Monke Returns

[7th August 2055 | Neo Horizon City]

Ethan groggily opened his eyes and found himself in a room that looked eerily familiar, yet different in subtle ways. Confusion washed over him as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. It was his old apartment, exactly as it was ten years ago.

"What's going on?" He muttered to himself, rubbing his temples as he tried to recall how he got there. Memories flooded back, and he realized that he was experiencing some sort of regression.

Before he could contemplate further, a shimmering glow enveloped the room, and a mysterious interface materialized before him.

[Monkey System v.1]

[Name: Ethan Yang]

[Level: 1]

[Title: First Disciple of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven]

[Status: Refreshed]

[Exp: 0/10]

[HP: 100/100]

[MQ: 100/100]

[STR: 9]

[AGI: 7]

[DEX: 9]

[ENL: 6]

[CHA: 8]

<Great Sage Equal to Heaven wants you to open your inventory and eat the item>

Curios about the consumable item, Ethan focused his thoughts on accessing his inventory. The interface materialized before his eyes, presenting a list of empty slots.

Only the first slot contained an item.

[Unidentified Peach]

[Durability: ∞]

[This is a consumable item that The Great Sage Equal to Heaven gifts to his disciple on Earth]

[Note from the sponsor: Eat the goddamn peach you hairless brat]

Ethan hesitated for a moment, contemplating the potential consequences of consuming such a mysterious fruit. But he figured it couldn't be bad for him since the Monkey God regressed him already.

Without a second thought, he plucked the peach from his inventory. Its scent was unlike anything he had encountered before - a delicate aroma that tingled his senses with promises of untold deliciousness.

Drawing a deep breath, he took a first resolute bite, and as the flesh of the peach touched his lips, an otherworldly sensation coursed through his entire being. A surge of energy pulsed within him, causing his body to glow with an ethereal light. The taste was sweet and tangy, filling him with an overwhelming sense of vitality and strength.

<The Great Sage Equal to Heaven snickers at the result>

[Monkey System v.1]

[Name: Ethan Yang]

[Level: 1]

[Title: First Disciple of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven]

[Status: Refreshed]

[Exp: 0/10]

[HP: -/-]

[MQ: 1000/1000]

[STR: 11]

[AGI: 11]

[DEX: 11]

[ENL: 11]

[CHA: 11]

[Skills]

[EX - Immortal Ascendancy]

[This skill is bestowed upon Ethan Yang by the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. It grants eternal life and strong regenerative abilities. Not dissimilar to the perks that come along with Peaches of Immortality. The body is now immune to all kinds of status ailments and aging.]

'The heck? Isn't this a bit too OP?' Ethan thought but didn't complain. This changed everything.

"Wait, am I now really immortal? Monsters and people can't kill me anymore?"

<The Great Sage Equal to Heaven nods>

"Why? Wouldn't I be unkillable? And what is MQ?"

<The Great Sage Equal to Heaven tells you to stop thinking and just enjoy the perks>

'Okay, you know what? I'll take it. This shit is broken as fuck, any sane person would!' Suddenly, Ethan thought that the future did not seem as bleak as before.

<The Destroyer requests a nerf of the skill>

<The God of Buffs and High-Fives wants to know your location>

<The Forest Rave Organizer questions the origins of the peach>

…

"Damn I just go back and so many are already observing me. Fuck me, at least give me something for your entertainment!" Ethan cursed at them while walking to the fridge to look for something to drink.

<Love and Fertility Influencer gives you a virtual kiss>

<The Celestial Trickster is amused>

<The Thunder Hunk burps>

"You know what? I shouldn't have asked … System, how many are watching me now?" Ethan asked but he got no response.

"System? Almighty System? What the -"

<The Great Sage Equal to Heaven says he keyed a different word for activation since he created the Monkey System>

"Oh, don't tell me … NO! You did not!"

<The Great Sage Equal to Heaven laughs at your lament>

[Ư̴̜̥̤̩͐ŝ̶͔́̕ę̸͖̪̹͌͐͜ ̴͚͎̬̟̘͖̒̊̔̓́͋͘̚"̶̯͓̎͗̀̇M̴͚̻̜̱͙̱̚ȯ̸͇̪̙̣̈́̌̈́̅̆̚ņ̶͓̝̻̭̫̟̥͇̍k̸̛̺̟̜͉̎̊ě̴̛͓͕͙̗̦͇̻̭̇̎̈́̿̾͜͝"̶͔̦͊̿ͅ,̵͉̋̇͜͜͝ ̸̨̨̼͖͔̃͘͘y̸̦̍̂͑̓̐̂̎͘̚õ̵̲̘̘̪̝̬͖̳͌͒̋͜ͅû̸̧̗̲̲̩̺̖͐̉̏̅̾̍͝͝ͅͅ ̶̼̈́h̴̡̡̪̮̫͍͉̻̗̐͆̔̑̍̈́̈́̀̑̚͜ã̵̮͓͔̯̊́̀̇͋̈͛̉i̸̛͓̝̙̘̞̾ŗ̵̱̩̝͉̿͜͠l̴̟͔̹̬͍̀̅̾͒̋̔̀̕e̴̛̛̛͔̗͇̝͌͑̆̀̑̉̍͜s̷̘̄s̴̢͙̤̭̤̹͒̑̂̒̆̎̿̆ ̵̹̅̂̐͜b̷̧̘̭̳̳͊̓̓̍͂́̚r̴̨̤̲̞͕̬͑̃̈́́̋̎̑̉͝a̶̠̳̒̀ț̵̆̂̚!]

"… Monke, how many are watching me right now?"

[Constellations viewing: 18]

"Damn you, Monkey King! Why do you have to do me like that? And why are so many of you here? Don't you have other places and people to watch?"

<The Great Sage Equal to Heaven says that 'System' sounds too boring>

<Love and Fertility Influencer says that you are her bias>

<The Celestial Trickster is eager to watch the chaos around you unfold>

<The Forest Rave Organizer just wants a good time with his mates in chat>

"Alright. The day can't get weirder than this" But as fate would have it, the universe seemed determined to prove him wrong.

Just as he was settling into the idea of having immortality traded for constant breach of privacy, a knock echoed through his apartment. Curious and somewhat hesitant, Ethan made his way to the door, wondering who could be visiting him at 6 a.m.

As he swung the door open, he was met with a sight that sent his heart racing and a mix of emotions flooding through him. A captivating young woman with an aura of warmth and cheerfulness that seemed to light up any room she entered stood before him. Her eyes were the cooler of deep emeralds, twinkling with curiosity and a spark of mischief. Golden-brown hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, reflecting the morning sunlight. It framed her heart-shaped face delicately, drawing attention to her expressive features - a slightly upturned nose, soft cheeks, and rosy lips. Her presence was like a gentle breeze on a sunny day, refreshing and comforting to those around her. With a radiant smile that could brighten even the cloudiest days, she had an enchanting way of making Ethan feel at ease.

There, standing before him, was Eleonora, his childhood friend, whom he missed for the past five years.

Her bright smile and familiar presence instantly melted away the lingering unease in Ethan's heart.

"E-Ella? What are you doing here?" He asked, nearly unable to hide a tear.

"What do you mean by that? It's summer? Don't you like the fact that the beautiful me takes pity on you and decides to hang out all summer?"

"Right, but why 6 a.m.?"

"Because there is an exhibition about the first Rift artifacts! I wanted to see them so bad!"

Ethan forgot how peaceful it was ten years ago. Memories rushed in like a tidal wave, momentarily overwhelming him.

"Hey, sleepyhead! Are you listening?"

Ethan blinked, snapping out of his reverie, and turned to face the source of the voice. It was just like he remembered, the mischievous glint in her eyes that he had always found endearing.

"Nope," Ethan replied with a sheepish grin, trying to hide the rush of emotions that had momentarily overwhelmed him.

Ella raised an eyebrow, her smirk turning into a teasing smile. "Lost in your thoughts again, huh? What's got you daydreaming so much?"

"You," Ethan replied honestly and then went to the bathroom to get changed, leaving a slightly blushing Ella behind at the door front.

'What up with this guy? Making me feel like this in the morning … He's got a death wish!" Ella thought and entered the kitchen to grab some water and cool off.