Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

The Thermos, now quite confused and in a panic, let out a thundering roar that shook the skies and sea.

Its gigantic body shook, and then the weird, slime-like creature used its special attack.

From the Thermos, it spread everywhere: a dark, heavy feeling.

The air grew thick as the beast's skill actived—Abyssal Grasp A powerful move where the Thermos focuses its senses on its prey, immobilizing them with a freezing aura before seizing them in its crushing grasp.

Anna, who had just blinded the beast other eye, froze mid-motion.

Her body trembled as the invisible force pinned her in place. She gasped, struggling to move even an inch.

Before she could react, the Thermos' gigantic hand reached out at his eye who Anna just blinded and grabbed Anna who was still there and snatched her, its crushing force making her cry out in pain. The monster brought her closer to its gaping maw, the jagged smily teeth.

The team watched in fear as the monster seized Anna with its slimy, hand and lifted her above it's head.

"Damn it!"

Akira said, glowering at Grido.

"She can use Blink again, right?"

His voice was urgent, but he still kept it at a calm tone.

Grido hesitated, his usual equanimity slipping away.

"Akira…"

"Right, Grido?"

Akira pressed, his voice sharper now.

The Beast Tamer gritted his teeth and shook his head, his expression grim.

"No… Blink has a cooldown of 40 seconds."

"She can't use it again—not in time."

"Forty seconds…"

Akira's voice dropped, his fists tightening further.

"She doesn't have forty seconds."

He muttered under his breath, clenching his fists. 

The Thermos, unaware of the plight it was in, heaved Anna higher toward its gigantic mouth with rows of ugly, slimy teeth.

Victor, still clutching the monster's back even in his wounded state, roared in frustration.

"Bastards!"

"DO SOMETHING!"

His voice was shaking with pain and fury, his eyes open wide with impotent anger.

In the monster's grasp, Anna struggled feebly, her strength weakening. Her mind was racing with visions of her life before her eyes.

"So… this is it?"

She whispered to herself.

Closing her eyes, she began to shake—not from fear but acceptance of her fate.

"At least the others will live,"

She thought as her lips fell into a sad smile.

"I did my part. I showed… I'm not useless."

"Right, Grandpa?"

A memory came back—her grandfather protecting her from a dangerous explosion while she cried, his voice clear in her mind.

"You need protection forever, Anna."

"One day i hope you give up on this path you have choose."

Her tears were welling up now, glinting like crystals in the poor light.

"It wouldn't have been so bad… to walk this path a bit longer,"

She said quietly, her voice trembly as the Thermos opened wide as he throwed Anna at his mouth

Then, a loud noise broke the silence.

A flash of white lightening lit the stormy sky as a loud report rang out as the big hand of the Thermos was severed at the wrist.

"WHAT?!"

Anna cried out, her body falling as she braced for impact—only to find herself cradled in strong arms.

Her eyes widened as she looked into Akira's icy, concentrated gaze.

His Soul Infusion skill was activated, and his whole body was enveloped with a faint white light. His Pantho Sword, enveloped by bursts of white lightning, was buzzing as he landed on the shoulder of the Thermos.

"Akira?"

She whispered, her voice full of shock and relief.

The tears still clung to her lashes, but now there was a glimmer of hope.

He looked at her, his voice clear but firm.

"You're not dying today."

The Thermos, its cut-off hand hurting now, bellowed once more and shook violently to shake off the uninvited rider on its back.

Akira stood solid on the beast's slippery shoulder, holding Anna close within an arm while the sword in his other shone with power.

The tension in the air was palpable as Akira was still holding Anna while standing at the stable part of the Thermos' shoulder.

Grido watched from above, at the back of his massive bird, his sharp gaze following every calculated movement Akira made.

His mind was a storm of curiosity and questions without answers.

"Who is this boy?"

Grido wondered, furrowing his brow.

"I did my research."I think i know somehow he is related to Shiro Shoto, that much im certain."

"But his lineage alone doesn't explain this because an awakened powers has nothing to do with bloodline or the cold precision he possess."

"The way he acts...it's unnatural for someone his age."

"No hesitation, no fear, as if the concept of failure doesn't exist for him those are things that you gain from pain and struggle"

Grido's thoughts deepened, analyzing Akira's every move.

"And then there's his mana. How is his energy back at full strength?"

"He didn't drink a potion, and I know we're all very tired from fighting those werehyenas.

Yet, somehow, he's stronger than before, faster, sharper. When he fought the werehyenas, he was strong, but this… this is better. Am I wrong about him? No…."

"I've never been wrong to judge someone before."

On the back of the Thermos, Victor clung to the uneven earth. His body ached, yet he felt invigorated within. When he spotted Anna in Akira's arms, safe and alive, he smiled through his injuries. "Hah… Saved her, huh? That kid…" He coughed and spat blood, yet still, he smiled. "He's something else.".

Akira knelt down beside Anna for a moment to make sure she was alright then looked up at the enormous Thermos, its large hands gesturing wildly in the air as it howled with rage.

"Akira…"

Anna said softly yet firmly as she reached out to him.

"You… You didn't have to—"

"Stop."

His voice was firm but calm.

"You're safe now."

As he stood up, his mind was far from tranquil.

"It's true"

He thought to himself.

"I acted because I couldn't let her die. Not because of my plan.I wanted 100% success with those guys because at the party raid with Cha-Jong i fainted and was left as a. I always do. But now…",

He clenched his fist around the hilt of his Pantho Sword, the lightning still crackling faintly along its edge, the plan's over.

He looked at the twisting Thermos, its big arms hitting the air in angry frustration, its loud roars sounding across the sea.

"I figured if I made the monster unable to see, I could go near his neck without Thermos feeling my presence and put all my strength into one strong attack and defeat it."

"But now."

He clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth together in rising frustration.

"Now I don't have that choice."

"The only thing I can do is—dang it."

"I didn't want to do it."

His mind was full of thoughts, but his face remained cold and hard to read.

The weight of what he was going to attempt felt like a thick fog around him.

Grido's voice called out from above.

"Akira!"

His tone was sharp, filled with both concern and curiosity.

"What are you planning?"

"Do you have something at mind now we have time because he can't see we are more free to move but if we don't kill it soon i will run out of mana and victor can't hold for long"

Akira shot a quick glance upward, his piercing white eyes from the effect from the effect of the Soul Infusion cutting through the air like a blade.

"Yeah i know i will finish it soon"

Grido's breath caught.

"That look...hmmm"

Victor shouted again from the monster's back, coughing up blood as he clung desperately to the shifting surface.

"If you've got some ace up your sleeve, kid, now's the time!"

"I'm not dying just because you're taking your sweet time deciding!"

He whispered quietly, his voice hard to hear.

Anna stared at him with wide eyes and was able to squeak out,

"Akira… What are you doing?"

He didn't answer.

He pointed at Grido, his voice firm. "Go pick up Victor and come get Anna here now."

"It won't be safe for much longer."

There was urgency in his tone, a clear understanding that the situation was shifting rapidly.

Grido gave a sharp nod, understanding the gravity of the command.

He ordered the bird and hurried off.

Grido returned swiftly, first lifting Victor from the Thermos's back carefully to not damage his body more...

"Damn it im really fucked don't you agree Grido..." Victor Said

"Maybe a little yeah"

Grido said smiling and then moving toward Akira to get Anna. 

Anna looked at him, her expression unreadable as she grabbed Grido hand to get at the Bird Back.

"Tell us what you plan on doing?"

Her voice was steady but carried an edge of curiosity mixed with concern.

Akira smiled and then said something unprecedend.

"Im going to let Thermos , to eat me"

"WHATTTTTTTT?"