In a large office in the underground complex, Hyung was flicking through a large book in his office when he stopped, remaining still, listening intently. Silence echoed off the sterile white walls. There were no decorations or pictures on the walls, the only items in the office were Hyung’s large wooden desk, and a filing cabinet behind it.

“So you have finally come for me?” Hyung spoke into the emptiness, “I knew you would eventually return, I could see it in your eyes.”

“You know nothing,” a hidden female voice replied.

“I know what you want,” he replied calmly.

“That’s the easy part,” she replied confidently.

“You do know the odds are stacked against you... Jade,” Hyung continued, “No one has ever beaten the Keeper of Chronos one on one.”

“When you trained me, I studied your blade, searching desperately for its weakness. And I found one!” Jade replied, stepping through the door, a wide brimmed hat covering the two hunter tattoos on her face.

“There are many things you don't know young lady. There are many things I didn't show you,” Hyung said, unmoving, trying to work out her plan.

Jade stepped further into the large office, “I wanted that dagger so bad… But I didn't have the skills to beat you. But now… Now I have found the way to do it. It took a long time, and a lot of planning, but I have done it.”

“You should not have come here…” Chronos began to glow and Hyung went to move towards her, but the glowing stopped and he stumbled slowly forwards, “What’s going on!?” he yelled, confused by the disconnection with Chronos.

Jade had a satisfied smile plastered on her face, “You are correct, no one has ever beaten that sword one on one. But I never said I was alone.”

As she finished speaking, Sam stepped out from behind her.

“My sword is that swords weakness,” Sam spoke with no emotion, “Do you know how hard it was to get the three of us together, and alone? We have the chance to remove mighty Chronos out of the Great Hyung’s hand!”

“What is the meaning of this Sam? Why would you want to work with her? She is nothing but evil!” Hyung stated, realizing the direness of the situation.

Jade drew her two swords, and Sam stood in a battle stance. “Now it is our three swords against your dagger. Now the odds are stacked against you!” Jade said with a laugh.

Hyung shrugged, “An expert with a stone, can beat a novice with a gun,” He replied, regaining his composure, white cloak kicking out lightly as he drew Chronos from its small sheath.

“Well we are no longer novices, Master,” Jade said mockingly, removing her hat and revealing the large scar across her face. “Remember when you gave me this scar? Do you still give all your apprentices scars?”

Hyung shook his head, “That was an accident and you know it.”

“Just like leaving me to die at the hands of the Hunters while you saved yourself?” Jade shook her head, “You’re a pathetic coward. You don’t deserve that blade.”

“You know less about me than I thought,” Hyung said sadly.

“We have the scroll, now we are just collecting the remaining trumpets. We picked up Excalibur as well. You left it just lying around, I thought you would have locked it up again by now. I hope you don't mind us borrowing it… Actually, I don't really care if you do. And it also seems our troops picked up one of your friends in China as well.”

“You know there is only one person that can lock away the blades. And she is not the easiest person to get in contact with. I will give you a chance to leave now. If not, then you will die here,” Hyung’s eyes narrowed at the two traitors.

Minutes ticked slowly by, none of them wanting to make the first move. But Hyung was the first to speak.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“I never figured you for the traitor type Sam,” said Hyung calmly.

“There is a lot you don't know about me ‘Master’,” Sam replied.

“So it seems, it is now clear how the Hunters knew so much about what we were up to though. You have been feeding them information haven’t you?” he finished, before turning to Jade. “But you Jade… I always awaited your return. I just couldn't put together how you thought you could pull this off. The question remains though, how long will it be before you turn on Sam too?”

“I have no reason to turn on him, after all he is helping me,” Jade said moving her swords methodically through the air.

“She is only after power and glory Sam, once she has what she wants, she will come after you, she knows how powerful Buki is, she won’t be satisfied with only acquiring Chronos,” Hyung finished, turning his gaze to Sam.

“Whatever,” Sam muttered, “Jade and I… We are a team, always have been. We have been planning for this moment for years.”

“Just like we were a team?” Hyung said, not moving his eyes away from Sam.

“I was just playing you from the start,” Sam replied.

“Just like she is doing to you?” Hyung whispered. Sam paused, dropping his arm slightly.

“Don't listen to him Sam, he is playing with your head,” Jade murmured, sliding next to Sam, “You know I have always been straight with you!”

“Shut up Jade,” Sam snapped, shrugging her off.

“Just release my blades powers and I can have this finished in seconds,” Hyung said calmly, “We can go back to how things were… I forgive you Sam.”

“He isn't just going to forget that you betrayed him Sam!” Jade yelled at him.

“How can I trust you though Jade? You have told so many lies to the Hunters, how do I know you haven’t lied to me? You have been consumed by this revenge!” Sam said, stepping away from her as well, Buki still drawn in defence.

“She isn't letting either of us leave here,” Hyung warned, eyes shifting between the two.

They were now standing in a triangle, each with blades drawn.

“What about our years of planning, are you just going to throw all that away?” Jade quizzed.

“No Jade. This was years of your planning! Hyung’s right, I am just a tool you are using. What then? What happens after you don’t need the tool anymore?”

“Don’t be silly Sam, we have always been a team, don’t let him get in your head like that,” Jade pleaded, Stepping towards Sam tentatively.

Hyung could see she was getting desperate. Just a little more, one of them should crack. He thought to himself.

Sam just stepped cautiously away from the approaching Jade.

She stopped, looking disappointed in Sam. “Fine!” Jade said, turning to face Hyung, “I can do this myself. Sam, just keep his blade powerless, I will end this quickly,”

Hyung dodged out of the way of the first sword, deflecting the second one with his dagger.

“Sam! Don't let him use that speed!” Jade yelled out.

“I’m not, that’s just him,” he replied in a matter of fact tone.

“If this continues, only one person will leave this place,” Hyung stated in a calm voice.

Hyung’s hands were a blur, his single dagger knocking aside every one of Jade’s dual sword attacks.

I need to disarm Sam. Hyung thought to himself. If that blade leaves his grip, I can have this finished before he picks it up.

He felt a cold slash cross his cheek, and some lengths of his long hair fell to the floor.

“You're slowing down!” Jade said with a smirk.

Hyung wiped a drop of blood from his cheek, “No,” Hyung said calmly, “I just lost a little concentration for a second.”

“It’s time to let the youth take over gramps,” Jade said.

“I already have,” he replied, “But you are no longer part of that group.”

Hyung moved quickly towards Sam, Jade tailed him closely, she lunged at him, both blades outstretched. The tips of each of her swords pierced slightly into his back. Hyung let out a gruff scream, falling to the wooden floor at Sam’s feet. Jade landed, rolling a few meters away from them both.

Hyung looked up and saw Sam looking down at him. “Please at least give me the honour of being killed by you, don't let her be the one to do it,” Hyung pleaded with Sam.

Sam looked down at him, uncertainty filling his face as he held his blade out. He shut his eyes tightly and brought down his blade, aiming directly at Hyung’s heart.

Hyung noticed the shut eyes and swung Chronos across Sam's arm, cutting the hand off at the wrist. He didn't waste a second, before the severed hand had hit the floor, Hyung had disappeared from the scene.

I cannot kill you yet Jade. He thought, moving through the halls. It is not yet your time, or mine for that matter.

Hyung could hear Sam's screams of pain echo through the hallways as he disappeared from the underground at tremendous speed. I am sorry Sam, but you had to get involved. And now I know where your allegiance lies.

Jade ran over to Sam, lying on the ground holding his arm screaming.

“You ruined this Sam. What about everything we had planned!?” she screamed at him.

“H...Help me... Please...” he asked, writhing in pain.

“I am not coming out of this empty handed!” she said, looking down at him, “All this planning… It will not be in vain.”

Sam continued to scream as he clasped his bloodied stump. Jade walked calmly over to Buki, lying next to Sam’s severed hand, wrapping it up with some cloth.

“Be quiet,” she responded, slamming the hilt of her sword into Sam’s head. I guess Buki will have to do. She sheathed the blade on her back and her other two at her sides. “I will find you Hyung. And now it will just be me you will have to defeat.”