BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The collision echoed across the endless battlefield.
Golden mana erupted in every direction.
The shockwave ripped apart the stone beneath their feet.
Ben's arms trembled.
Aegis hadn't moved.
Not even an inch.
The First Vanguard's colossal sword remained locked against Ben's greatsword.
The pressure continued to build.
Stone cracked.
The earth sank.
Yet...
Ben refused to yield.
---
Aegis' golden eyes studied him.
«"Why?"»
Ben gritted his teeth.
"What?"
«"Why continue resisting?"»
«"Your strength is inferior."»
«"Your technique is inferior."»
«"Your experience..."»
«"...is inferior."»
The Titan pressed harder.
BOOOOOOM!!
Ben's knees bent.
His boots dug deep trenches through the battlefield.
Blood dripped from his clenched hands.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke.
General...
Warning.
Physical strain exceeding safe combat limits.
Muscle fatigue: 67%.
Mana reserves: 74%.
Recommendation: Retreat and reposition.
Ben smiled.
"...Denied."
---
With a roar...
Ben shoved forward.
BOOM!!
The two warriors separated.
Ben slid backward across the stone.
Aegis remained exactly where he stood.
The ancient Titan nodded.
«"You ignored your System."»
Ben rested his greatsword on his shoulder.
"I ignored the recommendation."
"My System gives me information."
"It doesn't make my decisions."
For the first time...
Aegis' eyes narrowed with interest.
---
The Titan slowly walked forward.
«"Then answer me."»
«"What is a shield?"»
Ben blinked.
"...A shield?"
Aegis stopped.
«"Is it steel?"»
«"Is it mana?"»
«"Is it power?"»
Silence.
Ben thought back.
He remembered the day the System descended.
The panic.
The screams.
The monsters.
He remembered standing beside Sam.
Neither of them was strong enough back then.
Neither of them knew if they would survive.
Yet...
They had still chosen to fight.
Ben smiled.
"A shield..."
"...is a promise."
Aegis remained silent.
Ben continued.
"It doesn't matter what it's made of."
"If someone is standing behind you..."
"You don't move."
The battlefield became still.
Even the wind seemed to disappear.
---
Suddenly...
Aegis laughed.
A deep...
Powerful laugh that echoed across the endless world.
«"Excellent."»
«"Then prove it."»
The Titan raised his massive shield.
Ancient runes erupted across its surface.
WHOOM!!
The battlefield shook violently.
The remaining Titan warriors marched forward once more.
But this time...
They weren't attacking Ben.
They marched toward the civilians.
Thousands of warriors.
One hundred helpless people.
Inside Ben's mind...
His System immediately responded.
General...
Emergency.
Projected civilian casualties: Total loss.
Time until contact...
Thirty seconds.
Ben's eyes widened.
"They're ignoring me?"
Aegis answered calmly.
«"Would your enemies..."»
«"...always attack you first?"»
Ben didn't answer.
He was already moving.
---
BOOM!!
Golden mana exploded beneath his feet.
He charged toward the advancing legion.
His greatsword swung with incredible force.
CRAAAAASH!!
Three Titans shattered.
He kept running.
Another blocked his path.
Ben shoulder-charged straight through it.
Stone fragments exploded across the battlefield.
More Titans stepped into his way.
Too many.
Far too many.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke urgently.
General...
Enemy interception successful.
Probability of reaching civilians before enemy contact...
Eight percent.
Ben's breathing grew heavier.
"...Then I'll make my own chance."
---
He planted his foot.
Golden mana erupted around his entire body.
Every Titan on the battlefield turned toward him.
Ben took one deep breath.
Then raised his greatsword high into the air.
His voice thundered across the endless battlefield.
"HEY!"
Every Titan stopped.
"If you want to get to them..."
His fearless grin returned.
"...you'll have to go through me first!"
For a brief moment...
The battlefield became completely silent.
Then...
Every Titan warrior turned as one.
Thousands of golden eyes fixed upon Ben.
Aegis smiled.
«"Correct."»
«"The greatest shield..."»
«"...does not wait for danger."»
«"...It becomes the danger."»
The entire Titan legion charged.
Ben lowered his stance.
His grip tightened around his greatsword.
His smile never faded.
"Come on, then."
"Let's see how many of you it takes..."
"...to move one Vanguard of the Silver Kingdom."
The endless legion crashed toward him like a tidal wave.
And Ben stood alone.
Unmoving.
Unbreakable.