Utopian System

The carbon tunnel stretched into the darkness, dimly lit by the glow of the summons.

Milo, with his hands extended, shaped the black, shimmering structure, slowly expanding the passage. Beside him, his elephant helped, its trunk manipulating the material with surprising precision.

"Milo!" Nessa's voice resonated in the confined space. "We need to reinforce this section!"

Milo turned, seeing his friend pointing to a part of the ceiling that seemed to be giving way under pressure. Without a word, he moved quickly, his mind already calculating the best way to strengthen the structure. His elephant trumpeted softly, as if offering encouragement.

♢♢♢♢

Milo leaned against the wall, feeling the cold, uneven rock under his fingers.

His mind still struggled to process the reality of his situation.

"Level 5," he murmured to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. His salamander, the summon he interacted with most, curled closer, as if sensing his bewilderment.

A few meters away, Kai and Nessa worked in silence, their faces reflecting the same amazement and confusion that Milo felt. Their summons mirrored their masters' moods.

They too were level 5 now, an achievement that just a few weeks ago would have seemed impossible.

"Hey," Milo called softly. Kai and Nessa looked up, their eyes meeting his. "Are you... okay?"

Nessa let out a shaky sigh. "Define 'okay', Milo. We're buried hundreds of meters under monsters, building something with powers we didn't even know existed a month ago. 'Okay' doesn't begin to describe it."

Kai simply nodded, but Milo could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes kept nervously moving towards the tunnel walls. His elephant stood close, its trunk gently patting Kai's back in a comforting gesture.

Across the space, Taron and Arnaud were engrossed in a hushed conversation.

Milo observed them for a moment, noticing how Taron seemed to drink in every word Arnaud said. Their summons stood nearby, occasionally interacting with each other in what seemed like their own private conversation.

The atmosphere in the tunnel was oppressive, to say the least.

Despite everyone's efforts to stay busy and "relaxed" between construction shifts, the tension was palpable. The air was charged with anxiety and anticipation, as if at any moment the walls might give way and let in the endless tide of monsters.

Milo sighed, remembering how things had changed since Von Elio's main group had retreated.

The absence of the jokester was a void that no one seemed able to fill. Although the tunnel continued to expand at a decent pace, the sense of purpose and urgency that Elio had inspired seemed to have faded.

"Milo," Taron's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Do you have a moment?"

Milo nodded, straightening up. "Sure, what's up?"

Taron looked around, as if making sure no one else was listening, before speaking in a low voice. "I've been thinking about the mana deposit. What do you think it'll be like? What will we have to do to obtain it?"

Milo blinked, surprised by the question. In the midst of the daily routine of construction and training, he had almost forgotten the final purpose of their mission.

"I... honestly have no idea," he admitted. "I hope it's not more dangerous than the challenges we've already faced... Though I won't lie, being level 5 makes me feel invincible."

Taron nodded. "Yeah, me too. But think about it. A mana deposit that will stop the tide of monsters... I don't think it'll be something easy."

Before Milo could respond, Selene's voice echoed through the tunnel. "Attention everyone. It's time to review the strategy for level 6."

The group gathered around Selene, who began to explain the details of the next challenge. Milo listened attentively, although much of the information he had heard before. With the combined experience of Von Elio, Selene, and Zara, the level 6 challenge had been studied in depth.

♢♢♢♢

Elio moved away from the main group, guiding Selene towards a quieter corner of the tunnel.

The faint light from their summons cast dancing shadows on the carbon walls. Elio's electric eel coiled around his arm, sparks occasionally dancing along its body.

"Alright," said Elio, his voice low but firm. "Let's go over level 7 one more time. It's crucial that you understand every detail."

Selene nodded, her face a mask of concentration. For the next hour, Elio meticulously broke down every aspect of the level 7 challenge, just as he had done with Zara weeks ago.

Selene absorbed every word, occasionally asking questions or seeking clarification.

When Elio finished, she exhaled slowly, processing all the information. Her frog sat attentively at her feet, as if it too was trying to understand the complexities of the challenge.

"It's... easier in the tunnel but harder in the final battle," Selene admitted.

Elio nodded, his expression becoming more serious. "Selene, I need to ask something more of you."

Selene raised an eyebrow. "Is there more information about level 7?"

Elio shook his head. "The tunnel... It's taking more time and resources than we anticipated. We need to use our mana for more things than we originally planned. With the current groups, progress is too slow."

"I understand," said Selene.

"I'm going to grant a million mana to each of these recruits so they can obtain maximum level system armor... Tell Lucien, we can't afford to discard the experienced ones."

Selene's eyes widened. "That's... an incredible amount of mana..."

Elio nodded gravely. "It is. I need you to return with the new recruits, help them get their armor, and send them prepared for the level 6 challenge... The level's information isn't enough, I want them equipped to the maximum. Once they overcome it, you'll send them back to the tunnel to continue construction."

"And after that?" Selene asked.

"After that, you'll stay at the wall to train more recruits," Elio replied. "We need to prepare as many as possible, as quickly as possible."

♢♢♢♢

"Listen carefully," Selene began, her voice firm. "Elio has made a crucial decision. Each of you will receive a million mana."

A murmur of surprise ran through the group.

Milo felt his heart race. A million mana was an unimaginable amount.

"Silence," Elio ordered, and the group instantly calmed. His eel seemed to crackle with energy, emphasizing his command. "This isn't a gift. It's a necessity. With that mana, you'll obtain your system armor. You'll need it for what's coming."

"What's coming?" Taron asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"The level 6 challenge," Selene replied. "And then, back here, to continue the tunnel construction."

Milo looked at Kai, Nessa, Arnaud, and Taron. Their expressions reflected the excitement and apprehension that he himself felt. Their summons seemed to pick up on their emotions, shifting restlessly.

Apparently, the progress that made him feel invincible wouldn't stop at level 5.