Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

The air was thick, near crushingly so, and with a collapse of her body to the ground, her head severed and staring into the void,

The oppressive aura lingered, suffocating every breath the party dared to take. The unknown entity, still in full command of Akira's body, shifted its glowing white eyes toward Cha-Jong and the others.

Its shining white eyes turned on Cha-Jong and the rest now, the thing beneath-which was still in control of Akira's body.

No longer was it entertained, cold, unbending, full of scorn, a god looking at ants.

Its voice sounded like the distant rumble of the most ancient thunder, and with it, a voice reverberated in the thickness of silence.

Unknown Entity: (commanding, cold)

"Let me say this - not as a threat, not as a warning...

"But as a Order"

Now its eyes aglow blazed like two bursting suns, and sent the company to their knees.

Unknown Entity:

"Forget this ever happened."

"Understood?"

Cha-Jong, despite his usual bravado, found himself trembling.

His lips quivered as he forced himself to respond, his voice breaking under the weight of fear.

Cha-Jong (shaking):

"I… I understand."

"We shall do as you please."

Garret, the proud warrior, who would typically challenge anyone and anything, clenched his fists tightly but remained utterly silent.

His throat felt like it was strangled by an unseen force, making even a whisper impossible.

Even the calm star girls, Mira and Lyra, who never showed weakness no matter the situation, couldn't lift their heads now.

Mira's hands shook at her sides as Lyra bit into her lip hard enough to draw blood and kept her eyes glued to the ground in terror.

It read their answers as meaningless, a fluttering of pleasure in its otherworldly eyes.

"Good."

It swerved aside, as if even their sight had grown too dreary to pay any more heed.

It stopped then, remembering that trifling but necessary something.

"Oh, I almost forgot…"

Its voice dropped, colder than ever.

"Take care of my vessel."

The words struck the party like an iron gauntlet. Akira, still and unscathed to an impossible degree, sat silently on the ground.

Unknown Entity:

"See that he gets back safely."

"And not a word of this to him."

Its tone was final, admitting no argument or interpretation. The surrounding light around Akira's body dimmed, and the presence of that entity began to fade.

As it vanished, it had one last whisper, softer before, almost human in speech, before it disappeared without a trace.

Unknown Entity: whispering, as if concluding

"Boy… take care of yourself."

The weight that had crushed down on that room suddenly gave way to an empty feeling in the air. Akira slumped to the floor, out cold but fully cured.

It was when Cha-Jong's instincts had taken over, and, on his knees beside Akira, he checked his pulse. He was steady, but his face was unnaturally serene, as if the horrors of the past moments had never occurred.

After that, it was silent.

Garret (hesitantly, whispering):

"What's going on?"

He looked at the rest, his face pale, his usual boldness blown to pieces.

Garret:

"Did he...did he really defeat her?"

"Who...who was he?"

Cha-Jong heaved Akira's limp body onto his back, his knees almost buckling under the weight-not from physical strain, but the sheer gravity of what had happened.

His voice was firm, though it shook with the tremor of barely suppressed fear.

Cha-Jong: (to everybody )

"I don't know."

"And honestly… I don't want to know."

"For now, we get him out of here."

As if in response to his decision, an undulating portal flashed open beside him in a swirl of ghostly blue flame.

The party froze in view of that suddenly appearing exit.

Cha-Jong:

"This… this must be the way out."

With no other option remaining, he went ahead, having Akira on his back.

Everybody fell silent; their minds were in such a haze with jumbled thoughts.

It engulfed them in its soft golden glow.

Time seemed to spin once, then flung them out at the entrance of the dungeon.

And there, the first steps ever made outside, reeled in the fresh air and sunlight upon their skin.

Cha-Jong gently laid Akira on the ground, his face scrunched up with worry as he knelt beside him. Mira and Lyra immediately began to examine him, their hands shaking as they worked.

Mira (whispering):

"His scars… well, they're gone."

"Completely gone...his wounds too."

She looked up at Cha-Jong. Her voice crackled repeatedly.

"I don't even feel his usual aura. It's… it's like he's someone—or something—else entirely."

Garret, his composure fraying, sat down heavily on the grass, running a hand through his hair.

Garret (in disbelief):

"What kind of monster takes over someone's body, fights like that, and just… leaves?"

Cha-Jong sighed heavily, his eyes fixed on Akira's peaceful face.

The group's shared silence spoke volumes.

They all knew that their journey forward would be fraught with questions and uncertainties.

But for now, their sole focus was Akira.

The portal had vanished behind them, leaving no trace of the horrors they had endured.

Their unshared silence hung heavy in the air, the unspoken terrors lurking in all their minds magnified.

Cha-Jong adjusted Akira's unconscious form on his back, standing a little straighter as he turned to face the others.

Cha-Jong: (firmly)

"Leave him to me from now on."

"All of you...just forget what you have seen."

"Not a word of this to anyone."

"For the report i will take care of it myself"

"Neither to your superiors nor your families-nobody."

"I need some time to sort this out myself, so don't even expect me to give you any answers."

"I will be in touch when the time is right."

He had stiffened his arms, his face pale and puckered in a frown.

He spoke after a moment's pause :.

Garret: hoarsely

"Hey, be careful with him, Cha-Jong."

"That kid…E.B whatever is inside of him, it's not normal."

"He mightn't mean it, but he can do some real damages-even to you."

His voice, firm and sure, shook ever so slightly as he tried to conceal his terror.

His eyes flickered toward Akira's tranquil expression before darting swiftly away, as if a longer look might invite an evil spirit in.

Garret: (bitterly)

"I don't want him near me anymore."

"Not after this."

"I've fought monsters half of my life, but this?"

"This is something else."

Cha-Jong forced a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Cha-Jong (mockingly):

"Never thought I'd see the day Garret would back down like this...Indeed, it is true fear that shows us what we truly are."

Garret's face soured, and he said nothing, before striding away towards the horizon.

Mira and Lyra exchanged glances of discomfort, and then quickly followed after him - neither dared to look at Akira again.

As their figures vanished into the distance, Cha-Jong let out a deep sigh, his expression softening as he turned to face Akira.

He bent slightly to adjust the boy on his back and muttered softly:.

Cha-Jong: low, contemplative

"Truly, kid… what are you?

"I've seen and heard a lot of strange things, but this?"

"This is something else entirely."

He turned and stopped, then looked into Akira's face. 

Cha-Jong, grumblily:

"I only hope you aren't carrying bad omens within you."

"Whatever you're carrying inside, let's pray that it wouldn't bring doom upon our heads."

He took a deep breath and ruffled his hair before starting to walk.

The weight of Akira's body meant little against the burden of questions that riddled him.

Cha-Jong (muttering):

"But for now… let's get you somewhere safe.