian glared at Grimnar from the corner of his eye, causing the latter to chuckle nervously.

"But even so…I am very eager to lay my cold hands on what he has."

Just as Illian said this, Grimnar stuck out his hand, pointing to what seemed like plain rocky terrain.

"Right there. Brontes' lair should be under there. Now we just need to find the entrance…"

"Shrink." 

"Huh…"

In an instant, the footing Grimnar and Illian stood upon disappeared, replaced with air as they quickly began to descend.

"We're falling!" Grimnar screamed, the sudden leap in his heart making him state the obvious as he flailed his legs and arms in the air.

However, beside him, Illian ignored his cries for help as he grabbed Ruyi with his teeth from midair, pointing it toward the clearing of rocky terrain.

"Exthpand!"

-BOOM!!!

Though Ruyi did not expand to such absurd lengths, as usual, it was enough to shoot through the ground.

The surrounding earth also crumbled and a dark space was revealed underneath, as if Illian had simply broken through a thin layer of earth.

Grabbing the still squealing Grimnar with his teeth, Illian slid down the side of Ruyi, helping him break his speedy descent.

Despite this, a loud BANG rang out as his feet hit the ground perfectly. 

Though an impact like that would be enough to break the legs of any regular human, Illian simply brushed it off.

"Shrink."

-VWIP

He spoke, his voice drowned out by Grimnar who hyperventilated beside him.

Looking around the dark expansive area, his expression remained calm as his eyes soon locked onto something in the dark. 

At the same time…

-VUAM

Illian eyes darted around him as he witnessed a thin red sheet rise from the ground, shooting upwards as it formed a sphere, converging at the top and blocking every exit Illian could see.

"Y-You're done for." A forced cackle sounded from Grimnar as he backed away from the boy, a sly grin painted on his face.

-FUA

In the same second, torches held but humongous humanoid golems suddenly combusted in a sequence all around Illian, lighting the area as Illian now had a better view of what he'd been staring at.

"Lord Brontes." Grimnar bowed.

But despite the light to help his vision, Illian still took a second to comprehend what he saw.

The sheer magnitude of the being before him was overwhelming, a living mountain carved from ancient stone. 

Sitting on a colossal imposing throne crafted from twisted metal and obsidian that gleamed ominously in the dim light, the being's presence filled the room with an almost tangible pressure.

So much so that it felt as though the very air thickened around Illian, squeezing tightly around his chest.

The figure's physique was striking; he was tall and muscular, his skin a deep, earthen hue that seemed to shimmer with a faint, inner glow. 

His upper body was bare, revealing powerful arms and a broad chest, marred only by intricate tattoos that twisted and coiled like ancient runes, telling stories of battles long past. 

Draped around his lower body was a dark, flowing cloth that hung gracefully from his hips.

'This…'

Illian's eyes traced over the figure, sweat dripping down his face.

He took a second to stare at the ornate rings adorning the figure's fingers.

But it was the necklace that truly captivated and unnerved him. 

Hanging around the Titan's neck was a series of intricate cages, each one containing what appeared to be a living storm that flickered and rumbled with lightning.

"I've been waiting for you."

Illian could feel the pressure increase as the quaking tone entered his ears.

His eyes slowly moved upwards as his eyes met with the Titans'.

With a wide single eye in the middle of his face flecked with shades of blue and grey, his strong cheekbones cast a shadow over his chiselled jawline.

Despite all this, Illian's lips curled upwards.

Usually, it would be because he was nervous…but this time, it was that same feeling he'd been getting ever since he awakened.

He didn't know what it was, but he wasn't as scared as he should have been despite being cornered.

"Brontes…"

Brontes' eyes narrowed as Grimnar spared a glance at the boy behind him, the grin never leaving his face. 

However, a pause erupted in the hall as Illian raised his head, fashioning his sharp teeth as he glared at the Titan.

"I'm glad Grimnar's warning prompted you to lead yourself to your demise."