Chapter 83: Chapter 83: System's Promise

Elio Elian's Statistics

Skills:

Sacred Flame

Holy Water

Ice Sacrifice

Celestial Wind

Life Rock (New)

Familiars:

Fire Salamander

Water Frog

Ice Rabbit

Wind Swift (+20 MD)

Rock Elephant (New)

(1,843,915,000/10,000,000) Level 6 required

Level 5

Mana: 07/50

Resistance: 50/50 (+200)

Stamina: 03/10

Attack: 5

Magic Damage: 5 (+5)(+20) / (30)

Strength: 5

Defense: 5 (10)

Magic Defense: (5) (New)

Speed: 5

Perception / Agility: 1.5

Amplifier Belt / Magic Damage 5

Summoner's Robe / (Defense 5) (Magic Defense 5) (Resistance (200/200))

Balance:

Everyone laughed, even Kriz, though he pretended to be offended.

Elio shook his head, smiling. "Sorry, Kriz. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Ember comes first."

"Ember?" Zara asked, intrigued.

"My salamander," Elio explained. "I promised her she'd be the first one summoned when I got back."

At his friends' curious looks, Elio opened his book to the invocations page. With a gentle touch on the salamander's image, a warm light emanated from the book.

"Ember," he whispered. "You can come out."

In an instant, Ember appeared, materializing on Elio's shoulder.

The salamander appeared in a flash of light. Seeing they were out of danger, it emitted a soft chirp, as if asking if everything was okay.

Elio couldn't help but smile. "I'm alive," he murmured. "I guess that counts as being okay, doesn't it?"

The little salamander looked around, its bright eyes examining Elio's friends before affectionately rubbing its head against its summoner's cheek.

"Incredible," Ren murmured.

Brok whistled, impressed. "It's smaller than I remember."

"She can alter her size," Elio explained, gently stroking Ember. "Remember the battle with Kairos. Although it doesn't help much and it's a waste of mana..."

Kriz approached cautiously. "Can I... can I touch her?"

Elio nodded, and Kriz slowly extended his hand. His finger passed through Ember without being able to touch her.

Elio smiled, the teasing evident in his voice. "Only their summoners can touch them, unless they allow you to..."

Kriz withdrew his hand, a mixture of surprise and disappointment on his face. "Hey! That's not fair."

The others burst into laughter at Kriz's expression, who pretended to be offended but soon joined in the laughter.

"Don't worry, Kriz," Elio said, still smiling. "Soon you'll be able to summon your own. In fact, all of you will."

His friends' eyes widened with amazement and excitement.

"Wait, when I asked you to buy me a salamander, it was a joke... Well, it's not that we don't trust you, buddy, but... Is that even possible?" Kriz asked, cautious of being victim to another joke.

"You don't believe it?" A playful smile passed for a moment over Elio's lips, only to transform the next into a serious and intense expression.

Elio began to generate energy around him to enhance the grandeur of the moment. "In fact, yes." With a fluid motion, he opened his book, extended his hand, and something bright began to materialize in his fingers.

A bright red core rested in his palm.

"Is this for real?" Micah asked, unable to hide his excitement.

Elio nodded. "Completely. I'll transfer enough cores for you to get your first three familiars. And then you can touch them as much as you want."

His friends' eyes opened with surprise and understanding.

"You mean...?" Brok began.

Elio nodded. "I mean I can help you level up. To become stronger. Together, we can form a team capable of facing Fathoran and his family."