Chapter 67: Chapter 67: System's Defiance

Elio closed his eyes, bracing for impact...

But something within him rebelled. No, it wouldn't end like this. His eyes snapped open, determination burning in his gaze. The wind whistled around him as he fell, but his mind was clear, focused.

"I'm not made of fear," he told himself, his father's words echoing in his mind. He had repeated it, but it seemed it wasn't yet etched in his deepest core.

The 'ground' was rapidly approaching, the mass of monsters writhing and roaring beneath him.

The carbon in his joints prevented him from moving, but Elio realized he still had one option left.

The book.

The fourth level.

With a supreme effort, he concentrated all his will on the book he carried. If he could enter it, he would at least have a chance to live.

His health and mana weren't fully recovered after the recent events with Marcus, but he had no other choice.

The book began to glow, responding to his desperation. Elio felt a mixture of relief and fear. The fourth level was almost unknown territory, a challenge that very few had faced and survived.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the opportunity to thoroughly discuss the strategy with Lucien; he hadn't expected such an abrupt situation. But between that and certain death, the choice was clear.

Just as he was thinking it was a shame not to have his lance, something incredible happened. He landed on a monster's head, and there, stuck in the beast's skull, was his lance. The impact was brutal, shaking every bone in his body, but thanks to his high defense and armor, he was still alive and unharmed.

The monster roared in pain and fury, violently shaking its head.

The young soldier was violently thrown away, but his mind was focused on one thing: the book.

Responding to his call, the book opened and the familiar question appeared on the page:

Do you wish to challenge the fourth trial?

Taking advantage of his evasion on the ground, Elio used a mana point to redirect his lance towards the swift. The lance whistled through the air, but the agile monster dodged it by inches.

Elio: 14 mana, 100 armor resistance

The swift immediately counterattacked. A barrage of ice projectiles filled the air, gradually turning the chamber into an icy battlefield. Elio moved frantically, dodging most, but one of the projectiles impacted his arm.

Elio: 14 mana, 96 armor resistance

The penetrating cold of the impact made Elio grit his teeth, but he didn't allow himself to lose focus.

Concentrating, he used a mana point to direct his lance towards the swift.

The monster dodged it easily, but this gave Elio the opportunity he needed. "Now!" he squeaked in a chipmunk voice, and the salamander launched a fireball, spending another mana point.

Elio: 12 mana, 96 armor resistance

The impact was direct. The swift shrieked in pain, its flight becoming erratic for a moment. But the creature recovered quickly, its eyes now glowing with murderous fury.

Swift: 32 resistance

Without giving Elio time to celebrate his small victory, the swift launched a powerful ice ball. Elio tried to dodge it, but the projectile hit him in the chest, freezing his armor and making him stagger.

Elio: 12 mana, 92 armor resistance

Regaining his balance, Elio directed the lance again, spending another mana point. This time, the lance's tip grazed the swift's wing, eliciting a shriek of pain from the creature.

Elio: 11 mana, 92 armor resistance

Swift: 29 resistance

The swift, now gravely injured and more dangerous than ever, intensified its attacks. A rain of elemental projectiles filled the chamber. Fire and ice flew in all directions, turning the space into a chaos of unleashed energies.

Elio moved constantly, his hand never leaving his mouth. He dodged, rolled, jumped, each movement calculated to avoid the deadly attacks. His armor resisted the impacts he couldn't completely evade, but he knew it wouldn't last forever.