The following morning at the airport was bittersweet as Kenjiro, Kaito, and Yoko accompanied Jake, Carter, Akane, and Luna, preparing to bid them farewell. The air was filled with a mix of nostalgia and promise as they stood together one last time before the departure.
Kenjiro approached Jake with a respectful nod, conveying his fondness for Jake's family, "Jake, when you see your parents, please extend my regards to them."
Carter, ever the lighthearted one in the group, turned to Yoko with a playful grin, holding up a carefully wrapped package. "Hey Yoko, could you please pass this Mega Cat Gundam to Pimiko?" he asked, his eyes twinkling. "Consider it a token of gratitude for all the help."
"Will do!" Yoko replied, accepting the Gundam with a smile, appreciating Carter's thoughtful gesture.
The atmosphere turned tender as Yoko reached out to embrace her cousin. "It's been wonderful seeing you, Jake. What we've gone through together... I'll never forget it. I hope to see you back in Japan again," she said, her voice soft and earnest.
Jake returned the hug warmly, "Thanks, Yoko. I'd love to see you in America, too. Make sure you visit, okay?" His words were full of hope and anticipation for future reunions.
In a moment of playful camaraderie, Jake turned to Kaito with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Kaito, I'm rooting for you and Yoko to end up together soon!" His comment, though teasing, was heartfelt.
Kaito responded with a shy smile, nodding in agreement, while Yoko's cheeks turned a shade of pink. Embarrassed yet touched by Jake's words, she exclaimed softly, "Jake!"
As the final boarding call echoed through the terminal, Kenjiro gathered the group for one last goodbye. "I guess it's time to say goodbye. Have a safe trip, guys, and take care," he said, his voice a mixture of warmth and solemnity.
The farewells were filled with hugs and promises to stay connected, each member of the group feeling the weight of parting yet comforted by the deep bonds they had forged. As Jake, Carter, Akane, and Luna walked towards the gate, they carried with them not just memories but also the anticipation of future adventures together. The airport scene closed on a hopeful note, the morning sunlight casting long shadows as the friends parted ways, each stepping towards their own path yet forever connected by their shared experiences.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/4/4c/Professor_Elden_Thorne_in_a_prison_setting%2C_talking_to_someone_through_a_glass_partition_in_the_prison_visiting_room.png]
In the sterile, monochrome confines of the prison visitation room, the contrast couldn't be starker. Professor Elden Thorne, once the epitome of scholarly refinement and intellectual curiosity, now appeared markedly diminished. Clad in the drab orange of a prison jumpsuit, the vibrant colors of his personality seemed to have drained away, leaving a shell of the man he once was. His silver hair, once a crown of wisdom, hung limply, framing a face marred by sadness and a profound sense of isolation.
He sat rigidly, his posture defeated yet dignified, behind the cold, impersonal glass that separated him from the free world. When the door on the opposite side clicked open, he raised his eyes, expecting perhaps a familiar face—someone from his past academic glory or a remnant friend from his days at FuturForge Innovations. Instead, a stranger stepped into view, a figure who seemed to stride directly out of the annals of history into the stark fluorescent lighting of the modern-day.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/0/0b/Augustine_Salvatore_Profile.png]
The man was Augustine Salvatore, an enigma wrapped in a silhouette of sharp contrasts. His attire—a white suit, impeccably tailored and crisp—spoke of authority and a deliberate defiance of the drab surroundings. The suit jacket was unbuttoned, revealing a black shirt that subtly hinted at the depth and complexity of the man beneath. Shoulder-length brown hair, stylishly tousled, framed a face marked by a cool, composed expression. Dark green eyes, sharp and assessing, gleamed with an intelligence that seemed to pierce through the glass, reaching into the very soul of Professor Thorne.
"What can I do for you, sir?" Elden asked, his voice carrying a faint echo of his former authoritative timbre, now dulled by confinement.
Augustine leaned forward slightly, his posture both relaxed and commanding. The visitor badge clipped to his jacket gleamed dully under the light. "Professor Elden Thorne," he began, his voice smooth, carrying a trace of an Italian accent that hinted at his rich heritage. "I've reviewed the CCTV footage from the FuturForge R&D Lab. It's quite the tale it tells."
He paused, ensuring he had Elden's full attention. "I'm here to make a deal. Tell me what you know about the Seven Swords, and I'll find a way to secure your early release."
Elden's eyes narrowed slightly, skepticism mingling with a spark of interest. "Mr. Salvatore, is it? Your offer is generous, but why would a man of your standing care about an old academic's troubles or these mythical swords?"
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Augustine smiled slightly, a gesture that seemed to lighten the heavy air between them. "Let's just say, Professor, I have my reasons—reasons rooted in the same soil as those that drove you to your current... predicament. I believe in the power of knowledge, and the Seven Swords are keys to a much larger door."
Professor Thorne shifted in his seat, interest piqued despite his initial reservations. "And what makes you think I have information that can help you?"
"Because," Augustine replied, leaning back, the confidence in his posture undiminished, "you are Elden Thorne. Your reputation for uncovering the arcane is almost as legendary as the swords themselves. Together, we could—"
"Unlock the truths behind the legends?" Elden finished, a faint smile playing on his lips. It was the first genuine expression he had shown since the beginning of the visit.
"Exactly," Augustine confirmed, nodding appreciatively. "So, Professor, shall we discuss terms, or do I take my leave and leave you to the mercy of these walls?"
Elden sighed, the weight of years and unspoken secrets momentarily bowing his shoulders. Then, straightening, he met Augustine's gaze with renewed sharpness. "Very well, Mr. Salvatore. Let's talk."
The conversation that ensued was a dance of intellects, each man parrying and advancing with the skill of seasoned strategists. For Elden, it was a flicker of the man he once was, engaged in the thrill of the intellectual chase. For Augustine, it was another step on the path of his own mysterious goals, wrapped in the cloak of charm and strategy.
As the guards signaled time, both men stood, the beginnings of a formidable alliance forged between the glass that divided them. They parted with the understanding that this meeting was merely the prologue to a much larger story—one that could potentially change the course of their lives.
In the dimly lit, sprawling command center of the overlord's stronghold, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The hum of advanced technology permeated the air, underscoring the gravity of the moment that was unfolding. Amidst a crowd of military tacticians and high-ranking officers, one figure stood distinctly apart.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/85/Kael_Z-on_Profile.png]
Kael Z-on, the overlord's chosen enforcer, was the epitome of a futuristic warrior. His bright red, spiky hair and gleaming red eyes seemed to crackle with a dangerous energy. Clad in a shiny, metallic red suit that moved with him like a second skin, Kael exuded an air of deadly purpose. As he strode across the room, a hand instinctively drifted towards the double-bladed lightsaber holstered at his side.
"The time machine has been fixed but it has only the capacity to send one person to the past to stop the rebel who has time-traveled before it stopped working again," one of the generals announced, his voice cutting through the buzz of whispered strategizing.
Another general turned towards Kael, his expression a mix of stern command and underlying respect. "Kael Z-on, you are chosen to time travel. Are you ready for the mission?!"
Kael's response was a devious smile, his gaze fixating on a photograph of Luna Estrella, the target of their relentless pursuit. The picture captured her vibrant defiance—a stark contrast to the bleakness of their current setting. "I will make sure to bring this kitten back here," he declared, his voice low and menacing, yet tinged with a cruel sort of amusement.
"Very well," the general responded, motioning towards the imposing structure of the time machine. "Step in now, and we are sending you to the past."
As Kael approached the machine, his stride was calm and measured, each step resonating with the silent promise of impending confrontation. He paused at the threshold, turning to give one final look at the assembled military personnel. His smile widened, not out of joy but as a chilling prelude to the havoc he was about to unleash.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/f1/Kael_entering_a_time_machine_portal.png]
"Time to rewrite history," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the whir of the machine powering up. With that, he stepped into the portal, the light engulfing him in a blaze of red that seemed to echo the fury and determination of his mission.
The room fell silent, the only sound the fading echo of the time machine as it transported Kael back through the annals of time. Those remaining exchanged looks of both hope and dread, aware that the success of their endeavor now rested solely on the shoulders of the enigmatic and ruthless Kael Z-on.
On a fateful night, under the shroud of darkness, Reiji Haruka found himself wandering past the remnants of what was once the formidable headquarters of Kurokaze-kai. The building, a towering edifice in its heyday, now lay in ruins—a testament to its collapsed glory, with debris scattered like the broken dreams of a fallen dynasty.
To any casual observer, the scene would appear nothing more than a solemn reminder of chaos past. Yet, as Reiji walked by, an inexplicable pull drew him closer, as if the whispers of destiny were calling out to him from the rubble. The night air, thick with the scent of decay and lost power, seemed charged with a palpable sense of anticipation.
Approaching the epicenter of the collapse, Reiji's eyes caught a glimpse of something unusual amid the debris. There, partially obscured by shattered concrete and twisted rebar, lay a katana. Unlike any ordinary weapon, this katana exuded a mysterious presence, its blade veiled under the remnants of the building. As if guided by a force beyond the mundane, Reiji felt a compelling urge to reach out to it.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/2/2e/Reiji_Haruka_picking_up_the_Sword_of_Spirit_from_a_pile_of_debris.png]
With a cautious yet determined stride, he made his way through the rubble. Each step closer intensified the strange magnetism of the weapon. Finally standing before it, Reiji extended his hand, his fingers brushing against the hilt. In that moment of contact, the air around him seemed to electrify. The katana burst into life, its blade enveloped in a spectral green aura, illuminating the darkness with its ethereal glow.
The Sword of Spirit had found its new master. As the green light bathed him in its otherworldly luminescence, Reiji felt a surge of power coursing through him, a connection ancient and profound. The sword, with its pulsing aura, did not just choose him—it seemed to recognize him, as if fulfilling a prophecy long whispered in the shadows of the underworld.
This was no mere chance encounter; it was a confluence of fate and destiny, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Reiji Haruka's enigmatic journey.
End of Japan Arc.