Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

Sylara's violet eyes nailed Cha-Jong like a predator eyeing its prey; the authority in her voice was as sharp as the edge of a blade.

"You heard me,"

She said again, her voice icy and calculated.

"Is Akira Shoto related to Shiro Shoto??"

Cha-Jong's chest tightened, though his face stayed studiously impassive, his fists clenching at his sides.

"I don't know anything"

He said firmly, meeting her piercing gaze.

His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it—a warning not to push further.

Sylara's eyes narrowed, her voice lowering to carry a potent threat.

"Cha-Jong,"

She began slowly, enunciating with deliberation and venom:

"You know I can get others to confirm this for me, but for your own good, I'm asking you directly: is he related to Shiro Shoto?"

"Yes or no?"

She let slip a sliver of bloodlust. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was more than enough to make the air in the room thick and stifling.

Cha-Jong ground his teeth, thinking. Memories flashed before his eyes: unwavering determination, laughing as he played with Yuna, and the sheer torment he carried within from his past. And then there was the entity—the creature that was always lurking under Akira's skin, barely restrained.

Cha-Jong made a promise and would fulfill it until he took his last breath.

"I will never sell that boy never im alive because he was there i own him my life"

"Why does it matter?"

Cha-Jong's voice was sharp, defiant as he forced himself to stand tall under the crushing weight of Sylara's bloodlust.

Sylara smiled, a thin, deadly curve.

"It matters,"

She whispered, though the words dropped like a knife pressed to his throat.

"And you know why."

"You're here because of me, Cha-Jong."

"Your position, your stability, your family's safety—is all thanks to me."

"Tell me the truth, or."

She leaned in ever so slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Do you want to suffer alongside them?

Cha-Jong's breath caught. Memories of Yuna's bright smile, his wife's warm embrace, and Akira's silent promise to protect them all flashed through his mind. The pressure inside him built, threatening to spill over.

"DIDN'T YOU HEARD ME THE FIRST TIME ??"

Cha-Jong bellowed.

"I SAID I DON'T KNOW SHIT ALREADY!"

His voice, like a thunderclap, cut through the atmosphere of silences and inertia. He stood his ground, shaking with the force of his outburst.

For a long, tense moment, silence hung in the air. The bloodlust in Sylara's eyes receded, and a slow smile of almost amusement spread across her face.

"That's why I like you, Cha-Jong,"

She said, her voice smooth now, like silk hiding steel.

"You never sell out your comrades."

"No matter what."

Her smile widened, but her violet eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

"And for the record,"

She went on, her tone almost playful,

"I already knew...the moment you told me about him i searched about him and...I knew Akira was the dead son of Shiro Shoto.".

Cha-Jong's fists clenched as his heart was racing in his chest.

"But do not worry,"

Sylara added with a light shrug, as if the conversation hadn't just been life-threatening.

"As long as he does his job, his past doesn't matter to me."

She tilted her head, her smile sharpening.

"Now go."

"Brin that mad boy tomorrow to."

"I need to use him to."

Cha-Jong swallowed hard, his lips trembling as he forced a strained smile.

"Yes, Guildmaster."

"And… thank you."

Sylara waved him off with a flick of her hand, the grin still on her face as she turned her back on him. Cha-Jong left the room, his heart still racing as mixed emotions of relief and lingering dread washed over him.

Outside, against the cold stone wall, Cha-Jong let out a deep sigh.

"That woman…"

He muttered, shaking his head, a weak smile tugging at his lips.

"She's terrifying."

Early the next morning, Cha-Jong and Akira left the house, walking through the early sunlight, which made their shadows very long, in the direction of the guild hall. Inside the Guildmaster's office, they found Sylara Veilheart-though not alone.

Besides them, here were three more: a small girl with hair and eyes in contrasting blues clutched two daggers at the sides of sharp arms, skin fair and young, the power in them.

The tall, slim man beside her had long hair combed properly back, attired in un-ostentatious dresses; a small and somehow strange-looking little bird sat on his shoulder, bright big eyes set wandering ceaselessly in curiosity without interference.

He was unarmed, which at least put him in a different category than the third figure: a tall, lean man draped in an assortment of blades, axes, and other lethal accoutrements. His dark hair framed a serious face, and his piercing gaze seemed to scrutinize everything in the room.

Sylara directed them with a curl of her lips into a warm smile.

"Welcome, Cha-Jong and Akira."

"I trust that you are prepared for today.

Her eyes fell on Akira.

"You will work with these three."

"All of them are High B-rank Stars, and you guys will be attempting a high-level C-rank dungeon."

"If you clear the dungeon off, you may have 25% of the magic stones and rewards."

"You cool with that?

Akira didn't look fazed as his dark eyes locked on hers.

"Yeah, works for me,"

He said without inflection, his voice flat and emotionless, coming out even and smooth.

Sylara nodded. "Good."

She then turned to Cha-Jong, her tone taking on a different quality.

"As for you, Cha-Jong, you'll be accompanying me to another dungeon."

"We'll set off in an hour."

Cha-Jong nodded his head slightly.

"Understood."

Sylara gestured toward Akira's new teammates.

"Take this time to familiarize yourselves with each other."

"Trust will be essential when you're out in the field."

The slender man with glasses was the first to speak, his voice soft yet distinct.

"So, you're the one who smacked Captain Imzar, huh?"

"Impressive."

A faint smirk danced at the corners of his lips.

"I'm Grido, a specialist in beasts and a tamer."

"Nice to meet you."

Akira tipped his head to the side his tone was polite but cool.

"Nice to meet you, too."

At which one man stepped forward-bristling with weapons. His serious look softened into a slight smile.

"I am a warrior."

"My name is Victor."

"Nice to meet you, kid."

"I'm expecting big things from you, especially since you handled that conceited Captain Imzar."

Before Akira could get a word in edgewise, the blue-haired girl wheeled an indignant stare upon Victor; her cheeks puffed with annoyance.

"You shouldn't be talking about Captain Imzar that way, Victor!"

"That's very impolite!"

Victor just shrugged unrepentant under her scolding.

"Truth hurts, Anna."

The girl, Anna, turned toward Akira, her expression softening. When her gaze met his, her cheeks flushed pink, and her voice faltered.

"I...um...I'm Anna."

"Nice to meet you."

Akira's sharp features relaxed a little, and a faint smile crossed his lips.

"Nice to meet you all,"

He said with a calm voice that had a hint of assurance.

Ana's blush deepened, and she faltered, looking away, playing with one of the daggers in her hands.

Sylara clapped her hands lightly together, and with the motion, she had everyone's attention.

"Good."

"I like the energy here."

Her sharp eyes remained on Akira a beat longer than necessary, then went ahead with Cha-Jong.

"Akira and you all leave in an hour."

"Be ready."

Cha-Jong threw a look over at Akira; their eyes met in that one second.

As Sylara stepped out of the room, Victor shattered the silence with a smirk.

"Let's hope you're as good as they say, Akira."

"This dungeon won't go easy on us."

Akira remained silent for a moment, his calm gaze locking onto Victor's.

After a pause, a faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"I'll let my actions speak."

The weight of his words lingered in the air, and for a brief moment, silence enveloped the room before Grido broke it with a low chuckle.

"This is going to be interesting."