Tale of the Fang Knight: Masked Knights, #2

By CD McMillon

They work on the shadows.

Protecting the city from monsters.

But can they be trusted? Who in the shadows can you trust?

 

In Alkimine city an ancient ritual takes place every few decades. Monsters take to the streets and heroes harness the power of mythical creatures to battle them. However, this time it's different. A new group takes the stage using data on animals to enhance themselves these new Knights join the fray. As the chaos grows and unscrupulous groups go after the prize a new extra Knight enters the battle as well. In this battle between thirteen Knights only one can claim the prize. As factions form and alliances are made, the world shakes as these Monstrous Knights take the stage.

 

A secret group known as the Sci Ops have researched the Knights and created their own group. Among them is Takumi Kamuta designated as the Fang Knight. Standing as the lone wolf of his group he rarely likes to work with others mostly deciding to fight on his own. As he watches he becomes curious of the identity of Draco Knight. Wanting to uncover his secrets and find a potential ally in their fight. As he goes on, he discovers a secret group of Knights who are seeking the Primevils and trying to steal away their power. Seeking a way to end the chaos Takumi seeks more allies and hunts for the secrets of the Primevils.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CD McMillon
• Release date: Oct 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201209377

CD McMillon

A nerd since the first time I played an arcade game. The progeny of a family a teachers trying his hardest to not follow in the family footsteps. I grew up reading and playing games mostly JRPGs with a strong emphasis on story. Originally I wanted to write comic books but I could never make that work. And after falling back into fanfiction decided to write my own original stories. And from there I ended up like any other wannabe writer. I write both Novels and Web Novels, while also striving to make YouTube videos. I keep myself busy and I'd like you to follow me on this journey as I try to fill the time in-between now and when I meet the grave. And if your wondering "How come he's not showing his face?" Well I just don't want to. So enjoy these various Avatar images I've plastered on my social media instead of actual pictures.

Book preview

TALE OF THE FANG KNIGHT

by CD McMillon

Ch.1: Special Operations

"Fang, come in. Do you have the target in range yet?" A voice echoes out in my earpiece.

I press on it. I’m almost there. The damned thing had to show up in the middle of the freaking city.

"I can understand the frustration. But we should count ourselves lucky that the thing isn’t moving around or causing trouble for anyone."

"I’m just annoyed I have to wait in the car with the old man. Why can’t I be out there?" Someone else says.

"We’ve been over this Scale. Takumi’s abilities are more suited for infiltration than yours are. Just get over it already, and keep the chatter to a minimum we’re on a mission."

"Right."

I sigh and press on the mic again. I’m moving in now. I’ll only transform if need be.

"Understood good luck." He says as I walk into the dark alley.

Another day, another mission. The last time this happened, it was a false alarm on a lead for Astrum. Or more likely, they had already caught wind of us and moved to another location. It’s an annoying little game of cat and mouse, but if there’s a chance, we can catch them I guess it’s worth it.

All of this started a few months ago for me. I saw some monster and before I knew it, some dudes snatched me up in black suits the next day. They ran some tests and then I was asked if I wanted to take a job. Since it paid way more than my last job, I said yes and now I’m running around the city chasing after bad guys and more monsters. Of course, it couldn’t be so simple.

My actual job is being a Knight or an Armored Combatant, as the boss likes to say, but on paper, we’re Knights of a type. It’s supposed to tie back to some ancient order or ritual or whatever I didn’t pay all that much attention to. But I’m a Knight, Fang Knight, to be specific. My partners are my fellow Knights, Anura Knight and Scale Knight.

I walk down the alley into a parking garage. Inside there’s not a single care, just a dark, empty place. But there are skid marks on the ground, signs someone was just here, and that they left in a hurry. We probably just missed them again. But there’s something on the ground, some kind of residue leaving a trail to the higher levels.

Reporting. I’m seeing no signs of them. Looks like they left as soon as they finished up here.

"Okay. Pull back and let’s regroup."

I can’t. I stare at the ground and notice footprints in the ground. They didn’t take it. Looks like they did something, but the target is on the move.

"They didn’t kill the monster this time? Then what the hell are they doing?"

No clue. But we can’t let the Primevil get away.

"Alright. Just be careful and don’t take any risks, understood?"

You’ve been on me for the past few weeks.

"Of course, he is. You got your ass beat before Christmas. He can’t help but be a little concerned about the big softy."

I was blindsided from above while in the middle of a fight. I could’ve handled it if I wasn’t surprise attacked!

"Just be more aware of your surroundings."

Roger.

At first, our job was simple and then we came across them, Astrum. A group of Knights like us who’re causing chaos throughout the city. At first, they were believed to be the source of the monsters. But that was disproven after we finally contained and take one down. That’s when we learned of the Ritual taking place in this city.

In the middle of all of this, I found him, Draco Knight, and his friends in the Magique. Apparently, they're some type of wizards or something, the ones who invented the Knight’s System we use. And they are using the city as a staging ground for some magic ritual involving these monsters. These three Draco Knight, Fae Knight, and Fiend Knight are now our highest priority targets. And what makes matters worse, somehow Draco Knight knew my name.

I follow the trail of what looks to be slime to the highest floor of the parking garage. That’s when I see something having dug itself into the concrete as if it's trying to bask in the moonlight. A giant plant sitting in the middle of the area trying to absorb the moonlight.

Preparing to engage the target, I say into my earpiece.

"Be careful Takumi. We don’t know what this one can do. And we do not know what they did to it."

I nod. I will be.

I pull out a metal device I call a gear and place it on my waist. A belt launches out of the thing and wraps around my waist. I pull out a small data chip and slide it into the center of the device, and then press a button on the side.

"Authorize Wolf!"

A field surrounds my body before collapsing on me and, in a flash of light, I stand in my armor. I am the Fang Knight. And I won’t let this thing, whatever it is, beat me!

I rush forward, bearing my claws as the plant twists and morphs around before taking on a humanoid shape. It swings around and a vine line whip shoots out of its newly formed hand, striking out towards me. I slash at it with my claw, cutting it off as other vines come in from the opposite side.

I duck underneath and continue my approach, slashing at the base of the plant only to hit nothing. It formed legs and leaped into the air. It leaps around me, swinging around its limbs. As it does, a cloud of dust fills the air. Not dust some type of pollen.

I raise my guard and as the pollen comes into contact with me, it explodes, knocking me back. The creature rushes ahead towards me, tossing out another whip. And I grab it out of the air.

Got ya now.

The creature struggles against my grip. Apparently, it can’t break its vines. I pull on it with all of my might and it flies towards me. As it comes in range, I slash at it, slicing it in two as both halves fall to the ground.

That should be the end of this. Now I just have to retrieve the Core and....

I turn around to see the monster reconnecting its severed halves with vines stretching out from its body. The vines spread across the area, overtaking the concrete of the parking garage.

What the hell is this?

The creature stands tall, wrapping its legs up with the vines as it raises above me and blocks out the moon. Small flowers bloom on the vines around the area as pollen flies out through the air, causing explosions across the area. I guard against the blasts as the creature above me seems to laugh.

How many times have I told you to report in when things get dangerous? A blast flies past me, striking through the fog of pollen and striking the beast blowing off a chunk of it. We’re supposed to work together, remember?

I turn back to see Anura Knight standing in his frog green armor as he stares at me.

I keep saying he doesn’t listen. But I guess that can be part of his charm. Scale Knight says in her snake brown armor. Although it makes him a pain in the butt to deal with sometimes.

Sorry. I thought I could handle it.

Noted, Anura says.

Well let’s not just sit around we have to beat this thing! Scale says.

I nod, turning to the monster as its vines whip up across the area. Scale rushes around, swinging her thin blade as she slices through the vines as Anura fires off shots from his gun. He nods towards me and I take off. As a wall of vines rises to block me, Anura’s blasts blast a hole through the wall as Scale rushes to my side.

So, what’s the plan here?

I’m aiming for its Core. Back me up.

Scale nods as she pulls forward her sword. Let’s do this!

The Primevil swings its arms, shooting out vines towards us as Scale takes the lead, slicing through them. I’ll cut open a path. You make sure to kill this thing!

As Scale slices through the mass as I charge forward. I press the button on the side of my Gear and gather all the energy I can to my claws as I leap into the air.

"Wolf Slash!"

I slice through the beast, cutting it in half as I separate its torso from the lower half. Now!

"Toad Slash!"

"Lizard Slash!"

Scale slices at the falling torso of the beast, slicing it into pieces as Anura fires off a massive blast from his gun. The creature lets out a mangled cry as it falls away, burning up into ashes. A green orb falls from above, crashing to the ground as Scale goes to retrieve it.

Mission successful! She yells out.

I stand up, looking around the area as the vines shrivel up and die, leaving no traces. Well, that’s one problem taken care of.

I turn to see Anura take off his Gear with his armor fading away. We successes in a part of our mission. But we’re still a step behind Astrum.

Anura, or should I say Glenn Lampton, walks forward with the look of an old detective on his face. He’s an old, tall, dark-skinned man with the look of a grizzled cop. That makes sense, considering he used to be an actual cop.

If Glenn took his off, that must mean it’s safe. Scale says taking hers off.

Scale or Jenny Vastra is a fair-skinned young woman and has the air of a typical blond to her. And if it wasn’t for the streaks of red in it, she would be a stereotypical blond. Despite that, she’s deceptively smart and cunning. A pretty quick thinker who can come up with and follow a plan on the fly.

Takumi, are you going to take yours off? She asks me.

I am.

I take off my Gear and my armor fades away. And finally, there’s me, Takumi Kamuta. Just your typical foot soldier. My key role on the job is to rush in and fight whoever I’m told to fight. Although I do give input every so often.

Takumi, I want you to hold on to the Core until we get back, Glenn says.

How come I can’t do it?

Because you might drop it.

Jenny sighs. That’s fair.

She hands me the Core and I stare at it for a moment. I guess they do feel different.

What feels different?

I told you about what I felt when I held the Ice Core, remember?

She nods. That weird chill all over your body?

Right. But I don’t feel anything like that from any of the other Cores.

She turns around. Well, maybe you and the Ice Core are like connected or something?

What’re you two doing? Let’s hurry back to base! Glenn yells as he walks ahead of us.

Jenny and I follow suit, having finished this mission. It won’t be long until we set out again for another task. And maybe this time we’ll catch those assholes and put an end to this madness. We are Sci Ops, I have no idea what that stands for, and our goal is the safety of the public from unnatural threats. We’ll use whatever means we have to end this chaos and bring an end to whoever started this mess.

So, this is our first mission of the year, right? Jenny asks, as we walk ahead.

Technically yes. There wasn’t much activity around Christmas and the New Year to warrant us being sent out.

She nods. Well, why don’t we mark this mission off with a bang. She pulls out her phone and pulls us together.

Before asking either of us, she takes a picture, to our surprise. Glenn pulls himself loose and glares at her before turning away. Next time ask.

But I already know you’re gonna say no.

Still ask.

Jenny is a pain to deal with sometimes, and Glenn is a stick in the mud on a good day. But when it comes down to it, I trust these two to have my back when it counts.

If my hands weren’t full, I’d take your phone and delete that picture, I say.

She sticks her tongue out. Neither of you are any fun. This is why, unlike me, neither of you has a girlfriend.

Drop it for now. We can’t keep the Professor waiting too much longer.

Ch.2: An Ordinary Day

FOR THE PAST FEW NIGHTS now, I’ve had the same dream. An empty frozen world with nothing inside of it. Just a barren nothingness of ice and snow. I wander through this empty world until I come across a figure in the distance. We seem to lock eyes with one another and before I know it, I’m walking towards them, running, in fact. I don’t know why or how, but I moving as fast as I can as the icy air burns through my lungs trying my hardest to reach this person. But as I close in and they come into view, the dream ends and I’m pulled into the waking world.

"Good morning Mr. Kamuta." A synth-heavy voice breaks me out of my slumber.

I sit up, stumbling out of bed as I scratch my head. I look at the ceiling to a blue tile that glows with a warm light.

Good morning Data, I say stretching.

"Did you have the same dream again?"

Yup, same as always.

"I will make a note of that for your psychological profile."

I nod. Do whatever. I’m thinking this dream is making me crazy myself.

"That was a joke. I am trying