As the trio sat on the wet concrete floor, their backs leaning against the cold wall of the FuturForge Innovations R&D lab, a sense of futility hung heavy in the air. Every attempt they had made seemed to be in vain. Jake glanced over at his friends, Akane and Carter, both of whom were panting heavily. Physically, they could still continue, but Professor Elden Thorne's overwhelming power had broken their spirit to fight back. Their weapons—a hockey stick, a pair of sais, and a baseball bat—lay scattered on the wet floor beside a sheathed katana. The professor's power had rendered them helpless.
It was then that Jake noticed something odd. Even though there were only three of them, there were four weapons lying on the floor. The katana, which had been bestowed upon him by his father, Fumio Harada, before they left for FuturForge Innovations to find Luna, was among them. He remembered his father's words: "Use this only if absolutely necessary. It might help when things don't go as planned. Remember, only when absolutely necessary—take it as insurance."
Professor Elden glared down at them, his voice dripping with condescension. "Have you all given up? Should I ask the security to escort you out now?" He felt victorious, already convinced of his dominance over the trio.
But Jake, refusing to back down, reached out for the katana in its sheath. He didn't fully understand why his father had stressed using it only when absolutely necessary, but if there was ever a moment that called for it, it was now—this critical juncture where everything hung in the balance.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/cb/Sword_of_Flame.png]
Jake ran toward the katana and unsheathed it, revealing a blade engulfed in living flames—a mesmerizing spectacle of untamed inferno. The entire R&D lab brightened as the orange flames illuminated the room, casting flickering shadows across the walls. The sword, once believed to be nothing more than a myth, was now revealed to be one of the legendary Seven Swords—the Sword of Flames—its existence now undeniable. Jake could hardly believe his eyes.
In the room, Carter, Akane, and even Elden Thorne stood in awe, their breath taken away by the sight of the legendary sword materializing before them. What had long been dismissed as a mere legend was now a blazing reality. Professor Thorne, who had spent years searching for these mythical weapons, was transfixed, his eyes filled with a renewed intensity. One of the swords he had sought for so long was now right before him, within his grasp.
"Hand it over to me!" Elden implored, his voice trembling with excitement. "Give me the sword, and I'll release your friend, I promise!" But his words were a desperate lie. The professor, consumed by his obsession, had no intention of releasing Luna. He saw her as the key to finding the other six swords, and now, with one of them in sight, he couldn't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip through his fingers.
Clutching the Sword of Flames tighter, its fiery glow reflecting a fierce determination in his eyes, Jake stood firm. "No, Professor. This ends now. You can still turn back. Don't let this obsession consume you," he pleaded, his voice a blend of desperation and unwavering resolve. Jake urged Professor Elden Thorne to step back from the brink of his obsession, knowing that a confrontation was imminent if the professor refused to relent. His stance made it clear: if Thorne wouldn't let go, Jake was prepared to fight with the Sword of Flames, the future hanging in the balance.
But no words could penetrate the professor's twisted logic. Years of searching, facing obstacle after obstacle, had driven him to this point. His blue eyes, visible through his round spectacles, shimmered with an intense, almost fanatical light. "You don't understand, boy. This is my destiny. That sword belongs to me," he declared, his voice leaving no room for doubt or negotiation. "If you won't give it willingly, then I'll have no choice but to take it from you." Thorne's declaration wasn't just a threat; it was the absolute conviction of a man who saw anyone standing in his way as an obstacle to be removed. He gripped the Sword of Water, its blade pulsing with hydrokinetic power, and assumed a battle stance, ready to do whatever it took to seize the Sword of Flames.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/cb/Sword_of_Flame.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/fc/Sword_of_Water.png]
"Jake! We believe in you!" Carter shouted from behind. Jake glanced back at his friends, giving them a nod of acknowledgment without taking his focus off Professor Thorne. He turned back to face his opponent, determination etched into every line of his face. "If it's a fight you want, then bring it on!" he shouted, ready to take on the professor. Thorne mirrored Jake's battle stance, holding the Sword of Water as it hummed with a counter melody of hydrokinetic power. The stage was set for a confrontation that transcended mere physical combat—an epic clash between the legendary Sword of Flames and the cutting-edge Sword of Water.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/98/Aqua_Surge_Slash.png]
Professor Elden Thorne was the first to strike, his eagerness to win the fight and claim the Sword of Flames driving him to eliminate Jake as quickly as possible. With precise control, he lunged forward, the Sword of Water shimmering in his grasp as he unleashed a fierce Aqua Surge Slash, a pressurized water blade that sliced through the air with deadly precision, aiming directly at Jake.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/0/08/Blazing_Slide_Dodge.png]
Jake, however, was not to be outdone. His movements, still deeply influenced by his baseball acumen, were swift and agile. He executed a Blazing Slide Dodge, his quick movements leaving a temporary trail of flames in his wake, preventing the professor from following up with another immediate attack.
"The Sword of Flames is real! It grants its wielder pyrokinetic abilities, the power to command fire at will," Professor Thorne exclaimed, his eyes wide with the realization of the sword's true power. The sight of its abilities only fueled his desire to possess it, making him even more determined to take it from Jake.
"I may not know everything about these swords, but I know enough about right and wrong!" Jake declared, his voice cutting through the chaos of their battle, standing firm in the face of Elden's relentless pursuit.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/6/6a/Ripple_Blade_Dance.png]
"Right and wrong are just perspectives," Elden retorted, his voice dripping with disdain and challenge. "To me, I’m right, and you’re the one in the wrong!" Dismissing Jake's moral stance as naïve, he unleashed a move he hadn’t used before, Ripple Blade Dance. A whirl of defensive water blades spun around him, a spectacle of fluid motion and control as they attacked Jake from various angles.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/a/af/Blaze_Fielder%27s_Decision.png]
Jake remained calm, adapting quickly to the shifting flow of battle. He activated Blaze Fielder's Decision, using his newfound pyrokinetic abilities to affect not only the immediate fight but the environment around them. With a flick of his wrist, he created barriers of fire, and as the water blades touched these fiery barriers, they dissolved into steam.
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The collision of their powers was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The elemental clash between water and fire sent steam hissing into the air, roaring with primal fury. The laboratory became the stage for an elemental ballet—a clash not just of swords but of ideologies. Carter and Akane looked on, mesmerized by the battle unfolding before them. Their worry for Jake was evident, yet they held onto faith in his abilities, their voices offering him moral support even as the battle raged on.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/2/22/Inferno_Home_Run.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/5d/Professor_Elden_Thorne_performs_Riptide_Rush%2C_a_high-impact_charge_move_that_uses_a_surge_of_water_for_propulsion_and_increased_strike_force.png]
This time, Jake took the offensive, launching into an Inferno Home Run, combining the raw power of his Home Run Swing with the Sword of Flames. As the blade cut through the air, it ignited, leaving a fiery trail aimed directly at Professor Elden. However, the professor was quick to react, executing Riptide Rush, harnessing the power of water to propel himself rapidly towards Jake. The water not only increased his speed but also amplified the force of his strike.
A loud "hiss" echoed through the lab as the two swords collided, causing a steam explosion that enveloped the battlefield in a vapour cloud.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/e/e7/Cyclone_Torrent.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/c6/Fireball_Flick.png]
Elden, in a strategic maneuver, unleashed Cyclone Torrent, summoning a spiraling water cyclone that threatened to engulf the entire space with its sheer power. Jake, not one to be outdone, countered with a projectile move of his own—Fireball Flick. Small fireballs spun from his fingertips, hurtling towards the cyclone. The collision between the two forces resulted in a spectacular display, culminating in a steam explosion as the projectiles neutralized each other. The resulting maelstrom of steam and heat was a vivid testament to the intensity of their struggle, a physical embodiment of the clash between old and new, between the pursuit of power and the defense of moral righteousness.
Professor Elden Thorne, though satisfied that his creation could match up to a legendary sword, began to lose patience as Jake consistently countered his every move. "You fight well, but you lack the wisdom that comes with age and experience," he intoned, his voice carrying the weight of years of knowledge and a reminder that Jake was too young to fully grasp his purpose.
Undeterred by Elden's assertion, Jake responded with unwavering resolve. "Maybe, but I have something you've lost, Professor—a sense of what's truly important." His words pierced through the tension, challenging the professor's misguided path. Yet, the battle continued, each strike and counterstrike serving as a testament to Jake's determination to prove that the professor was wrong.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/5b/Tidal_Grasp.png]
As Jake responded to Elden's taunt, the professor strategically initiated his move, Tidal Grasp, summoning water tendrils in a calculated attempt to ensnare Jake—a maneuver that showcased his mastery over the elements. "Jake, watch out!" Carter shouted, trying to warn his friend, but it seemed it might be too late.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/b/be/Flame_Batter%27s_Gaze.png]
However, Jake managed to evade the attack, not because of the warning, but due to his Flame Batter's Gaze. With his Batter's Intuition kicking in, he instinctively predicted the tendrils' movements. In a series of precise strikes, the Sword of Flames cut through the water tendrils, leaving a blaze in the wake of each swing, effectively neutralizing the threat.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/db/Ashen_Steal.png]
The match had reached a critical standstill, with both fighters preparing for what could be the final clash. Jake decided to take the offensive, relying on Ashen Steal—a move that leverages Stealing Bases to advance with enhanced speed. His steps left smoldering footprints, creating a heat haze that obscured his position from the professor's view. The haze effectively concealed Jake's movements, leaving Professor Elden Thorne unable to pinpoint his location.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/53/Torrential_Cataclysm.png]
"Do you think you can hide in that heat haze, and I won't find you?" Professor Thorne sneered, his voice laced with overconfidence. "You're mistaken, boy. Let me show you what age and technology can really do!" Determined to end the battle, the professor unleashed his ultimate move, Torrential Cataclysm. The immense tidal wave, imbued with hydrokinetic energy, surged forward with devastating force, aiming to engulf Jake completely, leaving him no room to hide or escape.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/5b/Volcanic_Grand_Slam.png]
As the colossal wave crashed through the R&D lab, Professor Thorne felt certain of his victory. But then, something unexpected happened. From above, the wave was suddenly sliced in half. Jake, seizing the moment, executed his most powerful attack—Volcanic Grand Slam. Elevating his Grand Slam into a fiery downward slash, Jake's attack ignited the ground and caused a spectacular eruption of flames that descended toward Elden Thorne.
In the final moments, Thorne noticed the attack just in time and raised his Sword of Water to defend himself. The burning force of the Volcanic Grand Slam collided with the Sword of Water, causing the blade to vibrate under the intense pressure. The R&D lab was illuminated by the fiery clash, as the two forces battled for dominance, each side pushing their abilities to the limit.
As the steam dissipated, revealing the aftermath of their epic confrontation, Professor Elden Thorne knelt on the cold floor, his gaze fixed on his trembling hand. He clutched the hilt of the Sword of Water, but the blade was no more—shattered remnants lay scattered around him, their once formidable hydrokinetic power extinguished. Jake stood tall, the Sword of Flames still ablaze in his grasp, a symbol of his courage, determination, and conviction in fighting for what was right. The broken fragments of Elden's weapon on the floor signaled the undeniable truth: Jake had won the confrontation.
"This battle is concluded, Professor," Jake said, his voice steady yet compassionate. "I really hope you can go back to who you used to be before this obsession consumed you." Despite having faced him as an adversary, Jake extended an olive branch, offering a final plea for the professor to find his way back to reason and redemption.
But Elden seemed deaf to Jake's words. Unable to face the reality of his defeat, he cradled the shattered hilt in his quivering grasp. His voice, fragile and laced with disbelief, murmured to himself, "It's not real... This can't be." The professor's mind refused to accept the harsh truth that his life's work, the sword he had poured years of research and development into, had been destroyed.
"This sword... my life's work... How could it fall before a legend?" he questioned the silence, his voice a mere ghost of its former conviction. "The Sword of Water should match those of legend... Human technology should rival myth... It shouldn't have ended this way!" With a trembling hand, he reached out to touch a shard of his broken dream, his fingers brushing against the cold reality of his defeat.
Jake watched him with a mix of sadness and pity, understanding the deep despair that had overtaken the once brilliant professor. In the end, it was not just a battle of swords, but a battle of ideals, and the cost of losing one's way in pursuit of power.
Carter and Akane, who had witnessed the entire ordeal, erupted with cheers. "Jake, you did it!" Carter shouted, elated by their victory. He and Akane immediately ran over to Jake, enveloping him in a celebratory hug, their relief and joy were noticeable. "Thanks, guys! But now, let's do what we came here for—let's save Luna," Jake reminded them, his focus shifting back to their original mission.
"Right, let's go!" Carter replied, suddenly remembering the reason for their fight after all they had endured.
With the professor no longer a threat, still staring blankly at the shards of the broken Sword of Water, his mind lost in the ruins of his obsession, the trio faced no further obstacles. They quickly rushed to the interrogation room, where Luna was tied to a chair, unconscious and exhausted from the ordeal. The trio wasted no time in releasing her, their determination strengthened as they worked to free their friend.