Utopian System

Chapter 455 System's Progress

"Oh!" Dionz looked relieved. "Right, yes. I went with the small reptile-like, dog faced warrior version. They're craftier than goblins, use basic weapons and armor, and have a slight resistance to magic."

The hologram finally settled on a single form, showing a creature that looked like a miniature of what he just described standing upright and wielding primitive weapons.

"That's all I needed to know," Elio said. "Their abilities?"

♢♢♢♢

They were already inside the 11th portal challenge...

Dionz had told them every last piece of equipment and consumable that could help so they were at maximum output for the level.

Elio Von Elian's Emberg Form lvl (23/100)

Divine Corruption 10/100

Mana: 3300/3300

Resistance: 3300 2x (6600)

Attack: NA

Magic Damage: 1516 2x 2x 2x 2x (24256)

Strength: NA

Defense: 330

Magic Defense: 330

Speed: 330

Perception / Agility: 4 AA

Spiritual God Armor 23 / ((Defense 230) (Magic Defense 230)(Resistance(2,300/2,300))

Through Emberg's form, Elio's first impression was of how different the battlefield felt with just two enemies instead of thousands. The kobolds, with their dog-like heads on reptilian bodies, moved with a predatory grace that spoke of intelligence rather than bestial instinct.

They were no weak enemies either.

Kobold@@@@

Mana: 0/0

Skill:

Infinite Deadly Fast Trow

Fast Feet

The potion had barely materialized in Selene's hands when Lila snatched it, her form blurring with speed as she raced from the chamber. No goodbyes, no ceremony, just pure, desperate need to move forward.

"Well," Lucien watched her disappear, "at least the production rate is good. Two potions every three days at this pace..."

"Three," Kriz interrupted with his usual flair for dramatic timing.

Everyone turned to stare at him. His winged rabbit familiar mimicked his knowing smirk, both of them radiating smugness.

"What do you mean, three?" Selene asked.

Kriz held up his book with theatrical flourish. "Check your mana, my friends. Our mysteriously generous benefactor has struck again."

The rush to open books was immediate. Sure enough, another hundred points of mana had appeared, as mysteriously as the previous increases.

"How does he keep doing this?" Mei wondered, but she was already calculating the new production possibilities.

The third increase in as many days. Even Kriz's dramatic reveal couldn't overshadow the implications, somewhere out there, Elio was still working to help them all.

♢♢♢♢

The memories flowed like a gentle stream now, showing Nala spending every day at Elio's house.

Gone was the recluse who hid from the world, she moved with comfortable familiarity through the family's space.

"Technically, this is dating," Zara commented as they watched Memory-Nala laughing at something young Elio said.

"It's research," Nala defended.

"You're literally at his house every day."

"For observation purposes."

"You're having dinner with his family!"

The memory showed Elio's mother giving Nala suspicious looks across the table, while his father seemed delighted by her presence, taking every opportunity to embarrass his son.

"See? Even his mom knows something's weird about this."

"She's just... protective since I'm suspiciously researching," Nala muttered.

"And his dad helps it so hard," Zara added with amusement.

"Helps what?"

"Never mind. Past you wouldn't understand anyway."

The scene shifted to show Elio's father telling another embarrassing story about his son, making Memory-Nala laugh while Elio turned red.

Seeing Elio's father, so alive and cheerful, sent a wave of sadness through Zara's consciousness.