Utopian System

Zara remained at her vigilance post atop the wall, her eyes fixed on the horizon where she expected to see Elio's advance. Flare, her salamander, curled around her neck, its warmth a small comfort in the cool night air.

The original plan that everyone knew was simple: Elio would walk around the wall, absorbing cores.

Zara expected to see changes in the surface of the sea of monsters, signs of Elio's progress. However, hours passed and the absorption was slow to start.

Worry took hold of Zara, growing with each hour that passed without signs of activity. Her mind couldn't stop imagining terrible scenarios, each one worse than the last. Flare sensed her distress, its scales flickering with an anxious light.

What if Elio had failed the challenge?

What if he was injured?

Or worse...

What if he was unconscious, hungry, and needed SOMEONE TO RESCUE HIM in the depths of the sea of monsters?! (Relax girl…)

"Come on, Elio," Zara muttered, her hands gripping the parapet wall so tightly that her fingers turned white and the white rock of God doubted its indestructibility. "Give me a sign, anything."

Micah, who accompanied her in her vigil, tried to maintain a calm demeanor, but even he was beginning to show signs of concern. His frog croaked softly, as if trying to offer reassurance.

"Maybe the 6th challenge is very time-consuming, like the frog's one when we didn't know how to trick it," he suggested, trying to offer some comfort.

Zara barely heard him, her attention completely focused on the sea of monsters stretching before her.

Finally, the next day, the absorption began.

The relief Zara felt was overwhelming. Elio had done it, he had overcome the challenge and was now starting his mission.

"He did it," Zara whispered, a smile of relief illuminating her tired face. "I knew he would..." Flare chirped happily, its scales glowing brighter.

The exhaustion of the long vigil finally caught up with her, and Zara allowed herself to close her eyes for a moment.

That moment turned into hours, Zara fell asleep leaning against the parapet wall, and Micah had to stay to cover for her while she slept. His frog kept watch, its large eyes scanning the horizon.

However, the tranquility didn't last long. After a few hours, Micah noticed something strange: the absorption had stopped.

"This isn't right," he muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in confusion. "This wasn't Elio's plan."

Minutes later, the sea of monsters returned to its normal state, as if nothing had happened.

Micah knew what this meant: if Elio didn't resume absorption soon, Zara would return to her tireless vigil.

And so did she...

♢♢♢♢

During the following days, there were no more signs of absorption.

Zara, awake again, practically lived on the wall, her eyes never leaving the point where she had seen the last sign of Elio's activity. Flare remained a constant presence, its body temperature fluctuating with Zara's changing emotions.

"Something's wrong," Zara repeated, her voice laden with concern. "This isn't what was supposed to happen."

Micah tried to reason with her, suggest that she rest, but Zara refused to move away. Her loyalty was admirable, but Micah could see how stress and lack of sleep were affecting her. His frog croaked worriedly, sensing the tension.

Finally, on the fifth day after the signs, something in Zara seemed to change. A new resolution shone in her eyes.

"Micah," she said, her voice firm for the first time in days. "I need you to stay here, watching this exact point."

Micah nodded, intrigued by the sudden change in his friend. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to talk to Selene," Zara responded, already heading towards the stairs. "I'll ask her to teach me the corrosive attack."

Micah looked at her, surprised. "Zara, are you sure? Level 5..."

But Zara was already descending the stairs, her determination evident in every step. "I'll face level 5 in my fall," she shouted over her shoulder. "I'll reach Elio, whatever it takes."

Micah watched her leave, concern on his face. He knew he couldn't stop her, not when it came to Elio. He could only hope that Zara knew what she was doing.

Turning his attention back to the sea of monsters, Micah prepared for his own vigil. Now he had two friends to worry about, and the feeling that the next few days would be crucial for them.

♢♢♢♢

Zara stood before Selene, her heart pounding as she absorbed every detail of the explanation she had managed to extract about the corrosive attack.

Flare had been temporarily replaced by her swift, as the flying familiar was necessary for giving more magical damage to the attack.

"Calm down, you'll get it soon, you've only failed 5 times," Selene instructed, her voice calm but firm. Her frog familiar watched attentively from her shoulder. "The corrosive attack requires precision and control... It only took me 2 days and about 50 attempts to..."

With supreme focus, Zara channeled her energy, forming the attack just as Selene had taught her. To her surprise and that of her mentor, she managed to execute it on her sixth attempt, albeit imperfectly.

Selene smiled, pleased with Zara's rapid progress. "Well done. Now, you just need to practice for one or two more days. But Zara, even if you perfect it, I must warn you that I won't let you throw yourself after Elio, even if I have to stop you by force, it would only complicate things if..."

But before Selene could finish her sentence, Zara had already taken out her system book, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened the page for level 5.

Zara knew that Selene wouldn't let her, as to convince her to teach her, she had to hide her plan to go after Elio.

But she would go after him even if she had to face Selene.

For that to work, she had to be at her level.

"Zara, wait!" Selene exclaimed, but it was too late.

In an instant, Zara disappeared, transported to the level 5 challenge. She found herself in the familiar stone chamber, the carbon elephant waiting for her in the center. Her heart was pounding, her mana reduced due to recent practice, and her mind clouded by anxiety and concern for Elio.

However, these intense emotions, instead of weakening her, seemed to fuel her determination.

Zara channeled all her worry, all her love and fear, into the corrosive attack. The result was a blow of a power that the poor elephant had never deserved to suffer.

The attack directly impacted the elephant's core, disintegrating it in an instant. The battle had ended before it really began.

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