Utopian System

"It's... incredible," he whispered, his voice laden with emotion. "Each of these cores... is worth ten normal ones."

The revelation fell upon the group like a thunderbolt. Ten times the power. Ten times the value. The implication was astounding.

However, after the initial impact...

For summoners of their level, accustomed to handling summons that cost millions of cores, a hundred cores worth ten points each, for a total of a thousand, didn't represent a drastic change in their power balance.

The realization tempered their excitement, bringing them back to the reality of their situation.

Nevertheless, the mere existence of these enhanced cores opened up a range of possibilities and questions.

If these were worth ten times more, would there be others worth a hundred times more?

A thousand?

Ten thousand?

The potential implications made their heads spin.

The group's strategist's mind was already working. "If more powerful cores exist," he reasoned aloud, his voice tinged with apprehension, "it's likely they come with proportionally more difficult challenges."

The others nodded, understanding the logic.

Each advantage in this challenge seemed to come with a price, a new obstacle to overcome. The weight of this realization hung heavy in the air.

With caution, they proceeded to collect the hundred enhanced cores.

Despite their increased value, the reward still seemed modest compared to the dangers they had faced. The memory of their recent battle, the terror of facing those enhanced Locus, was still fresh in their minds.

However, the true treasure they had obtained was the emblem of power.

Its value was incalculable, capable of elevating the bearer's capabilities above anyone in the city.

As they rested briefly, one of them, with barely disguised curiosity and envy, approached the emblem bearer. "Can I try it?" he asked, extending his hand. The tension in his voice was palpable.

The emblem bearer visibly tensed.

"I'm sorry," he responded, his voice cautious. "I don't know how to take it off. It's... linked to my book somehow." His hand instinctively moved to protect the emblem, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

The other three exchanged suspicious glances. Was it possible that their companion was lying, trying to keep the emblem for himself? The air grew thick with unspoken accusations.

"Come on," another insisted, his voice edged with frustration. "There must be some way to share it. It's too powerful for only one of us to use."

The emblem bearer, sensing the growing tension, raised his hands in a defensive gesture. "I swear I don't know how to take it off. If you have any ideas, I'm willing to try." His plea seemed genuine, but doubt had already taken root.

For the next few minutes, the group proposed various ways to transfer the emblem. They tried verbal commands, book manipulation, even a brief meditation session to "mentally unlink" it.

Nothing worked.

With each failed attempt, the frustration in the group grew.

Gradually, the initial suspicion began to dissipate, replaced by shared frustration. Although a spark of doubt remained, they decided to leave the matter for the moment. They had more pressing concerns.

"We should look for the exit," one of them suggested, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled. The others nodded, grateful for the change of subject.

They began to explore the cavern, their senses alert for any sign of the familiar blue crystal. As they walked, the previous tension gave way to a more pragmatic discussion.

"Do you think we should continue after this level?" one of them asked, voicing the question that weighed on all their minds.

"It's hard to say," another responded. "We've obtained valuable information and the emblem... Also we almost failed this time." The memory of their near-defeat sent a collective shiver through the group.

The question weighed heavily on them. Was what they had gained enough? Was it worth risking another potentially deadly level?

"It's not just about us," argued the most cautious of the group. "If we fail and can't enter again, it could be a disaster for the city."

The debate continued as they explored, each weighing the pros and cons. Their voices echoed in the cavern, a testament to the gravity of their decision.

Finally, they found the crystal.

They stopped in front of it, the familiar blue light pulsing softly. The decision they had been postponing was now imminent. The crystal seemed to watch them, waiting for their choice.

After a final exchange of glances, they reached a consensus. The emblem and the information they had obtained were sufficient gains to justify their withdrawal. They couldn't risk losing everything in the next level.

And the power obtained was enough to improve their situation.

With resolution, the five approached the crystal and touched it simultaneously. The familiar question appeared:

"Do you wish to withdraw from the challenge or advance to the next level?"

They declared their intention to withdraw when a new line of text appeared, making their hearts stop for a moment:

"Are you sure you want to withdraw? Upon exiting, the emblems gained so far will be lost. At least one challenger must reach the end of the challenges to obtain the permanent reward."

The implication of these words fell on them like a hammer. Losing the emblem... without it, the advantage they had gained would evaporate. The air grew thick with tension as they processed this new information.

"We can't lose the emblem," said the bearer, his voice trembling. The others nodded slowly, the reality of their situation settling heavily on their shoulders.

"And that 'permanent reward'..." another murmured. "What could it be? If the emblem is temporary, how powerful would something permanent be?" The possibilities seemed endless, each more tantalizing than the last.

The temptation to continue, to discover what other secrets and powers awaited in the upper levels, began to grow in them. The promise of greater power, of a permanent reward, was almost irresistible.

However, caution didn't abandon them completely.

"But we almost failed this time," one reminded. "The next level could be even more dangerous." The memory of their recent battle, the terror of facing those enhanced Locus, was still fresh in their minds.

The discussion resumed, more heated than before.

Each presented arguments for and against continuing. Fear of the unknown fought against ambition and curiosity. The cavern echoed with their debate, the stakes higher than ever before.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity of debate, they reached a decision.

They would advance.

The detriment of losing the emblem was too great, and the promise of a permanent reward too tempting to ignore. The potential for greater power outweighed the risks in their minds.

"But first," said the most prudent of the group, "we'll wait for our mana to recover completely. We can't face the next level exhausted." The others agreed, the wisdom of this precaution evident to all.

They moved away from the crystal and sought a comfortable place to rest. The emblem bearer looked at his book fixedly, aware of the power he possessed and the responsibility it entailed.

The others, although they had accepted that they couldn't share it for now, couldn't help but cast occasional glances in his direction. The tension of unequal power dynamics hung in the air, a potential source of conflict they all silently acknowledged.

But the decision was made.

They would leave this cavern victorious... or not leave at all.