Chapter 13: Elimination Round
Amphere Harrison
This is the first day of the Dragon Knight's Tournament. All two hundred and forty three dragon knights who registered in the tournament assembled in the main hall of the castle for the speeches of the ones who will supervise this tournament.
We are standing in line with our dragonoids. As I gazed on the mass of people, all of them are not just an ordinary dragon knight. I can sense talented individuals and even dragonoids from their postures. These are all my opponents. And I have to bring them down in order for the bill to be passed.
In the stage are thirteen seats, whereas the middle seat appeared to be more like a golden throne. The twelve seats on the sides of the throne are the seats of the twelve Generals, the highest officials of the empire. They are distinguished with their blue military tuxedo.
And on the center is a princess; a blonde fifteen-year old woman with blue eyes. She is wearing a delicate white gown and a golden crown which shimmers whenever it reflects the chandelier's light. Even from this line, I can see her elegance and innocence.
I looked at Airi, which seemed a little mad and serious like she wants to avoid eye contact with someone. From there, I scanned my surroundings and then I saw him. On the stage.
General Kyle Leviticus.
He still has this fierce cold glare at us. Even after two and a half years, he still looks the same, albeit his hair now a lot longer. I clenched my hand tight as I returned his fierce gaze. I should let him know that he will pay for what he did to Richard.
Our intense stare fight was interrupted when the emcee spoke loudly with his mic.
"Good morning, worthy Dragon Knights of the Academy! Welcome to the Dragon Knight's Tournament! This will be the golden opportunity for you all to be the Princess' Knight, the one who has the highest military authority in the whole empire.
There are two phases of the tournament. The first is elimination, and the second is the bracket battle. The elimination will be conducted today. After this briefing, you will be transported to the vast Ancient Forest."
There were some dragonoid maids that gives one metallic plate to the participants. When I got my own plate, I noticed that there is a screen on it that says "Shield not Equipped."
The emcee continued. "Those metallic plates are called Shield Plates, which absorbs incoming damage to the one wearing it. You have to attach it to your left chest for it to activate."
I did what the emcee said. It completely magnetized on my chest. And then, the screen changed. It now has a "100%" in it. So this is the newest technology to protect dragon knights, and it will be used to prevent fatal damage. But they didn't provide any for our dragonoids. This means Airi can still get hurt in this tournament.
"The rules are simple. Get your shield reach zero percent during the elimination and you're out of the tournament. Among two hundred and forty-three knights, the last sixty-four dragon knights standing will advance to the next round."
So this is a free-for-all battle. No. There is no such rule that prohibits an alliance with a fellow dragon knight. Then again, betrayal is a different story considering all of us are enemies at the end of the day. I should find someone trustworthy. That means I have to form an alliance with Rudolf as soon as possible.
"Let the battle begin!"
When the speech ended, we were brought to a cargo plane that flew to the vast Ancient Forest. Trees, trees, and nothing but trees in there. The actual size of it is about five kilometers radius. There's no doubt that looking at the forest from the plane window is utterly hypnotizing.
"Five minutes before discharge!" The captain said through the radio of the plane.
"Airi…" I muttered, covering my mouth with my hand. "I have a question, but it doesn't have to do with anything…"
"Say it." She smiled at me.
"…Just what is the Crimson Dragonfly?"
"…" Airi made a long silence. She hid her facial expression by bowing and staring her feet.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to. " I added. It is a trivial matter, and I don't expect her to say everything to me. I wanted to test her loyalty and credibility.
"…It's nothing for you to be concerned off… I totally promise!" Airi gave off a fake smile.
"Thirty seconds before discharge!" The radio said.
It's time to break the gloomy mood. I don't want myself and Airi processing those trifling matter, so I completely changed the topic. "Are you ready?" I burst out a smile to my adorable dragonoid. She smiled back as lovely as possible.
"Totally!" She raised both of her fists. "How about you!?"
"Let's do this!"
As soon as the platform opened, knights and dragons jumped off the plane. We are about four hundred meters above ground, and no one wears a parachute. But we have our dragons beside us.
"Activating Vesryn Pulse!" Several voices merged in the air. The people who have jumped off had their body glowed with light as their dragonoids transformed into seven-meter tall lizards that can fly!
Airi and I jumped together as our hands hold each other tight. We are still having a free fall, but the dragons around us have been battling as soon as they got out of the plane. There are blue fireballs, spiky missiles, and giant boulders hurling towards each other. I know we wouldn't survive this in this state, so I readied myself to conduct the Vesryn Pulse. But Airi immediately opened her mouth.
"I have a plan, Amphy! But you have to trust me, totally!"
Whatever her plan is, I completely trust her! As soon as I nodded, she pulled me to her side and projected her wings. Then her wings covered our whole body! It is a familiar scene. This is her "Metal Cocoon" technique!
The gravity of the planet pulled us faster, leaving the wild projectiles avoided. A sudden clatter echoed, signaling our safe landing in the forest. As she opened her wings and let go of me, I fell to the ground. I feel like my word is spinning…
"Let's not do that again…" I whispered to myself.
97%. This Shield Plate is so strict. I never suffered from physical damage, but our landing must have been so hard that it removed three percent of my shield.
"Are you okay? Like, totally?" Airi helped me get up. I replied with an empty smile at her. Then she smiled back at me obliviously like nothing happened.
As my dizziness fades, I realized that faint shadows of six people surrounded us.
[Dragon Knight's Tournament Participants = 243 -> 169]