The artromus's body began disintegrating, its particles reconfiguring into a weapon of earthen tones: a massive hammer, a form none present had ever seen.
Elio tried to reach for it, but his legs finally gave out.
He found himself on his knees, the reality of his exhaustion suddenly hitting him. His resistance had dropped to dangerous levels, his muscles screaming in protest from the superhuman pressure he had subjected them to.
Unconsciousness threatened to claim him, just like after his battle with Aranto.
But this time was different.
This time he knew what to expect, and maintained consciousness through sheer force of will.
Zara and Lila were the first to reach his side, immediately followed by the rest of the main group, even Ren and Diana had recklessly jumped behind Zara despite being lower level than the others.
Kriz stepped forward to pick up the hammer, a smile forming on his face.
"Looks like you'll have both hands full now," he joked, holding the weapon.
"Missed your idiotic comments, but you should let the boss rest," Ren chided.
Elio couldn't help but laugh while leaning on Zara. After all this time, after so many months away, after so much fighting... they could finally breathe easy.
No Artromus threatening, no barrier failures.
The city had a broader limit now.
"Let's go home," he murmured, the words carrying all the weight of his fatigue.
He had earned this rest. However brief it might be, he had earned it.
♢♢♢♢
The city breathed easier under its new limit of 1.4 million inhabitants.
The immediate threat of the Artromus had vanished along with the urgency to find the next deposit immediately to take advantage of power increases.
For the first time, real peace could be felt.
The mathematics were clear: at the current population growth rate, they would have almost a decade of peace before the barrier began showing signs of strain again. Ten years without the constant pressure of imminent catastrophe, ten years to grow, to strengthen.
His family was waiting; too many months had passed since he had last been able to be with them properly.
♢♢♢♢
When Elio visited his family, his mother didn't mention anything about the risks he had taken. Yet... She hugged him in silence while he explained what had happened, why he had had to do it.
She had known Micah, had watched that friendship grow. Understanding shone in her eyes, not approval, but comprehension.
Elio had healed his heart a little, had shared a day with his own people.
He finished his most pressing task...
And after... after would come something more solemn.
A ceremony to honor Micah, and the soldier who had fallen to the Earth Artromus. Their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
Micah's parents' house seemed smaller, darker than Elio remembered. He and Zara stood before the door for several minutes before daring to knock.
Words felt hollow, insufficient.
Elio spoke of Micah's sacrifice, of how he had saved his life, of his bravery until the end. But he saw in his mother's eyes that none of that really mattered, no amount of honors or relics could fill the void left by a son.
The resources Elio offered the family were enormous, enough for several generations.
Micah's armor and weapons gleamed with that characteristic system radiance. But the true treasure, the son, the brother, the friend who had been like family to Elio and Zara as well, that could not be replaced.
♢♢♢♢
The ceremony in the city center was solemn.
Zara finally seemed to have processed much more of the loss, though pain remained present in her eyes.
Elio maintained better control, his growing responsibility teaching him to contain his emotions.
But when his mother hugged him after the ceremony, her words broke that facade.
"It's okay for it to hurt," she whispered, holding him like when he was a child. "With time, maybe it will hurt a little less. But it never stops hurting completely... and that's okay too. It means it was real, that it mattered."
The tears finally flowed, silent but liberating. The leader could be strong for his people, but the friend... the friend could allow himself to cry for his fallen brother, his hero, one last time.