Moments before, inside the ninth challenge chamber...
After completing sufficient tests and recovering his mana, Elio began his preparations.
With his rabbit Iron Tail summoned, he used his enhanced control over nickel to efficiently cover his body. When the final layer was ready, the rabbit returned to the book, its task completed.
Elio then initiated the production of corrosive gas around him. The yellow-greenish cloud began forming slowly, but he would need to cover it quickly.
His elephant Wide Guard appeared at his call, and with its help, Elio created a carbon sphere large enough to contain the expanding gas.
But he had to be fast, as the gas would melt the carbon rapidly.
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Finally, his eel, recently named Shock Wave, emerged, sliding into the remaining space. Elio channeled neon toward it, watching as his familiar grew while maintaining that characteristic reddish glow.
Everything was ready.
If the monster couldn't see him through the gas, he would have a chance to escape toward the sea of cores and enter his book again.
It was risky, but it was his best option.
When the book began to open, the carbon sphere emerged along with the corrosive gas cloud it contained.
The Artromus attacked immediately, but this time the greenish gas enveloped it, causing that slight burning sensation that momentarily clouded its perfect vision.
With a fluid movement, Elio created a lithium prison around the Artromus. His eel, now in its enlarged form and augmented by neon, glowed with intense red while discharging all its power against the trapped creature.
Elio was preparing to launch himself toward the sea of cores when he noticed something that changed his entire plan: they were right next to the city's barrier.
He didn't need a desperate escape; he had a much safer escape route.
With a helium impulse, Elio crossed the barrier, landing on the parapet where the soldiers were watching.
But luck was on his side this time.
At least he hadn't had to blindly search from a random place in the core sea for the carbon tunnel... The monster could have been flying in any direction, and Elio would have had very little time to orient himself.
There was also the possibility that the monster would connect the logical dots if it saw him escape downward and realize humans could move beneath the cores.
Or it might think that like Micah, Elio had decided to commit suicide to deny it the points... But none of that mattered now.
From the city, meeting up with Zara and the others would be much simpler.
Elio felt a wave of relief but it made him fall to his knees.
The mana deficit hit him like a wave of exhaustion. He had spent everything at once, and his body felt it.
"A weak, lucky parasite," the Artromus mocked, its multiple voices mixing amusement and disdain. "Though now that you've reached level 9, I suggest not rising to level 10. The risk of death is... considerable, being the final level." Its black eyes gleamed with malice. "It would be a shame to lose your juicy head and 1% of my mission."
Turning to the soldiers, it continued: "You should all try to reach 8 or 9 too. So one day I can eliminate those who don't die in their books and return to my queen."
"Shut up!" Elio's voice cut through the air like a whip. "I'll kill you myself. No one else needs to risk themselves."
The Artromus's laughter resonated with renewed force.
"You? Someone so indecisive? Perhaps your other comrade, the one who died by his own hand, would have put up a better fight." Its eyes settled on Elio with calculated malice. "Besides, for today, without mana... what can you do besides empty talk?"
The monster observed the barrier, studying it. "Very stable... it seems the population limit hasn't been exceeded, unfortunately. But one day you'll make a mistake," its voices grew darker, "and when I enter this cage, no one will remain alive within these miserable walls."
"I'll reach level 10," Elio declared, his voice loaded with determination. "And don't worry about waiting for a failure or entering, I'll come out myself to settle accounts."
The Artromus let out one final laugh.
"I'll be watching you. And the other vermin from the deposit..." it left the phrase hanging as it rose, "won't be so lucky to escape."
With those words, it launched directly toward the deposit, leaving behind a silence loaded with dark promises and veiled threats.