Utopian System-Chapter 496: System’s Progress - Corruption 32/100

"Ah," Dionz's usual enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "Well... let's just say future challenges might make ogre healing seem rather basic in comparison. Though explaining advanced biological processes without..."

"They get worse."

"More... interesting! Each new type will test different aspects of your control. The ogres are just teaching you the basics of handling regeneration."

♢♢♢♢

Elio found an unexpected sight awaiting him after the last 1 days fighting.

Selene and Lila stood in their human forms, not just their invocations, sixteen other invocations hovering behind them, the combined forces of their entire team.

"What are you…" he started, concern flooding his voice.

"It's fine," Selene cut him off with a confident smile. "The ring monsters can't touch us anymore. Our defense is too high for them to penetrate."

"But the risk..."

"Isn't as great as you think," Lila added. "We've been testing it gradually. Even level 10 insects barely register against our enhanced stats now."

Elio studied them closely. Their confidence wasn't bravado, they moved with the assurance of warriors who knew their capabilities precisely. The sixteen invocations behind them maintained perfect formation, suggesting countless hours of practice.

"We have news," Selene continued, pulling out her book. "And gifts. We've gathered enough cores for you to unlock everything through level 32."

Lila's book floated beside her. "Plus, we need more corruption spheres. The level 40 artromus are next."

"Level 40?" Elio's concern returned. "That's..."

"Necessary," Selene finished firmly. "We don't know when Nala will return. Time won't be on our side forever if Dionz is right."

The reality of their situation hung heavy in the air. They were racing against an unknown deadline, preparing for battles that would only get harder.

"Here," Elio handed fifty corruption spheres. "These should help you reach level 32. For the invocations..." He took the 130 cores.

"The third ring is completely secured now and 3 deposits of the 4th ring," Lila reported while storing the spheres. "The daily challenges provide excellent resources, and our training programs are advancing faster than expected."

"But it's not enough," Selene added. "We need to be stronger."

Elio wanted to tell them to wait, to build more power before attempting another challenge. But they were right, time was their enemy now. Nala's return loomed like a shadow over their preparations.

"Show me your progress," he requested instead.

The sixteen invocations moved in perfect coordination, demonstrating combinations they'd perfected. Each pair complemented its partners, creating patterns of support and attack that spoke of careful planning and endless practice.

"We're not being reckless," Lila assured him, seeing his concern. "Every step has been calculated, every advance tested thoroughly."

"The city grows stronger every day," Selene added. "But our window of opportunity won't last forever. More artromus need to fall before Nala returns."

They were right, of course. Each day brought them closer to an inevitable confrontation. The question wasn't if they were ready - it was whether they'd have another chance if they waited.

"Your new challenges took way longer," Selene noted.

"The ogres forced adaptation," he explained. "Their regeneration abilities required new approaches."

The implications were clear. Each new level would take longer.

"Take these too," Elio added more combination cores to their collection. "They'll help if you ever reach level 30."

The women accepted the cores with knowing nods.

"We should go," Selene said finally. "The others are waiting, and we have preparations to make."

Elio watched them prepare to leave, their sixteen invocations moving into travel formation. He wanted to tell them to be careful, to wait for more power, to...

"We'll be fine," Lila assured him, reading his expression. "We're not the same warriors you left behind. Each battle you won has made us stronger."

"Besides," Selene added with a slight smile, "we learned from the best. All that nagging about preparation and strategy? We remember them."

They were right again. They weren't rushing blindly into danger - they were making calculated decisions based on careful assessment of their capabilities and the time available.

As they departed, their invocations creating a protective formation around them, Elio felt pride mixing with his concern. They had grown indeed, becoming warriors who could make their own tactical choices, their own risk assessments.

The level 40 artromus awaited them, but they would face that challenge with everything they'd learned, everything they'd built. Time might not be on their side, but they would make the most of what they had.

"We'll send word after the battle," Lila promised as they prepared to leave.

"Just..." Elio started.

"We know," both said together. "We'll be careful."

They disappeared into the passage, leaving Elio with his thoughts. The next challenge awaited him as well - more ogres to defeat, more abilities to master. They were all racing against time now, preparing for battles they knew would only get harder.

But watching them leave, seeing their confidence and capability, he felt something else too. Pride. They had become something more than he could have imagined, warriors who could make their own choices, face their own challenges.

Time would tell if their calculations were correct, if they were truly ready for this challenge. But they would face it together, with all the power and knowledge they'd gathered.

That would have to be enough.

Elio consumed the cores to get all the summons available till level 32…

Elio Von Elian's Statistics

Skills:

{5 Basic ones}

{5 Heaven's ones}

{11- 35 Magical ones}

Divine Corruption 31/100

Familiars:

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

{5 Tier 1}

{5 Tier 2}

{11 - 20 Tier 3}

{21 - 30 Tier 4}

{31 - 32 Tier 5}

Fire Salamander(Merged - 1)

Wind Swift(Merged - 1)

Illumination Jellyfish (Merged - 1)(2)

Absorption Scorpion (Merged - 1)(2)

Corruption Komodo (Merged - 1)(2)

Perception Wolf (Merged - 1)(2)

1st Fusion (+320)

2nd Fusion T2 (+1280)

Emblems:

Wind, Fire, Water and Earth

Level 35

Mana: 3450/3450

Resistance: 3450/3450 (+3500)

Stamina: 45/45

Attack:3135 (3485)

Magic Damage: 3135 (+35)(+320)(+1280)(+350)/ (5120) A

Strength: 35 A

Defense: 345 (380)

Magic Defense: 345 (+35)(+35) / (415)

Speed: 66

Perception / Agility: 7.6 A

God Weapon (35) / ((Attack 350) (Magic Damage 350))

Divine Elemental Resistance Cape / Magic Defense 35

Divine Helmet

System's Armor 30 / ((Defense 35) (Magic Defense 35) (Magic Damage 35) (Resistance(3500/3500))

Portable oral oxygen stone

"Focus on mastering this first," Dionz advised, reading his concern. "Each challenge builds on the previous ones. What you're learning here, about timing, about simultaneous control, will be crucial later..."

The challenges ahead would undoubtedly be harder, but he would face them with these new skills mastered. Sometimes the best preparation for future battles was fully understanding the current one.

"Ready for the next wave?" Dionz asked.