"H-hey! Wait a minute, I don't think we're at the right trac—" Jin whisper-shouted seeing them taking the other trail, which seemed a way to anywhere but a royal palace.

"That's none of your business, just do as what is said." General's low-pitched voice was almost reprimanding.

"Follow us!"

As they got closer to their destination, the low noises that could be heard in their ears along the way had eventually turned into loud, whooping cheers.

Located in the middle of the town, there stood the freestanding structure of circular or, more of, an elliptical architecture with three levels of arches around the outside- the amphitheatre.

"What the..."

The swear word nearly slipped out of Hoseok's tongue as he scanned in the entire place.

The finely arched main entrances had artistic decors and were adorned with peculiar but mighty-looking war horse sculptures on both sides. The stands were divided into rows along the coaxial lines which were equipped with the thousands of seats placed concentrically.

"Ah, Welcome!"

A deep voice reverberated, followed by immediate attention paid by the audience.

"May we have a huge round of applause in honor of our visitors!"

There sat the King, high up in his cubiculum right atop the center of the arena.

Due to this, the troop of nine had to elevate their heads upwards. Because of the height distance, they could barely observe the King except that he wore royal armor and a high-topped golden crown that was gilded with numerous crimson jewels rested at the top of his head.

But the most deviant feature that could be noticed about him was that, like all the superpower holders, he had his face secured under a thin, dark veil.

"It's my pleasant duty to bid you all a cordial welcome in the Kingdom of Arcane. I'm King Harold Collins."

While Taehyung who was leading the group nodded in acknowledgment, the others didn't lose their stern expressions.

"Would you now bother to tell for what purpose you have all come in my place?" King Harold sounded calm, his tone still a sort of mocking.

"And why do you think would we tell you that?" Jungkook snapped as he stared at him.

The King chuckled darkly as he suddenly rose in his place, his hands folded behind his back. "You must've got so much courage to ask this."

"Yes, I do!" Jungkook stood firm and determined at his spot. "Rather, how would we know whether there is really a King under the guise of that facade or someone else?"

"Watch out for your words, puerile man!"

"Jungkook," Namjoon held the younger by his arm as the former contentedly began to progress his steps ahead, separating with and leaving the other eight behind. The worry was evident in the elder's features upon seeing the King losing his cool.

But to no avail, Jungkook didn't budge at slightest.

"You call yourself a what? A King?"

"Of course, he is our Jungkook," Namjoon and the others could just sigh knowing the youngest's personality, once he had decided to argue, then no one could stop him.

"A King is known for his fierceness and face-to-face talks. They don't hide their face like you. You're just no one but a coward!"

"Enough, silence at this instant!"

King Harold boomed, his polite and calm premise shattering in a wink.

"You want to converse man to man? So be it."

Jungkook's mischievous smile slowly turned into more of a perplexed look when a vicious smirk formed at the corner of King Harold's slightly tinted lips.

"You should've thought that before talking a little too much."

"You—," Jungkook hissed as he whipped his head almost startlingly just to found no one around but himself. "Where are my friends?!"

"What's so hurry about?" King Harold scoffed and Jungkook growled at how the former was obviously provoking him. "Let's have a little chitchat first, as you wished earlier."

Jungkook's eyes were glowing with a hint of grey, his face heating up from under the veil due to how furious he already was. "Stop beating around the bush, you filthy crown-head! Just tell me where have you taken them?!"

"Very well then," King Harold shrugged as he flashed a toothy yet eerie grin. "Just have a combat with three of my precious beings and free your companions."

"Alright, if it's that what you want. Then Bring it on!"

Positioning himself in a fighting stance, Jungkook glanced at the gate that was lifted as the heavy strings holding it down were stretched upwards.

By the time, his eyes were glistening with a powerful shade of steel grey.

An intense roar echoed throughout the arena, leaving everyone shuddered in their places.

There showed up a creature which seemed nothing less than a beast — it had the head of a lion and the rest of the body of a bulky bull. Its orange dark mane was full and shaggy, covering the back of the head, neck, and continuing onto the throat and chest to join a fringe along the belly. A pair of thick horns were attached to its head which was curved outwards in a flat arc rather than upwards in a lyre shape, which concluded in giving it a majestic appearance. It was surely enough to intimidate its rivals.

The Lion cum bull progressed towards Jungkook in stealthy footsteps. It looked as if ready to explode thunderously into the light of the afternoon.

Shaking its head and looking ferocious to the uninitiated, it let out a deafening grunt. Jungkook being standing at close range could feel the call sending the vibrations through his ear canals.

After getting close to a catchable distance, the beast charged upon its prey which was none other than Jungkook.

Jungkook being stunned by the sudden attack narrowly dodged the charging animal by twirling to the side almost immediately, causing it to crash into the ground on its face first.

Jungkook wasn't able to even catch his breath yet when he looked at the beast which regained its composure, seemingly not affected at all.

The beast swiftly turned a full circle in Jungkook's direction as it paws the sand. Gaining a hold of himself, Jungkook balled his fists frantically.

Making a difference this time, Jungkook and the beast both lunged aggressively at each other with burning glares and clashed right in the middle of the ground.

Jungkook held the beast by both of its horns as they were confronting head to head. With each applying an equal amount of stamina, Jungkook's feet screeched through the battlefield, his face muscles contorted through the tightly gritted teeth. Heavy Specks of dust swirling around which was engulfing them.

"ARGH!" Exerting the masculine persuasive force, and leaping away from the beasts' snapping jaws, Jungkook managed to lift it up, causing the animal's broad feet to leave contact with the ground.

Then grasping the enormous beast in his mighty arms, and avoiding its powerful claws, he demolished it enduringly until he'd choked it to death and crashed it down with a whack.

The spectators were all hyped-up by now as they started hooting.

"Wow! That was actually...impressive." King Harold who was watching the whole ruckus like a source of his entertainment, spoke in amusement. "It is going to be so much fun ahead."

With a loud gasp for air, and ignoring his aching muscles, Jungkook perked up, anticipating the second creature or whatever he was about to encounter.

On the command of the general, the gate was once again elevated up.

Through the dark tunnel behind the gate, there slithered a three-headed snake. It took a few seconds for the creature's body to fully crawl out due to its never-ending length.

Jungkook swallowed dryly as the limbless reptile hovered above him, completely shading his comparatively small form beneath. It had unbelievably vibrant sapphire blue-pigmented skin which was fragmenting its long body into innumerable honeycomb scales.

Jungkook eyed the reptile's three pairs of ruby eyes, which summed up in a total of six and they looked more menacing than ever. Gulping his fear, he put on a stern expression, although cold sweat was running down his forehead due to the huge snake close by.

The super-strength holder gawked at the serpent that curled itself around him in a circle. He first stood frozen at his spot, thinking that one small movement would trigger it.

It would be a lie to say if Jungkook wasn't taken aback when he witnessed that the middle head of the reptile breathed fire. Due to this Jungkook tossed to the edge, avoiding the blazing flames. He accidentally bumped his right shoulder with one of the gates in the process, causing the fresh blood to trickle down his arm.

Just as Jungkook regained himself, he chugged at the sight when the giant snake start lunging towards him with all of its three heads, its yellow-tinted fangs bared venomously. Leaping high up in the air, he barely prevented himself from getting bitten but somehow ended up landing on the top of the snake's middle head.

Jungkook struggled as the venomous snake shook its head violently in order to make him fall over of it and just as it did, Jungkook lost his balance as its skin was moist and came to rest right at the creature's mouth.

He was now trapped between its powerful jaw, and its hissing tongue was perilously close to him. But he was assured of one thing that he couldn't let the snake close its mouth that was needed to release another round of smoldering fire.

As the crawler squirmed, Jungkook used his strength as he harshly pulled out its fangs from its mouth, resulting in the creature grunting with an unusual shriek. Taking this as an opportunity, he landed a few strong kicks at its head, without caring if he was harming its eyes or jaw or wherever, a sickening crunch reverberating.

Safely jumping back on the ground to his feet, Jungkook grabbed the snake from its sharp tail and before it could make another move, he tossed up the serpent's body in the air in circles and sent it flying across the arena. It collapsed right below King Harold's cubiculum, its long body twitched for one last time before becoming still.

"C'mon, where is your last one?" Jungkook was a little dizzy by that time as he took deep breaths.

"You're always in a hurry, aren't you?" King Harold smiled as he didn't seem bothered throughout everything that happened. "By the way, your strength is no joke, I must say."

"How about this?" A sly smirk crept up to King Harold's face as he shifted in his position.

Jungkook's eyes were shining brighter and clearer than ever as he clenched his teeth and balled his hands into fists when the same gate lifted for the third and final time.

At first, Jungkook was bewildered as no one really showed up. Then there walked something, through the dark and when it came into his view, he had to do a double-take because he was looking at...

At himself.

Author's Note:

Hey guys! It's really been a long time. I really don't know how to compensate for this much delay. Hope you understand me and continue with this story till the end which is actually not that far.

I  💜 you!