Eternal Battlegrounds

The System Trigger

BEING GREETED BY A STRANGE PERSON UPON HIS ARRIVAL, Antonio was not at all surprised as he was having a day packed with surprises.

He opened his eyelids and again found himself standing in a Town Square. But, the architecture and the scenery around it were very different from the last one. Antonio saw semicircular arched windows, and doors of the buildings defining the architecture to be of a combination of Roman and Byzantine, otherwise known as the Romanesque Style of architecture.

A similar fountain was built in the center of Town Square. It was bustling with people, engaged in buying and selling commodities from the shops that were set up on either side of the city.

As Antonio was taking a look at the city, a whisper came into his ears. "You must come with me, tenth Dragon Knight. I have an important business with you."

Antonio instantly turned towards the direction of the voice and saw an unfamiliar figure standing beside him. He tried to recall what the person beside him whispered and he froze at the words 'Tenth Dragon Knight'. He had silver hair and his face was concealed by a mask, and only his black eyes were visible through it.

Antonio tried to calm himself a bit and then questioned the person. "Who are you and how do you know my profession?"

The person scoffed at the question and remarked coldly, "Listen, I am only giving you respect because I was asked to do so. And, who permitted you to ask something?"

Antonio immediately unsheathed the steel sword that was sheathed across his back and yelled in pure anger, "Oh yeah! And who permitted you to talk to me like that?"

Antonio tried to slash the sword to make some distance between the stranger and him. But, his thoughts were immediately put to rest when he felt a sudden pain on his left cheek and fell. The stranger was glaring at him with coldness in his eyes.

He kneeled on the ground and grabbed Antonio by his hair and directly gazed into the aqua blue eyes Antonio and mocked. "You are a weakling, aren't you?"

Antonio tried to loosen the grip of the stranger as he carefully assessed the current situation. "I know I am a weakling, but, just relying on my intelligence, I can formulate a strategy to come out of this sticky situation." He thought confidently.

The stranger released the grip on his hair and taking out another dagger from his scabbard that hung at his right thigh, made a deep cut into Antonio's left leg. It disabled any movement of Antonio. Antonio knew he was doomed, the moment his left leg faced a cut.

Looking desperately at the stranger, Antonio cried. "If you are Hector Romford, it's a great way to welcome me. You have to be Hector, and why are you doing this to me?"

The stranger came forward and took off his mask revealing a perfectly shaped face. A pair of black eyes, sharp nose, chiseled jawline, and bow-shaped lips added to his looks. He looked at Antonio and explained calmly. "Don't worry; I am not the guy you are looking for. My name is Luke Norman, I am known as the 'Second Dragon Knight'. And my friend, you are the Last or Tenth Dragon Knight."

Antonio was frustrated and furious by the way he was pinned down by the stranger upon his arrival. Moreover, he was furious at himself for not being able to do anything to repel the attacks of the stranger.

Releasing Antonio from his grasp, Luke continued. "I don't have time or energy to explain everything to you. But, you must come with me to the city of Gelion and meet the First Dragon Knight as he has asked for an audience with you."

Antonio started laughing after hearing Luke and tried to stand up on his feet. "Watch yourself buddy; I am not yours or your master's slave to take orders from an unknown person. And, if the so-called first Dragon Knight wanted to meet me then, he should have come himself, instead of sending his servant." He commented.