The monkey lunged forward with a quick jab, and Jack twisted his body, using the lower half of his spear to deflect the attack. At the same time, he spun around and slammed the butt of the spear into another monkey approaching from behind. The blow connected, and the monkey staggered back, giving Jack a brief moment to breathe.

But there was no time to rest. Two more monkeys came at him from both sides. They each wore clawed metal gauntlets. As their claws swiped towards his head, Jack ducked, feeling the air whistle past his ears as he avoided their strikes. He countered by sweeping his spear in a low arc, catching both attackers off guard and knocking them to the ground.

"Excellent!" Wukong cheered from the sidelines. "Now you're starting to get it! Keep your movements fluid! Don’t think—just react!"

Jack’s mind began to clear as he let his body take over. He flowed from one defensive stance to another, his spear an extension of himself. He spun it in a wide circle, forcing the monkeys back, then lunged forward, thrusting at one of them and forcing it to retreat.

But Wukong wasn’t going to make it easy for him. With a snap of his fingers, one of the monkeys suddenly blurred. Within a few seconds, it held a long staff, the same type of weapon Wukong himself often wielded. The monkey with the staff spun it around, launching a series of rapid strikes toward Jack.

Jack reacted instinctively. He remembered Wukong’s lessons on dealing with staff users. He shifted his spear into a horizontal block, using the shaft to absorb the force of the strikes. The monkey was fast, its movements blurring with speed, but Jack kept his cool, parrying each attack with precise, calculated movements.

Another monkey transformed this one morphing into an axe-wielder. The heavy weapon swung down with brutal force. Jack sidestepped just in time, using the spear’s length to jab at the monkey’s exposed side. He didn’t try to match strength with the axe; instead, he focused on keeping his distance, using his spear’s reach to stay out of range of the heavy swings.

Then came a monkey with a sword, its blade flashing in the dim light as it moved with deadly grace. Jack shifted again, remembering the training. Against a sword, he needed to be quick and unpredictable. He kept his spear moving in small, tight arcs, ready to block or deflect any sudden thrusts. The monkey slashed at him, but Jack twisted his body, using his spear to deflect the blade harmlessly to the side. He immediately countered with a quick thrust, forcing the sword-wielder back.

The next transformation brought forth a spear. This monkey was a mirror image of Jack’s own style. It lunged with precision and speed, and Jack found himself in a high-stakes game of thrusts and parries. He remembered Wukong’s lesson on spears—control the center line, dominate the space. He kept his spear close, jabbing and deflecting, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When it came, he lunged forward with a quick, powerful thrust, catching the spear-wielding monkey off guard and knocking it to the ground.

Finally, the last monkey morphed into a dagger user. It darted in close, too close for the spear to be effective. Jack remembered his close-range training. He let the monkey in, then let go of his spear with one hand and used his free hand to grab the monkey's wrist, twisting it in a way Wukong had shown him. The monkey yelped, dropping its weapon, and Jack used the opportunity to elbow it in the side, sending it tumbling away.

Jack panted heavily as the last of the monkey clones vanished into wisps of smoke. His body was drenched in sweat, muscles aching from the intense battle. He had barely managed to fend them off by combining his spear techniques with the close-range combat skills Wukong had drilled into him over the past few weeks. But now, as he stood in the middle of the training arena, he knew that was only the beginning.

Wukong approached him, his eyes glinting with a mix of pride and challenge. “You’ve done well, Jack,” he said, his tone firm but approving. “But a true test lies ahead. Let’s see how you fare against me directly.”

Jack’s grip tightened on his spear. This was what he had been anticipating—and dreading. Training against the clones had been hard enough, but now he was going up against the Monkey King himself, a legendary warrior known for his unpredictable and overwhelming combat style.

Wukong twirled his staff—a seemingly simple, slender pole—between his fingers. But Jack knew better than to underestimate it. He had seen Wukong use the staff to devastating effect, transforming it into different weapons in the blink of an eye. Now, Wukong stood before him, poised and ready, his expression a blend of mischief and focus.

“Remember what I’ve taught you,” Wukong said, his voice calm. “Adapt. Be fluid. Don’t rely on any one technique or form. Combat is ever-changing, and so must you be.”

Without warning, Wukong lunged forward, his staff a blur as it morphed into a spear. He thrust it toward Jack’s midsection with lightning speed. Jack reacted instinctively, bringing his own spear up to parry the strike. The two weapons clashed with a sharp clang, and Jack felt the vibration travel down his arms.

But Wukong was already on the move. As soon as their weapons made contact, he spun around, the staff elongating into a polearm. He swept it low, aiming for Jack’s legs. Jack jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike, but Wukong was relentless. He pressed the attack, transitioning his weapon into a broad-bladed axe, swinging it in a wide arc that forced Jack to duck.

Jack could feel the air whistle past as the axe narrowly missed his head. He didn’t have time to think. He countered with a quick thrust of his spear, aiming for Wukong’s chest. But Wukong deflected the attack with a twist of his weapon, which had already transformed into a short sword. With a fluid motion, Wukong stepped inside Jack’s guard and swung the sword down.

Jack managed to twist his body just in time, feeling the blade slice through the air where he had just been. He retaliated with a swift jab to Wukong’s side, but the Monkey King was already moving, the sword changing mid-motion to become a pair of nunchaku, which he swung in rapid arcs towards Jack’s head.

The Monkey King pressed forward, his weapon moving with impossible speed and precision. Jack found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the rapid changes in Wukong’s attacks. One moment, he was blocking a sword strike; the next, he was ducking under a spinning staff or deflecting a blow from a heavy mace.

Wukong’s staff changed form continuously, flowing from one weapon to another like water. Each time Jack thought he had a rhythm, a sense of how to counter, Wukong would shift tactics, forcing Jack to adapt on the fly. It was a whirlwind of movement, a relentless assault that tested every ounce of Jack’s skill and stamina.

Jack tried to remember Wukong’s lessons—to stay fluid, to use his spear not just as a weapon but as a tool to control the battlefield. He spun the spear in his hands, parrying a sword strike, then pivoted and thrust the butt of the spear towards Wukong’s midsection. The Monkey King leaped back, his weapon morphing into a long whip that snaked out to wrap around the shaft of Jack’s spear.

With a powerful tug, Wukong yanked the spear from Jack’s hands and sent it flying across the arena. Jack was now weaponless, but he didn’t panic. He remembered the lessons Wukong had drilled into him about close-quarters combat. He shifted his stance, raising his fists and readying himself for hand-to-hand.

Wukong’s whip cracked like a lightning bolt, snapping towards Jack with incredible speed. Jack dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. He sprinted towards Wukong, closing the distance between them. He had to get inside the range of that whip if he had any chance of landing a blow.

As he closed in, Wukong’s whip transformed again, this time into a long spear. Wukong thrust it forward with blinding speed, aiming for Jack’s chest. Jack sidestepped, the spearhead grazing his ribs, and closed the remaining gap between them. He lashed out with a quick jab, aiming for Wukong’s jaw.

Wukong blocked the punch with his forearm, then spun around, bringing the butt of the spear around towards Jack’s head. Jack ducked and retaliated with a sweeping kick aimed at Wukong’s legs. But Wukong leaped over the kick with ease, flipping backward and landing lightly on his feet. He twirled the spear in his hands, a grin spreading across his face.

“Not bad, Jack,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of approval and challenge. “But you’re going to have to do better than that.”

A memory flashed through Jacks's head. Wukongs voice from a lesson several weeks ago “When you are disarmed you have two choices. Get in close to negate the advantage of your opponents weapon or put distance between you and use ranged attacks”.

There hadn’t been as much training in magic as there had been with spearmanship inside this crystal, but Jack had learned a few things. He quick-stepped backwards sending a pair of Ice Daggers at the Monkey King in quick succession.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Predictably, Wukong shifted his weapon into a tower shield. The Ice Daggers shattered against the shield, but Jack didn’t let up. He sunk the majority of his remaining mana into Overcharging his next spell. A veritable geyser of flame erupted from Jack's outstretched hand, roaring toward Wukong with ferocious intensity. The heat from the Overcharged Flame Gout distorted the air around it, creating a shimmering wave of fire that threatened to engulf everything in its path.

Wukong’s eyes widened for a split second, a flash of surprise crossing his face. He hadn’t expected Jack to use such a powerful spell so soon. But the Monkey King was nothing if not adaptable. He shifted his stance and slammed the base of his tower shield into the ground. The item morphed again, transforming into a giant circular shield with a reflective surface.

The flames collided with the shield, exploding outward in a brilliant display of light and heat. The arena was momentarily filled with a blinding glare, the force of the explosion kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.

This was the opportunity Jack had been waiting for.

Using the thick smoke and bright light as cover, he darted to the side, moving quickly and quietly. He kept low, his eyes focused on where his spear lay a few feet away. He could barely make out Wukong through the haze, but he knew the Monkey King’s attention would be on the flames.

Jack reached his spear and grabbed it, rolling silently to his feet and positioning himself behind Wukong. He could feel the strain in his muscles and the drain on his mana reserves; that Overcharged Flame Gout had been almost everything he had left. If this didn’t work, he’d be out of options.

As the dust began to settle, Wukong was still standing firm, his reflective shield now glowing red-hot from the heat of the flames. He grinned widely, clearly enjoying the challenge. “That’s more like it!” he shouted, his voice ringing with genuine excitement. “But you’ll need more than just raw power to beat me, Jack.”

Jack didn’t reply. He was already in motion, spear in hand, lunging forward with everything he had. He aimed for Wukong’s back, thrusting the spear with all his strength even as the dust cleared. This was his chance—his one shot to turn the tide.

But Wukong’s instincts were sharp. He seemed to sense Jack’s approach at the last moment. He spun around, his shield morphing back into a staff just in time to parry Jack’s thrust. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through Jack’s arms, but he didn’t let go. He pushed forward, using his momentum to keep Wukong on the defensive.

Wukong stepped back, his grin widening even more. “Clever,” he said approvingly. “Using the spell as cover to retrieve your weapon. You’re learning.”

Jack pressed his advantage, launching a flurry of strikes with his spear, aiming for Wukong’s vital points. But Wukong was fast, faster than anyone Jack had ever faced. He dodged and parried with ease, his staff moving like a blur.

Jack knew he couldn’t keep this up for long. He was running on fumes, his body screaming for rest. But he couldn’t stop now. He had to give it everything he had, right here, right now.

With a sudden burst of speed, he faked a high strike, then spun low, sweeping his spear towards Wukong’s legs. Wukong jumped, but Jack had anticipated this. He reversed the spear’s momentum, bringing it up in a rising arc aimed directly at Wukong’s chest.

The Monkey King twisted in mid-air, avoiding the strike by a hair’s breadth. He landed lightly on his feet, his staff transforming once more, this time into a long chain with a weighted end—a meteor hammer. He swung it with a mighty force, the spiked ball flying through the air towards Jack.

Jack barely had time to dodge, the meteor hammer smashing into the ground where he had stood moments before, sending chunks of stone flying in all directions. He rolled to his feet, panting, his heart racing. He needed to think. Wukong was too fast, too unpredictable.

Wukong didn’t give him a moment to rest. He swung the meteor hammer again, the chain whistling through the air. Jack ducked, then leaped forward, getting inside Wukong’s guard. He thrust his spear up, aiming for the Monkey King’s chin.

Wukong deflected the spear with the chain, twisting his body around to slam the weighted end into Jack’s side. Jack grunted in pain, feeling the impact reverberate through his ribs, but he didn’t let go. He used the momentum of the hit to spin himself around, bringing his spear up in a wide arc.

Wukong laughed, clearly enjoying the challenge. “Good! You’re thinking on your feet now, Jack!” he said, his voice filled with approval. “But let’s see how you handle this!”

With a flick of his wrist, Wukong’s meteor hammer morphed into a pair of chained sickles. He lunged forward, the sickles spinning in his hands as he closed the distance between them. Jack raised his arms in a defensive stance, bracing himself.

The first sickle came in low, aiming for Jack’s legs. Jack jumped back, avoiding the strike, but the second sickle came in high, forcing him to duck under its arc. Wukong was relentless, pressing the attack with a series of rapid, spinning strikes that kept Jack on the defensive.

Jack’s mind raced. He needed to turn the tide, to find some way to catch Wukong off guard. He was nearly drained. If this didn't end soon, he'd lose. He had one last trick up his sleeve, but he'd need perfect timing.

Jack waited until Wukong was fully committed to his next attack. As the Monkey King lunged forward with both sickles, Jack dropped low and surged forward, his spear leading the way. He was aiming not for Wukong's body, but for the gap in his defense—a small, fleeting opening.

The spearhead struck true, slipping past Wukong's guard and grazing his side. It wasn't a deep wound, but it was enough. Wukong leaped back, surprise flickering in his eyes. He landed, touching the cut with his free hand and looking down at the blood on his fingers. Then he grinned.

“Well done, Jack,” Wukong said, his tone filled with genuine respect. “You got me.”

Wukong watched as Jack caught his breath, his eyes studying the young warrior with a thoughtful expression. Jack wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling the weight of fatigue in every muscle. The training inside the crystal had been grueling, but he had learned more than he ever imagined possible.

“Jack,” Wukong called out, his tone shifting from playful to serious. “Come here for a moment.”

Jack straightened up, wincing slightly at the soreness in his ribs. He approached Wukong, spear still in hand, though lowered.

Wukong nodded approvingly as Jack drew near. “You’ve done well,” he said, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and authority. “Your foundation is solid now. You've learned to think on your feet and to use both your strengths and your weaknesses to your advantage. That’s the mark of a true warrior.”

Jack felt a swell of pride at Wukong’s words. The Monkey King wasn’t one to give praise lightly. “Thank you, Sifu,” he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. “I’ve learned so much from you.”

Wukong’s expression softened, and he gave a small nod. “You have, Jack. And there’s more to learn, always more. But you’ve reached the point where staying here won’t benefit you as much as being out there, facing real challenges and real opponents.”

Jack’s heart skipped a beat. He had known this day would come, but it still caught him by surprise. “You mean...?”

“Yes,” Wukong said with a grin. “I’m releasing you from the crystal. You’re ready to face the world again.”

Jack’s mind raced. The training had become his world—an intense, demanding world, but one where he could focus entirely on getting stronger, on honing his skills without distraction. The thought of leaving was both thrilling and daunting. “But… what if I’m not ready?” he asked, the doubt creeping into his voice. “What if I haven’t learned enough?”

Wukong chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ll never feel completely ready, Jack. That’s the nature of growth. But trust in what you’ve learned here. Trust in yourself. The real world is your next training ground, and every battle and every challenge will teach you more than I ever could in this place.”

Jack nodded, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. “I understand Sifu,” he said quietly. He had started calling his furry mentor that as a joke but over the months it had become a term of genuine respect. He knew Wukong was right. The crystal had been a crucible, a place to forge himself anew, but it was time to face what lay beyond its boundaries.

Wukong reached out and placed a firm hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Remember what I’ve taught you. Trust your instincts, trust your training, and never stop pushing your limits. The path of a warrior is never easy, but I know you’ll make me proud.”

Jack smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. “I will, Sifu. I won’t let you down.”

The Monkey King grinned, giving Jack a playful shove. “I know you won’t. Now, brace yourself. This might feel a bit… strange.”

Jack took a deep breath and nodded, steeling himself. Wukong raised his hand, and the air around them began to shimmer. The familiar confines of the crystal training ground started to blur, the vibrant colors fading to bright white light. Jack felt a tingling sensation spreading from his feet upward, like static electricity dancing across his skin.

“See you on the other side,” Wukong’s voice echoed around him, and then everything went white.

For a moment, Jack felt weightless, as if he were floating in an endless void. Then, with a sudden jolt, he felt solid ground beneath his feet again. He was back in the Dungeon. He had expected that. What he had not expected was the absolute flood of notifications that assaulted his vision.

[Water Magic has gained 3 levels]

[For reaching level 10 in Water Magic you have gained a new spell]

[Fire Magic has gained 3 levels]

[Spear Mastery has gained 15 levels]

[For reaching level 10 in Spear Mastery you have gained +5 to Attack speed when using a spear]

[For reaching level 20 in Spear Mastery you have gained +10 to Attack speed when using a spear]

[You have spent over 10 days of subjective time as pure Psychic energy]

[Congratulations! You have awakened a Psychic attunement]

[Congratulations! For awakening a Psychic attunement, you have gained 10% Psychic resistance]

[Congratulations! For awakening a Psychic attunement, you have gained the Skill Psychic Magic]

[Congratulations! For awakening a Psychic attunement, you will have an easier time gaining Psychic-related Skills]

[Congratulations! You have been granted 2 Basic Psychic spells]

[You have spent over 100 days of subjective time as pure Psychic energy]

[Psychic Magic has gained 10 levels]

[For reaching level 10 in Psychic Magic you have gained a new spell]