Chapter 26: Ghost of the Past
Amphere Harrison
Even though it was already midnight, the moonlight gives a clear view of the whole area.
I can say that this Black Phantom costume suit me better than Alder. This clothing is surprisingly lightweight while being fashionably formal at the same time. The leather shoes also have some cushion inside which makes it feel like I'm wearing regular running shoes.
But no matter how comfortable this costume is, I can't stay spying for a skilled Chevalier Unit Dragon Knight for five hours. I've been watching him from a distance for hours, and that didn't give me any information. So during the fifth hour, I tried peeking on the office to see what he's been studying.
Rudolf finally detected me. When he saw me on the window, I immediately ran like a ninja through the mini-forest at the back of their office. Rudolf didn't have any tolerance for creepy masked man, so he jumped out of the window and ran like an Olympian. He reached his broadsword from his back and then created a crescent slash! There is an invisible shockwave or air or something that cut through some trees! I evaded it by ducking while continuing my sprint.
He didn't give up there. He opened up his palms and projected floating mini-black hole on each hand, and then shoots it to my direction! One, two, three…. There is eight of it! Because of the whirling sound the projectile makes, I managed to evade the first five even without looking. Three dark balls remained. I finally decided to unleash the sword on my waist- a golden photon saber. I used my glamorous new sword to deflect all incoming black holes!
I cannot outrun him like this. I finally stopped running and decided to face my predator.
"Y-You…" Rudolf's jaw dropped. "Who are you!?"
"I am the Black Phantom." I said. My voice reverbs through the area. Thanks to this cybernetic choker on my neck, my voice won't be recognized even by my best friend.
"You're just a fake." Rudolf chuckled while preparing for a centered stance. "The real Black Phantom doesn't use that kind of sword."
Well, I don't have any comment for that. If he thinks that I'm fake, that will work on my favor. I hopped to the nearest branch, trying to flee again but with a blinding speed, he finally intercepted me! How…did he get so fast?
"I won't let you get away!" Rudolf said as he smashed his sword to me!
Luckily, my reflexes made me block the sword with my golden saber. But his strength is so unbelievable that it made my body shoot to the ground and leave a small crater. I was never hurt thanks to my shockproof costume!
"Are you…" Rudolf continued to ask. Darn, he's really an annoying enemy! "Are you the new puppy of Duke Dragunov?"
I see. So Rudolf knows that the Black Phantom and Duke Dragunov are connected. Duke Dragunov's theory must be correct then.
"General Kyle Leviticus is behind the killing of my foster…no, my son. "
Well, I might have to ask too. I slowly got up on my feet and looked upward, to the branch, where the Chevalier Knight was standing stiff. The full moon's rays shoved upon my shiny mask's face.
"It seems like you know who killed the original Phantom." I said with certainty.
"Original or not…" Rudolf clenched his fist. I have a feeling that he's not going to spill some beans. "I will not let any Black Phantom leave this place alive!"
Oh right, Black Phantom is a criminal. A murderer! If I got caught here, I'm dead.
Rudolf's whole body has been engulfed with dark flame-like aura. Some of the black particles compressed itself to Rudolf's arms and feet. There are some black smoke-like figures emitting from his back. "Chaos Claws." He muttered to himself.
So this is his newfound power. He inherited his dragonoid's witchcraft balls and now this diabolic aura power-up. Man, I wish I never agreed to the duke's proposal after all.
With a blinding surge, he swept his right claw to me! I evaded it with a side step and wrapped his arm with my bulletproof cloak. But the cloak dissolved in no time! But he didn't stop there! His left claw, now tightened, made a straight uppercut to my stomach!
But I have an extra protection that Rudolf forgot to bring. The Tournament Shield Plates.
Shield Plate is now 0%. Then the plate went off. Thanks to that Shield Plate which absorbed the incoming damage that I'm still alive by now. This Chaos Claw is terrifyingly dangerous! If I got hit once more, I'm done for!
I dashed backward, gaining a lot of distance from my best friend. This guy is seriously trying to kill me!
Suddenly…
There was a golden arrow-shaped streak that gushed just above my right shoulder. I luckily evaded that magical attack. It seems like I'm effectively using all the luck in my stash, but now all my luck is about to get depleted. That magical streak…I saw it before.
"Looks like you've hooked a big fish this time, Rudolf." Reina said. She was just right behind me, but there's a lot of space. She had her short sword pointed at me. "Now the Black Phantom will be finally unmasked."
Not just Reina. Kyrie and Eva are here as well. The four readied their weapons and magical projectiles as they surround and circle me. Great. What's my chance in surviving two Chevalier Dragon Knights with their Dragons? Negative fifty percent.
I have this distress button that can call Airi right away, but revealing Airi will be a losing cause. Airi's life will be in danger if I do that. I will never let that happen, even if I got caught here and get a deadly humiliating punishment in front of the empire's court.
But then…
"W-What the…" Rudolf grunted.
There was a circle of light where I stood, which glimmered throughout the area. Light walls emerged that covered my entire body and then woosh! There was a blinding light.
The next time I knew it, I was not in the Chevalier Unit's compound anymore. I'm now in the middle of the street, a few meters away from the Dragon Knight Academy. It seems like I've been forcefully teleported here. And I'm grateful to that.
But who did that? Who saved me?
In front of me, is a familiar young adult man wearing leather armor. His black long hair and his crimson red eyes made me realize that a miracle is certainly possible, but yet unbelievable, in this world.
"You…Richard?" I cried in surprise.
It is Richard Astherson, the dragonoid that was killed by Kyle Leviticus about four years ago. There is a little difference from what I remembered from his appearance. There is a blue tattoo on his forehead that resembles the omega sign. There are floating balls of light on each of his shoulders.
"I see that you've grown a lot stronger, Amphere." He smiled at me.
"R-Richard…" I was about to approach him but then he raised his hand.
"I'll be going now. Please continue to protect Airelina. Take care."
Then there was a circle of light on the same ground where he's standing. It was the very same light that transported me away from danger. As soon as his body was entrapped by the cylinder light wall, a dazzling light flashed again.
And he's gone.