Marcus, the imposing Chief Security Officer of FuturForge Innovations, stood tall, his black security bomber jacket gleaming under the lights. Across from him, Ji-Eun, with her long pink hair and striking red eyes, seemed almost delicate by comparison, but her gaze burned with a dangerous intensity.
Ji-Eun tilted her head, a sweet yet unsettling smile playing on her lips. "You've underestimated me. That was your first mistake."
Marcus's deep, obsidian eyes narrowed. "You'll end up just like your allies—shocked and defeated by my taser."
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The battle commenced with Ji-Eun launching into her Blade Dance Mirage. She moved with such speed and fluidity that multiple afterimages of her appeared, confounding Marcus. He swung his taser, but it connected with nothing but air.
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Marcus growled, "Enough of your tricks!" He activated his Shockwave Shield, an electrified barrier that repelled Ji-Eun's illusions. The real Ji-Eun darted back, momentarily thwarted but unfazed.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/50/Crimson_Lacerate.png]
"You're tough. Let's see how you handle this!" Ji-Eun cried, her expression shifting to one of manic glee as she executed Crimson Lacerate. She darted forward, her kitchen knife flashing as she aimed for Marcus's vital points.
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Marcus managed to parry the strikes with his Taser Whip, extending the wires to keep her at bay. "Not bad, but you haven't seen anything yet!" With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed Voltage Surge, amplifying the taser's output to send a powerful shockwave toward Ji-Eun.
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Ji-Eun dodged with a quick roll, but her movements were becoming more erratic, more berserk. "You can't stop me!" she screamed, launching into her Berserker Flurry. Her attacks became a whirlwind of stabs and slices, each move more unpredictable and ferocious than the last. Her eyes blazed with a manic intensity, her kitchen knife a blur of deadly precision.
Noah, Elliot, and Cyrus stood frozen, their eyes wide and jaws slack. This was not the Ji-Eun they knew; she was transformed, a fierce warrior consumed by her berserker rage.
"Is this really Ji-Eun?" Noah whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear.
Elliot, still recovering from his own battle, could only shake his head in disbelief. "I've never seen anyone move like that," he muttered.
Cyrus clenched his fists, his concern for Ji-Eun's well-being battling with his admiration for her ferocity. "She's... incredible," he breathed, unable to tear his eyes away from the fight.
Marcus grunted as he took a shallow cut to his arm, the pain fueling his anger. "You're insane!" he shouted, his voice a mix of frustration and grudging respect.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/2/27/Stun_Grenade.png]
Marcus grunted as he took a shallow cut to his arm. "You're insane!" He quickly modified his taser to emit a blinding flash and deafening sound, creating a Stun Grenade effect. The sudden explosion of light and noise disoriented Ji-Eun, causing her to stumble.
Ji-Eun shook her head, trying to clear the ringing in her ears and the spots dancing before her eyes. "I won't... be stopped!" she growled, her determination undiminished despite the setback.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/2/24/Taser_Strike.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d9/Haunting_Laughter.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/1/19/Eclipse_Assault.png]
Taking advantage of the moment, Marcus went in for a Taser Strike, aiming to incapacitate her. Ji-Eun's maniacal laughter echoed through the corridor, the sound reverberating off the walls with an unsettling intensity. "Mwahahahaahaha!" she cackled, her Haunting Laughter Echo filling the space and creating an eerie, disorienting atmosphere. The maniacal sound was enough to unsettle Marcus, causing him to hesitate just long enough for Ji-Eun to slip out of his grasp. She countered with her Eclipse Assault, appearing behind Marcus in a blink and slashing at his back.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/9e/Electro-Disarm.png]
Marcus winced, spinning around with an Electro-Disarm move, aiming to disable Ji-Eun's knife. The electric charge forced her to drop her weapon, but her smile only widened.
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"Think you've won? Think again!" she taunted. She activated her Crimson Whirlwind, spinning rapidly and creating a deadly vortex with her reclaimed knife. Marcus barely had time to react, using his Shockwave Shield to fend off the worst of the attack.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/3/3d/Taser_Grapple.png]
Both fighters panted, bloodied and battered, but neither willing to give in. Marcus tried one last desperate move, his Taser Grapple, aiming to subdue Ji-Eun by binding her with the taser's wires.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/82/Loyal_Retribution.png]
But Ji-Eun's eyes glinted with a fierce, final determination. Seeing Marcus as a direct threat to Cyrus, she channeled her obsession into a powerful, focused attack known as Loyal Retribution. With swift precision, she slashed through the taser's wires, rendering it useless. In one fluid motion, she lunged at Marcus, her knife finding a weak spot in his defense.
Marcus gasped, falling to his knees. "You...you really are a monster," he whispered, struggling to breathe.
Ji-Eun knelt beside Marcus, her expression softening into that unsettling mix of innocence and madness. "I told you, no one can stop Cyrus!" she declared, her voice laced with both triumph and menace. She raised her kitchen knife, preparing for another strike.
Before she could act, Cyrus stepped between her and Marcus. "Enough, Ji-Eun. He's not able to fight anymore," he said firmly, stopping her in her tracks.
Ji-Eun's eyes locked onto Cyrus's, a flicker of confusion and concern crossing her face. "Cyrus, are you angry? Please don't be. I will listen to you," she pleaded, her tone shifting to one of almost childlike desperation.
Cyrus placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "You've done great, Ji-Eun. I really appreciate what you've done, but Marcus is no longer a threat," he reassured her.
Her eyes brightened slightly, a strange blend of relief and longing evident in her gaze. "Will you pat my head, please?" she asked, her voice softening.
Cyrus hesitated for a moment, then obliged, gently patting her pink hair. Ji-Eun's face immediately relaxed into an expression of ease and satisfaction, her demeanor shifting back to its innocent state.
Meanwhile, Noah leaned in to whisper to Elliot. "We really need to be careful around that girl," he said, his voice barely audible. "If we say the wrong thing, her kitchen knife might be aimed at us next."
Elliot nodded vigorously,gulped nervously with his eyes wide with agreement. "Absolutely," he replied, understanding the gravity of the situation all too well.
"Your team is strong, Cyrus," Marcus said as he slowly stood up, wincing from the injuries inflicted by Ji-Eun. "This was actually a test to gauge your determination. I wanted to see if you all have what it takes to move forward."
"Uncle Marcus..." Cyrus began, his voice a mix of confusion and frustration.
Marcus continued, his expression solemn. "Your father is a good man, but there are things you don't know. I have to tell you the truth: he did orchestrate the kidnapping, and I followed his orders."
Cyrus's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean? Why would my father, an honorable man dedicated to his academic research and career, do something like that? This is a sham!"
Marcus met Cyrus's gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and resolve. "I understand this is hard to believe, but it's the truth. Follow me."
He led the group down the corridor to the security office on the same level. The room was filled with rows of CCTV monitors, each displaying various parts of the facility. Marcus began searching through the video archives, his fingers moving swiftly across the controls.
Cyrus stood by, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. Ji-Eun, Noah, and Elliot exchanged wary glances, the tension palpable as they awaited the revelation of the truth.
Finally, Marcus located the footage from the day of the incident. "Here," he said, bringing up a video that showed Elden Thorne giving orders that led to the kidnapping. The group watched in stunned silence as the events unfolded on the screen, their expressions growing graver with each passing second.
As the footage continued, Marcus revealed another clip. This one depicted Elden Thorne equipped with the Sword of Water, battling a teenager wielding a sword engulfed in flames within the R&D lab. The fight was intense, and the flame-wielding teenager ultimately defeated Elden, shattering the Sword of Water. Cyrus immediately recognized the scene, recalling the moment he locked eyes with the flame-wielding combatant and the kidnapped girl, during his father's arrest outside FuturForge.
Cyrus's heart sank as he saw his father in this new, disturbing light. "I can't believe this... Why, Uncle Marcus? Why would he do this?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Marcus explained with a heavy heart. "The kidnapped girl you saw is Luna Estrella, and the teenager wielding the Sword of Flame is Jake Harada. Luna told your father that the seven swords are real, which sparked his obsession. Driven by a desire to uncover their secrets, he instructed FuturForge staff to kidnap her, hoping to learn more about the whereabouts of the swords."
Cyrus's eyes filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "Luna, Jake, the seven swords—if they had never appeared, none of this would have happened to my father!" he exclaimed, punching the table with frustration, tears brimming in his eyes.
Ji-eun placed a comforting hand on his back, stroking gently in an attempt to console him. "We'll figure this out, Cyrus," she said softly.
Cyrus took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. "Has anyone else seen this footage of my father fighting against a legendary sword? The world should know the truth!" he demanded, looking at Marcus with a fierce determination.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/6/63/Isabella_Sinclair_Profile.png]
"FuturForge has tried to hide the footage, fearing it would damage their share prices and tarnish the public opinion of the company," Marcus explained. "However, the authorities eventually caught wind of it." He paused, recalling the tense moments. " Isabella Sinclair, the CEO's personal assistant, fiercely defending the decision to withhold the clip. She even confronted a policeman, refusing to hand over the evidence. It was a desperate attempt to protect FuturForge's reputation."