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From this moment music is very important.

Almost all music belongs to Two Steps From Hell. (If you like epic music, you should follow them on YouTube)

I recommend playing the soundtrack (if you are not reading it on mobile) at 20% and listening to the melody while reading the story. You may find the experience a bit more immersive and make for a much more enjoyable read.

As promised, Po left the Jade Palace before the bells marked the beginning of the day in the Valley of Peace. His departure went unnoticed by everyone except his old friends. The only ones who really knew what was going on.

The first thing Tigress did when she heard the bells was to look for Viper while little Lixua played happily with Monkey and Crane in the palace courtyard. She searched Vipers room, but she wasn't there. Through the kitchen, the training room and the rest of the rooms of the palace. But she did not find her. She wasn't in the Hall of Heroes, or that distant rock formation where Po used to meditate.

Tigress continued searching and was struck by the entrance gates of the Jade Palace half open so early in the morning, so she went to investigate. But when she looked outside, she found her. The snake remained looking at the horizon from the last of the thousands of steps that connected the palace with the rest of the city. Apparently, she had been there ever since Po had left.

Tigress slowly approached and sat next to her, but she only found the grieving teacher who could barely contain her emotions. Tigress hugged Viper to try to calm her crying, but she knew perfectly well that it wouldn't be enough. After all, Tigress herself had suffered a similar event not long ago.

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Far from the city, Po dressed in a large tunic that hid his huge body and a large hat that covered his face and left the city before the citizens began their daily lives. There was only one night left for Sun Wukong to go looking for him, so he had to get away from the city as quickly as possible.

Po took a lonely road that led to the lands to the northwest, vast plains where the grass grew nice and the humidity could be breathed in the air. There was nothing for miles away. No villager or merchant in the distance, the perfect place to be able to await his fate.

The journey took him all day, and the night brought with it a frost breeze that strongly counteracted the heat burning of the day. Po couldn't sleep all night. He remained seated in front of an improvised bonfire which he used to warm up a bit of tea. The drink warmed his body and eased the pain in his head a bit, and in a way, calmed his spirit.

Finally, the sun peeked over the horizon. "Today is the day." He thought somewhat anguished. But in the distance, he could see something that tore his heart. Coming from the same path as he took, some silhouettes approached in a hurry. Po couldn't believe it. It couldn't be true. The panda froze while Viper, Tigress, Monkey and Crane hurried over to where he was wearing hoods that covered his body.

Po: - No... no... no... no. What are they doing here!? You must leave immediately! - He ordered them, very upset and worried.

Monkey: - Sorry, buddy. But we can't leave you alone in this. -

Crane: - We all agreed. -

Viper: - Po. Please. Let us help you. -

Po: - No... you can't. You must leave immediately. - Po looked at them with concern, then turned to Tigress and went to her. - Tigress, you know you shouldn't be here. Convince them to go. -

Tigress was calm and most of the time she made the most sensible decisions, but not this time. Tigress approached Po and put her hand on Po's shoulder and addressed him while looking into his eyes.

Tigress: - Po. We are Family. And we support each other. Don't ask us to leave you. We can not do that. -

Po: - No... no. You must leave. You must leave before he arrive. -

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https://youtu.be/XYKUeZQbMF0

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But it was already too late to run. After a loud noise produced by lightning, the clouds began to swirl above them and a strong wind began to beat the grass with force. The masters' hoods billowed heavily, and the dust kicked up, making it difficult for them to see clearly.

The wind grew stronger, and from the vortex created by the clouds, a strange silhouette began to descend from the heavens. It was Sun Wukong himself.

The Monkey King wore shining golden armor, finished with a peculiar ornament on his head from which protruded two enormous five-foot-long feathers similar to those of a peacock. Sun Wukong slowly descended with his arms and legs crossed. His eyes were closed and his fur beat strongly by the wind that his powers generated. Finally, he slowly landed on the ground, and when his feet touched the ground, the strong wind dissipated and the clouds above them vanished.

Sun Wukong widened his eyes and looked at the five masters nonchalantly, and without showing any caution, he stretched his entire body while yawning loudly, like someone who had just woken up from a deep sleep.

Sun Wukong: - I see that you have not disappointed me, panda. -

Po: - I dont know why a demigod needs my blood. But believe me, you won't have it so easily. -

Sun Wukong: - Yeah. I like it that way. - He said with a macabre smile painted on his face.

Po: - Guys, this it's your last chance. Return to the Valley of Peace immediately. -

Monkey: - Don't count on it. -

Crane: - We are by your side. -

Tigress: - We are in this together. -

Viper: - He will have to kill me if he wants to get me away from you. - Vibora's comment left the rest of the masters somewhat surprised, since she always acted serene and friendly.

Monkey: - That was -

Monkey and Po: - Radical. - They said at the same time, how in ancient times.

Mono: - You said it. -

The five masters were ready to face Sun Wukong, who waited patiently for them to finish having their "motivational talk", but he didn't hesitate for a second to charge head-on against his target: Po, who was right in the middle.

Sun Wukong was fast, faster even than Tai Lung. He put his outstretched hand, knowing that he had enough strength to go through the panda's skin and take out its heart. Which was a shame, as he expected much more from the best Kung Fu masters in all of China, but what Po did, he didn't see it coming.

Sun Wukong had to stop studently and back up in the blink of an eye. Everything happened so fast that none of those present had time to witness what happened. They only noticed a slight cut on the Monkey King's cheek from which a small drop of blood dripped. Sun Wukong was shocked. He used his thumb to check that it was his blood, and yes, it was. Which, in a psychotic way, made the stranger demigod fight lover even more excited.

Monkey, Tigress, Crane and Viper were puzzled, since none of them knew what had happened. They could only see Sun Wukong looking at them with cynical eyes, and Po holding the amazing Sword of Heroes in his right hand and pointing it at Sun Wukong, who was laughing out loud.

Sun Wukong: - Yes. That is what I meant. A worthy fight from a worthy opponent. -

Po: - I told you I wouldn't make it easy for you.

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https://youtu.be/hKRUPYrAQoE

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Po kept the sword hidden under his robe at all times. Waiting to deliver the precise blow and finish off his opponent with one blow. But he knew that the Monkey King would not fall for something so obvious. Po undid the button that held the tunic, revealing his massive body covered in impressive armor.

It was one armor with a decorated plate chest and a huge golden disk in the middle. On his shoulders rested two dragon heads attached to semicircular plates that covered his arms. His forearms were covered by plate protection. A decorated metallic belt on his waist from which rested a mesh that covered his knees. Finally decorated with a billowing golden cape behind his back. And in his right hand, the sharp Sword of Heroes, capable of cutting you just by looking at it.

Viper: - Wow. Look at my husband. -

Plugin: - You look amazing, Po. -

Crane: - It's a shame you're not the only one. -

Po looked surprised at that last comment. That's right. The four masters followed Po and removed their robes, revealing that each of them was perfectly ready for such a battle, as Viper told them what had happened, and they knew not to take this adversary lightly.

The four masters, like Po, wore armor worthy of any Chinese general of the Han dynasty. Mono carried the ancient sword of Shen, and although it was not a legendary weapon, it proved highly effective in combat. Tigress carried two Han Jian swords with velvet decorations hanging from the pommels. Crane sported metallic claws that covered both of its legs, and Viper had a clamp that fitted to the tip of her tail, which attached a Dao sword with barely any curvature. And all, of course, wore impressive capes that combined with their armor.

The five masters were ready, willing to finish off their adversary at any cost, but this was not just any opponent. Sun Wukong showed a strange joy on his face. A mixture between satisfaction and obsession for the battle. His path in search of immortality had awakened in the demigod an inextinguishable fire that burned with strength before his desire to fight.

Sun Wukong reached up and pulled out a small toothpick from behind his ear. Some kind of slope, or so it seemed. But it turned out to be his magic staff, Ruyi Jingu Bang, which could change shape at will. With a simple gesture, the staff enlarged to be two meters long. Its crimson color and red details were captivating, but the concentration of the masters was not going to give way for such a small detail.

Sun Wukong was ten meters away from Po and the masters. Ready to engage in a battle to the death. The demigod against the best Kung Fu masters. Their blood boiled between adrenaline and tension. They gripped their weapons tightly, and finally, in a short interval when the breeze stopped stirring the grass, all six charged head-on.