NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: 1% is Enough
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The dungeon trembled, stone and debris crashing around them.
A faint golden mist swirled around Wukong as he stepped forward, his eyes glowing with power.
Across from him, the hooded mage stood, his cloak burned away—revealing dark runes etched into his skin, pulsing with cursed energy.
His red eyes glowed like embers.
"You think you've won just because you awakened a fraction of your power?"
He raised his hand—
Black tendrils of magic coiled around him, twisting into jagged, claw-like shapes.
Wukong smirked. "Nah. I just think I can kick your ass with only 1%."
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A Clash of Gods and Curses
The mage vanished—
Reappearing behind Wukong, his cursed blade slicing toward his neck!
SHNK!
But—
CLANG!
Wukong tilted his head slightly, letting the blade scrape against his golden mist armor, barely leaving a scratch.
The mage's eyes widened.
Wukong turned, grinning.
"My turn."
BOOM!
His elbow smashed into the mage's gut, sending him flying through a crumbling pillar.
The mage coughed blood, barely catching himself before crashing.
Tian and Lily stared in shock.
"HE'S SO FAST NOW!" Tian gasped.
Lily nodded. "He's not just fast—his body's tougher, too!"
Wukong cracked his knuckles.
"Still breathing? Good. I was worried you'd die too fast."
The mage wiped the blood from his mouth, growling.
"Don't get cocky, monkey."
He clapped his hands together, and the runes on his body flared.
The air rippled with dark energy.
"Let's see how you handle this."
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Forbidden Magic: Shadow Domain
BOOOOOM!
A dark field of energy expanded, swallowing the entire battlefield.
Suddenly—
Everything around Wukong turned black.
The dungeon, Tian, Lily—they vanished.
He was standing in a vast void, surrounded by twisting shadows.
A cursed dimension.
A voice echoed.
"Welcome to my Shadow Domain."
Wukong narrowed his eyes.
"This some kind of illusion?"
The mage's voice chuckled.
"No. This is a sealed space where my power is absolute."
Suddenly—
SLASH!
A blade ripped through Wukong's back!
His eyes widened. "What—?!"
Then—
SLASH!
Another cut appeared on his arm—but there was no attacker!
The mage's voice echoed, mocking.
"In this space, you can't see me, but I can see you."
Wukong gritted his teeth, his wounds bleeding.
"That so?"
The mage laughed. "What will you do now, Monkey King?"
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Wukong's Counterattack
Wukong closed his eyes.
He felt the darkness around him, the cursed energy pressing down on his body.
It was strong—but there was one problem.
The mage thought he had the advantage.
But Wukong?
He'd fought in heaven's realms, hell's abyss, and even the void between worlds.
And this?
This was just another cage.
And Wukong hated cages.
His aura surged, the golden mist around him expanding.
"Alright. You wanna play games?"
He grinned.
"Let's play."
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Breaking the Shadow Domain
BOOOOOOOM!
A shockwave of golden energy exploded outward.
The shadows shook violently—cracks forming in the dark space.
The mage's voice snapped in panic.
"WHAT?! THIS SHOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE!"
Wukong laughed.
"Sorry, but this isn't my first time fighting in a cursed domain."
He raised his fist—golden lightning crackling around it.
Then—
He slammed his fist into the void.
CRACK!
The entire Shadow Domain shattered like glass!
In an instant—
They were back in the collapsing dungeon.
Tian and Lily gasped. "HE BROKE OUT OF IT?!"
The mage stumbled, his eyes wide with horror.
"That's—THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
Wukong grinned.
"You said this was your domain, right?"
He vanished—
And reappeared right in front of the mage, fist glowing.
"Then let me show you what happens when you invade MY domain."
BOOOOOOOOOM!
His fist smashed into the mage's face, sending him crashing through the collapsing dungeon.
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The Final Blow
The mage hit the ground hard, struggling to get up.
His runes flickered, his power fading.
Wukong stepped forward, standing over him.
"Last chance," he said, cracking his knuckles.
"Drop the fight and get lost."
The mage gritted his teeth.
He raised his hand, trying to summon his magic one last time—
But—
Wukong's foot stomped onto his chest, pinning him down.
The mage gasped in pain.
"You… damn… monkey…"
Wukong smirked.
"Wrong."
He leaned in.
"I'm the Monkey King. And you just lost."
Then—
With a final strike to the head, the mage collapsed unconscious.
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End of the Battle
Tian and Lily rushed over.
"YOU DID IT!" Tian cheered.
Lily gasped. "You actually beat him!"
Wukong wiped blood from his mouth, breathing heavily.
"Yeah… but damn, that was close."
The dungeon shook violently—the entire structure about to collapse.
Lily panicked. "WE NEED TO GET OUT NOW!"
Wukong grabbed the fallen mage by the collar.
"Not leaving without answers."
Then—
The three raced toward the exit, the dungeon crumbling behind them.
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To Be Continued…
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