As the group ventured forth from Professor Thorne's office, still reeling from the professor's erratic reaction, they were left with a swirl of unanswered questions about Luna. Carter, typically brash and straightforward, wore a look of confusion and disbelief. Akane, usually calm and contemplative, found herself increasingly curious about the revelations surrounding Jake's so-called "distant relative." The idea of Luna being from 40 years in the future to find the seven swords had left them both bewildered. They turned to Jake, hoping he could shed some light on the perplexing situation.

"C'mon, Jake, what's the real story with Luna?" Carter pressed, his skepticism barely concealed. His tone was a mix of doubt and a desire for understanding. "This whole 'future' thing... it's a bit out there, don't you think?" His blunt words reflected the group's collective uncertainty about the extraordinary claims they had just heard.

Akane, with her gentle demeanor, added her voice to the inquiry. "Yes, Jake. How did you come to meet her? And who is Luna actually?" Her soft-spoken question, tinged with concern and curiosity, sought to unravel the enigmatic mystery about Luna that had suddenly enveloped their lives.

Jake sighed, realizing he needed to clarify things for his friends. Recognizing the depth of their confusion and the sincerity of their questions, he admitted to the partial truth he had shared earlier. "I met Luna in an alley where she was being bullied by a biker guy," he began. "I helped her out and saved her from the bully. Later, when I brought her home to seek my parents' advice, she revealed that she's from the future and is here to find the seven swords."

Carter, always quick to lighten the mood, grinned. "Woah, Jake, you're always helping out strangers! You're like a superhero," he teased, poking fun at Jake's kindness.

Jake chuckled lightly but then grew serious. "I apologize for hiding the truth from you both. I just didn't want to attract unwanted attention, especially after seeing how Professor Thorne reacted," he said, recalling the professor's intense reaction to the revelation.

Luna, her voice filled with genuine remorse, spoke up, breaking the silence that had momentarily settled over the group. "I'm sorry, everyone, for keeping it a secret from you guys," she confessed, her apology a sincere expression of regret for the mystery she had inadvertently cast around her identity and mission in the company of Carter and Akane.

Carter, ever the embodiment of robust camaraderie and an unyielding spirit, brushed aside the apology with a gesture of understanding and acceptance. "It's alright, Luna. Now that we're in on your secrets, we're not just acquaintances anymore—we're friends!" he declared, his words reinforcing the bonds of trust and mutual respect that had begun to form among them. "You can count on us to help you!" His assurance was more than a promise of support; it was a pledge of unwavering solidarity in the face of Luna's daunting journey.

Akane, her face always reflecting a depth of thought and empathy, turned her attention to Jake. Her voice carried a gentle admonition mixed with a hint of playful rebuke. "Yes, and Jake, you shouldn't have bluffed us!" she chided, highlighting the importance of transparency and honesty within the circle of their newly forged friendship.

Luna, touched by the warmth and understanding emanating from Carter and Akane, felt a surge of gratitude well up within her. "Thanks, guys, for your understanding!" she responded, her heart lightened by the knowledge that she was no longer alone in her quest. The assurance of their support and the readiness with which they embraced her cause as their own were a testament to the strength of the bonds quickly solidifying among them.

"Okay, guys! What's next?" Carter asked eagerly, ready to help Luna on her quest to find the seven swords.

"We've still got a lecture to attend, and we don't want to miss it all!" Akane reminded them, ever the diligent student.

"Luna, you can just follow us to our class. No one will notice!" Jake suggested, offering a fun idea for Luna to experience student life. Luna saw it as a good opportunity to take a break from her mission. It was her first time attending a class in a different era, and she was curious to see how students interacted and learned, contrasting sharply with her life as a rebel in her time.

Within the vibrant lecture hall of Starlight University, Luna sat with Akane, Jake, and Carter, listening to the lecturer. The students participated freely, expressing their thoughts without fear of control. Luna enjoyed watching the lively interactions between students and teachers. Jake even encouraged her to participate, but she was shy, worried she might say something wrong due to being from a different era. Despite the subject being mathematics, which might typically be seen as boring, Luna found the experience exhilarating—a freedom of expression and exchange of ideas that nurtured growth and learning, something she had never experienced before.

As the lecture came to a close, Jake took the opportunity to rally his friends. "Hey Carter, Akane," he called, threading his voice through the post-lecture buzz, "would you guys be interested in dropping by my house later? It would give us a chance to discuss how we can help Luna in any way possible!" Jake's optimism and helpful nature shone through.

"I was going to ask, bro, if you hadn't spoken up!" Carter, ever the embodiment of action and resolve, responded with a nod that carried the weight of his commitment. "We can't leave our new friend in the lurch!"

Akane simply nodded in agreement, her soft-spoken nature conveying her support without words.

"Thank you, guys. Words can't express how grateful I am," Luna said, touched by their willingness to help. She had anticipated this mission to be a solitary endeavor, not expecting to find friendship and allies along the way. With a new sense of camaraderie, the group packed their bags after the lecture and headed to Jake's house together, leaving the lecture hall.

As they walked outside, discussing their plans to help Luna, their conversation was abruptly interrupted. A black, ominous van screeched to a halt beside them, shattering the tranquility of their walk. In an instant, six figures emerged from the van with a swiftness and coordination that spoke of sinister intentions. Their target was clear: Luna.

Ignoring Jake, Carter, and Akane, the assailants moved with precision. One of them covered Luna's mouth and nose with a cloth soaked in chemicals, quickly knocking her out. Another lifted her legs, preparing to drag her into the van. The remaining men formed a barricade, blocking Jake, Carter, and Akane from intervening.

"Jake, we need to save Luna! They're dragging her into the van!" Carter shouted, rallying Jake and Akane to take action.

Jake, Carter, and Akane knew they had to act quickly to save Luna. They dropped their bags and drew their signature weapons: Jake with his baseball bat, Carter with his hockey stick, and Akane with her pair of sais. They found themselves in the unexpected role of protectors, facing a group of assailants brandishing hefty handbags as their chosen weapons. The attackers looked determined to stop the trio at any cost.

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"You better stay out of this if you know what's good for you," one of the assailants warned, swinging the hefty handbag in front of them as a threat, indicating they were serious about their intent to take Luna but also suggesting they didn't want to escalate the violence unnecessarily.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/3/3b/Hockey_Stick_Sweep.png]

"We'll see about that!" Carter retorted, undeterred by the threat. As the heat of the confrontation rose, one of the aggressors advanced with menacing intent. Carter, drawing on his athletic prowess, leapt into action with agility and fierceness. Channelling the spirit of the ice rink into the streets, he executed a formidable Hockey Stick Sweep. With a fluid motion born of countless hours on the ice, he swung his trusty hockey stick in a broad arc, its path cutting through the air with precision. The effect was immediate and startling; two of the assailants found themselves caught off-guard, their balance compromised as their handbags, wielded with ill intent, veered off course, their strikes rendered futile by Carter's swift intervention.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/cb/Whispering_Willows.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/7/70/Sai_Serenity.png]

Simultaneously, Akane, usually shy and quiet, displayed a formidable and intimidating presence, revealing her combat prowess as a seasoned martial artist. She launched into her Whispering Willows technique, moving with a blend of strength and grace that allowed her to navigate the chaos effortlessly. Her sais, extensions of her will, gleamed like silent threats to any who dared approach. When an overzealous attacker attempted to ensnare her, Akane responded with the serene yet deadly Sai Serenity. In this maneuver, she crossed her sais to form an 'X,' catching and locking the opponent's weapon. This technique allowed her to control the flow of combat, immobilizing the assailant's weapon and disarming him with a precision and efficiency that demonstrated her mastery.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/1/14/Home_Run_Swing.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/98/Slide_Dodge.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/e/e5/Fastball_Flick.png]

Jake, not to be outdone, stood his ground with the steadfast resolve of a guardian. Brandishing his baseball bat, a symbol of his readiness to defend, he faced off against two of the assailants with determined bravery. Utilizing his Home Run Swing, a testament to his prowess on the baseball diamond, he repelled their advances, striking their handbags with such force that they were sent spiraling away. One attacker, underestimating Jake's agility, attempted a desperate strike from behind, only to find Jake vanish with a swift Slide Dodge. This maneuver, as cunning as it was swift, allowed him to sidestep danger with the agility of a base stealer. Capitalizing on the moment, Jake unleashed a Fastball Flick, picking up random pebbles from the ground. He launched a rapid assault, each pebble thrown with the precision and velocity of a closing pitcher, catching the assailant in a hailstone of unexpected retaliation.

In the midst of their valiant defense, Jake, Carter, and Akane suddenly realized that the assailants they were fighting were merely a distraction, meant to keep them occupied while others isolated Luna and carried her towards the van.

Carter, ever vigilant, noticed the plan but too late. "They've got Luna!" he shouted, his voice a mix of anger and alarm. His cry echoed as a rallying call, urging Jake and Akane to act swiftly to stop the kidnappers. However, the assailants had already managed to get Luna into the van, and all they needed now was to escape. One of the kidnappers, sensing victory within reach, shouted, "Hurry!" as he waved for the others, who were losing the battle against the trio, to retreat to the van.

Without hesitation, Jake, Carter, and Akane gave chase, desperately trying to stop the kidnappers from successfully escaping. Akane, leveraging her combat prowess, did something uncharacteristic—she hurled one of her sais with deadly accuracy. The sai struck true, bringing down one of the assailants. The remaining kidnappers, knowing that stopping to assist their fallen comrade would jeopardize their mission, ignored him. They quickly shut the van doors and sped away, successfully kidnapping Luna despite the trio's efforts to stop them.

As the van disappeared down the street, Jake, Carter, and Akane stood helplessly, grappling with the bitter reality that Luna had been taken. The gravity of the situation sank in, and they knew they would have to regroup and find a way to rescue her. The only remaining link to her whereabouts was the assailant that Akane had successfully stopped. The trio gathered around the subdued man, hoping to extract any useful information.

Carter, his emotions a volatile mix of rage and determination, took the lead in interrogating the captured assailant. His voice, laced with a menacing edge, cut through the silence. "Talk, or else!" he demanded, brandishing his hockey stick with an intensity that brooked no argument. The assailant, however, remained obstinately silent, a statue of defiance that only fueled Carter's frustration. In a swift, impulsive move, Carter knocked the man unconscious.

"Carter, why did you do that? Now we may not know where they've taken her," Jake exclaimed, alarmed by Carter's hasty action that seemed to extinguish their last hope of finding Luna.

"Jake, calm down," Akane interjected softly. "Let's search his body; we might find some clues," she suggested, maintaining her composure.

As they began rifling through the belongings of their fallen foe, Jake's hands encountered an unexpected item in the man's pocket. Hidden within the fabric of the man's garments was a sleek, metallic object—a small, unassuming device that felt out of place amidst the chaos.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d7/Futrforge_Innovations_Logo.png]

Jake picked up the small device, revealing a keycard adorned with the distinctive emblem of 'FuturForge Innovations.' FuturForge Innovations was known as a billion-dollar technological giant that transformed everyday items into innovative tools of protection, redefining conventional concepts of weaponry. Their product range, which included elegant handbags and sleek cordless vacuum cleaners, was ingeniously designed to conceal formidable surprises and security features. "Why would employees of FuturForge be interested in Luna?" Carter wondered aloud, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"I don't know," Jake admitted, equally puzzled. The involvement of FuturForge's employees in Luna's abduction was both alarming and perplexing.

"We should just go there and find her," Carter declared, his voice brimming with urgency. He was ready to storm the facility, disregarding the potential dangers and the formidable security that such a conglomerate would likely possess.

Akane, with her soft but steady voice, interrupted Carter's brash enthusiasm. "Calm down, Carter. Without a plan, we're unlikely to even set foot in the building," she counseled. She emphasized the need for careful deliberation and a well-conceived strategy to infiltrate the company and rescue Luna.

"Let's go back to my house to discuss further," Jake suggested, stepping into the role of group leader. "I agree with Akane. We need a solid plan; otherwise, we're bound to fail." His agreement with Akane's cautious approach showed a unified front.

Carter, calmed by their persuasion, nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Jake. Let's go to your house and come up with a plan. I'm really worried about Luna's well-being." Jake nodded in agreement, understanding Carter's concern.

With the keycard as their newfound lead, the group headed to Jake's home. They hoped to devise a plan to infiltrate FuturForge Innovations and uncover the mystery behind Luna's kidnapping. The urgency of the situation pressed heavily upon them, but they knew that rushing in without a plan would only endanger Luna further. As they walked, their minds raced with possibilities and the daunting challenge ahead, determined to rescue their friend and unravel the corporate enigma surrounding her abduction.