Utopian System

Elio nodded slowly, thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to know what the other options were about. "Let's see the potion then."

The combination potion turned out to be an iridescent liquid that constantly changed colors. Elio drank it in one gulp, expecting... something.

Anything.

"Do you feel any different?" asked Zara, studying his face for changes.

Elio checked his book, frantically flipping through pages. "Nothing. No new abilities, no altered statistics." He closed the book in frustration. "A wasted core? Maybe we should have chosen the swords for…"

"Not necessarily," Diana bit her lip, thoughtful. "Maybe its effect only reveals itself under certain circumstances."

"Or maybe it just doesn't work with me," Elio shrugged. "Let's focus on elements whose use we can verify immediately and..."

"Try at least one more," Selene pressed. "We need to maximize your potential and know what each thing is."

Elio studied the remaining options again.

"If you're going to lead us against a hundred transformed artromus and their queen," Selene put a hand on his shoulder, "you'll need every advantage we can get."

Elio remembered Zentros's brutal efficiency when transformed while he didn't have the potion, the devastation a single artromus could cause. Multiplied by a hundred...

"You're right," he finally conceded. "We can't risk not knowing any power at our disposal, not when facing a threat of this magnitude."

His fingers moved over the interface, selecting the next object.

The divine helmet materialized in Elio's hands, its polished surface reflecting light strangely. It was a completely new concept for them, in 100 years of existence and a closed world dependent on God's objects, no one had considered specific protection for the head.

The closest had been the acid protection Elio had once put over his entire body. That could be called a nickel helmet...

But he had found the reduction to his vision extremely uncomfortable, something he didn't want to use unless absolutely necessary.

"It's always been our weak point," Elio murmured, turning the helmet in his hands. "One precise blow to the face and the system armor's defense becomes useless."

"What are you waiting for?" Kriz's voice resonated in the hall. "Put it on already! I'm dying to see how that thing looks on you."

Elio placed the helmet on his head, expecting to feel some kind of restriction in his vision. To his surprise, it was as if the helmet didn't even exist, he could see perfectly in all directions.

"It's... transparent from inside," he commented, moving his head to test different angles. With a thought, the helmet disappeared. Another thought, and it materialized again. "And I can control it at will."

"Very elegant," Kriz approached, studying the helmet with interest. "What else does it do? Does it give you super vision? Can it shoot rays from the eyes?"

Elio checked his statistics and his expression darkened. "Nothing."

"What do you mean nothing?" Selene approached, frowning.

"It just... extends the armor's defense to my head. No additional increases." Elio removed the helmet in frustration. "Our armor's base defense isn't even as high as the goddess armor's. Maybe we should have gotten more swords."

"Hey, hey," Kriz gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Don't leave us in suspense. There are still two objects left to see, right? What's wrong with trying them all?"

"Besides," added Selene, "any random blow from another "Cassandra" to the neck or head won't be lethal to our leader anymore. You'll be better protected from any possible betrayal... That alone is worth the core."

"Worth it without doubt," Diana added.

Elio sighed and selected the divine cape.

The garment materialized, rippling softly as if it had a life of its own. Its color changed subtly according to the light, reminding him of the crystalline wings of his transformed form.

"Magic defense," he murmured while checking his statistics. "Ten points instead of five." Discover more content at empire

"Does it also grow with your level?" asked Aria, touching the fabric with curiosity.

Elio nodded. "Like the sword. I guess all divine equipment is designed to evolve with the user."

"Well, that's something," Valeria rocked on her heels, smiling. "You look pretty imposing with the whole set, if you ask me. Like a true divine leader or something."

"Only the summoning core remains," Mei pointed to the last option on the interface. "Maybe it's a new creature? A new summon could complement your combat style well."

Elio observed his reflection in the statue's polished surface. The helmet and cape certainly gave him a different air, more authoritative perhaps. But he couldn't help feeling they had wasted opportunities to obtain more offensive power.

"I guess you're right," he finally conceded. "We've come this far, haven't we?"

"That's the spirit!" exclaimed Kriz, rubbing his hands in anticipation. "What will it be? An artromus-eating beast?"

"Only one way to find out," Elio responded, extending his hand toward the last option. The summoning core glowed with a pulsing light.

This would be his last chance to change his mind, to opt for more divine swords or perhaps an unknown summon.

"Go ahead," Selene's voice was soft but firm. "Trust the process. All this must have a purpose."

Elio nodded and selected the core. It was time to discover what kind of creature would complement his new divine arsenal.

Or that's what they thought, but...

"Nothing new," Elio murmured, going through his book once more. Frustration accumulated with each page he turned. "What good is a combination potion that doesn't combine anything and a summoning core that summons nothing?"

Kriz yawned dramatically. "Maybe you need to combine your patience with…"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Wait," Elio interrupted, his fingers stopping in the summons section. "Something's different here."

A new option glowed next to EmberG's name. When his fingers touched the page, the world vanished.

The first sensation was weightlessness.

Then, a wave of pure power flooded his senses… no, not exactly senses. It was as if he could perceive the world in a completely new way.

'Am I... flying?'

Elio, or whatever he was now, rose in the air. His body, or rather his form, was composed of pure crystallized mana. Each movement left trails of energy in the air, as if he was painting with light.

'This is... incredible,' he thought, spinning around. He could feel mana currents flowing around him, like invisible rivers of power. 'It's as if I were part of the system itself.'

A strident laugh interrupted his contemplation.

When he turned, Elio experienced the most surreal sensation of his life: he was observing his own body, on all fours, trying to chase its tail like a playful puppy.