Utopian System

Chapter 451 System's 22nd trial

"I don't understand any of this," current Nala admitted. "These memories don't align with what I know of myself."

"Maybe because what you 'know' isn't actually what happened?" Zara suggested. "I mean, there you are in the past, making googly eyes at one."

"I do not make 'googly eyes'! I am a divine being!"

"A divine being who apparently had a crush on my Elio."

The memory shifted to show Elio bringing Nala another gift. The joy on her face was undeniable.

"This is impossible," Nala muttered. "I wouldn't... I couldn't..."

"Couldn't what? Feel something? Because Evidence Exhibit A is playing out right in front of us, and let me tell you, that is not the face of someone conducting 'research'."

Memory-Nala usual superior tone was replaced with genuine enthusiasm for sharing knowledge.

"Even if these memories are real," Nala argued, "they clearly don't matter. I don't remember any of this."

"Maybe that's the point? Someone went through a lot of trouble to make you forget this. The question is why?"

They watched as young Elio said something that made Memory-Nala laugh, a real laugh.

"I refuse to accept any romantic implications in these interactions," Nala declared firmly.

"Says the woman who can't hurt his body in the present. Stealing his heart wasn't enough the first time around so you had to take my chance too?"

"That is NOT what happened!"

"Then what did happen? Because from where I'm watching, it looks like you had a pretty special connection with Elio in the past, and now you even kidnaped him."

"THAT is NOT what HAPPENED!"

♢♢♢♢

The titanium mountain loomed before Elio, its metallic surface gleaming with a strength that matched its reputation.

Unlike the scandium peak, this one radiated a powerful immovability.

The climb revealed the titanium rock was resistant to even his base enhanced strength when he grabbed it and it didn't bend at all. But that physical toughness meant little against Elio's magical control.

The last tardigrade fell much like the first, its titanium defenses turned against it. As its form dissolved, Elio couldn't help but reflect that these creatures, despite their reputation for survival, had simply faced the wrong enemy, a 'cheater'.

Victory seemed almost anticlimactic, not because the challenge was poorly designed, but because Elio had simply advanced beyond its intended parameters. With his current capabilities, even a million such enemies would just mean more time spent in the same methodical elimination process.

♢♢♢♢

The team was gathered at the barrier, ready to open their books to face the level 20's challenge when Mei happened to glance at her statistics in her book...

She blinked, looked again, then frantically started flipping through pages.

"Something wrong?" Lila asked, noticing her friend's confusion.

"My mana... it just increased by 100 points."

"What?" Kriz scrambled to look over her shoulder. "That's not possible! You can't just get free mana points! That's not fair! I've been working my ass off trying to..."

"I got it too," Aria interrupted, examining her own book.

"WHAT?!" Kriz's voice cracked. "Oh, come on! First Mei, and now you? This is ridiculous! There's no way..."

"Mine too," Valeria added calmly.

Kriz threw his hands up in exasperation. "Oh, perfect! Just perfect! What is this, some kind of special girls-only power boost? Because I swear..."

"I have it as well," Selene noted, barely glancing up from her book.

"SERIOUSLY?" Kriz was practically hopping now. "What did you all do? Is this some secret technique nobody told me about? Did you find a hidden quest? A special potion? A..."

"Got it too," Milo chimed in.

"FOR THE LOVE OF..." Kriz spun around, pointing accusingly at each person in turn. "This isn't funny anymore! What's the secret? What am I missing? Why is everyone getting free mana except-"

Brok's massive hand connected with the back of Kriz's head with a solid thwack.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Check your book, idiot."

"I don't need to check my book! I know I didn't get any..." Kriz paused mid-rant as his book floated in front of him. His eyes widened as he flipped through the pages. "Oh. I, uh... I got it too."