67- Futility

Even with the current dire situation and his spent state, Mason could not help his grin as he stared at Wolverine’s unmoving body. The semi-immortal mutant was not dead, because of course he wasn’t, but he had been well and truly knocked out.

Izo, meanwhile, looked down at Danny’s lifeless body, saying, "Out of everyone you could bring, you decided to take the Iron Fist with you, Stupid."

Mason gave his master and his lifeless friend a side glance, ruefully replying, "When I take things into my own hands, I have a god complex. When I accept the help of a powerful friend, I’m stupid."

Izo showed a small smile, surprisingly, adding, "You can’t blame a blind man for not seeing. I suppose I can’t blame Stupid for being Stupid."

Mason shook his head, looking around the now bloodied cave for a moment, where he managed to find the haori he had discarded earlier. Miraculously, it had not been completely tainted by the blood, with only the edges of one side bloodied.

The cuts he had received had already closed thanks to his Chi. Mason put it back on when a portal opened next to them. But it was different from the ones usually used by the Sorcerers from Kamar-Taj.

This one looked much more stable than the ones flickering with eldritch energy, and it was shaped into a perfect rectangle, the surface tinged with a dark purple sheen. Still, Mason and Izo could see the other side, and both recognized Mount Everest, where the door to the Eighth City rested.

From the door, a voice Mason had never heard but which he knew belonged to the Beast said, "You always manage to exceed expectations, don’t you? I thought my obvious goading would never work, but you actually went and killed the girl. And even then, you took out that animal. How about you pledge your soul to me? You might only be a hammer, you’re a really good one. One that could be put to good use in the right hands."

Neither Mason nor Izo said anything, but the Beast still continued in its gravely voice, "No matter, I’ll enjoy tearing your soul for the next few millennia just the same. You have been a rather remarkable pain in the ass. But I am nothing if not graceful, so don’t worry about suffering alone. Once I step into your world, I’ll bring your friends and family to share in my delights as well. But those are matters for the future. For now, I did promise I would give you first-row seats for my liberation, so hurry along, little hammer."

Mason still said nothing to the Beast, but after a moment of silence, he approached the portal, telling Izo, "Bring Danny’s body, would you? He deserves a proper burial."

Izo scoffed, "Because you think we’re getting away if we go through this portal? The moment Krahllak escapes from his seal, he will regain all his powers and literally bring Hell to Earth. Once in his domain, a single thought from him would turn us into his slaves."

"Then we don’t let him out." Mason assumed that Krahllak was the Beast’s name.

"You make stupidity quite endearing. Ignorance truly is bliss," although Izo mocked Mason, he still picked up Danny’s body, following Mason through the portal.

Looking around, Mason could immediately tell the space around them had been disturbed. It was not so much because he had developed some special sense for such things, but the air visibly rippled around them, and the Dao was reacting to it. Since space was closely related to gravity, Mason did have some level of perception for it, though it was not needed here.

They were not alone either. The Sorcerer Supreme herself, Yao, stood in the snow not far away, sparing them a glance as she placidly said, "So the Iron Fist was Krahllak’s target all along. It appears this old woman has been fooled. In hindsight, I should have found it strange to see no future where it truly needed all seven Immortal Beasts."

Mason was about to say something when a cold voice scolded from above, "Do you have no shame, human?"

Looking up, Mason was surprised to find a group of what seemed to be men and women descending from the sky. They floated down like gravity was nothing more than a suggestion to them, and leading them was a man dressed in jade-colored battle armor.

They were all of Asian descent, Chinese to be more precise, but even without his Divine Sense, Mason could tell these were no mere mortals. The one in the lead, dressed in battle armor, was the one who spoke, though he had addressed Yao, completely ignoring Mason and Izo.

Yao smiled, offering a nod to the man. "Always a pleasure, Jade Emperor. I am happy you graced us lowly mortals with your presence."

One of the men behind the Jade Emperor, or rather, Gods, rebutted sharply, "Watch your mouth when you speak to your betters, you useless woman."

Another, a female goddess with her hands clasped and whose mere sight evoked mercy, said, "How could you allow Krahllak access to the Chi of the Immortal Beasts?"

Yao looked up at them with the same faint smile, standing her ground. "Krahllak is only one of the many problems plaguing our world. The responsibilities of Kamar-Taj extend far beyond it. Besides, the Eighth City is the shared responsibility between Masters of the Mystic Arts, Martial Artists, and Taoist Gods, yet you were never seen for the last few thousand years."

The Jade Emperor finally gave Mason and Izo some of his attention, looking down at them coldly like he was judging them under supreme authority. "Still so stubborn, I see. Have you still not accepted the inherent limits of your kind? To seek to reach our level through the self, how supremely arrogant. No wonder you could not protect the gate properly."

Izo rolled his eyes, and Mason flipped him the bird, replying, "Piss off if you can’t help."

Immediately, the Gods behind the Jade Emperor erupted, their faces turning into various shades of purple and red. One of them even looked ready to fling lightning at Mason. But before they could, Krahllak laughed, "The kid is right. He might be a stupid hammer, at least he did not cower in his ivory tower. And have you forgotten already where you came from, Jade Emperor? You too were nothing but a human before you ate the Immortal Peaches."

Mason suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder, and he would have struck if not for his impeccable self-control as he saw a shape enter his peripheral vision. Turning his head, he saw a monkey the size of a man dressed in armor, leaning against his shoulder as he chuckled in a high but light voice, "I quite like this kid too. I see you lot still haven’t gotten that stick out of your ass. My bad, I’ll recall Ruyi."

For this one, Mason did not need any introductions. The one leaning on his shoulder could only be the legendary Monkey King, Sun Wukong. Mason might not be any kind of expert on Chinese mythology, the Monkey King had been referenced in so many modern works that Mason easily recognized him.

Sun Wukong made a peace sign with his free hand at Yao, who tipped her head in greeting. "And it is nice to see you again, Wukong. I have been hearing things about a thief who bore your name."

Sun Wukong patted Mason’s shoulder like it was his own, groaning, "Don’t tell me about that guy, I had to send him to the Eighth City as punishment. Besides, as far as transgressors go, I think I’ve found an even better candidate. Kid, tell me, would you be interested in the most powerful weapon in the universe?"

"I would, if you could offer it. But I’m pretty sure I can list at least ten weapons more powerful than your staff."

Sun Wukong pushed himself off Mason with a grin, wiggling his fingers strangely. "Oh, how lovely. Can’t wait to see if you’ll ever break the limit. Well, that’s if you survive today, that is. We got one fat demon to stop."

Krahllak laughed huskily, "Yes, you guys are getting ahead of my schedule. I’m sure there will be plenty of infighting in a moment. For now, you still believe you can stop me. Look what I’ve got, little piggies."

As his voice resonated through the snowy valley, seven giant figures emerged from the shimmering air, moving through the sky in what would have been a majestic dance, if not for the chains tied around their necks.

They were the Mountain Spider, Xiezhi, Huodou, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and finally, leading the dance, was Shou-Lao.

Author’s Note: Sun Wukong’s the goat, the Jade Emperor’s a pompous bitch.