Utopian System

"The pattern remains effective," Taron observed while Elio decapitated another level 3 Locus with a precise horizontal slash, immediately followed by a vertical cut that divided the upper torso.

Elio briefly experimented with complete vertical cuts, seeking to eliminate the monsters in a single movement.

The strength and damage were sufficient, the edge capable, but...

CRACK

"Another broken one," Brok murmured while Elio materialized a new blade.

"The previous strategy is more efficient," Arnaud analyzed, watching as Elio returned to his two-cut method. "The blades last longer."

And really, there was no need for greater elimination speed than this.

Elio moved like a blur among the monsters, so fast that the next Locus were barely emerging from the tunnel\'s shadows when their predecessors were already disintegrating into particles of light.

"It\'s almost hypnotic," Kriz commented, watching Elio\'s lethal dance. "Horizontal slash, vertical, next monster. As infallible as a well-fed turret."

♢♢♢♢

The power emblem glowed before them at the 4th level.

When Elio absorbed it, a wave of energy coursed through his body while his magical damage shot up to 130 points.

"That must be a record," Kriz whistled.

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Elio studied his glaive, which surprisingly showed no immediate changes. The first horizontal slash decapitated the Locus as always, but when he tried the vertical cut from the start...

CRACK

"Some things don\'t change," Brok began, but stopped when he saw Elio regenerate his weapon.

The blade that materialized was different. The alloy seemed new and shone with greater intensity, as if the metal itself responded to his increased power.

"That\'s interesting," Taron murmured.

Elio didn\'t respond. Instead, he launched himself toward the next Locus.

This time, there was no double cut.

A single vertical slash went through the monster from top to bottom, cleaving it cleanly.

Even Elio was surprised by the ease and almost hit the ground with the blade.

"Impressive," Arnaud whispered while Elio, after the initial surprise, continued his advance.

The level 4 Locus fell one after another, each one split in half with a single fluid movement. The blade, which before broke regularly, now cut without apparent effort.

"Does anyone else notice he hasn\'t had to regenerate the blade?" Kriz asked after the twentieth Locus.

It was true. The improved alloy, empowered by 130 points of magical damage, maintained its deadly edge without showing much signs of wear.

The tunnel resonated with the sound of bodies splitting and light particles dispersing while Elio continued his unstoppable advance toward the next level.

Before advancing to the fifth level, Elio stopped to create new blades for his group.

The bright metal of the improved alloy reflected the tunnel\'s light while each received their weapon.

♢♢♢♢

The life emblem awaited them at the next level, though at this point it seemed almost redundant. Elio\'s statistics had reached levels that bordered on the absurd.

The level 5 Locus, with their pathetic 5 points of magical resistance, barely represented an obstacle. Elio\'s blade went through them as if they were air, their bodies splitting with a single clean slash.

"It\'s not even a fight anymore," Arnaud murmured as they advanced among the bright remains of another group of monsters.

♢♢♢♢

Finally, they reached the final challenge chamber.

The level 10 Locus awaited them, its magical defense doubled to 20 points supposedly a final formidable obstacle.

"We should..." Taron began, but Elio was already moving.

A massive blade materialized in the air, glowing with the power of his 130 points of magical damage. Advanced magnetic control sent it spinning toward the monster\'s neck like a disc of death.

The Locus\'s head hadn\'t even touched the ground when the blade returned, destroying the torso\'s cores on its way back. The entire encounter lasted less than three seconds.

"Well, who would have thought," Kriz let out a laugh while the monster\'s body disintegrated, "I think our presence here was completely unnecessary. Any level 1 could have entered just to collect the cores you\'re leaving scattered!"

"At least he gave us new weapons," Brok added, admiring his improved blade.

"Think the king will be more challenging?" Arnaud asked as they advanced toward the chamber\'s center.

"For his sake, I hope so," Kriz responded. "Or it\'ll be the shortest reign in history."

Elio remained silent, but a small smile formed on his lips. The real challenge was yet to come, and hopefully, this would be the fire deposit they needed.

♢♢♢♢

Elio advanced and took the monster\'s core. The last core vanished in his hand while he also absorbed the barrier emblem.

With determined steps, he headed to the central crystal, the deposit\'s heart. The others followed in silence, tension palpable in the air.

The crystal glowed with a greenish radiance when Elio approached, the words materializing in the air:

"Congratulations challengers, you have passed the first phase of recovering key point number 4 \'The Earth Deposit of the first ring, the wind ring\'.

You must unlock the second entrance in less than 24 hours to pass the final challenge.

The 5 temporary emblems can be used in the final challenge within the next 24 hours and will then expire. For each one you will receive a permanent reward after the time limit."

Elio felt something sink in his stomach.

Earth. Not fire.

"Elio?" Taron noticed his tension.

"It\'s not the one we needed," he responded, his voice barely containing his frustration.

The 50-50 gamble had failed. The fire emblem, which could have given him more powerful attacks, based on the monster\'s weakness, without depending on Ember.

His salamander\'s magical increase was too low, a feasible strategy remained out of reach. More importantly, he wouldn\'t be able to take a speed based summon he had planned to combine to face the Artromus, he would have to think again...

\'The wind Artromus,\' Elio thought, his mind already analyzing the implications. \'It must be vulnerable to fire, it has to be... If I can do critical damage...\'

"What do we do now?" Kriz asked, interrupting his thoughts.

Elio observed the crystal\'s message once more.

They had twenty-four hours. And 24 more after defeating the second challenge.

Although it wasn\'t the deposit he expected, the power increase brought him closer to his goal.

"Now," he responded, straightening up, "we\'ll finish building around the city, let Zara enter the second phase. And after..." his gaze lost itself in the distance for a moment, "I\'ll take care of something..."

The fire deposit was out there, somewhere. They just had to find it before the Artromus decided they\'d had enough time hiding.