Short, Light, Free

Explosions sounded incessant .

It was brief but I could still feel my eardrums almost splitting .

The next moment, I felt my body separate from my head . However, I could still perceive the world around me .

Is this death? Did the dragon blow me up into pieces?

My eyelids started to feel heavy and I heard the monkeys crowding over .

I started to lose consciousness .

When I woke up, I found myself on the ground .

I had a long dream about a journey to the west and treasure seeking in a cave .

In the dream, I had no control, as it was simply a movie playing out in the cinema .

I heard the monkeys calling out in slow-motion and just as I was about to pick up a precious gold band, my eyes flew open .

The moment they saw that I was awake, they started jumping up and down frantically .

I touched my torso and my head subconsciously . I definitely felt them ripping apart, but it was as if nothing happened .

It doesn"t matter, though . The memory was still fresh in my mind . I remembered everything .

"Where"s my booklet?" I asked the monkeys .

One of them picked it out from his behind and handed it to me .

There was a funky smell but I took it anyway .

I made sure to rub it against the bullet-proof vest of the monkey closest to me .

The booklet started vibrating and the LV2 became LV4 .

I was stunned . Getting rid of an LV8 upped me two levels?

The opponent"s planet started shattering, as did all the corpses .

I couldn"t wrap my head around the game system, but I let it go . I should not complain about gaining two levels, considering that the boy had to go through 63 battles to reach LV8 .

It was just probably going to get increasingly difficult to level up from now on .

I had won two battles, but how many more were there going to be?

How was I supposed to leave this place?

Those were questions for the future, though .

What I needed now was to make more concrete plans .

I opened the booklet and got the burnt branch ready .

It was already somewhat blunt and the charcoal was almost used up .

Was it time to ask for a pen?

No . I had more important things to do .

"Turn them into Sun Wukongs," I wrote .

I believed these monkeys to be the best creatures, all they needed now was an upgrade .

The blue light of the LV4 flickered as golden staffs started plunging down .

The monkeys quickly went forward to catch them .

"Go . Be my monkey kings," I shouted .

"Monkey kings . "

"Kings . "

Upon getting ahold of the staffs, the monkeys started swinging them around fancifully .

That looks about right .

With a smile, I waved . "Come over . "

A monkey ran over and handed his staff to me .

The instant that I took it, I was thrown to the ground . With my left hand crushed, I shrieked .

Startled, the monkey quickly retrieved his staff .

I sat up as the monkey stared at me in shock .

My left hand was a mess .

Something was definitely broken inside .

This has to be Sun Wukong"s staff . . . 500kg staff!

I drew in a cold breath .

13 monkeys, 13 golden staffs .

The realization gave me a sense of security, but I still worried about accidental injuries . It wouldn"t just be my hand but my life at stake .

I observed my monkeys in their bullet-proof vest, helmet, and golden staff .

It was not the best outfit choice, but who cares as long as they win?

At least they wouldn"t be shooting blindly with their guns anymore .

Of course, I would need them to become even better with time, just like the boy"s dragons .

My booklet had turned black for the time being, so I had to wait for the next day to arrive .

I needed 13 monkey kings behind my back . The real monkey kings and not this bunch of easily frightened monkeys .

I slept peacefully that night since I had already gotten used to the quake that occurred before a battle .

We got up after the shaking stopped .

I removed the lens of the 98K and used it as binoculars .

The enemy was a foreign-looking and enormous monster, standing on the opposite planet .

It charged toward me, its mouth wide open . There was a boy with two heads behind it .

I turned around and as usual, my monkeys had run into the mini forest .

I looked at my booklet; it had turned golden again .

"Get rid of their timidness," I wrote .

A blue light appeared and the monkeys immediately came down from the trees, bearing their teeth, and sprinted toward the monsters .

Things were going as planned .

The golden staff was no joke . My left hand was still hurting like crazy .

The scene quickly turned b.l.o.o.d.y as these monkeys killed relentlessly .

It took them three minutes to wipe the other planet out .

I couldn"t figure the opponent"s level but this victory did not give me a level up .

Days pa.s.sed and my monkeys became stronger .

I rebuilt a big tree for the monkeys and also gave them golden armors and red capes .

"Who are we going against today, Master?"

"Yeah, Master . "

"I don"t wanna be 8th in line any longer . Switch 7th brother with me, will you?"
. . .

3 years later .

Just as the opposite planet was about to connect with ours . . .

"Do you see it with your fire eyes, Third Brother?" I asked .

"All monsters, no human . They"re speaking some kind of bird language . Should we get rid of them or should I explore that mountain?" a monkey reported .

"Get rid of them if there are no humans," I instructed .

"Alright, Master . "

He raised his golden staff and it instantly increased in size .

It grew wildly, almost comparable to the size of the opponent"s planet, before smashing down on it .

There was nothing to see; the whole planet shattered .

I looked at the golden LV8 on my booklet . No level up .

I was different from the boy who fought 63 battles in five years .

I had fought 80 battles within three years .

The enemies I met were mostly of lower levels .

Even after 80 battles, though, I was still stuck at LV8 .

Do I need to win against an LV9 before getting promoted?

These monkeys were becoming increasingly similar to the Sun Wukongs I had imagined, my fear growing alongside them .

I was worried that the pages in the booklet would run out, so I seldom used it to write wishes .

I was afraid that a more powerful planet would come along and destroy us in seconds .

Explosions sounded incessant . It was brief but I could still feel my eardrums almost splitting . The next moment, I felt my body separate from my head . However, I could still perceive the world around me . Is this death Did the dragon blow me up into pieces My eyelids started to feel heavy and I heard the monkeys crowding over . I started to lose consciousness . When I woke up, I found myself on the ground . I had a long dream about a journey to the west and treasure seeking in a cave . In the dream, I had no control, as it was simply a movie playing out in the cinema . I heard the monkeys calling out in slow motion and just as I was about to pick up a precious gold band, my eyes flew open . The moment they saw that I was awake, they started jumping up and down frantically . I touched my torso and my head subconsciously . I definitely felt them ripping apart, but it was as if nothing happened . It doesn 39 t matter, though . The memory was still fresh in my mind . I remembered everything . Where 39 s my booklet I asked the monkeys . One of them picked it out from his behind and handed it to me . There was a funky smell but I took it anyway . I made sure to rub it against the bullet proof vest of the monkey closest to me . The booklet started vibrating and the LV2 became LV4 . I was stunned . Getting rid of an LV8 upped me two levels The opponent 39 s planet started shattering, as did all the corpses . I couldn 39 t wrap my head around the game system, but I let it go . I should not complain about gaining two levels, considering that the boy had to go through 63 battles to reach LV8 . It was just probably going to get increasingly difficult to level up from now on . I had won two battles, but how many more were there going to be How was I supposed to leave this place Those were questions for the future, though . What I needed now was to make more concrete plans . I opened the booklet and got the burnt branch ready . It was already somewhat blunt and the charcoal was almost used up . Was it time to ask for a pen No . I had more important things to do . Turn them into Sun Wukongs, I wrote . I believed these monkeys to be the best creatures, all they needed now was an upgrade . The blue light of the LV4 flickered as golden staffs started plunging down . The monkeys quickly went forward to catch them . Go . Be my monkey kings, I shouted . Monkey kings . Kings . . . . Upon getting ahold of the staffs, the monkeys started swinging them around fancifully . That looks about right . With a smile, I waved . Come over . A monkey ran over and handed his staff to me . The instant that I took it, I was thrown to the ground . With my left hand crushed, I shrieked . Startled, the monkey quickly retrieved his staff . I sat up as the monkey stared at me in shock . My left hand was a mess . Something was definitely broken inside . This has to be Sun Wukong 39 s staff . . . 500kg staff I drew in a cold breath . 13 monkeys, 13 golden staffs . The realization gave me a sense of security, but I still worried about accidental injuries . It wouldn 39 t just be my hand but my life at stake . I observed my monkeys in their bullet proof vest, helmet, and golden staff . It was not the best outfit choice, but who cares as long as they win At least they wouldn 39 t be shooting blindly with their guns anymore . Of course, I would need them to become even better with time, just like the boy 39 s dragons . My booklet had turned black for the time being, so I had to wait for the next day to arrive . I needed 13 monkey kings behind my back . The real monkey kings and not this bunch of easily frightened monkeys . I slept peacefully that night since I had already gotten used to the quake that occurred before a battle . We got up after the shaking stopped . I removed the lens of the 98K and used it as binoculars . The enemy was a foreign looking and enormous monster, standing on the opposite planet . It charged toward me, its mouth wide open . There was a boy with two heads behind it . I turned around and as usual, my monkeys had run into the mini forest . I looked at my booklet it had turned golden again . Get rid of their timidness, I wrote . A blue light appeared and the monkeys immediately came down from the trees, bearing their teeth, and sprinted toward the monsters . Things were going as planned . The golden staff was no joke . My left hand was still hurting like crazy . The scene quickly turned b.l.o.o.d.y as these monkeys killed relentlessly . It took them three minutes to wipe the other planet out . I couldn 39 t figure the opponent 39 s level but this victory did not give me a level up . Days pa.s.sed and my monkeys became stronger . I rebuilt a big tree for the monkeys and also gave them golden armors and red capes . Who are we going against today, Master Yeah, Master . I don 39 t wanna be 8th in line any longer . Switch 7th brother with me, will you . . . 3 years later . Just as the opposite planet was about to connect with ours . . . Do you see it with your fire eyes, Third Brother I asked . All monsters, no human . They 39 re speaking some kind of bird language . Should we get rid of them or should I explore that mountain a monkey reported . Get rid of them if there are no humans, I instructed . Alright, Master . He raised his golden staff and it instantly increased in size . It grew wildly, almost comparable to the size of the opponent 39 s planet, before smashing down on it . There was nothing to see the whole planet shattered . I looked at the golden LV8 on my booklet . No level up . I was different from the boy who fought 63 battles in five years . I had fought 80 battles within three years . The enemies I met were mostly of lower levels . Even after 80 battles, though, I was still stuck at LV8 . Do I need to win against an LV9 before getting promoted These monkeys were becoming increasingly similar to the Sun Wukongs I had imagined, my fear growing alongside them . I was worried that the pages in the booklet would run out, so I seldom used it to write wishes . I was afraid that a more powerful planet would come along and destroy us in seconds .