Apocalypse Baby

Chapter 76 Damn Monkey: Acolyte

With a smooth swing of his sword, the blade cut through the monkey's neck, the motion clean and precise.

The Monkey General's head tumbled to the ground, its body collapsing a second later.

Ding!

You have killed a Monkey General!

You have leveled up!

You have received 5 stat points!

You have received a Powerstone!

You have received the skill: Fireball.

Alex exhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from his body. He glanced at the notification about the Fireball skill, his expression neutral.

"Not as powerful as Sun Ball," he muttered, "but I'll take it."

Ding!

You have received an additional 5 stat points!

You have received a Powerstone!

You have received clothing: Monkey's Coat.

[Monkey's Coat: A thick coat that provides minor resistance to physical attacks and is highly resistant to heat and cold.]

"Not bad," Alex said with a faint smirk, ready for whatever came next.

From a distance, hidden deep in the shadows of the trees, a low-ranking monkey watched Alex.

[Monkey Acolyte – Rank C(G)]

Unlike others of its rank, this monkey was smarter.

Despite its lower rank, it had the ability to speak and think critically.

It had witnessed how easily Alex had taken down the Monkey General, his movements quick and deadly. The power behind each strike was no joke.

This human was someone far beyond the average threat.

The Acolyte's sharp eyes darted back to Alex, who was standing still, seemingly lost in thought.

He knew what he had to do.

Which was to warn the King... so they'll be ready for this one.

He kept his eyes locked on Alex, making sure the human didn't notice him.

But then, in the blink of an eye—

Alex vanished.

The Acolyte's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't seen a single movement, yet the human had disappeared entirely.

What happened?

The monkey was confused but then its danger sense flared up, a primal warning deep within him.

Its heart began to race.

Something wasn't right. It knew it shouldn't be here, not now.

And decided to leave.

But before he could move, something unseen slammed into him.

WHAM!

The force of it pinned him to the ground, his chest crushing into the dirt. His limbs went limp for a moment, stunned by the invisible weight.

The Acolyte's heart pounded in terror as he struggled, gasping for breath.

"No! No!" the Acolyte screamed, his voice filled with panic as he clawed at the earth, trying to free himself from the invisible force.

But just as quickly as it came, the pressure lifted.

He gasped for air, feeling the weight vanish, and without thinking, his legs sprang to life, propelling him forward in a desperate escape.

Looking back, the monkey still couldn't see anything.

And the emptiness made its heart pound faster, its terror growing stronger.

It let out a panicked screech and picked up speed, its nimble limbs darting through the dense forest canopy.

As the monkey disappeared into the distance, Alex silently disengaged Stealth Walk.

In an instant, his form materialized from thin air, like a ghost stepping into reality.

His grin was sharp and wicked, a hunter savoring the thrill of the chase.

And without hesitation, he sprinted after the terrified monkey, keeping just enough distance to remain undetected.

The monkey, now a blur of frantic motion, didn't stop until it reached the base.

Perched atop a hill deep in the forest, the base was a marvel of primal engineering.

The hill itself was riddled with hollowed-out caves and interconnected tunnels, their dark entrances like gaping mouths.

This labyrinth served as living quarters for the monkey clan.

Above it all stood the grand pavilion—a sprawling open-air structure at the hill's peak.

Thick branches twisted together with vines, reinforced with heavy stones, formed its skeletal frame. It looked almost like a fortress, wild yet sturdy, a testament to the ingenuity of the monkeys.

By the time the panicked monkey reached the pavilion, several of its kind had noticed its frantic arrival.

They stopped what they were doing—some hanging mid-swing from vines, others perched on rocks—to stare.

Their curious, unblinking eyes followed the distressed creature as it scampered up the hill. A ripple of confusion spread through the group, soft hoots and chattering filling the air.

Reaching the entrance of the pavilion, the monkey nearly stumbled in its hurry.

But before it could pass through, a larger, more imposing monkey stepped into its path.

It was a high-ranking monkey.

Its fur was thicker and streaked with silver, scars decorating its muscular frame. It let out a sharp, guttural hoot, a sound that carried authority and a hint of menace.

"Why do you rush here like a fool?" the guard demanded in a tone as sharp as its bared teeth.

Panting, the smaller monkey stammered, "I have something tell king."

The guard scoffed, crossing its thick arms. "A weakling like you has no right to stand before the King. Speak your message to me, and if it's worth his time, I will pass it on."

The smaller monkey hesitated, trembling under the piercing gaze of the guard.

It had an important message—one it hoped would earn the Monkey King's favor and, perhaps, a chance to evolve into a full-fledged shaman, but the intimidating guard blocking the entrance was getting in his way.

The guard stared down at the smaller monkey, eyes cold and unyielding.

The smaller monkey tried to speak, but its words faltered under the weight of the guard's glare.

It began to think it might never get inside when a sharp hoot rang out from within the pavilion.

"Let it through," came the voice of another monkey.

This one held authority, enough that the guard glanced back briefly before stepping aside with a growl.

The smaller monkey took a shaky breath and stepped forward, walking carefully into the interior of the room.

Its eyes widened as it took in the scene.

The chamber was vast, its walls made of intricately woven branches and stone.

Torches flickered, casting dancing shadows across the space.

High-ranking monkeys filled the room, each one exuding power and menace.

Their piercing gazes bore into the smaller monkey as it walked, the weight of their judgment nearly crushing. These were not ordinary monkeys—they were warriors, shamans, and enforcers of the King's rule.

Guards stood at attention along the walls, clutching crude but deadly weapons made of sharpened bone, stone, and wood.

Their threatening stares followed the newcomer as if daring it to make a wrong move.

The monkey's throat went dry, and it gulped audibly, its nerves fraying under the tension.

Finally, the monkey's gaze shifted to the far end of the room, where the Monkey King sat reclined on a massive throne of twisted roots and golden leaves.

The throne seemed to grow from the ground itself, its natural elegance befitting the King's status.

The Monkey King was feasting on a banana, every bite slow and deliberate.

By his side rested a staff carved from ancient wood, its surface inscribed with strange symbols.

[Hanzo Monkey King - Rank B (G)]

The acolyte monkey couldn't help but notice the stark contrast.

Compared to his enormous guards, the King's size was almost underwhelming.

But the King's eyes—sharp, intelligent, and commanding—told a different story. Power radiated from him like an unseen force, making the acolyte's knees tremble.

The King's piercing gaze fell on the trembling monkey. His chewing stopped, and the room fell silent. Every other monkey held its breath, waiting.

"Speak!"

The Monkey King's voice thundered through the room, its sheer authority pressing down like a physical weight.

The sound alone made the little acolyte shudder.

Its legs gave out, and it crumpled to its knees, trembling uncontrollably.

Gathering its courage, the acolyte began to speak, its voice shaky.

"An enemy… a human… attacks. Kill monkey general real easy. Powerful. Scary," it stammered, the words tumbling out in a panicked rush.

The room fell silent for a moment before a scoffing sound broke the tension.

A monkey shaman, its fur marked with strange symbols and its eyes glowing faintly with magic, stepped forward.

"That's your report?" the shaman sneered. "A human? Humans dare not reach here. Not unless they bring an army."

The Monkey King, still reclined on his throne, slowly leaned forward. His curiosity was piqued, and his sharp eyes bored into the trembling acolyte.

"Did you say human?" the King asked, his voice laced with interest.

The acolyte nodded frantically.

"Yes! Extremely fast. Powerful. Almost kill me. I live—barely!"

The shaman stepped closer, circling the smaller monkey like a predator stalking prey.

"How, did a weak monkey like you manage to survive when a monkey general died?"

The acolyte's gaze darted around the room. Its breathing grew uneven.

"I… I dunno! Me don't—"

Whoosh!

Before the acolyte could finish, a sharp sound cut through the air.

The room froze as a hole suddenly appeared in the monkey's chest, clean and precise.

For a split second, the acolyte's face twisted into an expression of shock and confusion.

Then, it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The Monkey King's displeasure was palpable as it slowly lowered the staff by its side.

Dark smoke curled from the ancient wood, twisting upward like living shadows.

Its face contorted into a deep frown, realization settling in.

The reason the small monkey had been left alive was clear now.

The human had followed him here.

A sudden sense of unease rippled through the King's body.

It activated a skill and it's eyes glowed faintly as Farsight took effect, granting it the ability to see far beyond the walls of the base.

The King's vision sharpened, piercing through the dense forest until it focused on a figure perched casually on a tree branch just outside their base.

It was the human.

The King's sharp gaze studied the intruder.

The human didn't seem particularly powerful—a mere D-rank, no match for the strength of the King or its elite guards.

Yet, something about the human's aura was deeply unsettling.

There was a cold, calculated malice radiating from the figure, sending a rare chill through the Monkey King's core.

Then, as if sensing it was being watched, the human's head tilted slightly.

A wicked grin spread across its face, sharp and knowing.

The Monkey King's grip on its staff tightened, its muscles tensing.

The human then raised a hand slowly, almost casually, and snapped its fingers.

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Snap.

The sound was faint, almost insignificant, but the King's instincts screamed of danger.

Its gaze shot back to the lifeless corpse of the small monkey lying in the center of the room.

And then it hit.

Quite literally.

BOOM!