Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

Grido waited for Sylara to process his words. Her fingers tapped the desk rhythmically, her sharp eyes locked on the reports before her.

"How can I just stay silent?"

Sylara erupted, slamming her hand down on the desk.

"These dungeons are changing at a pace faster than we ever saw coming!"

"Every single raid has our guild's lives hanging in the balance!"

Grido nodded solemnly.

"I understand, Guildmaster."

"You're right."

Sylara's piercing gaze softened just a touch as she leaned back in her chair, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"I had to withdraw from my dungeon raid, Grido."

"There was an immense surge of mana—far beyond what the dungeon's level suggested."

"Yet, I never expected your dungeon to be an evolved one as well."

Grido's face turned grim.

"It was close."

"We barely made it."

He paused, the tone of his voice as heavy as stone.

"It's all thanks to this boy Cha-Jong—brought—Akira."

Sylara's violeteyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Akira… I've read the report."

"I know since his fight against Capitan Imzar , he has a power and some sort of skill that boost his abilities for a ammout of time.

"Impressive, but not wholly unprecedented."

"What is it about him that drives you to bring this up?"

Grido shook his head, his voice grave.

"You don't understand, Guildmaster."

"It's not just his power."

"I'm talking about him."

Sylara leaned forward, interested.

"What are you saying?"

Grido's jaw clenched, remembering.

"At first, he seemed like just about every other member of the team: coordinated, composed."

"But once desperation set in, once we ran out of choices, he… transformed."

"Went after those mutated aqua werehyenas, picked them off with such cold calculation and lack of feeling, I hadn't seen."

Sylara quirked an eyebrow.

"Many hunters have abilities well beyond their assigned rank it's not common tho but it happens"

"What makes him so special?"

"It wasn't just his power,"

Grido continued, his voice dropping as if the walls might overhear.

"It was the way he moved-cold, calculated."

"No hesitation."

"No fear."

"Every strike was precise, every decision bold."

"It was as if he didn't care about the danger."

"And his eyes…"

Sylara's expression darkened.

"Empty."

"Right?"

Grido nodded.

"Exactly."

"It was like he was looking through his enemies, like they were nothing but obstacles."

"He's barely twenty, Guildmaster."

"No one his age should have that kind of detachment."

Grido's eyes went a little wider.

"But that's what makes him even more important. If we could get him to join our guild, not just work with us from the outside, we'd gain more than just strength.

"He's a useful young man—one that has that much value."

Sylara let out a deep breath and leaned back in her chair.

"I understand, Grido."

"But he doesn't care."

"I have tried already."

"If he doesn't want to join, we can't do anything about it."

Grido's jaw tensed, and he paused a moment before continuing.

"Guildmaster...there's something else. "

Sylara leaned in closer.

"Go on."

"I have been checking Akira's background for the last two days."

"Something felt off to me, so I looked further."

"He is the son of Shiro Shoto—the famous inventor from Korea."

Sylara's eyes went wide, and she lost her composure for a moment. "You looked into his past? He made that big of an impression on you?"

"Yes, Guildmaster,"

Grido admitted.

"I know it might've been overstepping, but. something doesn't add up."

"Akira was declared dead a year after Shiro's death."

"And yet, here he is, alive and fighting evolved dungeons."

"What the hell is going on?"

Sylara's face went serious, and her tone was chilling.

"Listen, Grido."

"Whatever scheme is going on here, it's not for us to uncover."

"We do dungeons, not conspiracy."

Grido nodded slowly.

"I understand, Guildmaster."

Sylara's expression turned even more serious.

"And one more thing."

"Because it's Cha-Jong, I'll tell you this now—never, ever, mention that Akira is Shiro Shoto's son."

"Not to a single person."

"We don't want to get stuck in something we can't handle."

"Yes, Guildmaster,"

Grido said, bowing a little before he turned to go.

When the door closed behind him, Sylara leaned back in her chair; her strong features softened ever so slightly.

Her fingers drummed against the armrest as she looked up at the ceiling, lost in thought.

"Sooner or later,"

She whispered, her voice a queer mixture of excitement and fear,

"The world will know you're alive, Akira soonor or later"

"Why are you still hiding it , that isn't something to hide for?"

She looked at the reports on her desk, her lips pressed together tightly.

The Guild building bustled with activity as Akira stepped inside, his dark clothing at odds with the bright interior.

His black costume was simple, though it gave the sense of purpose.

It caught the attention of a few onlookers, though he was dressed to keep a low profile.

The receptionist looked up from behind the counter, her professional expression dissolving into a friendly smile.

"Good evening."

"How may I assist you?"

"My name is Akira Shoto , i'm here to claim the reward for the dungeon that was cleared two days ago,"

Akira replied, his voice steady and precise, his sharp gaze unwavering.

The receptionist nodded curtly, fingers dancing over her records with a practiced hand.

"Ah, yes."

"Guildmaster Sylara told me to expect you."

"She wants me to direct you to her office.".

Akira cocked his head to the side, the barest glimmer of interest crossing his face.

"Understood,"

He said briefly and moved toward the hall that accessed the Guildmaster's office.

He knocked on the door as he reached it.

A moment later, Sylara's clear voice came through the heavy wood.

"Enter."

Akira opened the door and stepped inside.

Sylara sat at her desk, her posture relaxed but commanding.

She was engrossed in a report but glanced up as Akira walked in.

Her emerald eyes narrowed just a fraction, though she quickly veiled her reaction with a placid smile.

Akira's bearing had changed.

He stood taller, and his strides were confident.

Even the residual power that surrounded him was thicker, sharper.

"He's more powerful now,"

Sylara thought, the ghost of a wry grin crossing her face.

"Interesting."

"Guildmaster,"

Akira said, inclining his head slightly in respect while keeping his face neutral.

"What brings me here?"

"Is there a problem with the reward?"

Sylara chuckled quietly, leaned back in her chair.

"No trouble at all."

"I just wanted to talk with you for a moment."

Akira didn't change expression, only the narrowing of his eyes showing,

"Talk?"

"Whether it be about the dungeon or something else?"

Sylara smiled.

"No i just wanted to have some fun with you that's all"

"!!!"