BAM.

My bones shatter as I slam onto the mat.

"Tch. That makes it nine hundred thousand deaths for you."

A monkey stands before my broken body with a bored expression.

Sun Wukong.

We're currently in the middle of a small ring.

I don't even blink as I feel myself body instantly repairing itself. Even for a god, this level of healing would be impossible to say the least. I've long since stopped marveling at the miracles of this healing. I have much more...ahh pressing matters to deal with.

Like this monkey for instance.

The monkey in question is twirling a long staff in his hand. He has on golden armor, a phoenix helmet, and boots with little wings sprouting from the backs. As he pounds the staff, the ground shakes. The kingly aura emanating from him is suffocating. What can I say, as expected of the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven."

Spitting at my feet he glares at me.

"Bah! Even the four pesky sea lizards were a bigger threat than you! You can't even handle one of my attacks! What the fuck is that braindead grandpa thinking making me waste my time training a shithead like you!"

To add insult to injury he strikes me while cursing at me. I can't argue back and forced immediately on the defensive as he sends a thunder-rending blow towards my head. I lightly block it with my sword and jump back to get some distance.

For over a thousand years I've been sparring with Sun Wukong. We've done nothing but fight since our first meeting. If you think there was a cooldown for resurrection, you're wrong! Literally every second for the past millennium, I've died. Over and over again. I find myself stuck in a vicious cycle of dying, resurrecting, then immediately dying once again.

I can't help but shudder as he swings his heavy staff at me once again. This time, my block comes too late and my head literally explodes on impact. In the very brief moments between death, I can only think back to our first meeting.

After observing me for a few seconds, he had immediately taken out the needle-like object from his ear and transformed it into a long pole, thicker than a rice bowl. Without any warning, he had rushed at me and knocked me down instantly. I was a god but I still died that easily.

I couldn't believe how strong and fast he was. He was so fast I could only see the smoking trails of his afterimage every time he knocked me down.

The old man had enchanted an arena and sent us both to it after our introductions. I could somehow resurrect no matter how many times I died which made it an ideal place for all-out spars *ahem* slaughter. I barely had time to get a word out between deaths. Eventually, even the great Sun Wukong got tired of berating my pathetic attempts at resistance and just silently kept killing me.

Originally I was frustrated at this "training." I couldn't fathom how getting squashed like a bug repeatedly could help me get stronger and fight against gods. But after dying countless times to the staff he called "ruyi jingu bang," I began to realize that this was truly the greatest training I could ever learn.

I couldn't help but bitterly lament my old self that was stupidly arrogant. Knowing your opponent's strength and remaining valiant was completely different from my braggartly overconfidence. Thanks to literally dying so much, I grew more accustomed to it and didn't quake in fear at its certainty. If my system was still online I was sure my [Zen] would have evolved yet again.

For our fights, I could use magic but I opted against that. Not only were my skills basically innate and more fitted for solo training, but I had decided that practicing martial arts and swordsmanship would be more useful in the event my magic would be powerless (like against stronger deities). I had found a long, beautiful sword amongst the many weapons lining the walls of the training area. A katana.

Thanks to the old man's magic, every time I died, I would resurrect instantly in perfect condition. After getting smacked by a staff hundreds of thousands of times, I became more and more determined to fight back. It took time, but I was slowly able to learn how to counter Sun Wukong's attacks, albeit slowly.

The first hundred years went by with me repeatedly dying and being forced to endure Sun Wukong mocking my weakness. The first time I held the katana, the damn monkey actually fell on the floor laughing. He couldn't believe how bad my form was.

However, despite his words and insults, I could tell he was genuinely impressed by my determination. I guess he expected me to fall into despair at the overwhelming strength difference. I only ever smiled crazily as I got into fighting stance again and again after each of my deaths.

Just like that, another nine hundred years passed. With all that time, I had definitely improved. Now my deaths weren't so immediate. Of course in our first fights, he was holding back as he barely needed to pay attention to kill me. After parrying him for the first time, he began fighting me seriously. The first time I parried his blow, I was so shocked I only stood still while he killed me yet again. I couldn't believe it and it looked like the monkey didn't either. He only shook his head and chalked it off to dumb luck.

However, our fights started actually becoming fights rather than just a massacre. The more I died, the more I honed my battle skills. Graduating from my rough, power-focused attacks, my cuts became cleaner and more graceful as I slowly familiarized myself with the sword. I was essentially a master of the sword, having perfected my style and form for centuries.

Now back to the present.

"HAH"

With a sharp parry, I blocked his swift thrust. With the dexterity of a monkey, he bent in a near 90-degree angle, avoiding my sudden jab. He used the momentum to flip backward and landed once again. Then he went on the offensive, launching a combination of staff attacks and kicks. Breathing in time with my movements, I began my own set of counterattacks while simultaneously countering his attacks.

The times between my deaths had vastly increased to the point that I could fight for months without dying. I had improved my sword skill so much that I could block the majority of his attacks. Most of my deaths were now a result of a break in concentration or mental exhaustion. Despite the anti-exhaustion magic I could sense from the arena, it didn't protect my mind from getting tired from the constant fighting. I was a monster not a fucking soldier damn it!

We kept fighting ceaselessly until for the first time, I broke through the monkey's iron-solid defense. With a graceful stroke, I sliced off his head. I shook the blood from my blade and stood in silence waiting for him to reappear.

I wasn't showing it on my face but I was secretly both surprised and pleased. My thousand years of dying had enlightened me to the point that I had made a decision to kill my emotions. I had realized hiding my emotions was quite useful in preventing opponents from reading any attacks through my facial expressions. It was only natural for me to adopt a stoic face after that.

Sun Wukong was even more surprised. I could see the admiration in his eyes as he begrudgingly nodded at me. Sensing my happiness he began glowering.

"Wipe that smirk off yer face. That was yer first time killing me in a thousand years."

Bowing in respect, I kept my happiness in check and got on guard for our next fight.

To my surprise, instead of attacking me he just snapped his fingers. The training ring instantly disappeared. We were now back at the gazebo where we first met. Confused, I turned towards him. The monkey only raised his eyebrows in response.

"Why are ya looking at me like that? Obviously I don't have anything more to teach ya."

"Teacher..."

I struggled to maintain my emotionless gaze as I choked up.

"Don't call me that! All I did was put you in yer place! A brat like you needed a couple deaths to realize the universe doesn't revolve around him."

My face twitched as he said "several" but I couldn't help but agree.

Bowing once again, I spoke.

"Thank you for your lessons teacher."

With a hmph he walked off, but before he did I swear I could see his face light up in a toothy grin. There was a faint twitch of his tail that I was able to barely notice, thanks to my extra-sharp eyes.

I didn't see the old man anywhere. I still had several questions but when I saw a rift open in front of me, I realized that my time was up. I vaguely remembered him saying that time flowed differently here so I could only pray that Kampe was still safe. Perhaps I would meet the old man later. Then I could make him explain everything.

Stepping into the rift, I felt a familiar presence greet me on the other side.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The Celestial Realm

An old man was walking through a certain meadow with what looked like a monkey wearing golden-red armor. Occasionally he laughed out loud while listening to the monkey talking in a vulgar manner.

"I'm telling ya, that boy is special. The bastard only took a thousand years to beat me. Not even Xuanzang was able to keep up with me, less best me in our primes. Though that was most certainly a fluke."

The old man's eyes sparkled at the monkey's words.

"You've changed as well."

"Tch."

The monkey clicked his tongue but he couldn't help but smile as he remembered the boy calling him "teacher." After spending so long in his quest for godhood and having reached it, he had to admit his life had gotten dull. Being at the peak of the universe was only a fleeting moment of excitement for him. He couldn't lie to himself and say that teaching that boy wasn't a respite from his normally mundane existence.

'Maybe I'm getting soft but I sincerely hope in his success.'

Thoughtfully stroking his long beard, the old man only shakes his head.

"He'll be causing waves in the universe. That much I know for sure."

The monkey nodded in agreement as he snorted.

"Of course! It would be a disgrace to his master if he didn't!"

The old man guffawed as the monkey held his head high. Behind them a large serpent roared in approval.

Unbeknownst to the man in question, a certain elegantly-dressed woman watched in curiosity as she eavesdropped on the two's conversation.