Utopian System

Chapter 413 System's Vulnerabilities - 3

With his eyes closed, Elio could see the elemental world in all its complexity. The interactions between elements, their patterns, their infinite possibilities unfolded before him like a living tapestry.

But knowledge only made the realization more bitter, no matter how much he understood, how many combinations he mastered, how much he improved his defense and utility... his damage remained insufficient against Zahyla's two million resistance.

The summoning structure that the god had left floated in his mind like a mockery: H + 2He + 3Li* + 4Ni* + 5Fe* + 6C* + 7N* + 8O* + 9F* + 10Ne* + Mana = Summoning Matrix

Ten different elements, each requiring precise and simultaneous control.

The supposed amplification it promised seemed more distant each time he attempted it.

Controlling so many variables at once was like trying to hold water with open hands; something always slipped away.

From her nearby position, Zara silently observed as Elio sank deeper into his frustration. She saw the tension in his shoulders, how his fingers occasionally clenched, the small grimaces that crossed his face each time another idea proved insufficient.

The only "realistic" option was to use the elite squad. Twenty-five transformed warriors, attacking simultaneously...

But the cost was prohibitive.

Find your next read at empire

One hundred million mana would take two months to gather without squeezing the population, and getting all the necessary potions would take more than four years.

And even if they got the resources... Elio knew it would be a suicide mission.

The image of Taron, his last smile before death, haunted him. How could he even consider dragging his closest friends to near-certain death?

After his promise to lose no one else...

Zara took a step toward him, her hand extending but stopping halfway. She wanted to console him, tell him they would find another way, but she knew at this moment, her words would be insufficient.

She could only be there, a constant presence while he fought against the apparent impossibility of his situation.

But she was wrong.

Elio felt Zara's presence behind him, her familiar warmth an anchor amid his mental storm. The frustration, the powerlessness, all the weight of his responsibilities and failures suddenly overwhelmed him.

He rose abruptly, turning toward her.

Her skin burned under each touch, each caress more intense than the last.

Zara pulled him closer, needing more contact, more closeness.

Elio responded by lifting her effortlessly, his hands firm on her thighs as he pressed her against the wall. A soft moan escaped Zara's lips as their bodies aligned perfectly.

The moment grew, tension building between them like a storm about to break.

And then...

Three firm knocks on the door shattered the spell.

"Elio?" Lila's voice penetrated the wood, timid but insistent.

Zara tensed in his arms, instantly recognizing the voice. Her eyes met Elio's, frustration and pity in them.

"One moment," Elio responded, his voice rougher than intended.

They separated slowly, the air between them still charged with electricity. Zara adjusted her armor with deliberate movements, a predatory smile forming on her lips.

But they both knew the moment had broken. Lila's voice from the other side of the door had brought with it all the reality they had managed to keep at bay, the city, their responsibilities, the complications of their relationships.

♢♢♢♢

The figure slipped between the shadows near the outer barrier. The moon barely illuminated her silhouette as she waited, her eyes fixed on the horizon.

"Punctual as always," Zahyla's voice floated in the air before her form appeared. "Have you thought about our conversation?"

"I shouldn't be here," the girl whispered, her voice trembling but determined.

"And yet, here you are." Zahyla smiled, approaching the barrier. "Because you know I can give you what you truly desire."

"I don't trust you."

"Wise decision. But..." Zahyla tilted her head, studying her, "does trust really matter when love calls?"

The girl tensed visibly, but didn't respond.