Chapter 18: Exit of the Phantom

Alder Windstrafe

I was hardly catching my own breath when I woke up in this pitch black place. There is a lantern hanging in front of me which reveals a portion of this place. It seems like I’m sitting on a metal chair with my arms tied. I struggled, but there’s no way I can get away from this chair. My body’s so weak that I’m in the urge of sleeping again.

What happened? Oh…yes. When the tournament ended, I got electrocuted in the nape of my neck. I didn’t even have the proper moment to fight or flee. Looks like I’m too naïve for being a skilled assassin. I’m even naked as of this point.

From the look of this place, I know what scene I’m into. And I won’t have any chance to escape.

Interrogation. Torture. Death.

“Black Phantom…That’s what they call you.” It was from a microphone, making it impossible to recognize the voice. “You are also known as Alder Windstrafe of the Chevalier Unit. You surely have too many assignments to do. You also know almost everything about the Arcadia and the government.”

“…You surely know that I won’t feed you information…” I made my creepy smile. My gums are aching, and there’s blood dropping from my mouth. I am surely beaten up like hell.

“Let’s start from the beginning. Your loyalty…it belongs to whom?”

I never answered and kept my smile. After five seconds of waiting, they triggered something in the chair. Electric currents flow through my veins rapidly, making all my nerve cells engulfed in painful sensation!

“We already know who you serve. Duke Yuri Dragunov. Your foster father. He raised you to become a Dragon Knight. The Black Phantom’s motives are from the legacy of Duke Dragunov.” The interrogator said.

“Looks like you’ve done your assignments too.” I laughed like a crazy man. I didn’t mind having the blood form my mouth spurt all over the place.

“You joined the Chevalier Unit to gather information about the Duchess Marieflorine Corasell, Arcadia, and the government archives. You and your foster father wanted to kill the duchess so that the bill will never get approved by the congress. The Dragonoid Rights Bill that has been rejected and the murder of the duchess will immediately ignite a human-dragonoid war. Or more precise, a war between the empire and the joint forces of Arcadia and dragonoids. Then the Crimson Dragonfly, the secret weapon of Arcadia will once make its appearance. Duke Dragunov will capture the so called Crimson Dragonfly and will make it his own,  and seize the throne.”

A chilling sensation from my spine bursts out. I am awestruck by this leak of information! Just…who is this guy? How did he know everything!? I removed my smile and gritted my teeth.

“There is only one thing we don’t know about, and you and your foster father are the only ones who know about it. What is the Crimson Dragonfly?”

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I am planning on not answering but then the lamp swayed, giving me a glimpse of someone in front of me. It was an unconscious silver haired woman, who is sitting uncomfortably on the very same metallic chair. Her arms, feet and neck are shackled by metal chains.  She has been blindfolded, and her ears have cuffs. There are scrapes and wounds all over her body; a definite sign of torture.

“Emy!” I cried. “What did you do to her!?”

“What is the Crimson Dragonfly!?” The interrogator asked in an intimidating tone. “You have five seconds! Or else, your dragonoid will be fried with a five-thousand-volt shock!”

“Emy! No, no, no, no! Don’t do anything to her!” I shouted and cried at the same time. “I’ll tell you everything about the Crimson Dragonfly!”

Vanilla City.

Zac Schneider.

Airelina Frembell.

Arcadia.

Amphere Harrison.

I told everything to the interrogator. There was nothing left in secrecy. If everything I knew about the Crimson Dragonfly is the only price to pay for Emy’s freedom from this torture, I would gladly do it without a second thought.

Emy… She’s the only woman I love. She made me special. I am hers, and she is mine. Our bond, which has a compatibility of 99%, is the most precious treasure in my life. Some information about the monster Crimson Dragonfly is not worth keeping if it is all about Emy’s safety.

As soon as I finished my statement, the lights went in. Two people revealed their faces, and started to untie us in this metallic shackles. Emy… She’s still unconscious. So I carried her with my weakening arms.

“You are….the interrogators?”

Rudolf Azregon.

Kyle Leviticus.

“Good morning, Alder!” Kyle made his sarcastic smile. “It’s good to see you in one piece!”

Don’t make me laugh.

“Alder, you should rest again. I’ll be the one to carry Emy to the hospital.” Rudolf said with a fake grin.

Don’t make me laugh!

“There’s no way I’ll permit you to hurt my Emy again!” I gritted. I clenched my hand, ready to retaliate from these monsters.

They extracted information from me. They tortured me and Emy. They knew my identity. They knew who I really work for. There is no way I can have these people in front of me alive! I know that I’m unarmed and weak right now, but leaving this two be will create a lot more chaos!

“Oh, Rudolf. Seems like he wants to kill us. So scary.” Kyle said with mockery.

“Here is your golden rapier.” Rudolf revealed my sword on his waist and threw it to me, which I easily caught. “Bring Emy down and fight me. If you manage to kill me, you’re free.”

“I shall heal his wounds first.” Kyle said. “Heal!”

He pointed his palms to my direction and magical sparkling dust covered my body. All my wounds closed instantaneously, and my strength…I can feel that it’s surging through my body!

These guys are nuts. Rudolf is currently unarmed, and they wanted me to fight in full condition!? Don’t make me laugh. I’ll finish this quickly. I laid down the unconscious Emy and prepared my fencing pose. On the other side, Rudolf appears standing stiff and motionless.

“Hraaaah!” I bolted forward with a breakneck speed. My rapier glowed with yellow light as I targeted my enemy’s throat!

“Chaos Claw.” Rudolf whispered to himself. His two fists became covered with dark shadows, and shaped itself to a razor griffon’s talons! This…This is the power of ancient dark magic! I never knew he have this kind of overwhelming power!

It was so fast. He made a jab, directed to my sword. My golden rapier dissolved particle by particle! It looks like the shadow claws on his fist are devouring my sword! Once my sword is gone, his other fist came in and pierced through my heart.

I fell to the ground. Unable to blink. Unable to breath. My heart was completely eaten by the shadows of his dark magic. There was no blood. There was just a large hole on my chest.

“E….Emy…” I tried to reach out my hand to my unconscious love.

But I’m unable to.

It seems that this is the end of the line for me.

Now if I can only wish for one thing…

It would be Emy’s freedom.

[Alder Windstrafe – K.I.A]