Utopian System

"Perimeter check!" Selene called out. The support team performed their practiced sweep, ensuring no artromus had somehow slipped past their notice.

"Clear!" The reports came in from all sectors. The battle - if it could even be called that - was over.

The forty support warriors maintained their positions until absolutely certain, their transformed states still ready for combat if needed. But there was nothing left to fight.

The 20 cores were catched and counted.

The combination of perfect preparation, overwhelming power, and coordinated strategy had turned what should have been a desperate battle into a decisive victory.

"Well," Kriz's voice carried a note of almost disappointment, "that was..."

"Exactly as planned," Selene cut him off firmly. "No heroics needed, no last-minute desperate measures. Just perfect execution of a perfect strategy."

As the support team began their ordered withdrawal, the main team surveyed their handiwork. The artromus had never stood a chance, not against this level of preparation and power.

"Elio was right," Lila noted. "Waiting until we were this strong... it made all safe and not even 1 had a chance to escape."

They had avoided the desperate battles of the past, replaced them with overwhelming force and perfect execution.

The light sphere's remnants faded away, leaving no trace of the brief but total victory that had occurred. Below, the city continued its activities, most of its citizens unaware of how close they were to the battle.

That was how it should be, they decided. Let the city grow stronger, protected by warriors who made such protection look easy.

The age of desperate last stands was over. They had entered an era of overwhelming power and perfect coordination. The artromus today had simply been the first to learn this new reality.

They wouldn't be the last.

♢♢♢♢

The city's expansion was visible as they returned with the final deposit core - new structures slowly rising near the walls, spaces growing, the very fabric of their home evolving with each advancement.

Dionz appeared briefly in the central statue, his usual theatrical entrance subdued since he'd already revealed much of what would happen during their last meeting in Elio's chamber.

"Well done!" he congratulated them with a knowing smile. "Though I suppose you weren't too surprised by how easily it went, given our previous discussion. Just remember what Elio said, focus on getting stronger and used to the cores before coming back for more corruption spheres."

Before vanishing, he added with a wink, "The rewards should help with that. Make good use of them!"

Later…

The group gathered in the council chamber with Lucien, Ren, Tarec, and Ivan to examine their newly acquired options. The variety was impressive, new seeds for unknown trees, exotic foodstuffs, and several incredibly expensive-looking books.

"These trees," Lucien examined the seeds with expert eyes, "they're different from anything we've seen before."

"Perfect for expanding our green zones," Ren noted. "Especially with the enhanced protective structures we've developed."

Kriz, studying some of the food items, perked up. "We could have a celebration! A feast to mark our victory and..."

He trailed off as he saw the others' expressions. The unspoken thought hung heavy in the air: Elio should be here for any such celebration.

"Just kidding," he backtracked quickly. "Better save these for when everyone can enjoy them together… Right?" Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

Selene had already started examining the books, cataloging their contents. "These are... fascinating. They're guides, detailed instructions for establishing sustainable communities outside the city walls."

"Let me see," Mei moved closer, her enhanced perception from the corruption spheres letting her grasp concepts even faster than before. "Construction techniques, resource management, defensive formations..."

"Everything you'd need to build new settlements," Tarec observed.

The group fell into focused study, each examining different aspects of their rewards.

"The timing feels deliberate," Ivan noted. "Just as we're securing more territory, we receive detailed guides on how to use it effectively."

"The trees would be perfect for the new sectors," Lucien was already planning. "With our enhanced protective structures and these extra varieties, we could establish more sustainable green zones."

♢♢♢♢

"The wild card cores," Mei reminded them, "we should wait to use those. The higher our level when we make the combinations..."

"The better results we'll get," Selene finished. "And with the four new chambers providing excellent rewards for daily challenges..."

"It makes more sense to focus on conquering the third ring first," Brok agreed. "Build our base power before getting the most expensive summons for free."

They continued examining their rewards, making plans and noting important details. The decision to wait on using their wild card cores felt right, they were building something that deserved their best efforts, their most carefully considered choices.

"The third ring first," Lucien confirmed their strategy. "Establish our power base, secure our positions, then make our permanent combinations when we can get maximum benefit."

"And meanwhile," Ren gestured at the books, "we study. Learn everything these guides can teach us about building beyond our current boundaries."

The chamber filled with the sounds of pages turning, of seeds being carefully cataloged, of future possibilities being mapped out. They had received more than just rewards… they had been given tools for transformation, for growth beyond what they had imagined.

"When Elio returns," Lila said with quiet certainty, "he'll find more than just a stronger city."

The others nodded in agreement. Their victory over the artromus had been decisive, but it was just one step. These rewards, these tools for future development, they were the real prize.

They separated the rewards for proper storage and study, each item carefully preserved for its intended purpose. The feast would wait, the celebrations would come later. For now, they had work to do, foundations to lay, futures to plan.

The city continued growing around them, its expansion a visible symbol of their progress. But in that council chamber, surrounded by the tools for even greater advancement, they could see beyond current boundaries to something larger, something more permanent.

They were no longer just defending a city. They were building a future, step by careful step, choice by considered choice.

And when Elio returned, he would find that future ready to embrace all the power and possibility he was fighting to secure.