The Last Legendary System

"Is this the second wave of death?"

Another quake answered Benign.

That wasn’t what he expected to hear. He shook off the blood steaming down the blade. He walked towards it.

The quakes stopped seven feet away from Benign. He remained at his position, directly under the light made from the ground that had descended.

He raised his head. There was still no face. Just a shadowy figure hidden in the dark. He raised his head higher and wondered if he could escape by climbing.

"Your name?" a low guttural voice asked.

Benign tensed up. His new challenge wasn’t a wild hyena to attack with minimal strategy.

"I am Benign Cross. You?"

Two more quakes indicated the figure got closer. Benign heard them groan as they bent their knees.

The voice boomed out. "I am Tuff. Former protector of the realms, and citizen of Karnak."

Benign nodded since he knew the person could see him. "Are we supposed to... uh... fight... or are you leading me to some place?"

He tried to buy time to regain his strength since his injuries were completely healed. Also, he wouldn’t mind if the trials were the wolves only.

"That was a warm-up. Your first trial begins now."

Benign’s jaw dropped. He took it back up.

"You were summoned because you proclaimed to be the Protector of Realms. This is your chance to fulfill your desire and become a protector of realms."

Benign stepped back in disbelief. It was a small lie. A moment of weakness because he was desperate for water.

"I assumed I was here because the sword chose me."

"Well, that was a delight." Tuff hummed heartily. "After getting the letter from Lady Lyra, thanking us for sending a Protector, we decided to recruit you. Being the chosen one made it delightful."

’So she’s the one that told them?’ He nodded. "I am delighted... as well."

"Very well. Your first trial is a challenge with your weakness." Tuff declared. "Follow me."

Benign forced himself to follow. He palmed his face. He had only wanted a place to stay, but dug another detour into his already taxing mission.

And his system even ran off.

Then he’d simply make the lie become the truth. He would get something good out of this. It was not like he had any form of support.

"Is death a factor during the trials?"

"Yes. If you die, it would be seen as punishment for declaring yourself a protector of realms when you haven’t been accepted." Tuff paused.

"But you are a chosen one. So don’t die."

Benign chuckled. He couldn’t even leave with a smack on the wrist. Death awaited instead.

"And trials are mandatory for all?"

"Trials are mandatory for all."

Benign sighed, but this time, in resignation. If Ashold could survive it before he found his legendary sword, then he could too.

"Do not be afraid. I would go easy on you so you would be accepted." Tuff said with a friendly tone. "We need fighters and thinkers. You seem to be both."

It was a random compliment from someone who might hand his ass to him soon. Benign knew a former protector had more experience than him.

"Thank you."

A cave slammed open, draining the growing peace Benign felt after the compliment. He did not feel his strength was ready for what he was about to do.

Only Tuff’s lower body was his height, and he stood a little over six feet. ’How easy is Tuff going to make this for me?’

He walked into the cave first. A floating ember of flame stood alone. The soldier glanced around the room, and that was the only thing worth looking at.

"Ember of Memories," Tuff said. "It reveals what you’ll want to protect most. It will be interesting to see how you protect it from me."

The idea clicked, leaving lines across Benign’s forehead. "I protect it, and defend against you... while you attack me and my weakness?"

"Exactly." Tuff came into view.

A massive bear with scars across his chest. Nothing too weird as Benign had imagined. Just a full werebear in their true form.

"Can you handle it?"

Benign smiled. He faced the embers. "I will show you my best." He reached for the base of the ember.

Instead of feeling heat, light from his palm flowed into the ember. It glowed a little brighter. "So that’s why it holds memories. It just takes what we...."

Sniffle. Sniffle. Sniffle.

Benign’s eyes widened. "You have to be kidding me..."

His gaze dropped at the snotty red-haired boy, gripping his trousers with one hand and the other hand holding a large black horse toy dressed like a ranger. Benign threw his head back.

"Me?"

"That is quite adorable." Tuff nodded at his words. "The one you want to protect the most is you."

"No, it isn’t." Benign snapped. "Nothing sad happened to him. At four, my life was perfect. Best years."

"The ember doesn’t lie."

"Well, after keeping it locked up in a cave alone, it felt bitter and decided to play a prank." Benign pointed both hands at the boy. "Change it."

"Change what?"

"Little me. I would hate to see myself get hurt."

A grin spread across Tuff’s face. His canines flashed. "We start." He pushed a foot forward.

Benign lifted the boy to his arms and rested his head on his shoulders. "You are so excited to bully a kid." He held the sobbing child close to him. "Disgraceful."

A fist punch was thrown towards him. He barely missed the heavy air that came before the punch, and the punch that crashed to the ground.

The wall behind him cracked. The child wailed.

He rolled his eyes. ’Of course, I was a crybaby then.’

His eyes searched Tuff’s gigantic body. He found many blind spots he could fire at.

However, with a hand on the child, he had to choose between the revolver and his blade.

Benign ducked beneath another crushing punch. The impact shattered a stone behind him, spraying rubble across the chamber.

He twisted his body, shielding the child against his chest. Pebbles struck his back instead. "Stop crying," he muttered through gritted teeth.

The boy cried louder.

"Oh, come on."

Tuff’s massive arm swept sideways. Benign leapt back, but the shockwave alone threw him across the cave. He landed hard on one shoulder, curling around the child before they struck the ground.

His elbow scraped raw.

[STR 105 + END 210: Physical Resistance High.]

"This isn’t working." But when he looked down, the child remained untouched. It made the pain easier.

"Good instinct," Tuff praised, already charging again.

Benign rolled beneath the werebear’s feet. One hand held the child. The other barely kept the Blade between himself and the next stomp.

He was slow, and a backhand caught him square in the ribs. He skidded across the floor, coughing as pain flared through his chest.

The little boy buried his face deeper into Benign’s shoulder, but didn’t sob.

"Yeah..." Benign winced, forcing himself upright. "Just don’t look. It will be over... soon."

His eyes drifted to the oversized toy horse still clutched in the child’s tiny hand. He stared at the ranger outfit clinging to the toy’s body.

Then he looked at his own empty hand.

A memory surfaced. At four years old, he was obsessed with rangers.

"That means..."

He already knew how to shoot.

"Hey, kid. I have an idea."