Utopian System

Milo nodded, his heart a tempest of fear and exhilaration.

All the challenges until now had been laughably simple, almost disappointing. But this... this was something else entirely. It was real, dangerous, and utterly terrifying.

Yet here he stood, ready to hurl himself into the void for a reason he was only beginning to grasp, following a leader he knew primarily through whispers and legends.

"Training begins at dawn," Selene announced, yanking Milo back to the present. "Rest well tonight. You'll need it."

As they filed out of the hall, Milo felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Taron.

"Listen, kids," the veteran said, his voice low and grave. "What we're about to do... it's not a game. It's dangerous... But it's also necessary. Von Elio wouldn't ask this of us if it wasn't crucial for the city's survival."

Arnaud, standing nearby, nodded silently, his expression somber.

"Just remember," Taron continued, "trust your training, trust your comrades, and above all, trust Von Elio. He won't abandon us down there."

With those words of encouragement, unsettling as they were, Taron and Arnaud drifted away, leaving Milo, Kai, and Nessa alone with their thoughts.

"Well," Nessa quipped, trying to inject some levity, "at least if we perish, we'll do it together, right?"

Kai nudged her gently. "No talk of perishing. We're going to overcome this."

Milo nodded, grateful for his friends' determination. "You're right. Together we'll plunge into the monster sea, and together we'll emerge."

As they walked back to their quarters, Milo's emotions swirled like a maelstrom in his chest. Fear, excitement, doubt, determination... all blended into a confusing whirlwind.

One thing was certain: nothing had prepared them for this. All the training, all the tests, now seemed like child's play compared to what lay ahead.

But despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, Milo felt a spark of something more. Something he couldn't quite name. Was it pride? Anticipation? Or simply the madness that comes with facing the unknown?

'I didn't know I was so curious,' he mused.

♢♢♢♢

The day Milo received his rabbit, he felt a surge of excitement and nervousness.

The small creature appeared in a flash of light, its eyes bright and alert. Around him, his fellow recruits experienced the same moment of wonder. Milo's rabbit hopped onto his shoulder, its nose twitching as it surveyed its new surroundings.

"Welcome to the next phase of your training," Selene announced, her voice firm and clear. "The rabbit is your new companion, but don't let your guard down... The swift won't be easy to hit, even with its help."

The training began, focused on learning to control the ice balls they could now launch thanks to their rabbits. Milo's rabbit seemed to sense his concentration, sitting still on his shoulder as he practiced his aim.

Milo exchanged glances with Kai and Nessa. The familiarity of training with the rabbit, similar to what they had done with their salamanders, brought a sense of calm.

However, Selene's words about the swift planted a seed of unease in their minds.

The following days were a whirlwind of activity.

For Milo, the experience was oddly comforting. The routine, though intense, was something he could understand and master. His rabbit became a constant presence, its warm weight on his shoulder a reminder of his progress.

One afternoon, as they rested after a particularly grueling session, Selene approached the group.

"I want you to understand something," she said, her tone grave. "The swift is not like the rabbit. This monster flies and dodges attacks. It will be a much greater challenge."

A murmur of concern rippled through the group. Arnaud, the young man who had aided Von Elio in his battle against Fathoran, looked particularly nervous, his rabbit mirroring his anxiety by fidgeting on his lap.

Noticing the unease, Selene continued: "However, Von Elio has insisted that you be fully prepared. You'll be provided with high-level equipment for the challenge."

This seemed to alleviate some of the tension, but Milo still felt a knot in his stomach. Although...

The memory of how easy the previous challenges had been made him wonder how difficult this one could really be.

"Furthermore," Selene added, her voice softening slightly, "in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, your families will receive special support of 10 daily points for 30 years."

This news was met with both relief and concern. On one hand, it was comforting to know their loved ones would be cared for. On the other, it made the danger of their mission all the more real.

Finally, the day of the swift challenge arrived.

"This armor," Selene explained, "can heal hundreds of direct hits to your faces. The resistance cloaks we're providing are equally powerful. If you cover your face with them, you'll be practically invulnerable."

Milo picked up one of the ten daggers he had been given, surprised that Von Elio seemed to keep increasing the number they were provided.

"Remember," Selene warned, "the swift is fast and cunning. Don't rely solely on your good equipment... This is the armor that belonged to Fathoran, and if anyone fails, we'll lose it."

♢♢♢♢

It was Milo's turn...

Heart pounding, Milo entered the chamber. The swift flew in the center of the room. Before he could react, a rain of projectiles began to fall on him.

Instinctively, Milo raised the cloak to cover himself. As they had been told, the projectiles bounced off without causing damage. However, visibility was zero.

Following the advice, Milo lowered his cloak for a brief instant. In that moment, he saw the swift spinning and zigzagging in the air. He threw a dagger, but missed by mere centimeters.

The challenge continued like this, alternating between covering and attacking.

Although the swift's bombardment was intense, the equipment they had been provided was truly exceptional. Even when a projectile managed to impact his unprotected face, the system's armor healed the damage almost instantly.

After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only minutes, Milo managed to land the third magical blow on the swift. The creature emitted a high-pitched shriek before vanishing in a cloud of luminous particles.

♢♢♢♢

"We did it," Nessa whispered, relief and amazement in her voice. Her rabbit hopped excitedly around her feet, seemingly sharing in her triumph.

Kai nodded, a small smile of satisfaction on his lips. His own rabbit sat calmly on his shoulder, the same as its owner's usually stoic demeanor. "It was harder than the others, but still..."

"Still not as bad as we expected," Milo completed. His rabbit emerged from his pocket, looking somewhat ruffled.

Selene, who was waiting for them with an expression of approval...

"Well done," she said. "But don't relax yet. What comes next will require all your concentration and skill."

The following days were dedicated to learning the corrosive attack. It was a complex technique, requiring precision and control that initially seemed impossible to achieve.

"The corrosive attack," Selene explained, "is a combination of elements…"

Milo found himself struggling with the technique.

Each time he tried to combine the elements, he either failed to achieve the desired reaction, or it spiraled out of control, leaving corrosive marks on his hands. His rabbit watched his efforts with what seemed like concern, occasionally nuzzling his arm as if to offer encouragement.

"Don't despair," Taron told him one day, noticing his frustration. "Each failure is experience. Every failed attempt brings us one step closer to protecting our city."

Those words resonated with Milo. With renewed determination, he immersed himself in training. Little by little, attempt after attempt, he began to feel the technique flowing through him.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of practice, Milo managed to execute a perfect corrosive attack. The sensation of power and control that invaded him at that moment was indescribable. His rabbit seemed to sense his accomplishment, hopping around him in what looked like a celebratory dance.

"Excellent," Selene said, observing his progress. "Remember, as long as you can launch the attack accurately, the elephant will be simpler than the swift."

Those words, though reassuring, also served as a reminder of what was to come. The leap into the sea of monsters, the true challenge that awaited them.