Chapter 61: Airi’s Upgrades

Amphere Harrison

The morning sunlight thrusts upon my face, its warm rays gently coaxing me to wakefulness. Just like any regular morning, it feels familiar, comforting. Today is Sunday, a day without classes, but it brings a different kind of urgency. The Semi-Finals of the Dragon Knight's Tournament await, and I must rise promptly to prepare. Though my weary eyes yearn to stay shut, punctuality is ingrained in my very being.

Amidst my groggy state, I glimpse an enchanting face through a hazy blur. Her passionate red eyes lock onto mine, and I can feel her breath caress my cheeks. Our noses nearly touch, creating a scene reminiscent of a tender moment in a romantic movie, where two souls are on the verge of a kiss. But before I can comprehend the situation, I instinctively react, delivering a swift karate chop to the forehead of this mischievous intruder!

"Uwa!" Airi utters a quick yet endearing cry. "Amphy just hit me again! I thought my newfound womanly charms would win his heart, but it seems I was mistaken!"

I sternly respond, "Enough nonsense; let's get prepared," as I coolly remove my upper shirt and head to the shower room.

Under the embrace of the warm sprinkling waters, my thoughts swirl like a tempest. What did those priestesses do to Airi? Her behavior has become more impish, attempting to steal a kiss while I slumber. Did their rituals tamper with her mind? Yet, amidst her mischievous nature, I find solace in knowing she's still spirited and safe. Despite her antics, I cherish her as she is.

Finally, the water ceases, and I turn back around only to encounter the unexpected - Airi stands before me, completely naked, sharing the confined space of the shower room! My cheeks blush crimson, and my jaw hangs open in astonishment.

After her bold suggestion, "Would you want to do it in the shower? Totally!" she promptly answered her own question.

However, without hesitation, I delivered another karate chop, leaving her silent for the next two hours.

We finally arrived at the coliseum, with Rudolf on the wheelchair and Kyrie being the first to greet me. They were also the witnesses of our transformation, and their expressions held a mix of amazement and confusion.

"W-Wow!" Kyrie was clearly taken aback. "Your body is a lot sexier than before! You look like those top models the internet talks about!"

Rudolf's comment had a different focus, as he referred to me. "I understand Airelina's transformation because of the Cathedral Exa's priestesses. What I don't understand is your behavior, Amphere. You keep hopping around… As if you're a moron."

"W-Well…" Airi quickly interjected, speaking on my behalf. "Duchess Carousel teased him again for being a boring character, so he's trying a new gimmick… totally." She forced a smile, seemingly embarrassed for my sake. Hey, I'm not the only one who's unique here! Airi has her quirks too!

Since Airi's revival, almost eighty percent of her has changed. Not only has her body matured, but her mind seems to have been tinged with a sense of adult mischief. There's an intriguing aura around her, especially when I slightly attempt to synchronize our heartbeats. Richard mentioned that her magical prowess would drastically increase upon her resurrection, and this round of the tournament will be the perfect test for that.

"Welcome to the semifinal round of the Dragon Knight's Tournament!" The emcee's booming voice echoed through the coliseum, inciting wild cheers from the enthusiastic crowd. "One of these glorious knights will have the privilege to be the Princess's Knight! Who will it be? Will it be the unmatched wits of the student council president, Reina Fleuret? Or the pseudo-general magic canceller, Mark Anthony Octavius? How about the hero of the Twilight City Siege, the lawyer-knight, Amphere Harrison? Or will it be the plebeian's choice and skillful swordsman, Cleru Neos? We're here to find out!"

The large screen displayed the randomizer, without any climactic effect, revealing the first and last matches to be conducted this morning. "The first battle will be between Mark Anthony Octavius and Amphere Harrison!"

I couldn't help but feel a tinge of uncertainty. This isn't the best matchup for me. I'm quite confident about fighting Cleru Neos. Reina Fleuret would put up a good fight, but in the end, I believe she'll support the Dragonoid Rights Bill anyway. However, now I find myself facing the challenge of taking down a General-level dragon knight, which means I'll be up against someone of Kyle Leviticus' caliber.

Mark Anthony Octavius is a curly-brown-haired man with an impressive physique. In the classroom, he's rumored to be a match for Reina's intelligence. As the current salutatorian of our year, I expect this battle to be intense and hard-fought. He wields a steel halberd with a short sword on the edges. His dragonoid, Abigail, exudes an ancient Greek fashion, draped in a pure white robe that accentuates her alluring, curvy body. Sword and shield are her weapons of choice.

With the emcee's final declaration, "Let the battle begin!" the loud buzzer signaled the commencement of the duel, setting off a frenzy of cheers from the crowd as they passionately rooted for their favorite contenders.

Amidst the thunderous cheers, I couldn't help but cringe at the overly enthusiastic cheerleaders, each wearing a letter to spell out my name as they danced with pompoms. "L-O-V-E!" followed by a provocative pose. "A-M-P-H-E-R-E!" Another alluring pose. "H-A-R-R-I-S-O-N!" Their antics were utterly embarrassing, making me wish they'd tone it down a bit.

The clash of blades between Mark and me intensified as we both charged forward. As a single sword wielder in the moment, I found it challenging to block and parry Mark's relentless attacks. His graceful spins and masterful manipulation of the halberd made it nearly impossible to gain an advantage in a one-on-one fight. He was fast, but it was his sheer strength that proved to be his most formidable asset.

Recognizing the need to stay defensive, I watched anxiously as my shield plate chipped away bit by bit. Mark executed three halberd pinwheels and five flips with ease until he finally found an opening. His dangerous lance smashed against the hilt of my photon saber, sending it flying out of my grasp. Now weaponless, I had to prepare for a potential stab to my chest.

"Maximum Clearance Authorized," a mechanical voice announced, and two gigantic arms emerged, blocking the halberd from piercing my shield plate. With a surge of determination, I decided to counterattack. I summoned two more mechanical arms using the power I borrowed from Airi, and they swiftly struck at my opponent. Mark's reflexes proved just as exceptional as his combat skills; he dashed backward, evading my additional limbs just in time. The ground cracked open, and a cloud of dust particles filled the air.

It felt odd to wield four Deus Ex Machina arms, a power perhaps inherited from Airi since I was merely borrowing her abilities. Richard had mentioned that upon her revival, a dragonoid's powers would become four times stronger. As I glanced over at Airi, locked in an intense swordfight with her opponent, I couldn't help but marvel at the changes she had undergone.

Our eyes met, and Airi blushed, playfully scolding me, "Don't stare at me like that as if you're undressing me, Amphy! Totally!" Her words brought a smile to my face, but I quickly refocused on the battle as she narrowly evaded a sword hack from her enemy. It was a close call, but I knew I could count on Airi's newfound strength and determination.

Richard might be right; it seemed that Airi's powers had indeed become four times stronger. As Mark saw my Deus Ex Machina deployed, he wisely decided to keep his distance, ordering his dragonoid to fall back. Both he and Abigail's chests glowed with a blue light, signaling their intent to activate a potent move.

"Activating Vesryn Pulse!" They declared in unison. In a dazzling display, Abigail's body transformed, radiating a golden light that morphed her into an awe-inspiring, eight-meter-tall humanoid dragon. This creature was unlike any other dragon, bearing a unique appearance resembling a human body adorned with black dragon scales. Its golden helmet bore a resemblance to that of the Chaos Dragon, and it boasted majestic Egyptian-style wings. Adorned in the armor of ancient Athens, the dragon wielded a massive golden round shield and a sword emanating a brilliant, ethereal glow. This was the magnificent Gladiator Dragon.

Beside me, Airi approached, and together, we faced the formidable creature with unwavering determination. Suddenly, she spoke up, her voice filled with excitement.

"You finally noticed that your Deus Ex Machina got stronger. That's because I'm no longer just a Futuretech Dragon... I evolved into a Chimeratech Dragon. Now, let's show them my new form, Amphy! Totally!"

Her words surprised me, but I couldn't let my shock linger for too long. With eagerness in my heart, I witnessed a radiant light envelop Airi's body.

"Activating Vesryn Pulse!" she announced, joining Mark in summoning her most powerful form.

As the coliseum quaked with anticipation, we stood together, ready to face the formidable Gladiator Dragon and whatever challenges this semifinal round of the Dragon Knight's Tournament would throw our way. With Airi's newfound strength as a Chimeratech Dragon, we were more than prepared to give our all in this high-stakes battle.