Utopian System

Chapter 465 System's Maiden - 2

Her twentieth attempt reached the sixth ring. The barrier crossing left her mentally reeling, her connection to Gorgita flickering dangerously. But they made it through, only to face monsters that seemed to bend space itself with their movements.

That death was particularly spectacular, but Lila barely paused before beginning attempt twenty-one.

'I wonder,' she thought as Gorgita's consciousness merged with hers once again, 'is this how you felt, Elio? When you kept trying impossible things until they became possible?'

The thought gave her renewed determination. Somewhere ahead, beyond these rings of escalating danger, he was waiting. And she would reach him, no matter how many attempts it took.

'After all,' she mused as they launched skyward once again, 'what's a few thousand deaths between us?'

Soon, she'd need to report to Lucien about her progress. But not yet. Not until she'd pushed the boundaries just a little further.

Just a little further...

♢♢♢♢

"Of all the reckless, irresponsible..." Lucien's voice carried through his office, sharp with concern and frustration. "Did you have any idea what could have happened if you were not immune during those transfers?"

Lila stood before his desk, accepting the reprimand but with a hint of defiance in her posture. "But nothing went wrong. And now we know it's possible... Elio would surely have..."

"That's not the point!" Lucien ran a hand through his face in exasperation. "You should have reported the success of the first transfer immediately. We could have organized proper testing, developed safe protocols..."

"While Elio waits?" Lila challenged. "Every day we delay..."

"Is better than losing you!" Lucien's fist hit his desk. The small toxic frog on his head croaked in agreement.

Before Lila could respond, Kriz burst into the office, his usual dramatic entrance somewhat spoiled by tripping over his own feet.@@@@

"Is it true?" he demanded from the floor. "Lila figured out how to possess our familiars? Because if she gets to be a flying salamander, I absolutely need to try being Mirror Coat!"

Brok's massive frame filled the doorway behind him. "You just want to try your rabbit's wings."

"Like you're not dying to try out that weird falcon-penguin fusion you made," Kriz shot back, picking himself up.

Selene slipped in last, her quiet entrance a stark contrast to her companions. "Actually, this could work in our favor. Multiple attempts from different angles would increase our chances of reaching Elio."

"Show off," Kriz commented, but he was already moving to take advantage of the gap.

The 5th ring's barrier loomed ahead. This was where things usually went wrong.

"Together," Selene commanded. They tightened formation, combining their unique abilities. Brok's raw speed, Kriz's confusing reflections, Selene's precision, and Lila's experience, all working in concert.

"Level fives," Lila warned as the perfectly coordinated swarm approached. "This is where we need to start combining elements."

The monsters' coordinated attack suddenly had to deal with nickel, ice and water droplets bullets that traveled fast with Selene's pushes.

"Now that's what I call teamwork!" Kriz exulted as they broke through the first wave.

But the sixth ring's barrier proved more challenging.

"Reform!" Selene called out, her fish form already moving to provide cover. "Lila, we need that vortex now!"

"Six waves of attacks since we entered this ring," Selene noted.

"Then let's give them something back," Brok suggested. His falcon-penguin form began generating cold air currents that interacted with Lila's water.

The sixth ring's barrier appeared just as they were starting to grasp the possibilities.

"This is the furthest I've ever gotten," Lila admitted as they approached it.

"Then let's beat that record," Selene decided. "Everyone, maximum output. Combine everything we've learned."

♢♢♢♢

"Well," Kriz groaned, "that was both awesome and terrible."

"But informative," Selene added, already making notes. "The elemental combinations showed promise. We just need to refine them, make them more unpredictable."

"And work on our coordination," Brok rumbled. "There were moments when we moved perfectly together, but we lost it too easily under pressure."

Lila nodded, but her mind was already planning the next attempt. "The seventh ring... we almost made it. With more practice..."