On the first day, God created himself.
On the second day, God created the world.
On the third day, God decorated the world with beautiful stars.
On the fourth day, God created the concepts that govern the world.
On the fifth day, God filled the world with man.
On the sixth day, as God rested from his hard work, he was killed by his own creation.
On the seventh day, God was…
†
Red-hot liquid rained over the kingdom like a fierce storm. Buildings groaned as their foundations crushed the desperate cries of the masses. The very earth burned like dry wood in a campfire.
Some were cool-headed enough to not run blindly out in the open. Still, they panicked. If their goal was to simply survive longer than the guy next to them, then one could suppose they had a chance. But if their goal was to ensure that they and their families could see the next day, then they had no choice but to sink to their knees and accept God's judgment. After all, their enemy was a god of the highest order. An angel.
Her hair looked as if it were woven out of fresh snow—though it started to take on a more radiant gold as it caught the rising sunlight. The same could be said for her halo and wings burning like judgment day. And in terms of beauty, there wasn't anyone alive that would dismiss an advance from her, man or woman. There was only one part of her that didn't have a majestic look to it.
…Her eyes. Eyes more crimson that the blood raining over their kingdom.
She had come alone. No weapon gleaming in her hands. No army marched at her feet, rising a large banner while proclaiming her name. And definitely no flags of diplomacy. Only her cold and merciless glare.
With divine grace, her hand swiped through the air. Each wave of her hand swept over the kingdom like a gust of death. What was once a beacon of hope, prosperity and unwavering strength now teetered on the precipice of oblivion. The kingdom had endured for over 70 generations of wars, plagues, and the whims of lesser gods. Now, faced with a deity of the highest order, its end was all but certain.
It's not as if they had simply rolled over and accepted their unjust fates. In fact, 100,000 of their best warriors, mages and archers threw themselves at the angel in a final and futile charge. And yet, they were erased before even their shadows could reach her feet.
Naturally, her power reached even the king's palace.
Zhu Bajie—the ruler of this once great nation—could only grimace as his throne trembled beneath him. He didn't need to look through the windows to know that his people, his responsibility had been swept away like leaves in a hurricane.
"Speak honestly, brother. What are your honest thoughts? Can we win this?"
He was not alone. Sha Wujing stood at his right hand as he always had.
"Not a snowball's chance in the nine hells. Even if I threw myself into that maelstrom, I would only add one more corpse to the pile. Our enemy is not just a god, Bajie. She is one of the only twelve angels. A member of Heaven's Royal Deck."
Bajie's snout twitched.
"If only that mad monkey were still with us. I can't help but wonder... did the gods plan this from the very beginning?"
At the mention of those celestial puppet-masters, Wujing's entire body went rigid. The gods had been a thorn in his side since the moment he'd drawn his first breath.
"I would not put it past those bastards…" Wujing snarled. "Heaven must be a terribly boring place if you need to orchestrate genocides for entertainment."
"Boring indeed..." Bajie rose from his throne with the slow dignity of a king who knew his reign was ending. "Very well, Wujing. If it has come to this, I'll handle the angel myself."
"You will die."
The king chuckled.
"I harbor no illusions of victory, brother. I don't even dare hope for it. I'm not even naive enough to believe our kingdom will survive what's coming. All the same, I must fight for my people... Besides, if I sat here cowering with my tail between my legs, I'd never be able to face him when we meet again."
A weary sigh escaped Wujing. He'd known this moment would come. After all, like him, Zhu Bajie was a Saint. An according to the prophecy, only one saint could exist at a time.
"And what of me? I assume you plan to buy us time with that Constellation of yours. What would you have me do while you are busy getting yourself killed?"
"Find the AntiGod."
"!"
Wujing's staff clattered to the floor.
"This kingdom is finished…" Bajie continued. "And many more will join it in the flames. But the gods must be stopped. He is our only hope."
"Have you lost your mind?! The prophecy of the AntiGod? That children's tale about some mystical warrior who will save the world from the evil gods? The same bedtime story that speaks of him being hailed as the greatest hero in all of history?"
"Sounds like I don't need to explain it then."
"Don't you dare get clever with me! The AntiGod is a myth, Bajie! A fairy tale we tell cubs when they can't sleep! It was not even a year ago that you told Sanzang such a person was nothing but fable and wishful thinking. And now you are ordering me to find him?"
"…I am."
Wujing staggered backward as if he'd been struck, then collapsed to his knees.
"You are serious… Even if–if–such a person exists, where would I begin to look? The prophecy claims that the AntiGod can be born in any realm. But there are 9 realms! Do you understand what you are asking of me?"
"Yes. I understand clearly."
A bitter laugh bubbled up from Wujing's chest.
"Have we really fallen so low that we're chasing children's stories?"
"I won't force this burden on you, brother. After all, this kingdom will be nothing but ash and memory long before you could complete such a mission."
"You speak as if I actually could complete such a mission."
"Because I know you can."
"!"
The simple faith in those words hit Wujing like a blow to the gut.
"I believe in you, Wujing. No matter how impossible the destination, you've always found a way to get us there. You're the most persistent hunter, the most loyal friend any of us could ask for… I'm certain Sanzang and Wukong would agree with every word... So I ask you, my dearest brother. Will you do this? Will you find the AntiGod and bring him to this realm? To Gaia?"
Wujing remained silent for a long moment, his hands pressed against his face. Then his fingers rubbed his small horns for some miniscule of strength. For such a task, he needed all he could get.
Finally, his hands fell away, and he gripped his staff with renewed determination.
"I can't promise I'll find this mythical savior. But I can promise to try my damnedest. So yes, you stubborn pig… I'll do it."
A grin split Bajie's lips, transforming his battle-worn face into something almost boyish and simple. His snout flared and he let out a small, affectionate snort.
In the next moment, blinding light erupted from Bajie's back like a star being born. The radiance took the shape of a perfect circle with the image of a crystal-clear river flowing through the cosmos. The same divine symbol blazed on his long and flappy ear. Such a mark was proof of who he was. One of the chosen few who were blessed by the world. A Saint.
"Constellation Art! Unique Star: Eridanus!"
A similar light bloomed beneath Wujing's feet, rising to engulf his entire form in a gentle, protective radiance. Power flowed through his feet and gradually spread all throughout his body. But it wasn't just divine power flowing through him. It was trust, hope and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood.
"This power will allow you to traverse the realms as if you were a god yourself. Godspeed, my dearest brother. May fortune smile upon your impossible journey... And may you find what this world needs most."