Cleru Neos
There she sat, Princess Serenity Elkyria, perched uncomfortably upon her ornate golden seat atop the grand colosseum. Her eyes held a mix of amazement and worry as she witnessed the intense battle unfolding before her. Amphere Harrison versus Mark Anthony Octavius, the two contenders vying for the honor of becoming the Princess's Knight. But little did her fellow dragon knights realize that there was another challenge yet to come – the one I would face.
As the arena descended into chaos, the audience couldn't help but be captivated by the spectacle of this fierce confrontation. All eyes were fixed on the heroic Amphere Harrison, who had unveiled his trump card with a resounding declaration, "Overloading Vesryn Pulse!" His red eyes glared intensely at the gladiator knight, and in that moment, it was clear that he was a formidable adversary.
Suddenly, radiant light particles began to dance around the Gladiator Dragon's imposing form and Amphere's diminutive yet charming dragonoid. The two beings seemed to transcend their individual forms, turning into shimmering gold as they soared into the sky and merged together. The result was a breathtaking sight - the birth of an Ultimate Dragon. I had witnessed Amphere's Ultima Dragon in the previous elimination round, but this transformation was distinct. This time, only two dragons fused, leading to a magnificent creature with just two heads.
Amphere Harrison was undoubtedly a terrifying foe, for he had successfully turned his adversary's dragon to his side! The twin-headed white dragon roared with a deafening blast as it landed gracefully in the center of the arena.
In response, Mark could only muster an awkward laugh before conceding defeat. He dropped his halberd and raised his hands, acknowledging Amphere's victory. Turning to the tournament's emcee, he uttered, "I concede. I cannot bear to have my dragonoid Abigail fight against me. Amphere wins this fight."
The emcee blinked in astonishment, taking a moment to process Mark's words before announcing, "The winner is Amphere Harrison, the hero of Twilight City!" The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, their excitement reaching a crescendo at the culmination of this extraordinary battle.
The eruption of the crowd's cheers echoed through the colosseum, reaching a fever pitch as Amphere's fervent fangirls expressed their elation. Meanwhile, the opulent dukes and duchesses, known for their fondness of Amphere, raised their wine-filled glasses in jubilation. In the midst of this celebratory atmosphere, Amphere approached Mark with a genuine sportsmanship spirit, extending his hand for a shake.
"I apologize if it seemed like I cheated," Amphere humbly admitted. "But I had a compelling reason to win this fight. Without resorting to that move, I might have lost. You put up a remarkable challenge as a gladiator."
Mark chuckled once again, graciously acknowledging his opponent's victory. "I gave it my all to defeat you, but it wasn't enough. It was indeed an exceptional battle, and you truly deserve this win more than I do. By the way, those unique eyes of yours are quite intimidating."
Amphere blinked, and his eyes returned to their usual appearance. The twin-headed dragon radiated a brilliant glow before transforming back into two separate dragonoids, each belonging to their respective knights. With a nod of mutual respect, the former adversaries departed from the arena, forging a friendly camaraderie behind the scenes.
Now, the spotlight turned to me.
"The next battle will feature the esteemed student council president, Reina Fleuret, against the people's choice, Cleru Neos!" The emcee's voice boomed through the colosseum, signaling the start of the next enthralling duel.
Jasmine, my loyal companion, encouraged me with enthusiasm, pumping both her fists. "Let's give it our all, Cleru! Show them what you're made of!"
As I stepped onto the grand stage, surrounded by the electrifying energy of the crowd, determination surged within me. This was my moment to shine, and I was ready to prove my worth as a dragon knight. The colosseum awaited our clash, and I was prepared to leave my mark on this thrilling tournament.
Jasmine Fontaine, my loyal dragonoid companion, possesses an endearing charm with her short black hair, which seems to captivate the attention of numerous guys on campus. Always clad in a shrine maiden's outfit, a remnant of her past as a priestess in the revered Cathedral Exa, she exudes an air of innocence that conceals her astounding reservoir of magical prowess.
As I strode through the bustling arena, President Reina Fleuret made her grand entrance. The boisterous crowd roared, chanting, "Destroy him, Prez!" or hurling insults like, "Beat that plebeian's ass!" A stinging remark cut through the cacophony, directed at me, the plebeian with humble farmer's blood. Yet, I paid no mind to the taunts, for I cherished the sentimental value of my attire – a burnt scarf from my late mother and a well-worn black trench coat that once belonged to my father from our provincial days.
Drawing my rusty scimitar, and observing the president's short sword, we assumed poised stances, ready to engage in the imminent duel. Amidst the tense seconds before the start, my attention momentarily shifted to the princess, Seris, whose trembling hands betrayed her worry. Vowing silently, I whispered to myself, "I will be your knight, I promise."
The emcee's booming voice broke the silence, declaring, "Let the battle begin!" The buzzer blared, and the duel was underway.
Reina took the initiative, lunging forward with a flurry of fencing strikes. Unfortunately, a few strikes evaded my block, grazing my arms. Though the injuries were not severe, my shield plate suffered, already reduced to a mere 63% integrity. Time was of the essence; I needed to act swiftly, or risk losing the battle outright. Escape became my only priority!
Leaping and executing a graceful somersault, I skillfully evaded Reina's rapid blows. However, her actions heralded the emergence of a new threat. "Activating Vesryn Pulse!" she proclaimed, prompting her teenage dragonoid to transform into a majestic white snakelike Portal Dragon. Standing atop her formidable companion's head, she manipulated her fingers to create a rift in the very fabric of space.
In a daring move, Reina leaped into the portal, and almost instantly, a shimmering disk of light materialized half a meter behind me. Bursting forth from the portal with remarkable speed, she delivered a forceful thrust directly to my spine, causing my shield plate's integrity to plummet to a precarious 11%. Yet, just in the nick of time, Jasmine intervened, casting a barrier that deflected all of the president's subsequent attacks.
Recognizing the futility of her efforts, Reina retreated back to the portal and reappeared gracefully atop her dragon's head. Seizing this opportunity, I clutched my chest and summoned the power of Vesryn Pulse!
The sight of Jasmine's dragon form was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Radiating a mesmerizing beauty, her wings and body displayed a breathtaking array of colors – red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, violet, and blue – each brilliantly reflecting sunlight, bestowing an ethereal glow upon her majestic seven-meter-tall basilisk frame. She was the mystic Rainbow Dragon, a true marvel to behold.
Finally, my rusty scimitar was engulfed in a vibrant, multicolored aura that embodied all the magical elements of our world. This extraordinary power was a gift from the Rainbow Dragon, granting me absolute control over elemental magic – fire, earth, water, wind, nature, poison, thunder, and sound. With these enhancements, my sword could harness the full might of the elements.
Witnessing this dazzling display, Reina Fleuret wasted no time. She was ready to unleash her trump card. "DRACARYX! Activate Hyperspace Fury!"
As the portals materialized in the sky, casting an ominous shadow and blocking the sun's rays, a surge of blinding light erupted from their depths, hurtling toward us with incredible force. The situation unfolded so rapidly that I struggled to comprehend the imminent danger. Could this be the end of my journey?
In the face of this overwhelming assault, doubt began to gnaw at me. Had I come all this way, forged an unbreakable bond with the woman I loved, only to be easily vanquished in this crucial battle? Would I be forced to abandon the solemn promises I made to Seris?
Yet, just when hope seemed to wane, a familiar, painful shout pierced through the chaos. The voice echoed from afar, from the very stage where the eleven esteemed generals congregated, along with Princess Seris herself.
"...Don't lose, Cleru!"
The sound of Serenity's unwavering encouragement revitalized my spirit, infusing me with newfound determination.
Then, a deafening explosion engulfed the entire arena once more. Blood now adorned my head, shoulders, stomach, legs, and feet, while numerous scrapes and bruises adorned my body haphazardly. The pain seared through every fiber of my being, but I knew I had to persevere. The promise I made to the princess compelled me to endure, no matter the cost.
Emerging from the dissipating smoke, I beheld Reina Fleuret's expression, now tinged with dread and astonishment. My current condition seemed to leave her at a loss for words.
Unbeknownst to her, I possessed a unique bloodline magic known as Martyrdom of the Plebeian, a legacy taught to me by my father. This extraordinary ability enabled me to absorb the impact of incoming magical spells without causing harm to my shield plate. Sacrificing my own well-being for the sake of preserving the shield's integrity was the hallmark of this potent technique.
Though blood dripped from various wounds on my body, I refused to falter. Using my scimitar as support, I mustered my strength to rise again. Despite the pain and fatigue, the flames of determination burned fiercely within me. With just a mere 1% left on my shield plate, I knew it was not over yet. Surrender was not an option. I was resolved not to be defeated in this crucial moment.
Summoning every ounce of courage, I let out a resounding war cry, unleashing the battle cry of a warrior undeterred. With reckless determination, I charged headlong towards the formidable enemy before me, prepared to fight tooth and nail until the very end.