Destined for Greatness
Chapter 21
"This Buddha sounds like an interesting guy," Hercules admitted as his new companions travelled down the mountains. "I'd very much like to meet him someday."
"I've been entrusted with bringing back his scriptures to my homeland," Sanzang admitted. "Buddha's name be praised."
In the meanwhile, Autolycus did not look happy that he had to carry Sanzang on his back. Now that he had been saddled, the King of Thieves turned mare was forced to be a mount for someone.
Neighing in protest, he raised his two hind legs up.
"Oh dear," Sanzang nearly fell back.
Fortunately, Sun Wukong was there to catch him from behind to steady him back onto the white horse.
Autolycus snorted angrily but immediately, Hercules grabbed him by the face and stared into his eyes.
"Autolycus, you brought this upon yourself," Hercules told the horse firmly. "Now you can either throw a tantrum or we can try to make things right and make you normal again. Your choice…"
Finally, Autolycus stopped with his tantrum and subsided in his rowdy behavior.
"I tell ya," Hercules told Sanzang and Sun Wukong. "Autolycus can be a handful!"
"What kind of man was he before he was transformed into a horse?" asked Sanzang.
"Autolycus was the self-styled King of Thieves," Hercules told them. "He was quite the rogue."
"Although he was never really good at stealing anything," added Salmoneus as Autolycus eyed him angrily.
"Hmm," Sanzang said with a wry smile as Wukong whistled. "Sounds like someone I know."
"So how about you?" Hercules asked Sun Wukong. "You've been silent most of this journey. What's your story?"
"Oh, nothing that would interest you," Wukong said dismissively. "I was the Monkey King and Buddha himself wanted me to help Sanzang out on his journey."
"This is a very beautiful staff you have," Salmoneus looked at the red and yellow weapon Sun Wukong held.
"Do you like it?" Sun beamed. "This is the Jingubang staff! The Dragon King himself gave it to me."
It was then that Hercules noticed a slight frown on Sanzang's face, as if the monk was not happy about something.
"And you," Sun said to Hercules. "What did you say your name was again? I'm bad with names."
"I'm Hercules," Herc reiterated.
"Hmm, I like the color of your garments," the Monkey King said to the demi-god. "I think I'll call you Sandy instead!"
"Let's just stick with Hercules for now," Hercules laughed.
oooo
Deep in the caverns of the remote valley, a motley array of orcs, imps, and mountain spirits gathered together before their master.
She was a seemingly beautiful woman with black hair and pink cheeks. Flowing white robes decorated her body as she sat down before her throne room. She was Baigujing, a fearsome Yaoguai demon.
"Mistress," an imp rushed into the throne room.
"What is it?" she barked.
"I bring you excellent news!" the imp told her. "The monk Tang Sanzang is making his way through our territory!"
"A monk, you say?" Baigujing smiled. "I've heard that the flesh of a Buddhist monk will bestow immortality upon anyone who consumes it!"
"Unfortunately, this monk is not without help," the mountain imp replied. "He is accompanied by a monkey demon, a pig man, and a human warrior with long brown hair."
"A monkey, you say?" Baigujing pondered. "I have heard of this Monkey King before. Was he not the one who waged war against the heavens before finally being defeated by Buddha?"
"I can think of no other," the imp confessed.
"We must move swiftly but wisely," Baigujing acknowledged. "One by one, we will isolate this monk from his companions. First we will need to divide them and to do so, we must rid him of his most powerful guardian, Sun Wukong himself!"
oooo
"So Salmoneus, have you learned anything from all this?" asked Hercules as they journeyed through the forests.
Salmoneus brushed his own hand against the pig ears on the side of his head. Then he placed his finger on the pig-like nose on his own face.
Frowning, he nodded at what Hercules asked.
"From now on, never listen to Autolycus!" Salmoneus pledged. "This guy gets me in trouble way too much!"
"That's not exactly what I had in mind," Hercules shook his head.
As the travelers reached a lake, a young woman about the age of fourteen or fifteen appeared before them in a white dress. She also wore a crystal pendant on her necklace.
"Oh thank goodness!" the young woman ran up to them. "I'm glad I found all of you!"
"Hello there," Hercules greeted.
"Buddha's name be praised," Sanzang bowed. "To what do we owe the honor?"
As the rest of the group gathered around her, Sun Wukong stared at her in suspicion, furrowing his eyebrows.
"I've been lost for hours!" the girl told them. "I got separated from my parents journeying through this land!"
"Right now we are on a journey to gather the Sutras of Buddha," Sanzang said gently, "but perhaps we can make time to help."
"Stay back, Sanzang," Wukong told the monk out of nowhere. "This girl isn't who she says she is."
"Wukong, what is the meaning of this?" demanded Sanzang.
"She's not human!" Wukong gripped his staff tightly.
Hercules looked at the girl, noticing a grief red glow in her eyes which confirmed the Monkey King's suspicions.
However, before anyone else could do anything, Wukong ran past them all and struck the girl across the face with his weapon, snapping her neck and knocking her to the ground.
"Wukong!" Sanzang cried. "What have you done?!"
"She was a demon, master!" Wukong told the monk.
As Hercules knelt down before the body of the girl, Wukong continued his argument with the rest of the group.
"Demon?" demanded Salmoneus. "All we saw was you killing a defenseless girl!"
"Salmoneus is right," Sanzang told the Monkey King. "What you did was reprehensible!"
"What I did was save your life!" Wukong argued.
"He may be right," Hercules finally got up.
"Hercules?" asked Salmoneus. "Why are you taking his side? You saw what he did!"
"This girl's body has been dead for a while," Hercules told them, revealing a purplish red discoloration of her skin across her back. "She has livor mortis. I don't know if she was a demon or not but what I do know is that Wukong didn't kill her. She's been dead for days."
"Thank you!" Wukong smiled. "At least somebody believes me!"
"However," Hercules told Wukong, "you did rush into this way too quickly. Next time, try not to jump to conclusions. What if the next person you strike down really is an innocent bystander?"
Sun Wukong sighed. "Very well, I'll try to keep it in check."
"If this girl was already dead," asked Sanzang. "How was it that she was able to move and speak to us the way she did?"
"Demonic possession?" offered Salmoneus.
"Salmoneus is right," Hercules confirmed. "I've seen it happen myself. At one point, my best friend's body was possessed by a demon named Dahak."
"Then all the more reason for us to reach Vulture's Peak!" Wukong insisted. "The sooner we reach Enlightenment, the better!"
"Agreed," Hercules nodded. "Let's go."
oooo
On a cliff-side, overlooking the travelers, several demons and imps stood there. A white mist coalesced there, finally taking solid shape as Baigujing.
"How did it go, mistress?" one of her servants asked.
"That Monkey King is wise to my tricks," Baigujing admitted. "He saw through my disguise and took decisive action."
"Shall we launch an all-out attack on them?" suggested the imp. "Wipe them all out and take the monk!"
"Not yet," Baigujing told them. "We must isolate the Monkey King from the rest of the group. After all, have you forgotten how he was able to single-handedly battle against the forces of heaven?"
"Err, I forgot," the imp said sheepishly.
"Fool," Baigujing slapped him aside as the other demons laughed.
"However, I may have to keep an eye on that long-haired mortal," the demon queen said to herself. "He is too perceptive to my tricks…"
oooo
"Thanks for standing up for me back there," Sun Wukong told Hercules as the two of them walked behind Sanzang, Autolycus, and Salmoneus.
"Think nothing of it," Hercules replied. "Something definitely wasn't right. By the time that girl met us, she was already a walking corpse."
"Unfortunate though it may be, holy men are especially at risk on journeys such as these," admitted Wukong.
"So what got you involved with Sanzang?" asked Hercules. "I know you said something about how Buddha assigned you on this mission."
"Yes, that Buddha with his infinite power could protect Sanzang on his own," Wukong said with a small hint of resentment, "but yet he chose me to do his menial labor."
"Menial?" asked Hercules. "There's nothing menial about protecting someone on a spiritual journey?"
"Oh if you only knew," Sun Wukong sighed.
"I take it there's trouble in paradise between you and Sanzang?" asked Hercules.
"Tang Sanzang is a good man," Wukong told the demi-god. "However, his mortal vision really limits his ability to see the bigger picture."
Hercules listened with interest. A long time ago, the now deceased Hera had told him that his mortal vision really limited his ability to see beyond the mundane world and into the realm of the spiritual.
"You were able to see through that girl," Hercules realized. "You saw that she was possessed."
"Sometimes the price you pay for your abilities is that others won't fully understand you even when you try to do the right thing," Wukong said wistfully.
"I can relate," Hercules admitted.
"Oh?" asked the Monkey King.
"Where I come from, I was born of a mortal woman," Hercules told his new companion. "My father was king of the gods."
"My," Sun said, impressed. "Perhaps there is more to you than meets the eye."
"I grew up different from the others," continued Hercules. "I had strength of a god but I also had a mortal upbringing among people. It was like I was caught in between two worlds. And of course, due to my mortal blood, I wasn't fully able to understand the realm of magic or the supernatural like a full god could."
"You and I have more in common than I originally thought," Wukong replied insightfully. "I may look like a monkey but I too shared a divine birth."
"Your father was also a god?" asked Hercules.
"Not quite," Sun Wukong shook his head. "You see… I was created from a magic rock that was divinely blessed. One day, I simply emerged from that magical stone and was granted life. Soon, I became acquainted with all the wildlife and became the King of all Monkeys."
"That's an interesting story," Hercules agreed. "At what point did you become acquainted with this Buddha?"
Before Wukong could answer, the gang came upon a middle aged woman who stumbled through the forest.
"Greetings to you, madam," Sanzang bowed, dismounting from his horse.
"Oh thank goodness I have found somebody out here!" the woman cried.
"What seems to be the problem?" asked Salmoneus.
"Have any of you seen my daughter?" she asked. "She was separated from our family when we journeyed through the wilderness!"
The pig-man turned to Sanzang nervously.
"What did she look like?" asked Sanzang.
"She had a white dress and a crystal necklace!" the woman told them. "She has to be out here somewhere!"
"Umm…" Salmoneus looked at the ground nervously.
"Have you seen her?" the woman demanded. "Please tell me you've seen her!"
"Ma'am, I don't know how to tell you this," Sanzang said quietly.
"Is she still alive?" the woman asked in a nervous tone.
Hercules was the first to step forward. The first thing he needed to do was break it to the woman gently.
"Miss," Hercules told her slowly. "Your daughter has been out in this wilderness for a while and unfortunately—"
"Step back, all of you!" Sun Wukong got in front of them all.
"What's come over you, Wukong?" demanded Sanzang.
"This woman is not who she says she is," Wukong told the gang.
"She's a woman looking for her daughter," Salmoneus said in protest. "Who else can she be?"
"The rest of you don't have the divine vision I do," Wukong warned. "This woman is a demon in disguise!"
"Look," Hercules tried to calm the Monkey King down. "Let's take this slow and not do anything too rash."
At that moment, the woman chose to take a step forward.
Reacting without thinking, Sun Wukong swung his Jingubang staff and struck the woman across the head, breaking her skull. In shock, Sanzang watched as the woman crumpled to the floor.
"Wukong!" shouted Sanzang.
"She was a demon, master!" Wukong pointed out. "You know how demons desire the flesh of monks!"
As the argument continued, Hercules knelt down besides the fallen woman and examined her body.
"What's the case with her?" asked Salmoneus.
Hercules frowned, realizing what had just happened. Finally, he got up and walked up towards Sanzang and the Monkey King.
"The issue of demon possession is still up in the air," Hercules told them. "But this woman's shown no sign of decay like the previous body."
"You mean… Wukong killed her?" Salmoneus looked shocked.
"If I did, it was necessary!" the Monkey King justified his decision. "I've been tasked to protect Sanzang and that's what I did!"
"You can't just go around bludgeoning anyone you think is a threat!" Hercules told Sun in frustration.
"I possess divine eyesight!" Wukong reminded Herc. "I can see things mortals and demi-gods can't!"
"Look, maybe we're all a little stressed right now," Salmoneus got in between the two. "But that doesn't change the fact that you killed a woman this time!"
"It was not a woman, it was a demon!" insisted Wukong.
"Wukong," Sanzang finally spoke to the Monkey King with great sadness, "I know you have watched over me for this long. But I'm warning you now. If you murder another innocent life, you will no longer be part of this journey!"
Sun Wukong stared at Sanzang like the monk had just stabbed him in the back.
"After all we've been through, you're willing to throw me away just like that?" he demanded.
"I don't want to do it but you've given me no choice," Sanzang shook his head in sadness.
"Your master is partially right," Hercules told the divinely powered simian. "You leap headfirst into these things without thinking. Even if these people were demon-possessed, wouldn't it be better for you to prove to us that they were?"
"You have my word!" Sun looked offended. "Isn't that good enough?!"
"Well," Hercules explained gently, "sometimes for us mortals and demi-gods who don't possess your divine vision, it might be necessary. Not everything comes to us as easily as it does for you."
"I can't believe you're taking his side," Sun Wukong glared at Hercules. "We're both of divine heritage! I thought you would understand me more than anyone else!"
oooo
From a distance, Baigujing watched happily as the seeds of discord were sown within the group. Soon, Sun Wukong would be gone and the monk's flesh would be hers for the taking.
There was also the matter of the man known as Hercules. From what she had eavesdropped on, it appeared that he was also of divine origin, albeit a mixed one. Still, he was still a potentially big threat.
"Everything is going according to plan," she smiled.
From behind her, two of her goblin minions pulled out an elderly man who was still alive.
"Do you know why you have been brought before me?" Baigujing asked.
"I know you're a demon!" the old man said fearfully. "You just want to feast upon my flesh!"
In amusement, Baigujing turned her head around and laughed at him.
"You pathetic old fool!" the she-demon chuckled. "You are nothing to me. The only thing that could possibly interest me is the flesh of a holy man."
"What are you going to do to me?" he asked fearfully.
"Why, possess you of course!" she smiled.
With that, Baigujing grabbed the old man by the head. Soon, her body became intangible and merged with that of the man. His eyes opened up and glowed with a malevolent shade of red.
"Now, to sever the fellowship," Baigujing turned and walked off towards the direction of the travelers.
oooo
"At the rate we're travelling we should be at Vulture's Peak by the next day," Wukong pointed out.
The Monkey King was riding on top of his magical Nimbus Cloud, scouting out ahead.
"Wukong, I'm concerned about this," Sanzang told the Monkey King. "At the rate you're going now, I have to warn you that you may not receive enlightenment."
"Everything I did was to defend you," Wukong retorted. "And just for that, I'm going to be punished?"
"No Wukong," Sanzang disagreed. "You will not receive the gift of Buddhahood because you have killed the defenseless in cold blood."
At every passing moment, the friendship between Sanzang and Wukong was getting worse.
"This isn't good, Herc," Salmoneus told the larger man.
"I'll say," Hercules agreed.
"No, I meant about me and Autolycus," Salmoneus pointed out.
"That's right, the curse…" Hercules acknowledged.
"At this rate, how are we ever going to do something selfless so we can be changed back?" asked Salmoneus. "I don't want to look like a pig for the rest of my life!"
"Look, all we can do is stay the course," Hercules told the mutated pig-man. "You and Autolycus were responsible for doing this to yourselves. Now it's time for you to prove to the gods of this land that you're more than just some travelling salesman who only cares about where he can find his next dinar."
"Easier said than done," Salmoneus lowered his head.
"Salmoneus," Hercules said firmly. "You can do this. And so can Autolycus… I think."
Without warning, an old man crashed through the thickets, falling down on the ground.
"Good sirs, have you seen my wife and daughter?" asked the old man.
At once, Sun Wukong saw through the disguise. Whoever the man was, he was possessed by a demon of highest order.
"All of you get together," Sun ordered.
"Why?" asked Hercules.
"Oh nevermind!" Wukong took his staff and draw a circle in the sand around himself and all of his companions.
"Wukong, what are you doing this time?" demanded Sanzang.
"This is for your protection, master," Sun Wukong replied calmly.
"I've found the bodies of my wife and daughter!" the old man came closer. "Do you know who did this to them?"
The nervous Sanzang did not know what to say. Sun Wukong had already killed the two women. If he told the man now, he risked completely demoralizing and destroying his will to live.
"Don't worry master," Wukong whispered. "The circle I've drawn in the sand created a powerful barrier. No demon can get through. If this man truly is human, he'll be allowed to enter into our circle."
As the old man drew closer, he touched the barrier protecting Sanzang and the others. Screaming in horror, Baigujing felt herself being assaulted with a massive surge of magical energy, enough to cause her pain.
She screamed an unearthly shriek and left the man's body. By then, the body was nothing more than a charred corpse.
Fortunately for her, the others could not see her in her intangible state, save for Wukong.
"Wukong, first the daughter, then the wife… and now the father!" Sanzang cried.
"These people were demon possessed!" Wukong protested. "I had to do it. Your life is in danger out here!"
"Wukong may be right," Hercules pointed out. "He did say that demons wouldn't be able to pass through his barrier. And we saw that the old man clearly couldn't."
"I have had enough of this bloodshed," Sanzang said with a heavy heart. "You have gone unpunished for too long, Wukong!"
Bending down on both knees, Sanzang began to chant.
"Amidabuddha, Amidabuddha…"
At once, the golden band around Wukong's head began to tighten, causing him immense pain.
"Aaaahhh!" screamed Wukong, falling down and grasping his head. "Make it stop… make it stop!"
"What are you doing?" Hercules demanded.
"I am punishing Wukong as I should!" Sanzang said resolutely. "Guanyin was the one who gave me the means to keep him in line."
"Stop, I beg of you!" pleaded Wukong as Hercules looked at him in pity.
"That's enough," Hercules told Sanzang. "You're torturing him!"
"He has to be disciplined!" Sanzang insisted.
"Well maybe someone should discipline you!" Hercules grabbed Sanzang by the robes and lifted him up.
At once, the chants stopped and the pain finally subsided. Wukong finally stopped writhing in pain and sat back up, trying to get himself back together.
"Who do you think you are?" Hercules demanded. "Wukong may not be perfect but what right do you have to do this to him?"
"Wukong is far from a helpless victim," Sanzang cried. "If only you knew what he was capable of."
"I know he's not happy about being on this journey," Hercules told Sanzang, putting him down. "But he's still risked his life to protect you."
"Please," Wukong begged Hercules. "The golden band I'm wearing is the instrument Sanzang uses to torture me. You have the strength of a god. Perhaps you could break it. I have been tormented for too long!"
"No, don't!" Sanzang protested.
"Watch me," Hercules walked over to Wukong and grabbed hold of the golden band on his head.
"The band was put on him for a reason!" shouted Sanzang.
Before Sanzang could finish what he was saying, Hercules took the band and broke it in two with all his might.
"What have you done?" Sanzang sank to both knees.
"I saved him from being tortured by you!" Hercules pointed his finger at Sanzang.
"Hercules, you have my gratitude…" Wukong breathed heavily.
"Here, let me help you up," the demi-god offered.
"My eternal thanks," Wukong smiled.
With that, Sun Wukong took his staff and struck Hercules across the face with it. In surprise and shock, Hercules stumbled back, only for Wukong to strike him twice across the sides and then swing the staff backwards, slamming the blunt end of it into Herc's stomach to knock him to the floor.
"You should have listened to the monk," Wukong said with a crafty grin, "but now it's too late."
"Look what you've done!" Sanzang told Hercules angrily. "Did you not know who Sun Wukong was? He is the Monkey King who rebelled against Heaven and nearly destroyed all of it!"
This time, Hercules decided not to say anything. It was not often that he made a mistake like this but the monk was right. He had listened to Wukong and trusted the Monkey King. Now he was paying the price for it.
"All of you get back," Hercules warned his companions.
"Oh, you think this will be a simple one-on-one?" Wukong wagged a finger at the demi-god. "It will not be so easy."
As Hercules made an abortive move towards Wukong, the Monkey King plucked several strands of hair from his own body and blew them into the air. Each and every one of those hairs transformed into several look-a-like clones of Wukong. There were ten or so of the Monkey King impersonators who surrounded Hercules.
"Now if you excuse me, I have a former master to take revenge on," Wukong bowed and leaped over Hercules.
Hercules attempted to follow but the Wukong copies assaulted him at once. One punch staggered Herc back as another monkey kicked him in the stomach, knocking him on his back. Soon, all of the monkeys pounced on Hercules, beating at him with their paws.
Grinning malevolently, Wukong closed in on Sanzang.
"Did you really think I wanted to undertake this quest protecting a weakling like you?" demanded Wukong. "Did you really think all those sessions of punishment with that golden band on my head taught me the error of my ways?"
"No," Sanzang acknowledged. "I only did what I did because you had to learn humility and patience. How many times had we been set back on our journey because you lacked patience and temperance?"
"I know I'm the one who got you this far," Wukong pointed his Jingubang staff at the Buddhist monk. "And I know with the golden band gone, I can finally take my revenge for all the humiliations you've inflicted upon me."
Sanzang sighed sadly.
"Do what you must," he said quietly. "As a monk, I must be prepared to accept my fate, whatever it may be."
"Good, then you can die!" Wukong promised.
"Wait a minute!" Salmoneus got in front of the divine simian. "You really don't want to do this!"
"Oh yes I do!" Wukong grinned deviously.
"Look, I know we're all tired and stressed out from going on this trip," Salmoneus told the Monkey King. "But I know what will make you feel better!"
Wukong only looked at Salmoneus incredulously.
"A nice juicy banana!" Salmoneus took out the fruit from the food baskets they had brought along for the trip. "I know ordinary monkeys love them, but to the King of Monkeys? It should be like a slice of Heaven!"
Not realizing how insulting he was being, Salmoneus smiled a big goofy smile and held out the banana to the Monkey King.
"You… presume to mock me?" Wukong glared daggers at the pig-man.
"You want me to pick the fleas off your back?" Salmoneus offered, adding further fuel to the fire.
With an angry backhand, Wukong struck Salmoneus and knocked the man away from Sanzang. Now that Salmoneus was out of the way, Wukong approached Sanzang menacingly.
In the meantime, Hercules was having his hands full with the Wukong clones. They were still upon him, scratching and beating at him.
In a split second, Hercules saw an opportunity as one of the monkey's tails came in close enough.
Herc grabbed the tail and yanked that Wukong clone off its feet. Grabbing tight, Hercules swung the monkey around, knocking the other Wukong clones away from him. One after another, Hercules slammed the clone into the other hapless monkeys, taking them out of the fight.
As Hercules saw Wukong closing in on Sanzang, he spun the clone around and let go, throwing him across the air. Just as Wukong raised his staff to strike Sanzang down, the clone flew into him, knocking him to the ground.
Wukong cried as he hit the floor. Next to him, his clone transformed back into a single strand of hair, as did the other clones. His spell was now broken.
Soon, Hercules stood in between Sanzang and Wukong.
"Back away now," Hercules warned.
"You really don't know who you're dealing with, do you?" Wukong snarled. "I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage… the Equal of Heaven! I've crushed the Armies of Heaven! Only Buddha himself was able to defeat me! Next to him, a half-god like you is nothing!"
"Yeah yeah…" Hercules growled, remembering all the god-like opponents he had defeated in the past. "I've heard it all before."
With an angry roar, Sun Wukong launched himself at Hercules. The demi-god raised his gauntlets, blocking the Jingubang. Wukong swung the staff again, striking at Hercules from the side as the son of Zeus repeatedly blocked the shots.
In return, Hercules kicked Wukong in the stomach and struck him with a backhand, knocking the Monkey King down. As Hercules moved in, Wukong's tail wrapped itself around Hercules and pulled, yanking Herc off his feet. Getting up, Wukong raised his staff and brought it down as Hercules rolled aside to avoid being struck, smashing through the ground with his weapon.
As both opponents got back to their feet, Hercules punched Wukong across the face. However, the Monkey King anticipated the next move and ducked underneath. The simian then stepped to the side and kicked Hercules in the stomach. While the demi-god keeled over, Wukong unleashed several more powerful kicks across the Greek hero's body and rounded it off with a spin kick that sent Herc reeling back.
Sun Wukong then leaped over the demi-god. Planting his staff into the ground, Wukong held onto his weapon and kicked Hercules in the back with both feet, sending the demi-god stumbling forward. As Hercules turned around, Wukong struck him full force across the chin with his staff, causing the son of Zeus to see stars.
Now dazed, Hercules fell back slightly as Wukong came in with another powerful blow that rocked his skull. This time, Hercules fell to the floor.
"Impressive," Wukong noted. "Most humans and demons alike would have died after one blow from the Jingubang!"
With that Wukong thrust the Jingubang staff down at the throat of Hercules. To his surprise and shock, however, Hercules caught it with both hands, preventing Wukong from striking his fatal blow.
"Sorry to disappoint you," snarled Hercules, "but I'm not most people!"
To Wukong's utter disbelief, Hercules thrust the Jingubang back, striking the Monkey King in between the eyes, making him see stars. As Wukong's grip on the staff weakened, Hercules drew the staff back and thrust it back forward again, striking the Monkey King in the skull once more and knocking him flat on his back.
Not entirely down for the count, Wukong rolled back onto both feet. However, as he did so, he found himself on the receiving end of an explosive punch from Hercules. As Wukong's head snapped back, Hercules drove his fist into the Monkey King's stomach. With Wukong bent over, Hercules swung his body over Wukong's back and then spun the Monkey King around, delivering a powerful uppercut that knocked Wukong on his back yet again.
This time, Wukong was not able to get back to both feet immediately. Telekinetically, Wukong levitated his staff into the air as it flew back into his hands. Before he could use his weapon offensively, however, Hercules grabbed Wukong by the tail and lifted him up before slamming him into the ground, nearly knocking the wind out of the Monkey King.
As Hercules lifted him up again, Wukong spun around, breaking Herc's grip and kicked the demi-god in the chest to send him careening back. Soon, both opponents faced each other once more and charged. Hercules blocked a kick from Wukong and delivered a punch of his own back that Wukong blocked with his own elbow. Back and forth they delivered blows until Wukong finally leaped up and kicked Hercules in the chest with both feet and somersaulted back.
With Hercules dazed briefly, Wukong came back and drove the staff into Herc's stomach. He then leaped behind the demi-god and wrapped the staff behind Herc's throat, choking him.
"It will all be over soon," Wukong promised Hercules. "You just rest your weary eyes and go to sleep… permanently!"
Hercules gripped the staff with both hands and slowly powered his way out of Wukong's stranglehold. With a burst of strength, Hercules flipped Wukong right in front of him. Both opponents still held on to the staff, struggling to gain control of the weapon.
"I've defeated the Armies of Heaven!" declared Wukong. "I will not be beaten by the likes of you!"
Without another word, Hercules smashed his elbow into the side of Wukong's head. He then slammed his own forehead into the monkey's nose, drawing blood and causing Wukong to see stars. Finally, Hercules yanked the staff out of Wukong's grip and spun around, striking Wukong behind the legs and knocking him to the floor.
Planting a firm foot down on Wukong, Hercules raised the staff, preparing to bring it down.
"This can't be!" Wukong was incredulous.
"No, stop!" a voice cried out.
Hercules saw Sanzang, who was helping Salmoneus to his feet, walk over towards them.
"There has been enough violence today!" Sanzang told them. "I cannot have my companions fighting each other like this. I am supposed to be a Buddhist monk but yet I have caused so much violence!"
"Sanzang?" Wukong stared at his former master in confusion.
"Wukong, I am sorry for all that has happened between us," Sanzang told the Monkey King. "I hope that one day you can forgive me. Because of the pain I've caused to you, myself, and all the people around us, I now know this cannot keep up any longer. Therefore, I release you from your service to me."
Wukong stared at Sanzang in utter shock, unable to believe that the Buddhist monk was saying this to him. Though his heart had been hardened, there was still a part of him deep down that had grown fond of the monk and regretted how everything had turned out.
"Hercules, please let him go," Sanzang said softly.
"Are you sure?" Hercules asked. "He tried to kill you."
"Yes," Sanzang acknowledged. "Wukong, you are free to go."
Finally, Hercules let go of Wukong and dropped his staff. However, he still kept a careful eye on the Monkey King just in case Wukong decided to attack them again.
"I suppose that's it between us," Wukong looked at Sanzang sadly.
"Your life is your own now," Sanzang replied forlornly. "Live it well."
Wukong gave one last sorrowful glance at Sanzang before summoning his nimbus cloud and flying off into the distance.
"What now?" Salmoneus went up to Hercules. "If Wukong is right, there are still demons out in this wilderness. And I don't even know if we're going to find a cure to break this spell. I mean, I tried to stand between Sanzang and the Monkey King and I still look like this!"
"We'll think of something," Hercules said uncertainly. "But until then, this journey is far from over."
As Salmoneus went back to join Sanzang and Autolycus, Hercules gave one last hesitant look into the horizon that the Monkey King had flown off into.