Chapter 69: The Finals

Cleru Neos

Let's forego our "extravagant" entrance for this grand finale of the tournament. There's nothing truly extraordinary, aside from the resounding trumpets, the dazzling display of fireworks, and the enchanting violin performance that precedes the game. Amphere's fangirls continue to be as exasperating as ever, while I find myself subjected to derogatory names once more, labeled a mere "garbage hobo." This day is no different from the other seventh days, where we engage in relentless combat until our enemy's shield plate is depleted.

The emcee persists in laboriously announcing our descriptions, affording me the opportunity to cast my gaze upon the elevated stage—the realm of the eleven generals and, notably, the princess, Seris. Her countenance reveals a mixture of nerves and composure, yet she wears a subtle frown, suggesting uncertainty about our shared plan.

Dragunov's desire for me to emerge victorious in the tournament and to thwart the passage of the Dragonoid Rights Bill is nothing short of troubling. His intentions remain inscrutable, even going as far as to issue threats of harming both the princess and me. However, I am resolute in my determination not to let another dragon knight take Seris' hand, nor allow Amphere to claim victory. My determination to defeat this cunning adversary intensifies with each passing moment of this imminent clash.

I understand Dragunov well enough to recognize that he yearns for conflict and turmoil. He seeks to elevate Amphere to the status of a Royal Knight, using him as a beacon to sway the dragonoids who remain unaware of the truth. Rumors suggest that Amphere vowed to support the Dragonoid Rights Bill, but without Seris' endorsement, all hope and trust in him from the dragonoids would falter. This would enable Dragunov to manipulate them easily, leading to a despairing rift between dragonoids and humanity, ultimately sparking another dragonoid war, which would undoubtedly line his pockets with riches.

Seris and I have devised a plan to counter this malevolence, yet we remain uncertain of its efficacy. My role is to stand as the princess' knight, while we firmly oppose the Dragonoid Rights Bill. I am indifferent to the possibility of war; all that matters is ensuring Seris' safety, my utmost priority.

"Let the final battle begin!" The emcee's words snap me back to reality. Almost forgetting the gravity of the moment, I prepare to face the most crucial day of my life, uncertain of what awaits me on the battlefield.

"Activating Vesryn Pulse!" Me and my adversary bellowed in unison. Jasmine and Airelina underwent their dazzling transformations, assuming the majestic forms of a Rainbow Dragon and Chimeratech Dragon, respectively. The sheer ferocity of their roars sent tremors rippling through the very earth.

This being the finals, there was no room for complacency or leisurely swordplay. We leapt straight into the fray, our dragons colliding head-on, poised to unleash a powerful Dracaryx attack the moment an opening presented itself. I was certain that Amphere Harrison, my opponent, shared the same strategy.

With a burst of crimson brilliance, the Chimeratech Dragon hurtled towards us, attempting to crush us with its formidable photon pincers. However, my Rainbow Dragon deftly evaded the attack, swiftly ascending into the skies. In retaliation, Jasmine released a barrage of eight elemental balls from her resplendent wings. The enemy dragon deftly dodged the fire, ice, water, earth, and electric spheres with boosted speed, leaving only a few projectiles to be obliterated by Amphere's dynamo-powered lasers. The Chimeratech then shot upward, breaking the sound barrier, signaling their intent for a head-on collision.

Undeterred, Jasmine and I pressed forward. In a daring descent, their dragon's reptilian head collided with ours, unleashing a tremendous shockwave that caused both majestic creatures considerable pain—an immediate and regrettable consequence. Seizing the moment, I leaped from my dragon's head, brandishing my radiant rainbow scimitar for a formidable slash at my foe. Amphere, wielding a luminous glass sword, promptly intercepted my attack, though I managed to force him a step backward. As I prepared to launch a powerful kick, he revealed a second photon saber, slashing it toward me. Swiftly, I evaded the attack, but his blade grazed my shield, inflicting a ten percent scrape.

Returning to my perch atop the Rainbow Dragon's head, I attempted to communicate with her. "How are you holding up?" I whispered.

"It's not looking good, Cleru. We underestimated the Chimeratech Dragon's steel head. I'll lose consciousness if we attempt that move again," Jasmine responded telepathically.

In the midst of our exchange, three photon balls suddenly materialized, chasing us through the air. My vigilant dragon banked sharply, avoiding two of them with a well-timed tilt. The final photon ball hurtled towards her, but I swiftly intervened, slicing it in half with a deft maneuver of my sword.

The battle raged on, and it became evident that our current tactics were not enough to secure victory. Amphere's Chimeratech Dragon boasted an impressive array of firepower and armaments, making it challenging for us to evade its relentless assaults. Furthermore, Airelina's exceptional speed only added to the formidable challenge we faced. To turn the tide in our favor, we needed to muster every ounce of power we possessed.

With unwavering determination, I made up my mind—it was time to unleash our most potent attack. "Get ready!" I urged Jasmine as she found her balance in the stratosphere. "DRACARYX!!! Activate Rainbow Road!"

In a breathtaking display, the Rainbow Dragon unveiled her resplendent, brilliantly colored wings, akin to a peacock revealing its mesmerizing plumage. As sunlight danced upon her magnificent wings, she released a torrent of roygivib-colored lasers at lightspeed, tearing through the air and annihilating anything in their path, including my formidable opponent.

Such a blindingly swift beam would be virtually impossible for the fastest dragonoid alive to evade. However, just before the dazzling laser could strike its target, the Chimeratech Dragon swiftly pulled her knight close, sheltering him beneath her metallic body. With remarkable dedication, she projected a spherical gamma-ray force field to mitigate the impact of my Dracaryx attack, though we all knew it would only lessen the devastation slightly. In a cruel twist of fate, she might even lose her life protecting her master in this very tournament.

An immense explosion erupted, enveloping the point of impact in a shroud of black smoke. As we anxiously awaited the outcome, Jasmine, now in her humanoid form with wings, carefully lowered me back to the sandy arena, her strength waning from the toll of her mighty Dracaryx.

With a resounding clank, a colossal spherical metal object crashed to the ground—a remnant of the Rainbow Road's immense power. The metallic shell collapsed, revealing two figures who, by all accounts, should have been utterly decimated by my most potent attack. To my surprise, Amphere emerged unscathed, while Airelina, his dragonoid companion, bore the marks of her wounds, with blood trickling from her forehead onto the dusty floor. Despite her injuries, a determined smile graced her face, an inspiring display of her unwavering spirit.

"Can you still fight?" Amphere inquired, concern etched on his face as he addressed his dragonoid companion. The spirited scarlet-haired maiden responded with an enthusiastic fist pump, dispelling any doubts.

"I sacrificed three of my Deus Ex Machina Arms to block the residue beams, so all I got here is a scratch on my forehead. I can still kick some ass, totally!" Airelina declared, her energy undeterred.

Amphere heaved a heavy sigh, relieved by her resilience. "I'm glad you're fine. Thank you for shielding me again," he expressed his gratitude.

With a bashful smile, Airelina replied, "It's a wife's job to protect her husband, after all. Totally!" Their affectionate banter momentarily captured my attention, but I quickly reminded myself that we were still amidst a fierce battle.

Suddenly, Airelina locked her determined gaze on me, her tone unwavering. "Let's show him the power of our love, Amphy!"

Amphere nodded eagerly, placing his hand over his heart. "DRACARYX!!! Activate Yggdrasil Fall!"

The air crackled with energy as the duo summoned their most formidable attack, the fusion of their love and power intertwining to create the awe-inspiring Yggdrasil Fall. I braced myself for the onslaught, knowing that the forthcoming clash would be nothing short of cataclysmic.

The enemy dragonoid ascended, revealing her mechanical wings and tail, a formidable sight to behold. She began uttering incantations, a necessary precursor to unleash their powerful Dracaryx. I knew I had to act quickly—if I could interrupt her chant, their devastating attack would be thwarted.

With Jasmine unconscious, I stood alone, but determination burned within me. I still possessed 80% of my shield plate, while Amphere had 57%. Stopping the Yggdrasil Fall could be the key to victory, and finally defeating him!

Without hesitation, I lunged forward, aiming my radiant rainbow scimitar at the scarlet-haired dragonoid, hoping to halt her chant. However, my intentions were foiled as a colossal mechanical arm smashed into me, sending me tumbling across the floor, rolling three times before I could regain my bearings. I quickly realized that it was the doing of a damaged Deus Ex Machina, covering her knight in a makeshift robotic titan—their last resort with only one arm remaining after my earlier Dracaryx.

"I won't let you touch Airi!" Amphere's voice reverberated with determination, his resolve unwavering.