Utopian System

Sacred Flame

Holy Water

Ice Sacrifice

Celestial Wind

Life Rock (New)

Familiars:

Fire Salamander

Water Frog

Ice Rabbit

Wind Swift (+20 MD)

Rock Elephant (New)

(1,843,915,000/10,000,000) Level 6 required

Level 5

Mana: 07/50

Resistance: 50/50 (+200)

Stamina: 03/10

Attack: 5

Magic Damage: 5 (+5)(+20) / (30)

Strength: 5

Defense: 5 (10)

Magic Defense: (5) (New)

Speed: 5

Perception / Agility: 1.5

Amplifier Belt / Magic Damage 5

Summoner's Robe / (Defense 5) (Magic Defense 5) (Resistance (200/200))

Balance:

7,655 mana points

1,843,915,000 cores

"So," Ren finally said, breaking the stunned silence, "with all that power... what do you plan to do now?"

"Our little Elio here," Kriz interrupted, draping an arm over Elio's shoulders, "just broke every known record. Anything else you want to share, Mr. Prodigy?"

Elio looked at each of his friends, his expression turning serious. The weight of his newfound power and responsibility seemed to settle on his shoulders.

"We're going to change things," he said simply. "We're going to make this a better city, a fairer one. For everyone."

"Oh, great," Kriz rolled his eyes, but there was a smile on his face. "You miraculously keep your life and the first thing you think about is community service. Typical Elio."

Everyone laughed, the tension dissipating once more.

Zara, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke. "I'm... I'm glad you're okay, Elio," she said softly, her cheeks still tinged pink. "Really glad."

Elio looked at her, a gentle smile spreading across his face. His eyes softened as they met hers. "Thank you, Zara. For..."

They looked at each other for a moment, the unspoken words hanging in the air between them.

The others exchanged knowing glances, smirking at the obvious tension between the two.

"Well," Micah said, breaking the moment with a mischievous grin, "I guess this means we'll have to write in all the history scrolls. 'Elio Elian: The man who fell and rose stronger'. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"I prefer 'Elio Elian: The lucky idiot who scared us to death'," Kriz grumbled, but there was affection in his voice.

"Well," Brok said, standing up and stretching, "I guess this means that if we want to help you, we have to go back to trying to catch up with you, huh? Although," he added flexing his biceps, "you still have a looong way to go to match these muscles."

Elio laughed, standing up too. He playfully poked Brok's arm. "Give me time, Brok. At this rate, maybe in a couple of days..."

"Oh, no," Kriz interrupted, feigning horror. He dramatically clutched his chest. "An Elio with Brok-sized muscles. The end of the world is near."

"The skinny guy would have to reach level 100 first," Brok teased, ruffling Elio's hair.

"Hey, Elio," Kriz suddenly said, "with all those cores, do you think you could, I don't know, buy me a salamander or two?"

"Kriz," Elio replied, rolling his eyes but smiling, "not even with all the cores in the world could I buy you some modesty."

Laughter echoed in the air, mixing with the night wind.

♢♢♢♢

Elio, suddenly remembering, lightly slapped his forehead. "I almost forgot!" he exclaimed. He turned to the swift floating near him. "Thank you for your help. Without you, I wouldn't have made it up the wall. You deserve a rest and...

I promise to think of a proper name for you."

The swift seemed to nod before vanishing in a soft light.

Kriz, his eyes bright with curiosity, leaned forward. He was practically bouncing with excitement. "Hey, Elio, how about summoning the elephant? I'm dying to see what that rock beast looks like."

"Hmm," Elio twisted his mouth.

"Oh, come on," Kriz complained. "You can't leave us hanging like this."

"I can and I will," Elio replied with a playful smile. "A man has to keep some mystery, right?"

Everyone laughed, even Kriz, though he pretended to be offended.

Elio shook his head, smiling. "Sorry, Kriz. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Ember comes first."

"Ember?" Zara asked, intrigued.

"My salamander," Elio explained. "I promised her she'd be the first one summoned when I got back."

At his friends' curious looks, Elio opened his book to the invocations page. With a gentle touch on the salamander's image, a warm light emanated from the book.

"Ember," he whispered. "You can come out."

In an instant, Ember appeared, materializing on Elio's shoulder.

The salamander appeared in a flash of light. Seeing they were out of danger, it emitted a soft chirp, as if asking if everything was okay.

Elio couldn't help but smile. "I'm alive," he murmured. "I guess that counts as being okay, doesn't it?"

The little salamander looked around, its bright eyes examining Elio's friends before affectionately rubbing its head against its summoner's cheek.

"Incredible," Ren murmured.

Brok whistled, impressed. "It's smaller than I remember."

"She can alter her size," Elio explained, gently stroking Ember. "Remember the battle with Kairos. Although it doesn't help much and it's a waste of mana..."

Kriz approached cautiously. "Can I... can I touch her?"

Elio nodded, and Kriz slowly extended his hand. His finger passed through Ember without being able to touch her.

Elio smiled, the teasing evident in his voice. "Only their summoners can touch them, unless they allow you to..."

Kriz withdrew his hand, a mixture of surprise and disappointment on his face. "Hey! That's not fair."

The others burst into laughter at Kriz's expression, who pretended to be offended but soon joined in the laughter.

"Don't worry, Kriz," Elio said, still smiling. "Soon you'll be able to summon your own. In fact, all of you will."

His friends' eyes widened with amazement and excitement.

"Wait, when I asked you to buy me a salamander, it was a joke... Well, it's not that we don't trust you, buddy, but... Is that even possible?" Kriz asked, cautious of being victim to another joke.

"You don't believe it?" A playful smile passed for a moment over Elio's lips, only to transform the next into a serious and intense expression.

Elio began to generate energy around him to enhance the grandeur of the moment. "In fact, yes." With a fluid motion, he opened his book, extended his hand, and something bright began to materialize in his fingers.

A bright red core rested in his palm.

"Is this for real?" Micah asked, unable to hide his excitement.

Elio nodded. "Completely. I'll transfer enough cores for you to get your first three familiars. And then you can touch them as much as you want."

His friends' eyes opened with surprise and understanding.

"You mean...?" Brok began.

Elio nodded. "I mean I can help you level up. To become stronger. Together, we can form a team capable of facing Fathoran and his family."