Chapter 10: Wukong

Chapter 10: Wukong

[ Dao of Arrays: Grade D -> Grade C ]

Finally, after a long while, the Insight I gained has diffused through my consciousness enough to raise my Dao of Arrays to the next Grade, and I feel like there is enough left to at least give me halfway to the next improvement, if not more. But that would take time.

My new form feels oddly comfortable. I feel easier to wield as a weapon. I feel more effective. It is a strange feeling to transform from abstract understanding to something that can be described in language. Before, I felt as comfortable in my own vessel as that is possible to imagine. This type of comfort normally only has a binary state: Comfortable and uncomfortable. Only now, as I have obtained a new form, can I feel the presence of degrees of comfort.

Perhaps it is also because of my greater understanding into the Dao of Essence. I can now perceive and feel the efficiency of my vessel to continue to evolve into a state of perfection. Now I can feel that I am not perfect yet, but I can measure the depth of my roots as if I was a tree and determine that I will grow tall.

With sufficient sacrifice, of course.

Perhaps impressed or even inspired by the multitude of breakthroughs Ive had in the span of an hour, the monkeys have decided to spend a lot of time within my perception radius right in front of me in fact and to cultivate their bodies right there where I can see them.

They have various methods of doing so. One of the monkeys sheds his fur and I can see the flesh beneath becoming darker. Another monkeys bones twist and break, before he sets them again and then repeats the process immediately. I have seen another monkeys eyes fall out pop straight out from his skull and then a third one opened on his forehead. That one in particular likely used the same cultivation method Wukong used, as he also had three eyes.

I have not seen Wukong since that day.

It no longer surprises me that the monkeys have such a keen insight into what I accomplished several days ago. I could tell the depth of their spiritual cultivation, but I could not measure the depth of their body cultivation. Conversely, I am now certain that the monkeys cannot tell the depth of my spiritual cultivation, but they can certainly perceive or feel my body cultivation.

We are exactly that opposites. In every conceivable way, we stand on the opposite spectrum in all walks of existence, yet united by the same oppressive need: Grow. Absorb. Cultivate.

They are meat and I am metal. They are sentient and I am machine.

Yet we are both machines that turn the potential of Heaven into the foundation of our perfection.

But we are different. I may be their inspiration, but they are my fuel.

I immediately realize that I am wrong in that assumption, because Wukong follows the two monkeys, and he can barely walk.

He is already in the death process.

The damage to his internal structure is too severe for him to continue manifesting signs of life.

His time has run out.

Following Wukong is a procession of monkeys likely every monkey in the area and they arrive to send their leader off to the afterlife.

Wukong die now Wukong spoke in a language I could understand. Even more terrifying was the fact that it called itself Wukong. A name I gave to it.

Wukong food for friend the ape spoke, words broken and voice bestial.

Every thought I had did Wukong know them?

Sword friend live so Wukong go journey with friend

Wukong took me by the handle and raised me high into the air.

Wukong journey with friend like this because Wukong bad friend and cannot follow because Wukong die now

Without hesitation, Wukong pressed me to his chest, and with incredible ease drove my vessel straight through his heart.

Friend eat now

I am devastated.