CHAPTER 83: LAST PENTAGRAM KNIGHT

XENON WINGATE

PRESENT DAY - INTERROGATION

I tightened my grip on the electric chair where I’m tied up. With the memories I just recovered, I have revitalized the wrath that has been felt by me for the last eight months. This burning sensation of my heart wanting to kill the people on my list grew larger as seconds go on.

[Alphonse Faradeiss and Z where mind-controlled. Kevin Valesmith was captured, and his dragonoid Rius was executed. Danielle Keine died during the fight against Sakuradrop but his wounded dragonoid Nathaniel sacrificed his own life so that she could live again. All of those happened when you were doing nothing, but sit the whole day at the hospital, doing lovey-dovey stuff with your dragonoid Serena. You’re such an aloof dragon knight for your caliber.]

The interrogator told the words I don’t want to hear. His words are true, and I admit that I have failed to protect the people who are dear to me. Being not able to do anything while your friends get hurt and die was the worst feeling in the world.

“That’s why I decided to continue the Pentagram Knight Challenge again, to challenge the last dragon knight that will test my strength.” I sighed.

Suddenly, the hologram globe presented an image of a man with an even black spiky hair. He is at the very same age as Kevin Valesmith, his height is the same as a regular adult, his skin full of battle scars, and his body as bulky as a boxer. He is the last Pentagram Knight I challenged.

[Jerick Fachias. The dragon knight is known for being skilled in all types of battles. He may not be as talented as the other Pentagram Knights, but he is the most technical and skillful in terms of combat.]

“Jerick Fachias is Kevin Valesmith’s best friend. They both have known each other since their days in the military academy, and he is said to match each other in terms of combat. I have seen him spar with Kevin back when my first year in the Dragon Knight’s Academy.”

[Continuing to challenge the Pentagram Knights, what were your purpose at that time? Is it for revenge?]

“No, it is not for revenge.” I exhaled smoke from my mouth. “I promised Serena that I will no longer seek for that. My sole reason for taking up the emperor’s offer again is to save my friends. Alphonse, Z, Kevin. I want them to be back on their home.”

[You’re lying, Xenon. All of those are still for revenge! You lied to Serena. You lied to yourself. Deep inside your heart, there is still the tingling sensation of rage towards Eldritch and Trystgade.]

“What choice do I got?” I scoffed. “Eldritch wanted to dominate the world! There is no other way but to kill him!”

[Your past actions are contradictory, Xenon Wingate. You can’t lie anymore. I have seen you act on your own selfish ambitions just to satisfy your own selfish sense of justice. There was never a time you wanted to save the world. You just cared for your revenge, nothing more, nothing less.]

“What do you know about me, huh!? Why are you so sure!?” I growled. “You talk like you fucking know me!”

[It is because I know you, Xenon Wingate. I have known you for a very long time. More than Serena. More than Alphonse or Danielle or Kevin. More than Eldritch or Trystgade. I am with you the whole time.]

I can’t believe it. I don’t have any clue about the true identity of this interrogator. I am aware of the people around me all the time, but I still have no valid guess on who is holding us up. I have to hurry and get out of this place. They still have Serena. I need to rescue her from the hands of these bastards.

[Let’s proceed with recovering your memories. Start from the day where you challenged your last Pentagram Knight, Jerick Fachias.]

The hologram globe spun rapidly, making bluish-white sparks that sprinkled around this dark room. My eyes became sore as the computer sphere unleashed an explosion of white light.

<>

6 MONTHS AGO

I’m here again, for the fifth time, in this wide old fashioned arena. The morning sunlight of this Sunday shoved upon my face. The cheering of the crowd gave pain to my eardrums for the fifth and last time I’ll be setting foot in this battlefield. Even if this is the fifth time I’m doing this, the nervousness still never fails to get me.

I have never lost a Pentagram Knight Challenge so far, and I don’t intend to lose now. Time is not my friend here. I need to rescue Alphonse, Z, Kevin, and Rius from their shackles. I need Alterra’s troops now. The more time I spend idling here, the more I became anxious. I have done nothing when they needed me most, so I have to do my best in order to rescue them from Eldritch’s hands.

The arena is still populated as ever, but the seats dedicated to dragon knights are almost empty. I have heard that almost half of Alterra’s dragon knights have been mind-controlled by Eldritch, and only a few escaped and told the tale. Emperor Sirius Elkyria and even the princess is here to watch my last fight against a Pentagram Knight. Even the four Pentagram Knights I have defeated on the previous battles are here to witness me complete the Pentagram Knight Challenge.

“Thank you for coming! I love you all! Please support the Dragonoid Rights Bill!” Serena gave out flying kisses for everyone as she pumped the audience. For this battle, she is wearing her usual combat kimono, and all her fans are awed by her beauty. 

Even I can’t help but be fazed by her alluring appearance, no matter what her clothes are. Ever since that precious night we spent together, I always see her as an ideal woman for my dream for the future. She’s now blooming on my eyes like a star that is capable of granting me all my wishes.

When she gracefully turned to me, her beauty made me all blushing. Her delicate face, her adorable eyes, her smooth hair; all of those things I love are in one person.

“Xen, let’s win this fight!’ Serena pumped her fists jollily with blush on her cheeks.

“Yeah! Let’s rescue Alphonse, Z, and the others!” I made a faint smile.

Suddenly, the platform at the center of the arena opened, revealing the last Pentagram Knight. A dragon knight who is wielding golden claws as his weapons, he looks like a tiger that is ready to leap on his prey. I have seen him before since he’s Kevin’s close friend. Jerick Fachias.

Beside him is a beautiful black-haired woman wearing a tight bodysuit. Her weapon is a set of mechanized iron gauntlets that unleashes steam on its wrists. The combination of her charming crimson eyes, white skin, mature face, and body makes her look more like a celebrity model on par with Serena. She is Jerick’s dragonoid and lover; Colly Fachias. This dragonoid has inherited her knight’s last name for they are married.

Jerick and Colly stepped forward, facing us, and we did the same. We stared at each other’s eyes with full willpower to win this fight.

“Good morning, Sir Jerick. Miss Colly.” Serena bowed. “We’ve met a few times, remember? But this is the very first time we will be fighting against each other.”

“It’s a great honor to fight against the most beautiful dragonoid.” Colly politely bowed in the same manner as Serena. “Let’s do our best in this battle.”

Meanwhile, Jerick Fachias have this serious glare at me. I can feel that he’s nervous too as his hands are shaking. He’s not nervous because of the fight, nor because he’s afraid to lose. He’s nervous about what happens after all this, on the uncertain future that awaits for the whole Alterra.

“Xenon.” Jerick finally smiled, but the flames on his eyes never faded. “Do you have what it takes to have the troops of Alterra under your command?”

“I don’t know,” I said with a carefree smile. “Even if I don’t win this fight and take over the Alterra’s army, I will still breach into Elysia and rescue my friends, including Kevin.”

Jerick’s eyebrows twitched when he heard his best friend's name. “Same here. I will still fight and raid the Elysian Castle even if you’re not going to win this fight. We’re at the brink of war anyway. The situation will not change much even if you win this Pentagram Challenge.”

“Then let’s do our best in this fight. No holding back.” I said as I offered a handshake.

Jerick maintained his friendly aura, but he didn’t take my hand. Instead, he made a demand that is all new to me.

“Going all out, huh? Let’s have a deal. Stop playing with your shield for once and get serious in this fight.” Jerick said.

His words astounded me, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Jerick is Kevin’s friend, so Kevin must have told him the true extent of my abilities. Only Kevin and Serena knew my true way of fighting, and I have never shown it since I became a dragon knight. I was stuck in using the shield as a weapon just to revitalize my dead friend’s memories in my heart. The shield is the symbol of my failed protection to my dead friends Alfred and Carlo, and I have been using it to remind me even up to this day.

Jerick is telling me to move on and get serious. He’s telling me that I should set aside the memories of my deceased friends and treasure the memories of my new ones. Alphonse, Z, Danielle, Nathaniel, Kevin, and Rius. They are my new friends, and I should be protecting what’s left of them and not lament on the past.

“Fine. We have a deal.” I answered with a smile.

“Good.” Jerick finally shook my hand.

We turned our backs to each other and made several steps away, like cowboys readying themselves in a duel. This is a duel in the first place, but instead of gunmen, dragon knights will be doing this glorious battle.

I spread out my left hand that is equipped with futuretech glove, and the glove reshaped itself into a revolver that is attached to my hand. My right hand grabbed a handgun from my uniform, and I checked the bullets installed in the magazine.

“Serena, let’s get serious for once,” I said. 

“Roger that, Xen~” Serena smiled as she forged a longsword and a round shield.