Chapter 71: Princess Knight Captured!

Amphere Harrison

“I…lost…”

Cleru whispered. There was blood on the floor that keeps staining the brown sand. After three droplets from his forehead, he fell down lifelessly. But he’s still breathing, so he’s still alive. I checked my body for injuries and concluded that I was still unharmed. I was the last man standing in this very arena.

“Idiot.” I laughed slowly. “You won.”

That’s right. I was the one left standing, but Cleru still has 1% left on his shield plate. I guess the Martyrdom of the Plebeian made his body absorb my last fatal attack. I’m glad I didn’t overdo it, because I almost killed this peasant.

I checked the plate on my chest, which indicates a number in red font.

0%.

“The winner is Cleru Neos!” The emcee proclaimed out loud. The crowd went nuts. The princess held her chest and uttered a soft cry; tears of joy.

 My fans club cried with tears of ultimate sadness. All my friends in the academy; Rudolf, Kyrie, Richard, Reina, and others made a smile that says “It’s okay.” But there is once certain person who is not okay with the result. Duchess Corasell frowned and let a drop of her tear out of her eyes as she exited the coliseum.

I carried the now-awake Airi to my arms. She made a genuine smile at me as her soft hand touches my chin. “We’ll find another way. Everything will be okay, totally!”

In response, I stroke her head like a puppy. And then prepared myself to exit the arena when suddenly… There was a loud explosion!

As I turned around, one-eighth of the coliseum has turned into ashes! I gazed upon the skies, and witnessed a true terror. Ten…no, twenty airships with the sigil of the Neo Arcadia hovered smoothly above the arena! Those airships are completely armed with cannons and other artilleries that is used to make that suspenseful entrance!

The crowd went into a state of panic. Every duke and duchesses; every civilians ran for their lives that it caused a stampede. The eleven generals circled themselves to protect the princess. They guided her  and got out of the scene.

Several dragon knights activated their Vesryn Pulse and they flew with their dragons to combat with those war airships. Neo Arcadia might be on the offensive, but they lack firepower to wreak havoc or kidnap the princess. Dragon knights completely got the upper hand in this situation.

Not until the Black Phantom made its appearance. It was Alder’s corpse again, I suppose. He was riding Emy his Ice Dragon. He dived from the stratosphere, zigzagging, completely ignoring and evading all those dragons who tried to attack him. Before we know it, he already landed on the center of the arena and grabbed the unconscious Cleru Neos to his shoulders.

I was about to act but Airi is on my arms. Also, obviously, I’m beat. I can’t use dynamos or Deus. I can’t even carry a sword in this position. My muscles hurt. Rudolf and Reina acted on my behalf as they jumped down and prepared their sword to slash the zombie phantom but then the corpse raised the violet heart thing he’s been holding and shouted.

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“DRACARYX!!! Activate Time Freeze!”

And in an instant, the Black Phantom, the Ice Dragon, and the new Royal Knight were no longer there. They totally vanished! That zombie should’ve stopped time to have the chance to escape. The airships are noticeably retreating, so that only concludes one thing: They are not here to declare a war nor assault the princess. They are here to kidnap Cleru!

“Darn it!” Rudolf grunted. How does it feel to be trolled by the man you killed, huh?

General Holster and his ninja wife went to our position and explained the condition. “Aside from the explosion earlier, this situation is under control. The airships are retreating. Looks like they ‘blew’ it! Hahahaha!”

“But they got Cleru Neos.” Reina calmly said, ignoring the general’s explosive joke. “We can’t have them take the new Royal Guard, whatever their reason is.”

“She’s right.”

It was the princess’s voice, who is currently panting. I guess she ran all the way here and escaped from her body guards. But it doesn’t matter, a general and a pentagram knight is here so she’s completely safe.  The princess walked slowly to me and genuflected as if I was treated as a king or something. She’s embarrassing me in front of my friends and colleagues!

“Sir Amphere Harrison… I’m asking you to bring back Cleru… I’m not asking as a princess…but as his childhood friend. I shall do what you wish if you fulfill my only request.”

“I would gladly take up on that request, milady.” I answered. “But as you can see, I lack the power to fight them at this condition. Airi lacks the strength right now, so we can’t chase them with my dragon.”

“Leave it to us!” Richard said. “I know someone who can help you fight!”

I don’t know, but I feel that Richard is trying to act cool in front of the princess. He swiped his finger on the thin air with stylishly fabulous manner. Reina just made a facepalm as she watched her lover overexerts himself to look chivalrous. 

A portal emerged, and a figure of a beautiful shrine maiden emerged. Her blonde hair danced throughout the air as she made an entrance in this space and time. The glowing orb on her forehead gives of radiance to the one who witnessed her arrival. It was the most powerful dragonoid, Exceria.

“I’ll help too, Amphere~” Exceria smiled with a blush. “I’ll do my best!”

“Don’t you dare call my husband in his first name! Totally!” The incapacitated Airi yelled. I thought strength finally left her when we used Dracaryx. I was totally wrong.

I stared at Airi, trying to telepathically tell her what I wanted to do. But since she’s in human form, telepathy wouldn’t just work. But when Airi met eyes with me, the message in my brain has been completely relayed. She crossed her arms and looked away.

“Fine, you can use Vesryn Pulse with Exceria. I’m an understanding wife after all.” When I replied a silent smile to her, she finally looked at my face. “Geez…totally…”

I slowly landed Airi, who is able to stand up, apparently. Jasmine the Rainbow Dragonoid is able to walk to our place too. It seems that they are both slowly regaining their energy.

“I-I’ll help too. Cleru is my knight. I-It’s my duty to keep him safe.” Accidentally, Jasmine fixed a stare on the other beautiful shrine maiden. “E-E-Exceria? W-What are you doing here?”

“I’m helping to save your knight, apparently…” Exceria gently scratched her cheek. “Leave your dragon knight to us, Jasmine. Just stay back and rest.”

They seem to know each other. They wear the very same shrine priestess dress after all. Maybe they came from Cathedral Exa. Maybe Jasmine knows about H.G. too. And maybe she knows something about the Eye of Deus. But I’ll save that for later. We still have a peasant to rescue.

“Are you ready?” Rudolf asked everyone.

General Holster, Rudolf, Reina, and me. Iris, Kyrie, Richard and Exceria (Substitute dragon for Airi) The whole Chevalier Unit; whose job is to track down Arcadia is finally here. Four elite knights shall take down those warships and redeem the new Princess Guard.

The four knights held their chest with their right hand and shouted altogether.

“Activating Vesryn Pulse!”