Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 85: Chapter 85 — The Lava Rock Ranking System

Chapter 85 — The Lava Rock Ranking System

Victor and Monkasa had just finished eating.

Victor had to admit, the banana pudding had been much better than he expected.

Whoever had made it possessed a God-given talent for cooking.

The waiter eventually returned and began collecting the empty dishes from the table. Monkasa paid him before leaning back in his seat.

Then, without saying anything, Monkasa pulled out a toothpick and began picking his teeth.

Victor watched him for a moment before looking away.

Monkasa casually worked the toothpick between his teeth before glancing toward Victor.

”So, Victor, what were you doing in the forest?”

Victor looked at him.

For a moment, he hesitated.

He had been wondering whether he should show Monkasa the map.

The map wasn’t something he had shown many people. There were too many mysteries surrounding it, and Victor still didn’t understand exactly what all the markings meant.

But Monkasa seemed like a very straightforward individual.

If there was anyone Victor could probably trust with something like this, it was him.

Victor reached into his belongings.

”Well, I’m looking for something.”

He pulled out the map and placed it on the table.

Then he carefully rolled it open.

Monkasa continued picking his teeth as he leaned forward and looked down at the parchment.

His expression slowly changed.

Confusion.

He tilted his head slightly.

Victor glanced at him.

”I know these symbols may look a little confusing, but this is a map of at least the lower half of the cavern.”

He pointed toward several sections.

”And I’m looking for something on this map.”

Victor’s finger moved across the parchment until it stopped over the marking representing the lava pool.

Monkasa stared at it.

Victor watched his expression.

”I don’t know exactly what I’m going to find, but this is the location I’m interested in.”

Monkasa’s toothpick stopped moving.

”Well...”

He stared at the symbol for a moment.

”I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that place.”

Victor’s expression fell slightly.

”But I have heard stories.”

Victor immediately looked up.

”What do you mean?”

Monkasa leaned back.

”I’ve heard the Prime Ape’s cultivation chamber has a lava pool inside it.”

Victor’s eyes widened.

”Really?”

Monkasa gave him a crooked smile.

”But only the Prime Ape is allowed in there.”

Victor became quiet.

That complicated things.

He looked back down at the map.

A moment later, Monkasa continued.

”Well, I guess the only way you’re going to find out is if you become the Prime Ape.”

Victor slowly looked up.

”I can become the Prime Ape?”

Monkasa’s eyebrows rose.

Then he threw his head back and laughed.

”Hahaha!”

His laughter echoed through the cavern.

”Anyone can become the Prime Ape if they’re strong enough!”

Victor stared at him.

Monkasa eventually calmed down, wiping the corner of his eye.

”But becoming the Prime Ape isn’t easy.”

He looked back toward the map.

The two of them fell silent.

Victor stared at the lava pool marking.

A cultivation chamber.

A lava pool.

The Prime Ape.

It was another possibility.

Another thread he could follow.

But then Monkasa’s eyes suddenly widened.

He pointed at the map.

”This symbol.”

Victor looked toward where he was pointing.

”What about it?”

Monkasa leaned closer.

”This symbol is on our Monkey Fist stele down in the training area.”

Victor froze.

His eyes immediately focused on the symbol.

The upside-down flask.

There was no mistaking it.

The same symbol connected to Samal.

Victor’s heart began beating faster.

He had been worried.

After traveling all this way, he had started wondering whether he was wasting his time chasing markings on an ancient map.

But now...

The symbol was here.

In the Lava Rock Monkey territory.

Another piece of the puzzle had appeared.

Victor stared at it.

Samal.

The more he learned, the more questions appeared.

The statue.

The paintings.

The vision.

The map.

And now this.

The possibility that the lava pool actually existed in the Prime Ape’s cultivation chamber suddenly became much more important.

If that symbol really was connected to Samal, then there was a chance that whatever waited inside that chamber could finally give him another clue.

Victor looked at Monkasa.

”Do you think you can show me it?”

Monkasa smiled.

”Sure.”

Victor’s expression brightened.

”But you must join the Lava Rock Monkey ranking system.”

Victor blinked.

”The Lava Rock Monkey ranking system?”

”Yeah.”

Monkasa leaned back.

”All the fighters in the clan are part of the ranking system. Everyone has a rank based on their strength.”

He tapped the table with his finger.

”If you want to move up, you have to challenge someone ranked higher than you and defeat them for their position.”

Victor listened carefully.

”What’s your rank?”

Monkasa grinned.

”I’m currently ranked one hundred and fifty-six.”

Victor nodded.

”Okay.”

He folded the map.

”I don’t mind doing that.”

Monkasa stared at him for a moment.

Then his grin widened.

”I knew I’d like you, Victor.”

He stood.

”Come with me.”

Victor stood as well.

”Let’s see if we can get you signed up in the Lava Rock Monkey ranking system.”

The two left the restaurant and continued through the treehouse village. Victor’s eyes wandered across the surrounding buildings and bridges as they walked, taking in the strange sights of the Lava Rock Monkey settlement.

One thing in particular caught his attention.

Every female monkey he had seen so far had her ears covered. Some wore cloth coverings over them, while others had their hair positioned over their ears.

Victor found it somewhat baffling. He couldn’t understand why their ears were covered.

The Monkey Clan definitely had a few weird quirks.

Victor followed Monkasa toward one of the elevators.

As they approached, Victor glanced over the edge of the platform.

Far below, at the bottom of the village, Lava Rock Monkeys were fighting.

Some battled one-on-one.

Others stood around the edges of the large fighting area, watching the battles unfold.

The sounds of impacts echoed upward through the village.

Victor stepped into the elevator alongside Monkasa.

The platform slowly descended.

As they lowered toward the ground, Victor continued watching the battles below.

One fight in particular caught his attention.

A Lava Rock Monkey stood several meters away from his opponent.

His posture looked strange.

His body was slightly hunched.

His feet moved in an awkward rhythm.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Victor narrowed his eyes.

There was something strange about the movement.

It didn’t look like he was simply approaching his opponent.

The movement seemed to be building something.

Spiritual Energy began gathering around his body.

Victor’s eyes sharpened.

He’s storing it in his fist.

The monkey suddenly stopped.

His fist tightened.

The spiritual energy that had gathered throughout his strange movement seemed to converge into his arm.

Then he punched.

BOOM!

The opposing monkey was struck by the fist.

His body was sent flying backward as though he had been hit by a cannon.

He slammed into the ground and rolled several times.

Victor stared.

The entire exchange had lasted only a few seconds.

And the technique...

Victor couldn’t help but admire it.

There was something fascinating about the way the movement had been used to build spiritual energy before the final strike.

The elevator reached the ground.

The doors opened.

Monkasa and Victor stepped out.

The two continued forward through the Lava Rock Monkey village.