CHAPTER 12: The System Companion
Benji’s vision wavered as he staggered forward. The air was buzzing with the creature’s crackling energy. Before him the second Strak’t, fixed its eyes on him with predatory intent.
Benji’s thoughts were a mess. He felt as if thrown into a bizarre dream, beginning from his mother’s disappearance.
A low growl abruptly dragged him back to the present. He licked his lips. The taste of blood and dirt mingling on his tongue. His muscles screamed in protest, the relentless pounding of his heart reverberating in his ears. Just a little longer, he thought as the seconds ticked by.
The [Last Stand] perk still coursed through him, barely. It kept him upright, kept him fighting, but he could feel it fading, like the last flicker of a candle in the wind. His hands trembled around the hilt of his dagger, its blade slick with blood from the last Strak’t. The second one, though, was stronger. A Level 3, huh?
The Strak’t hissed, its striped hide crackling with arcs of electricity that lit up the dark cavern. With a sudden, deafening shriek, it lunged. Benji threw himself forward with a roar, deciding to meet it head on and exploit whatever time he had. At the last moment he let the beast bite his left arm, and with his right hand he thrust his dagger into the creature’s thick hide. The Strak’t reared back, releasing Benji’s unharmed arm. It staggered, its electric energy sparked out and Benji felt a deep need to see the creature’s HP bar, like he did in games. He squeezed his eyes, prodding the System to answer to his need, and before long, a thin almost empty HP bar appeared below the Strakt’s name.
Benji felt the warm aura of his newfound perk fade. A sudden wave of exhaustion surged through him. His muscles seized, his vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he was about to collapse. The dagger slipped from his fingers as he stumbled backward, his legs trembling under the strain. No, not now. Please, not now!
He quickly checked his own stats. His mana reserves were dangerously low, and his stamina had almost bottomed out. The weight of fatigue pressed down on him.
In desperation, Benji’s hand fumbled for something into his pouch. His fingers closed around a clump of his harvested blue glowing moss. Without hesitation, he shoved the moss into his mouth. Its bitter, lemony taste was appalling, but he chewed through it, feeling his body rejuvenate a little with the meager mana the moss provided. It wasn’t much but it was enough to keep him from collapsing.
His eyes darted back to the Strak’t when its wheezing breaths came to an abrupt stop. The Strak’t collapsed to the ground with a soft thud, its yellow eyes glowed no more. Its body rippled with a surge of electricity, before dissipating. This time, Benji let out a long held breath, and tried to keep his eyes focused, but to no avail. His legs then gave out beneath him. He collapsed onto his knees and his body began trembling uncontrollably. The world dimmed, his vision narrowing to a tunnel. He was on the edge of consciousness, slipping into darkness.
And then, an overwhelming rush of warmth flooded his body lifting it just above the ground. He gasped as his senses flared back to life. Energy surged through his veins, his muscles tensing. A healing wave ran throughout his whole existence, and his health, mana, and stamina bars all restored in an instant, glowing bright in the corner of his vision.
[Strak’t Scouts Defeated – Experience Gained]
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[New Level Achieved: Level 3]
[Rewards: + 1 to all attributes]
Benji quickly summoned his [Status Screen] to witness the changes.
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[Status Screen]
Name: Benji Thorn [Level 3]
Rank: Bronze [Initiate]
Race: Human
Lineage: Crown Sentinel [Tier 1]
Lineage Perk: Last Stand
Guild: None
Planet of Origin: Earth
Class: Survivor
Health: 130/130
Stamina: 120/120
Mana: 60/60
Attributes:
Vitality: 12(+1)
Strength: 12
Willpower: 12
Intelligence: 12
Endurance: 12
Agility: 12
Skills:
Ignite [Basic]
Conditions:
Prometheus’ Minor Blessing: Mana Recovery +5%
Mana Poisoning: Mana Recovery -5%
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For a second, Benji could only lie there, staring in disbelief. His total HP had plummeted. How could I lose Health Points while also leveling up?
He considered for a moment before looking at his clothes. His own clothes were dirty and torn in numerous spots, but his cloak, his newly acquired [Survivor’s Cloak], was in tatters. Its durability had fallen to 10 out of 50 points, and now it provided only 10 bonus Health Points.
Benji sighed and then lifted up his knife. He calmed down when he saw that it was far more durable than the cloak, managing to only lose 15 points of durability out of 50.
His hands shook as he pushed himself up, feeling the soreness and fatigue fade away as he read through his [Status Sheet]. His body felt lighter, stronger than before. His mind sharpened, thoughts coming quicker, clearer. Motes of glowing energy danced around him, the remnants of the leveling process, as he read the last piece of information on his [Status Sheet]. Mana Poisoning? What the..?
His thoughts whirled. Due to this negative condition, his [Prometheus’ Minor Blessing] got nullified.
It wasn’t much now but that 5%, could prove a life saver during his fight with the Strak’t Leader.
A surge of fear washed over him, but he quickly dismissed it. He was alive. He was stronger. He could make it.
He clutched his knife tighter, and searched around for his makeshift torch. It was thrown into a corner and its flames were flickering weakly against the shadows. As he stepped closer to lift it, and rekindle its flames, his mind replayed the last moments before the perk had vanished, how his legs had nearly given out. He’d been seconds away from death. Evander’s message flashed in his memory. Benji exhaled, clenching his fists. He wouldn’t let that be his fate. At least not before he could find his mother.
Holding the torch, he glanced down, taking stock of himself once again. His wounds were healed, but his clothes were torn and filthy, streaked with dirt and blood. His cloak, the one item of true quality in his possession, was no longer intact, its durable material shredded and just as dirty as the rest of him. He lifted his head, and ran a hand through his hair feeling the grime and sweat crusted on his skin, but despite it all, he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. He was on an adventure after all. Even though it was hard to fully enjoy it without a pang of guilt.
Ηe grimaced and stared down at the charred carcass of the Strak’t Scout, the faint smell of burnt flesh lingering in the air, contrasting sharply with the cool, earthy scent of the cave.
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[Loot. Y/N]
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He mentally selected [Yes] to initiate the looting process. When the items fell as if from thin air in front of him, the creature’s remains evaporated leaving behind the same slimy substance as the horned hare.
His eyes quickly scanned the system notifications that popped up:
* Strak’t Scout Pelt x1
* Monster Fat x1
* Monster Core [Common] x1
The pelt was soft but sturdy. It might be useful for crafting or selling later. The fat and cores, however, seemed far more valuable. He turned the [Monster Core] over in his palm, its faint aquatic glow pulsing with residual energy. He’d read about these in some novel—cores that contained the very essence of creatures, used in crafting, alchemy, and occasionally as a mana source. Benji tucked the loot into his inventory, eyes lingering on the core for a moment longer.
But then, something more interesting caught his attention—a notification he missed earlier, accompanied by a chime, blinked into existence before his eyes:
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[System Function Unlocked: System Companion]
[System Note: The [System Companion's] form and perks depend on the user’s mana pool reserves.]
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Benji’s brow furrowed. The term [System Companion] stirred something in his mind. The voice he had heard earlier... Could that have been the System Companion? He hadn’t given it much thought during the chaos of the battle, but now that the dust had settled, the idea gnawed at him.
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The screen was as barren as before, offering no hint of how to summon the voice or interact with it.
"Come forth companion,” he shouted but nothing happened. He then commanded mentally but this attempt proved to be also unsuccessful.
“Activate [System Companion]," he muttered under his breath, half-expecting silence to be his only answer again.
To his surprise, a small flash of light appeared near his wrist, and Benji blinked in shock as a pixelated, blue figure emerged from the bracelet. It hovered in front of him, bobbing slightly as it took shape—a small, floating smiley face, with a soft blue hue and a pair of digital eyes that blinked with a life of their own. The face had a peculiar charm, a charm that resonated with Benji.
“Hello, Benji,” the creature said in a cheerful, slightly robotic voice. “I am your [System Companion]. Apologies for the delay in introducing myself.”
Benji stared at it, eyes wide. "You’re the voice?" The glowing ball of pixels smiled at him like an overly eager pet. Up until this moment he hadn’t realized how alone he really was. This blue pixelated blob seemed to sooth his psyche even if for a bit.
"Yes, that was me," the companion replied with a small tilt of its head, as if aware of his confusion. “I couldn't manifest until now due to your limited mana reserves. But now that you’ve reached [Level 3], your mana core is stable enough to support my projection.”
Benji blinked, his mind racing to catch up with the information. I’ve had this thing with me the whole time, and I didn’t even know?
The companion hovered closer, its glow intensifying slightly as it continued. “[System Companions] like me are tied directly to your mana pool. The more mana you have, the more I can assist. Right now, I draw 20 points from your mana pool, but in return, I provide some helpful perks.”
Benji furrowed his brow, intrigued. "What kind of perks?"
A small menu popped up, displaying the companion’s status sheet:
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[System Companion’s Status Screen]
* Name: None
* Type: System Companion
* Level: 1
* Mana Reservation: 20 Mana Points are permanently allocated to the companion to ensure its effective operation, reducing the user's available mana pool.
* Abilities:
* Healing Pulse: Can restore a small amount of HP to the user once per day.
* Guidance: Increases user’s perception when active.
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"That’s it?" Benji muttered, staring at the limited abilities. The [Healing Pulse] might come in handy, but the rest seemed underwhelming, given the amount of mana it drew.
The companion bobbed up and down. “I’m still at [Level 1], Benji. As you grow stronger, so do I. I’ll be able to unlock more abilities as we go. The more your mana pool grows, the better I can assist you.”
Benji exhaled, trying to process everything. It made sense, in a strange way. But still... there was something else. Something about that voice during the fight.
The companion seemed to sense his hesitation. “You’re on a path, Benji,” it said, its tone shifting to a more serious note. “You’re part of an ancient lineage—the Crown Sentinels. Protectors of balance in the connected worlds. It’s a revered, specialized lineage that hasn’t been active on Earth for a long time... until now.”
Benji froze, his heart skipping a beat. Could all of this be connected to the crown he had seen Mr. Karras showing his father and John? And what about John’s smirk the moment he fell? Was it intentional? Had John seen him fall?
“Crown Sentinels… Protectors… What does that have to do with me and my lineage?” he asked, trying to connect the dots. His thoughts immediately turned to his mother. She had vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but mystery.
Is it all connected?
The companion hesitated for a moment, its digital glow flickering slightly. “I don’t have all the information. But I believe a member of your family might have been a part of this lineage. There might be records of a Sentinel connected to your bloodline.”
Benji’s throat tightened. My family? Could my mother have been involved in this strange world too? The thought sent a cascade of emotions through him. The idea of his mother being part of this ancient lineage as well left him with more questions than answers.
The companion floated closer, its digital eyes meeting his. “You’re not supposed to understand it all from the beginning, Benji. Your safety is what matters now. You’re part of something much bigger than you think.”
Benji swallowed hard. “ But I am just a teenager. A teenager who likes to hike and read books.”
The [System Companion] swirled above his arm. “Yes, you are that too. That’s why you have to take it one step at a time.”
The cave around him seemed even quieter now, the silence pressing in as Benji stood there, grappling with the enormity of his new reality.
The System Companion, still floating next to him in its pixelated, blue form, seemed to pick up on an unspoken question of his.
“Tell me. Aren’t you curious about your class?” it asked, its voice chirping but calm.
Benji nodded, his brow furrowed. “Yeah. I have been thinking a lot about that actually. What if I didn’t make the right choice?”
The companion flickered like a firefly. “The Survivor class is unique, Benji, but it’s not exactly held in high regard by most Trial Delvers. Unlike more specialized classes that focus on a single strength—like Warriors, who excel in combat, or Mages, who master magic—the Survivor class spreads its attribute points evenly. You won’t be the strongest in a specific field, but you also won’t have a glaring weakness.”
Benji frowned. A jack of all trades, master of none. That phrase had never sat well with him. It felt... underwhelming. Though, his mind seemed to stick to another pair of words. “You said Trial Delvers?”
"Correct," it replied in its mechanical voice. "Trial Delvers are those who choose to face the Trial Domains, regions designed to test strength, resilience, and adaptability. Like the one you challenge now, even though it is only a Tutorial Trial Domain, a challenge to help you grow. Trial Delvers dive into these challenges, each hoping to survive and grow within Theria's unforgiving reality.
Trial Delvers aren’t all like you, however. As I said, many come with specific class affinities and years of preparation. You, Benji, emerged from your assigned Tutorial Forest with the Survivor class—a foundation that favors versatility over specialization. It’s a balanced approach, but in the eyes of some, it lacks prestige. Though, versatility is all you need sometimes."
“Isn’t that... a disadvantage?” Benji asked, thinking back to all the other classes he’d read about during his brief time with the System. Warriors with unmatched strength, Archers with impeccable aim, and Mages who could bend reality with a flick of their hand. Where did that leave him?
The companion bobbed side to side, wearing a big smile. “It depends on how you use it. The Survivor class isn’t about excelling in one area; it’s about adaptability. You can learn skills from a wider variety of disciplines, and as you grow, your class will evolve. When you rank up to silver, you’ll become a much more revered Adventurer. A class more capable in every area. Each evolution brings new strengths.”
Benji considered this for a moment. “An Adventurer is a separate class here?”
“Indeed, Benji! Adventurer is the first evolution of your class. When a Survivor reaches Silver Rank, their adaptability grows into something even more potent. Adventurers retain the Survivor’s versatility but gain broader access to skills and techniques across many fields—combat, magic, agility, and more. It’s a class that thrives in unexpected situations, able to handle a range of challenges where specialists might falter.”
It leaned closer. “Consider it like this: while others might be limited to their one sharp blade, you’re building a toolkit. Each step you take, each Trial you pass, adds to it. By the time you reach Adventurer, you’ll be capable of holding your own in ways many wouldn’t anticipate. It’s not the usual path, but it can be quite powerful if you grow into it. Adaptability is the key.”
Adaptability. It wasn’t the power surge of a single skill, but the ability to stand firm no matter the situation. Still, there was a lingering doubt gnawing at him. “But I didn’t get any special training before ending up here. Shouldn’t I have prepared for this? The Trial Delversp, people who train for these challenges, do they all come in ready?”
The companion hesitated. “In most cases, yes. Many who enter the [Tutorial Trial Domain] are prepared in many ways. But you, you seem to have been thrown in, unprepared. It’s unusual, but not unheard of. What’s more unusual is how you’ve survived without that preparation.”
Benji sighed, and suddenly thought of Evander. Wasn’t he trained?
He turned to the System Companion. “Do you know what happened with Evander? Is this Tutorial the same for everyone?”
“I don’t have records on the name, Benji. Each Trial Domain, even the [Tutorial Trial Domain], is unique to the Delver. The System adapts, shifting the challenges and encounters to match, or test the individual. It responds to their strengths, their weaknesses, their very intentions. For most, it begins simply enough, but it escalates quickly as it senses their readiness or their potential."
It paused, as if considering Benji's question further. “As for Evander, as I said, I don’t have records of him, but know that if a Delver is trained, their Domain can become even more perilous. It’s rare for a trained Delver to be lost in the Tutorial, but it does happen, especially if their trial adapts faster than they can keep up. Evander’s path might have twisted into something he wasn’t prepared for. His skills might have been strong, thus the Domain tested him given his prowess. Remember this though, a Domain tests more than just ability. It tests resilience, adaptability, even one’s resolve to survive.”
Benji looked around, before settling his eyes on the seemingly wise smiley face once again.
The Companion's voice then softened. “You, Benji, have come this far without the traditional training, and yet here you are. The System doesn’t often throw Delvers in unprepared, but the fact that you've survived… well, that says something.”
“Did I survive because the System calculated my weaker abilities and gave me an easier challenge then?”
“Not exactly,” it replied. “The System doesn’t grant easier challenges, Benji. It grants ones that push you to your limits, balancing just enough risk with just enough possibility. If your [Trial Domain] was suited to you, it wasn’t to make things simple but to test your adaptability, resourcefulness, and will to persevere.”
It paused, as if weighing its words. “Some Delvers who come fully trained may face a Domain that plays to their weaknesses, pushing them past the comforts of their strengths. But for you’ve survived a test meant to adapt as you grow. The System rarely offers anyone a path without peril, yet it recognizes potential where preparation lacks.”
The Companion tilted forward. “It’s not an easier path, Benji, just a different one.”
“But how can I overcome my weaknesses? I don’t have the slightest idea of how the System works.” Benji said.
The companion brightened, sensing an opportunity. “There’s a way to gain strength even now. Spell upgrade. With the help of the System, you can upgrade your spells into more powerful versions. The potential is limitless, if you put in the effort.”
Benji’s eyes lit up at the thought. “Upgrade my Skills? Like I did with [Ignite]?”
“Yes and no. The [Ignite] spell is adaptable to one’s willpower. Right now, it’s a basic spark, enough to burn, but not much more. However, with the right materials and focus, you can trace its way of working to create something much stronger. It can be a wave of fire, instead of just a flash of heat like you did before. Many [Initiates] have upgraded [Ignite] into the more potent [Flame Burst] spell, during their pre-tutorial training.”
Benji’s mind raced. “A wave of fire?” A chill ran down his spine at the thought. A spell like [Flame Burst] would give him a real edge in combat, something he desperately needed.
“How do I do that?” Benji asked.
The companion bobbed again. “Merging [Monster Cores] is the way. If you combine enough of them, their energy helps the spell evolve. The stronger the core, the greater the evolution. You have three common [Monster Cores] one looted from the [Horned Hare] and two from the [Strak’t Scouts] you just defeated. We can use them.”
Benji looked at the cores he had stashed in his inventory. They pulsed faintly, like a reservoir of untapped power. Merging cores to upgrade a spell. It seemed risky. If he failed, he might lose the cores and the opportunity, but he couldn’t afford to stay stagnant. This was his chance to take a leap forward.
“Let’s do it,” he said.