Chapter 1 - Present Day

Zhao, now 16, stood on the rooftop of a partially destroyed building in Beijing, letting the morning wind whip through his hair. The city was quieter than before, but the scars of  "THE CHANGE" were everywhere. Burnt streets, broken cars, shattered buildings. Life had returned in pieces, but it wasn't normal. 

Beside him, a golden-eyed figure stretched lazily and yawned. 

"Do you really enjoy standing on rooftops staring at nothing?" Sun Wukong asked, twirling his staff with a casual flick. 

"I like the view..." Zhao replied, adjusting his jacket. "Besides, it's peaceful up here. Kind of." 

"Peaceful?" Wukong snorted. "The world's been on fire for two years now, human. Nothing about this world is peaceful."

Zhao smiled faintly. "I said peaceful. No monsters nearby, no alarms, no chaos yet, or so i think yet... and thats all i need." 

Wukong landed on Zhao's shoulder, balancing easily. "You worry too much. I say you need a break. How about we go check the east district later? I heard some Spirit Users have been training there. Might be fun to watch... or mess with them." 

"Focus," Zhao said, gently nudging him off his shoulder. "We have work to do too. Training."

"Training, huh?" Wukong grinned. "You mean boring drills, sweating and screaming at me while i make fun of you?" 

"Exactly", Zhao said, smirking. "You're going to help me get stronger, so don't complain."

The two of them stood together, the morning sun warming the ruined city. Wukong flicked his staff, spinning it playfully, while Zhao Tian felt the familiar surge of Ares' Power in his veins. Steady, raw, waiting to be shaped.

It had been two years since he had awakened as a Spirit User. Two years since Ares had choosen him. Two years since wukong had appeared as his mischievous, loyal spirit.  

Now, Zhao Tian was sixteen. Stronger, faster, and smarter than before, but the world still demanded vigilance. Every shadow could hide a threat, every street could be the start of the fight... through that fight wasn't coming yet.

For now, he had Wukong. He had Ares not as a Spirit but as a elemental awakening. And he had time to prepare for the battles to come.

"Alright," Zhao Tian said, squaring his shoulders. "Let's get started."

And together, they began their morning drills, the Sunlight glinting off the staff and the faint red aura from Ares' power reminding them both that the world outside was waiting, but today... today was theirs.