~~Hold my hand and don't let it go~~
The Symbol of Strength has activated all his magic buff around his armor, shield, and sword and he took an appearance of fiery creature. A few part of his armor releasing a fire energy, his sword bathed in fire, and his dragon head shield emitting fire from its mouth and eyes. His armor cloak even emitting fire and flutter gallantly making The Symbol of Strength mighty aura lingering around the arena.
The arena feels so hot after The Symbol of Strength show his true form. The air got so dry, sparks of fire spreading around the arena, it is like Desmond is trying to burn the whole arena with his flames. The crowds even got silenced before his mighty presence since this is also the first time they seeing his true form.
But then, those fiery and dry thoughts disappeared after Cade Valentine open his eyes.
His focus, will to fight, and seriousness making the arena submit before his presence. And of course, it is only their imagination for feeling so. But nonetheless, their sudden imagination for imagining they must submit to him is a strong influence from Cade Valentine for just opening his eyes. The Symbol of Strength also cannot escape from this heavy influence. Moreover, his heavy aura that effecting the whole arena come from his determination, will to fight, and his faith to his superior.
Can't wait any longer after feeling those aura, The Symbol of Strength feels that he has been mocked by the aura and the influence that he spread within the arena. He immediately charge in a high speed and prepared to strike him whenever he get close. The same also goes for Cade Valentine, he run through the arena and get ready for a great clash.
Thus when they already close to each other, they clash each other sword strongly. A swirl of fire then released from their clash of sword caused by the overflowing power from The Symbol of Strength. The clash occur so hard until it reach the point where The Symbol of Strength leak his true power in a form swirl of fire.
"What a power, this is not a strength of normal human being." said Desmond in confuse.
"The same goes for you, right ?"
Then, both of them release their sword fight and prepare for a blade dance.
Desmond's focus sharpened, his armor cloak fire then goes fiercer and also his blade of fire. He then strike Cade with all his might within that one strike. But then, Cade block and deflect his attack with ease. He somehow could equilibrate Desmond fire like a water extinguishing the fire or even a wind blow the fire so hard which makes the fire extinguished.
Underestimating Cade's power, Desmond blinded by his fire until he couldn't see what kind of face his opponent showed. Before him, Cade showing how's sharp focus is made and how to execute it. And with one strike from him, Desmond flinched right when he tried to block Cade's attack. The crowds suddenly on fire after seeing Cade successfully flinch The Symbol of Strength just by one strike.
The crowds whispering, giggling, and excited for seeing their Symbol of Strength almost fallen by that one strike. They started to talk about how amazingly executed The Symbol of Strength's appearance at the start of the fight and how poor his performance were in reality. Disappointment start to fill the crowds seat after he got flinched so easily by Cade.
Hearing their faint whisper, Desmond turned off his flame for a moment.
Just for a flash moment, he remembered those first words flying at him that makes him reach the highest peak of highest mountain. But before Cade presence, he just realize that at the top at the highest mountain reach there's another highest mountain to reach just below the sea. The unknown mountain that only ones who didn't look at the world may reach it.
~~Hold my hand and don't let it go~~
In a short time, the fire that has been extinguished for a moment then burned up again and now it gets more fiercer and fiercer.
Desmond refuses to fall and hold his position instead. He kicked the ground and then strike Cade who wanted to get close. But then, Cade dodge the attack instead and take his distance from him. Out of expectation, Desmond blade burns and then he shoot the flame aiming for Cade's head.
One vertical strike from Cade, the flying flames immediately exploded and become a smoke which blown away by the wind. Behind the smoke, Desmond charging once again and turned on his flame around his armor and shield. He jumped then strike Cade from above like a meteor fall from the sky and destroy the ground.
Seeing his move coming from the sky, Cade immediately get away and take another distance.
The ground shatter, the cracks on the ground turned red, The Symbol of Strength power has been enhanced, and he's getting stronger than before. Behind his knightly full face helmet, there's a crimson eyes staring from behind.
"I've underestimated you. You aren't an opponent that easily showing your true power. Which means, there's something you are still hiding inside your soul." appraise The Symbol of Strength.
"I.... don't know what's that supposed to mean but yes, I am stronger than you." Cade misunderstand and mock him instead.
Hearing those words coming from his mouth, Desmond run towards him again and launch his attack. He swing his sword repeatedly and in quick motion to show his domination. But the same as him, Cade also show his domination by dodging every single attack Desmond launch in a close range battle while smiling at him.
Feeling enough mocking The Symbol of Strength, Cade then start to block his attack and dancing around the flame with him. Over and over Cade block and deflect his attack, over and over he dodge the attack, over and over he strike Desmond back and Desmond successfully block his attack now. Thus he assume, The Symbol of Strength just get serious by now and his power got enhanced even further again.
He believe in his unsure guess, he make the guess as his information. Just now, his guess has been confirmed as the valid answer. Knowing this information, Cade smiled and being excited just because the information he just confirmed. Behind his smile, there's hidden ominous meaning he just planning.
After thousand time sword dancing with The Symbol of Strength, he then kicked Desmond after he got the chance. Desmond then blocking his kick with his shield but still got knock back instead. Even though, when he check his sword again, the sword has been slightly damaged and seems can't hold any longer. So he then cancel his plan and keep straight to his original plan.
"As expected, cheap things never came in handy." Cade mumbling to himself.
While Cade checking his sword, Desmond stay on his position and observing what is he going to do next. But when he also sees the small dent on his sword, he arrange some plan to completely break his sword like he always do.
But then, Desmond change his mind. In this fight, he's not only seek the glory he always had but a pride of The Princess Sword. What's going to happen if The Symbol of Strength just seeking a glory using a shortcut where muscles is everything. Of course, The Symbol of Strength is going to become a joke in the whole kingdom and for the future generation.
"Abraham Huraira ! I can't fight you any longer if you can't match my strength using that poor blade of yours. This hurt my pride as a warrior." Desmond lowering his head and shake his head.
"Don't worry, I am going to win this fight no matter what happen." Cade then pointing his damaged blade towards him.
For now, Desmond has learn from his past mistake. After Cade saying those words, Desmond isn't going to let his guard down. He know, when Cade is acting so naive then he's already decide his determination and will going to accomplish his objective no matter what will happen. Thus when Desmond knowing his true nature, Desmond also showing his true nature as The Symbol of Strength.
Helmet on his face, showing how The Symbol of Strength should be. His eyes sharpened behind his helmet and he's ready for another face to face battle.
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
"Princess, be careful !"
"Aww....!"
On that one time, I feel that I am slowly become The Royal Family. Not a royal family as it describe but more like a family that I always wanted to have and makes me comforted in every aspects. The Princess decision is much honored in The Royal Family even to The King and The Queen since they both loves their daughter so much. Because of that, I somehow accepted by The Royal Family as their legal son.
"That's dangerous, Princess. A roses may look beauty but they had a spike on their stem to drive away their natural predator." I showing off how much I've studied towards her.
"Huh ? Am I look like a girl who ate flower ?" The Princess then frowned.
"Ah ! It's not like that.... it's just...." it goes awkward.
"Ahahaha.... look how funny your face. You should look at it too ahahaha...."
"Princess...."
A little sister ? I feel like that I have a little sister at that time. Yes, a little sister who loves to tease her big brother. Because of that, somehow I want to protect her smile whatever it may cost me and become her sword and shield at the same time. She is my most treasured person in the whole world and then followed by the other Royal Family member such as The King and The Queen.
In this colorful garden of flower, we both staring at the beauty of the crimson cloud in the sky and watching the sunset together. Swiped gently by the wind, I immediately put my cloak on her shoulder to keep her from the cold.
After putting my cloak on both of her shoulder, The Princess then turn her head at me look carefully at my face. Suddenly, my face become red cause I've done something so embarrassing which I've realized just now.
But then, The Princess smiled. That smile back in the day has become the source of my strength for overcoming every obstacle that blocking my path. Her smile back then is the most beautiful and honest smile I've ever saw in my whole life.
I do am grateful for being able to walk beside you.
But Princess, I may cannot fulfil your wishes this one last time. This battle I am fought in this evening might become my hardest battle of all time even surpassing The Great Wars I am participating five years ago. This man before me, somehow has a greater determination than I am now, Princess.
Over and over again I strike him with all my might yet he still standing high before me. This man is like a giant wall before me that I must overcome. But no matter how hard I tried, this man wouldn't easily falling on his knee before me. It's like, I've been defeated even before the fight ended.
Still, I am yet to unleash my full strength. Princess, I hope you were put your whole faith on me winning this fight.
To be continued.....