[Golden Horde]: Part One

"It's over," Jin Mayleen stood up.

A sweat drop dripped from Batu's cheek and onto the glimmering blade of the katana, mixing with the little blood spilled from his neck. He had been saved by the bell. Any second later, and Batu's head would have been served on a silver platter.

Shocked murmurs erupted from the girls. Was it really over? Did the Queen of Fighters win? Yu Mei, and unexpectedly Emiko, breathed out sighs of relief. Thankfully there wouldn't be any bloodshed today.

However, Nomin stood there in disbelief; she had been too absorbed in this fight that she had forgotten about the time limit. She failed, and she had only herself to blame for it.

Nomin slowly pulled her katana away, and with a press of a button, the blade retracted into its hidden state. She was so close, yet it was a little too late.

"Nomin," Jin Mayleen frowned at her. "Have you realized what you've done?"

Nomin widened her eyes a bit and bowed deeply to the Khanate. She had broken the rules of the match and went against Jin Mayleen, "I deeply apologize for my transgressions, Khanate. I ask that you forgive me."

"You are clearly not in the right state of mind," Jin Mayleen replied. "Did I not teach you about discipline and self-control? It seems that you've thrown all of that out of the window when you nearly killed him."

"I-it was my mistake, and I won't let it happen again. Please punish me as you see fit, Khanate."

"I expect better from you, Nomin. Stand back, I will handle things from here," Jin Mayleen was disappointed in her best student. Although she was a gang leader, she was also a teacher to her underlings; to help them attain the strength and discipline in order to survive in this cruel way of life.

"Yes, Khanate," Nomin bowed her head and stood by Jin Mayleen's side. She took one final look at Batu before she dropped her head down, not bothering to look anyone in the eye.

"Congratulations, Batu, you passed all three rounds with flying colors, and you've proven yourself worthy to become a member of the Golden Horde."

The girls hesitantly applauded for this unexpected outcome. Although most did not like it, they can not go against the Khanate and her decision.

"Finally," Batu laid flat on his back. He nearly lost his life for this, but in the end, it was worth every penny. However, he would definitely get back at Nomin for nearly killing him.

"Now, Batu," Jin Mayleen's face suddenly turned grim. "You're life will now be apart of the Golden Horde. Once you join, there's no going back to the life you used to know.

Remember, your life will always be at risk once you join us; and in this world, your hands will be covered in blood. Do you understand that?"

"I do," He nodded. Besides, it wasn't like he would be able to go back to his old life anyway.

"Good, now come here," Jin Mayleen commanded.

All eyes followed Batu as he walked forth and stepped up onto the raised floor where she and the three elites stood. Jin Mayleen suddenly pulled out a small dagger and a paper with Mongolian inscriptions.

She handed him the dagger and Batu hesitantly took it. The room had gotten quiet as all the girls' faces turned solemn. This was a ritual that must not be interrupted at all.

"Repeat after me, Batu: do you vow to always obey my command and to never go against my position as your Khanate?" She asked.

Batu peered into her beautiful golden eyes for a moment in deep thought. He never realized that it would be this serious as to make a vow with his blood. However, he had gotten this far now, so he couldn't back down now.

"I vow to always obey your command and to never go against your position as my Khanate," He repeated slowly.

"And do you vow, as a soldier of the Golden Horde, to never prey on the innocents and vulnerable and to never use the Golden Horde's name to abuse them of their livelihoods?"

"I vow, as a soldier of the Golden Horde, to never prey on the innocents and vulnerable and to never use the Golden Horde's name to abuse them of their livelihoods."

"Lastly, do you vow to never betray my trust and to never betray the Golden Horde, and if so, will result in your death?"

Batu gulped when he heard that last vow. He slowly turned his head around to look at Yu Mei. She only gave him a simple nod of reassurance. Batu took in a deep breath and finally answered, "I vow to never betray your trust and to never betray the Golden Horde."

Jin Mayleen smiled and brought the paper inscription closer to him while Morena stood between them holding a wooden bowl under the paper.

"Draw your blood onto this inscription to seal the vow," Jin Mayleen said.

Batu held the dagger close to his palm. He grit his teeth as the blade trailed against his palm, slowly drawing out blood. The blood flowed down from his hand and onto the paper inscription below, soaking it in deep crimson.

Jin Mayleen pulled out a lighter and lit the paper on fire, dropping it onto the wooden bowl. Everyone watched as the paper slowly burned into blackened ash. After a moment, the fire finally died out.

"May you be blessed by the power of Eternal Heaven; I hereby welcome Batu as an official soldier of the Golden Horde," Jin Mayleen spoke loudly.

Applause suddenly erupted in the training hall as all the girls congratulated him, some more reluctant than others. Morena took the dagger away and quickly wrapped Batu's wounded palm with a gauze.

"I expect great things from you, so I hope you won't disappoint me."

"I won't, you can count on that," He replied with confidence.

"That's what I like to hear," She nodded with satisfaction. "Although you are strong, you will be placed at the lowest ranks of the hierarchy until you've earned enough merit to move your way up."

"So, a grunt basically."

Essentially the guy who does the dirty work; the dead last or the bottom of the barrel. In this life, they were usually the scapegoats when things go awry and many of them end up dying young.

"Everyone starts somewhere; you're no different," She replied. "However, you won't be working alone. Everyone here has their own crew, and you will be placed into one of them."

"Really?" Batu grew excited. He wondered which pair of beauties he would be teaming up with.

Jin Mayleen glanced across the room. It seemed that all the girls besides Yu Mei were averting their eyes from her, especially Emiko. Unfortunately, no one wanted to take him in.

"Yu Mei," Jin Mayleen gained her immediate attention. "You and Emiko will form a crew together with Batu."

Emiko suddenly felt like her world was coming to an end, "W-wait, I don't think that-"

"Don't worry, Khanate," Yu Mei quickly spoke over Emiko. "We'll do our best."

Emiko shriveled up like a corpse. Her life of crime was over now, and it was all thanks to that ogre. That speck of happiness that was ever so close to her cracked in that instant, shattering into tiny glass blown into the wind, never to be seen again.

Emiko noticed the smug look across Batu's face, and she nearly coughed up blood from anger. She wanted to strangle that man to death.

"Perfect, I'll assign you as their leader," Jin Mayleen smiled. "I will leave it to you two to show him the ropes of our little pack."

"We won't let ya down," Yu Mei gave Jin Mayleen a thumbs up.

Jin Mayleen then looked across the room. "I appreciate all of you for making it here on this rather special occasion.

Although, many of you are still concerned with the idea of a man joining our ranks, I hope you welcome and get along well with him. "

"I promise I won't bite," Batu added in.

"Anyways, with that being said, I know many of you still have things to do, so I will end this meeting here. All of you may leave if you want."

One-by-one, the girls left the training halls, talking in low murmurs. Diah walked by him, patting him on the shoulders.

"Nice work, big guy," Diah gave him a grin. "Can't wait to fight you again." She waved him off and left the training hall.

"See you later, handsome~" Morena followed suit, giving him a wink before disappearing through the door.

Finally, it was Nomin. They both glared at each other as Nomin walked past him.

"Don't mind her too much, Batu," Jin Mayleen said. "It's just her nature."

Batu simply stared at Nomin's back until she left the training hall. Now, the only people left behind were the Khanate, Batu, Yu Mei and Emiko who still looked like a lifeless corpse.