The Trickster Tarnished: Wukongs Heir

Sorry guys ive been very sick haha but here's the next chapter

Regular text

Venom talking

(Thoughts)

[Health Bar]

ON TO THE CHAPTER

Tarnished Pov.

Sunlight filtered through curtains, in my haste to sleep I forgot to pull shut. The sunlight basked the room in a warm feeling. The velvet sheets, the scent of polished wood and a hint of forge fire was a nice reprieve of sleeping on the floor of the church, or in hay on the ground.

"One can easily get used to this." I muttered, pushing myself up with a groan. Every muscle screaming to stay in bed,

"Honestly we could just stay in bed rest" Venom chimed in, his voice a playful rumble in my mind. 

"Yeah, yeah, we could or I can find a priest to exercise you out of my body." I shot back, a grin tugging at my lips despite trying to be serious. "I wonder if throwing holy water at you will work"

"Aw, come on, where else am I gonna find such stimulating company?" Venom retorted, mock hurt lacing his tone.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Point taken."

In my view a new menu screen was hovering in my vision. Compared to the other system this one seemed more organized. It was compact but very neat.

"Feels weird to not have the system talk back to me." I remarked, as I began navigating through the menus with ease

[Menu]

[Gacha][1 Spin]

[Journal][5 Active Missions]

[Companions][2/6]

[Status]

"It's nice how simple everything is, and it even shows me how many missions are active at the time, how many companions I have out, and how many spins I have on the Gacha," I said aloud, a hint of surprise in my voice. "So far, so good... although I haven't heard from Wukong in a while. Guess even monkeys need their beauty sleep."

"Speaking of monkeys, don't you want to check out your stats?" Venom prodded, his voice laced with amusement.

"You know me so well," I replied dryly, pulling up my status.

[Falna Status]

Name: Oliver Kanto

Level: 1

Strength: I 0

Endurance: ∞

Dexterity: H 100

Agility: D 500

Magic: ∞

Developmental Abilities:

 Heir of Wukong: ( B)Venom(A)

Skills:

Bullseye (A)Hone (C)- can sense people up to 50mHud - (C)Water Rock Smashing Fist(A)

Magic:

Magnet Release(B)Rika(B)

"Gotta say, I'm loving the new look," I remarked, flexing a hand and admiring the interplay of muscle and sinew. "Not bad for a day of rest, huh, Venom?"

"Eh, I've seen better," Venom quipped, "But I'll admit, not having to listen to you whine about leveling up every five minutes is a nice change of pace."

"Hey, I was just enthusiastic about self-improvement!" I retorted, swinging my legs off the bed and onto the plush carpeted floor. "Besides, the grind never stops for anyone"

"Yes, theq= grind that almost got you killed! No what you're doing great bud," Venom added helpfully.

"Details, details," I waved him off, already moving towards the bathroom.

The room Hephaestus had provided was surprisingly luxurious, a far cry from the usual dirt and grime I'd grown accustomed to. It even had a bathroom, a luxury I hadn't indulged in for far too long.

"Don't get too excited," Venom cautioned. "Knowing our luck, we're going to get attacked by a cult next."

"You're a ray of sunshine, you know that?" I quipped, pulling up my status once again with a smirk.

The numbers weren't exactly impressive. Strength was still laughably low, but Endurance and magick, well that make things much more interesting.

Where's the food around here? I'm starving. I walked to the door, to go into the front room to look for food. The room given was very spacious, with high ceilings and intricate metal work adorning the walls. Definitely Hephaestus's style.

My mind thought of the Soma Familia as if they were a shadow looming over my newfound comfort. But for now, with Venom's snarky commentary and the promise of a good meal, I was determined to enjoy the calm before the storm. After all, even a tarnished hero needed a break now and then.

"And maybe a little chaos," Venom added, his voice a mischievous whisper. "Just to keep things interesting."

I grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Oliver," Venom's voice cut through my thoughts, "Remember all that stuff you lost when your inventory got wiped? Well, I managed to save a few things."

"Wait, you can store things?" I asked, surprise evident in my voice.

"Yep, I'm basically a walking, talking inventory," Venom replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "Downside is, if I get hurt, you could lose stuff. But with you only using me as gloves, we're good."

"Huh, not bad," I admitted. "Honestly, I'm surprised we get along as well as we do."

"Well, we are bound together by fate and the looming threat of death," Venom chuckled darkly. "Besides, who else is going to appreciate my witty banter and impeccable taste in music?"

"Fair point," I conceded with a grin. "So, what did you manage to save?"

"Your Power Pole, Nimbus, the stand arrow, and Torrent," Venom listed off. "Oh, and Torrent merged with your Nimbus cloud, so now he can be a horse, cloud, or ring. You know, for convenience."

"That's... actually impressive," I said, genuinely surprised. "Thanks, Venom."

"Don't mention it," Venom replied, his voice taking on a playful lilt. "So, wanna stab yourself with that arrow and see what happens?"

"Why do I get the feeling you're way too excited about this?" I asked suspiciously.

"Who, me? Excited? Never," Venom feigned innocence, but the underlying eagerness was clear.

"Alright, alright, let's do it," I sighed, shaking my head. "Stab away."

Venom raised a tentacle up and stabbed me in the hand. At first I don't feel anything with the wound in my hand healing over. The arrow itself just randomly disintegrated.

"So what power did we get?" I asked Venom "I don't see anything on the notifications"

"I don't feel anything changed in your body", Venom replied. Before my body just locked up and fell down. My heart felt like a drum with how fast it was beating. As my mind went black yet once again.

-

"—be fine," a deep voice rumbled, cutting through the fog in my mind. 

"Should be up and at 'em any minute now." 

"Well, that's reassuring," Venom drawled sarcastically. 

 I pried my eyes open, surprised to find myself not sprawled on the cold, hard ground, but propped up on a plush couch. No dizziness, no nausea, just... a thrumming energy coursing through my veins.

 "Anyone catch the license plate of the truck that ran me over?" I croaked, pushing myself up to a sitting position. My clothes clung to my skin, and I silently thanked the gods for self-cleaning fabric. 

The room erupted in a chorus of "Oliver!" as a flurry of concerned faces crowded around me. 

Bell's wide-eyed worry, Hestia's maternal fretting, Hephaestus's... was that a blush? And some unfamiliar guy looked at me like I'd sprouted a second head. 

"Oliver, what in the hell happened?" Hestia's voice was sharp with worry. "Did someone attack you?" 

 I chuckled, the sound dry and raspy. "Nah, just decided to play pin-the-ability-on-the-tarnished with a magic arrow. Turns out, it doesn't come with instructions." 

The confusion in the room was palpable. 

Bell looked like he was trying to solve a particularly tricky math problem, while the unfamiliar guy just raised a skeptical eyebrow. 

 "Oliver," Hestia began, her voice softening, "if you're still tired—" 

"We understand," Bell chimed in, bless his earnest little heart. "Yesterday was rough." 

 "Guys, I'm serious!" I protested, throwing my hands up in exasperation."Check my status, I'm sure I got a new ability. Also, who's the new guy?" I said pointing at the unknown man in the room. 

"This is Miach," Hestia explained, shooting me a look that said 'behave'. "He's a friend and the god of medicine." 

Miach gave a polite bow. "Nice to meet you, Oliver. Hestia's been quite worried. Passing out twice in a row isn't exactly normal, even for someone with your... unique constitution." "

He's not wrong," Venom piped up, amusement lacing his tone. "You have been dropping like a sack of potatoes lately." 

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Stressful week. Gods, monsters, the whole nine yards. My life's basically a never-ending adventure with terrible customer service." 

Miach chuckled, a surprisingly warm sound. 

"Even with your incredible healing, the mind can be fragile. Remember to rest, young man. No matter how strong you are, you're still human. He turned to Hestia, his smile gentling. "Don't worry about payment, I did this to help an old friend out"

As Bell and Hestia saw Miach off, a gentle silence settled over the room. Hephaestus slid onto the couch beside me, her expression a blend of concern and... something softer. Her hand found mine, warm and surprisingly delicate, and a faint blush dusted her cheeks. I blinked, surprised to see her without her usual eyepatch; the scar beneath was a stark reminder of battles fought and won.

"You're sure you're alright, Oliver?" Her voice was low, laced with worry.

"Never been better," I quipped, flashing a grin that I hoped didn't look as strained as it felt. "Just had a little disagreement with a magic arrow. Turns out they're not as friendly as they look."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "I see. Well, we can always check your status when Hestia returns." She paused, her grip on my hand tightening slightly. "I truly never thought I'd be free of that curse. Thank you, Oliver."

Warmth spread through me, a pleasant counterpoint to the usual chill of Venom's presence. "Hey, no problem. Glad my 'entire heal' skill finally lived up to its name." I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the genuine gratitude in her eyes made it difficult. "Besides, it was kinda fun flexing my divine powers for a change."

"Divine powers? You?" Venom scoffed internally. "Don't make me laugh. You tripped over your own feet yesterday."

Shut up, I retorted mentally, my cheeks warming slightly.

Hephaestus released my hand with a final squeeze, a lingering warmth in its wake. The silence that followed wasn't awkward, but comfortable, a welcome respite from the chaos that seemed to follow me everywhere.

"Speaking of chaos," Venom's voice crackled in my mind, "check out that notification. Seems someone's been busy while you were napping."

A small notification bell icon blinked insistently at the edge of my vision. "Hit it," I commanded, and Venom obliged, his mental touch a familiar sensation now.

[Notification]

[Ability Acquired]

[Stand]

[Stone Monkey]

[A Close-Ranged Stand]

[Ability]

[Monkey See Monkey Do]

[Can copy any ability, random chance to retain it]

[User can control it or make it autonomous]

[Permanently active but invisible unless willed otherwise]

[ To much Damage deactivates it until healed (no harm to user)]

[Stand's stats and XP gains are directly linked to the user]

"Venom, are you seeing this?" I hissed, barely able to contain my excitement.

"Oh, I'm seeing it," Venom replied, his tone practically vibrating with glee. "We are so busted."

"WE ARE SO BUSTED!" I yelped, unable to contain it any longer.

Hephaestus jumped, startled by my outburst. "Oliver, what on earth—"

"I figured out my new ability!" I blurted out, barely able to keep the grin off my face.

Her brow furrowed. "That's great, but why were you talking to yourself?"

"Long story," I hedged, already calculating how much I could get away with revealing. "How about a deal? I'll explain everything after we deal with Apollo. Pinky swear."

Before she could respond, the door swung open, revealing Bell and Hestia. Bell was practically carrying Hestia on his back, both of them flushed and giggling like a pair of school kids.

"Gods, they're adorable," Venom commented dryly. "Makes me want to puke."

I had to agree.

Hestia, with a playful hop, disentangled herself from Bell's back and skipped over to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, are you ready for that status update you wanted?"

"Sure," I replied, a smirk playing on my lips. I rose from the couch and snagged a nearby wooden chair, dragging it closer. With a thought, I commanded Venom to retract from my shirt, leaving my back bare as I sat.

A warmth, not unlike the feeling of sunlight on skin, spread across my back, then coursed through my entire body, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake. Hestia gasped, her eyes widening as she saw the intricate markings that now adorned my skin.

I felt a playful slap on my back, and my status screen flashed before my eyes, the updated information displayed in stark contrast against the familiar background:

Falna Status

Name: Oliver Kanto

Level: 1

Strength: G 200

Endurance: ∞

Dexterity: H 100

Agility: D 500

Magic: ∞

Developmental Abilities:

 Heir of Wukong: ( B)Venom(A)Stand: Stone Monkey: (C)

Skills:

Bullseye (A)Hone (C)- can sense people up to 50mHud - (C)Water Rock Smashing Fist(A)

Magic:

Magnet Release(B)Rika(B)

Bell's jaw dropped. "Wait, your stats went up? But... you were asleep!"

Hestia's eyes were wide with disbelief. "How is that possible? You didn't train, you didn't fight..."

Hephaestus was the first to recover. "It must be related to your new ability," she mused, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Perhaps it grants you passive growth?"

"Or maybe he's just a cheat code," Venom quipped, his voice laced with amusement.

I shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "Honestly, I have no clue. But hey, I'm not complaining."

"I am," Venom grumbled. "This is gonna make my job so much harder."

Your job is to be sarcastic and occasionally useful, I retorted mentally. This changes nothing.

"Touche," Venom conceded.

Hestia, however, was still reeling. "But... but that's not how it's supposed to work!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration. "Falna doesn't just... change on its own!"

"Tell that to my status sheet," I replied, gesturing to the sheet of paper in her hands "Looks pretty official to me."

Bell, ever the optimist, was practically bouncing on his toes. "This is amazing, Oliver! You're getting stronger without even trying!"

"Yeah," I agreed, a grin spreading across my face. "Guess I'm just naturally gifted."

"Or incredibly broken," Venom muttered.

I ignored him, basking in the warmth of my newfound power. The Stone Monkey ability was a game-changer, and the boost to my stats was just the icing on the cake.

I summoned my stand, allowing everyone to see it in the room.

Hestia's fingers traced the lines, her touch feather-light. "It's beautiful," she breathed, awe in her voice. "What is it?"

"A Stand," I explained, suppressing a shiver at the contact. "It's called Stone Monkey."

"Stand?" Bell echoed, tilting his head in that adorable puppy-dog way.

"It's... complicated," I said, shooting a pleading look at Hephaestus. She nodded in understanding.

"It's a manifestation of Oliver's soul," she explained, her voice taking on a teacherly tone. "A guardian, of sorts."

"Like a familiar?" Bell asked.

"Not quite," Hephaestus replied. "It's more... personal. An extension of Oliver himself."

"So, what can it do?" Hestia asked, her eyes still glued to the intricate markings on my back.

"Copy any ability," I said, a grin spreading across my face. "Any ability at all. And there's a chance I'll keep it permanently."

Bell's jaw dropped. "Seriously?!"

"Yep," I confirmed, popping the 'p'. "Punch me, and my Stand can punch back. Shoot me with a fireball, and it can throw one right back at you. The possibilities are endless."

"And chaotic,"Venom added, his voice a gleeful purr in my mind.

"Did you just talk?" Hestia asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Nope," I replied, a touch too quickly. "Just thinking out loud."

She didn't look convinced, but thankfully, she didn't press the issue. Instead, her gaze softened as she reached out to trace the lines on my back once more.

"Be careful, Oliver," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "This power... it's incredible, but it could also be dangerous."

"I know," I replied, meeting her gaze with a reassuring smile. "But hey, at least I'll never be bored." 

After a few more moments of playful banter and explanations, Hestia and Bell finally took their leave. The Apollo situation still needed handling, and as much as Bell wanted to stay by my side (bless his loyalty), duty called. Hestia, ever the doting goddess, promised to check on me later, but not before shooting me a stern look that said, "Rest, or else."

Hephaestus, with a final, lingering glance and a promise to return with food, went back to her forge. The silence that descended upon the room was almost deafening.

"So, what are we doing now?" Venom asked, his voice echoing in the stillness. "Nap time? Or maybe we could finally organize your sock drawer? It's a disaster, by the way."

"Funny," I retorted, already pushing myself off the couch. "How about we go cause some chaos instead?"

"Now you're talking!" Venom practically purred.

Ignoring Hestia's orders (and the insistent throbbing in my temples), I slipped out of the Hephaestus Manor, my destination clear. The Soma Familia was still out there, and I had a score to settle. Plus, a little 'exercise' might help me get a handle on my new Stand.

With a thought, Nimbus materialized beneath my feet, carrying me swiftly through the city streets. The Soma Familia's base was easy to find; their boisterous laughter and drunken singing echoed through the the early afternoon

I grinned. Time to crash the party.

The Soma Familia's base was a raucous scene. Laughter, drunken shouts, and the clinking of glasses filled the air, a stark contrast to the serene night sky above. The building itself, a repurposed warehouse, pulsated with energy, its walls practically vibrating with the revelry within.

I approached with a smirk playing on my lips, Stone Monkey flickering into existence beside me. The Stand, a translucent, ethereal ape, mimicked my every move, its form shimmering with an otherworldly energy.

"Showtime," Venom purred, his voice laced with anticipation.

I nodded, my grin widening. With a thought, I commanded Stone Monkey to scout ahead, its form disappearing into the shadows with a silent grace that belied its imposing size. Moments later, it reappeared, relaying a mental image of the scene within: drunken Familia members sprawled across tables, a makeshift arena where two figures were grappling, and Soma himself, perched on a throne-like chair, a goblet of wine in his hand.

Lily, a figure of stark contrast amidst the chaos, was huddled in a corner, her eyes wide with fear.

"Let's do this," I said, my voice hardening. "We're getting her out of here."

The warehouse doors groaned as I pushed them open, the noise barely registering amidst the din within. Heads turned, eyes blinked in surprise, and then, a hush fell over the room.

Soma, his face flushed with drink, rose from his chair, his eyes narrowing as he took in my figure. "Well, well," he slurred, "look who decided to join the party."

"I'm not here for the party," I replied, my voice cutting through the silence. "I'm here for her." I pointed towards Lily, who shrank back further into the shadows.

Soma let out a booming laugh. "The girl? She's mine. Won her in a fair bet."

"Fair?" I scoffed, my voice dripping with disdain. "From what I've heard, your idea of 'fair' is getting your opponents drunk before the match even starts."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, a few faces turning away in shame. Soma's grin faltered for a moment, then returned with a defiant twist.

"So what if I do?" he roared, slamming his goblet down on a nearby table. "It's my Familia, my rules."

"Your Familia has become a disgrace," I retorted, my voice rising to meet his. "You've turned it into a den of drunkards and cheats, a mockery of what a Familia should be."

Soma's face darkened with rage. "You dare insult my Familia?!"

Before Soma could reply, a burly figure stepped forward, his face twisted into a scowl. "I'll handle this, Soma-sama," he growled, cracking his knuckles. "No one insults our Familia and gets away with it."

This, I realized, was the captain of the Soma Familia, the one responsible for much of their underhanded tactics. A cruel smirk twisted my lips. "Perfect," I murmured, my voice laced with venom. "Let's see what you're made of."

The captain charged, his movements surprisingly swift for his size. He swung a massive fist, aiming for my gut. I sidestepped effortlessly, my spider sense easily warning of the danger. Stone Monkey, mirroring my movements, delivered a swift kick to the captain's side, sending him sprawling.

The fight was a blur of motion and energy. The captain, fueled by rage and alcohol, was a formidable opponent, but his predictable attacks were no match for my Stand's mimicry and my own honed reflexes.

Stone Monkey was a revelation. Its ability to copy any power was astounding. One moment, it was deflecting the captain's blows with a force field of pure energy, the next, it was countering his punches with its own, its strikes imbued with the raw strength.

I felt a surge of adrenaline, a heady rush of power as I tapped into Stone Monkey's strength. My movements became faster, my reflexes sharper, my senses heightened. I was no longer just Oliver, a nobody. Now I was Oliver, the wielder of Stone Monkey, a force to be reckoned with.

The tide of the battle turned swiftly. The captain, initially confident, found himself outmatched, his attacks countered at every turn. His frustration grew, his blows becoming wilder, his movements sloppier.

I pressed my advantage. Stone Monkey, sensing my intent, delivered a series of precise strikes, each one landing with a resounding thud. With a final, devastating blow, the captain fell, his life force extinguished. A hush fell over the warehouse, the silence broken only by the soft thud of his body hitting the ground.

Soma stared at the scene, his drunken stupor momentarily forgotten. The revelry had ceased, replaced by a chilling realization. His Familia, once a source of pride, now lay defeated and exposed, their true nature laid bare.

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken truths. Finally, Soma spoke, his voice hoarse and filled with a newfound sobriety. "You were right," he admitted, his gaze never leaving the fallen captain. "My Familia... it's become... a disgrace."

A flicker of sadness passed through his eyes, a hint of the god he once was. "Take the girl," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "She deserves better than this."

Relief washed over me. I scooped up the trembling Lily, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and hope.

"It's over," I said gently, my voice a soothing balm against the harsh reality of the warehouse. "You're safe now." Before leaving, Soma took his falna off her back.

With Lily nowsafe and the Soma Familia forced to deal with the consequences of their actions, I made my way back to the Hephaestus Manor, the weight of the night heavy on my shoulders, but a glimmer of hope in my heart.

"Well, that was fun," Venom chuckled. "Next time, let's try crashing a wedding."

I laughed.

The door to the Hephaestus Manor creaked open, revealing a scene of warmth and welcome. Bell, Hestia, and Hephaestus stood within, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the hearth. But as my shadow fell across the threshold, their expressions shifted, a wave of surprise washing over them.

Their eyes fell on Lily, her small frame trembling slightly as she clung to my side. Gasps and murmurs filled the air, their surprise quickly morphing into concern and... was that a hint of anger in Hestia's eyes?

"Lily!" Hestia exclaimed, her voice laced with both relief and a touch of reprimand. "Thank goodness you're safe! But Oliver, what were you thinking, leaving like that?"

Bell's expression mirrored Hestia's, his brow furrowed with worry. "You shouldn't have gone alone," he said, his voice laced with concern. "What if something happened?"

Hephaestus, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over me and Lily. "It seems you were successful," she said, her voice carefully neutral. "But I agree with Hestia. You shouldn't have left without telling us."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know, I know," I admitted, my voice laced with a hint of exhaustion. "But I couldn't just sit around and do nothing while she was in danger."

I gestured towards Lily, who now stood a little straighter, her eyes no longer filled with the same terror as before. "She needed help, and I was willing to be the one to help her.

Hestia's expression softened as she looked at Lily, then back at me. "I understand," she said, her voice gentler now. "But next time, please, tell us where you're going. We were worried sick."

"I will," I promised, offering a tired smile. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

The tension in the room eased slightly, replaced by a flurry of activity as Hestia ushered Lily inside, showering her with questions and reassurances. Bell, still looking a little unsure, hovered nearby, his gaze darting between me and Lily. Hephaestus, however, remained by my side, her expression thoughtful.

"You took a risk," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it paid off."

I met her gaze, a flicker of warmth in her eyes. "Someone had to," I replied simply.

As the night wore on, explanations were given, apologies were made, and plans were hatched. Lily, safe and sound, was tucked into a warm bed, her nightmares replaced by dreams of a brighter future. And as I finally succumbed to exhaustion, collapsing onto a couch with a grateful sigh, I knew one thing for sure: I need a fucking vacation.