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β¦The Xorath universe, a scarred wasteland of shattered spires and glowing embers, felt oddly still as Sun Wukong and King Xorath stood together, their newfound alliance crackling with potential. Wukong, still buzzing from his Super Sun 2 high, twirled his Ruyi Jingu Bang absentmindedly, his mind racing with thoughts of Hajun. That spiky-haired jerk had beaten him three times before, and now Xorath's story about getting one-shotted by him? Yeah, that lit a fire under Wukong's furry tail. But before they zoomed off to challenge the ramen-loving god, Wukong had one burning question. He needed the full scoop on Xorath's pastβhow did this bat-king get so beefy he took out ten kings in a row?β§
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γπππ ππππππγ β¦ Yo, Bat-Bro, hold up! Before we go hunt Hajun and I show him who's the real boss, I gotta knowβhow'd you get so jacked you smoked ten kings like they were Tuesday's leftovers? Spill the whole story, c'mon, don't leave out the juicy bits!β¦
γππππ ππππππγ β¦ Very well, Monkey King. My past is a tale of ambition and ruin. Sit, for this is no light recounting.β¦
β¦Wukong plopped down on a chunk of rubble, munching on a cosmic peach he'd pulled from who-knows-where, while Xorath's voice grew heavy, his eyes distant. The bat-king's massive frame seemed to shrink under the weight of memory, his wings folding like a cloak. The air shimmered faintly, as if the universe itself was listening.β§
γππππ ππππππγ β¦ Long ago, I was not a king but a Universe Masterβone of five chosen to maintain order in this realm. Think of us as guardians, akin to your Asgardians, but bound by a stricter hierarchy. We served under the Four Heavenly Kings, who in turn answered to the Six Absolute Heaven Kings. Hajunβ¦ was one of those six, a being of unfathomable power, his childish demeanor masking a strength that could shatter realities. The Universe Masters were five in number, each with a distinct role:β¦
β¦Xorath raised a clawed hand, counting off the titles with a gravitas that made Wukong pause mid-bite.β§
γππππ ππππππγ β¦ First, the Minister of Ministers, overseer of cosmic laws and balance. Second, the Minister of Guardians, protector of sacred realms. Third, the Minister of Military, commander of celestial armies. Fourth, the Minister of Kings, advisor to all lesser rulers. And fifthβ¦ the Commander in Chief, the mightiest warrior among us, tasked with enforcing the will of the Heavenly Kings. I was that Commander in Chief.β¦
β¦Wukong's eyes widened, his peach forgotten as he leaned forward. Commander in Chief? No wonder Xorath was such a beast. But the Monkey King's mind was already spinningβHajun, one of six Absolute Heaven Kings? That spiky punk was *that* high up the cosmic food chain? Wukong's grin hid a flicker of unease, but he kept his cool, letting Xorath continue.β§
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γππππ ππππ ππππππγ β¦ As Commander in Chief, I was relentless, my power unmatched among the Masters. I challenged the ten mightiest kings of neighboring universes, each a titan capable of erasing worlds. I defeated them all, one by one, my strength growing with each victory. But that pathβ¦ it changed me. It led to the madness you heard of, the destruction of galaxies. And it led to my defeat at Hajun's hands.β¦
β¦Xorath's voice trailed off, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Wukong, for once, didn't crack a joke. The weight of Xorath's past hung between them, a tale of glory and ruin that set the stage for their next move. The chapter ends with Wukong tossing his peach core aside, his mind buzzing with plans to face Hajun, while Xorath's words echoed: *Hajun was one of the Six Absolute Heaven Kings.* The multiverse was about to get a whole lot messier.β§