Orion's heart hammered against his chest. Fear gnawed at him with every passing second, his brain desperately trying to comprehend the insane situation he found himself in.
He turned his head slightly. Chun Hua was peeking through the crack of the kitchen door, her golden eyes sparkling, her lips curved in a grin far too mischievous for his comfort. Orion tapped her shoulder, his voice a trembling whisper.
"What… what exactly are we doing?"
She spun around so fast that her face stopped just inches away from his. Orion felt his cheeks flush crimson, his breath caught in his throat.
Chun Hua smirked. "We're going to take the food right off his plate."
Orion stumbled back a few steps, trying to regain even a shred of composure. "And how are we supposed to do that?!"
She let out a low, sinister laugh that sent a shiver down his spine. In her hand, she idly twirled a kitchen knife as if this were nothing more than a game. "We play the waiting game. Soon, the hall will fill with monkeys, drunk and loud. They'll serve Wukong's food, and when the chaos is at its peak, we swoop in. Take the entire plate."
Orion blinked, dumbfounded. "…Why?"
Chun Hua leaned closer, her grin widening. "Why not? Let's steal from the mighty Monkey King."
A Few Hours Later
The hall was alive with noise. Orion crouched behind a wall near the kitchen entrance, peering into the grand chamber. His stomach churned—not from hunger, but nerves.
"There's… so many people," he muttered under his breath.
The room was lit by hundreds of lanterns dangling from the ceiling, their glow bouncing off golden cups and polished stone floors. Round tables filled the chamber, six chairs around each, and at the very end sat the table that was unmistakably Wukong's. Painted red and gold, it gleamed brighter than the rest. Of its five chairs, one stood out—a cushion sewn in red and gold resting on the seat, marked for the Monkey King himself.
Monkeys poured into the hall, already drunk, already singing. Some swung from the rafters, others stumbled into seats, cups clashing and spilling. The sound of laughter, slurred chants, and broken instruments filled the air. Orion, against his better judgment, couldn't help but smile.
Even in this twisted world where gods and monsters constantly tore at each other's throats, here was proof that joy still existed. That maybe, even in chaos, there was a piece of normal life worth clinging to.
But that thought quickly vanished when a body flew through the entrance.
CRASH!
Heracles slammed into the far wall, the stone cracking beneath the impact. He stood, groaning, brushing dust from his shoulders. Orion's eyes widened. That wasn't a leap. He had been thrown.
And then Wukong strolled in.
Dusting his hands, the Monkey King's grin was wide as ever. "Well, Heracles, I think you owe me."
Heracles barked a laugh. "NAHHH, that was cheating!"
"Whatever do you mean?" Wukong asked, his tone dripping with fake innocence.
"You said—'I bet you can't move me more than a meter with just your hands'—and you threw me clear across the mountain!"
Wukong stretched his arms, yawning. "I did. Xoxo."
Behind him, Susanoo and Silver entered. Susanoo sighed, his expression one of pure disappointment. "You used a chant."
Wukong shrugged, unbothered. "Oh well. At least we're here now."
Orion quickly ducked lower, forcing himself deeper into shadow. The last person he wanted noticing him was Silver.
The group of warriors moved to the red-and-gold table, each taking their seats. Then Wukong stood tall, raising the cup placed before him.
"MONKEYS!" he shouted, his voice booming across the chamber. "LET US KEEP DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING—BECAUSE WE ARE ALL PERFECT!"
The entire hall roared in unison, a thunderous cheer that shook the walls. Monkeys slammed their cups together, ale splashing like rain, chants of "WUKONG! WUKONG!" filling the air. The feast began.
Food flowed like rivers. Whole roasted boars were carried in, dripping with glaze. Skewers of exotic meats stacked higher than Orion's head. Fruits piled in bowls the size of bathtubs. Barrels of wine rolled across the floor, uncorked, as monkeys dunked cups straight in.
Orion's mouth watered despite himself, his stomach growling. He hadn't eaten since morning.
And yet, Chun Hua was nowhere to be seen. She'd promised she had a plan. Promised she'd give him a signal. But so far—nothing. He gritted his teeth, muttering. "Where are you…?"
Then, as the laughter reached its loudest, the kitchen door creaked open.
A man emerged, dressed in a pristine chef's outfit. Even the tall white hat rested perfectly on his head. He carried a plate covered in a golden cloche. The crowd hushed slightly as he walked, each step deliberate, as though he was carrying a treasure.
He reached the Monkey King's table, set the dish down before Wukong, and bowed.
"Your meal, Great Sage Equal to Heaven."
The golden cloche gleamed under the lantern light.
Orion's heart skipped. This was it. Chun Hua's plan had officially begun.
And I'm about to die, Orion thought miserably.