Utopian System

Much more so when its volatile effect was what the mana enhanced.

When the ignited carbon impacted, it caused an explosion.

The force of the detonation threw Elio through the air, far surpassing the impact of his previous encounter with dry ice. His body flew backward with an impact that robbed him of his breath. Wide Guard, his elephant familiar, trumpeted in alarm, unable to protect its master from the blast on time.

For a few moments, Elio remained motionless, stunned by the explosion and the blow. Slowly, with every muscle protesting, he forced himself to stand. His vision was blurry, and a sharp ringing filled his ears.

Fortunately, the armor was healing him quickly... But that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

Discover magic on m-vlemp _yr.

Elio: 15 Resistance / 412.35 Armor Resistance

Mana: 37/50

Stamina: 5.6/10

When he finally managed to focus his gaze on the barrier, a wave of emotion washed over him.

The destruction caused by the explosion had been much more effective than he could have ever imagined. The force of the explosion that seeped into the cracks was especially effective.

Where once stood a seemingly endless blockade, now only scattered pieces of ice remained.

"Incredible," Elio muttered, his voice hoarse from the smoke and shock.

Despite the pain he felt, a smile formed on his face. Without meaning to, he had discovered a way to overcome the obstacle that seemed insurmountable. The combination of his experiments and his attack had produced a result that far exceeded his expectations.

As he observed the remains of the barrier, Elio couldn't help but feel both pride and humility. He had faced the challenge with ingenuity and perseverance, and although the final result had been partly accidental... He had overcome it. Wide Guard nudged him gently, as if sharing in his triumph.

♢♢♢♢

Elio didn't allow himself even a moment of celebration after the barrier's destruction.

The cold was still a constant threat, robbing him of almost one point of resistance per second.

He only had around 7 minutes.

With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he launched forward, delving deeper into the icy tunnel.

As he advanced, the cold intensified alarmingly. Each breath was a struggle, the frigid air burning his lungs.

Now it was 2 points per second, a bit more than 3 minutes.

But Elio didn't stop. He couldn't afford the luxury of doubting now.

Finally, Elio reached what appeared to be the end of the tunnel. However, what he found wasn't the end, but the entrance to a vast chamber. For a moment, he expected to face the familiar challenge of a guardian monster, as in the previous five levels.

But what he saw inside the chamber left him doubly surprised...

There, in the center of the icy room, were not one, but two creatures.

Elio had never seen anything like this before. They were like more robust and longer versions of the swift, with fat and large bodies, black and white, and strange wings that didn't seem to serve for flying.

He was unfamiliar with the word "penguin," but his mind quickly cataloged the creatures as a swift-like creature adapted to extreme cold even more than the rabbit.

The two monsters were face to face, their flippers extended towards a sphere of icy energy floating between them. Elio could immediately feel the power emanating from that sphere. The already intense cold of the chamber seemed to multiply exponentially the closer he got to the creatures.

'Fascinating,' Elio thought for a moment, but quickly shook his head. It wasn't time to be distracted by the wonder of the spectacle.

It was time to act.

Not knowing exactly how strong these new monsters were, Elio decided to start with one of his most powerful attacks. For an instant, he considered using the corrosive attack, but remembering his experience with the ice barrier, he opted for the ignited carbon ball.

With a fluid motion, Elio formed the first fireball and launched it towards one of the penguins. The heat of the attack cut through the icy air, providing momentary relief from the intense cold surrounding him. Immediately, he began to prepare a second attack, ready for whatever might come. Wide Guard stood at the ready, its trunk raised in anticipation.

The impact was immediate and surprising.

The moment the fireball hit one of the penguins, both creatures stopped their manipulation of the icy sphere.

As if a switch had been turned off, the cold in the chamber decreased drastically. Elio realized with amazement that these two creatures were responsible for the supernatural cold he had been facing.

The penguins, now aware of the threat, turned their attention to Elio. With synchronized movements, they began to form ice barriers around themselves, a tactic that reminded Elio of the elephant's strategy in level 5.

'Not this time,' Elio thought, determined not to let the creatures entrench themselves.

Without losing a second, he launched two more fireballs towards the already injured penguin. The first impacted against the forming ice barrier, shattering it before it could fully solidify. The second found its mark on the penguin's body, finishing off the creature in an explosion of steam and sparks.

Elio made a quick calculation. If these monsters followed the pattern of previous levels, they probably had around 60 resistance points each.

His magical damage was 35.

With the first penguin defeated, he only needed two more hits to eliminate the second.

The fear of having to deal again with the elephant problem if he gave the penguin time to rebuild the icy sphere drove him to act quickly and decisively.

Without hesitation, Elio unleashed a barrage of ignited carbon balls against the remaining penguin. Wide Guard trumpeted, channeling its power to enhance Elio's attacks.

The attack was ruthless and perhaps excessive. The first two balls impacted against the penguin's newly generated ice barriers, shattering them into a thousand pieces.

The next two found their target unobstructed, ending the creature's life in an explosion of fire and ice.

The other 10 or so attacks were not needed.

When the steam dissipated and the last fragments of ice fell to the ground, Elio found himself alone in the chamber, panting from the adrenaline. The penguins' bodies vanished into particles of light, signaling the end of the challenge.

For a moment, Elio remained motionless, his eyes scanning the now empty chamber. The realization of what he had just accomplished began to slowly settle in.

"I did it," he murmured, amazement and relief in his voice. "I really did it."