Trickster Wukong

"...I don't know, he just appeared out of nowhere."

"We put him in their clothes but boss, I gotta say, he's…"

"He's an extra pair of hands is what he is."

"That's the thing, his hands. They're pretty messed up. Something's wrong with the kid. It's like he's been cursed by the gods. Makes sense, he has Golden Eyes. Everyone knows they're bad luck."

"Cursed by the gods? Golden Eyes? Hmm…well he still has his legs and back, doesn't he? He has his uses even if he is crippled. Besides, you heard the Prince. No exceptions."

"All right, boss. If you say so." 

-SPLASH

As water violently splashed into his face, running up his nose and entering his airway, a boy coughed roughly as he came to his senses.

Slowly opening his golden eyes, he instinctively put his hands before his face to block the bright light of the glaring sun.

Rising off his back, the boy tried to make sense of the situation he was in.

"You have two choices, child. Die or work for your right to live. Which will it be?" 

The boy slowly widened his eyes bit by bit as he finally got a look at the individuals before him.

To Illian, modern man, their attire seemed too poor and unfit to be called armour yet the boy could tell the leather served a purpose as minor protection.

It was form-fitting hardened leather that covered their torso with engraving and patterns Illian didn't recognise.

With shoulder guards and Greaves, the only metal on their body was the helmet made of smooth Bronze.

The leading bulky and gruff man, a spiral pattern on the front of his helmet and large nose being the most notable features, crouched before him as he grinned.

There were two more behind this figure wearing the same armour but had their spirals elsewhere, like the torso and shoulder.

However, despite his question and threatening posture, the boy didn't answer.

Instead, he looked at his hands.

'I'm…me.'

Illian, the last screens he'd witnessed still fresh in his mind, had countless questions running through his brain.

"Huh? Boss, I think he might be deaf as well as crippled." A soldier behind the man mocked.

Illian stared at the man, who was seemingly the leader, who couldn't help but spit as he spoke.

He took a look around, noticing the green clearing they were in, a small village in the distance.

Despite the area seeming lush and vibrant, a dry taste bombarded Illian's mouth as if he hadn't sipped water in decades.

'How long have I been out?'

But most notably, he stared at the dozen individuals wearing dirty and ragged clothing, the same as him, chipping away at a shallow cave with tools that looked older than him.

He was somewhat able to tell what the situation he was in was.

"Answer the question, brat!" 

The leader's hand wrapped around Illian's mouth, pulling him closer.

Perhaps it was his impatience or maybe it was the calm and collected eyes of the boy that showed not even a hint of fear that angered the leader as his hands tightened around the boy's face.

To this, Illian stared.

The thought of tearing the man's whole hand off with his teeth or decimating him with one word tempted him.

But that wasn't his priority.

"I'll work." 

His muffled voice entered the men's ears as they each grinned with satisfaction.

"Then get to it." He spat, grabbing Illian by the shirt and shoving him toward the cave.

Illian stumbled a little, quickly catching his bearings, arriving in the middle of the workers as they each spared a glance at him but were too scared to interact.

Though he'd usually be furious at this display of disrespect, his mind was too preoccupied.

And as his face slowly contorted, veins bulging as a deep frown formed and his pupils practically disappeared, it wasn't hard to read his emotion.

'What the hell! What is this bullshit?!'

Illian yelled internally, soon taking a deep breath as he calmed himself.

'All right, let's think this through.' 

He thought, taking his time to walk toward the end of the cave.

'I was right. I've never heard of a regular Inheritor entering a Scenario as themselves nor was it mentioned by the Principal. It'd be wise not to use regular logic for my situation.'

With this, Illian looked up.

'With that being said, where am I?' 

In one half of his vision, he could see a plain grassland, the same small village with wooden buildings in the distance, but now he was able to notice a hill adjacent to it housing a poorly built Manor.

And in the other half, which arguably helped him even less, was a few screens.

[Quest: Conquer the Underworld]

[Pantheon: Greek Mythology]

'Greek? The only thing I know from there is Zeus. Only because he's famous.' 

However, Illian found none of these things helped him. 

Though he knew he didn't like the sound of it, he'd never heard of an Underworld.

Finally, Illian stood before the deepest end of the cave, which wasn't very far, only barely blocking off the sun and providing some shade.

'No information. I'm in a dangerous position.'

Despite being cocky at times, Illian knew he wasn't yet at the strength where he could do as he pleased without consequences.

This was especially the case in his position as something like a lightning god could easily decimate him with a mere sneeze just because they felt like it.

Other than his Ruyi, he was only a crippled child.

'And now I gotta deal with this shit.' 

Illian furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at the pickaxe below him, then at his hands, which twitched from time to time.

"You'll want to start doing something soon or you might get in trouble." 

Illian turned as a soft voice entered his ear, only to be met with an auburn-haired female around the same age as him, smiling despite the clear, arduous work she partook in.

"My name's Vale." The girl awkwardly added, seeing Illian staring at her with a blank expression.

However, her smile faded as her pupils dilated in shock upon looking down and seeing the boy's hands.

"Have you just noticed, Vale? The boy has been condemned by the gods." 

Illian turned his head as he witnessed a large and bulky man wearing the same attire as them, carrying small boulders in a net out of the cave.

With his ego bigger than his bulging muscles, he smirked as he prepared to grab another net filled with a dozen rocks.

"Get back to work, Thomas." A boy with the same coloured hair as Vale and a fit physique glared at the bulky man.

"Oh, get off your high horse, Thaddeus. You're no longer the Grandson of the chief. You don't order me around. The only thing that matters now is…"

With every word, Thaddeus contorted his face in annoyance, Vale grabbing his shoulder to console him.

However, they each paused as they witnessed the small boy walk toward Thomas.

Thomas paused, seeing the boy standing before him, his face straight as he stared at the bulky man.

"Did my words offend you, cripple?" Thomas scoffed but raised an eyebrow as he witnessed Illian bend over, grabbing the net with his shaky hands.

'He isn't going to try to carry that, is he?' 

Thomas and everyone else eavesdropping had the same thought, seeing Illian's hands shake violently.

"You don't have to. We'll find something else for you to do." Vale voiced her worries but was ignored.

"Sorry, I can't speak. I have my mouth full."

Illian pulled the net over his shoulder, soon stuffing it into his mouth as he bit down.

Pulling his head, the net lifted off the ground as Illian stood up straight.

"What…"

"Is he using his teeth?"

"By Zues' white beard."

Thomas' jaw dropped as he stared, frozen as if he were a statue.

Even the regular timid workers couldn't help but completely turn their heads and watch in awe.

"What's wrong with that kid?" Thaddeus asked; he and Vale showed similar reactions to everyone else.

Illian began to walk, the heavyweight seeing to do little to his mobility.

'Think.'

Illian's body was moving and working like he was supposed to, carrying the rubble and ignoring the guards and workers who stared at him.

However, his mind was completely absent. 

Racing as countless scenarios and consequences played like videos in his mind.

He was finding the best way to proceed from here. At least, he was trying to.

***

"Now what?" 

Illian stood in the middle of the village as he looked around at the wooden houses.

The sun had long set and the workers were dismissed back to their homes for the night.

Also being a worker, Illian naturally followed them but now stood on his lonesome as everyone settled into their abodes.

'From what I understand, that sorry excuse for a mansion belongs to these Soldiers.' 

Illian thought, staring at the building on the hill adjacent to the village.

A dozen soldiers also surrounded the village to ensure no one attempted to escape.

Not that this posed a threat to Illian.

'No, the problem isn't escaping but what I do afterwards.' 

After all his extensive thinking, he came to two roads he could take.

One was the risk.

Something like…

'The underworld isn't exactly a puzzle. It's under the world, right? So what would happen if…'

Illian brandished his teeth, a needle between them as he pointed it at the ground.

But no matter how rash Illian was at times, even he knew this wasn't going to do it.

Which left him with the second road…

"Do you have a place to stay?" 

Illian looked back, gulping as he did, a girl with auburn hair coming into his sight.

'...find out more about this world.'

"If you want, you can stay with us till you figure out the situation you're in." 

Vale continued with a warm smile, pointing to one of the small wooden huts, Thaddeus standing at the door with an unpleasant expression.

'I guess he lost the argument.' 

Illian stared for a second, soon smiling.

"Aren't you afraid my eyes will bring you bad luck?" Illian remembered the conversation between the guards when he was coming to.

Besides, Illian noticed the focused gazes on his eyes followed by negative reactions. He could only shrug and sigh.

"No, we don't believe in those superstitions." Vale chuckled.

"In that case, I'd love to." 

Illian agreed, to which Vale's eyes sparkled, clapping her hands as she led the way.

'I'll never reject free things. Stolen is great but free is luxury.' 

Walking toward the hut, Vale passed Thaddeus, nudging him with her elbow as he grumbled.

"My name's Thaddeus. Nice to meet you." He introduced himself, failing to hold eye contact as Illian inwardly sighed.

'Relax, I won't be staying for long.' 

He joked.

"I'm Illian Hale." 

Thaddeus nodded, walking into the hut, followed by Illian as he shut the door.

As he did, his skin couldn't help but shiver at the sudden temperature change.

The small hut fashioned three thin mattresses on the ground, candles lighting the space and also providing some warmth.

"You'll be sleeping there." Thaddeus pointed at one of the mattresses.

Illian nodded as he walked toward it, sitting as they, too, sat.

For a second, an awkward silence erupted as both Vale and Thaddeus stared at Illian as if they were expecting something.

"What?" Illian asked, noticing this.

"Well, we've never seen you around before. You just appeared in the plains as if you fell from Olympus." 

'Olympus?'

"I'm not from around here," Illian answered simply.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be nosy." Vale apologised, chuckling and backing away, unlike Thaddeus who kept glaring.

"No, it's fine. How about we make a deal?" 

Illian gave a light smile as he prepared his next words.

With the two siblings raising an eyebrow, Illian continued.

"I'll answer any questions you have but you must do me the same courtesy." 

Vale and Thaddeus blinked.

"Is that it? Sure! Though, I'm not sure if I'll be able to answer all your questions." Vale smiled, liking this idea.

"That's fine. My first question: What is the Underworld?"

-GASP

"Are you crazy? How can you mention such a thing so casually?"

Thaddeus hissed as Vale held both her hands over her mouth.

Illian was taken aback, freezing as he stared.

However, in the next second, the two siblings paused, the same thought occurring to them both.

"Wait, you've never heard of the…Underworld?" Vale asked, hesitating to complete the sentence.

"Where exactly are you from?" Thaddeus asked, his confusion slowly morphing into suspicion.

"Hey, my question first. We had a deal." 

Thaddeus clicked his teeth.

"Fine. In summary, the Underworld is home to all those who have moved on from the land of the living."

"Though some rumours suggest most are sent there to be punished for their sins, it's known that it acts as a prison to the disgraceful Titans who stood against Olympus…" 

"Hell?!" 

Illian suddenly yelled, his mouth gaping and his eyes widened, causing Vale to jump a little and Thaddeus to abruptly stop.

"What are you shouting for?! Let me finish since you're clearly confused. I don't know what a 'Hell' is." Thaddeus grumbled but Illian wasn't listening.

'You're telling me…I'm supposed to conquer a literal Hell…'

Illian's logical mind lagged to comprehend how he was even supposed to start doing that as this shock presented on his face.

However…there was one part of Illian…one part that grew stronger by the second and made his body shake.

He didn't shake in fear.

No, he knew this foreign feeling.

It was the same he felt when pointing Ruyi at the Horizon students.

He couldn't put his finger on what exactly it was. It felt unfamiliar and addicting at the same time.

So much so that his lips curled upwards, one thought invading his mind like a parasite, despite what his rationale was.

'I can…I will do it. I will be the one to Conquer Hell.'