by Con Template
Yoori furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”
“The Scorpions family believed in building a family amongst the soldiers. When Kang Min and I were initiated, the ‘God’ who recruited us had to watch over us.”
Yoori’s eyes widened at the implication. “An Soo Jin was with you throughout every level?”
Jae Won nodded. “If you were to be initiated during the years where the Scorpions were active, a member of the Royal family had to be with you. It was a symbol of their loyalty to you, their promise to you that if you stayed by their side, they would stay with you until the bitter end. The only time they left you was at the final level. At the final level, the Royal family would initiate you themselves.” Jae Won let out a groan as he rubbed the back of his neck. “That was the hardest level because the Royal family did not show pity in that one minute. Most begged for an out in the first thirty seconds.”
The thought of an eight and ten-year-old surviving against such revered Royals baffled Yoori. “How did you two survive against An Soo Jin, her brother, and father?”
“Her brother and father beat us for the first twenty seconds, and after that, they gave our boss the reigns. She did not show mercy. It felt like it was an eternity before that level was up.”
“From what I’ve heard,” launched Kang Min, “the final stage of the initiation used to be worse. There was a point in time where there was one King and his five sons—the five Princes. We heard a lot of initiates died during that era and few made it through. The gang was going through an extinction when one King finally ruled that the maximum number of any Royals in the final level was three—‘The Holy Trinity.’”
Yoori was utterly captivated. It felt like she was listening to a Greek mythology of sorts. Everything sounded so unbelievable, so mythical. She faced Hae Jin, eager to find out what secrets laid within the Serpents’ most sacred day.
“Which initiation does the Serpents’ most closely resemble?”
“You will have to see to find out,” answered Hae Jin while the colors of the sunset became more vibrant. She looked ahead and smiled. “Sit on the throne, Yoori. It’s starting now.”
Yoori widened her eyes. She looked around and noticed that everyone around her had grown silent. In a daze, she did as Hae Jin ordered and went back to sit on the throne. Then, she simply watched the initiation unfold before her very eyes. Yoori was fascinated by the inner workings of the Skulls and Scorpions’ initiation. She could not wait to witness firsthand how the Serpents’ initiation worked.
As if on cue, three white semi-trucks drove onto the massive lawn in a synchronized order. The trucks stopped side by side, sitting there for a few moments while allowing the silence to devour them. Above, the setting sun cast its colorful rays unto the world below, heightening the crowd’s anticipation.
Yoori watched unblinkingly, wondering what was in those trucks. Memories of the other initiations played in her mind, churning her already curious thoughts. Were there Siberian tigers in there? Serpents? Skulls? Or perhaps coffins? The answer to her questions came when the doors to the truck lifted open like a veil.
Yoori was stunned when, instead of all the things she imagined, men and women started stepping out of the three trucks. She craned her neck in an attempt to get a better view of the people filing out of the trucks. She endeavored to count how many there were, but stopped when she could no longer make them out from one another. There were so many people. If she could guess, she would say well over a hundred at best. Despite the alarming amount of people, what shocked her most was the uniformity of their unkempt appearances. They were all wearing white and as pure as this color was, their clothes were anything but unsullied. Yoori breathed uneasily, running her eyes over their torn clothes, bloodshot eyes, and bloodied appearances. All looked like they had been to hell and back.
She was flummoxed. Did they already have their initiations in that truck?
Yoori didn’t hesitate to voice her thoughts out loud. “Did they already have their five-minute initiation?”
Hae Jin shook her head, her expression unfazed at the world below. “No. They were being prepped for the initiation.”
The casualness of Hae Jin’s answer did not alleviate the shock Yoori experienced. If anything, it only served to exacerbate it. If this was what they looked like after a ‘prep,’ what were they in for when the actual initiation commenced?
“How long do the preps last?” Yoori asked thoughtlessly, unable to tear her gaze from the initiates below. She could not believe how fucked up they all looked.
“Five weeks.”
Yoori’s eyes nearly bulged from her sockets. She finally tore her focus from the world below to stare at Hae Jin. “Five weeks to prepare for a five-minute initiation?”
“Five weeks is not nearly enough to train them for what’s coming,” Kang Min answered for Hae Jin. His unfazed eyes maintained their focus on the initiates, all of whom were staring at all the active Serpents in trepidation. They were clearly wondering what was in store for them and wondering why they had such a big audience. “They are actually very lucky to even get that much. It is said that the former King of Serpents did not give them any grace period to prepare. Boss was the one who jumpstarted this new tradition—among some other changes to the Serpents’ initiation.” Kang Min laughed, clearly amused with the apprehensive faces of the initiates. “He said that he did not just want the best—he wanted to create the best. He wanted to give them the best chance of survival before they started their initiation.”
The Serpents initiates continued to loiter around the area near the trucks, looking around anxiously. Then, several of their eyes landed on Yoori. A sense of awe seized them when they realized that she was sitting on a throne. They elbowed one another, subtly telling one another about her. Soon, nearly all the initiates were staring up at her, curiosity teeming in their eyes.
Yoori did not fault their interest. In a sea of Serpents dressed in black outfits, she was the only one who stood out with her white dress. More importantly, with the rest of the Serpents sitting on the foundation of the roof, the throne elevated her above them. In this picture, she did not look like a simple spectator; she looked like a Queen. As much as she hated to admit it, it felt nice to have them stare up at her like she was a God. The throne made her feel like one, and she enjoyed that feeling very much.
Their marvel of her was interrupted when the three Serpents who drove the trucks started screaming for them to move along. Yoori watched the three active Serpents lead the initiates from the lawn onto the white stone foundation that acted as a pathway to the maze. It was mesmerizing to watch them march in synchronization, approaching the maze like it was a portal into another reality.
She pressed her back against the cushion of the throne and relaxed, for she knew this was going to be an entertaining show.
Two of the active Serpents advanced ahead of the group, one holding a key to a door. They marched toward the only opening of the labyrinth. When they passed the opening, the Serpent stuck his key into the ivy wall and instantly, a hidden door opened for them, granting them entry into the deeper parts of the maze. The active Serpent opened several more ivy-covered doors leading to the epicenter of the maze where the fountain laid.
The initiates followed them in, observing the elaborate maze with marvel in their eyes. Once they were all in, they eventually surrounded the water fountain. The three active Serpents said nothing and journeyed out of the ivy-covered edifice, locking each door on their way out. Once they sealed the last door, the Serpents stood in front of the maze, their hands folded in front of them while they allowed silence to befall the garden.
Yoori became more and more astounded by the grandeur of what was unfolding before her.
“What are they doing now?” Yoori asked in a low voice.
Above, the setting sun disappeared, bringing forth an infantile darkness that began to canvass the world beneath.
“One of them has to get out of that maze,” answered Ja
e Won. Yoori could only see the back of his head, but based on his tone of voice, she could sense his anticipation.
She did not share his excitement. If anything, it felt dull. “Not all of them?” she clarified.
“Only one,” confirmed Jae Won, his voice maintaining the same air of anticipation. “After that, they are all initiated.”
Yoori laughed, dumbfounded that the initiation was that easy. After seeing them look so downtrodden, she had anticipated a more epic event. Simply having one of them make it out of the labyrinth felt extremely anticlimactic. Perhaps beating them before their initiation into the maze was the Serpents’ way of disorienting them? “Really?”
She stopped laughing when the initiates pulled white blindfolds out of their pockets and secured them across their eyes. Her face then blanched when she saw thirty shadows emerge out of the various areas of the lawn. They approached the initiation ground from all different circular points like ghosts in the night. When they neared the massive infrastructure, they used footholds along the wall as props and soared onto the top of the ivy-covered maze.
“How is that not falling apart?” Yoori breathed out.
“The ivy is there for show,” answered Hae Jin. “The maze is actually built from bricks. It was created to withstand the weight of hundreds of people.”
Yoori watched in wonder as all the shadow figures moved through the entirety of the maze, nearly eclipsing everything but the center, which was still pure with white. They stood on all regions of the maze, watching down on the initiates like guardians. Despite appearances, Yoori knew their primary purpose was not to guard the initiates’ safety, but to guard the exit. Leaving the maze in five minutes would not be an easy task, especially when these initiates were not even aware of the Serpents in their midst.
“What are they supposed to be?” asked Yoori, realizing quickly that the initiates resembled trapped mice. They did not know that there were predators ready to feast on them, and they would not expect the ambush when it came.
“In this initiation, they are known as the Reapers,” enlightened Hae Jin. Pride undulated her voice. “They were all specifically trained by my brother.”
“What will they do?”
“Keep them in that center circle.”
Silence presided over the entire estate. Everyone watched in anticipatory stillness. Even Yoori, who was once inquisitive with questions, pressed her back against the throne and sat comfortably, feeling like she had been transported into another reality. She had no more questions; all she wanted to do was sit back and witness the commencement of this new world.
As her heart palpitated in eagerness, a gong suddenly went off in the distance, its echoes resounding onto the garden.
In an instant, the maze went from peaceful . . . to anarchic.
The Reapers jumped off the walls and landed on the ground. They advanced toward the initiates and soon after, sounds of bones cracking penetrated the air. The Reapers showed no mercy as mayhem ensued in that microcosm of a world. They attacked and assaulted the initiates with their bare hands like ferocious beasts. Some of the initiates were able to fight back, even while being blindfolded. Some were able to make it out of the center of the maze, despite having to take on the Reapers. However, the majority was in the circle, blindfolded and struggling to survive against the faceless ghosts.
Suddenly, another gong went off in the distance.
“Take off your blindfolds!” the Reapers started screaming, ripping off the blindfolds of the initiates closest to them.
The Reapers were still assaulting them but this time, at least the initiates had a chance. Once all the initiates removed their blindfolds, the fights that ensued thereafter between the Reapers and the now fully aware initiates were astonishing. Though the initiates were less experienced, they were highly skilled. Yoori could see that the five weeks worth of preparation did them a world of good in this otherworldly arena. They were not only able to combat their assailants, but they were also able to climb onto the maze and give the Reapers a run for their money.
Yoori mentally cheered them on, feeling proud for Tae Hyun that he acquired such a talented group of new recruits. They had a lot to learn, but when they obtained mastery, they would be forces to be reckoned with.
Just when Yoori thought these initiates would have an easier time with the initiation now that some were on top of the walls and close to making it out of the arena, nine silhouettes stepped out of the night and approached the maze. They all had chains wrapped around their hands and were approaching the initiation ground with alacrity. It did not take Yoori long to surmise that it was the Cobras.
Shock rammed into Yoori when she realized that this was what Tae Hyun needed the Cobras to do today. He needed them to initiate the new members of the Serpents.
Any sense of relief she felt for the initiates vanquished. Their journey out of this maze was far from over, especially if the Cobras had anything to say about it.
Three of the Cobras filed through the opening and marched through the maze while five others rocketed onto the tip of the maze and walked upon it, approaching the clusters of white initiates standing upon the ivy-covered foundation. As a lone Cobra simply stood in front of the opening, the rest did not waste time. They charged for any initiates in their proximity and started wielding their chains. Yoori cringed when sounds of metal lashing out onto flesh punctured the air. Splatters of blood flew toward the sky, rising over the eight-foot walls, and landing back onto the initiates’ white clothes.
The Cobras were a tsunami of force that the initiates could not begin to conquer. All they could do was endure the flood and pray for survival. The Cobras charged into the various parts of the maze with such agility that none of the initiates were able to evade them. Yoori felt like she was witnessing the beginning of a massacre.
The seconds felt like an eternity while she watched the initiates attempt their escape. Some fought on top of the maze, some were on the ground, and some ran to the end of the maze. Five initiates looked like they were about to reach the exit when the lone Cobra, Ace, moved a hidden fence over it and sealed the only available exit. When the initiates arrived, they had stupefied looks on their faces. They did not have time to nurse their shock. Like a waiting lion, Ace made his presence known and wielded his chain like it was a lash from hell. None of the five initiates were spared from his lethal weapon. Within moments, they were on the floor, fighting for breath.
Amidst this chaos, something caught Yoori’s eyes.
A breath escaped her when she saw him.
She had been so engrossed in this initiation that she forgot to wonder where he was.
Like the commanding King that he was, Tae Hyun finally appeared, earning the stares of the active Serpents. Yoori could hear all the Serpents murmur in excitement. It was clear to her that as electrifying as this initiation had been so far, it was nothing compared to what Tae Hyun’s presence would bring. All along, they had been waiting for him. All along, they had been waiting for their King to make his long-awaited appearance.
Yoori watched him from above, feeling spellbound by his presence. It no longer mattered that there were over a hundred people fighting in the arena. The only thing that mattered was Tae Hyun and his nearness. Her eyes raked over his powerful, muscular body. He was shirtless and wore white pants that were similar to the initiates’ white attire. He walked barefoot on the white pavement, stalking toward the maze like he owned the world. Although he made no sound, he commanded the attention of everyone on the estate.
His eyes firmly set on the initiation ground, he did not deign to slow down when he reached to grab a kendo stick from the grass beside the walkway.
“Fifteen more seconds,” Hae Jin announced to everyone on the roof, consulting the timer on her phone.
Up ahead, Tae Hyun reached the maze. He extended his arm out, pulled himself up using a foothold on the walls, and easily jumped onto the tip of the ivy-covered maze. With the kendo stick in his grasp, he watched over the i
nhabitants of the labyrinth like a God who had descended to earth.
“Time,” Hae Jin whispered.
Instantly, the Reapers and the Cobras ceased their assaults on the initiates. They stared up at Tae Hyun with reverence and fell on one knee before his presence.
Tae Hyun did not even bat an eyelash. He simply motioned his hand and the active Serpents in the maze stood back up. Tae Hyun leisurely sauntered over to the fire post beside him and lit the torch with a lighter from his pocket. Just as he did this, the torches on the remaining ten posts lit up simultaneously, illuming the initiation field that was once enveloped in darkness.
“Their five minutes is starting,” Yoori uttered, realizing how extensive the Serpents’ initiation was. They did not follow the same procedures as the other Kingdoms’ initiations. This sacred ground was their world and in their world, the “five-minute” timeframe worked differently.
The initiates’ fight with the Reapers and the Cobras were their warm-ups. Their initiation with Tae Hyun was the one they had all been preparing for.
“Why are there two parts to this initiation?” Yoori whispered in astonishment.
“One is to welcome them into the Underworld,” said Kang Min, never veering his eyes from the initiates. “This one will welcome them into the Serpents.”
Yoori could barely catch her breath as she laid her eager eyes on the maze. Another onslaught of silence prevailed over the estate. No one moved an inch. Everyone stared at one entity—one God.
Tae Hyun stood atop the brick wall, staring down at the initiates with firm eyes. It was like he was giving them time to catch their breath before he commenced their initiation.
And finally, when the silence began to become unbearable, Tae Hyun flew off the brick foundation and landed on the ground. As soon as his feet touched the foundation of the earth, he stormed off, jumpstarting the beginning of an initiation that riveted Yoori.
Tae Hyun wielded his kendo stick and attacked every initiate with ease, alternating between being on the ground and jumping onto the walls to throw initiates back onto the garden soil. Every hit he wielded, packs of initiates would fall at once, tripping over one another like dominos. Never once did his kendo stick stray onto the Reapers or the Cobras, all of whom were standing off to the side, looking like ominous statues in the maze. Tae Hyun attacked each initiate with precision, leaving all of them gasping for air.
