A son cannot go against his father unless it is morally wrong by his standards…
Found inside the Hunter's association building, a sparring center meant for ranks from A-rank to S rank was made by Marcos Dottingham. It was an all white room that clearly spanned to a size of a football stadium, considering that fact that it host S-rank people that were capable of easily ruining buildings with their power.
Here in room made exactly for the purpose of testing every challenge that may come upon the son and daughter of the patriarch of the family, the son stood quite hesitant to act by his will but the orders given to him by his father was non-negotiable.
"...Why are you letting me do this Father?"
"Liam, do you not see the opportunity given to you. The boy who stands before you today is one of the many who I now from my soul and life, has clearly the potential to make you grow stronger. He is another worthy rival the same as Arthur was.
"...Are you serious?"
"Have I ever made the mistake to judge someone simply because?"
"N-no."
"Liam, learn from this fight…learn how truly big the world is, knowing that this boy is one of many who will come to show and block your path."
"I understand father. I will fight him."
As the two fully agreed by the Father's wishes, Hamil on the other side however was calm and intrigued by this development.
"Are you serious about this Hamil?" asked Eric as he stood by him while Hamil was stretching his body in preparation for the fight.
"Don't worry…Liam isn't the type of person who will wallow in his defeat. He's a genius in every way possible, so I can trust him to stand up after his defeat."
"W-what!? no, that's not what I meant. Your clearly underestimating him in every way possible. You just said it yourself, He's a genius…and he's in the second year. His experience in the battles throughout the academy surpasses yours."
"Hmm…Don't worry about anything. Just stand there and watch."
"You don't get it. I know his strengths and I know yours as well…if I compare the two of you side by side based off of my experience in the two of you, you will clearly lose."
"Hmm, so that's the reason?"
"Yes. So please, back down from this fight."
"Hmm, no thanks." said Hamil casually.
"Wha- Iris, say something!" said Eric as he looked to Iris with a desperate expression to convince Hamil not to fight.
"..." But all Iris gave in return was a hesitant look to not want intervene between a fight for her Lord, and for her client, Mr. Dottingham.
"Just let this go Eric, you can't really do anything against Marco's wishes anyway." said Hamil.
"Ah…your right. Just be careful."
"Okay." said Hamil as he smiled at Eric for understand that he was helpless between the decision that was made.
*RING*
As a sound of a battle finally came to a start, both the competitors stood to watch as they approached each other.
"...Let's not leave here with bad intentions." said Liam as he lead his hand for a shake to Hamil.
"Agreed." said Hamil as he came to receive that hand.
Making their way back to create a space from each other, Liam brought out his Iconic red Bow that had the special element to create fire arrows from his mana.
Hamil on the other hand simply brought out his spear.
"Apolo." and by his word, a black spear appeared out of nowhere.
"..." observing the very weapon that Hamil had drawn, Marcos was very uneased by the presence of that weapon as it clad itself in darkness.
"You don't have your shield with you?" asked Liam as he could only see Hamil with a spear. Knowing that he saw Hamil fight with just his shield once in the class rumble event.
"I'm going full offense right now." said Hamil.
"I see. Well then, let us start." as soon as he said that, he pulled on his bow and Hamil took a step forward. With each step he took, the tension mounted, the air crackling with anticipation. As if without fear for the bow being pointed to his direction, he could only smile as he waited for Liam to shoot his arrow.
With each step he made, the tip of his spear which ran the ground, tore off each and every material that was in its way. Scratching the very floor with no effort at all, indicating the sharpness of the blade of his spear.
As the clash of metal filled the air, Liam swiftly notched an arrow, its tip ablaze with roaring fire. He pulled the bowstring taut, feeling the familiar warmth coursing through his veins. With a flick of his wrist, he released the fiery projectile toward Hamil, aiming to overwhelm his adversary from a distance.
As he fired, Hamil smiled.
Hamil, however, felt like no ordinary opponent. He deftly sidestepped the flaming arrow, his spear spinning in his hands with calculated precision. With a swift thrust, he closed the distance between them, bringing his weapon down upon Liam with a force that shook the ground.
*BOOM*
The ground shattered and the terrain was ruined…yet from eye to eye, they were still gazing at each other with no hesitation t hold back.
Liam swiftly dodged the initial strike, his nimble footwork allowing him to evade the deadly arc of the spear. With a quick step backward, he unleashed a barrage of arrows, each one carrying a burst of searing fire. But to his dismay, Hamil's agility matched his own, gracefully maneuvering through the flames unscathed.
"!!" to match his speed in a graceful manner was proof of Hamil being a man who could probably go forward with more speed than Liam's.
The battle escalated as Liam conjured larger, more intense fireballs, hurling them towards his opponent. Hamil, using his skill 'Impossible Accuracy', parried each projectile with calculated precision, his spear moving like a blur in the dim light.
Despite Liam's best efforts, the weight of his opponent's experience and skill began to show. Hamil's spear was an extension of his being, a deadly extension that effortlessly deflected Liam's fiery onslaught. With each clash, the spear's sharp tip inched closer, pressuring Liam to fight with every ounce of strength he had.
The scene of him struggling to fight on equal ground made him feel hopeless. And this scene shocked Eric the most as he could see that despite Liam being an older student at the academy, Hamil, for some reason overwhelmed Liam in every way possible. How was it that Liam, a person of nobility, given each chance to grow was being pushed down by a person who showed quite potential future…it goes to show, that nothing he thought about his expectation were ever truly real and concise.
With a fluid movement, Hamil disarmed Liam, sending the bow flying up the air. Liam found himself defenseless, his heart pounding as the spear's sharp point came to rest at his throat. The battle had reached its climax, with Hamil's overwhelming prowess leaving Liam in awe.
As Liam struggled with all of his strength, Hamil suddenly raises his legs and ruined the terrain even more with a strong stump of his foot.
*Boom!*
Not only was the ground cracked, but soon after, each rock on the floor began to float up into the sky. Using his earth bending skills, he controlled all of the ground to fly in the sky.
"..W-what did you do?"
"This isn't over Liam." as soon as Hamil said this, he caught the Bow up in the air and simply handed it to Liam.
"What is this?"
"Show me your full potential Liam…throw everything you got at me."
"..."
"Because generally speaking, I'm just getting started." said Hamil in a cold voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, the rocks suddenly began to move in a random fashion…and then each o it was suddenly devoured by a dark inky mess of an element. This black element came from Hamil's skill, Shadow Skin.
"What are you doing?"
"You haven't showed me everything Liam. So show me…Show me your true strength."
As soon as he said that, he in return began to envelope himself in his own Shadow skin.
"..." Liam was silent, he understood that Hamil was not underestimating him…no, in fact itb felt like he was being tested by Hamil instead.
Inside that black void of a being, his gaze remained watching. Waiting for the turn when Liam would have to show some kind of growth in this situation.
"Do it Liam." said his Father as Marcos stood from the sidelines with his arms crossed.
".…Father." his father gave him permission.
Breathing heavily, Liam looked into Hamil's eyes, a mix of admiration and defeat swirling within him. He had fought valiantly, with the fire in his heart and unyielding determination, yet it was not enough.
It was never going to be enough…not until…
"...Knight form." as he whispered this words under his breath, a sudden burst of flames began to circle around him from his foot and it enveloped his very demeanor and figure. He was a man covered in flames.
The burst of the flames continued to grow upward in a cyclone until finally the flames reached the roof of the sparring center. The flames continued to burn and burn for seconds on end.
As the temperature rises inside the center, the people who watched began to be uncomfortable, all except for Marcos who watched with a serious expression on his face.
Insdie that cyclone of a fire, one could never tell what was happening…yet for some reason, movement could be felt…as if Liam was struggling the flames…he wasn't screaming nor was his face ever shown, but one could tell that the presence inside that flame was burning even more than the fire itself.
When the fire suddenly subsided, out came a man who wore a golden red armor that symbolizes his religion.
[Knight Form: Agereos Knight.]
It was the gift of being a family member under the blessing of the All Seeing Watchgod, Agereos. This technique was only ever given to those of the family. But only the males could ever inherent the power in compensation of protecting the very saint who came to receive the book of fate.
While Martha was given the Book of Fate…Liam was taught the Knight form technique, all for the purpose of protecting the one who bares the Book of Fate.
He hasn't fully mastered it yet, but with this increase in power, he had the confidence to go all out on Hamil with permission from his father.
A knight in flames versus A man in dark.
The heaviness of their presence as they looked to each other felt so sufocating, as if two monster were at each other's throat.
"Be glad Hamil…you're the first ever person, aside from my father who has seen my knight form."
"Hmm, it is an honor Liam. But is it enough to face me?" asked Hamil.
"Two minutes…that is all I need." Mainly speaking, two minutes is all the time he could ever use in his knight form.
Although their faces were covered, both knew that they were smiling at this very moment…
A smile that says that they were going to enjoy this battle.
Without a call for a start…
The two went on head to head without any significance of stopping.
As Liam for took his step, not only was a partial surface of the floor melting but the very air he breathed out was hot enough to burn like a fire's breath.
His speed, strength and senses has multiplied...
And when Hamil too ran his way to Liam, a couple of rocks from the air followed him by his command.
The spear in his hands began to jolt in a patter of lightning. Electricity was flowing by his consciousness to want to fight… and by his will, the lightning flowed as smoothly as he ran.
Liam notched an arrow in his flaming bow, flames dancing along its length. He drew back the string, feeling the heat pulsate through his body. With a determined expression, he released the arrow, launching it towards Hamil with incredible speed and precision. The very force of the flow of the arrow was strong enough that it ripped and burned everything in its path.
Countering the arrow, Hamil threw a couple of boulders from the air. Three were sent and intercepting the arrow at high speeds. With their nature to be covered in the shadow skin, they were a couple times harder than most rocks.
One by one, the boulders were sent to destroy the incoming arrow, but because of the incredible speed of the arrow, not one came close to stop it.
With its only target being Hamil, he had to stop it. it was easy to simply move out of the way from that attack but knowing where he stood, an invitation for that attack can only be properly accepted if one is willing to receive it. As a King, an invitation like this is but a thrill and a test.
Ego was but the plan and his pride was his material…but by his will, he will build a wall to stop it.
'Shield's Copy.'
Without hesitation, he brought out ten transparent shields up front.
"!!"
As the arrow collided, the force that it brought was no joke to scoff at. it didn't even took a second for the first barrier to break…and then another…and then another…
It continued to push through until finally it came to a point that at the tenth barrier, it slowly lost its flames. There as it hangs in the air, it fell as soon as the barrier went away.
"...You stopped it." said Liam.
But as soon as the arrow fell…
A bolt of energy suddenly burst out of the spear with a terrifying presence behind it.
"...My turn." as Hamil said this, at his simple step…like a ghost, he disappeared from everyone's sight.
"!?" Liam was just as shook by this as much as everyone was…so he had to be fully alert to confront him.
"..." The silence in the room was very heavy to settle in…almost everything he had to focus on was both the wind's flow and the step of each foot that came by…but nothing changed.
It was as still as a calm river.
"LIAM!!" suddenly his father shouts from the sides and to his alert, a spear's tip was already making its way to his side…
'Shit…fuck!' with every ounce of magic and senses he had on him, he gathered it on one point of his palm…and there he lets out all of his power purely on the basic flame skill.
"SPARK!!"
Fires came bursting out and enveloped one side of the training center. The area that he burned was so large, that one could not help but wonder how one could have defended against that.
"..." the spear didn't came so he was safe…or so he thought he was.
Because by the next second he turned to face the burned half of the sparring center, out came Hamil who was carrying a shield on hand.
He was unscathed.
"Hahahaha, nice one." said Hamil as he laughed.
"...So it didn't affect you?"d
"No, something as basic as a fire spell won't be enough to burn me or my shield." he said.
"..."
"Should we continue?" asked Hamil.
"..." Liam was a bit silent knowing that Hamil still had the will to continue the fight…but he was too worn out. On his last attack to safely push away the spear, he wasted a lot of his mana. And losing mana means that he could barely keep control of his Knight Form. So it meant that he was going to give up.
"...I"
"It's done…we'll stop right here." said Marcos as he came out of nowhere in the middle of Hamil and Liam.
"...I see." Having understood, Hamil accepted Marcos's words.
"...Father I lost." said Liam.
"It's okay son, the purpose of this test was met."
"I understand." soon after, Liam turned off his Knight Form and made his way to Hamil. He approached him and raised his hand in an attempt to shake his hand in congratulations.
"You did great." said Hamil as he smiled at Liam.
"...I lost." said Liam in a somber and disappointed tone.
"Yeah…it happens." said Hamil as he really didn't want to say anything.
With a nod of respect, Hamil withdrew the spear, signaling the end of the battle. Liam stood, humbled by his defeat, yet fueled by the desire to grow stronger. To meet someone who was able to let himself be in a sense of danger at the last minute gave him this experience of fear even with the Knight form on.…without the warning of his father, he would have lost in a more devastating way. He knows he's stronger than others…but he also knows that it isn't enough to just be knowingly accept this defeat as it is. He knows he wants to grow…and as selfish as he is with his desires, he will grow.
Liam Dottingham will grow.
The same goes for Hamil…as he saw his limits in this battles.
He may be smiling in his win, but deep down, it wasn't good enough.
He needs to break through his limits..he needs something more than just a simple spar.
He needs to train.
And what better place than his past home, the Crow Talon Clan.
He's next goal was set.