Leo shot forth like a bolt of lightning, and after an ongoing battle, the space began to collapse.
The space of the firefly returned to a form of nothingness, revealing the essence of the universe.
As it became reality rather than a virtual space, the power of the Tathagata surged, instantly pinning down Zeus, who resided within Leo’s body.
Even under the seemingly crushing pressure of the world, he spat out with amusement.
“Haha! This is good!”
—……
“In this way, the One Who Denies the Light will fail the trial you imposed, regardless of their will! In the end, you talk about Nirvana and whatnot, but you lot are the same!”
—Ah, really.
“In the end, you abandon the Challenger who diligently climbs the tower for your own gain! Are you still calling yourselves Buddhas?!”
—The ascetic practice has not ended.
“? What?”
Ummm.
The hand of the Tathagata, which had just been pinning down Zeus, began to move.
Then, one of the prayer beads that floated around the Tathagata embraced him and drew a heavenly space.
The heavenly realm spread out atop a pure white cloud.
In the heavenly realm stood a Tathagata as large as a mountain, beneath which Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Tripitaka gazed at Zeus.
“…? What’s this? It’s not your turn yet.”
“Sha Wujing, welcome! You’ve finally reached the end of your ascetic practice.”
“What?”
“The process wasn’t easy, but efforts will be rewarded. Now, let’s finish this finale.”
Tripitaka, the One Who Denies the Light, was suddenly spouting nonsense.
Zeus clenched the lightning and aimed at the One Who Denies the Light, but his attack seemed to be caught on something.
Though he had completely seized the body, it felt as if it wouldn’t move at all.
The One Who Denies the Light was not making any moves, so the one suppressing him was…
“…Leo!”
‘Professor’s attack will not work…’
“Dare you deceive me?!”
Kwahziiizzz!!
A surge of intense current erupted through Leo’s body.
This was a trick to burn away the residual consciousness left within Leo’s body, solidifying himself even more, but…
‘Hehe.’
Leo, almost mocking him, revealed even more consciousness.
As Zeus soaked in the waves of current for a long time, he tried to swallow back his breath and leave.
If he cannot control his body, this plan will fail.
He must quickly return to true essence and confront the opponent…
“…? Why can’t I escape?!”
“Now, let’s bring this long ascetic practice to an end.”
It’s time to finish it.
■
A giant Tathagata towering like a mountain.
A massive Tathagata towering like a mountain.
Its size was small compared to the Demon King or the transformed Wukong, but its ‘rank’ was incomparable.
It was no wonder that they were a race that achieved ‘enlightenment’; their rank was generally high compared to other Celestials.
This was equivalent to Baal’s rank before he absorbed all demons.
[Oh]
[It’s Tathagata, Tathagata]
[Lol, Zeus is trapped, right?]
[Leo, what happened to Lily?]
[Lolololol]
[Looks like it was intentional for Zeus]
[Do we just need to cut off Tathagata’s neck?]
[Omg]
[Zeus can’t do anything]
[Let’s kill him]
“Master.”
“Wukong.”
“What on earth is going on?”
As Zeus, who was nestled in Leo’s body, panicked, Wukong, who had just died and revived briefly, approached to ask.
Wukong was immortal with his life erased, but he wasn’t completely immortal.
Wukong’s immortality stemmed from the powers of the ‘Underworld’ that existed in the Celestial Sphere universe.
Thus, beings that did not reach the rank of the Underworld could never kill Wukong, but if they were beings of a higher rank, it would be a different story.
‘For example, the supreme god of another mythology, Zeus.’
“I honestly thought I might really die this time.”
“Come on. That wouldn’t be enough to kill me. If I was going to die, it should have happened the moment I used the Spear’s roar.”
“…Is it over now?”
“Yes. We have reached the Heavenly Tract.”
Though the original plan was thrown off course, the end was indeed the Heavenly Tract.
The trio arrived before Tathagata after great difficulty, and it was time to confirm the results.
Tathagata’s eyes looked down upon us.
The height of the rank was so overwhelming that any ordinary being would bow down upon cognition.
─……
But everyone here was not an ordinary being.
—Celestial, One Who Denies the Light.
“Not the Tripitaka?”
—I only granted you the position of Tripitaka; I did not change your name.
Is that so?
Now that I think about it, they didn’t exactly say who it was.
—You have already attained Nirvana once. Do you not wish to attain it again?
“I’m not sure what Nirvana really means, but I’m comfortable now.”
I don’t think there’s really a need for that.
[Why is it casual speech?]
[?Lol]
[It’s too cocky; let’s kill them.]
[Seeing those Celestials who always speak casually, I suddenly feel impressed by Lily, who always speaks formally…]
[For real, lol]
[Lololololol]
“So, is that a pass?”
─Well, we’ll have to find out from now on.
Swish.
The Tathagata’s eyes shift to the side.
—Then, Wukong.
“…Long time no see, Tathagata.”
Wukong looks up at the Tathagata.
Though he tries to look dignified, there’s a slight tremble that’s hard to miss.
He’s trained a lot, but to him, the Tathagata remains an impossible opponent.
—You haven’t attained enlightenment, have you?
“I thought I had to some extent.”
—Is that so? Then why do you still hold on to regrets?
“Regrets? No such thing…”
—You wouldn’t say you’ve discarded them, would you? Oh dear. No matter how much you try to deceive yourself, I can see right through it.
The Tathagata’s eyes, seeing the universe, point out that one cannot escape his gaze without entering Nirvana.
—There’s not much difference between now and when you were trapped in the Five Elements Mountain, is there?
“…Ha! How ridiculous. Wasn’t the purpose to take Tripitaka to the Heavenly Tract?”
—That’s not you, is it?
“What?”
Boom!
The sky beyond rumbles.
A sound of lightning, much louder than Wukong’s attacks, resonates, and Zeus, who had been dazed all this time, frowns.
“Tathagata, you have an awful taste.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Was the Fighting Victory Buddha of this time foolish? You should know, even if others don’t.”
With a sneer from Zeus, Wukong glares at the source of the sound.
Could it be that this is no mere ‘dream’…
Shatter!!
[?]
[What?]
[Wukong?]
[Huh?]
[?]
[HAHAHAHAHA?]
A part of the space created by the Tathagata splits apart, and the ‘Celestial’ Sun Wukong appears.
Just like in the tales of Journey to the West, after enduring ascetic practice and taking Tripitaka to the Heavenly Tract, he was acknowledged by the Tathagata, the Fighting Victory Buddha.
The Fighting Victory Buddha, appearing with crackling blue lightning, chuckles as he rests his magical staff on his shoulder.
“Hello, past me. Nice to see you.”
“……”
“Is Tripitaka and the priests next to you? As the Tathagata said, it is rather different.”
“What… what is this?”
Wukong grits his teeth.
Why is he suddenly calling for his ‘future self’?
“What’s going on! Tathagata!”
—You shouldn’t have appeared if you had only attained enlightenment. But you didn’t.
“……”
—Oh dear. As you mentioned, taking Tripitaka to the Heavenly Tract was part of your ascetic practice.
“Then…”
—But you are not.
Within this virtual space, Wukong’s goal was to attain enlightenment and become a Buddha.
Yet, even at the moment he reached the Heavenly Tract, he had not achieved enlightenment.
But even at the moment Wukong reached the Heavenly Tract, he had not gained enlightenment.
That was Wukong’s weakness.
“That’s…! Suddenly those nonsensical gods are causing a ruckus…!”
“Hey! Are you whining just because you can’t beat such a thing? That’s disappointing~”
“Don’t speak carelessly when you don’t know! No matter how much you say you’re me─”
“You don’t know. I know everything. Do you even know how many years older you are than yourself?”
Hehe.
“You probably don’t. What could you, born from a myth of the past, possibly know?”
“……”
[Isn’t that a bit harsh?]
[LOL]
[What’s that?]
[Can we just kill them all?]
[Suddenly, Tathagata looks like the bad guy, haha?]
[Lily, did you expect this?]
Wukong bowed his head.
Zeus clicked his tongue, confidently gazing at the Fighting Victory Buddha floating in the distance.
“That Fighting Victory Buddha. He talks a big game, even while weak.”
“Well, it’s that time. Who would think they’re weaker than their past self?”
I, on the other hand…
“That’s why those who aren’t gods… But why are you acting friendly?”
“Aren’t we comrades now?”
As I smiled and pinched Leo’s cheek, Zeus erupted in lightning rage.
This is a bit thrilling.
“I’ll kill you!”
“Hmm. Anyway, since things have come to this, we should see it through to the end.”
“…Did you expect all this, Master?”
“A little?”
Right now, I’m neither Buddha nor know how to become one.
No matter how much I teach Wukong techniques and the difference between good and evil, there’s no guarantee he will become a Buddha.
Even I find the line between good and evil vague. Who am I to teach anyone?
Clang!
Instead, I chose a much simpler method.
“Techniques can compensate for insufficient power. With that power, even if it isn’t the Tathagata, you could at least defeat someone like the future Wukong.”
“…Is that really possible?”
“Of course. There’s a huge difference.”
The Fighting Victory Buddha, Wukong, with vast power and rank as a celestial.
He may be a challenging opponent for the current Wukong, but there’s one thing that the Fighting Victory Buddha lacks.
“You haven’t met me yet, right?”
The current Wukong has me.
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