Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

"I'm going to let the Thermos eat me,"

He said plainly, as if it was the best thing to do.

"What?!"

Anna's eyes widened with surprise.

"What do you mean?!"

Victor was angry and hurt.

"Are you out of your mind, kid?!"- he yelled.

"That's suicide!"

Akira didn't flinch. His tone remained even.

"Go now."

"I'll be fine."

Grido, at the control of the bird, narrowed his eyes.

His voice carried well above the din.

"He's not kidding."

"So stop talking and let him do his thing"

As Grido's bird soared higher, carrying Anna and Victor to safety.

"No!"

"We can't just leave him!"

Anna said, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes while flying away from the Thermos and Akira while looking at them.

"He saved me!"

"We have to help him!"

Grido turned to her quickly, looking at her closely.

"Anna, how long have you known this boy , hours right?!!"

Anna hesitated, and her voice trembled. "It doesn't matter for how long, but—"

"Exactly,"

Grido said.

"So now, be honest with me...does he sound like someone who cares about us?"

"Who'd die so we can live?"

She faltered, unable to meet his gaze.

"The answer is no,"

Grido said, his voice calm and steady.

"That boy doesn't see us as friends or comrades."

"If we were helpful to him against the Thermos, don't you think he would have used us?"

"When we where helpful to him to destroy the beast eyes...he didn't hesitate to tell us the plan so...you know the answer"

Victor clenched his teeth and fists in anger.

"Are you saying we just let him die?!"

Grido looked steady.

"I'm saying this isn't about us."

"He's no hero, and he doesn't want to help anyone but himself."

"If he's doing this, it's because he believes it will succeed."

"You are all veteran stars stop this behavior"

"We can't do anything to stop that Thermos now."

"The best thing we can do is stay out of his way and see what he can do."

Anna cried quietly, her fists trembling in her lap. The painful truth settled over her—they were useless against the Thermos now.

On the side of the Thermos, Akira stood firm, his mind racing while the beast roared and writhed wildly in its anger. The yellow water beneath was everything else but calm anymore

"The problem with the Thermos isn't just how big it is," Akira thought.

"Its changed form makes it much stronger than a normal C-rank Boss...even when it is hurt, its skin is almost impossible to get through. The only attack that worked was when I cut its hand with all my strength—and I can't take that chance in a long fight."

He gazed at his Pantho Sword, then stashed it away in his system inventory.

"If the outside is too strong, then I'll strike where it's weakest."

"The system has not let me down yet...I have to believe in it."

As the Thermos roared loudly once again, Akira's form flashed with his body launching itself from its shoulder into the giant, gaping mouth.

"This ends now"

He murmured, disappearing into the beast's maw just as it snapped shut.

From above, Anna shouted,

"No!"

"Akira!"

Her voice broke as she reached out without thinking, even as the bird flew higher.

Victor looking upset. "That fool."

"He's gone!"

Grido's expression was impassive as he gazed at the squirming Thermos.

"Be still and watch,"

He whispered.

"If he is who I think he is, this isn't the end."

Inside the huge, sloppy mouth of the Thermos, Akira fell heavily onto the lumpy, mobile surface of its tongue. The smell was revolting and the air scalding, every breath like a mouthful of fire, but still, Akira did not turn away.

He stood in the mouth of the beast, his voice loud as it bounced off the dark, tight space.

"When I scanned with my system at you, Thermos, the system showed me one thing clearly—your weakness inside your body your interior."

"Your outside is too hard for my lightning to get through, and my sword isn't strong enough to cause the damage I need."

"But in here…"

He lifted his hand, and white lightning began to crackle around him, illuminating the weird interior of the beast's maw.

The light blackened his face, but his eyes gleamed.

He said, his voice hushed and frightening. "… it's over this has gone for far to long"

The lightning flashed and became brighter and stronger, moving through his body.

The air around seemed charged; each crackle louder than the previous one.

"Be Gone,"

Akira said, raising both hands.

The lightning about him coalesced into many bright strands, each one pointing out in every direction.

"White Lightning Barrage."

The lightning burst out with a loud roar, ripping through the creature's body from the inside. The noise was like thunder made much louder, and the whole dungeon shook from the power of the strike.

From above, the group watched in shock as the Thermos' head grew too big before bursting in a bright flash of white light.

Victor covered his eyes and shouted,

"What is that?!"

Grido squinted into the bright light, his mouth curling with small impressed smile.

"That...is Akira."

As the light faded, the massive form of the Thermos broke apart and its lifeless body crashed to the ocean with a deafening crash spliting the yellow water everywhere.

In the midst of the destruction, a figure was seen at the Thermos back while it wasn't completly lost in ocean, swaying slightly but still standing.

Akira's body was battered, his clothing torn and bloodstained.

He stared at the bird winging its way above him, his voice level although he was exhausted.

"It's over."

The dungeon was cleared

His system interface suddenly appeared before him, glowing faintly.

[System Notification: You killed The Mutant Thermos]

[Congratulations You have leveled up ]

[Congratulations You have leveled up ]

[New Skill Unlocked]

"A new skill... I'll leave it for later"

Akira's gaze lingered on the words for a moment. His expression remained unreadable, though his mind whirled with curiosity.

Anna wept a great deal, both of relief and amazement.

"He's amazing…"

Victor laughed a little nervously. "That kid's insane…"

Grido looked silently at Akira, his mind speeding up again. "Who are you, Akira Shoto truly...?"

As the massive corpse of the Thermos was lost in the ocean now the oppressive energy in the dungeon began to dissipate, leaving behind an eerie silence.

Grido rushed with his bird and picked Akira.

Grido sighed, shaking his head as he steered the bird toward the light at the dungeon's exit.

"You're a strange one, Akira."

As the bird broke through the dungeon's threshold into the fresh air of the outside world, the group collectively exhaled, their long battle finally over. The sunlight greeted them warmly, washing away the shadows of the dungeon.

Anna glanced back at the cavernous entrance they were leaving behind, her voice soft.

"We made it out alive."

"All of us...that's what matters."

Victor, though clearly in pain, gave a faint grin. "Thanks to him."

Grido didn't speak, but his sharp eyes stayed on Akira. The boy, silent and composed despite his exhaustion, seemed lost in thought.

As the bird landed gently on solid ground, Akira stepped off first, standing tall despite the toll the battle had taken on him. The dungeon was behind them, its horrors left in the shadows.

And with that, their long, grueling fight finally came to an end