Utopian System

Consciousness returned to Elio like a violent wave, dragging him from the depths of darkness to a brutal and suffocating reality.

His eyes snapped open, and the first thing he registered was panic.

An overwhelming sensation of suffocation seized him, as if an invisible hand was squeezing his throat with relentless force. His lungs burned, desperate for air, but each attempt to breathe only brought more anguish.

Elio gasped, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He felt as if every cell in his body was screaming for oxygen. His heart pounded frantically in his chest, pumping blood that felt thick and heavy in his veins.

His head spun, a deafening buzz filling his ears. Black spots danced in his vision, threatening to drag him back into unconsciousness.

But the survival instinct was stronger, keeping him painfully aware of each second without air.

His breath of air stone had ran out.

With a clouded mind, with trembling and clumsy fingers, Elio desperately searched his armor. He knew he had more oxygen stones, but in his state of panic, he couldn't coordinate his movements. His hands slid over the smooth surface of the armor, unable to find the openings he knew were there.

Desperation grew.

He felt as if his brain was wrapped in something, squeezing it, his thoughts becoming increasingly confused and scattered. A distant part of his mind told him something was wrong.

Just when panic threatened to consume him completely, a memory pierced through the fog of his mind. His angry self, the tenacious and cool-headed Elio he had cultivated, his own voice, like a distant echo: "Concentrate, idiot... You can generate your own oxygen."

With a supreme effort, Elio pushed away the panic and calmed himself, raising his trembling hand in front of his face. Concentrating with all the willpower he had left, he channeled his power and exhaled forcefully to make room in his lungs.

For a terrifying moment, nothing happened. But then, a small stream of fresh air sprouted from his palm.

Elio inhaled deeply, the pure oxygen flooding his aching lungs. The relief was immediate and overwhelming. He took several more breaths, each easier than the last, feeling clarity slowly returning to his mind.

As the panic receded, Elio became more aware of his surroundings.

The intense cold of the tunnel bit into his skin, a sharp pain that contrasted with the burning in his lungs. But with relief, he noticed in his book that the damage caused by the cold seemed to be just below the regeneration threshold of his armor.

Elio: 43.19 Resistance / 0.01 Armor Resistance

Mana: 25/50

Stamina: 10/10

The numbers flashed in his vision, informing him of his current state. He had recovered a significant amount of life and half of his mana. This could only mean one thing: he had been unconscious for about 12 hours.

With more controlled movements now, Elio searched his armor and extracted another of his oxygen stones. He only had one left of the three he had brought, a reminder of how precarious his situation still was.

As he held the stone in his hand, considering his options, Elio made a decision. He needed to recover completely before facing the icy tunnel barrier again.

"I have to go back to the beginning," he muttered to himself, his determination renewing. "Recover and think of a new strategy."

With considerable effort, Elio stood up. His muscles protested, numb from the cold and the time he had spent motionless.

♢♢♢♢

Elio finally reached the beginning of the tunnel, his body exhausted but his mind alert. The contrast between the intense cold he had experienced and the more tolerable temperature at the start was notable.

He allowed himself a moment to simply breathe, grateful for the air that no longer threatened to freeze his lungs.

With careful movements, Elio took out the remaining provisions from his armor. They weren't many, but they would have to suffice for another attempt. As he ate slowly, savoring each bite, he made a mental note: 'For the next challenge, bring more provisions.'

Sitting against the tunnel wall, Elio began to reflect on the events that had transpired. The seemingly endless ice barrier. The depletion of his mana and resistance. The blackout that almost cost him his life. And, although he didn't remember it clearly, the persistent feeling that something or someone had saved him.

"There has to be a way," he murmured to himself, his mind working on possible strategies. "The Creator can't have accepted an impossible challenge from the Goddess... or could he?"

♢♢♢♢

Hours passed as Elio meditated, his body gradually recovering. When he finally felt almost completely recovered, he made a decision.

He stood up, stretching his now rested muscles. "Well," he said aloud, as if to encourage himself. "It's time to try something new."

Without further ado, Elio began to run towards the barrier at full speed.

It was the fastest sprint he had ever attempted, his legs moving at a frantic pace. The tunnel became a blur around him as he advanced.

When he finally stopped, panting and exhausted, he found himself at the limit where the cold damage was just below his armor's regeneration.

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Elio: 50 Resistance / 315.15 Armor Resistance

Mana: 50/50

Stamina: 1/10

He could feel the bite of the cold, the damage to his body that was repaired by the armor was painful, but it wasn't enough to force him to retreat.

Elio took a moment to catch his breath and allow his stamina to regenerate.

Once he felt sufficiently recovered, he turned around and ran back to the beginning of the tunnel, but this time much slower.

Upon reaching the starting point, Elio carefully checked his stamina.

He had spent a significant amount, but not as much as in his first desperate attempt. After a brief rest, he repeated the process, running again at a different speed to the limit where the cold didn't exceed his armor's regeneration.

This exercise provided Elio with valuable information.

Now he had a much clearer idea of the distance he could cover and the most efficient pace at which he should run. It was knowledge that could make the difference between success and failure in his next attempt.