Utopian System

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: The System's Preparations

Exhaling slowly, Zara felt the energy of level 4 flowing through her, restoring her mana. A triumphant smile spread across her face as she absorbed her new strength.

Zara Aethorien's Statistics

Skills:

Celestial Wind (New)

Familiars:

Ice Rabbit (+15 MD)

Wind Swift (0/100,000)

Level 4

Mana: 40/40

Stamina: 8/8

Attack:5 (10)

Magic Damage: 4 (+5)(+15) / (24)

Defense: 4 (9)

Magic Defense: (10)

Superior Mana Spear / Attack 5

Superior Mana Dagger x10 / Attack 5

Superior Elemental Resistance Cloak / Magic Defense 5

System's Armor / (Defense 5) (Magic Defense 5) (Magic Damage 5) (Resistance(500/500))

Balance: 75,632 mana points

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Moments later, Zara reappeared in the training room, her face radiant with victory. The group greeted her with cheers and congratulations. Flare, now out again, puffed up proudly basking in the shared glory.

Elio approached Zara, his face a mixture of pride and relief. Ember chirped happily on his shoulder. "Well done," he said softly. "I knew you'd make it." (Lies... again)

Zara nodded, grateful for the recognition. "Thank you, Elio. Your training, equipment, and advice are invaluable."

Kriz, always ready with a comment, approached with a mocking smile. His playful rabbit hopped excitedly at his feet. "See? I told you it would be easy. I didn't even have to move."

To prove his point, Kriz made an exaggerated demonstration, putting his hand over his mouth, placing the resistance cloak over his head, and pretending to receive invisible attacks...

Then, with a hidden mischievous grin, he responded in an absurdly high-pitched voice:

"The attacks simply bounced off muahahaha. It gave me a massage! It was an 'uplifting' experience."

The group burst into laughter at Kriz's comic voice, the tension of the past few days momentarily dissipating in the face of humor. Their invocations seemed to join in, each making their own version of laughter.

Zara, remembering Elio's warning, asked between laughs: "Didn't you use the portable oxygen stone?"

Kriz shook his head, his voice still ridiculously high: "And miss the chance to sound like this? Never!" His high-pitched laugh almost made him choke, provoking more laughter among his companions. His rabbit seemed to be laughing too, rolling on the floor.

While the group celebrated, the four seductresses - Lila, Aria, Mei, and Valeria - prepared to face their level 2 challenge. With the equipment provided by Elio, they entered their books nervously, their salamanders offering encouraging chirps.

To their surprise, the challenge turned out to be much less terrifying than they had anticipated. Elio's preparations had been, as he himself had described, "overkill". They emerged from their trials in a matter of minutes, their faces reflecting amazement and gratitude.

Lila, still processing the ease of her victory, murmured to her companions. "I never imagined Von Elio would be so careful with the safety of his people," her voice laden with emotion. Her golden salamander nuzzled her cheek, as if agreeing.

The other three nodded emphatically, their eyes shining with a new light of admiration and respect.

????

With all challenges completed and the group gathered again, Elio adopted a more serious expression. Ember settled more firmly on his shoulder, sensing the shift in mood. He addressed Lucien and Selene:

"Now that you've mastered the corrosive attack, you'll be able to teach it to them in case... in case I don't return."

A tense silence fell over the group. Lucien stepped forward, his frog croaking softly. "Elio, let me take that risk. I can enter level 6 and the sea of monsters in your place."

Elio shook his head, his resolution evident in every line of his face.

"I appreciate your offer, Lucien, but I can't accept it. You know the wall better, the city needs you here now, with the attacks... Besides," he added with a slight smile, "I don't plan to fail or go back on my words."

Lucien, although clearly unconvinced, nodded resignedly. "Very well. But promise you'll be careful."

Elio smiled. "I promise."

Kriz, unable to resist the opportunity, approached the girls and Zara with a mischievous smile on his face. His rabbit mirrored his playful stance.

"Looks like Lucien is going to beat you in 'capturing' our dear Elio," he said in his helium-induced high-pitched voice.

The comment, combined with Kriz's comic voice, broke the tension of the moment. Muffled laughter erupted in the group, even Zara couldn't help an amused smile. Their invocations seemed to join in, each making their own version of laughter.

"Kriz," Elio warned, although a slight smile played on his lips, "don't you think you've abused that voice enough?"

"It's never enough when it comes to making my friends laugh," Kriz replied, his squeaky voice making his statement sound even more ridiculous. His rabbit nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Elio shook his head, grateful for the moment of levity amid the gravity of the situation. However, he quickly adopted a serious expression again. Ember straightened up, sensing the importance of what was to come.

"Well, it's time to move on to the next phase," he announced, pulling out his system book.

"I'm going to transfer all the mana and cores for your invocations. I'll keep 10 million cores to get the level 6 invocation before leaving the chamber, I hope they don't get lost... All the leftovers will be kept by Lucien and Selene."

A murmur of excitement ran through the group. Getting their level 4 invocations was a divine gift. Their familiars seemed to perk up, sensing the impending power boost.

"This will take some time," Elio warned. "The mana crystal can be worth 10,000 points but the cores... And the amount is... substantial."

For the next few hours, Elio devoted himself to the task of transferring the cores. One by one, the group members received their share, their eyes shining with anticipation at the power they would soon have at their disposal.

The seductresses - Lila, Aria, Mei, and Valeria - watched in amazement as insane amounts of wealth danced before their eyes, they also obtained their frogs. Their salamanders seemed to grow more vibrant with each transfer.

Finally, it was Lucien and Selene's turn. Elio began to transfer the remainder, an amount that made even the experienced Summoners open their eyes in surprise. Their frogs croaked in astonishment.

"Elio, this is..." Selene began, but words failed her.

"Imagine what's left down there," Elio replied mischievously.

The transfer continued, the numbers in Elio's book decreasing rapidly while Lucien and Selene's increased at a dizzying rate. discover-stories-on-MVLeMpYr

As he watched the process, Elio couldn't help but reflect on how far they had come. Not long ago, he was a poor young man facing his first challenge without equipment. Now, he was transferring more power than he ever imagined possessing. Ember nuzzled his cheek, as if sensing his thoughts.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the transfer was completed. Elio closed his book.

The group remained silent for a moment, each processing the magnitude of what had just happened. It was Kriz's words, surprisingly serious this time, that broke the silence:

"Well, boss, I think I speak for everyone when I say you'd better come back. Because if you don't, we'll chase you into the sea of monsters just to kick your butt for leaving us... Zara leading the line."

A soft laugh ran through the group. Their invocations seemed to nod in agreement, even the usually stoic ones.

Elio looked at each of his companions, his friends and now, part of his family. He saw the concern in their eyes, but also the confidence, the unconditional support.

He breathed deeply, preparing for what was to come. Ember coiled tighter around his neck, offering silent support.

"It's time," he finally said.