Prologue

As I approach the entrance of Duchess Corasell's grand manor, I can't help but feel awestruck by the sheer size of the estate, spanning a massive half square kilometer. Its labyrinthine hallways and numerous rooms are enough to leave any first-time visitor disoriented and lost within minutes.

Following the luxurious red carpet, I soon discover that it leads only to the main office of the esteemed duchess. Along the way, my eyes are drawn to the myriad dragon statues, standing guard like ancient sentinels. Two colossal beasts flank the entrance stairs, while one stands vigil after each door, alternating on either side. It's clear that the sigil of this house is a golden dragon silhouette against a rich red background, proudly displayed throughout the estate.

As I continue to wander through the hallways, I can't help but wonder which door leads to the rest room. The ornate decor of each room is both stunning and overwhelming, each vying for my attention with intricate tapestries, gilded furniture, and sparkling crystal chandeliers.

Beside me, the butler stands tall and regal, his dragonoid features making him an impressive sight to behold. It's clear that Duchess Corasell values and respects the dragonoid race, as evidenced by the fact that all of her household assistants are of dragonoid descent. The warmth and kindness that emanate from this place make it clear that it's more than just a manor - it's a sanctuary for all who enter.

"State you name." The butler asked me. He glared me with his red eyes, maybe because of some suspicion. This butler is an old man with white hair and mustache.

"Amphere Harrison, Dragon Knight 3rd Class."

"It's not obvious that you are one of those glorious dragon knights." He said. This guy is grinding my gears.

"If you don't want to believe me, you can return me back to the academy immediately."

I'm slightly pissed that a dragonoid like him thinks lowly of me.

As I trailed behind the butler, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the grandeur of the manor. The walls were adorned with magnificent paintings, and chandeliers glittered overhead like diamonds in the sky. But my amazement was short-lived as we arrived at a towering wooden door, the likes of which I had never seen before. Its massive frame seemed to dwarf the butler, and the intricate golden dragon sigil that was molded into it only added to its intimidating presence.

With a creak, the butler slowly pushed open the door, revealing a tidy, unremarkable office. Bookshelves lined the walls, and a simple wooden desk sat in the center of the room. But my attention was quickly drawn to the young girl seated behind the desk. She couldn't have been more than twelve years old, but she exuded an air of regal authority that belied her tender age.

Dressed in a glamorous pink gown that looked like it had been plucked from a fairytale, the young duchess had a face that was childlike yet strikingly beautiful. Her hazelnut brown hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, and her eyes sparkled with an innocent curiosity that was both charming and disarming.

"Is this the dragon knight Sir Wraith recommended to be my bodyguard?" the duchess asked the butler.

The butler bowed in a gentleman-like manner and said. "Yes, milady."

"You must be Sir Harrison." She stayed on her seat, ticking her fingers on the table impatiently. "I requested the Dragon Knight Academy for a temporary replacement to my Dragon Knight, which is currently ill. You will have to stay here for one or two weeks, until my Dragon Knight fully recovers." That lady is just as arrogant as I know her from rumors.

"I-It will be an honor for me to protect you, milady…" I bowed.

"Yeah, it is! You should be proud of yourself just by letting you disgusting dragon knights inside my office!"

I already concluded that I will never enjoy working in this place.

"By the way, where is your dragonoid?" the duchess asked curiously. "Aren't you supposed to come with your partner?"

"P-Partner?" I stuttered.

Oh, dear! How could I have been so foolish? My heart sank as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been so caught up in my own thoughts that I had completely forgotten about my trusty dragonoid companion. She had wandered off to buy some fish pancakes in the bustling square, and I had left her there alone over half an hour ago.

I cursed myself for my carelessness, fearing the worst. Would she be able to find her way back to me in this labyrinthine manor? Or worse yet, would she be accosted by some unsavory characters in the crowded streets?

"She's doing some errands, and she should be here in any minute…" I forced a smile.

"Well then…" The duchess cooled herself with a brand new pink fan. "Sebastian, please tour him inside the mansion."

"Yes, milady!" the butler bowed again.

My heart skipped a beat as a thunderous boom echoed through the air, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground beneath my feet. It was as if the very earth was quaking in terror. The deafening roar of the explosion seemed to reverberate through every nook and cranny of the manor, filling me with a sense of dread and unease.

I looked around frantically, my eyes darting left and right as little pieces of debris rained down from the ceiling like a sinister shower of confetti. The sudden blast had caught me off-guard, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed.

For a few tense moments, I stood there frozen, unsure of what to do next. Should I run for cover? Call for help? Or simply wait and see what would happen next?

As the seconds ticked by, the dust began to settle, revealing the destruction that the explosion had wrought. Cracks spiderwebbed across the walls, and chunks of plaster lay scattered across the floor like broken puzzle pieces. It was clear that whatever had caused the blast was powerful enough to wreak havoc on the manor's sturdy structure.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and braced myself for the worst. Whatever lay ahead, I knew that I would have to face it head-on.

"W-What was that!?" the duchess shrieked.

With the sound of the explosion still ringing in our ears, we raced down the hall, our footsteps echoing against the marble floors. The grand hallway seemed to stretch on for miles, lined with intricately carved pillars and adorned with priceless works of art. The air was thick with tension and the smell of smoke, making it hard to breathe.

As we neared the end of the hallway, the scene that unfolded before us was one of chaos and destruction. Four guards, their faces contorted with fear, were firing their rifles at a mysterious figure cloaked in black. He wore a magician's hat and a white mask that obscured his face, adding to his ominous aura. The guards' bullets bounced off him harmlessly, as if he was shielded by some dark magic.

But the real horror lay at the feet of the cloaked figure. Several dragonoids lay writhing on the ground, their bodies pierced with deep wounds that spewed crimson blood onto the pristine floor. The sight of their pain and suffering was enough to make my blood boil.

And then, without warning, the cloaked figure drew a golden rapier from his waist and charged towards the guards, ready to strike. It was then that I knew I had to act, to protect the innocent and defeat this evil force.

The cloaked man's golden rapier glimmered under the chandeliers, its sharp point aimed straight at the chest of the first guard. Without hesitation, I lunged forward with lightning speed and intercepted his strike with my photon sword. The blades collided with a resounding clang, sending sparks flying in all directions.

As we pushed against each other, I could feel his immense strength, like a raging storm trying to overpower me. His enigmatic aura was palpable, sending chills down my spine. I gritted my teeth and pushed back with all my might, determined to hold him off.

Our swords continued to clash and ring out, each strike more forceful than the last. It was like a deadly dance, with our bodies moving in perfect synchronization. The air around us crackled with tension as we fought with everything we had.

But I could sense that this was no ordinary opponent. His movements were too fluid, too precise. There was a grace to his strikes that belied his ruthless intent. I knew that if I let my guard down for even a moment, I would be done for.

"Heh!" the masquerade smirked. "Judging from your uniform and your impressive reflexes, you are a dragon knight!"

I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and adrenaline. This was a duel between two dragon knights, and it was not something that happened every day! As we circled each other, the sound of our swords clashing echoed through the hall.

I observed the masquerade closely. His movements were swift and fluid, like that of a panther. I could tell that he was a highly skilled fighter. But I wasn't about to back down. I raised my sword, ready for the next move.

Suddenly, the masquerade lunged forward with incredible speed. His rapier glinted in the light as he aimed for my chest. I barely had time to react, but I managed to block his strike with my photon sword.

The impact was intense, and I could feel the reverberation in my arm. The masquerade quickly retreated, and I took the opportunity to catch my breath. I could see the determination in his eyes, and I knew that this fight was far from over.

"Now let's see if you can block this!" He shouted.

The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the hall as the cloaked dragon knight lunged forward with his shining rapier. His movements were lightning-fast and his thrusts were extraordinary. Hundreds of golden streaks flew through the air, and I did my best to parry and block the onslaught, but it was a struggle to keep up with his speed. The sharp tip of his rapier managed to scrape my cheek, my left leg, and my right arm, leaving stinging wounds in its wake. If I didn't act fast, I knew I would be caught off-guard and killed.

My hand instinctively went to the second photon saber hidden on my back. With lightning reflexes, I drew it out and used it to deflect the cloaked dragon knight's rapier to the side. With my right sword, I made an uppercut slash that sent his rapier flying, disarming him. He jumped backward to evade my third hack, then retreated to a safe distance.

As I caught my breath, I realized that my heart was pounding in my chest. The adrenaline was pumping through my veins, and my mind was racing with strategies to defeat this formidable foe. The cloaked dragon knight seemed amused by my counterattack and clapped his hands in appreciation, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Bravo, mister dragon knight! Truly splendid! This is the first time I've seen someone like you!"

I took a deep breath and glanced at the masquerade, who was still laughing. I could feel his enigmatic aura emanating from him, and it was as if he was daring me to continue the fight. But I knew better than to fall for his tricks. I learned from my dragon knight training to stay calm and collected in every battle, even in the most dire situations.

As I sheathed my photon swords back on my back, I could see the duchess and the butler looking at me in awe. They were clearly impressed with my swordsmanship skills, but now they seemed confused as to why I was no longer pointing my swords towards the enemy. However, I knew that the masquerade was just toying with me. If he wanted to defeat me, he would have done so already.

I held up my fists, ready for close quarters combat. As a knight, it was my duty to fight fairly and honorably. And with my heightened strength and agility as a dragon knight, I was confident that I could take him down without my swords. But the masquerade merely chuckled and said, "Well played, Dragon Knight. But the real fight has yet to begin."

I knew then that this was far from over. The battle had only just begun. I just kept my silence and tried to act cool and collected.

"I see. You're not the talker type." The masquerade was pertaining to me.

"Who are you!? What do you want!?" Duchess Corasell shouted.

"My apologies, young duchess." The man held his magician hat making a mystery pose. "I am the infamous Black Phantom. I was hired by a mystery man to bring your head to his office."

"Tell me, who is your client!" the duchess shouted with more passion. There is a hint of ferocity on her voice.

"I'm sorry madam, that's not part of my job. My job is to KILL YOU!!!"

As we stood in the room, the walls suddenly trembled and shook violently. Cracks appeared in the concrete, and before we could react, a colossal white claw burst through the wall, ripping it apart with ease. The room was flooded with blinding light as debris and dust filled the air. I shielded my eyes with my arm, but I could still make out the outline of a massive creature beyond the hole in the wall. The claw was at least twice the size of a human arm, and as I peered through the gap, I realized that this was no ordinary animal. It was a seven-meter tall, white lizard-like creature with shimmering, ice-like scales that reflected the light in all directions. Its massive arm was covered in frost and seemed to be made of pure, solid ice. It was then that I understood that this was an ice dragon, a legendary creature said to be capable of freezing entire armies with just one breath.

Without hesitation, I scooped up the duchess in my arms and leapt out the window. My heart raced as the wind whipped past my face and the ground rapidly approached. But my training as a Dragon Knight kicked in, and I deftly adjusted my body to land gracefully in a nearby bush, cushioned by its soft leaves and branches. The duchess let out a gasp of surprise, but I could tell she was grateful for my quick thinking. The butler scrambled after us, his body scratched and bruised from the impact of the jump, but thankfully nothing too serious.

With the grace and agility of a skilled acrobat, the Black Phantom made a swift move and retrieved his rapier. In one swift motion, he jumped and climbed the ice dragon's back, reaching its head. The ice dragon was massive, and as it began to flap its wings, it gained altitude, taking the Black Phantom with it. The dragon's wings created a deafening sound as it lifted itself higher and higher into the air, leaving a trail of frost and icy mist in its wake.

The guards frantically aimed their assault rifles at the rampaging ice dragon, unleashing a barrage of bullets in its direction. The sound of gunfire echoed throughout the room, but it was soon drowned out by the deafening roar of the dragon. Despite the hail of bullets, the dragon's thick scales seemed impervious to the weapons, barely leaving a scratch.

With a malicious gleam in its eye, the dragon gathered a ball of ice in its mouth and hurled it towards the guards. The frozen sphere hurtled through the air, leaving a trail of frost in its wake. The unfortunate guards who were caught in its path didn't stand a chance. The impact of the ice ball sent them tumbling to the ground, where they quickly became encased in solid ice, their features twisted in terror and pain. It was a grisly sight, one that left the surviving guards pale and trembling with fear.

"Bye bye, Duchess Corasell!" The Black Phantom laughed as his dragon charged another ball of ice in its mouth.

The ball of ice hurtled towards us like a deadly comet, leaving a trail of frosty mist in its wake. I could see the glint of malevolence in the Black Phantom's eyes as he gleefully watched us struggle. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the gravity of our situation. There was no way to dodge the ice ball with the duchess in my arms, and my mind raced with possible courses of action. But in that moment, all I could think was, is this how it all ends? Will my life come to a sudden, cold stop here, in the clutches of this evil mastermind and his ice dragon?

"Hyaaaa!!!"

Suddenly, a blur of red streaked across the sky, descending rapidly towards us. As she neared the ground, I could see that she was a woman with fiery red hair, clad in a tight-fitting suit that hugged her curves. She landed with a graceful and powerful kick that deflected the ice ball back to the dragon, causing a massive explosion that shook the ground beneath us. The dragon, taken aback by the sudden impact, stumbled backwards, its wings flailing in the air.

The woman turned to face us, her eyes gleaming with a fierce determination. She was a warrior, that much was clear from the way she carried herself - confident, strong, and unyielding. Her suit was adorned with a variety of gadgets and weapons, all carefully designed for combat. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I was grateful to have her on our side.

"W-Who are you!?" The duchess asked, now being dumbstruck because of the turn of events.

With an alluring smile playing on her lips, she gazed at us with her enthusiastic crimson eyes, radiating with joy and excitement. She confidently placed her hand on her curvy hips, and a charming blush spread across her face, giving her an air of both arrogance and allure. The way she carried herself was so familiar, and it dawned on me that I knew her more than I knew myself.

"I'm Airelina Frembell, Amphere's adorable dragonoid! Totally!"