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Just as the traitor had reported, these monsters had a small, bright blue mark on their bodies. The glow was unsettling, pulsing with an otherworldly energy.

"Magic resistance," Elio murmured, his mind racing. "We don\'t know how much, but based on what we were told, it could be between 5 and 10 points."

"Will we have to attack more times?" Lila asked, concern evident in her voice. Her hands tightened around her weapon.

"For me, it won\'t be too significant - 6 hits with or without magic defense," Elio responded. "For you... you\'ll have to hit between 14 and 16 times, instead of the 12 it would be without magic resistance."

Once warned of the situation, with a gesture from Elio, the battle began. From their elevated position at the tunnel entrance, they could clearly see how the Locus remained frozen in position, like statues waiting to spring to life.

Elio launched his first 3 combos, the magical energy illuminating the chamber with a blinding glow.

The others followed immediately after, when the monsters began to move and the slightly shorter range of the 4 was more efficient. Their attacks lit up the chamber in a dazzling display of coordinated power.

Without wasting time, Elio began charging his second round of combos while the rest of the team finished and prepared to contain the approaching wave according to the monsters\' reactions.

Elio launched his second round of combos, eliminating half of the Locus. The strategy seemed to be working, the team moving with a synchronicity born of practice and trust.

But when the monsters reached about 50 meters away, everything changed.

Suddenly, the Locus began to jump, their twisted bodies launching through the air directly towards the group. The sight was terrifying, a horde of monstrosities raining down upon them.

"Watch out!" Lila shouted, restructuring the barriers to deflect the monsters. Her voice was steady, but her eyes wide with alarm.

Reacting on instinct, Mei and Kriz began firing helium currents, trying to deflect the Locus in the air.

Brok, thinking quickly, rearranged the walls that Lila had pulled in strategic angles, creating ramps that diverted some of the jumping monsters.

"Kriz, Brok!" Elio called out, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Explosive combo, now!"

The two nodded, combining their powers to create an explosion that sent several Locus flying just as they were about to land. The blast shook the chamber, dust and debris raining down around them.

This moment of chaos gave Elio the time he needed to charge his third round of combos. With a shout, he released the energy, eliminating a large number of the remaining Locus.

"To the tunnel!" Elio ordered, seeing that few monsters remained but not wanting to take risks.

The group retreated quickly, sealing the tunnel entrance behind them. The surviving Locus piled up against the barrier, growling and slowly destroying it in an attempt to reach them. The sound of their claws scraping against the barrier was chilling.

"Well thought out, they\'ll bunch up," Mei panted, catching her breath. "Now we can eliminate the last ones little by little but not one by one."

Elio nodded. "Our mana is still abundant. We can take our time and be methodical."

One by one, they eliminated the remaining Locus.

Each time they broke the barrier, they launched precise combos before sealing it again. It was a tense dance of attack and defense, but they were winning.

Finally, the last Locus fell, its body dissolving into motes of light.

"We... we did it," Lila said, relief and amazement in her voice. Her hands were shaking slightly, the adrenaline slowly leaving her system.

Elio nodded, allowing himself a small smile. "We did. And we did it well."

Kriz, always ready with a comment, grinned. "Who would have thought Locus could jump so high? Almost makes me miss the old, boring level 1 Locus."

The group laughed.

"Good work with the improvisation, everyone," Elio said, looking at each of his companions with pride. "That ability to adapt quickly could be crucial in the upper levels."

Brok spoke up, his voice gruff but tinged with satisfaction. "We should collect the cores and prepare for the next level."

Elio nodded in agreement. "You\'re right. Let\'s rest for a moment, recover our mana, and then move forward."

♢♢♢♢

The group gathered to collect the cores, now more valuable... and handed them to their leader.

"These cores," Elio murmured, weighing them in his hand, "are interesting... 10,000 points."

Lila approached, curiosity evident in her eyes. "Do you think it\'s because of the higher level of the Locus?"

Elio nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "Probably. Each subsequent challenge takes the value and multiplies it by 10. It\'s logical."

Once the cores were secured, the group sought a place to rest. The recent battle had drained considerably more mana than the previous ones.

"It will take us longer to recover to one hundred percent this time. Let\'s take advantage to review what we\'ve learned and prepare for what may come."

The hours passed slowly.

Kriz tried to keep morale high with his jokes, while Brok and Mei discussed strategies for future encounters and teased Kriz. Lila, always attentive, made sure everyone was okay, especially Elio.

Elio, for his part, meditated on the challenges faced and those yet to come. His mind raced with possibilities, trying to anticipate what the next level might bring.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, their mana had been fully restored. A quick glance at their books confirmed that everyone was ready.

"It\'s time," Elio announced, standing up. His voice carried a mix of determination and caution. "We don\'t know what awaits us in the next level, so be prepared for anything."

With a collective nod, the group approached the transport crystal. There was a moment of hesitation, each aware that they were about to face an even greater challenge than before. But the determination in their eyes was unmistakable.

"For our city," Elio murmured, and they all placed their hands on the transport point.

A flash of light enveloped them, and when it dissipated, they found themselves in an environment completely different from what they expected.

There was no tunnel, no familiar chamber.

Instead, they found themselves directly in an enormous hall, so vast that its edges were lost in the shadows. The ceiling, high and vaulted, seemed to glow with a faint, unnatural light.

But what really caught their attention was what lay at the center of the chamber.

A colossal statue, at least ten meters tall, rose before them. It represented a Locus, but one larger and more terrifying than any they had seen before. Every detail of its twisted form was perfectly captured, from its gnarled claws to its grotesque features.

"By all the walls," Kriz whispered, his usual joviality replaced by awe and fear.

Mei took a step back but bumped into the wall, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon. "What is this?"

Brok, always analytical, examined the chamber with a critical eye. "I don\'t see other exits. It seems it\'s just this chamber."

Lila moved closer to Elio, noticing the tension in his posture. "What do you think, Elio? This doesn\'t look like anything from before."

Elio frowned, a bad feeling growing inside him.

"This... this reminds me of the first levels of the book. No downtime, no tunnels. Just a direct challenge."

If this was similar to a book challenge, then...

As if responding to his thoughts, a cracking sound resonated throughout the chamber. Small cracks began to appear on the surface of the statue, spreading rapidly like a spider web. The sound was ominous, filling the air with a sense of impending doom.

"Get ready!" Elio shouted, his voice echoing in the vast space.

The rock cracked, fragments falling to the ground like rain. And then, before their horrified eyes, the statue began to move.

The head of the colossal Locus turned towards them, its eyes glowing with a cold and ruthless light. The sight was chilling, a nightmare come to life before their very eyes.

And then, with a roar that shook the very foundations of the chamber, the beast came to life completely.

The final boss had awakened, and the true battle was about to begin.