Utopian System
Chapter 67: Chapter 67: System's Defiance

Elio closed his eyes, bracing for impact...

But something within him rebelled. No, it wouldn't end like this. His eyes snapped open, determination burning in his gaze. The wind whistled around him as he fell, but his mind was clear, focused.

"I'm not made of fear," he told himself, his father's words echoing in his mind. He had repeated it, but it seemed it wasn't yet etched in his deepest core.

The 'ground' was rapidly approaching, the mass of monsters writhing and roaring beneath him.

The carbon in his joints prevented him from moving, but Elio realized he still had one option left.

The book.

The fourth level.

With a supreme effort, he concentrated all his will on the book he carried. If he could enter it, he would at least have a chance to live.

His health and mana weren't fully recovered after the recent events with Marcus, but he had no other choice.

The book began to glow, responding to his desperation. Elio felt a mixture of relief and fear. The fourth level was almost unknown territory, a challenge that very few had faced and survived.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the opportunity to thoroughly discuss the strategy with Lucien; he hadn't expected such an abrupt situation. But between that and certain death, the choice was clear.

Just as he was thinking it was a shame not to have his lance, something incredible happened. He landed on a monster's head, and there, stuck in the beast's skull, was his lance. The impact was brutal, shaking every bone in his body, but thanks to his high defense and armor, he was still alive and unharmed.

The monster roared in pain and fury, violently shaking its head.

The young soldier was violently thrown away, but his mind was focused on one thing: the book.

Responding to his call, the book opened and the familiar question appeared on the page:

Do you wish to challenge the fourth trial?

Elio didn't hesitate. With one last effort, he activated his magnetic control. The lance vibrated, freeing itself from the monster's skull and flying towards his hand.

"Yes," Elio said, his voice barely a whisper. "I accept the challenge."

His fingers closed around the handle just as the world around him began to fade into a whirlwind of light and darkness.

♢♢♢♢

Elio materialized in the familiar indestructible rock chamber, his breathing ragged and his body still tense from the fall.

Immediately noticing that the carbon on his joints had disappeared, he brought his hand to his mouth, sealing it firmly. A wave of relief washed over him at being able to move freely again, but he had no time to rejoice.

The space was considerably larger than in previous levels, which only increased the sense of imminent danger.

In the center of the room, floating with deceptive grace, was the fourth level monster, a swift about a meter tall from feet to head.

The swift's bright eyes fixed on him, then it opened its beak. An invisible torrent of helium flooded the chamber, making the air lighter.

Elio: 4 resistance, 15 mana, 100 armor resistance

Swift: 40 resistance, 4 defense/magic damage

Elio had barely recovered 2 resistance points, as a week hadn't passed since his altercation with Marcus.

A single magic attack to his head would be fatal.

Fortunately, mana recovered daily, a rate 7 times faster.

Elio released his mouth for an instant, his voice turning ridiculously high-pitched as he whispered: "Come on, little one." The small familiar emerged from his armor. He was weirded out by the change of his voice but instantly shelved the thought. Elio knew that every movement, every decision, would be crucial in the next few minutes and couldn't get distracted.

Elio threw his Lance; he hadn't been able to prepare the boost devices Von Lucien taught him how to make, but would have to make do with magical magnetism.

The swift wasted no time. With a speed that defied sight, it launched a fireball directly at Elio's head. The young man threw himself to the ground, rolling to avoid the attack. The heat of the projectile was felt on his face, reminding him how close he had been to disaster.

Taking advantage of his evasion on the ground, Elio used a mana point to redirect his lance towards the swift. The lance whistled through the air, but the agile monster dodged it by inches.

Elio: 14 mana, 100 armor resistance

The swift immediately counterattacked. A barrage of ice projectiles filled the air, gradually turning the chamber into an icy battlefield. Elio moved frantically, dodging most, but one of the projectiles impacted his arm.

Elio: 14 mana, 96 armor resistance

The penetrating cold of the impact made Elio grit his teeth, but he didn't allow himself to lose focus.

Concentrating, he used a mana point to direct his lance towards the swift.

The monster dodged it easily, but this gave Elio the opportunity he needed. "Now!" he squeaked in a chipmunk voice, and the salamander launched a fireball, spending another mana point.

Elio: 12 mana, 96 armor resistance

The impact was direct. The swift shrieked in pain, its flight becoming erratic for a moment. But the creature recovered quickly, its eyes now glowing with murderous fury.

Swift: 32 resistance

Without giving Elio time to celebrate his small victory, the swift launched a powerful ice ball. Elio tried to dodge it, but the projectile hit him in the chest, freezing his armor and making him stagger.

Elio: 12 mana, 92 armor resistance

Regaining his balance, Elio directed the lance again, spending another mana point. This time, the lance's tip grazed the swift's wing, eliciting a shriek of pain from the creature.

Elio: 11 mana, 92 armor resistance

Swift: 29 resistance

The swift, now gravely injured and more dangerous than ever, intensified its attacks. A rain of elemental projectiles filled the chamber. Fire and ice flew in all directions, turning the space into a chaos of unleashed energies.

Elio moved constantly, his hand never leaving his mouth. He dodged, rolled, jumped, each movement calculated to avoid the deadly attacks. His armor resisted the impacts he couldn't completely evade, but he knew it wouldn't last forever.