Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

After a few days of training in the mountains, Akira knew it was time to get back to business.

"I sold the magic stones from that e-rank dungeon to Hiroshi-san and he compesanted me really well"

"I can't afford to go to meet Stars and Dungeons offices making exhanges by myself because i can't afford to be exposed"

"I owe him too much now"

The money that he had gotten from Hiroshi for the magic stones he had sent was enough to get by for now.

He needed to be reassured that he could continue his existence of supporting himself, especially after what happened with Eri.

"Fortune stolen."

The notion itself made Akira clench his jaw.

The inheritance his father left him, gone."

Gone because Eri betrayed him.

He shook off the thoughts once he stepped out of the house, making his way to the small, isolated road time led to Seoul.

The city was still hours away on foot, but for Akira barely half a hour the boy had reached a physical level where he could travel really fast.

The busy streets of Seoul were a far cry from the solitude he had been living in.

Cars driving, the constant sounds of vendors shouting, and people haggling-in the crowded marketplace-filled the air.

Akira kept his eyes straight ahead, not minding the racket, but focusing rather on the task at hand.

"The first stop i need to make is at a weapon store too buy a weapon"

As he pushed open the door of the small shop, a bell above jingled.

Inside, the shelves were lined with weapons of many kinds-all forged especially for the STARS.

The dull light glinted off swords and daggers and axes, some more unusual, and the air was heavy with the smell of polished metal and leather.

The shopkeeper nodded at him, an older man with graying hair and a stern appearance.

"Welcome"

"You're a STAR, aren't you?"

He asked, his voice gravelly though not unfriendly.

Akira nodded.

"That's right."

"I'm looking for something...reliable."

"A sword."

The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Akira's posture.

He could tell the boy wasn't just any normal customer-there was a strength behind those eyes, the kind that didn't come from any ordinary person.

"Reliable, eh?"

"You got good taste."

"We've got blades for every kind of STAR here, but you're gonna want something that complements your style."

"What kind of fight are you looking for?"

Akira raises an eyebrow. "

"I like that he is not selling me on anything… just asking the right questions."

"I need something quick and powerful."

"I have speed, but I need something that can handle my speed and not losing force when hitting the monsters."

The shopkeeper smiled a little.

"Alright, I have just the thing for you."

He walked over to a section near the back, pulling out a sleek black sword.

The blade shimmered with a subtle blue hue, and the hilt was wrapped in leather that looked worn but sturdy.

This is a Pantho Blade,"

He said to him

"Exclusively designed to be slick and agile."

It's meant for quick movements, which is ideal for someone like you."

"It's not weighted to heavily, yet it can cut through the toughest skin."

And with that, he handed it over to Akira, who immediately felt its balance.

It was perfect in his hands.

"Let's see if this will work" - He said then let the status window to scan the sword then suddenly the sword details where showed

[Pantho Blade]

[Type: Sword]

[Tier: C]

[Weight: 1.8 kg]

[Material: Rare black alloy with enchanted runes]

[Durability: 71/71]

[Enhancements:Lightweight (Passive): The blade is designed for extreme agility, reducing weight to achieve much better speed and precision.]

[Cursed Edge (Passive): When in combat with monsters, the blade saps the target's stamina through each successful strike. It drains 2% of the enemy's stamina per hit for 30 seconds.]

Akira's eyes went down the abilities, processing them mentally.

A slight grin curled his lips as he digested this information.

"Not bad,"

He grumbled to himself,

"This will definitely make things easier."

"Yeah, this is it,"

Akira said, his face suddenly beaming with a wide grin.

He watched the price tag...

"Expensive."

"But it'll be worth it."

"I'll take it."

The exchange was quick and after a short transaction, Akira stepped out of the shop with the sword strapped to his back.

He then went to a clothes shop only a few streets away.

It was a very small shop, wedged between other larger houses, but sold clothes for STARS.

He entered, and the owner of the shop-a rather older woman with a sharp gaze-looked up from her work.

"Welcome young man"

"Anything particular you are looking for?" - She asked.

"Yeah."

"Something tough, but comfortable."

"Oh and i prefer the color Black"

She nodded, already pulling out a set of fitted black pants and a long-sleeve shirt with reinforced stitching along the shoulders.

"You've got the build for these,"

She said with approval, handing the set to Akira.

He put them on in a dressing room, and the clothes fit his form well, providing easy flexibility with protection.

"This is just what I need."

He came out, and the shopkeeper raised an eyebrow.

"You look like you mean business,"

She said, satisfied with the fit.

"I do"

"But please make 5 costumes like this"

"I will spend most of my time training and fighiting in dungeons it better to have reserves"

Akira replied

"Right away dear Costumer."1

He handed her the money, and back into the streets he went.

With a sword on his back and the new clothes fitting just right, Akira was ready.

"I've got all I need for the time being"

"Time for more leveling up."

A week passed.

A week has gone by since I got the Pantho Blade, and every cent was well worth it.

Compared with fighting barehanded, this sword made clearing dungeons easy. The agility and power of this sword made me dispatch monsters as if I were just cutting through the air, and that passive trait Cursed Edge...it has come really at handly because it has destroyed them way faster.

I'd raided every E-rank dungeon I could find in the app, booked and cleared them out one by one.

Akira opened his Status Window, and that familiar rush came in as his stats came into view:

[Level: 14]

[Strength: 24]

[Agility: 24]

[Endurance: 24]

[Stamina: 24]

[Intelligence (Magic) : 24]

I have gained quite a few levels from those E-rank dungeons but it's getting obvious that I have reached a wall.

Every E-rank dungeon felt easier than the last , the experience gain has started to taper off and even monsters barely put up a fight anymore.

"If I go on like this, then I'll stagnate."

"The next step that the fake id that Hiroshi has given allows me to raid D-rank dungeons too."

Pulling out his phone he opened the app "StarNet" and scrolled through the list of available dungeons.

There were legions of E-ranks, but he scrolled past them, tapping on the D-rank section.

D-rank meant tougher monsters, better loot, and more experience.

That made everything more riskier, of course.

But that was just what he needed.

"Time to step it up"

He said to himself, choosing the nearest D-rank from the ones available, reserving it.

A notification chimed, confirming the booking.

Two hours later he would be in his first D-rank dungeon.

"Let's do this" - He muttered