CHAPTER 48- THE SHADOW APPEARS! SYSTEM UNLOCKED
DESOLATE LANDSCAPE - DAY
XORATH,
a towering, imposing figure with a single, menacing horn, hovers above a desolate landscape. The once-thriving house now stands in ruins, its windows shattered, its walls crumbling.
XORATH (voice-over)
I have found you, ZOKRAK. Your home is in ruins.
XORATH lands gracefully, his wings folding back into his body as he touches the ground. He begins to search the debris, his eyes scanning the wreckage for any sign of life.
XORATH
Where are you?
Suddenly, a shadow appears behind XORATH. The shadow is massive, like a giant man with a single, intimidating horn. It moves with an eerie grace, its presence overwhelming.
SHADOW (voice-over)
You have found me, XORATH.
XORATH spins around, but the shadow is already gone. He stares at the spot where it once stood, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
XORATH
Who are you?
The shadow reappears, this time closer, its presence even more imposing. XORATH quickly moves behind a nearby debris pile, his body tense and ready for a fight.
SHADOW
I am the one who watches. The one who waits.
The shadow begins to advance, its movements fluid and unsettling. XORATH stays hidden, his heart pounding in his chest.
XORATH
Show yourself!
The shadow stops, its presence lingering in the air. XORATH can feel the tension rising, the anticipation of a confrontation.
SHADOW
You will find out soon enough.
With that, the shadow disappears, leaving XORATH alone in the desolate landscape. He stands there for a moment, his breath ragged, his mind racing.
XORATH (voice-over)
ZOKRAK... Where are you?
FADE OUT.
UNIVERSE 2 - DAY
WUKONG,
the Monkey King, stands in the center of the temple, his eyes closed and hands raised as he chants a spell. The air crackles with energy, and Wukong's body begins to glow with a golden aura. The glow intensifies, and WUKONG opens his eyes, now a brilliant gold.
WUKONG
(smirking)
Invincible.
Suddenly, the world around him shifts to black and white. WUKONG's eyes widen in confusion as the colors disappear. The system appears on the screen, hovering in the air.
SYSTEM VOICE
(monotone)
You have unlocked the system.
The countdown begins to flash in the corner of WUKONG's vision: 51... 50... 49...
WUKONG looks around, trying to make sense of the bizarre transformation. He feels a surge of power coursing through his veins. He grabs OESENTIOUS's hand, his grip unbreakable.
WUKONG
(grinning)
Hahaha! You are mad, Oesentious!
OESENTIOUS struggles, but WUKONG's grip is unshakeable. He pulls OESENTIOUS's hand out, and the world flashes back to color.
OESENTIOUS
(angry)
What the hell is going on?!
WUKONG's laughter echoes through the temple, his newfound power making him feel unstoppable.
WUKONG
(triumphant)
I am invincible, Oesentious! Nothing can stop me now!
The scene cuts to black as the countdown reaches zero.