The Demon of Mighty Roots squeezed tightly. Cozlin and Wukong struggled against the thick, strong branches. Roxy stared intensely at the branch wrapped around her waist. Orange beams radiated from her eyes.
"Ouch! What is that?" The demon looked down and saw smoke rising from the branch. "Stop that!" he shouted. "You're burning—"
Fwoomf! The branch burst into flames. The Demon of Mighty Roots dropped his captives and splashed into the river. Hiss! Steam rose into the sky.
The demon swung a branch, knocking Roxy and Cozlin backward. Wukong swung his iron bar. Crack! The demon's tree trunk body cracked.
"No!" The demon fell to the ground, unable to move.
Roxy and Cozlin hurried over.
"Nice work, Wukong!" Roxy said.
Cozlin pumped her fist in the air.
Wukong grinned. "Watch this!"
He raised his iron bar over his head. But as it swung backward, it hit Cozlin's wrist. Voop! The portal opened, pulling her, Roxy, and Wukong through.
Bam! Roxy landed on a hard floor. Cozlin and Wukong landed next to her. They were back in the portal laboratory on Hulzar.
Flix looked relieved. "I'm glad you're back! I was getting worried."
"Where are we?" Wukong asked, looking around. "I was just about to destroy the demon!"
"We're on a planet—Hulzar," Roxy said. "This is where we got the portal to find you."
Flix was wringing his hands. "Meltron's robots have taken over more planets. They even attacked Hulzar. Luckily we can all hide deep inside the planet. The only way to get down here is with one of our portals."
Another Hulzarian hurried over. "I have bad news, Flix. The robots have started drilling into the ground."
Flix gasped. "We can't let them reach us! If they get our portal technology, they'll be able to go anywhere in the galaxy."
"We don't have much time," Cozlin said. "We have to stop Meltron now!"
"No!" Wukong said. "I have to get back to my own world! I was about to destroy the Demon of Mighty Roots! If I don't do that, he'll eat the Tang Monk! I can't let that happen!"
Roxy bit her lip. She knew Wukong's journey was important. But they had an important mission here too. The entire galaxy was in danger.
Roxy looked at Cozlin. "What should we do? We told Wukong we'd help him."
"I know," Cozlin said. "But . . ."
"What's the problem?" Flix asked.
Wukong took a deep breath. "I was about to destroy a demon. But then we wound up here. I need to get back quickly."
"Oh, is that all?" Flix asked. "I can adjust the portal projector. When you return home, it will make you arrive at the exact moment you left. That way no time will have gone by."
Roxy was shocked. "You can do that?"
"Of course," Flix said. "Can't you do that on your planet?"
"Um, no," Roxy said.
Flix shrugged. "That's strange."
"Strange, you," Bippo said to Roxy.
Roxy frowned. "That's not nice, Bippo."
"Sorry, me."
Wukong was smiling. "This will be like a little vacation for me. I was hoping for some excitement!"