With his mana and resistance fully recovered, Elio prepared for his next move.
He summoned Ember, his faithful salamander, and hugged it against his chest. The warmth of the magical creature provided a welcomed small relief against the persistent cold.
Closing his eyes, Elio tried to rest a bit more, knowing he would need all his energy for the challenge ahead. Ember curled up against him, its presence a constant reminder that he wasn't alone.
When he had finally recovered all his stamina, Elio stood up. With a grateful caress, he bid farewell to Ember, allowing the salamander to return to the book.
"Thank you," he murmured. "We'll see each other soon."
Next, Elio summoned his elephant. The creature appeared by his side, its presence a source of comfort and strength.
"Well, it's time to face this tunnel once again."
Elio began to run.
This time, however, it wasn't a desperate race. Each step was calculated, every movement optimized for maximum efficiency. The elephant floated by his side, a silent but comforting presence.
As he advanced towards the ice barrier, Elio felt more prepared than ever. He had learned from his mistakes, had measured his limits, and was now ready to face the challenge with everything he had.
"This time," Elio thought as he ran, "this time I'll succeed."
The tunnel stretched before him, cold and relentless as ever. But Elio no longer felt fear. Only determination. Determination to overcome this obstacle, to reach level 6, to protect his city and the people he loved.
And even those he didn't love as much...
♢♢♢♢
Elio maintained a controlled pace in his run, aware of the need to conserve his stamina.
As he advanced and the cold intensified, he gradually increased his speed, seeking the perfect balance between resistance and stamina expenditure.
This time, having started from almost halfway through the tunnel, his energy reserve was in much better shape. However, the lack of additional provisions meant this could be his last chance. Success was imperative.
Elio prepared to test several theories as soon as he reached the previously damaged barrier.
Elio: 50 Resistance / 456.78 Armor Resistance
Mana: 50/50
Without knowing it, Elio was taking an impromptu class in magical chemistry, having generated magical ammonia.
Each element he tested produced a different reaction, some more notable than others.
Mana: 43/50
When he used oxygen, he observed with amazement how the cracks in the barrier seemed to fill with new ice. Without realizing it, he had created holy water or magical water that instantly froze upon contact with the low temperature.
But Elio noticed that the new ice was slightly different from the barrier ice.
Wasn't the ice barrier frozen water?
Confused but intrigued, Elio repeated the reactions in reverse, this time paying more attention to the details.
Hydrogen again produced a significant reaction, creating more water and what he didn't know was ammonia again. Nickel and helium still showed no major changes, but when he came to carbon, something new happened.
Mana: 38/50
This time, the reaction produced what Elio didn't know was magical hydrogen cyanide.
The new cracks in the barrier acquired a bluish coloration, a phenomenon that Elio couldn't explain but found fascinating.
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Despite his confusion, Elio was learning. Each reaction, each unexpected result, provided him with new information. However, he also realized that these tests were consuming a significant amount of his mana.
After evaluating his discoveries, Elio concluded that hydrogen seemed to be the most efficient way to consume the barrier.
Nevertheless, even this reaction proved less effective than his reliable ignited carbon ball.
Hoping that the end of the barrier wasn't too far away, thanks to his previous advance, Elio decided to return to his proven strategy. He prepared a black ball wrapped in fire, his most efficient attack in terms of mana cost and effectiveness.
Mana: 37/50
He stepped back to launch the attack, but in his haste to act, he didn't distance himself enough.
What Elio didn't know was that the hydrogen cyanide he had inadvertently created was highly volatile.
Much more so when its volatile effect was what the mana enhanced.