The world Arterro awakened to had become a true nightmare.
The human moved with a speed that defied all his logic, surpassing even a wind artromus in frenzy.
It was impossible, inconceivable, and yet there he was, not only anticipating each of its movements but executing counterattacks with devastating precision.
The earth under its control had reduced dramatically. Barely enough remained to keep it suspended above that cursed acid cauldron, and each new attack threatened to strip away even more from him.
'How?' The question burned in its mind while dodging another strike from that strange scythe.
The human's attacks, though not completely penetrating its improved defense, somehow exceeded both its strength and reaction speed.
And that weapon... There was something disturbing about that weapon.
Each impact brought magical damage with it, as if they were wind attacks physically manifested. It was as if the metal itself was imbued with the element's essence and it was hurting him, the artromus with the biggest defense in the first ring.
Its costly power-up time was running out.
Its options diminished with each passing second, with each attack it had to deflect or absorb. Desperation began infiltrating its thoughts as it evaluated its situation.
'Just need this parasite,' the thought crystallized in its mind. 'If I could eliminate the human leader... without him, the others would lose their direction, their cohesion. They would become easy prey for him.'
Determination hardened in its eyes.
If it was going to fall, it would ensure taking this cursed human who dared defy the world's natural laws with it.
For its Queen's safety.
♢♢♢♢
The attacks against the soldiers ceased abruptly.
The artromus had concentrated all its attention on Elio, completely ignoring the rest.
When the soldiers were about to resume the attack...
"It's too late to escape, you're dead," Elio said to the artromus's face while smiling.
♢♢♢♢
The soldiers watched in amazement the battle unfolding before them.
The power difference was astonishing, one or two levels shouldn't create such an immense gap, and yet there was Elio, demonstrating why he was their leader.
"Incredible," whispered one of the level 7 builders. "Is this level 10's power?"
Arnaud couldn't help remembering that day when Elio faced Fathoran. Back then, he had been a useless spectator, paralyzed by fear until pushed to act. But today was different. His hands moved with purpose, strengthening structures, anticipating battle needs without anyone having to direct him.
Elio's body moved as if defying physics laws. His muscles expanded explosively at certain moments, releasing bursts of superhuman strength. Each movement was precise, lethal, a power demonstration that made previous attempts to overthrow him seem ridiculous.
"The traitors were idiots," Milo let out a short laugh while reinforcing a platform section. "They thought a couple extra boosts would be enough against someone like this?"
"Against Von Elio," Kai corrected, watching their leader dodge another impossible attack.
The battle had become a spectacle none would forget. Every soldier present understood they were witnessing something extraordinary, something future generations would tell stories about.
Elio's power wasn't just a matter of statistics or levels as this world dictated; it was the manifestation of an unbreakable will, of determination that turned limits into mere suggestions.
♢♢♢♢
Arterro's situation deteriorated by moments. Only two minutes of metamorphosis remained, and not even with this supreme transformation could it match the cursed human leader's pace.
Desperate, it tried a new strategy: letting one of the blows connect, using the moment to trap the scythe between its claws. For an instant, victory seemed possible... until the human, defying all logic, overcame its monstrous strength and wrenched the weapon from its grip.
The storm of attacks that followed was brutal.
Arterro couldn't understand it. How could this parasite overcome its strength? It was absurd, impossible.
'At least my resistance will hold,' it thought, clinging to that last comfort. With over 60,000 points remaining, it would survive at least until metamorphosis ended...
And then realization hit it.
Arterro dropped its guard. Its arms relaxed, its posture became submissive. It allowed the human to attack without opposition.