Utopian System

He had experienced level increases enough times to recognize the usual sensations: the increase in strength, the enhanced clarity in his perception. These were familiar changes, almost comforting in their predictability.

But this was distinct.

His fingers found the book\'s pages almost by instinct, seeking to understand what had changed.

As his eyes scanned the statistics, the familiar numbers seemed to dance with new meaning.

Elio Von Elian\'s Statistics

Skills:

{5 Basic ones}

Heaven\'s Frost

Heaven\'s Spark

Heaven\'s Gale

Heaven\'s Synergist

Heaven\'s Metal(New)

Familiars:

{5 Basic ones}

Frost Penguin

Spark Eel

Gale Roseline-Shark (+40 MD)

Corrosive Glaucus (0/10,000,000,000)

Ferrous Turtle (0/100,000,000,000) (New)

Emblems:

Wind

Level 10

Mana: 100/100

Resistance: 100/100 (+900)

Stamina: 20/20

Attack: 10 (15)

Magic Damage: 10 (+9)(+40) / (59)

Strength: 10 A

Defense: 10 (19)

Magic Defense: 10 (+5)(+9) / (24)

Speed: 10

Perception / Agility: 2 A

Superior Mana Spear / Attack 5

Superior Mana Dagger x10 / Attack 5

Superior Elemental Resistance Cloak / Magic Defense 5

System\'s Armor 9 / ((Defense 9) (Magic Defense 9) (Magic Damage 9) (Resistance(900/900))

Portable oral oxygen stone

Balance: 100 mana points

The numbers appeared almost the same at first glance, but the "A" designation next to his Strength and Perception/Agility values suggested something unprecedented. It was as if the system had added a new dimension to his capabilities that he had yet to comprehend.

The most notable difference lay in his perception.

Usually, the change was subtle, going from 1.9 to 2 would have been a small, expected increment.

This time, however... It was like finding a door where there had only been a wall before.

While the book still marked "2 A" for his perception, and objectively Elio could feel that two was accurate, there was something more, a sensation of untapped potential. It was like having a new muscle that he knew existed but didn\'t yet understand how to flex.

When he concentrated, he could sense something beyond that apparent limit, as if the 2 were merely the surface of something deeper.

His enhanced senses picked up details he\'d never noticed before. The air currents in the chamber carried information about space and movement that he previously would have missed. The metallic remnants of his battle seemed to whisper secrets about their composition and structure.

\'What does this mean?\' he wondered as his eyes traced over the altered values. The answer, he remembered, might be waiting at the chamber\'s center, along with additional rewards for his armor.

The statue at the chamber\'s center seemed to call to him with a silent promise of answers.

After four levels of identical messages, perhaps he would finally receive a different explanation for this new dimension of his power.

When Elio touched the statue, the message that emerged was unlike anything he\'d encountered before:

"EXTRAORDINARY CONGRATULATIONS on conquering the first ring\'s final level! And when I say extraordinary, I mean it this time, not like those generic congratulations I\'ve been giving in other levels... Not to make excuses, but one runs out of creativity after so many divine messages in eternity, you know?

Anyway, this is MAGNIFICENT! You\'ve gone further than your human ancestors ever dreamed. Although, being honest, they didn\'t have much time to dream either, what with being locked in the city and all... But YOU! You\'ve proven it\'s possible!"

The message continued, its tone both playful and profound, each word carrying layers of meaning that seemed to escape Elio\'s comprehension.

The deity\'s personality shone through more clearly than ever.

"Now, about that pending mission we have... you really should come see me at the deposit..."

Elio realized they had been doing things a bit backwards. But well, better late than never.

"...By the way, I promise more information as you complete the deposits. You should know they have two entrances, but hey, that will only be important if you manage to reach them, right? Anyway, let\'s get to what\'s important!

ATTENTION (this is really important, not like everything I said before which was also important but not THIS important):

You\'ve unlocked your first combination! And no, it\'s not like those element combinations you\'ve been making. This is MUCH more interesting. You\'ll be able to combine two of your summons into one, like making a super companion!

BUT (and this is an important BUT, not like the other \'buts\' I\'ve mentioned before), choose wisely. Once you combine two summons, there\'s no going back. It\'s like a magical marriage, but without the possibility of divorce!

In your book, you\'ll find the new option, and although any combination you choose will give you the same magical power increase, the utility... ah, utility is another story.

Think it through, because this companion will be your right hand (or left, I don\'t discriminate) at least until level 20. And yes, there is a level 20, but that\'s a story for another equally long and possibly more confusing message than this one.

P.S.: Have you noticed that \'A\' in your statistics? Interesting, isn\'t it?"

The message continued with an almost apologetic tone:

"I\'d love to explain it to you, REALLY! But... let\'s say I lost certain advantages with a certain Goddess and, well, there are rules about what information I can reveal. You know how these divine things are... Celestial politics and all that! Although with practice, I\'m sure you\'ll discover how it works by yourself.

BUT (and this is the most important BUT of all BUTS in this message), I have something I CAN share with you! Since you\'ve overcome the first ring\'s last level, I can reveal the maximum level information of demons in this ring. You know, those who think they\'re better than my humans just because their magic is \'softer\'... HA!"

And there, finally, the enemy statistics materialized before Elio:

Soldier Demon of (Element???)

Skills:

Frenzy

Metamorphosis

Element Magic (Wind, Fire, Water or Ground)

Mana: 1000/1000

Resistance: 10,000/10,000 (Ground 2x)

Stamina: 100/100 (Water 2x)

Attack: 50 (Fire 2x)

Magic Damage: 50 (Fire 2x)

Strength: 20 (Wind 2x)

Defense: 50 (Ground 2x)

Magic Defense: 50 (Water 2x)

Speed: 20 (Wind 2x)

Perception / Agility: 2 (A)

When the message revealed the demon soldier\'s statistics, Elio felt a chill run down his spine. The numbers were staggering, each value dwarfing his own.

The implications were clear and sobering. Even at level 10, even with his new mysterious "A" rankings, the gap between him and these demons was vast. Their base values were multiples of his own, and with their elemental enhancements...

Elio\'s mind raced with calculations. A fire demon would have 100 attack and magic damage. A wind demon could move at speed 40.

But perhaps most intriguing was that they too had that mysterious "A" in their perception. Whatever this new dimension of power was, they may had already mastered it.

He realized, as he observed the enemy statistics... that perhaps he wasn\'t as ready as he thought.

♢♢♢♢

"P.S. of the P.S.: I really should stop making postscripts, but they\'re addictive..."