Chapter 39

'Is…this the Sage Arts?'

'No it's not. It's just a small part of the entire thing.'

Zephyr finally realized what he was looking at. He was standing in front of the entirety of what the Monkey King had accomplished.

The power that had transformed the Monkey King into a great being was literally right before his eyes. If the Monkey King had only left the marks, he wouldn't have realized what they meant, but these marks also contained traces of what he had contemplated.

However, Zephyr wasn't able to understand everything in the markings. Instead of trying to understand the Monkey King's legacy right away, Zephyr tried to memorize what he saw so that he could learn at his own pace later.

Zephyr continued to move forward as he encounters more Ghoul Salamanders. However, Zephyr didn't use the Aetherius Dragon Slaying Sword as all he need was 1 attack and for him it was boring. After a while, Zephyr arrived at the end of the maze.

'I think this is it.'

When Zephyr and Tetsuya reached the end of the maze, they found themselves standing before an iron door about thirty meters in height. There were all sorts of ancient-looking murals and mysterious rune letters on the door, and it was hard for the others to decipher their meaning.

However, Zephyr immediately recognized it as the final piece of the Monkey King's legacy. He used his [Emperor Eye] to decipher and memorize it.

[You have succeeded in learning the entire legacy of the Monkey King. Additional karma will be provided.]

[You have acquired 500 karma.]

[You have acquired an additional 750 karma.]

Zephyr also inspected the door as he wanted to know what kind of door was in a place where the monkey king was sealed.

[Divine Iron]

Rating: Legendary

[The divine iron has the ability to suppress and seal the gods, demons and other transcendents.]

Zephyr thought it made sense if this material was here as this place was where the Monkey King was sealed. Zephyr then pushed the door as he entered inside.

The hall beyond the door really lived up to the name "palace". Elaborately carved statues with monkey faces stood on each step below the topmost one, and stone figures stood guard at the sides.

However, all monkey statues have auras that were real enough to make someone fearful of entering and cower in terror. Suddenly, Zephyr heard a voice that came out from one of the statues.

『Who dares disturb the king's slumber?』

Creak! The statues all turned their heads at the same time, glaring at Zephyr. Vestiges suddenly emanated from them, and a gust of power stormed through the hall, making the entire dungeon shake.

[Test of the Monkey King]

Difficulty: S

The Monkey King has succeeded in leaving and breaking his seal after 500 years. After leaving, he managed to shed his exuviae and become a god after ascending to a Tier 6 entity.

However, as his exuvia has nothing to do left with his boredom, he thought of giving his legacy to someone who had arrived to this place.

Quest Clear Conditions: Prove that you have the qualification to become the Successor of the Monkey King.]

Quest Clear Reward: Qualification to learn Sage Arts.

Quest Failure: None.]

Zephyr didn't waste time to contemplate about the sudden quest as he leaped backward as the statues suddenly moved and attacked him. With his current super sensitivity, Zephyr was able to dodge all of it.

[Fire Storm]

[Fire Bolt]

[Lightning Bolt]

Zephyr immediately let out a rain of fire as he then attempted to stun two other targets. Suddenly Zephyr turned into a lightning as he swirftly moved throughout the hall.

Zephyr did not dally as the statues were moving so fast that he could only keep up because of his high agility. Zephyr then slashed the statues as he cut them off.

As if Tetsuya knew Zephyr's thought, both of them appeared behind a statue. Sensing it would notice their attempt, Zephyr then used [Blink] as he appeared infront of it.

As the statue's attention was focused in Zephyr, Tatsuya used [Scratch] at the statue's shoulder.

[Critical!]

[Your pet 'Tatsuya' has dealt 4,780 damage to the target.]

Seing Tetsuya could deal a sufficient damage even he has level and tier lower, Zephyr changed his plan on how to deal with all the statues. He then used [Blink] simultaneously as he slashed each statue resulting to aggroing the statue's in one spot.

As Tetsuya understood what his master's intention, he then opened his mouth as he used [Kyuubi's Breath]. Magic power immediately gathered as it formed a sphere in his mouth and immediately fired it resulting to cause a series of explosion to the statues.

Zephyr looked at the statues inside the explosion as none of them were dead yet. However, seeing their HP were lower than 25%, He appeared in the front with [Lightning Body] and suddenly, Zephyr's sword was filled with immense killing intent and bloodlust as he used [Vorpal Destruction] destroying the monkey statues.

Zephyr then thought it was a pity as he received no experience points after destroying them but did not dwell on it too much.

[You have successfully passed the 1st test. The 2nd test will begin after the countdown. Please get ready.]

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[...]

Zephyr thought it made sense to give someone a rest after fighting those. He would probably need the rest if he hadn't been able to take down the statues at once as they were tough.

But as he was very lucky, Tetsuya didn't let him down because of the [Kyuubi's Breath] making things easier for Zephyr resulting for him to not feel any fatigue at all. Zephyr then equipped the Frostlight Sword as he was curious what would happen to the sword if he continuously use it in higher level enemy.

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[The countdown is finished. The 2nd test is beginning.]

The large statues began to rumble down, Zephyr was immediately surrounded by lightning as he moved swifty as he slashed one of the large monkey statue.

Clang!

Sound of metal was heard as his Frostlight Sword and the Monkey Statue collided. What happened next surprised Zephyr as he didn't expect it.

[The durability of the Frostlight Sword (Epic) has been completely lost and is permanently destroyed.]

As the sword was a beginner weapon, Zephyr thought that this might happen but he didn't expect it would totally happen.As the Frostlight Sword was turning into a particles of light, Zephyr equipped the Venomous Demon Sword as he didn't want to use the Artherius Dragon Slaying Sword yet.

[Saint's Sword Dance]

Zephyr dodged the attacks as he slashed the giant monkey statues. Zephyr's movement was rhythmic as ever. Zephyr intended to use only the sword as he guessed that magic won't work on the statues.

Zephyr then blinked while being surrounded with lightning as his attacks became even more aggressive. Tetsuya was also fast on his own as the statues were not able to even catch their silhouette.

The statues attacks only hit their aftermages due to their current speed. As the fight goes longer, Zephyr began to realize something.

'It's really strong!'

He'd expected the large statues to be stronger than the monkey statues, but now that he was actually facing them, he realized how dangerous they truly were. The large statue brought the spear down again.

As his current movement speed was now very fast, Zephyr managed to avoid it as he then used [Illusory Sword] as six slashes managed to cut some limbs of the statues.

Zephyr didn't stop their as he used [Lightning Storm] making the surroundings rain of lightning. However, just like he had guessed, the magic attack wasn't very effective as the statues were very resistant to magic.

『Do not disturb the king's slumber!』

Three of the large statues attacked Zephyr at the same time, and he had to use Blink to escape as spears lunged towards him. However, the statues continued tracking him. Swoosh! Zephyr could hear the wind as they moved.

Zephyr slashed and slashed the statues even he always heard a dull sound everytime his sword clashes with the statue. However, as a Sword Saint , he was also able to cut them down which made his effort not to be worthless.

Zephyr used [Creasent Stream] after finding a gap and followed by [Nova Ascencion]. As all of his sword skills were AOE, Zephyr inflicted all of the statues. Seing their HP has fallen to 25% and below, he then used [Vorpal Destruction] as he luckily triggered the execution effect.

As he destroyed every statue, it then let out it's final words.

『You dared disturb the king's eternal sleep—but you have proved your qualification. Our work is done.』

The large statues spoke as their bodies began to crumble and scatter into dust. After a few moments, there were only piles of sand left in their place.

[You have successfully passed the 2nd test. The 3rd test will begin after the countdown. Please get ready.]

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Suddenly, the hall began to vibrate again, and the throne at the top of the stairs and the wall behind it split in half. With a boom, it revealed a hidden area.

Zephyr entered it and saw a blue started to glow in the floor. Zephyr, then took a stance as he waited for what would come.

"Tetsu, ready to attack."

Kyoooh!-

The magic circle was activated and something emerged from it. A man who sat on a cloud that had golden hair. He had golden eyes that shone like jewels and a good-humored face.

"Hoo! You are a swordsman."

Zephyr was confused for a second but he nodded to the man who talked.

"The first one to challenge my test is a swordsman, this is very interesting. Fufuhaha!"

Zephyr narrowed his eyes as he recognized the man in front of him after hearing his remark. Zephyr's eyes then changed as he used his [Emperor Eye] and inspected him to make sure of his guess.

[Sun Wukong (Exuvia)]

Rating: Mythic

Level: 354

Tier: 5

Species: Sage Monkey

Strength: 20,499 Vitality: 29,409

Agility: 21,543 Intelligence: 20,543

Skills: Boundless Strike (SS), Jingu Mastery (SS), Wukong's Command (SS), Clone Technique(SS), Sage Arts(SSS), Instantaneous Movement (SS), Fiery Golden Eye (SS).

After he confirmed, Zephyr muttered in a low voice.

"The Monkey King huh?"

Zephyr murmured as he looked at the laughing Monkey King. He had entered the Monkey King's Palace thinking of taking everything he could, but he didn't know he would meet the king himself.

"What's going on? Is your heart thumping and your head dizzy because you're in the presence of a celebrity?"

"Hehe. You don't have to deny it. I understand that it's difficult to believe that someone as awesome as myself exists. Everyone who's met me had a hard time breathing, and I've even seen a couple of heart attacks. Whew, can't believe I suffered through all that. You're better than those kids, though. I like it."

The exuvia of the Monkey King said in a playful manner but inwardly, he was in a serious thought.

'It's no doubt. This kid possessed the Emperor Eye which was superior than my Fiery Golden Eyes if it reaches it's full potential.'

He saw how Zephyr's eyes changed and he was certain of it after feeling the suppressive aura for a while as he was also a wielder of a skill related to the eyes.

"Why are you looking at me with so much admiration?" The Monkey King's narcissism and chattiness made Zephyr thought that he really was speaking to the Monkey King.

He thought this was interesting as the Atlas Corps totally recreated the personality of the famous trickster. Zephyr however, ignored him and didn't talk like his usual response to others.

Seing Zephyr's expressionless face, Sun Wukong sighed and then went straight to business.

"For the final test. You have to fight me. You don't have to defeat me at all. You just need to prove you have the qualification."

He smirked as he said that to Zephyr, even he wasn't the original Monkey King, he was confident that none could defeat him as he still has the personality of the original. A battle junkie.

For him, it doesn't matter if he was a exuvia or not. As he was still the one and only Monkey King.

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[The countdown is finished. The 3rd test is beginning.]