Utopian System

The monster let out its characteristic laugh, that unnatural sound of multiple superimposed voices. "Is this your power now?" it mocked.

"You're weaker than before, little parasite."

With a wind explosion that shattered the lithium prison like paper, the monster counterattacked.

Cutting air gusts headed toward Elio, but he had already anticipated the attack.

In an instant, he disappeared into the book.

The monster's fury at the brief skirmish was evident. The human had only emerged to test his capabilities, to measure the gap between their powers.

Its multiple voices hissed with frustration at the tactical retreat.

'He can reach level 9,' it thought, its multiple voices mixing in a contemplative murmur. 'Not a real threat, but...' Its black eyes gleamed with anticipation. 'A level 9 already represents a hundredth of my goal.'

The idea that the human might die in the book's challenge caused it some concern, but not for the reasons an observer might assume.

A living level 9 was worth more than a dead one, and a level 10... well, that would be even better. But the risk of not being able to kill him itself was enormous.

Either way, if the Goddess's challenge didn't kill him, he would.

'There's a reason why my mission can be completed with just ten level 10 humans,' it reflected, its claws flexing with anticipation.

The answer was simple: it was designed to be able to defeat them alone, even at their maximum power.

Elio's small demonstration, though irritating, had only served to confirm the vast gap between their capabilities. The new red element was interesting, and the weak control over wind suggested the human had obtained some kind of reward from the deposit, but none of that really mattered.

'Grow stronger, little parasite,' it thought while observing the now again touchable book. 'Each level you gain only makes you more valuable to my goal.' The irony didn't escape it: the very power Elio sought for revenge only made him a more attractive target.

The stronger he became, the more reasons the monster would have to hunt him.

♢♢♢♢

Upon entering the new challenge, Elio wasted no time.

He still had almost all his mana and resistance, so he could recover while walking.

As he advanced through the new tunnel, Elio mentally reviewed his brief encounter with the monster.

As expected, the results had been discouraging.

His defensive strategy, the carbon sphere, had barely served as a momentary distraction. The monster had torn it apart with alarming ease, like a child ripping through paper.

Even the surprise factor of the explosion had barely caused a scratch.

The new capability of his eel, that red ray that had been so difficult to direct, proved equally disappointing. The paralyzing effect that should have given a crucial advantage barely seemed to bother the monster.

'The lithium prison...' Elio clenched his fists remembering how the monster had destroyed it with a simple wind explosion.

All his arsenal, all his new abilities, seemed like children's toys against that creature's power.

A slight change in the environment interrupted his thoughts.

A yellowish gas began filtering into the tunnel, so faint at first it almost seemed like a trick of the light.

The first sign was the burning on his skin, which quickly intensified into sharp pain. His eyes were especially vulnerable; each attempt to open them resulted in blinding pain that forced them shut. The sensation was unlike anything he'd experienced before.

'Think,' he ordered himself. 'There must be a way to neutralize this.'

His first attempt was with water, a decision that proved catastrophically wrong.

The moment the water touched the greenish gas, a violent explosion threw him back several steps. The reaction was so aggressive that Elio barely had time to protect himself.

The corrosion even became more powerful.

"Damn it!" he growled, regaining his balance. The explosion had momentarily cleared the area, but the gas was flowing back from the tunnel's depths, as corrosive as before.

After the violent reaction with water, Elio became more cautious.

This gas was different from anything he had faced before; it seemed to want to react with everything it touched, hungry for interaction.

He tried carbon, creating a protective barrier, but the gas began consuming the material almost instantly. The structure disintegrated in seconds, producing a reaction that only worsened the situation, releasing more noxious gasses.

When he tried using lithium, the reaction was so violent that Elio had to throw himself to the ground. The metal practically ignited on contact with the gas, creating a bright flare that illuminated the entire tunnel.

Hydrogen only exploded and increased the corrosiveness. It seemed to be the main problem in water...

Elio's calm and healing perception of water grew more explosive each day.

But oxygen was no different.

Without knowing it, Elio generated oxygen difluoride, another highly toxic and extremely reactive compound. Although less reactive than the yellow fog... Fortunately, Elio still had oxygen stones in his mouth.

Nitrogen was his next attempt, but even at low temperatures, the gas maintained its reactive nature. Though, the cold seemed to slightly mitigate its aggressiveness.

But the cold also damaged Elio after a while and moving was a problem encased in ice.

'This gas... reacts with practically everything,' Elio thought, his skin burning more intensely with each passing moment.

Even noble gasses probably wouldn't be immune.

Confirming his theory, his attempts with helium and neon barely served to move the gas around, and it seemed to want to react even with these normally inert elements.

"I can't neutralize it," Elio murmured, his mind working frantically while the pain increased. "Each attempt only makes it more dangerous. There must be another way..."

The gas kept flowing from the tunnel's depths, relentless and hungry to react with anything in its path. As he advanced, the color gradually intensified, acquiring greenish tones.

'I can't give up,' he thought, watching how the gas swirled around his feet. 'Each level overcome is a new tool, a new possibility.'

Micah's memory burned in his mind, fueling his determination. His friend had sacrificed himself to keep information out of the monster's reach, to give them a chance.

He couldn't let that sacrifice be in vain.