"Hey, Desmond. What do you think is the most beautiful thing in this world ?"
"If I had to say it, Princess. The most beautiful thing in this world is the time whenever I stand beside you."
"Ahahaha.... you had a funny answer."
"My apologize, Princess."
"No it's fine. But you know, the most beautiful thing in this world is trust. Once you had a trust on your beloved, your family, or even your friend, it feels like you were having this world whole. Nobody is going to stop you after you build up your trust to this world."
"Princess...."
Just for a moment, I fix my helmet and then strike him again using my blade.
As expected, Abraham Huraira is avoiding my attack from now on. His blade is getting weaker as the fight still persist. This fight should've hurting my pride as I declare at him just before but somehow I don't feel so. Abra fight like a professional here and won't easily be defeated. I must not underestimate him by giving him any mercy.
That's right, to win this fight I must not hold my power back and giving him all out. After this long fight, I am yet to unleash any of my skill and this is the time to do so. This fight will be won by me and I will deliver victory to The Princess.
"Prepare yourself, warrior. Cause I won't hold back anymore !" I said it while swinging my burning blade at him.
"Come and get me." he said with full of confident.
Thus I change my burning blade into concentrated flame mode. The flame turned off for a second but then the flame raging again and start to spin around the blade eye in a high speed like a chainsaw. One swing from my blade then the flames spread to the air and burn everything that past its way. And as expected, Abra would cut the fire again and extinguish it somehow using that blade of his.
Then just by a single strike from my blade, his blade is a goner with my skill.
In a short time, I inhale the air surround me, I close my eyes to enhance my mind, my focus, and my power into my muscle. Once I open up my eyes again, I am ready to unleash that one ultimate skill of mine that nobody be able to handle it. Cause just only needed one swing, I could cut one hard and thick metal or even diamond with any blade that held in my hand.
" ! ! ! Swordsman Martial Arts : Dance of Flowering Flames ! ! "
Kicking the ground beneath my leg, I charge towards him while holding my sword with both of my hand while still hanging my shield on my arm. The flames burn along the way I swing my blade towards him. I swing my blade like I was dancing with stick of fire. And as I expected, Abra easily dodge my attack even when I swinging this blade like crazy.
The flow was perfect, the speed is excellent, but somehow Abra easily dodge every single my swing like he know what's going to happen next. Due to the effect of spinning concentrated flames around my blade, my blade spreading fire around the arena and turn it into a dry battleground of flames where those flame came from my raging blade.
I kicked the ground again and then jumped out of the ground. To finish my combo skill, I want to surprise him a little. High in the sky, I fall down to crush his head with my blade. But before I landed and smash his head, I swing my blade four times in the air to block his escape route creating a rectangle form. Once I had him trapped, I launch my finisher move to defeat him completely. Or even just to break his sword.
Once I landed and do my finisher move, Abraham Huraira then dodge another attack of mine easily. But that wasn't my true intention finishing my move. I swing my blade full rotation in high speed after that falling attack to slice his body in a half.
But as expected, Abra is able to dodge my attack yet he may not always dodging my attack. Human had stamina to spend, the longer human use his body the more stamina that human uses until they run out of their stamina. And it seems that my prediction is right, I successfully cut his blade even when it's not in a half.
Abra blade is piping hot on its sliced edge, his range now is reduced in one third.
"Do you think you could still keep up, warrior ?"
"Yes." he answered my question and then smiled at me, "Look, there's no more dent on my sword !"
Is he answer my question or is he mocking me again ?!
Unforgivable, this Abra guy is no more than a sparks of fire itself. His mouth is nothing but a lighter that could ignite the fire to burn even fiercer. It feels like that I've been underestimated by him in a forgiving way. But that's it ! I will take you even more serious from now on. I will use both of my weaponry.
Whenever I got my tension getting higher, the flame surround me getting fiercer and may burned my surroundings easily. Taking a form of a fire born creature, The Kingdom Weaponry Engineer makes my armor look like this. It's only for intimidating my opponent he said. But in the truth, this armor alone may kill innocent people.
I prefer not to use this armor but this time is different. I am going to utilize this armor to the max and completely defeat him !
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Inside this empty hallways, an hallways which people rarely come and passing by except for the participant of the arena and their mentors, I chase a silhouette that took a form of my longingly beloved family. Her footsteps could be heard through this empty hallways and I was so sure that running footsteps could be hers.
Intersection by intersection I passed them, following her running footsteps through this hallways. I can't hold my patience for meeting with her again. The tragedy happened in the day before yesterday is really putting me in shock. Hearing her footsteps again just making me excited and I misses those days where I could hear her footsteps everyday.
She turn into the left after this intersection, thus the next turn to the right is the last turn we could met and conclude our game of chase. I wonder, what is she planning for suddenly came to me and meeting me in the middle of my tournament.
"Nera--- !" I'm shocked.
White clean suit, a white clean towel hanging on his left hand, and contradictorily black hair and eyes. Beside Nera, there's The Tiny Devil right hand standing neatly. His sudden appearance before me like this always indicating that The Tiny Devil has an important message for me which she even can't told me directly.
"Majordome ? What kind of business you--"
Suddenly, Nera is jumped towards me and hugging me out of the blue. She does really waking me up after slightly feeling unconscious seeing Majordome appearance here. Thus, I immediately hug her back and pat her head without feeling hesitated this time.
"Nera.... I'm glad that you are okay." I said it while hugging and patting Nera's head, "I'm so worried about you."
"Master..... no, Cade ! I.... I am back." said her in happy tone.
She's healthy. She's healthy and seems cheerful again. I do really am grateful that I am having her as my superior again. She's bringing my happiness back and somehow my goal for a peace that I am craving for is a little bit closer because of her. Even though, I am never talked about that with her. She's who've been called The Tiny Devil is the most kind person in heart.
Thus, I stand up again and continue my talk with Majordome.
"Majordome, what was Mrs. Colonel message again ?" I then stand up leaving Nera out of my reach. Feeling not enough, she frown her eyebrows at me. "Ahaha... I know you're missing me so much and so was I. But please Nera, let's just have our time tonight." then I patted her head.
Seeing our wholesome relationship, Majordome smiled and giggling in front of us. "As expected from both of you. The Tiny Devil's decision almost never missed."
"Then, let's talk about your attendance here. Looking at my experience in the past, you must've a message for me right ?" I said it cynically.
"Again, as expected from you, Cade Valentine."
Cutting our conversation, Nera suddenly pull Majordome hand, climb on his back, then shut his mouth using both of his hand like a professional assassin. She's somehow looks like eager to talk more with me and try to tell me something.
"Nera, behave !"
"Hummm..... alright then. But I am the one who talk, do you understand white boi ?"
"Ahahaha..... of course you are the one who tell him that. So, stop shutting my mouth, please ?" said Majordome using an echoing voices magic.
Then, Nera release the poor Tiny Devil's right hand from her deadly hand attack. He then inhale his breath strongly like he was going to run out of breath. While Majodome heavily taking his breathe, Nera jumped towards me and standing straight while carving her beautiful smile at me.
"Listen to me, master. I know everything about your battle in the arena and your plan here. Thus we all come here to support you !" she then clap her hand one time, "Even that Nutcracker Soldier is here."
"Mrs. Colonel ? Tell me, Nera. Are you the one who invite her?"
"Ehehe... She's the one who invite me." then, Nera turn down her head, "My apologize master. To be honest, I am not ready to meet you. I am still embarrassed to see you."
"Nera, don't you be afraid. I am always be with you and I also scare to lose you. Don't you also heard that from your alternate ?" I said it while putting my hand on her head.
"Ummm.... yeah. I am sorry, I make you worry." she blushed again.
"I see, then if you wanted to know. I also learn from my mistakes. From now on, I will always protect you. Cause you are, my happiness."
Hearing those words coming from my mouth, clearly and loudly, Nera lowering her head slowly and surely. Her face is getting red, she smiled at me and she lost of words. Well, I think I must look for the perfect time to say that. Now she's looks like a diligent whom can't answer her tutor.
Seeing this chance, Majordome took the chance and speak to me.
"Well, good job for silencing her. Seems that we can proceed to the message milady want to tell you."
"Ah yes, I'm also curious to her message."
"Desmond Von Rerugen Ivanov has lost his path of warrior. The Symbol of Strength we all know is no longer presence in this world. He has left us long ago after we achieve our peace. He is today is not he who serve us in the past and just a thug who dominate the arena using his name as The Symbol of Strength.
For Cade Valentine, we are hoping that you could change his heart in this battle. Victorious is only a minimum requirement for you to complete your given order but I hoping more from you, Cade Valentine. Every single Princess Claw will also watch from the shadow so don't let me down.
"That's what she said." explain Majordome clearly.
Oh no, that's worst ! So that's why Mrs. Colonel send me to this place. Not just to proving that I am worth for the company but also create a changes in this kingdom. That's also why she didn't deploy her best soldier to handle the fight. They might complete the task easily and neatly without thinking anything else.
But, I must keep calm and accept the task promisingly.
"As expected from The Boss. She still remember who's her hitman back in the day. Thus, I accept her words."
"Yes yes, that's Cade Valentine I know." he smiled at me, "Now you bear the burden of those words. We are waiting for the good news, Cade Valentine." he then sharply stare at me.
Thus, I stare her back sharply.
To be continued.....