The room echoed with tension from the recent discussion when Wukong leaned back in his chair, feet now resting on the table."We're gonna need to move," he said casually, as if suggesting a stroll rather than evading divine retribution.
Everyone turned to him.
"Move? Why?" Silver asked.
Wukong pointed a thumb toward Nyx. "Even though Nyx is on our side, she's still a god."
Nyx interrupted sharply, "Primordial."
Wukong rolled his eyes. "She can call herself 'Primordial,' 'Shadow Queen,' or 'Goddess of Late-Night Regret,' but the fact remains—Odin might come sniffing around. And we all know he's one sneaky old bastard."
Susanoo nodded in agreement. "He is the god of foresight. He probably saw this conversation yesterday."
Heracles scoffed. "So, where exactly do you plan for us to run off to, Monkey King?"
Wukong's grin widened. "Flower Fruit Mountain, of course."
The room went silent.
Silver stood up so fast his chair toppled backwards. "NOPE."
Heracles slumped into his seat, head buried in his arms. "Why… why must we suffer?"
Susanoo's eyes went wide. "You can't be serious…"
Nyx, sipping from a floating goblet of shadow, chuckled under her breath. "This is going to be hilarious."
Orion, bewildered, looked around. "Wait—what's wrong with Flower Fruit Mountain?"
Wukong nodded. "Exactly! What's wrong with my mountain?"
Orion blinked. "Oh… right. It's your mountain."
Then his expression darkened. He looked down, eyes narrowing in dawning horror. "I get it now."
Wukong furrowed his brow. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
Heracles slowly raised his head, eyes watery. "No, Orion… you don't get it. It's worse than you think."
"Oh, come on," Wukong scoffed. "It isn't that bad!"
Susanoo turned to Orion, solemn as a funeral bell. "There are… so many monkeys. Loud, chaotic, immortal monkeys. They never sleep. They never stop. They throw fruit at your head for fun."
Silver crossed his arms, glaring at Wukong. "It smells like overripe bananas and regret. But… It's probably our best bet. No god in their right mind would dare march into the heart of a monster-infested jungle. It's insanity."
"Thank you," Wukong said, dramatically bowing. "Finally, someone recognises the genius of my chaos."
"So it's settled!" he clapped. "We leave for my mountain first thing tomorrow."
He turned to Nyx. "You coming?"
Nyx didn't even look at him. "I'd rather drown in the River Styx."
"Your loss," Wukong shrugged.
The group dispersed for the night, each preparing for what lay ahead. The next morning, outside Nyx's shadowy temple, the team gathered.
Susanoo and Wukong stood further down the hill, ready and waiting. Heracles stretched with a tired groan while Silver was already warming up with one-handed pushups.
Orion stepped out last. He paused at the doorway and turned back. Nyx was there, cloaked in shadows, arms folded.
"You're leaving," she said softly.
He nodded. "Yeah."
She stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're going to become very strong, I can feel it. But remember this—make your own choices. Don't let anyone shape your path. Not me, not Wukong, not even fate."
Orion looked up, eyes steady. "I understand."
"Good," she said. "Now go. They'll need you."
Orion jogged down to the group. Wukong had drawn a large teleportation circle into the dirt.
"Alright," he said, "time to enter the mountain. Prepare your ears and pray for peace—you won't get it."
Orion stepped into the circle with the rest. As the symbols flared with light, the last thing he heard was Heracles whispering, "Monkeys… so many monkeys…"
And with a flash—they were gone.