The piercing sound of the siren has been relentlessly ringing in my ears for what felt like an eternity. My head is throbbing, and my nerves are on edge as I watch people frantically rushing in every direction. Chaos has erupted, and the once peaceful atmosphere has turned into a scene of panic and chaos. Our tour guide is leading us through a narrow pathway, but it's not enough to contain the stampede. The pathway is overcrowded with people pushing and shoving to escape, making it difficult to move forward. I'm scared and disoriented, hoping that I make it out of this alive.
"Hey, Amphere!" It was my friend, Rudolf. "Let's go around, I found another exit a while ago."
We quickly made a decision to separate ourselves from our panicked classmates. My companion, whom I trust, led us through a series of turns: right, right, left, and then right again. The hallways seemed to twist and turn in a maze-like manner, and I had no idea where we were. However, I trusted my companion's instincts and followed him closely, hoping that we would find a safe place to hide. The adrenaline was pumping through my veins as we ran, trying to escape the chaos that had erupted in the building.
As we were making our way through the narrow hallway, I gradually slowed down, my breaths becoming more labored with each passing second. My lack of stamina was starting to show, and I had to stop and catch my breath several times. I am not an expert runner and this situation was already taking its toll on me. Suddenly, there was another loud explosion, and debris from the ceiling began to rain down on us. In that instant, I lost sight of Rudolf as a large chunk of debris separated us.
"Go!" I shouted at him. "I'll find another way out!"
"I'll be calling for some help! Just hang in there!" He shouted back. The sound of his footsteps was my cue that he was already dashing away.
As I turned away and began to run, my heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The panic and chaos of the situation made it difficult to see and think clearly, but I knew I had to keep moving. Suddenly, I felt a force collide with me, causing me to stumble and nearly lose my balance.
"Uwaaaa!!!"
Our head collided, and we both fell down.
"Geez, totally! Look where-!!!"
As I turned around, I came face to face with the red-haired woman I knew - Airelina Frembell. But she looked different from the last time I saw her. Her hair was tied up in a black bow that resembled dragonfly wings, and she was dressed in a sleek leather armor with a shiny chest plate, carrying a short sword that glinted in the dim light. I was surprised to see her in this outfit, which was far from her usual attire.
"A-Amphere!? What are you doing here!?" Another person came up. It was Richard. He was still wearing his leather coat and he is carrying the same sword as Airelina.
My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to come up with a plan. The thought of being taken hostage by these terrorists made me break out in a cold sweat. I looked around frantically for a way out, but there seemed to be no escape.
As Airelina drew nearer, I couldn't help but notice the fierce determination in her eyes. She looked like she was ready for battle, with her black bow and leather armor. I was taken aback by her transformation, never having seen her like this before.
"You have to get out of here, like totally!" Airelina helped me stand up. "Now!"
What? Aren't' they going to make me a hostage?
"Damn! We can't blow this power plant with a civilian involved!" Richard grunted. "Come follow us! We'll get you out of here!"
My heart was racing as Airelina pulled me along. Her grip was firm and urgent, making me feel like I had no choice but to follow. My mind was in a frenzy as I tried to process the situation. These people were terrorists, but they seemed to have a code of ethics? They claimed they wouldn't harm civilians, but how could I be sure?
As we ran through the dark corridors, I couldn't help but think about the last power plant explosion. It was true, there were no casualties reported, but it still caused a lot of damage and chaos. What if this time was different? What if I was caught in the crossfire? The thought made me shudder with fear.
As we walked deeper into the power plant, the sound of our footsteps echoed off the walls. The dim lighting cast long shadows on the ground, making it difficult to see where we were going. Finally, we reached the heart of the power plant - the main reactor. It was a massive room with a ceiling so high it disappeared into the darkness above. The reactor was encased in a giant glass tube, which gave off a soft, eerie glow. Inside the tube was a shining orange diamond that seemed to pulse with energy - the radiation crystal that was the main source of power for the entire plant. It was both mesmerizing and intimidating to behold, and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if it were destroyed.
As we cautiously descended to the lowest level of the power plant, a sense of foreboding began to gnaw at me. And when we arrived, the sight that greeted me was nothing short of a nightmare.
In the dimly lit room, rows of glass capsules lined the walls, each one housing a single figure. But they were not human, they were dragonoids. The wires attached to their chests were plugged into the floor and led towards the center of the room, where the radiation crystal glowed ominously. And the tubes in their mouths were connected to a transparent tank filled with a viscous, foul-smelling liquid.
The dragonoids were motionless, lifeless, like mere machines. It was a sickening and horrific sight, and I could feel my stomach churning as I tried to comprehend the enormity of what was happening in front of me.
"I'm sorry about this sight, Amphere. But this is the truth. Humans use us dragonoids to produce electricity. You humans treat us worse than livestock. You humans treat us like disposable slaves…" Airelina made a sorry smile at me. But there was a blazing anger on her crimson eyes.
The big brown man Brow rendezvous with them a short while later.
As the capsules opened, the stench of sweat, vomit, and other bodily fluids filled the room. The dragonoids inside were emaciated, their skin clinging tightly to their bones. They looked like they had been malnourished for months, or even years. Some of them had bruises and scars on their bodies, and their eyes were hollow and lifeless. It was clear that they had been treated inhumanely.
Brow and Airelina carefully removed the tubes and wires from the dragonoids' bodies, while Richard helped them wake up. The dragonoids slowly opened their eyes, blinking as if they had been blinded by the light. Some of them groaned in pain, while others cried out in confusion and fear.
Airelina knelt down beside one of the dragonoids, a female with green scales. She placed a hand on the dragonoid's shoulder, and the creature flinched at her touch. Airelina spoke to her in a soothing voice, trying to calm her down. Richard and Brow were doing the same with the other dragonoids, helping them stand up and supporting them as they stumbled around.
It was a heart-wrenching sight, to see these intelligent creatures reduced to such a pitiful state. The anger and sadness I felt was overwhelming. These people, or rather dragonoids, didn't deserve to be treated like this.
"Let's go to the underground entrance before the dragon knights come!" Brow said in a panic.
With a loud boom, the reinforced steel ceiling shattered into tiny pieces as the light of the sun flooded into the room. In the midst of the dazzling light, a majestic figure slowly descended, hovering in the air before our astonished eyes. It was not just any creature, it was a magnificent white dragon, with six magnificent seraphim wings, each feather shining like diamonds in the sun.
As the white dragon touched the ground, its enormous wingspan creating a powerful gust of wind that blew debris all around us, I noticed that it was wearing a helmet made of gold. And then, to my surprise, I saw a man sitting atop the dragon, his silver hair shimmering in the sunlight, dressed in a flowing black cloak adorned with the sigil of the Dragon Knight - a sword and wings.
"Dragon Knight Kyle Leviticus…" Richard muttered. "And his Angelic Dragon."
The growl of the white dragon reverberated in the power plant, causing the ground to shake and the glass tubes to rattle. The sound was so deafening that it felt like the dragon's wrath would bring the whole place down. Its eyes glowed with fury, and its seraphim wings flapped powerfully, sending gusts of wind in all directions. The sheer presence of the dragon commanded respect and fear, making everyone freeze in their tracks.
Sir Kyle Leviticus, the legendary hero of the 3rd Dragonoid War, was widely renowned for his unparalleled bravery and compassion. He was revered by all, dragonoids and humans alike, for his unwavering commitment to peace and his exceptional fighting skills. His loyal dragon companion, Elumina, was equally famous for her incredible strength and her fierce loyalty to her beloved rider.
I had been an ardent admirer of Kyle since my childhood, reading all his magazines and books, dreaming of following in his footsteps and becoming a Dragon Knight myself. His name had become synonymous with heroism and selflessness, and he was a source of inspiration for countless people across the land.
"Airelina, go!" Brow shouted. Airelina nodded and led the way for the rescued dragonoid to escape using the underground path.
The silver-haired man landed gracefully on the ground, his steps deliberate and measured. As he approached, his presence seemed to loom over us, radiating an intense aura of power and authority. The air around us grew heavy with tension, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. His eyes were piercing, like shards of ice, and seemed to bore into my very soul.
But before I could react, Richard moved with lightning speed, grabbing me and pressing his sword against my throat. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized that I am now a hostage, caught between the dragon knight and the terrorists.
"Don't you dare move! I have a hostage!" Richard said to the dragon knight. Then he whispered to me. "I will never hurt you. Just play along so we can all be safe…"
The moment the dragon knight unsheathed his slim sword from behind his black cloak, time seemed to slow down. The glint of his blade caught my eye, and before I knew it, it was already piercing through my chest. I braced myself for the searing pain, but it never came. Instead, I felt a cold, numbing sensation wash over me. As if in a trance, I looked down to see the tip of the sword protruding from my chest, but there was no blood or wound. Confused and disoriented, I tried to comprehend what had just happened, but before I could even gather my thoughts, Richard, who had been holding me on his back, collapsed to the ground, blood gushing out of his mouth. The sight was terrifying, and my mind raced with questions about what kind of magic or power the dragon knight possessed.
The Dragon Knight calmly looked at Richard's dying body, as if it was just a piece of trash on the ground. His eyes remained cold and merciless, with no hint of remorse or regret. I could feel his aura again, it was powerful and intimidating, almost suffocating.
The knight passed through me like I was air. He then said "Elumina, take care of the civilian. I can handle these terrorists by myself!"
The white dragon's body shimmered with bright light, causing its massive form to gradually diminish in size until it transformed into a stunning woman. She had long golden hair that flowed down her back, and she was dressed in an elegant white princess's robe. Her eyes glowed with an intense crimson hue, and there was no mistaking it: she was a dragonoid. My mind was racing with questions, the foremost of which was how she could allow her knight to kill one of her own kind without batting an eyelid.
"You bastard!" Brow used his assault rifle to shoot hundreds of bullets at the knight, but the knight effortlessly dodged all of them by sidestepping, spinning, and waltzing like he was dancing in the wind.
"A….Amphere…cough!"
Richard's hand was cold and clammy, and his breathing was shallow and labored. Blood was seeping through his chest and staining his clothes. His eyes were dimming, but he was still looking at me with a mix of pain and regret. Despite the agony, he was trying to speak, but his words were barely audible.
"Promise me… You…will…protect…Airelina…promise me…"
The warmth of Richard's hand in mine slowly dissipated as his life slipped away. His eyes, once fierce with determination, now lost their spark as they dimmed and faded into nothingness. I felt a sense of dread and sorrow welling up inside me, as I realized that he was truly gone. The weight of his loss was like a heavy stone in my chest, and my heart felt heavy with the burden of grief.