When it came to pure magical power, Mordred was actually stronger than the rogue Sun Wukong.
However, as a [Steel] Heroic God, Sun Wukong naturally countered Mordred's abilities. Moreover, his divinity was remarkably complex, granting him a vast array of authorities and infinite mystical powers.
From his 72 transformations, which allowed him to evade the Three Calamities, to his indestructible body and the incredible speed of his somersault cloud, Sun Wukong's abilities made him a nightmare to fight.
In terms of raw offense, Sun Wukong wasn't necessarily the strongest. But when it came to survival, few heretic gods could outlast him.
This left Mordred in an awkward position.
While her raw power surpassed his, she couldn't keep up with his speed. Even when she managed to land a blow, his indestructible body nullified much of the damage.
To make matters worse, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing—though not as strong as Mordred or Sun Wukong—were persistent nuisances, constantly interfering and preventing her from focusing on her primary target.
"You son of a—! That's so cowardly! Fight me one-on-one if you've got the guts! Hiding behind tricks and letting those two mess with me? Aren't you supposed to be a god? Don't make me look down on you!"
Mordred, naturally hot-tempered, couldn't stand such a situation. She pointed her finger at Sun Wukong and unleashed a furious tirade.
Yet Sun Wukong wasn't the least bit offended. Instead, he laughed, delighted.
"My Second Brother and Third Brother are my subordinate gods—they're part of my strength. How does using my full power make me cowardly?" he replied smugly. "Besides, in the stories, I always called for backup from the heavens or Guanyin whenever I faced tricky demons. That's my network, my talent. If you're unhappy, go ahead and call for reinforcements yourself. I promise I won't accuse you of cheating!"
His shameless reasoning only made Mordred angrier. Her eyes blazed like twin infernos, glaring at him with murderous intent.
That infuriating monkey face of his, with its mocking smile, seemed to say: Oh, so you can fight? Big deal. What good is fighting alone? In this world, you need allies, backing, and connections.
Ridiculous! Mordred thought furiously. Who doesn't know the Knights of the Round Table dominate this street?
Sun Wukong, noticing her seething rage, smirked even wider.
"Good, get angrier... An opponent blinded by rage is so much easier to deal with," he muttered under his breath.
"Though I still don't know why this little girl suddenly got stronger... It's fine. She hasn't grown too much stronger."
"All I need to do is stall until my six brothers arrive. Once they're here, this brat won't stand a chance."
As sparks of crimson lightning crackled around Mordred, Sun Wukong and his two brothers braced themselves for the next clash.
But just as the battle was about to resume, an authoritative voice cut through the tension, carrying a weight that silenced everyone.
"That's enough, Mordred. Stand down."
"If they're so eager for you to call reinforcements, then let's grant their wish."
The voice's source drew all eyes. The battlefield stilled, and every figure turned in its direction, their expressions a mix of confusion and dread.
Not far away, perched atop a pile of shattered stone, sat a commanding figure.
One leg crossed over the other, the person's posture exuded an air of utter composure. Their legs, tightly sculpted and strikingly elegant, radiated power.
The right hand, covered in a claw-like gauntlet, supported their head, giving off an aura of both laziness and imperial majesty.
Though seated on mere rubble, it felt as though they occupied a throne forged from dragon bones and obsidian. An oppressive, abyssal presence emanated from them, like the suffocating weight of a sea of corpses and rivers of blood stretching endlessly behind them.
The moment Sun Wukong laid eyes on the figure, a chill shot down his spine, making his hair stand on end.
The distance between them was negligible for heretic gods like him. Yet until now, he hadn't sensed a single trace of their presence.
When had they arrived?
How long had they been watching?
"Father!"
Mordred's eyes lit up as she recognized Artoria. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to remain silent.
Artoria's golden eyes locked onto her child for a long moment before shifting to Sun Wukong. For an instant, her gaze transformed, her pupils narrowing into a beastly vertical slit filled with primal fury.
In that brief moment, Sun Wukong felt it—something impossible to describe. A danger beyond comprehension bore down on him, suffocating and overwhelming.
Stronger than a wolf's madness. Prouder than a lion's majesty. Mightier than a dragon's ferocity.
"…Next," Artoria muttered, moving her head slightly as her loose hair swayed. The shadow of her face cast an ominous glow on her glowing golden eyes.
"It's my turn now."
Sun Wukong's composure faltered, his gaze trembling as though he'd witnessed something utterly unbelievable.
"Pigsy! Fall back!"
Without waiting for a response, Sun Wukong grabbed the stunned Zhu Bajie by the arm, yanking him backward.
The next moment, the ground where Zhu Bajie had been standing was engulfed in black flames. The sound of their crackling was akin to the howls of demons from the abyss, clawing for souls. The mere sound made one's skin crawl.
"Retreat!"
Recognizing the peril, Sun Wukong wasted no time. He grabbed both Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, summoned his somersault cloud, and fled a thousand miles in an instant.
"Big Brother! What's happening?"
Sha Wujing, still in shock, struggled to process the turn of events. His mind moved sluggishly, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the moment.
"That woman... She's a real monster!"
Sun Wukong's expression was grim, and for the first time, fear tainted his voice. "That aura—so utterly malevolent—I don't think even the Jade Emperor or the Great Sun Buddha could handle her!"
"What? She's that terrifying?!"
Sha Wujing was utterly dumbfounded. The Jade Emperor and the Buddha were the strongest entities in their understanding, yet Sun Wukong had placed this woman above even them.
"So, she's a Demon Lord?"
"No, you idiot!" Sun Wukong snapped, his tone harsh with frustration. "That woman isn't a god-slaying Demon Lord—she's a full-blown god herself!"
He frowned deeply, the tension on his face unyielding. "And what's worse, I sensed an unbelievably powerful aura of serpentine and draconic origin emanating from her. I've never encountered anything like it. Those four sea dragons couldn't even shine her boots! [Steel] is supposed to counter dragons, but in front of her, my divine nature felt like it was being devoured whole!"
Even now, the lingering fear gnawed at Sun Wukong's heart. He wanted nothing more than to put as much distance as possible between himself and that terrifying figure.
But then he noticed something strange.
"Pigsy, why aren't you saying anything?"
Sun Wukong turned, and what he saw froze him to the core.
In his hand was only Zhu Bajie's severed arm.
Nothing else.
The rest of Zhu Bajie was missing.
The stump of the arm was charred black, as if it had been burned.
Sun Wukong snapped his head around, his heart pounding in dread.
Not far away, that monstrous woman stood tall, her left hand gripping a knight's sword wreathed in black flames.
In her right hand, she held Zhu Bajie by the throat.