Daemon stood facing Barristan after ushering Howland away, in his hand was his Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, which was known only to him as the pommel had been hidden a long time ago. Barristan smiled as his eyes gleamed with a look of excitement "Will you finally stop holding back lad? I won't be satisfied if I do not beat you at your best" Barristan said as he flourished his sword with his aura bright and pulsating.
Daemon returned his smile as he stood lazily with his sword pressed into the ground being used like a leaning post "And what if I say that you experience my best every time we spar" Daemon replied. Barristan shook his head in amusement "Mayhaps it is wise of you to hide your strength or it could be simple paranoia, nevertheless I wish to see how strong you truly are" Barristan said as he held his sword up with both hands before flaring his aura.
Daemon sighed he could tell Barristan's words truly came from the heart, they were from a man who had dedicated his life to fighting and had reached the peak of what he was capable of "And what if you aren't able to draw out my true strength Ser Barristan..." Daemon stated the smile having vanished from his face.
Barristan kept smiling "I guess we shall see won't we" he simply replied, he then charged towards Daemon pushing off his back foot which was enhanced with aura, those who were watching simply saw Barristan disappear and reappear in front of Daemon who brought his sword up which was infused with aura and blocked the downward strike from Barristan. The ground quaked as the two swords collided, had Barristan not infused his sword with more aura than usual he was sure the sword would've snapped against Daemon's superior Valyrian sword.
Barristan smiled as he tried to overpower Daemon in their clash of swords but he didn't budge 'That cheeky brat was holding back more than I thought' He thought to himself as he released more of his aura. The ground cracked under the pressure that was exuded from the two as both their auras flared, the crowd was roaring in excitement seeing the two warriors of legendary renown fight. While Ser Barristan was the more famous warrior his legend starting from when he was merely 10 name days, Daemon was a more enigmatic character having been known to be apprenticed to Ser Barristan and then the King himself.
Even the other participants turned to see the clash between them, while normal people couldn't see the aura they could see the effect it had on the environment. To them Knights and Lords were superhuman beings capable of great feats of strength, some even believe they've been blessed by the gods which isn't difficult to see why. Lyanna, Lysa, Elia and Ashara all watched from the stand with bated breath, while the former two knew how powerful Daemon was they didn't know how strong he was compared to Ser Barristan who was one of the strongest men in Westeros.
Others who were also interested in the fight were the Starks and Baratheon, mostly due to how Brandon spoke of him. Brandon himself wanted to see how far Daemon had advanced, as when he met the boy he had monstrous talent, it had not only been cultivated by one of the strongest people in Westeros but also THE strongest person.
Daemon grinned as he felt Barristan release more aura from his body making himself stronger, causing him to slowly overpower Daemon as he did not release more aura to match Barristan. Daemon pivots to the left and lets Barristan's sword slide to the left-hand side, as it makes contact with the ground it causes a large boom and a crater forms, the force of the strike managed to lift Daemon off the ground but he quickly grounded himself and brought his sword up to cleave at Barristan diagonally.
Barristan ducks underneath the strike and spins unleashing a side swipe aiming for Daemon's arm, Daemon not having enough time to block transfers a majority of his aura into his hand and slaps the blade away though he managed to get a large gash on the back of his hand because of it "You're not playing around are you Barristan" Daemon said with a smile as he looked at the gash on his hand.
Barristan nodded as he gave him a look full of determination "I've trained my entire life to become as strong as I have, you barely a man have managed to in only a few years reach my level" he stated
He then stood straight and held his sword in front of him "As a knight and a warrior I have to know if I can beat you or if you are simply on a different level... Please Daemon fight me" he said with slight desperation in his voice.
Daemon felt his heart clench 'Shit' he thought to himself as he thought over Barristans words the man had done too much to him to simply ignore his request, and while he wanted to hide his true strength until the time came he didn't need to show all of it now "Very well Barristan" Daemon said as he held up his hand showing the gash, his aura then exploded out of his body taking on a golden colour and the cut on his hand sealed up "I hope you're ready" Daemon said as he once again gripped his sword.
Barristan smiled and nodded, Daemon then charged towards Barristan and sliced through the air with his sword which Barristan blocked though he struggled to do so, however, Daemon didn't stay in the clash for long as he lifted his blade which dragged Barristans up with it due to the guard. Daemon then launched a powerful kick catching Barristan in the chest and sending him flying back a dozen feet, though the older knight managed to land on his feet and skid on the ground. But Daemon wouldn't give him a moment to rest, they clashed swords once more and exchanged a fast flurry of strikes between them before it ended with Daemon jumping over a swipe aimed to cut him at the wait and kick Barristan in the face which dazed him.
Barristan had a manic grin on his face as it had been a long time since he had felt like this, he gripped his sword again and channelled a large amount of aura into it before slicing down where Daemon was emitting a large slash of pure aura which created a gash in the ground as it approached Daemon.
Daemon rolled out of the way before realising another one had been sent towards him, he pooled his aura into his sword and released the same technique cancelling Barristan's one. Daemon then rushed back towards Barristan before slamming his sword into his own, he had not refined the aura that he transferred to his sword so it turned his sword into more of a blunt object than something that could cut very well. However, this gave Daemon the advantage as with every swing Barristan was sent back a few feet it was as if he was being hit by a Warhammer.
Has Daemon swung his sword at Barristan's ribs, the old man turned and intercepted it with the flat end of his sword bracing it with both hands, he then lifted it up and over his head before moving with the spin and counterattacking. Daemon cursed as Barristan had managed to get passed his guard again, he quickly raised his hand and sent a burst of raw aura at Barristan that was strong enough to push them both away.
Barristan twirls his sword as he looks at Daemon with a frown "I thought we agreed to fight seriously Daemon, will you not use your ability?" Barristan asked as he had a burning curiosity as to what it was, long ago back in Riverrun he had an idea of what his ability might be but over the years Daemon has kept it quite close to his chest. Barristan was sure that if Daemon was using his ability his aura would be attached to his own, he quickly channeled aura into his eyes and laughed, there was a line of aura connecting them 'He must've hidden it from me with 'Hide'' Barristan thought to himself.
Daemon smirked "You finally noticed?" He said with amusement in his voice. Daemon had attached his aura at be beginning of the fight, though he hadn't made much use of it as it gave him an overwhelming advantage in a straight sword fight "I will take things up a level, get ready" Daemon said before flaring his aura and charging at Barristan.
Barristan stood ready and drew his sword back to hit Daemon but the moment he did Daemon pushed off his right foot and slipped to the side where Barristan's sword was making any hit he could get off ineffective as there wouldn't be any force behind the swing. Daemon however didn't attack Barristan with his sword, he drew his fist back and smashed it against the Knights chest denting his armour and sending him flying back. Barristan was knocked off his feet and rolled back across the field, as he got to his feet he was suddenly attacked by other participants who thought they could take advantage of the situation.
Barristan blocked an overhead swing from an axe while on his knees before pushing back and getting to his feet, he smashed the pommel of his sword into the man's head knocking him out, he then backhanded another participant who did not have the benefit of aura to protect him, blood and teeth were spat from the man's mouth as he hit the floor. Barristan then quickly made work of the others who had attacked him incapacitating them all as Daemon watched.
Once he knocked out the final participant he turned back to Daemon "Now where were we" he said before charging back at Daemon, however, every swing he took against Daemon was avoided no matter how he feinted or how fast he swung 'It was like he knows my move before I've even-'
"Done it" Daemon stated making Barristan's eyes widen, Daemon then ducked under his swing before swinging his blade around and smashing it into Barristan's ribs, a hit that would've cut the man in half had Daemon not blunted his blade with his aura. Barristan felt all the air knocked out of him as he could feel several ribs break, he felt disoriented as he flew through the air finally hitting the ground. Barristan struggled to his feet as he held his side 'He is so much stronger than I would've imagined' Barristan thought before grabbing his chest plate and ripping it off his body letting it fall to the floor, it wouldn't help now anyway. The worst part was that Barristan believed that Daemon still wasn't giving it his all 'Well I suppose I'll have to change that' Barristan thought to himself.
'The Bold'
(AN; Start of the fight between Barristan and Daemon, the knight and squire or at least ex squire. Anyway hope you enjoyed.)
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