Chapter 11: Mask’s Mystery

Amphere Harrison

The two dragons bashed their skulls with a glorious impact which made a small shockwave.

Because of Airi’s metal head, it is easy to predict that she will win this dragon headbutt. The ice dragon rocketed downwards suffering a serious damage. But the Black Phantom managed to jump away from his dragon and flew to me with a golden flashing rapier attack. I crossed my two sabers to block his glowing attack but he was strong! I easily lost my ground and got ejected from Airi immediately!

“Ack!”

I crashed to a rusted roof which immediately collapsed as soon as my body made contact in it. Now, I find myself in an abandoned old building. My fall was not even close to fatal but it’s enough to have my back hurt. I unintentionally swallowed a pebble so I spitted it out on the ground.

Then the masquerade landed on the very same room in an elegant manner using his magical cloak as a parachute. This is what they call a dramatic superhero entrance.

The masked man made a smirk and prepared a fencer stance. He’s wordlessly saying that we must continue our battle one versus one. I accepted his offer and held my sabers tight, in the very same parry stance. Then the two of us charged to each other.

Blinding scythes, glowing hacks, and violent barrage of stabs gave of echoing sounds in the room. Our sword made a lot of the talking. Because of my slight mastery on dual wielding which I practiced for days, this time, he was not able to make a scratch at me. His rapiers are faster than my sword, but there is no way I can’t block his attacks with two of my swords.

Instead, I managed to graze his outfit. I sliced his black suit which revealed a white uniform; the uniform of the Dragon Knight Academy. I didn’t get surprised by that. I continued to attack while he started to step back and try to get away with the fight.

The masked man’s sword glowed gold and then gouged it to the ground. A blinding flash emerged for a split second, and before I know it, he already made a safe distance from me. He must be annoyed with my continuous attacks.

But he smiled. “As I thought, your sword skills are better than mine.” Then he hid his rapier on his waist. “I can’t expect less from a knight trained by Arcadia.”

I bit my lip nervously. If he already knew that I’m with Arcadia, then I should finish him off before he could leak this information to the government. I can’t risk everybody’s safety. I was about to charge in but then he issued another revelation.

“Before we continue this battle… Let me ask you one thing. Do you even know your dragonoid?... Do you really know the Crimson Dragonfly?”

Crimson Dragonfly. This is the second time he spouted such nonsense. Maybe it’s just a battle tactic he’s preparing just to escape from my grasps.

“Maybe you should ask your cute Airelina. Then maybe you’ll change your heart about helping the Arcadia.”

He gazed in the skies as soon as he was covered with a gigantic shadow. It was a robotic dragon; a Futuretech Dragon charging an immense light particle ball on her mouth. The ball glowed as the electricity inside it intensifies.

It is a photon bomb! I can tell that she was furious on the masked man. She was emitting a terrifying gaze right now.

I-Is she serious? I’ll get caught in that explosion if that ever made a direct hit on the Black Phantom! This building…no, this deserted town will evaporate in an instant!

She launched the ball without thinking twice! Luckily, the ice dragon intercepted the projectile and covered the glowing bomb with all its body. Even its wings and tail were used in order to cover the gigantic orb of light.

Then a deafening noise and a dazzling flash occurred. As soon as it went out, a silver-haired woman fell down from the skies. The silver dragonoid didn’t utter any sound or cry. She was indeed unconscious and it is a mystery if she is still alive or already dead.

“Emy!!!” The Black Phantom cried as he went by her side. “Oh my gosh! What did they do to you!?”

I feel sympathy for him. Kneeling by his dragonoid’s side and holding her arms, it is indeed a touching bond between a dragon and a knight.

Airi landed beside me and then reverted back to her human form, but she kept her cybernetic wings and tail exposed. She snatched the photon saber on my right and then charged to the kneeling enemy! Airi’s rage… I don’t see anything that could result to her blood hunger. Her anger seems to be so prevailing that she could really thrash heartlessly.

“YOU TOTAL BASTAAARD!!!” She shouted with full rage as she thrust forward. “Don’t you dare poison Amphy’s mind!”

“Like how you poisoned Zac’s mind?” The masquerade stood up calmly. “You still remember him?”

“Z-Zac?” Airi stopped her assault. Her voice and her hands were trembling. Her eyes widened in shock upon remembering. Then she dropped the saber. Her willpower to kill faded. Then the masquerade laughed like a crazy man.

“…Kukukuk! You Arcadians really don’t care about humans you use for your personal ambitions. First is Zac. Then the duchess Corasell. And finally, Amphere Harrison. Don’t you have any conscience at all!? …CRIMSON DRAGONFLY!!!”

Then the silver haired woman got up and immediately jumped, and released ice shards to Airi! Being completely open, Airi got her shoulders, legs, and her wings speared by the sword-shaped icicles. The silver woman is good at playing dead!

“Ugh!” Airi uttered a painful cry as she backed out. She fell down on her back. This is not good!

I ran to check Airi. Slowly, the shards began emitting a freezing sensation on her body. She was now unable to move due to the shards hitting her pressure points. It looks like the two are not planning to kill Airi after all. They are just planning to paralyze her.

The masked man and the silver haired woman jumped a couple of meters backwards, and their chest glowed with a glimmering light.

“Activating Vesryn Pulse!”

The silver woman transformed into an ice dragon again. But now, she’s heavily flapping through the wind. She must be really injured by that photon bomb earlier. The masked man jumped to its head by ricochet jumping through the wall.

“Maybe you should think about what I’ve said, Sir Amphere Harrison. If you try to uncover the truth…who knows if you change sides.” Black Phantom arrogantly said. “Until then, adios!”

Then the masked dragon knight flew away like the very same last time. I can still fight and I can give it a chase but Airi’s condition is my top priority. I grabbed her weakening hand and she made a faint smile.

“That guy is crazy.” I uttered a forced smile.

“Hehehe…Like totally…” Airi said, with way less energy than she usually have. Her eyes closed and her smile faded as she completely fainted.

Her body was completely okay, and I think she lost all her energy by releasing her anger to the masked dragon knight. Though the icicle swords might slightly cause a problem because she won’t be able to move at all. I have to get Airi to the hospital.

As I carried Airi on my arms, the vague thought continued to trouble my mind. I’m now more concerned about Arcadia’s secrets. About the Crimson Dragonfly. About the man named Zac. And about the Acadia’s real objective.

I should uncover that mask first, before I trust his words.