Chapter 113: Chapter 113: System's Limit

Fathoran's sword blade descended towards Tarec, promising a swift but definitive end.

Tarec closed his eyes, anticipating the final blow that never came.

Elio burst onto the scene.

A deafening roar filled the air, followed by a gust of wind that made Tarec's eyes snap open. There stood Elio, his figure resplendent in the System's Armor.

Fathoran retreated, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden intervention.

Elio, wasting no time, launched into attack. At that precise moment, Tarec felt someone grab his arm.

"Let's go!" Lucien's voice resonated in his ears, urgent and commanding. "I need to get you out of here!"

As Lucien dragged him to safety, Tarec couldn't tear his gaze away from the confrontation unfolding before him. The speed and ferocity of the attacks surpassed anything he had imagined possible.

Suddenly, Elio hurled an enormous black fireball, while Fathoran countered with a colossal sphere of ice.

The two forces collided mid-air, creating an explosion of energy that illuminated the entire enclosure. Shards of ice and incandescent fragments flew in all directions, threatening to injure everyone present.

Tarec watched in amazement as Selene and Lucien reacted instantaneously. With synchronized movements, they used what appeared to be air control to deflect the projectiles upward, saving the summoners.

But the protection didn't end there.

Elio's massive black creature also interposed itself, its enormous body serving as an additional shield for Elio's followers.

However, Fathoran's soldiers weren't as fortunate. Although their high-level armor provided considerable protection, not all escaped unscathed.

Some received direct impacts to the face, the ice inflicting 25 points of damage. With only 30 resistance points, they were left on the brink of death.

But what was truly terrifying was the effect of the carbon manipulated by Elio. Several of Fathoran's soldiers, hit by the black particles, fell instantly, their lives extinguished in an instant.

Some stumbled over the fallen bodies of their comrades, while others shouted contradictory orders, increasing the confusion.

Fathoran observed all this with a sinister smile slowly spreading across his face. He saw in this situation an opportunity, a way to test Elio's resolution and, at the same time, demonstrate his own tactical superiority.

With fluid and precise movements, Fathoran began to manipulate the elements. In his right hand, a sphere of wind began to form, spinning at dizzying speeds. In his left, ice crystals condensed, creating a ball of intense cold.

Lucien and Selene, knowing this attack and perceiving the imminent threat, prepared to defend. Their swifts fidgeted nervously, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of danger.

Fathoran, however, wasn't aiming at them.

His target was the mass of soldiers struggling to get away, an easy target.

"Tell me, Elio," Fathoran's voice resonated in the enclosure, laden with mockery and challenge. "Do you care so much about the lives of a few dozen miserable soldiers?"

Elio, understanding Fathoran's intentions, felt time slow down. His mind raced at a thousand miles an hour, evaluating options, calculating risks. He knew that any move he made would have consequences, potentially fatal for the trapped soldiers.

The soldiers, hearing Fathoran's words, redoubled their efforts to escape.

They were pressed as close together as they could be.

Lucien and Selene exchanged quick glances, comprehending the gravity of the situation. They knew their ability to protect everyone was limited, especially against such a wide-ranging attack as Fathoran was preparing.

Fathoran, seeing the doubt in Elio's eyes, continued his verbal assault.

"Why do you care, boy? You'll have to eliminate between 50 and 100 thousand people a year anyway..."

A cruel smile spread across his face. "Or haven't you told your new followers that the city can't house more than 1.1 million inhabitants?"

The soldiers and civilians present exchanged looks of confusion and horror.

"Did you know that the goddess imposed a population limit on the god?" Fathoran continued, his voice mixing triumph and disdain.

"If you exceed it, the barrier stops working and as God used to say... Game over! Tell them, Elio! Do they think they can live without a competent leader? Without the barrier, EVERYONE will die!"