With a final nod to Lucien, Zara took a step forward and launched herself towards the sea of monsters.
Lucien watched as she fell and entered her book, her figure quickly disappearing. His frog croaked softly, as if sharing its master's concern.
In the following days, Lucien immersed himself in the task of reorganizing the selection and training process. He implemented new incentives, promoting the tunnel project as the most crucial mission for the city's survival.
The alarms continued to sound daily, a constant reminder of the urgency of his task.
Days later, Selene emerged from the tunnel with her first batch of apprentices, Milo and the others. Their swift summons looked tired but proud.
Lucien received them in his office. "Good job," he said, addressing both Selene and the young recruits. "Take the day to visit your families."
♢♢♢♢
Selene stayed behind. Having bathed and fed, she returned to Lucien's office. Her frog hopped alongside her, its movements reflecting its master's urgency.
"Lucien," she began, her voice laden with concern. "The situation in the tunnel..."
But before she could continue, the alarms sounded again.
Both rushed towards the wall, the conversation momentarily forgotten in the urgency of the moment. Their summons followed closely, ready for action.
This time, the barrier failed for two and a half seconds. Although the defenders managed to eliminate all the monsters without major problems, the increase in the duration of the failure did not go unnoticed.
Back in Lucien's office, Selene resumed the conversation.
"We can't go on like this," she said, echoing Zara's words from days ago. "We need to accelerate the process. I propose increasing the number of apprentices in this next round. Instead of the 30 you got, I'll train 40."
Lucien considered the proposal for a moment. His frog seemed to nod in agreement. "It will be a logistical challenge," he warned. "But you're right. We have no other choice."
♢♢♢♢
The next day, Lucien summoned the 15 apprentices who had returned with Selene. He explained the situation and offered them the million mana needed to obtain their system armors.
"You're about to face level 6," he told them, his voice grave. "But it's crucial for the survival of our city. Are you ready to take on this responsibility?"
The 15 recruits from Milo's group nodded, their faces full of anticipation. One by one, they received the mana and top-level armor to obtain their system armors.
The group prepared to return to the tunnel. Lucien watched as they got ready, feeling both pride and concern.
"Remember your training," he told them. "Trust your companions and your new abilities. And don't forget why you're doing this."
As he watched them disappear into the sea of monsters, Lucien couldn't help but think of Elio and the rest of the team in the tunnel.
Were they progressing fast enough? Would they reach the mana deposit in time?
With a sigh, Lucien turned towards the city. There was still much to do. He had to start recruiting the next batch of apprentices, more than twice as large as the previous one.
And all this while dealing with the increasingly frequent failures of the barrier.
The initial tension between them had dissipated over time, replaced by a bond forged in darkness and shared time. Their summons huddled nearby, mirroring the closeness of their masters.
"How does he do it?" Lila asked, looking towards where Elio was working. "He seems to never tire."
Zara followed her gaze, a soft smile on her lips. "He does, believe me. But he knows what's at stake. He carries the weight of the entire city on his shoulders. We all do, to some extent, but he... he feels it more than anyone."
"It's admirable, but that's why we're here," Valeria added, her tone softer than usual. "To share that burden."
The others nodded in agreement, their shared purpose stronger than their rivalry. Their summons seemed to sense the moment, standing a little taller as if ready to take on their share of the responsibility.
The tunnel, which already extended for kilometers, had become a world unto itself.
In certain sections, the silence was almost tangible, broken only by the occasional crunch of footsteps or the distant echo of voices. The summons provided a comforting presence, their soft chirps and light a reminder that they weren't alone in the darkness.
But despite the solitude and darkness, work continued without ceasing.
Finally came the day when Selene's new recruits would join them. Forty new people, all level 5 upon exiting their books, would obtain enough for the elephant right upon exiting and join the tunnel, ready to contribute to the mission.
The news spread through the tunnel like a shockwave, bringing with it anticipation and nervousness.
Elio gathered everyone at a central point in the tunnel to receive the new members. "These recruits are our best hope of accelerating our progress," he said, his voice resonating in the confined space...
Kriz, true to his nature, didn't miss an opportunity to make jokes to lighten the mood.
"Welcome to the most exclusive underground home outside the city!" he exclaimed, managing to elicit nervous smiles from the newcomers.
Micah was in charge of organizing the new members into groups, explaining work shifts and safety rules. "We'll work in rotating shifts," he explained. "It's crucial to maintain a constant rhythm, but also to rest properly." His elephant stood nearby, its trunk gently guiding the newcomers.
Milo and his group found themselves naturally gravitating towards the new recruits, sharing advice and experiences. "At first it seems overwhelming," Milo told a pair of particularly nervous recruits. "But you'll be surprised how quickly you adapt."
As the hours passed, the integration of the new members progressed smoothly. The tunnel buzzed with renewed energy, the sound of voices mixing with the constant crackle of carbon being manipulated.
However, as time passed, a sense of unease began to grow among the more veteran members of the team.
Elio exchanged worried looks with Zara and Micah.
"They should all have arrived by now, the fifth is one of the quickest challenges," Micah murmured.
Zara frowned. "How many are missing?"
"Two," Elio replied, his voice tense.
An uncomfortable silence spread through the group. Everyone knew what that could mean, but no one wanted to be the first to say it out loud.
Finally, Kriz broke the silence, his usual jovial tone tinged with concern. "Maybe they just got lost on the way. You know, ran to the opposite side, around the wall to go around the city and see everything in the monster sea."
No one laughed. The joke fell on deaf ears, the weight of reality settling over all of them.
They never arrived.