Utopian System

The group of 10 entered the chamber.

The Fire King appeared in the center, its body radiating heat waves that distorted the surrounding air.

Elio and Lila exchanged a look.

With the emblems, each of their attacks would reach 480 points of magical damage, 380 after the King's defense. The rest of the group would contribute 140 effective points per strike.

The math was clear: again, they would need less than six attacks per person.

Unlike its water and earth predecessors, this creature wasted no time with barriers or defenses.

The group quickly reduced its life with water magic.

But a roar from the King launched the first pulse of igneous energy.

It expanded the air like a sonic explosion, hitting against the system armors with its 25 points of magical damage. The attack, though impressive in range, barely surpassed a mild annoyance for warriors with 20 points of magical resistance.

"Fascinating," Mei murmured while analyzing the pattern. "The same strategy as the Wind King, but with a different element."

The pulse was also more visible in this case, unlike the wind king's.

But where this display would once have demanded caution and strategy, now it was little more than a light show.

A year of preparation had transformed the group.

"Remember when these things were scary?" Kriz joked, covering himself from another pulse more out of habit than necessity.

The King's resistance plummeted almost instantly; when it reached near 15%, they all attacked simultaneously, its glow fading before it could even attempt to activate frenzy.

♢♢♢♢

Kriz launched himself toward the descending sphere with a mischievous smile.

"This one's mine!"

Brok intercepted him at the last second, catching the sphere with one hand. "Don't even dream about it. I'm not sitting through a monologue about 'fireballs.'"

"Oh, come on!" Kriz protested. "I had material prepared and everything!"

The familiar statue materialized before them while they stored the sphere. After three deposits, the ritual was known, but tension persisted as Elio extended his hand toward it.

God's message was about to appear, and with it, perhaps, more clues about these trials' true purpose.

♢♢♢♢

Elio and Lila positioned themselves closer to the center, their bodies tense in anticipation of the artromus they expected.

The rest of the group took their strategic positions, ready to execute the planned ambush.

The message...

Never appeared. Instead, a familiar presence flooded the chamber.

The air vibrated with divine power as God's disheveled figure materialized before them, his beard as chaotic as they remembered.

"Oh, the Elian boy!" he exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm, his tired eyes lighting up upon recognizing Elio.

He barely spared the others a glance.

"Well, well, look how much you've grown! Though technically it's only been months since I saw you... or was it years? Time is so confusing when you're immortal."

But for Elio, this wasn't the pleasant encounter that the deity's enthusiasm reflected.

He tightened his grip on the sword, the rage accumulated during all this time finally overflowing.

"Why didn't you warn us before? Micah died because of your damn cryptic and late warning!"

God's casual smile didn't falter. "Oh, you lost some people against the soldiers? Yes, a shame, but rules are rules. I can't…"

He didn't finish the sentence.

The god's tranquility and apparent disinterest exhausted Elio's patience.

With a roar of fury, EmberG catapulted Elio forward, his sword tracing a lethal arc... that passed through God's figure as if it were air.

"Don't bother," God sighed, scratching his unkempt beard. "This is just a hologram... Of course, you don't know what that is, well... a light projection that... well, it's like when you reflect something in water, but with divine magic and... oh, wait, you wouldn't understand that concept... it's like... hmm... how to explain it?"

"SHUT UP!" Lila's shout surprised everyone, even God. "Stop wasting time with useless explanations!"

Lately, Lila's mood hasn't been the best...

God blinked, genuinely surprised. "Oh... you're right. Sorry, sorry. Sometimes I get excited explaining things." He turned to Elio, who still maintained his combat stance. "Look, I understand your anger. Really. But the dramatic escape cry is another rule Nala imposed. I can't do anything about it."

"Rules?" Elio spat the word. "Is everything a game to you?"

"Not exactly," God scratched his head, further disheveling his chaotic hair. "You and I are allies, you know? We're on the same team. Though technically I could snap my fingers and erase you from existence..."

Zara stepped forward, her eyes burning with protective fury. "Are you threatening him?"

"What? No, no!" God frantically waved his hands. "I was just stating a fact. Like saying the sky is blue... well, technically it's an illusion created by... no, no, I'm getting sidetracked again." He coughed uncomfortably.

"The point is I wouldn't do it. First, because I like you, Elian. And second, because I really understand your anger."

His expression softened, and for a moment, the weariness in his eyes seemed deeper than ever.

"Divine rules are... complicated. And sometimes, frankly, stupid. But they're necessary to maintain a certain balance. So we have at least a miserable chance against her... Though if it helps, I offer an apology for not being the most competent god in the universe..."

"Hey, it's our god, maybe he's not lying so let's believe him this time!" Kriz couldn't contain his enthusiasm.

There was something endearingly chaotic about this deity that he found increasingly likable.

"Let's not waste time and mana. He's maybe not the most competent but sure is the most talkative god in the universe, right?"

"And you're the funny one of the group I see!" God responded, though it was evident he didn't know his name. "Everyone relax, the insect-generating crystal up there needs time to disperse before our artromus friend can join the party. We have a few minutes to chat!"

He made a vague gesture with his hand.

"This is the fourth deposit, you know? It's special! And since I finally have permission to appear and chat 'directly'..." He paused, as if remembering something. "Oh, right, congratulations! The city has reached 1.7 million inhabitants. Not bad at all for a group that started as barely a hundred thousand."

"And with the last sphere?" Kriz asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

God's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Ah, always asking the right questions! When you deliver the sphere, we'll round that number to a nice and round... two million! Yay!"