Level Up Legacy

"Seref attacked you?" asked Diana, a little confused but nonetheless distracted. "I didn't know that he could use wrath."

"He could not," said Benjamin with a sad smile. "I made him crave it, seek it, but never knew how to make him control it. Seref lost control of his wrath the moment he awakened it. It was a disaster, one that cost me the love of my life."

"Seref… killed his mother," muttered Diana with widened eyes. "But I heard a different story from Arthur about Seref and his origins. He portrayed you differently."

"Because that's how I saved him from himself," said Benjamin with a sad smile. "I erased his memories of what happened and replaced them with false ones. I gave him a false reason for his mother's death, retaining whatever sanity he had after he returned to himself."

"And he hated you for that."

"The memories seemed to twist for him because I was the one who asked the Patriarch to seal his wrath forever. Seref inherited some of my powers too, but was never too keen on them. He believed that wrath was the way to earn respect. I was the reason behind that misconception too."

"Why?" asked Diana, now somber and distracted from her inability to help Arthur.

"Because I was the runes kid inside a clan of wrath users, the very thing that disabled runes. Even when sparring with my friends, I had no way to defeat them. Wrath disables the opponent and empowers the user. The leaders turned a blind eye to me until I tried to seal the ancient scroll."

"What is that?"

"A scroll that is said to hold the secrets of Ragnar," Benjamin clarified. "As you can see, I failed, and the clan shunned me to the base of the mountain. I was envious, hateful, and wanted nothing other than to prove myself. And even after I met the love of my life wandering in the fog, I never moved on."

"And then you had Seref."

"He was the light of my world, I tell you," Benjamin said with a sad grin, as if speaking about his proudest moment that was long gone. "Being his father was the only thing I knew once he arrived. But I pushed my dreams on him. I wished that he would be different than me."

"Until he snapped," muttered Diana as she looked ahead, seeing her own reflection in the mirror. "My father was not any different. No, he was worse than you are."

"It makes me feel better, but just as heartbroken for you," said Benjamin as he cupped his hands together. "I wonder why fathers always fail? And why sons always become like their fathers?"

"Because that's how humans are," said Diana as she clenched her fists. "Seref was broken, and he tried to break his son too. He wanted Arthur to wish for recognition just like he did, but Arthur was different. Arthur was… whole."

"I could tell with a glance that the boy was different," said Benjamin with a proud smile. "He was unlike us, who needed the world to tell us who we are. He knew what he was, who he was, and he fought for it. But for the rest of us, he almost looks like an alien because of that."

"I need to save him from that wrath," said Diana with a pained expression, her eyes tearing again as she stared at Benjamin. "Please, Benjamin. If something happens to him, I wouldn't want to live this life anymore."

Benjamin stared at her, seeing the despair in her eyes. At that moment, he remembered his wife and the moment that he lost her because of wrath as well. It was at that moment that he began to hate the wretched power. But now that his grandson was suffering because of it, he was afraid to go.

"I'm afraid of seeing the same thing repeat itself," admitted Benjamin while holding out his hand, which he used to stop Seref countless years ago. "I fear that if I take you to him, he would hurt you. And Arthur would never forgive himself."

"I don't know anything about this new world, and everything is constantly changing," said Diana while wiping away her tears. "But I am certain of one thing: Arthur would never hurt me, with wrath or without it. Just take me there, and I'll prove it."

"We don't know where he is," said Benjamin with a shake of his head. Diana was silent before she tried to leave the bed again. "You can't walk yet, Diana. What are you doing?"

"I will crawl if I have to," she said with determination, inching toward the edge. "I know someone who can find him."

"You are that determined, huh?" muttered Benjamin before he nodded and rose. "Alright, I will carry you there. Who is the person who can find him?"

"Alaric," muttered Diana. Benjamin nodded as he picked her up, carrying her on his back to ensure that her wounds wouldn't get worse. "Thank you, Benjamin."

"You can call me grandpa," said the old man with a laugh as he stormed out of the room, but Diana did not answer him. Although a little disappointed, he knew she would come around.

Alaric was still waiting outside, drawing lines in empty air. The moment he saw Diana being carried out, he sprang to his feet with concern. "Where are you going, Miss? Your body still needs to heal."

"She wants to find Arthur, lad," said Benjamin with a smirk. "And she says that you are the only one to find him. But I tried using my ability, and it didn't work."

"This is the time to prove that you are indeed what you claim," said Diana, hinting at something to the young pirate. "Does your ability work even under the eclipse?"

Alaric hesitated before nodding.

"Then find Arthur for us. Now."

***

Inside an aircraft with the logo NR with a torchlight, several people sat in silence as the aircraft flew over the ocean. Other than the soldiers who filled the giant vessel, three characters stood out from the crowd with their ginger hair and blue eyes.

"Again," said the woman, a little worried, "you didn't have to come along, Dad. Just because I refused to stay inside the base doesn't mean that you have to come along to protect me."

"How can I not worry about my daughter going to the epicenter of chaos?" answered the gruff man who had a giant orange beard. He wore a black suit that hid an impressive build of muscles. "In case something goes wrong, I have to be there."

"Your existence is far more important than mine, Dad. You are the founder of the only power in the world that is immune to this outage. Although things have been hard in recent years, this is a turning point," said the chubby young man beside them while eating noodles from a cup.

"Don't celebrate misfortune, Kody," berated the old man. "Our company has always been about protecting people. Runes protect people too, and this is nothing but a disaster for everyone involved. How far are we?" asked the man to a soldier.

"Just a few minutes away, Mr. Nightroad," answered the soldier before he hesitated. Rhys Nightroad frowned as he questioned the man with his gaze. "I have to agree with Lady Selena, sir, even if it seems disrespectful. If anything happens to you, millions of families will suffer around the world."

Selena was glad that someone supported her on the matter. Her father was stubborn, refusing to let her go to Oren after seeing him enter the black dome. But instead of rejecting her outright, he decided to accompany her. Once a decision has been made, Rhys Nightroad would take it to the grave.

"I will forgive this misdemeanor, soldier," said Rhys with a frown. "Let me ask you this. Do you have a daughter?"

"Yes, sir."

"Would you let her go alone if you were in my shoes?"

"No, sir."

"My identity doesn't change the fact that I'm a father, just like you. Furthermore, Oren has helped us numerous times when even our equipment failed us. Not only as a father, but as a man, I have to go!"

No one added a word after he finished speaking. Selena was worried but proud. Her father was indeed such a ferocious man who never accepted compromise when it came to his family or the human race. However, the heavens did not reward him with power, but a mind capable of putting scientists to shame.

The thing that eased her mind, however, was the Level Up Legacy that Arthur has created. Although she barely met Oren's brother, he was indeed an extraordinary man. His legacy allowed her father to grow without limits because of his contributions to the human race. It even rewarded him with an ability that not even Astra-rankers could have.

Although again worried for his safety, Selena was more reassured as they approached her destination. If Oren could disrupt the wrath just enough for her father to activate his domain, they would succeed in containing the calamity.

"We are here!" shouted the pilot from ahead.

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