"Fascinating," Elio murmured, his eyes reflecting a scientific interest and revulsion.
The scene was grotesque, but every detail provided valuable information about their enemies.
The spider-torso launched forward in another desperate attack attempt. Its movements were erratic but surprisingly coordinated for something that had lost most of its body.
The way it used its arms as legs displayed an unsettling adaptability that spoke volumes about these creatures' resilience.
'One more cut,' Elio decided, his fingers moving with surgical precision while directing the blade. This time, he traced a perfect vertical line, the metal responding to his will with an elegance that belied its lethal purpose.
Elio Mana: 85
The metal cleaved through air and flesh alike, dividing the torso into two symmetrical halves.
This time, there was no opportunity to observe which part would survive. The entire Locus body fragmented in an explosion of light, disintegrating completely.
The silence that followed was absolute.
"Is that all?" Brok was the first to break the silence, his voice mixing disbelief and something akin to respect. "He didn't even let it use frenzy?"
"Not a single jump," added Mei, her analytical mind already processing the implications. "That was..."
"Magnificent," Lila completed. "His way of moving, of anticipating... it's as if he could see everything before it happened."
Kriz, recovering some of his usual humor, let out a nervous laugh. "Does anyone else feel like we just witnessed a particularly disturbing anatomy class?"
But Elio barely registered the comments. His mind was busy analyzing every detail of the combat: the damage points, the monster's reactions, the efficiency of his new capabilities.
Each moment of the battle provided crucial data about both his enemies and his own evolving powers.
'Three cuts,' he calculated mentally. '360 points each. But more importantly...' His eyes narrowed, remembering that moment of absolute clarity when the red glow had appeared. 'This new perception... it's more than what it seems.'
The level 10 Locus, which days ago would have represented a significant challenge even for a coordinated group, had fallen without being able to deploy its true potential.
It was a decisive victory, yes, but Elio couldn't help thinking about the Artromus.
This had been a test, an experiment to understand his new capabilities. But the real battle, the true challenge, waited outside, watching from the heights with its eyes black as bottomless wells.
'Still not enough,' he thought as the Locus's core began to materialize. 'I need to understand more, become stronger...'
His eyes settled on his book, where that mysterious "A" seemed to mock him with its secrets still to be discovered.
The core fell with a metallic tinkle on the chamber floor. Elio picked it up, feeling the familiar flow of energy as he absorbed it... with this he had almost 4 billion points.
The ninth summon was getting closer.
He turned to rejoin his companions, but something in their expressions stopped him.
Lila stepped forward quickly, her face showing a concern that puzzled him.
"Your eyes..." she murmured, moving closer. "Do they hurt?"
Elio blinked, confused. He felt no pain, no discomfort.
Lila's proximity took him by surprise; for a moment, her gestures seemed almost... intimate.
Secondary Observers:
Kriz, Brok, Mei, Lila
Location:
Daily Challenge Chamber
Experiments and Results:
Initial Abdominal Cut Critical Damage:
360 points
Post-damage Behavior:
Maintains reduced functionality
Frenzy Activation:
~20% remaining life
Frenzy Speed:
~15 points (using 4 arms)
Note:
Never performed jumps
Vertical Torso Cut Critical Damage:
360 points
Survival until decapitation
Death at approximately 720 points
Hypothesis:
Vital organs concentrated in torso and abdomen
Horizontal Torso Bisection Critical Damage:
360 points
Post-cut Behavior:
Both halves maintained activity
Damage needed for elimination:
320 points per section
Observation:
Bipedal movement capacity in each half