Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

The table was long, shadowed, surrounded by six figures whose faces were obscured by heavy cloaks and masks.

Only their voices told of personality, sharpened edges of tension and command saturating the air.

The one at the head of the table leaned forward, hands clasped on the polished surface, starting to speak in a calm voice

"One of our agents is dead,"

He starts off, flat, his voice steady and paced.

"This is not something we can take lightly.

"One of the contractors came and told me."

"We need answers."

The figure to the left of them emits a low chuckle.

"I already know who it was,"

He says in mock authority.

"One of my minions, and I can't contact him anymore, so it's fairly obvious he has been taken care of."

Enter another voice, which sounds skeptical:

"Really that weak, and died on his knees, not sending a signal neither, without leaving any trace."

"That's pathetic.".

"Watch your words."

"He might have gone down quick, but that does not mean he was weak"

"Do not underestimate my guys."

The skeptic snorts loudly.

"Weakness is weakness."

"You brag on those minions of yours, then show me the results-one dead and nothing to show for that."

A low growl rumbles from the offended figure.

"You want to test that theory in battle?"

"Let's see who's truly more powerful."

The other leans forward, his challenge clear:

"Anytime."

"Enough!"

The leader snaps, slicing into the tension building inside the room.

Silence falls; the weight within the room grows thicker.

"This is not the time for in-fighting."

"We have to focus."

"Our agent didn't just die, they vanished."

"No energy traces, no remains-just nothing."

"As though they were erased from existence."

A figure at the far end of the table tilts their head slightly, their curiosity evident.

"Intriguing."

"Whoever did this is either extremely skilled."

"I'm curious now."

He breathes out slow.

"Me to"

"Our agents caliber do not fail, and neither do they disappear on a whim."

"This is odd."

"What level was the agent who has vanished?",

Another voice asks, more analytically.

"I can say for sure he wasn't the strongest, but neither was he weak."

"Skilled enough to avoid most threats."

"Shouldn't have come to this."

The leader's voice turns cold.

"Since this operation started, our agents have never gotten things wrong."

"This changes things."

"I want answers."

"Send some people."

"Find out what happened and who's responsible."

A chorus of affirmation rumbles around the table.

"Yes, sir."

As the meeting draws to a close, another voice joins in, an undercurrent of mirth lining his tone.

"Whoever did this - killings, erasing all the evidence...he's either a genius or an idiot."

"Whichever, this is going to be...fun."

The lead rises to his feet and fills the room.

"Meeting's adjourned. 

Akira walks towards the entrance of a C-rank dungeon thick with the murmur of adventurers readying for the raid, and his eyes scan across, coming to rest on four people standing off to the side-this would be his new party, the ones he had contacted upon deciding to climb up the ranks faster.

Evening crisp air, carrying a faint chill, greets .

Out of them, the man in the middle steps forward. Cha-Jong, the team leader, stands at over average height and middle-aged, with brown hair combed neatly backwards. Harmonious features, calm demeanor-experience oozes from this man. There is an aura of a B-rank STAR, though very subdued, around him.

Cha-Jong:

"You must be E.B."

He says, his voice smooth as warm water.

Akira nods politely and extends a hand.

Akira:

"That's me...;ooking forward, working with you all."

Cha-Jong shaking his hand firmly, gesturing toward the others.

Cha-Jong:

"Let me introduce the team."

Out comes a slim woman with hair the color of fire.

Mira is a B-rank STAR mage, fully attired with clothes with flame motifs.

The glance she gave Akira was sharp, confident, and with a slight nod.

Look:

"I'm Mira."

"Elemental Mana is—fire my specialty. "

"I'll handle most of the big damage, so don't get in the way."

Before Akira could say a word, there was one towering over the rest-a mass of a figure who stepped up:

Garret, C-rank Warrior Star"

His muscular frame is much better told by the broad axe slung over his back, and the scar running across his face spoke volumes of battles beyond count.

Garrett:

"Name's Garret."

"I'm the frontliner."

"If it's big, ugly, and dangerous, I'm the one to keep it off you."

He grins, his scar pulling slightly.

Garrett:

"Just try to keep up."

A blonde girl steps forward last but not least.

Slender, with a warm smile, in complete contrast to the stern warriors, she is:

Lyra, B-rank STAR healer, her calm, sure confidence conveyed by the grasp of her staff, radiating soft light magic.

"And I'm Lyra."

"If you get yourself hurt, I'll patch you up-but don't expect me to fix stupidity."

Her teasing tone softens when she says,

"Glad to have you with us, though."

Cha-Jong stands tall as the leader, clasps his hands together, and motions toward the glowing portal.

Cha-Jong:

"Alright, listen up; this is a mid C-rank level dungeon, according to the measurement.

Then, the largest threats inside will be great red wolves: fast, aggressive, and way stronger than they look.

Could also be some deeper, more mutated beasts, so there's going to be surprises.

He pauses, scanning their faces.

"Stick together."

"Follow the plan, and we'll clear this place without any casualties."

Garret:

"Don't worry about me."

"The wolves shall try, but they will not scratch me."

Mira:

"Maybe less of the bravado and more of a concentration on not having to save your hide."

Lyra:(smirking)

"I'm with Mira on this one."

"Let's not make my job harder than it needs to be."

Akira listens to the exchange with his face masked but a slight smirk tugging the corner of his mouth.

Akira:

"Sounds rather simple."

"Let's get started."

Cha-Jong nods in satisfaction, turning toward the dungeon.

"Good."

"Let's move."

They step into the dungeon-the transition is immediate and disorienting.

The world shifts into a dark cavern, its jagged walls thinly lined with faint bioluminescent moss.

The air is heavy with the metallic taste of danger.

The party instinctively falls into position, each aware of what their job is: Cha-Jong takes the lead, his instincts on high as he watches out for traps

Garrett goes up front axe at the ready

Mira and Lyra take the middle in an optimal position for magic and support

Akira brings up the rear of the party, silently guarding.

From deeper inside the den, the wolves growl softly

The hunt has begun.