Damon and Sani exchanged worried glances as they heard Leo Brandon boast about using his full power. "There's no way he's serious, right?" Damon questioned with disbelief. "He must be joking," he added, hoping for reassurance from Sani.
Sani's expression remained grim as he replied, "I'm not sure, Damon, but if he really unleashes his full power here, the consequences will be catastrophic. The entire town and even Rajmal country behind it could be wiped out."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Damon nodded solemnly. "Then we can't afford to wait. We have to stop him before things spiral out of control."
Damon and Sani struggled to push through the dense crowd, hindering their progress. But from a distance, they witnessed Leo Brandon envelop himself and a massive boulder in a protective magical shield. "Preparation complete," Leo declared confidently.
Realizing that he was using the magic to safeguard the area, Damon and Sani exchanged a brief glance, acknowledging Leo's intention. Despite their worries, they now understood that he might not be aiming to harm the town after all. However, they remained vigilant, ready to intervene if things took a dangerous turn.
As Leo Brandon unleashed his formidable aura, the people around him struggled to withstand its overwhelming force. Some even collapsed under its weight. Damon felt the thickness of the aura and realized the sheer power Leo possessed. It became evident that Leo wasn't using his aura to attack the people, but rather to focus on destroying the boulder.
Amidst the awe and concern, Damon and Sani recognized the true extent of Leo's strength and understood that his intentions were not malevolent, but rather driven by a purpose they were yet to fully comprehend.
As Leo Brandon concentrated his power, Damon and Sani stood mesmerized, unsure of his true purpose. Suddenly, an old man approached Damon, muttering to himself upon seeing Leo. Curiosity piqued, Sani inquired about Leo Brandon's history from the old man.
The old man revealed that Leo had been returning every month for the past eight months, attempting various methods to pull out a sword. He explained that Leo trained diligently each month to grow stronger, hoping to succeed in his quest. Sani nodded, understanding Leo's determination.
Expressing her gratitude, Sani called the old man "Gramps." In return, Gramps shared his insight, believing Leo's desire for the sword was strong, but the key was to understand what the sword desired in return. With a chuckle, he predicted that Leo might not be successful this time either.
Damon's curiosity got the better of him, and he questioned the old man's statement. "What if Leo manages to pull the sword off this time?" he asked earnestly. The old man's laughter echoed through the air as he responded, "Ah, young one, it's not merely about one's desire but also about what the sword itself desires. Without knowing that, no one will ever be able to pull it out successfully."
After delivering his cryptic message, the old man bid them farewell and left. Damon gazed after him, puzzled by the enigmatic riddle. He wondered what profound secret the sword held and how Leo Brandon's determination would fare against the mysterious desires of the weapon. As the moments ticked away, anticipation and curiosity filled the air, leaving Damon and Sani eager to witness the outcome of Leo's ambitious endeavor.
After the intense explosion caused by Leo's attack, Damon and Sani anxiously waited to see if the boulder had been cut. However, the thick smoke obstructed their view. When it finally cleared, they saw that the boulder remained unscathed. Leo's frustration was evident, realizing that even with his full power, the sword was beyond his reach.
Apologizing to the crowd for his failure, Leo received an unexpected wave of support and encouragement. The crowd believed in him and assured him that he would succeed next time. But unbeknownst to them, Leo had different thoughts.
Inwardly, Leo decided that this was his final attempt. He had a seemingly impossible mission awaiting him from his boss, and he had hoped that pulling the sword would free him from those orders. However, he now understood that he must face his next challenge, regardless of the outcome with the sword.
As the crowd cheered and praised him, Leo couldn't help but feel grateful for their support. Little did they know that this would be his last endeavor, and he cherished their encouragement while keeping his true feelings hidden.
Sani expressed her relief to Damon, grateful that Leo didn't obtain the sword, as it could have had dire consequences for civilization. Damon, however, defended Leo, believing he must have a compelling reason to persist for eight months. Sani acknowledged that Leo wasn't as bad as she initially thought, but her doubts lingered.
As Leo Brandon was about to leave, a sudden punch from a mysterious lady startled the crowd, Damon, and Sani. Unveiling her identity, she revealed herself as Princess Talia. The crowd erupted with excitement, recognizing the beloved princess. Leo playfully feigned innocence, teasingly stating he had come to visit her, but Talia saw through his antics.
Talia was not amused, smacking Leo once more, expressing her displeasure at his focus on the sword instead of visiting her first. Leo laughed off her reprimand, praising her beauty and attempting to charm his way out. But Talia remained firm, insisting they meet her father, King Bir, who was awaiting Leo's presence.
The subject of the explosion arose, and Leo artfully evaded the question, not revealing his involvement. Instead, he diverted the conversation, eager to meet the king. Talia was not easily swayed, cautioning Leo not to change the topic so easily. Despite his playful banter, she insisted they proceed to meet her father.
Reluctantly, Leo agreed, acknowledging that the king must be growing impatient. The princess, still miffed, retorted, reminding him not to try and avoid the situation. Nevertheless, they set off together, with the crowd cheering on the entertaining duo.
As they made their way to the king's presence, Damon and Sani couldn't help but be amused by the peculiar interaction between the charismatic Leo Brandon and the no-nonsense Princess Talia.
Damon was surprised to learn that the mysterious lady was none other than Princess Talia of the Rajmal kingdom, daughter of King Bir Bikram. Sani admitted her misconception about Leo Brandon and how she didn't realize the close connection between him and the princess.
Putting aside their musings, Damon expressed concern about their friend Johan. His anger had been evident, and they hadn't seen him for a long time. Sani agreed, feeling a growing sense of worry.
Before they could delve deeper into their thoughts, a massive explosion rocked the area. Reacting instinctively, Damon and Sani hurriedly ran towards the source of the blast.
As they approached the scene, the sight that greeted them was one of chaos and destruction. Buildings were in ruins, and panic spread among the townspeople. The source of the explosion remained unclear, and they frantically searched for any signs of Johan.
Amidst the chaos, they encountered Leo Brandon, who seemed just as puzzled as they were about the cause of the explosion.
After a massive explosion, Damon and Sani find Johan emerging from the site, covered in blood and with a disturbing redness in his eyes. Shocked and concerned, they confront their friend, desperate to understand what had transpired.
CHAPTER 8 ENDS
NEXT
CHAPTER 9- SWORN ENEMY