Utopian System

Chapter 474 System's Reunion - 2

"But Lila?" Dionz's grin widened. "She learned from every attempt, every loss. Used the chaos of the final battles to slip through gaps. All those weeks of practice, all those failed attempts teaching her exactly how to move, when to push, when to wait..."

He showed Gorgita's final approach. "And with a tiny help from me - just a small breach in the city barrier, barely noticeable really - she made it through. Nala being temporarily occupied made it much easier to arrange, of course."

Elio stared at the familiar. "They all... just to reach..."

"Spent weeks trying to reach you, yes." Dionz nodded. "Quite the dedicated bunch. The others are probably already planning their next attempt."

Dionz nodded approvingly. "They knew not all of them would make it - that was never the goal. Everything was calculated to give one the best chance of reaching you."

He created one final window showing the city. "And that's not all they've been doing. Your mana increases have been put to good use. They've organized collection efforts, improved efficiency, prepared resources. The city believes you're working on something important, and these gifts are proof of progress."

All this time, while he'd been focusing on advancing his power, they had been fighting to reach him.

Lila's form shifted closer to Elio again, unwilling to maintain any distance after fighting so hard to reach him. "The others will be so relieved to know you're okay. We've been using your mana gifts, making them count, but knowing exactly what's happening, what you're achieving here..."

"I've reached level 30 and level 21 in a different challenge," Elio told her. "Each new level increases what I can send back. I'm learning elements, mastering combinations, growing stronger with every challenge."

♢♢♢♢

After exchanging all their news, Elio turned to Dionz. "Can I use your mana to equip her invocation?"

"Of course!" Dionz materialized a trading interface with a flourish. "Though technically speaking, this violates many different rules I already affected with you... but since I'm not being punished and Nala's busy with her system analysis, I'd say we're in a gray area!"

The trading window displayed an array of divine equipment specifically designed for invocation forms. Elio began selecting pieces methodically.

"The Divine summon's armor set will provide a lot of protection," he mused.

"And don't forget the amplifiers," Dionz suggested. "They'll boost her invocation significantly."

He stopped himself again, that mysterious smile returning.

"Run in what?" Elio asked, but Dionz was already moving on.

"Let's focus on securing one of these spheres for transport," the god suggested. "For now, let's make sure Lila can get back safely - and hopefully with a little divine gift for her body."

Elio wanted to press for more information, but the god was right - ensuring Lila's safe return had to be their priority. They could unravel Dionz's mysterious hints later.

He selected the sphere they would send.

The divine equipment would give her the best possible chance of making it back through the rings. And if they succeeded in transporting the sphere...

The game would change again.

♢♢♢♢

"It's time," Dionz said softly, though his usual theatrical nature was subdued. With a gesture, he began opening the passage back through the divine statue.

Gorgita's form, now radiant with divine equipment and carrying the precious sphere, hesitated. Even with all her new power and important quest, Lila found herself reluctant to leave.

"The others will be waiting," she said, though she made no move toward the opening. "They'll need to know what we've learned, need to prepare for also getting the sphere's power..."

"Go," Elio encouraged, though the word felt heavy.

"You could come back with me," she suggested, voice barely above a whisper. "With your power now, with everything you've learned..."

For a moment, Elio felt the full weight of that temptation. He could return, help them expand through the rings directly, be there to protect them all with a new power and take his time... Buthe thought of Zara, still trapped in her own body with Nala, pulled at him.

Dionz watched tensely, his usual smile replaced with genuine concern. The god knew how crucial this moment was - how much depended on Elio's choice to continue his path through the portal divine challenges.