Dragon Knight – Arc I: The Lonely Knight
Chapter 1 – The Lonely Knight
Two years had passed since the day the wizard fell.
Two years since Strom punched his way through vengeance and stood victorious… only to lose everything else.
The villagers didn't see him as a hero. They saw the glowing Dragon Aura eyes and whispered:
"That's no hero… that's a monster in human skin."
Strom lived on the outskirts, in a wooden shack by a broken cliff. He barely spoke, barely smiled. Each night, the same nightmare: his mother's begging voice, Angela's hollow stare, the wizard's laugh.
"Even in sleep, I can't escape," he muttered, looking at his reflection in a pot of water.
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Chapter 2 – True Friend
The only person who believed in him was Sam, the quiet mage from the Slayer Tower.
"You can't keep isolating yourself forever, Strom," Sam said, setting down a bag of food.
Strom didn't turn to face him. "Everyone hates me, Sam. I'm poison."
"You're not poison. You're just… broken inside. People don't get it. I do."
Sam would bring food, news, and demon names for bounties. By morning, that demon's head would hang in the Slayer Tower—Strom's silent way of saying thank you.
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Chapter 3 – The Unknown Letter
It was a stormy night when a rock shattered Strom's window, striking him on the head.
"Ow—what the…" He found a note tied to it:
> "You will never escape your sins, monster. We will break you further."
Strom stared at it, sighed, and dropped onto his bed.
"Fuc# you, man… I'm going to sleep."
But sleep didn't come. He lay awake, thinking about Sam's words: "You're not poison… you're just broken."
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Chapter 4 – That Dark Night
The next day, Strom visited Sam's house. Everything seemed fine… until lightning struck, revealing a shadow in the bushes.
"Hey! Who's there?!" Strom shouted, but the figure vanished.
Before he could react, Sam's father and two knights rushed out.
"Get away from my house, monster!"
"Wait, I didn't—" Strom tried to explain, but the knights attacked.
Strom didn't fight back. He simply ran, his heart heavy.
"Even Sam's family hates me now…"
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Chapter 5 – The Phoenix
Strom wandered into the forest to clear his mind and found something unusual—a golden phoenix lying injured.
It radiated heat so intense the grass around it was scorched.
"You'll burn me alive…", he whispered.
But he didn't care. He carefully lifted the bird, its flames licking his skin, and carried it home.
For weeks, he cared for it until one morning, it spread its wings and soared into the sky.
Strom stood there, eyes following it until it vanished.
"Even a bird hates me enough to not look back…", he muttered, smiling bitterly.
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Chapter 6 – One More Letter
Another letter came, heavier than before:
> "If you want to see your friend alive, come to the execution grounds."
Strom clenched his fists, Dragon Aura flickering. "What now… who's doing this?!"
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Chapter 7 – The Hooded Man
At the execution ground stood a tall hooded man holding an enormous execution blade.
"Finally, the monster arrives," the hooded man mocked.
"Who are you?!" Strom barked.
The hooded man laughed and pulled down his hood—Jack, the wizard's son.
"Remember Angela? She begged for you to save her… oh wait, you failed."
Strom's breath caught. "You… you were there?!"
Jack smirked: "I was the one who handed her over."
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Chapter 8 – The Fake Angela
Jack lifted a glowing stone—the last remnant of the wizard's power—and his form twisted, reshaping into… Angela.
"Why didn't you save me, Strom?" the fake Angela whispered.
Strom froze. His grip on his sword trembled.
"Stop it… STOP USING HER FACE!"
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Chapter 9 – Relentless Blade
Jack—now Angela—moved like lightning, execution blade slashing so fast Strom could barely breathe.
He staggered, unable to strike back.
"Why won't you save me, Strom?!" she cried, voice identical to the real Angela's.
Strom's eyes blurred. "She's not real… she's not real…"
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Chapter 10 – The Slow Punishment
Strom's aura flared violently. He roared: "You know what, bitc#? You're not Angela… and even she wasn't real!"
He stabbed Jack through the chest, the illusion shattering.
Grabbing the corrupted stone, Strom crushed it in his fist.
"Because of this stone… my childhood was ruined!"
He picked up Jack's own execution blade and slammed it on Jack's leg.
"Adding salt to my wounds? Here, take some yourself."
Jack screamed as Strom dropped the blade. "Stay down. Live with what you've done."
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Chapter 11 – The Last Meet
Strom went straight to Sam's house, covering his face.
"Thanks, bro… for trusting me and everything you've done for me."
Sam tried to reply, but a knight recognized Strom: "It's him! The monster!"
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Chapter 12 – The Cliff
Knights and villagers gave chase, weapons drawn.
Strom ran toward the cliff's edge and turned one last time:
"Love you all. I don't care if you hate me!"
He leapt.
For a moment, silence… until a blue barrier appeared, shielding him before he hit the rocks.
When the villagers looked down, he was gone—like a ghost.