Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

"Nah, never mind,"

Cha-Jong answered quickly, his voice growing tense and nearly protective as he rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away from Akira's sharp gaze.

"Forget what i asked."

"Just...tell me what happened in the dungeon."

Akira looked at Cha-Jong for a moment longer, his sharp instincts feeling that something was wrong with Cha-Jong's behavior.

But after a pause, he decided to ignore it, breathing out softly before he spoke.

"I have a skill," said Akira calmly "It makes all my abilities much stronger. Strength, speed, reflexes, even magic—everything goes way beyond what is normal."

He paused, his expression growing serious as he recollected harsh moments within his mind.

"But...it's not infinite."

"That power only lasts so long and when it's gone I feel exhausted."

"Used up, to the limit."

He finished speaking in a slightly lessened voice, talking apparently to himself.

"With everyone else fighting together beside me, we nearly weren't able to leave ourselves intact."

Cha-Jong listened intently to Akira, his jaw set tight as he spoke of the fright.

He slowly nodded and showed worry he tried to hide in his worried eyes.

There was a feeling of guilt in his face when a thought of the secret he held came, the truth of the thing inside Akira.

But he made himself change the subject; he could not let the misstep linger.

"Akira," he said softly, and he sounded like he was apologizing.

"I'm sorry to bring this up."

"It's just… if your father were here, I don't think any surprise dungeon would have been overlooked."

He leaned back a little and continued; his voice was louder now:.

"He was a genius—no, a visionary"

"If he were here, I'm sure he would've adapted his technology, pushed it even further to adapt to these mutants and their changes."

"We'd have an edge no one else could match."

Akira stood silent, looking down.

Finally, after a long silence, in a voice hushed and full of hidden feeling, he spoke.

"I know," he said without emotion.

Cha-Jong sighed, sensing the weight Akira carried but knowing better than to push further.

"You need to rest,"

"You've been through enough."

"Go lie down for a while."

"I'll wake you up when dinner's ready."

Akira nodded faintly, his usual composed demeanor cracking just slightly.

"Yeah... I need it."

"I'm mentally drained," he admitted.

It was the mental toll—the weight of battles fought, vengeance pursued—that no amount of training or leveling could erase.

Without another word, Akira turned and walked toward the room Cha-Jong had prepared for him.

The door creaked softly as he stepped inside.

The bed was plain but inviting, and Akira didn't bother with anything more than collapsing onto it.

His body, though at its peak, felt disconnected from his mind, which was worn thin from the struggles.

As his head sank into the pillow, a single thought surfaced, cutting through the haze of fatigue.

"I'll avenge you," He muttered, the words barely audible but carrying the weight of his resolve.

Cha-Jong then settled back against the railing his arms crossed, and was viewing the way Akira ducked inside and close up the door leaving him with nothing but lonely thoughts.

"I have to be more careful. " He thought, tightening his jaw.

"My words nearly slipped out before. He can't know—not yet. Not about what's lures inside him."

His mind raced as he replayed the earlier conversation, the unintentional question that had made Akira's eyes widen in shock.

Damn it, Cha-Jong. What were you thinking? That thing... that monster... it warned me.

Rubbing his temples, the memory of the entity's voice made shivers run down his spine.

Its tone had been cold, calculated, and filled with an authority that brooked no defiance.It had spoken to him that one time, after the double dungeon raid, and its words were clear as crystal.

"You will tell him nothing." Do so , and you will regret that you where born into this world"

He let out a slow, measured breath, his hands tightening into fists. What kind of fate have you been handed, kid? To mess with powers so unknown, so far beyond our understanding?

His thoughts trailed off as he glanced at the small family photo on the nearby table—his wife smiling warmly, his daughter beaming with innocent joy.

The sight grounded him, a bittersweet reminder of what was at stake.

"I just have to make sure he doesn't lose control before he's ready."

"Until then... I'll keep my mouth shut."

"For all our sakes."

Cha-Jong pushed off the wall, shaking his head as he made his way to the kitchen.

He'd promised to wake Akira for dinner, but for now, the boy needed rest.

The morning sun filled the park with a warm, golden light, and dew was still on the grass.

Akira was standing by a tall oak tree, breathing steadily after he finished his last set of bodyweight exercises.

Sweat was shining on his skin, and a small smile appeared at the corner of his lips when the usual status window showed up in front of him.

[Daily Quest: The Ultimate Body Training]

[Push-ups: 1,000/1,000]

[Abs (Sit-ups): 1,000/1,000]

[Squats: 1,000/1,000]

[Quest Complete]

[Reward:]

[+2 in All Attribute Points]

"Finally," Akira said softly, arms above his head as the numbers went up.

His muscles felt stronger, and he moved more easily.

"Every little bit helps."

He looked around at the park.

The peaceful scene was startling after the tumult of the dungeons and battles.

Children were playing in the swings, their laughs a soothing background noise, and joggers passed, nodding in friendly greeting.

He ran a hand through his black hair and glanced at his reflection in a puddle nearby.

"Time to head back," he said softly.

"First a shower, theni need to go to the guild."

"I need to collect my money and that reward."

Akira took one last look at the park and then turned to head back to Cha-Jong's house.

He was already thinking about what he would do that day.

Meanwhile, at the Silver Aegis Guild Headquarters The room of the Guildmaster, Sylara.

Grido stood with a serious look in front of Sylara's fancy desk.

Sylara she was looking closely at reports, her forehead creasing more with every page.

The mood in the room was tense, and Grido stood silent, his hands held together behind him.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" suddenly filled the air, her voice sounding like thunder.

Guild members in the next rooms flinched and covered their ears as papers flew off desks.

Grido instinctively turned his head a little away his lips tightening to hide a grimace.

"Guildmaster Sylara,"

He said calmly, his voice steady even though his ears were ringing.

"Maybe...a little quieter?"