You know that defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice . I can ’ t help it . I keep repeating what Xuanzang said as I drive the sword into Makara ’ s forehead with my remaining strength , which isn ’ t a lot . You know that defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice . I ’ ve decided that , even without energy , I ’ ll still slay Makara . I need to protect humanity . You know that defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice .
Part of me wants to argue back and say that he was wrong , nobody needed to die , but part of me knew he ’ s right . Like always . Just like he said , there ’ s no point arguing . I do know that defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice . The deeper I drive the sword , the more Makara struggles against me . It bucks and kicks and swings and spins , but I still held on against all odds . Defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice . Suddenly , Makara stopped struggling . He seemed to settle down . He seemed to just lie down on the ocean floor . Forever . Relaxing on the seabed . Just when I drove the sword deep enough for it to puncture the brain , Makara jerked up abruptly and bucked with his remaining energy . Defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice , even when you don ’ t believe it ’ s necessary . I couldn ’ t hold on any longer . I let go .
I sank deeper , |
deeper , |
deeper . |
Flowing calmly to the ocean floor . |
Dead . Finally . After all those millennia of living … Finally dead . Well , not necessarily dead . More similar to , dying . Am I right ? Drowning to the bottom of the ocean , slowly choking and running out of breath . Ahh ! What a wonderful way to die . Gradually , you ’ ll get accustomed to inhaling sea water , and possibly , even enjoy it ! If you didn ’ t catch that , it was sarcasm .
You know how people say their life flashes right before their eyes right before they die ? Well … it doesn ’ t exactly happen for me . Or maybe because I ’ m not born a mortal , I don ’ t die a mortal death . Depressing , as how no one ever expected the great god of mischief , captain of the monkey army to pass away like this .
Oh , wow ! Xuanzang is still shouting , trying to find me ! I ’ ve expected him to give up already . I guess , learning focus from a monk , forces a monk to learn resilience and grit from me .
Stop . It ’ s no good , I mentally assure him . I ’ ve died to do a heroic deed and that ’ s all I need . Hey ! That rhymes by the way !
“ NO ! This is life ! And death ! How can you still joke around , let alone think of rhymes in a situation like this ?!” He shouted . “ You ’ ve h-helped me s-s-so much … You d-don ’ t d-deserve th-this ! I ’ ll-I ’ ll make them p-pay !” His speech softened into a whisper . Tears streamed down his face as his knees buckled . He fell against the rails , his body wracked by sobs . He stared into the distance , the blood draining from his cheeks , the color fading from his eyes . He let out a wordless cry , awakening every soul in the heavens .
“ That you would be dead …” His voice trailed away . He didn ’ t think that it was possible to cry so much , reliving all he had been through in his mind .
Xuanzang . Xuanzang . I said , shaking him from his stupor . No . Don ’ t cry . At least I ’ ve slain Makara . And it ’ s not life and death anymore , for I ’ ve chosen death . It ’ ll only be a few minutes before my heart stops beating , my blood stops flowing , my lungs stop inhaling , my brain stops functioning , and my soul stops existing . I ’ ve been cast down as a mortal for a reason , Xuanzang . To aid you to success . Even if I die along the way , at least I ’ ve pleased the gods . Now go . Stay in Djibouti for another 2 days before sailing to Egypt . My spirit will aid you against the odds one last time . One last time , for you to finish your journey to the west .
Xuanzang half-hiccupped , half-sobbed , “ V-very well . I-I trust you . You will be the best Monkey King there ever was .”
As he sailed away , he stared at the spot I leaped , attacked , killed , and died . He would not look away . He would allow all the guilt , all the grief , all the anger , all the desolation to flow over him . He would accept fate . Just like I taught him to .
You know that defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice. I can’t help it. I keep repeating what
Xuanzang said as I drive the sword into Makara’s forehead with my remaining strength, which isn’t a lot.
You know that defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice. I’ve decided that, even without energy, I’ll still
slay Makara. I need to protect humanity. You know that defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice.
Part of me wants to argue back and say that he was wrong, nobody needed to die, but part of me knew he’s
right. Like always. Just like he said, there’s no point arguing. I do know that defeating Makara always
involves a sacrifice. The deeper I drive the sword, the more Makara struggles against me. It bucks and kicks
and swings and spins, but I still held on against all odds. Defeating Makara always involves a sacrifice.
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