"A truly lonely existence. People come every day, yet none depart. Are these illusions so captivating? I still do not understand—how can one who cannot find themselves match a god? I am a god, yet a solitary one...
I have been waiting...
Awaiting another god who transcends the illusion...
When he appears, I shall be with him...
Until his demise..."
—Serpent
Early morning of August 9, 2013
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, caressing their faces with a warm sensation. From their slumber, the eight awoke. It seemed they had overindulged the previous night, as their stomachs still churned. Consequently, the matter of breakfast was unanimously voted to be skipped. 13 involuntarily sighed, perhaps in relief!
After a brief tidying, the team resumed combat readiness and set out!
Treading on the soft soil, the eight advanced towards their destination. Jung-hyun's complexion appeared unwell, and 13 took notice, attributing it merely to a lack of rest.
Perhaps to preserve the rare tranquility of the morning, no one spoke along the way.
After approximately two hours of marching, the group halted before a cavern, a limestone cave. The entrance was not expansive, roughly three meters high, sufficient for ten people to enter side by side.
"Is this the place?" 1 inquired, gazing into the dark, bottomless interior.
"Yes... this is South Korea's largest state secret research institute, the 'Serpent's Lair'," Jung-hyun's body trembled slightly.
"What's wrong with you?" 13 grew increasingly concerned.
"Nothing..." Jung-hyun seemed reluctant to elaborate.
"Alright, everyone. Let's proceed," 1 gestured forward. The eight stepped forth in unison. Although they could walk abreast, for safety, they formed a line, with 1 and 36 leading, and 13 bringing up the rear. Observing Jung-hyun's somewhat dazed expression, 13 felt an growing unease.
They ventured into an area devoid of light, so 1 and the others produced emergency glow sticks. Each took one, shook it, and snapped it; what appeared as ordinary sticks emitted a brightness akin to fluorescent tubes. Suddenly, the bats overhead seemed startled, fluttering chaotically towards the exit. Contrary to expectations, no one panicked, including Jung-hyun.
The march continued. Upon closer inspection of their surroundings, 13 noticed peculiarities. This was no natural formation; it was likely an artificial construct. After the bats fled, a thermal scan revealed several anomalies in temperature—probably the faint heat from surveillance devices. Moreover, the stalactite cave itself was a vulnerability. Judging by the stalactites, it would take at least two centuries to form such shapes, yet the bat guano layer on the ground was at most a decade old. If soldiers like 13 had passed through, this most secretive institute would have been exposed long ago!
They traversed the final cluster of stalactites resembling a forest, reaching the cave's end. A vast stone wall sealed the passage. Though impassable, everyone knew they were near.
"Everyone, stay here," Jung-hyun stepped onto a smooth rock. The others followed suit. She half-squatted and placed her right hand on the stone, as if caressing it. Expecting something to occur, ten minutes passed without even a breeze...
"Indeed, this is a top-tier institute; even the entry method is so distinctive..." 36 remarked sarcastically as ever.
Suddenly, the massive rock trembled.
"Due to the need for internal personnel to verify and prepare, the process might be a bit slow..." Jung-hyun rose, her movements now more natural, devoid of the earlier weakness. 13's heart eased. No one realized that Jung-hyun's hesitation had found resolution the moment she stepped onto the boulder...
"Boom!" The rock descended with a jolt. At first, everyone felt a pang of alarm, but seeing the bright daylight illumination in the descending passage, there was little to worry about. They quietly awaited their arrival at the destination...
Meanwhile, not far away, a mechanical fly perched on a stalactite observed the events. Perhaps reluctant to leave its cave home, a bat returned and, spotting this delectable morsel, swallowed it whole. Undoubtedly, its stomach would ache for a while...
In the secret base, the Japanese forces were also stirred, not only because the tracking devices were damaged but because their painstakingly sought targets were confirmed.
"Relay my orders!" Miyamoto regained his former authority. "Initiate the hunting operation. Proceed as per the original plan!"
"Yes, sir!" The intelligence officer saluted the new commander.
"Zhang Jie..." Jung-hyun, at the rear, softly called to 13 beside her. 13 was taken aback, as it was the first time she addressed him this way.
"Can you promise me something?" Without much movement, Jung-hyun took 13's hand, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
"What is it?" 13 sensed her hand trembling, a inexplicable sorrow rising within him.
"If I die, can you promise to leave quietly?" Jung-hyun's voice was so faint, it was as if she whispered in 13's ear.
13 remained silent...
"Of course, it's not as pessimistic as it sounds..." Jung-hyun forced a smile.
"I won't bother with survival probabilities..." 13 replied softly, gripping her hand tighter. "No one or thing can take your life before my eyes. Unless I fall, I will kill them."
13's words, laced with killing intent, made Jung-hyun's tears well up again.
"Clink!" A crisp sound signaled their arrival. As the door opened, the special agents quickly raised their weapons, chambering rounds in unison.
Before Jung-hyun could intervene, the soldiers at the door had them at gunpoint. The four dashed out of the cramped "stone elevator," crouching and confronting the crowd. 13 was even more direct, pressing his gun to the forehead of an elder in a white coat.
"Lower your weapons! Don't move! Hands on your heads!" The soldiers shouted commands in unison, but the four paid no heed. The situation teetered on the brink of chaos...
"Are you their leader? Tell them to quiet down; the noise is deafening..." 13 said coldly, nudging the elder's forehead with his massive COOL-FIRE 5.
"Don't act rashly! We're all on the same side!" Jung-hyun hadn't anticipated such a scenario.
The elder's mouth twitched; he tilted his head slightly, peering past 13 to see Jung-hyun behind.
"Hey, Jung-hyun, are these your friends?" The elder asked, referring to the gun at his forehead.
"Yes!" Jung-hyun nodded vigorously.
"Lower your weapons, all of you!" The elder straightened up, clasped his hands behind his back, and roared with authority. Despite his seventies, his voice boomed like a bell, exuding a presence no less commanding than a battlefield general. The soldiers, startled, lowered their guns.
Yet, the four showed no sign of relaxation; the weapons at their heads didn't budge. This alone earned the elder's admiration.
Ten minutes passed in silence before the four lowered their weapons simultaneously.
"Don't do this again; I could have eliminated you ten times over just now..." 13 said coldly.
"Is that so?" The elder chuckled. "But those behind you might have perished a hundred times."
"Then I'd devote the time I have for killing others solely to you... slowly tormenting you to death," 13 meant every word.
"Grandfather!" Jung-hyun could no longer contain herself, rushing into the elder's arms and bursting into sobs.
"Silly girl, what's the matter?" The elder gently stroked her hair, as if they were truly grandfather and granddaughter.
After calming slightly, Jung-hyun pulled away from the elder's embrace, wiping the tears from her eyes, and felt a twinge of embarrassment for her emotional outburst.
"I'm sorry, I soiled your clothes," Jung-hyun apologized politely.
"It's nothing; let me have a look at you," the elder smiled, examining her up and down. "Go wash up and change clothes. You've been through quite an ordeal these past few days..."
"Wait a moment, Grandfather," Jung-hyun realized something amiss.
"I haven't introduced..." Jung-hyun began, pondering how to proceed. "These three are my family servants: Baozhu, the lunatic, and the uncle. They have followed our Song family since my father's generation."
The elder nodded in acknowledgment, and the three returned the gesture.
"As for these four..." Jung-hyun paused, searching for the right words, "They are my friends; without them, I couldn't have made it here alive."
"It seems you're as remarkable as ever, Jung-hyun... even befriending China's strongest Special Task Force 7," the elder's gaze lingered on 13.
13 and the others remained unfazed.
"By the way, Grandfather," Jung-hyun clenched her fist, "We're here to activate 'Serpent.' Please prepare for the startup..."
The elder's body shuddered involuntarily, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead...