Just as Benign tried to pull the blade, the ground began to tremble. He looked at the position of the elves and found that their area was still.
"This is just my cross, isn't it?"
A huge crack opened around him, preventing him from jumping out. He looked at the space and an ominous air was coming from it. "The dark miasma."
The ground he stood on had been isolated and slowly, it began to descend. The elf men realized and started a sprint towards him. "What happened now?"
"I reached for the blade and this happened! There's a dark miasma from here! You guys should find a way out of here! Ask the Firewings to break down the walls as you planned, Vargel. I'll be fine!"
Benign had to shout as the ground lowered quickly. He was already five feet below and the two looked down at him, confused.
"Where will we meet up? I found important things on the walls about the glitches!" Vargel shouted back. "Also, how do we talk to the firewings?!"
Benign sighed. That was a necessary question. Finding information about the glitches was the sole reason for coming here, but fate had plans.
"Just get to safety first, you two. Stay with the Firewings. I can always find Kendrick."
Ston pulled Vargel out towards the outer cave.
Benign looked down as the ground lowered quickly, not knowing what to anticipate. Was he being taken to another cave? Or was being sent to fight since he was given a blade?
[It's a good thing you have insight.]
Benign scoffed. Wasn't that something he should've given him a heads-up on? "So I am right. My superiors only gave us new weapons to try when there was a pending war. I didn't think you'd be shitty like that."
[Well, it wasn't my decision this time.]
The ground finally merged with the one under, it stopped moving. "If it wasn't your decision, then whose?"
He got no reply, not that he expected one. He took the time to look at the blade close-up, there were letters on the hilt that he couldn't decipher. Perhaps if his Language Comprehension level was any higher, he would understand.
The blade had a golden hue that complimented the dark hilt. It reflected a light whenever he turned it even when no light was cast on it.
Benign played with it till he got used to its weight and length. The only source of light in the place was the hole he had descended from.
"I've mostly used blades during jungle survival and close-combat training, but I aced those classes so I'd not die easily." He consoled himself. "Hopefully."
[You can use your survival points to swap it with any other weapon in its series, but you only have one chance.]
Benign stared at the weapon for a while, then shook his head. He would keep it as a sword for all his troubles. "You finally gave good advice and I wouldn't be taking it, but thanks."
[Very well.]
"Anything else I should know? Like what can my survival points be used for and why do I gain skills really slowly?"
[You have unlocked two new skills for the Blade of Ages. Toxic resistance. level one. Weapon Meister. level one.]
"No wonder the dark miasma didn't affect me. It didn't seem to be a level six dark miasma either." He moved around the dark cave. "And the Meister skill would boost my sword know-how, no?"
[It's a blade, and yes.]
Benign rolled his eyes. Was there a major difference between a sword and a blade?
[Finally, for this trial, you can use all your skills fully with no mana points deduction. Basic skills would always be activated. The system will still be active, but without me. You can call 'status' to see your skills. Good luck.]
Trial? Benign wanted to ask more questions, but his head suddenly felt empty. He could feel it. Lego's presence was gone. The feeling was particularly discomforting because he woke in this strange world with him speaking in his head.
Now, he felt like he had no thoughts. His head lowered, and he gripped the sword tightly. It made him feel alone for the first time since he arrived.
But he didn't let it bother him for long, because he could feel the impending danger surrounding him.
Growling sounds echoed around the cave. He clenched his sword and peered into the darkness.
Were these trials supposed to kill him? If he failed them, would he lose out on being a Legal Systemist?
A three feet dark wolf jumped from the darkness and Benign narrowly missed its claws. The moment he turned to it, the wolf jumped to him biting his right arm.
[-2 HP]
At least the wolf couldn't do major damage. It was heavy and his body lowered to prevent his arm from ripping off.
Blood rushed to Benign's heart as he heard the encouraging growls of the other wolves hidden in the darkness. So it was a pack.He had to be quick with it or they'd all come at him.
He switched the blade to his left hand and drove it into the wolf. It whimpered and jumped off his arm. He slashed its neck. "Come on. Make it quick."
His arm was already healing so he knew these wolves were lower than level three. He just had to recklessly kill them, despite their attacks. He could tell this was only the first stage.
Seeing their champion dead, the wolves began rushing out in twos and threes. Benign took out the triple pointed sickle, which the system called Tristab, in his other arm.
The Tristab handled those that bit him and the blade cut in two those that jumped.
Benign had experience with two weapons at the same time during jungle training, so he dismembered and dissected, depending on his reach.
[-6 HP]
[-6 HP]
Some hesitated, and he killed them for good measure. Some retreated to the darkness, and he didn't chase.
Benign panted slowly, waiting for his regeneration to catch up with the multiple wounds. He ignored the pain, and concentrated on the kills.
[-12 HP]
The remaining wolves waited too; snarling, watching, and waited for a movement of weakness.
Suddenly, quakes happened. It sounded like a huge animal was coming towards them slowly. The wolves took off and Benign felt the need to follow them.
"Not even a moment of rest." He sighed, shaking off the blood steaming down the blade. The animal came closer but stopped seven feet away from Benign.
He stayed at his position, directly under the light made from the ground that had descended. He knew he couldn't climb up so he only had to move forward from here onwards.
"What is your name?" a low guttural voice asked.
Benign became more conscious. His body tensed up and he adjusted his stance. It wasn't just wild animals that'd attack with minimal strategy. This one was capable of speech and articulation.
"Benign Cross."
There were two more quakes which indicated the creature got closer. Then his voice boomed out. "I am Tuff. Former protector of the realms, and citizen of Karnak."
Benign nodded since he knew the creature could see him. "Are we supposed to fight... or are you leading me to some place?" He asked, trying to buy more time to regain his strength since his injuries were completely healed.
Also, he wouldn't mind if the trials were the wolves only.
"You were summoned because you proclaimed to be the protector of realms. This is your second in seven trials to fulfill your desire and become a protector of realms."
Benign's jaw dropped. It was a prank!
He slowly stepped back in disbelief. "Let me tell you something… um… I really didn't want to." He palmed his face. He only wanted a place to rest.
Seven whole trials! And his system even ran off!