Utopian System

"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."

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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."

As Elio selected each piece, Gorgita's form began to shine with divine energy. The armor materialized perfectly sized for her unique shape, each piece enhancing her natural capabilities while providing unprecedented protection.

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"This is..." Lila's voice held awe as she felt the power flowing through her invocation.

"Oh, much different now!" Dionz added cheerfully. "But speaking of things that might help..." He eyed Elio's book where the collection of spheres Elio had gathered from his challenges rested. "It's a shame you can't consume one of these here, but perhaps..."

Elio looked up from the equipment selection. "Perhaps what?"

"Well, you do have 189 of them," Dionz mused innocently. "And with all this divine equipment enhancing her form's stability... she might be able to carry one back. Though there's always the risk of losing it in transit..."

"You think she could transport a divine sphere?" Elio asked, his attention fully caught now.

"With this level of equipment? Yeah, monsters in the rings are numerous but not too strong." Dionz created a simulation showing the potential. "The divine armor would help contain the damage, and her consciousness is already proving remarkably good at managing to fly through the rings..."

Lila's enhanced form shimmered with excitement. "I could take it back to the others?"

"Theoretically," Dionz nodded. "Though we'd have to be very careful about how we secure it. Divine spheres aren't just any replicable assets..."

"I won't falter," Lila's voice held absolute certainty. "Not with this much at stake."

Elio continued adding enhancements, anything that could help ensure both Lila's safe return and the sphere's secure transport.

As the final pieces of equipment settled into place, Gorgita's form had transformed completely. The simple familiar now radiated divine power, each piece of equipment working in perfect harmony to enhance and protect.

"This is incredible," Lila experimented with movement, feeling how the divine gear enhanced every aspect of her invocation's capabilities.

Dionz studied their handiwork with approval. "Quite the enhancement! From a simple familiar to a divine-equipped consciousness carrier. Though I suppose that's fitting, given the unique properties of consciousness transfer that seem to run in..."

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.

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"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.