Chapter 122: Chapter 122: System's New Leader

Elio absorbed Fathoran's cores and mana, his eyes fixed on the balances skyrocketing to unimaginable figures.

As he processed the magnitude of the newly acquired resources, he noticed a subtle change:

His armor lit up, recovering one point out of 500.

A quick deduction made him realize that the necessary minutes had passed... 500 points a day meant a regeneration of about 20 points per hour.

Suddenly, something beside him broke his concentration.

With a start, Elio turned his head to see something that chilled the blood in his veins: Fathoran's armor began to regenerate, its light igniting with a menacing glow.

The effect on the soldiers was instantaneous.

Cries of terror and surprise filled the air as they retreated en masse, fear palpable on their faces. Some stumbled in their haste to get away.

Elio, his heart pounding in his chest, found himself paralyzed for a moment. Was it possible that Fathoran, somehow, was still alive? The idea of facing the Patriarch again, especially in his current state of exhaustion, sent a wave of panic through him.

However, as he watched the armor regenerating, a part of his mind began to analyze the situation coldly.

It was impossible...

Right?

Elio was startled by another groan of pain from Selene.

Suddenly, an idea illuminated his mind: the armor, like other mana armors, would regenerate completely each day, regardless of whether its user was alive or not.

He had absorbed Fathoran's cores, which meant he was dead.

Right?

RIGHT?

Selene's suffering prompted Elio to make an unconventional decision. He began to remove the armor from the Patriarch's inert body.

The soldiers observed the scene with varied emotions, including amazement, confusion, even revulsion.

Some muttered among themselves, questioning their new leader's actions.

"What is he doing?"

Elio continued. "I know you have questions, fears, and concerns. What Fathoran said about the population limit... seems to be true."

Gasps and exclamations of surprise were heard. Elio raised a hand to calm the crowd.

"But that doesn't mean we're doomed to sacrifice our people. In the book that God left, it's mentioned that we can expand beyond the city walls. And that's exactly what we're going to do. I'll discover how to achieve it, so that no one has to be sacrificed."

Elio's words resonated in the room. Some soldiers and civilians began to mutter among themselves, discussing the implications of what they had just heard.

"Expand outside the city?"

"Is that even possible?"

"How will we survive out there?"

"I'll follow him to the end..."

Elio, perceiving the growing unrest, continued:

"I know it sounds scary. For generations, these walls have been our only security. But they've also been our prison. It's time we dare to dream of something bigger."

He paused, allowing his words to sink into the audience. His action, curiously similar to that of a certain summoner to whom he lent his armor for a while.

"It won't be easy... But if we work together, if we share our knowledge and resources, we can achieve it."

Elio looked around observing the people's reactions. He saw fear on some faces, hope on others, and a mixture of both on most.

"From today, each of you will have a voice in the decisions that affect our future. We will no longer be governed by fear and secrets. Together, we will build a society where everyone has the opportunity to grow, to learn, to reach their full potential."

A soldier in the crowd raised his voice: "What about the levels? The invocations?"

Elio nodded. "My intention is for everyone to have access to information. I'll share what I know, and together we'll discover the secrets that still await us."

"What will happen to the privileged families? To those who supported the founder?"

The founder's soldiers, who were taken as hostages, didn't feel a great attachment to their former contractor, but they felt nervous about the question.

Elio took a moment to consider his answer. "I understand there are wounds and resentments. But if we want to move forward, we must do it united. Those who are willing to work for the common good will be welcome, regardless of their past."

Reactions to these words were mixed. Some nodded in approval, while others seemed skeptical.

"I know you have more questions, more doubts. And we'll address them all, together. For now, I ask you to carry this message to every corner of the city. The era of fear has ended. The era of shared progress begins."