| “Either choice you make, I'm getting out. What remains, that's up to you. My last act in this world is letting you decide. Not them. Not the Celestial Host. Not her! I'm opening your cage.” |
| — The Nine-Headed Demon |
The Cage is the eighth episode of Season 5 and the fifty-sixth episode overall of Monkie Kid.
Synopsis[]
Plot[]
MK struggled to maintain the Power of the Jade Emperor, while Li Jing gathered the Monkie Kids, Monkey King, and Macaque to leave the Celestial Pagoda. MK was left behind, despite protests from the Monkie Kids. Li Jing and Ne Zha attempted to seal the pagoda, but MK managed to break free, taking the Power of the Jade Emperor with him. MK successfully transformed the power back into the yellow Color Stone, much to the disbelief of Monkey King and Li Jing. Li Jing, convinced that MK's actions were impossible, launched an attack on both MK and Monkey King. He tightened the circlet around Monkey King, but MK intervened to stop him. Ne Zha stepped in to confront Li Jing. Li Jing informs Ne Zha about the crises, attributing the deaths of all Color Stone guardians to MK and his companions, and stating that the universe was now devoid of hope. Ne Zha argued that both the Monkie Kids and Li Jing had good intentions. Mei still saw Li Jing as a villain, but Ne Zha explained that MK was their hope. Li Jing insisted that MK would only bring destruction, but Tang pointed out that the cracks had appeared before they obtained the Color Stones. Ne Zha countered by stating that the the Jade Emperor was already dying beforehand, and Macaque revealed about the mastermind pulling the strings. While always listening to Li Jing and never doubting his decisions, Ne Zha implored Li Jing to trust him. MK acknowledged Li Jing's efforts to make amends but insisted that he could rectify the situation. After some persuasion, Li Jing agreed to assist them, although Pigsy was concerned about what to do next. Li Jing was surprised when Monkey King revealed that they did not have a concrete plan once they collected all the Color Stones. MK explained that the guardians had told him what needed to be done, so their next destination was the Temple of Nüwa. MK surprised the Monkie Kids by suddenly teleporting everyone to the temple before they could react.
As MK prepared to place the Color Stones on the statue of Nüwa, Mei, Tang, and Monkey King grew worried about his actions. Just as the Color Stones were set in place, the Pillar of Heaven was suddenly summoned. Pigsy, noticing MK's sadness, became convinced that he was hiding something important. Suddenly, the Court of the Underworld arrived, warning that only the Harbinger of Chaos could repair the Pillar of Heaven. The Tenth King revealed that MK was, in fact, the Harbinger of Chaos. This revelation was met with disbelief from the kings, as the Harbinger of Chaos was supposed to awaken at the end of the Great Cycle, which was an eon away. The Tenth King revealed that the Great Cycle was actually coming to an end at that very moment. As the court began to realize that the Tenth King was actually the traitor, the Tenth King used his chaotic energy to eliminate the other nine kings. He was pleased to have gotten rid of the court, as he no longer wanted to be associated with them. The Tenth King's true nature as a demon was exposed by Li Jing. The Tenth King pointed out the irony of the Court of the Underworld labeling MK as chaos when he himself had originated from the chaos beyond. Teasing about the curiosity surrounding his true identity, the Tenth King revealed himself as the Nine-Headed Demon.
The identity of the Nine-Headed Demon was shrouded in mystery, leaving everyone perplexed, especially Monkey King who never met him before. Despite this, the Nine-Headed Demon asserted that he and Monkey King shared a long history together. Dismissing the importance of his name, the Nine-Headed Demon ominously declared that everything would soon reach its conclusion. The Monkie Kids, Monkey King, Macaque, Ne Zha, and Li Jing, attempted to combat the Nine-Headed Demon, only to be overpowered by his chaotic powers, except for MK. MK, assuming his monkey form, was consumed with anger upon discovering that the Nine-Headed Demon was the mastermind behind the peril threatening the universe, stemming from his theft of the Scroll of Memory and deception of Azure Lion. The Nine-Headed Demon confessed to everything, revealing that he had been planning it for thousands of years. MK condemned him as a monster for his malevolent deeds. Enraged by the accusation, the Nine-Headed Demon launched an attack on MK before eventually regaining his composure. Seizing a moment of respite, the Nine-Headed Demon chose to divulge his own backstory to MK, recounting a life of solitude surrounded by a few companions who shared his aversion to sunlight. Their deep-rooted fear of light led them to perceive anything beyond darkness as sinful. Despite this, the Nine-Headed Demon ventured outside his cave one day, basking in the warmth of the sun for the first time. This experience broadened his perspective, revealing the vastness of the world beyond his sheltered existence. Despite his efforts to lead his companions into the light, the Nine-Headed Demon was ultimately rejected and labeled a monster by them. Since that day, the Nine-Headed Demon was never able to embrace freedom again.
After releasing MK, the Nine-Headed Demon confessed to shattering MK's magic stone in order to force his premature birth. The demon believed that this action would enable MK to break free from the predetermined path that fate had set for him. Despite Macaque's attempts to use his powers to escape, the Nine-Headed Demon thwarted his efforts, causing him pain in the process. The demon insisted that he simply wanted MK to have the freedom to choose his own destiny, rather than having it dictated by others. Pigsy and Tang, however, suspected that the demon was deceiving MK and urged him not to listen. Meanwhile, Macaque was bewildered by the mention of a sacrifice, and MK revealed that the Pillar of Heaven remained incomplete, despite the collection of the Color Stones. Mei was puzzled by this revelation, while Monkey King realized that it meant MK was destined to sacrifice himself to restore the Pillar of Heaven. The Nine-Headed Demon clarified that along with the Color Stones, the stone MK originated from was created Nüwa, serving as a reminder of the chaos that existed before. Monkey King refused to accept this fate and insisted that there must be another solution, but the Nine-Headed Demon maintained that only MK's sacrifice could repair the Pillar of Heaven. As MK bid farewell to his friends and leaped towards the Pillar of Heaven, everyone was filled with anguish.
Cast[]
| Voice Actor | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Alejandro Saab | Macaque King 5 |
| Dave B. Mitchell | Pigsy |
| David Chen | Tang |
| Fred Tatasciore | Li Jing |
| Jack De Sena | MK |
| Johnny Yong Bosch | Ne Zha King 4 |
| Matthew Mercer | Nine-Headed Demon/Tenth King |
| Patrick Seitz | First King Sandy |
| Sean Schemmel | Monkey King King 2 |
| Stephanie Sheh | Mei King 3 |
Features[]
Characters[]
Main:
Supporting:
- Court of the Underworld
- Mo
- Nüwa (statue)
Antagonists:
Locations[]
Objects[]
- Armillary Sash
- Ancestral weapons
- Circlet
- Color Stones
- Dragon Blade
- Fire Wheels
- Golden Staff
- Macaque's staff
- magic stones (flashback)
- Ne Zha's spear
Abilities[]
Species[]
Mentioned[]
- Azure Lion
- Demon Bull Family (indirectly)
- Four Symbols
- Gold and Silver Demons (indirectly)
- Jade Emperor
- Lady Bone Demon (indirectly)
- Scroll of Memory
- Second assault on the Celestial Realm
- Spider Queen (indirectly)
Names in other languages[]
| Language | Name | Translation, etymology, and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Korean | 혼돈에서 온 자 | Translates to The One Who Came From Chaos. |
| Mandarin (China) |
心中的困兽 | Translates to The Trapped Beast in My Heart. |
Trivia[]
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Characters' roles[]
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Protagonists[]
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Antagonists[]
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