Utopian System

The arc of energy struck Elio with brutal force.

Ice Ball let out a distressed squawk, flapping its wings helplessly as it watched its master's ordeal.

The pain was immediate and intense, as if every nerve in his body had ignited simultaneously. Elio screamed, but the sound was drowned out by the crackling energy.

The agony was indescribable, transcending everything he had experienced before. It felt as if a thousand white-hot needles were piercing his skin while his muscles contracted violently, beyond his control. The smell of ozone flooded his nostrils, mixing with the acrid aroma of his own scorched flesh.

The force of the impact hurled him backward, his body transformed into an inert projectile.

For a moment, Elio lost all sense of space and time, his mind overloaded by the trauma of the attack, unable to orient itself in the chaos of sensations overwhelming him.

The accumulation of previous attacks had generated a massive blow against him, threatening to plunge him into unconsciousness. His vision darkened at the edges, and a deafening buzz filled his ears.

Ice Ball's frantic calls seemed distant, muffled by the overwhelming sensations assaulting Elio.

Every fiber of his being screamed in pain, begging for the sweet relief of oblivion.

But something deep within Elio refused to yield.

'No,' Elio thought desperately, his teeth clenched so tightly he feared they might break. 'I can't pass out. Not now.'

With superhuman effort, Elio fought against the darkness threatening to engulf him. His protection, that insulating layer he had created, proved its worth. Although the pain was intense, he managed to stay conscious thanks to the damage reduction.

The critical damage that would have been 84 points for a total of 168 was reduced to 52.5 for the direct hit.

If the damage had exceeded 60, the armor would have kept Elio at 1, but the risk of being knocked out by the added effect would have been enormous.

Elio: 7.5 (60) Resistance / 547.51 (600) Armor Resistance / 14.15 (42)(+75% ER) Insulating Resistance

Even so, he could still be knocked out by the enormous percentage of resistance loss.

Although the pain was intense, although his body cried out for rest, he managed to cling to consciousness with fierce tenacity.

However, a new danger presented itself: He was falling.

In his dazed state, Elio could barely process what was happening, but a primal instinct screamed at him that he must avoid contact with the ground at all costs. The parts of his body not protected by his invention were vulnerable, and one wrong touch could mean the end of his adventure.

He would die paralyzed.

In that critical moment, Elio resorted to a familiar effort, one he had almost perfected after facing seemingly impossible challenges.

It was the same that had kept him standing when all seemed lost.

What are you made of?

With a grunt of effort, Elio forced his body to respond. His muscles protested, still trembling from the effects of the discharge, but obeyed his unbreakable will.

Using a technique he had practiced countless times, Elio channeled his mana to create an air impulse.

The effect was immediate. The impulse stabilized him in the air, slowing his uncontrolled fall.

Then, gravity reclaimed its dominion.

Elio landed hard on his protected feet, the impact reverberating through his body. His legs shook, threatening to give way, but he remained upright through sheer force of will.

He moved away from the barrier, breathing heavily.

To his relief, the armor was already regenerating the damage to his body, and the pain was receding.

Moreover, unlike the previous challenge where the constant damage from the cold exceeded his armor's regeneration, this time his protected feet kept the weakening effect of the ground below the natural regeneration rate.

The advantage of being able to think calmly, of not constantly fighting against overwhelming pain, was incalculable.

"Breathe," he told himself, forcing himself to take deep, controlled inhalations from his oxygen stone. "Think. Analyze. There's a solution, there always is."

As his body continued to tremble from the residual effects of the discharge, Elio began to methodically examine his surroundings.

He observed the barrier, his mind working at full speed. The nickel and carbon attacks hadn't worked. It was time to try something new.

An idea began to form in his mind. Nitrogen, the element he had discovered in the previous level, could be the key. It was an exciting and terrifying thought at the same time.

It was more costly than the others, but worth trying.

Each new element brought with it unknown possibilities, and Elio couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

"Well, let's see what nitrogen can do," he said, his voice gaining strength with each word.

Closing his eyes, Elio concentrated intensely. He could feel the mana flowing through his body, responding to his will. In his hand, a ball of nitrogen ice began to form, cold and bright.

He threw it at the barrier, watching attentively.

The impact produced an unexpected reaction. A dark red solid began to form where the nitrogen had touched the barrier.

Elio instinctively stepped back, expecting another discharge. But seconds passed, and nothing happened.

Frowning, he cautiously approached. The bright intense red he had seen before was not the same as this dark red solid-looking substance.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Definitely not what I expected."

Elio considered his options. This hadn't destroyed or consumed the barrier either, but it was similar to the change to blue color that had helped generate the explosion in the Nitrogen barrier.

The nitrogen reaction had been promising, but not decisive. He needed more information.

His mind worked frenetically, trying to understand what he was seeing. Had he created a new compound? Was this also the way to beat this level challenge?

"Perhaps I should try all my abilities," he thought, remembering his strategy in level 6. "Starting from the beginning."

Ice Ball floated beside him, watching curiously as its master pondered the next move.

Elio took a deep breath. "Alright," he muttered, flexing his fingers as he gathered his mana. "Let's see what else we can learn about you."