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The soldiers exchanged tense glances.

They had all heard about the monster\'s power, and some had witnessed it firsthand.

"If we can\'t stop it," Lucien continued, "the next action is clear: everyone will enter their books. You\'ll overcome the next level, and we\'ll try again. As many times as necessary until we eliminate it."

"What about the civilians if we enter the book?" someone asked from the crowd.

"They\'ll remain in their homes during that time," Selene responded. "Teams have already notified them... If the monster enters their homes, they must enter their book as well."

Diana, from her position, observed everything with an intensity that reminded Lucien too much of her brother. Her ascension to level 5 in the last few hours had been as impressive as it was reckless.

Ignoring Lucien\'s warnings about the need to perfect the corrosive attack, she had thrown herself into the challenge with a determination that reminded him too much of Elio.

That ability to adapt and overcome impossible situations seemed to manifest in her as well.

The determination in her eyes suggested she wouldn\'t retreat to shelter with other civilians, no matter what he ordered.

"Every minute counts," Lucien concluded. "Those still in the process of ascending, continue. The rest, to your positions."

The barrier failure approached, and with it, the true test of their preparation.

♢♢♢♢

Lucien, Selene, and Diana stood on the parapet surrounded by soldiers.

When the time of failure approached, the three positioned themselves where the network of informants suggested the monster would appear on its next round.

Diana followed closely, ignoring her uncle\'s worried glances.

The soldiers, strategically distributed around the wall, maintained a tense vigil.

When it finally appeared, Lucien both thanked and cursed that the watchful soldiers had been correct.

The unusual concentration of warriors seemed to spark the monster\'s curiosity. It descended with unnatural grace until it reached the parapet\'s height, its black eyes studying the scene with scientific interest. Upon recognizing Lucien and Selene, it positioned itself in front of them, separated only by some meters and the barrier that still shone strongly.

Lucien noticed the monster wasn\'t carrying the weapons it had used previously. In theory, it couldn\'t harm them without them... But no one dared lower their guard.

The creature emanated an aura of power that made the air itself feel heavier.

To everyone\'s surprise, the monster did nothing.

It seemed... amused.

Occasionally it would make a sudden movement, watching with apparent satisfaction as the soldiers reacted in chain, tensing and preparing for an attack that never came.

Its black eyes scanned the rows of warriors, and something in its posture subtly changed. It seemed to notice the soldiers were stronger than before, though this didn\'t appear to concern it. On the contrary, its attitude suggested it found the whole matter entertaining.

Selene kept one hand near her book, ready to react.

The minutes crawled by with unbearable slowness as they waited for the barrier\'s failure. Diana, despite Lucien\'s silent protests, held firm in her position, her eyes fixed on the creature that seemed to be playing with their nerves.

\'It\'s studying us,\' Lucien thought, recognizing the calculating intelligence in the monster\'s movements. \'Evaluating our reactions, our new strength...\'

♢♢♢♢

The tension on the wall was palpable.

The monster\'s enormous black eyes studying them without blinking created a sense of horror that penetrated to the bone.

Some soldiers, who had initially been praying for the barrier not to fail, were beginning to wish it would all end at once.

"Let it fail already," a soldier murmured, his voice barely audible. "This waiting is worse than death."

But the minutes kept passing, and the barrier maintained its constant glow.

There were no signs of the daily failure everyone feared.

Lucien and Selene exchanged meaningful glances. Was it possible the barrier wouldn\'t fail today? The question led them to more urgent ones: Where exactly had this creature come from?

Had Elio and his group achieved something?

A comforting thought crossed Lucien\'s mind. His decision not to resort to human sacrifices to keep the barrier functioning, an option some had secretly suggested, now seemed justified.

Although for a moment, when the monster appeared, he had doubted that choice...

\'No,\' he mentally reaffirmed. \'The only acceptable sacrifice is one a warrior makes fighting for those they love.\'

It was one of the fundamental principles he shared with Elio, one of the ideals that had united them in their vision for the city.

His eyes settled on the book the monster still carried.

Elio\'s book.

Almost 24 hours had passed since they\'d last seen him. Doubt settled in his mind like poison:

Had Elio...?

\'No,\' he denied again, this time with more force. \'He must be inside a challenge, as we planned to do. Getting stronger.\'

Diana, who hadn\'t taken her eyes off the monster, seemed to perceive her uncle\'s concern. "He wouldn\'t die so easily," she whispered, her voice carrying a conviction that surprised Lucien.

Selene nodded imperceptibly. "If the barrier isn\'t failing, it must mean something. Maybe Elio and the others..."

The monster tilted its head, as if it could hear their whispers, its black eyes reflecting a disturbing intelligence. Its presence remained a constant reminder that, stable barrier or not, the danger was far from over.

The soldiers maintained their positions, the fatigue of constant tension beginning to manifest in small tremors, in drops of cold sweat.

The creature seemed to enjoy their discomfort, studying each reaction, every sign of weakness.

"How much longer?" someone asked quietly.

Nobody answered.

The question hung in the air as the sun began its descent, marking almost a full day since it had all begun. One day since the monster had appeared, since the city had begun its desperate race to grow stronger.

And the barrier, against all expectations, continued to shine without signs of weakness.

♢♢♢♢

The monster remained before them, immutable and calm, corrupting the minds of the weakest.

Even Lucien couldn\'t help but doubt after so much time. He saw Elio\'s book in the monster\'s hands again.

No, he couldn\'t let pessimism flood him.

"Elio has overcome worse things," Lucien murmured, more to himself than to others.

"He hasn\'t faced anything worse than me."

The monster\'s voice, that unnatural buzz of multiple overlapping voices, froze the blood of everyone present.

Selene stepped forward, furious and ready to defend Elio, but Lucien stopped her with a gesture of his hand.