* * * * * *

It’s been more than enough time for Hakyeon and Hongbin to finish with their training on top of being well rested for the day that is to come. They were already at the point in which they knew that there was nothing left for them to do except to put their powers into test.

Of course Hakyeon didn’t wish to use any of his powers to fight against Taekwoon but they knew that they would never be able to get near the Ruler of the Underworld without some sort of precaution. It was for their own safety.

Ravi told Jaehwan that he should stay behind and wait for their return at the cottage since Jaehwan was no longer a God but he insisted on going along with the others.

‘Don’t worry. I may not have my powers anymore but I still know very well how to use my swords. Plus, I’ve been learning some of that witchcraft magic that you’ve been so into researching about. I’m quite good at it actually. Your position as the strongest witch in the world might get snatched by me,’ Jaehwan joked.

‘It’s no time to joke Jaehwan-ah. I just don’t want you to get hurt. You’ve barely just recovered from it all…’

‘It’s okay. I’m fine. You’ll stay by my side anyways. So there’s no way I’ll ever get hurt. Not when you’re here to protect me right? You’re about to go confront Taekwoonie along with the others, there’s no way I’m going to be the only one left behind. I want to be next to you if anything were to happen. Don’t you dare plan on leaving me behind.’ Jaehwan hugged Ravi tightly.

Neither could imagine going on without the other by their side anymore. They’ve been through too much misunderstandings and obstacles to get this far.

 * * * * * *

‘Promise me you won’t do anything stupid or crazy like before,’ Hongbin grabbed onto Hakyeon’s arms tightly in concern.

‘Kong-ah…’

‘Promise me.’

‘I…’

‘Why do you have to hesitate even now? I thought I’ve already mentioned this enough times for you to understand that it worries me if anything were to happen to you! I know you’re not stupid enough to not know how I feel about you already.’

Hongbin stared straight into Hakyeon’s eyes.

Hakyeon knew. He could feel it. That the younger felt something more than just friendship or family towards him but he also knew too well that there was no way he could answer to those feelings. Not when his heart lied somewhere else.

‘I don’t care for replies. I know your answer too clearly already to even try any take you away but I just worry about you. Let me worry for you. I just… want to see a smile from you for once. An actual smile, not a fake one. Even when we first met, I knew you were hiding something about yourself that you didn’t want others to know. But now I know and I’ll do anything as long as you can truly be happy again. Even if it means helping you bring back Jung Taekwoon. I know he means a lot to you and I’m willing to help as long as you can forget about your sadness and find happiness instead. That’s all I want from you.’

Hongbin was sincere.

‘Thank you Kong-ah. Really. Everything you’re doing for me. I appreciate it a lot and I can’t ask for more. I promise not to hurt myself and do my absolute best in this fight.’ Hakyeon couldn’t help but give Hongbin a hug of reassurance one last time before they head out.

* * * * * *

‘You really care a lot about Hakyeon don’t you?’ Hyuk said to Hongbin as everyone was busy making their final checks before setting out.

‘I do.’

‘Too bad he’s already taken,’ Hyuk taunted.

‘You- so what? I just want to do what I can for someone I care for. It doesn’t matter if he likes someone else. I just want him to be happy. That’s all.’ Hongbin said, trying to ignore Hyuk’s teasing remarks.

‘I see~ well, I hope you find someone who can appreciate your feelings and return them to you next time. I guess you deserve that much at least,’ Hyuk giggled.

‘You’re really annoying you know that? I didn’t think you were the type at first but I guess I was wrong.’

‘Hmm? Don’t know what you’re talking about~’

‘You’re hanging around Jaehwan-hyung too much. Don’t you have a home to go back to? Like back to your master’s side?’

‘I like it here more. At least where everyone is…’

Hongbin could see that he said something he shouldn’t have. Hyuk’s expression suddenly changed to a sad and lonely one after he said that, so he couldn’t say anymore. After all, everyone knew that after Taekwoon’s change, Hyuk was ignored the entire time with no one by his side. It wasn’t until Hyuk’s reunion with Hakyeon that his smiles finally returned.

‘Sorry…’ Hongbin said subconsciously in his quiet voice.

‘About what?’

‘Nothing. Let’s just go.’

Everyone was finally ready. They’ve had enough rest and training before this day. The day when everything will be put back to the place where it belongs. The day where they will finally reunite with Taekwoon and hope that the six of them could be one another’s happiness. Hakyeon couldn’t help but worry how things would go in their confrontation with Taekwoon but as they made their way through town and looking back, he knew he was no longer alone.

Behind him was four brothers who was watching his back, staying by his side this entire time in order for them to retrieve their final member, Jung Taekwoon.

Thank you. He thought to himself. Never have he felt so fortunate and thankful for his existence.

* * * * * *

Finally, the five of them have arrived in front of what seems to be a caged-in mansion that was surrounded by vines and thorns. The entrance was barely visible amongst the thorn walls.

Hyuk let out a deep breath.

‘Alright. Ready?’

The boys nodded.

‘Let’s go.’

As Hyuk opened the giant doors to the grand entrance, a sense of gloom and emptiness could be felt. A silent breeze whirled around the empty lobby and echoed through the dark hallways. There was nothing extravagant or luxurious about this huge mansion anymore. It was nothing but scrapped frames lying still on the ground without anyone to clean it up. The once grand mansion of the previous Ruler of the Underworld was now shredded into nothingness. Taekwoon didn’t care for luxury or anything in general. This was merely a place for him to hide in solitude.

‘Master Taekwoon should be in the main throne room like always. Follow me.’

The hallway that they were walking through felt endless. There was nothing but curtains that covered any light from the outside. It was pitch black and quiet. The entire mansion was dark, empty and silent as if it was reflecting what was inside of Taekwoon’s heart.

The boys reached the entrance to the throne room and Hyuk knocked on the door with caution.

‘Master Taekwoon? Are you inside?’

No reply.

Hyuk took the first step and peeked inside to look for any signs of his master. There he was.

Taekwoon was sitting in his throne, silently resting yet his presence was intimidating enough to be felt in this empty space.

Hyuk signalled the rest to go inside after him. All were cautious.

Taekwoon’s eyes were still shut closed as if he was resting and have yet to sense any of the unexpected guests that Hyuk brought in.

‘Master. Are you awake? I… brought some visitors here to see you. We need to talk to you.’ Hyuk said.

Taekwoon’s eyebrows twitched at hearing Hyuk’s voice and slowly awakened from his slumbers. As his visions cleared up, he was surprised to see who the guests were in his mansion.

Ravi, Jaehwan, the boy named ‘Hongbin’ and …

Cha Hakyeon.

‘Why… are you all here?’ Taekwoon asked as he was beginning to be irritated by the crowd of people in the room.

‘It’s been awhile Taekwoonie,’ Jaehwan greeted him.

‘How? Why are you here as well?’ He asked.

‘I was the one who brought Hakyeon here to see you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Long story but I was a God from the Heavens. My father is the King of the Heavens, who is the older brother of your belated father. This means we’re cousins. Anyways, we want to bring you back Taekwoonie. You don’t belong in this world. You should come back with us, with Hakyeonie, to the mortal realm.’

‘You?... What nonsense. What makes you think I’d want to go back to that place after all that’s happened? Especially with you lot?’

‘Taekwoon-ah. Please, come back with us.’ Hakyeon stepped forward and pleaded. ‘I know I’ve done a lot of wrong to you and I’m really sorry for it all. Please hear me out and let’s return things back to the way they were and come home with us.’

‘Home? This is my home.’

‘It isn’t. How can you call this place a home when it has nothing left or anyone waiting for you?’ Ravi asked.

‘You don’t know anything. Why are you even here as well Kim Wonshik?’

‘It’s true I might not know much but at the very least I know this isn’t where you belong. Ever since you came back to the Underworld, you’ve changed completely. The Taekwoon that I knew of would never have been so merciless to the point of aimlessly killing the innocent. You need to come back to your senses before you fall any deeper into the darkness.’

‘The Jung Taekwoon I know is kind and gentle, loves children and animals as well as everyone in Pinewoods. That’s where you truly belong, not here.’ Jaehwan tried to persuade him.

‘Kind? Gentle?’ Taekwoon smirked. ‘You guys know nothing about me. How dare you bring these people here without my permission?’

Taekwoon glared at Hyuk.

‘Please master. You’re not like this. We’ve grown up with Hakyeon together and I know you’re not being yourself right now. I want the old master Taekwoon back!’ Hyuk begged.

‘Shut up!’ Taekwoon unleashed a powerful attack at Hyuk, injuring his guard and friend.

‘Hyuk!’ Hakyeon yelled as he rushed to Hyuk’s side. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine…’ Hyuk coughed. One push from the Ruler of the Underworld was enough to send the prodigy hellhound flying across the room.

‘How can you do this to him? Isn’t he your friend? Family?’ Hongbin was irritated as he saw Hyuk being injured.

‘What do you know? You’re the stranger in all of this. Who do you think you are?’

‘True I don’t know much about you or whatever happened but I do know for a fact that these guys here care about you, especially Hakyeon-hyung and Hyuk!’

Taekwoon looked at Hakyeon who was saddened by Taekwoon’s actions towards Hyuk. A disappointed face on Hakyeon moved his cold stoned heart. Somewhere within him was wavering and longing to wipe the sad face away from Hakyeon.

No. Don’t let your heart waver again. You can’t allow anyone to hurt you anymore. Don’t trust them. They’re only trying to take your position away and betray you again!

Just as Taekwoon was busy confronting with his inner self, a painful scream echoed throughout the entire room. Soon enough, the once empty room was filled with darkness and strands of thread hung from the ceiling. A woman’s silhouette emerged from above, making her way down towards them.

‘I won’t forgive you Jung Taekwoon! You will die in my hands!’

It was Soo-ah. At least what was left of her. Her silhouette was completely covered in darkness and her glare was enough to kill. She was waiting for the day to finally seek her vengeance.

Both on Taekwoon and Hakyeon.

‘I won’t forgive you! DIE!’

She launched herself towards Taekwoon, trying to attack the unguarded Ruler. But Taekwoon immediately took out his blades and tried to slash her in half. But it didn’t do any damage to her. Her form was shape-shifting itself as if it was some sort of gas or aura of darkness and evil.

‘We have to do something!’ Jaehwan worried.

‘Wait!’ Ravi grabbed him from behind. ‘Look! She’s surrounded herself in a barrier, we can’t interfere.’

‘But-‘

Ravi knew that a touch of that barrier would be enough to hurt them all. She was not allowing anyone to interfere with her grudge and revenge. They knew too well that the Soo-ah who was in front of them right now was trying to kill Taekwoon and Hakyeon one at a time.

As Hakyeon watched their battle, infinite amount of thoughts and memories flashed before his eyes.

It was his fate that brought these two to know one another. One was his lifelong friend and the other, was his ex-fiancé. Both were very dear to him and witnessing the two going up against each other broke his heart. If only he had never met these two, if only he didn’t exist…

No, I can’t think like this anymore. Not after all that everyone’s been through in order to help me get stronger. I can’t disappoint them anymore. I can’t-…

* * * * * *

Although Hakyeon felt helpless as he stood in his spot and watched the two battle one another, it was obvious that Taekwoon’s powers were overwhelming even against Soo-ah’s grudge and hate. It was too easy for him and she was no match. Not even Soo-ah’s vengeful mind could defeat Taekwoon’s wrath.

‘Ahh!!’ Soo-ah let out a painful scream of defeat. As she fell to the ground, she looked at Hakyeon helplessly as if, she was conscious again. Asking for help.

You can’t… don’t… Hakyeon told himself.

Hakyeon knew he shouldn’t and that the Soo-ah now was not the same as the Soo-ah he knew of. But he couldn’t stop himself. He didn’t want to see her in such a state, not when he was the cause of it all.

‘You can’t!’ Hakyeon shouted at Taekwoon and ran up to defend her from the Ruler’s blade.

The barrier that separated them disappeared as Soo-ah weakened.

Taekwoon halt his blade at the sight of Hakyeon appearing before him, surprised that the latter was standing up against him once more. For a girl who have already lost her mind and for the girl that was the reason they separated in the first place.

‘Step away.’ Taekwoon demanded.

‘You can’t! Please, just let her go. She’s already lost.’

‘She’s not the same Kwon Soo-ah you know of.’

‘I know that! But I just can’t let you kill her! I beg you please let her go.’

Taekwoon was becoming more angry and irritated that Hakyeon was defending Soo-ah by her side rather than his.

‘Don’t think I won’t dare to cut you down as well Cha Hakyeon. Not after all you’ve done,’ he threatened.

‘I know I’ve done too many wrong things to you and I’ll let you do whatever you want with me but just let her go. She’s suffered enough. You’ve already took her from her home and locked her up in the Tower for the past five years. Isn’t that enough already? She’s innocent! What happened between you and me… I’m the one you should be cutting down, not her!’

Taekwoon did not waver. Instead, he was already too frustrated at Hakyeon and Soo-ah enough to swing his swords at them both. Just as he was about to end it all, he was attacked by both fire and wind.

It was Ravi and Hyuk.

‘Stop!’ Hyuk yelled as he got back on his feet. ‘You can’t hurt Hakyeon! If you hurt him, there’s no going back!’

‘You… dare betray me as well?’ Taekwoon interrogated him.

‘I don’t want to do this but Hakyeon is just as precious and dear to me as you are Master Taekwoon. We’ve grown up together. All those years… did you forget already? Are you really willing to kill Hakyeon after all we’ve been through together?’

‘We know that Hakyeon can be stupid at times and what he did was unforgiveable but have you really forgotten all the happier times that the two of you spent together back in Pinewoods? How much you’ve been through in order to meet him on the other side even though you knew very well that it was against the law of the Gods?’ Jaehwan added.

Taekwoon looked at Hakyeon once more. He was indeed very angry at Hakyeon but just like the others said, was his anger really enough for him to lay his sword against the latter? Enough for him to kill Hakyeon and severe their ties? Their memories?

They’re right… I can’t… Hakyeon-ah… There’s no way I can kill you. Not when my heart still beats like this for you.

Just as Taekwoon laid his swords down, Soo-ah saw her chance to strike. She casted Hakyeon aside with her dark magic which send the boy in front far to the other side while she aimed straight at Taekwoon’s heart.

‘No!’ Hakyeon yelled.

Taekwoon deflected her attack just in time in reflex but instinctively, he sent out a powerful attack right back at her. Piercing through her delicate body.

Soo-ah let out a dreadful scream, yelling and crying from the pain. The darkness within her was falling back as her life was finally coming to an end. The suffering from both when she was alive and after she was possessed was finally ending.

* * * * * *

Hakyeon immediately got back up and rushed to her side, he lifted her cold body against his as her blood streamed onto the ground.

‘Soo-ah!’ He cried.

‘Hakyeonie?’ She said. She was conscious again of who she was and the situation that she was in. ‘I miss you… where have you been?’

‘I miss you too. I’m sorry… I couldn’t do anything for you. Please stay alive.’ Hakyeon’s tears were streaming down his cheeks uncontrollably and he held tightly to her cold frozen hands.

‘Why are you crying?’ She lifted her hands weakly towards his cheeks and trying to wipe his tears away.

‘I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If only I found you earlier and stopped you.’

‘Don’t be. It’s not your fault. Why are you crying? You’ve done so much for me even though you didn’t have to…’

* * * * * *

In her final breath, Soo-ah looked peaceful in her sleep. Her cold body laid still in Hakyeon’s warm arms. She should’ve hated Hakyeon, true, but deep down, there was no way she could’ve truly hated him. Although the two fell in love with the same person, Hakyeon gave up Taekwoon in order to save her. Even though it was obvious that her love was unrequited, she was blinded by her greed to see the truth. Her fear took control of her and made her lose all of her reasoning. She was consumed by her nightmares and fear but she never forgot that the boy Cha Hakyeon was not only her friend but someone who almost became a part of her family.

He stood by her at times when it was the hardest for her and she knew that Hakyeon was so kind, too kind to the point of sacrificing himself in order to save her.

‘Noo!!!’ Hakyeon cried out.

The boys looked at Hakyeon who was mourning for Soo-ah. There was nothing they could do for him. They knew how much losing Soo-ah meant for Hakyeon especially when he lost her in the hands of Taekwoon. Hakyeon have been regretting all this time that he wasn’t able to do anything for her.

Losing Soo-ah was too much for him to handle any longer. His every thought was slowly consumed by darkness, his sadness and anger.

The darkness that laid dormant within him was awakening once again.

The Moon reacted violently in response to the evil that suddenly emerged from within Hakyeon but it was losing its powers to suppressing the darkness in his heart.

The Dark Hakyeon was awakening. Tormented by the tragedy of losing Soo-ah and his regretful heart of committing a sin. The regrets for his existence.

I shouldn’t have been born. If only I didn’t exist, this would never have happened. If only I didn’t exist, Soo-ah would still be alive...

In response to the Moon that Hakyeon had possessed, Taekwoon’s other half of the Moon was also beginning to glow.

‘What the-‘ He took the Moon out to see what was going on but before he could grasp the situation, an attack came flying towards his direction.

It was Hakyeon.

* * * * * *

Fun Fact #24: Here are the list of character 'relations' with Greek Gods that was inspired for their characters. (They've very obvious tbh)

Taekwoon/Leo - Descendent of Hades (his father - God of the Underworld/Ruler of the Underworld) and his mother is inspired by Persephone (eventually I never mentioned her again after the first chapter. Sorry she wasn't important LOL)

Hakyeon/N - He was technically inspired by Orpheus who went to the Underworld in search of his lover 'Eurydice' but this is a NEO-fanfic mind you. His mother was Goddess of the Moon ('Selene') aka Sailormoon... his parents is Sailormoon + Tuxedo Mask maybe? 

Jaehwan/Ken - Descendent of Zeus (God of the Heaven). He was to be evil in the beginning and almost very alike Zeus' character but that was obviously changed for the reason in which I really wanted RaKen/KenVi in this story.

Wonshik/Ravi - Descendent of Apollo/Helios. I really was just inspired by the whole 'God of the Sun' and his head wreath from Conception. If you guys didn't know already, his character in the Conception series is actually Dionysus. 

Sanghyuk/Hyuk - Descendent of Cereberus

Hongbin - He wasn't really inspired by anyone technically, except he is human but I did think of putting him almost as Hercules or Prometheus inspired for awhile as another Demigod. 

Other characters:

Kwon Soo-ah - Goddess of Death aka Ker.

Her cat btw 'Nikki' was named after Nike (the Goddess of Victory)

Fun Fact #25 - I totally didn't have a title for this chapter nor chapter cover for awhile... Until suddenly the intro song 'Kratia' was dropped out of no where and it was too perfect for me not to use it.

Kratia in Greek means Power/Strength hence Kratos meaning God of Authority/Power for this comeback. 

If you guys haven't heard yet, there will be a special package/album along with a 39minute video in an upcoming VIXX's album which will possibly mark the final of Conception called 'KER'. 

Fun Fact #26 - This story have been heavily inspired by anime series such as Naruto... *coughSasuNarucough*