Chapter 125: Chapter 125: System's Vow

"From now on, people will be more valuable than things."

Lucien and Selene exchanged glances, processing Elio's words and the implications behind them.

"Moreover," Elio added, his voice gaining strength, "I'll teach you how to defeat the elephant. With that knowledge, your chances will increase considerably."

At that moment, Zara approached Elio, her eyes wide with excitement and disbelief. "Are you serious, Elio? You'd let us use the armors? Just like that?"

Elio smiled, nodding. "Not just you, Zara. Micah, Kriz, Brok, and Ren too, if they decide to take the risk. You can use it in turns. This is about equality, about giving everyone a fair chance."

Zara's eyes shone with emotion. "I'm in," she said without hesitation, her voice firm.

"Count me in too," Brok added, crossing his muscular arms, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

Kriz let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, if the big guy's in, I guess I can't back down. I'm game."

Ren and Micah exchanged glances before nodding their agreement as well.

Lucien, though still visibly concerned, couldn't help but feel admiration for Elio's decision. "It's a noble gesture, Elio. But are you absolutely certain about this? The risks are considerable."

Elio looked at each of them in turn before responding, his gaze steady and resolute. "I'm sure. I can't ask people to take risks if I'm not willing to do the same. Besides, I trust all of you. I know you won't fail. This is how we build a stronger, more united city."

Zara moved closer to Elio, placing a hand on his shoulder, her touch a silent show of support and something more.

Lucien nodded, his expression serious but filled with respect. "Very well, then. It seems we have a lot of work ahead of us. Where do we start?"

Elio smiled, feeling the weight of responsibility but also the strength of his friends' and mentors' support. "First, we'll gather everyone. It's time we share the knowledge we have about the book's challenges. Then, we'll begin distributing the invocations. And after that..."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the horizon beyond the window, "we'll prepare to expand our horizons beyond these walls."

♢♢♢♢

Several hours later, having gathered the public and rehearsed with Lucien's help...

Elio stood before the assembled crowd, his figure erect despite the fatigue that weighed on him. He took a deep breath, acutely aware that his words would mark the beginning of a new era for the city.

Elio took another deep breath before continuing, the weight of his next words heavy on his shoulders.

"That's why I've made a decision. I'm going to share the power of invocations with all of you... Not just soldiers, not just men, all of you."

A collective gasp ran through the crowd. Elio could see the disbelief on many faces, the hope beginning to dawn in their eyes.

"Yes, you heard that right. Every citizen of this city will have the opportunity to obtain invocations up to the level they have reached. But we must do it gradually. The transfer takes time, and we cannot neglect the wall's turrets."

Elio noticed that some people began to smile, while others looked concerned.

"But that's not all. I'm going to help everyone who wants to level up in the safest way possible. Armor and weapons of the highest possible level...

We won't force anyone, we'll make sure you have the information and are prepared before trying. The safety of each of you is my priority."

He paused, observing the reactions. He saw hope, excitement, and doubt on the faces of the crowd.

"And there's something else I want to announce. For too long, we have wasted the potential of half our population. It's time for women to have a more important role in our defense and in our society."

Elio noticed some women in the crowd straightening up, their eyes shining with anticipation.

"I want to urge women to obtain more power for themselves, to help on the wall too. It's time for everyone to contribute to the defense and growth of our city. No more artificial divisions based on gender."

♢♢♢♢

Elio's promise to share the power of invocations with everyone made Tarec instinctively touch his chest, where his salamander rested.

He remembered the feeling of power when he had thrown that fireball at Fathoran.

How would the city change if everyone had that power?

When Elio mentioned helping everyone level up, Tarec felt both excitement and apprehension. As a level 3 soldier, he knew how dangerous the process could be. "It's a risk," he thought, "but one that many will be willing to take for a better future".

The idea of women having a more important role in the city's defense made Tarec think of his wife and daughters. He had always wished they had more opportunities, more ways to protect themselves.

But going beyond level one was a big risk... Until recently.

Now, that possibility seemed real. Tarec felt a surge of hope, imagining his family, all of them, standing strong together, each with their own surplus of mana, their own power to protect and contribute.