All Chapters of Rune System: The Crimson Knight: Chapter 21
- Chapter 26
26 chapters
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Quickly, you fools! Catch her!” Draàl’s eyes slowly peeled open, followed by a low groan that escaped his throat. He raised a hand to shield his aching eyes from the ruthless brilliance of the scorching sun, struggling to remember how he’d ended up outdoors in the first place. “Close her down! Don’t let her escape!” The loud voice reached his ears again, carrying the same urgency as the first time. He managed to get up to a sitting position, frowning when his head finally stopped spinning and his eyes regained their sharp focus. “Where the hell am I?” Draàl muttered. A vast meadow stretched out before him, with an army of green, glimmering blades of grass waving obediently to the gentle breeze. Up above, the cloudless sky proudly exhibited an uninterrupted shade of blue, with the sun taking its place high in the middle. Somewhere off to his right, Draàl could hear running water tinkling softly; an indication of a nearby stream. As he rose to his ba
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Across the stream, the towering cluster of trees shook as a terrifying roar echoed from behind the woods. Then a massive creature shot into the sky, its wide wingspan temporarily blotting out the sun. Wide-eyed, Draàl flinched as the dragon—covered in red, metallic scales—unleashed another deafening roar as it hovered above the gathering. It had barely landed when three individuals jumped off its back, sprinting at the alarmed men. The first person wore a dark blue tunic, cinched at the waist with a loose belt. Her long, dark dreadlocks swung behind her as she ran, and when she moved her hands, water from the stream obeyed her gestures and lashed out at the men like giant tendrils. The second person—a rather young man, most likely in his twenties—charged with two daggers in his grip. Wearing a dark-green leather costume, he confused the men he attacked with words he uttered, disorienting their minds as he beat them with impressive combat skills. But it was the thir
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“My lord, you’re awake.” Draàl ignored Valeria’s vain observation, maintaining his position at the tall, forward-leaning windows at the corner of the bedroom, overlooking the beach outside. The mid-morning sun was up and radiant, its rays reaching easily into the room as well as leaving a glimmering effect on the waves of the dark blue ocean below. Seagulls hovered above the sandy shore, squawking in numbers as they gathered to hunt. Somehow, the peaceful, scenic view of the coast was the complete opposite of the raging, stormy emotions that plagued Draàl within. “I was beginning to think you suffered from having too much wine last night,” she continued with a faint laugh as she breezed into the room. “I know I did, but the hangover was so worth the trouble. You know…” She moved until she stood close enough to trace her fingertips softly on the taut muscles of his upper back and shoulder, feeling the heat of his pale skin. Whispering gently, her voice issued out w
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Huh,” Draàl uttered as he thoroughly inspected the empty room, which stretched farther than Valeria’s ballroom. Metal sheets lined every inch of the surrounding four towering walls, save for a rectangular section, high above the ground on the north wall, that had reflective glass instead. Despite its underground location, the room seemed well ventilated; cool, in fact. “Impressive, is it not?” Zha’irah asked lightly. “Not exactly the word I was going for, but that’s not far from the truth, either.” Draál stood still, peering at the large vents that lined both sides of the ceiling, over forty feet high. “How did you know about this place?” “Valeria’s Rune System, as effective as it is, is not made for warfare,” she explained. “So it is not unusual for her to have an arena where she trains and hones her combat skills.” “Yes, but…” Draàl looked up again. “We’re in an oversized bunker that’s hidden several meters underneath her mansion. Yet, somehow, you happen
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“You can’t be serious.” Draàl was still in denial, running his eyes over the robot before him in an incredulous manner. “If you could possess another body, why’d you choose to stay cramped in my head?” “As your guide, I am meant to be with you at all times,” Zha’irah replied patiently. “Tagging along as a second body would only act as a deterrent to your quest. Besides, the only reason I can control this device is because of the heavy residue of rune aura around it, no doubt from Michael Craig.” “How convenient.” Although still astounded, Draàl had mostly calmed down, studying the neon-blue eyes of the machine that stared back at him. “So you’re my guide and my trainer.” “Apparently.” Then, without as much as a brief warning, she charged at him. Despite appearing rather bulky and heavy, the android moved swiftly and lightly. If it weren’t for Draàl’s quick reflexes, he would’ve received the first blow squarely in the face. He ducked, sidestepped, blocked,
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Ugh,” Draàl groaned, wiping his lower lip with the back of his hand. “This makes no sense.” “I beg to differ, Lord Draàl,” Zha’irah opposed as she retracted the missile launchers into her shoulders. “It makes perfect sense to me.” Draàl gave the android a grim stare. “We’ve trained for three days, Zha’irah, and each day we’ve been at our necks for several hours. And every single time it looks like I’ve got the upper hand, you pull out a trump card from nowhere that knocks me out.” “Just like I did now, on the fourth day,” she gloated. Then, on a more serious note, she added, “Perhaps the fault is not from me—perhaps it is from you.” Draàl rose to his feet, sweeping aside his hair, which had spilled freely over his face and shoulders after the leather band finally broke from the last attack. “Feel free to tell me how any of this is my fault.” “You keep fighting like you know me, like you are aware of everything I can and cannot do. Yet, you fall when I su