The 100 monsters, motionless as statues, were arranged in a perfect square of 10 by 10, each separated by about 10 meters from its neighbors.
The formation spanned an area of 100 meters on each side, an imposing sight that made everyone's heart beat a little faster.
The scene was as surreal as it was terrifying, the twisted bodies of the Locus contrasting with the perfect geometry of their arrangement. The air hung heavy with anticipation, the silence broken only by the group's measured breathing.
This arrangement presented a formidable challenge, given the limitations of their magical abilities. For a level 5 soldier, their direct attacks could only reach 50 meters, 60 for a level 6, and so on.
This restriction meant they couldn't affect all monsters simultaneously, a fact that added an additional layer of complexity to their situation.
However, not all was lost. Combos, combined attacks that fused different magical elements or the same one to generate an explosion, offered a partial solution to this problem.
A well-executed combo, like exploding an ice ball in the air, could extend their attack range as the explosion would have a diameter equal to the maximum distance of the level.
In this case, the maximum range would be 90 meters from the caster of the ability, an explosion with a diameter of 60 meters would give the extra 30.
The resulting fragments of such an explosion would fly in all directions, covering a much larger area than a direct attack.
This technique, although powerful, required greater precision and control than a conventional attack. It also spent more mana, but was much more efficient when attacking multiple targets.
As they weighed their options, another crucial factor entered their strategic calculation.
Each Locus, with its apparently healthy body, required three direct hits to be eliminated.
This resistance exponentially multiplied the difficulty of their task if the monsters started moving when hit.
The group began to formulate a plan in hushed tones, their voices barely above a whisper. Three initial combos, launched almost in unison, would form the first wave of their assault.
This tactic should eliminate a third of the Locus, or at least weaken them enough to facilitate subsequent attacks.
After this initial salvo, they would have to adapt quickly, responding to the movements of the surviving Locus. They decided to divide their attack into sections, anticipating that the Locus, once activated, would likely move unpredictably.
A quick count revealed the cost of their victory:
15 combos, 25 individual attacks, 55 mana points among all. A higher price than expected, but necessary given the circumstances.
However, even as a sense of relief began to spread among them, an uneasiness persisted in the back of their minds.
Was this really the entire challenge?
♢♢♢♢
After the intense battle, the group moved cautiously among the remains of the fallen Locus. With meticulous precision, they began to collect the cores left by the defeated monsters.
One hundred cores.
At first glance, it seemed an insignificant reward for summoners of their caliber, accustomed to handling invocations that cost millions. However, efficiency was a deeply ingrained habit in them. Each core represented power, resources for the city, and sustenance for their families. They wouldn't waste a single one.
As they collected the cores, they exchanged silent glances, each lost in their own thoughts about what they had just experienced and what might lie ahead.
With the cores secured, the group began to explore beyond the battlefield. The cavern gradually narrowed, leading them through a winding passage. The air grew thicker, the silence more oppressive with each step.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking in silence, the passage abruptly widened. Before them stretched a circular chamber. And there, at the end of the chamber, the blue crystal rose again, identical to the one that had transported them to this mysterious place.
The group stopped, observing the crystal with caution. Its surface shone with a pulsing light, as if it were alive and aware of their presence.
"The exit? Damn, I thought we'd get more out of this."
With cautious steps, they approached the crystal. They gently touched the crystalline surface. The moment their fingers made contact, the crystal came to life. An intense light emanated from its interior, and words began to form on its surface, floating as if suspended in the air.
"Do you wish to withdraw from the challenge or advance to the next level?"
The question shone before them, clear and inescapable.
"If you advance, you will obtain a prize: the emblem of power."