"Navigator was...defeated?"

"No way…"

Held in the grip of the golden-furred monkey, the Argonaut dressed in sable pirate attire was limp and unconscious. Backing up from the half-man half-monkey entity, the executioners, the footsoldiers of the Argonaut division, were overwhelmed by fear.

"...Stand!"

Holding his ground and stepping at the forefront of his comrades, a young man dressed in the same all-black uniform wrapped in many straps and reinforced leather yelled out. Standing at such a high altitude on the airborne ship, the fiery young man's two-block hair was subject to the wind, his light-gray locks blowing rapidly.

"Leon?!"

From behind him, the usual confident voice of his friend now coated in fear called out his name, but he couldn't move his eyes from the enemy before him.

"Manfred! Get your sword ready--stand with me!"

I don't know what's coming over me. I'm not usually this confident or bossy, but in the face of an enemy like this...this is my only option. Grow or die. A trial by fire.

The monkey with the expressions of a man smiled before dropping the unconscious Argonaut onto the floorboards of the flying pirate ship, cracking his knuckles before boisterously yelling out to the air.

"Come, if you should be brave enough to challenge the Monkey King, Sun Wukong! If any of you can defeat me, I'll spare your lives! Come, all at once if you prefer!"

His voice was anything but human, shaking the integrity of the ship with his booming cords as the executioners all grabbed their ears out of pain.

Even if he placed himself on the vanguard, he wasn't fearless. Feeling the power in just the Monkey King's voice alone as it went through his body like a tremor, his grip on the hilt of his sword trembled.

"What the hell do we do, Leon?!"

"...Against pure, raw strength like that? All we can do is fight, even if it's in vain, we'll fight."

Wrapping his fingers wrapped in black leather tightly around the handle of his blade, Leon took in a deep inhale after answering Manfred.

"You're right...you're right, Leon. Sorry, I don't know what's coming over me…"

"Just stand by me. Cover my back and I'll cover yours."

"Right!"

Standing side-to-side, Leon and Manfred both drew their blades toward the smiling, self-proclaimed Monkey King.

As it stands, there is practically a zero chance that we can win this fight. Though, it isn't zero, is it? That's enough, Leon thought.

Before they could even take a step forward to launch their assault, the enigmatic, golden-furred monkey had vanished from their sight.

"Huh?"

"Behind us!"

Leon figured out before his comrade could, prompting both of them to swiftly throw their attention behind them. The sight before them sent chills throughout both of their bodies, a cold sweat exuding from their pores.

"No way…"

While Manfred spoke a slight utterance, no words left Leon's lips as fear took hold of his body in that moment. In that instant, every single executioner standing with them had been defeated by Sun Wukong, each and every one of them having been knocked unconscious, or seemingly worse.

"You were the only two to stand up and fight, so I got these cowards out of the way."

Bouncing the sable rod he held in his hand against his shoulder casually, Sun Wukong smiled with his devilish smile as he claimed instant victory over the dozen executioners.

"...Go!"

Against all of his instincts, Leon forced the signal out to his comrade as he himself rushed forward as well, reinforcing his body in as much reinforcement as he could muster.

When it came to just reinforcement, Manfred was a step above him, reaching Sun Wukong before he could as he attempted to swipe his blade for the fur-clad being's achille's heel. Such an attempt was thwarted by a swift, unseen kick from the frivolous monkey as Manfred was sent flying back against the ship's tough exterior.

Shit! Leon thought.

Now it was his turn to dance with the Monkey King, feeling doubt fill his veins as thick as his blood. Under the moonlight, the golden irises belonging to Sun Wukong glistened fervently with a ferocious desire for battle.

Even as he drew within blade's reach of the stout creature, it stood perfectly still with its confident smile still present. All he could focus on in that moment was awaiting the golden-furred monkey's next move, hesitating as he felt every part of his body call for caution.

Just as he prepared to swing the edge of his longsword towards the throat of the monkey, he stopped midway through and pulled his blade back into a defensive stance.

I don't know why, but everything in me is screaming out to protect myself! Leon thought.

As a sharp impact collided against the surface of his blade, trusting his instincts proved to be the right call, being sent back as the air was knocked straight out of his lungs, but he was still conscious.

I couldn't even see that kick being launched, from such a short distance as well...I need to find a way to send for backup, he thought.

Taking in a breath, it came in sharply as he winced, caressing his side as it seemed a rib or two must've been fractured from defending against such a blow.

"Impressive, you actually managed to defend against that one. You might be a bit of a warmup afterall."

"Is that...so?"

Even speaking was a task in and of itself, feeling his lungs press against the prickly sensation of his shattered ribs.

"Are you going to heal yourself or what, kid?"

"Huh…?"

Confused by the knowing words of Sun Wukong, Leon stumbled a bit as he retrained his grip on his sword, never wavering his gaze from the swift monkey.

"You're a water mage, right? You guys are experts on healing magic. If you can heal those ribs of yours, this fight might be even more fun!"

"How do you…?"

"Know? Nothing is shrouded in enigma before my eyes; it's as simple as that! Ha-ha!"

Sun Wukong laughed out with his tremor-inducing voice, shaking the entirety of the airborne ship as Leon winced once more, holding onto his side as the voice alone compromised his bones. It was a less than insightful answer he had received, but he was just glad he was given time to breath.