The battlefield fell silent.
Stone fragments littered the endless plain.
Hundreds of Titan warriors had fallen.
Yet...
Thousands more remained.
They stood motionless.
Perfectly disciplined.
Waiting.
---
Aegis slowly stepped forward.
THUD...
THUD...
THUD...
Each step shook the battlefield.
His massive shield rested upon one shoulder.
His golden eyes never left Ben.
«"Your strength..."»
«"...has exceeded expectations."»
Ben rested his greatsword across his shoulder.
"Thanks."
"I've had good teachers."
Aegis ignored the remark.
«"But strength..."»
«"...has never made a Vanguard."»
The Titan raised one hand.
The battlefield began to tremble once again.
---
Inside Ben's mind...
His System spoke.
General...
Warning.
Extreme mana fluctuation detected.
Unknown ability activating.
Ben's smile faded.
"So..."
"The real trial starts now."
---
The stone beneath the civilians suddenly shattered.
BOOOOOOM!!
The frightened group cried out.
Massive walls of stone erupted around them.
Within seconds...
They were trapped inside a giant arena.
Only one entrance remained.
And standing inside that entrance...
Was Aegis.
The Titan planted his enormous shield into the ground.
WHOOM!!
Golden runes ignited across its surface.
The shield expanded.
Growing larger...
And larger...
Until it completely sealed the only path leading to the civilians.
Aegis looked directly at Ben.
«"Tell me..."»
«"...Vanguard."»
«"How will you protect those behind you..."»
«"...when I stand in your way?"»
Silence.
Ben narrowed his eyes.
He understood immediately.
The legion had only been the beginning.
Aegis...
Was the true trial.
---
The First Vanguard slowly reached behind his shield.
For the first time...
He drew a weapon.
A massive bronze sword.
Its blade was chipped from countless wars.
Its edge carried the scars of thousands of battles.
Yet...
The ancient weapon radiated overwhelming authority.
Inside Ben's mind...
His System immediately reacted.
General...
Threat Assessment Updated.
Target: Aegis.
Combat Capability: Maximum.
Estimated Probability of Victory...
The System paused.
Then...
Unable to Calculate.
Ben laughed.
"You sound nervous."
...
Affirmative.
Ben couldn't help but grin wider.
"Good."
"Means this'll be fun."
---
Aegis slowly lifted the ancient sword.
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
«"Every Vanguard..."»
«"...must one day face an enemy..."»
«"...he cannot defeat."»
Ben's smile disappeared.
«"When that day comes..."»
«"...will you abandon those behind you..."»
«"...or will you become their shield?"»
The Titan lowered into a fighting stance.
Golden mana erupted around his body.
The endless battlefield trembled.
Even the sky cracked.
Ben felt an overwhelming pressure crash into him.
His boots slid several feet across the stone.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke urgently.
General...
Warning.
Hostile Mana Output exceeds all previously recorded opponents.
Recommendation...
Ben interrupted.
"I know."
He slowly raised his greatsword.
Golden mana flowed around the blade.
His eyes never left Aegis.
"I don't have to beat you..."
"I just have to keep everyone behind me safe."
Aegis smiled.
For the first time...
It was the smile of a warrior.
«"Now..."»
«"...you understand."»
Without another word...
The First Vanguard disappeared.
BOOM!!
Ben's eyes widened.
"So fast—"
Before he could finish—
CLAAAAANG!!
The ancient bronze sword slammed into Ben's greatsword.
A deafening shockwave exploded across the battlefield.
The ground beneath Ben's feet shattered.
His knees bent under the unimaginable force.
His arms trembled.
Every muscle in his body screamed.
Yet...
He refused to take a single step backward.
Behind him...
One hundred civilians watched with hope in their eyes.
Ben gritted his teeth.
His boots carved deep trenches into the stone.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Then...
He smiled.
"You hit pretty hard..."
Golden mana erupted around him.
"...but I've got a kingdom counting on me."
High above...
The Titan King watched from the Hall of Masters.
A faint smile crossed his ancient face.
«"Excellent..."»
«"The heart of a true Vanguard..."»
«"...is beginning to awaken."»