Utopian System

"I appreciate the information," responded Lucien, his tone courteous but laden with threat. "Now, I suggest you release my soldiers."

"The five?" Zahyla looked back where the prisoners lay guarded. "Oh, they're only four now."

One of the artromus bit off one of the hostages' heads.

Lucien's eyes narrowed.

"How serious, Lucien," Zahyla tilted her head, studying him like a child would study a particularly interesting insect.

Lucien was slightly surprised when the creature in human flesh demonstrated that somehow she knew his name, but he didn't let it show on his face.

"You know? I expected your leader would come, it seems you don't want to take us seriously. Human leaders are usually very predictable... always at the front, always so willing to demonstrate their power, what happened to yours? Fear?"

Lucien ignored the empty provocations.

"Our species have only known conflict," he took a step toward the barrier. "Perhaps we could change that today if you return the soldiers and..."

"Diplomacy?" Zahyla laughed softly. "Will you also ask me... To let parasites steal the rings' mana and grow strong freely?"

"If you want to negotiate borders..."

"Negotiate?" Zahyla pointed toward the hostages. "Don't you realize this war game is inevitable? Your species has always been a plague to the artromus. An infection that must be contained and eliminated. Those soldiers of yours serve them much better dead than reproducing like crazy in your little cage."

"Then let me offer you an exchange." Lucien's voice remained firm. "We could mutually benefit instead of..."

"Artromus won't negotiate with plagues," Zahyla smiled, the gesture unsettlingly human on her face. "But if you're so worried about your soldiers, why don't you come get them? That we can discuss…"

"Your provocation is unrefined," Lucien observed his captive soldiers, his expression hardening. "But I'm glad you've chosen this path."

"You're glad?" Zahyla tilted her head. "Do you hate these poor soldiers of y..."

"No," Lucien raised his hands. "I'm glad I don't have to get along with you... I'm glad you've forced me to this."

"To what?" asked Zahyla with amusement.

"Your strategy is to provoke us to cross and kill us to get the right to enter... Getting hostages and approaching to talk is a decent strategy."

Lucien raised his hands slowly. "But you made a miscalculation. Human magic doesn't fear barriers."

Before Zahyla could process the meaning of those words, steel bars began materializing around her body, emerging from her side of the barrier. A metal prison that threatened to enclose her.

Understanding flashed in her eyes. The barrier only blocked artromus magic in one direction, humans could project their power toward them.

With a casual wave of her hand, Zahyla pulverized the bars trying to contain her. But behind her, shouts of surprise began to rise.

Her warriors were being trapped in similar cages, metal serpentining around their limbs.

It wasn't just Lucien and the elite. Hundreds of human soldiers began moving in unison, their hands extended. The magnetic force, amplified by the number of users, pulled the artromus toward the barrier.

The magnetic technique that had made Elio famous was being deployed on a massive scale.

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Zahyla watched with amusement while destroying each construction that threatened to dangerously bring any of her warriors close to the barrier.

"An interesting strategy," she commented, shattering another cage with a casual wave of her hand. "Very coordinated."

The artromus fought against the magnetic attraction, their powers matching the combined forces of 10 humans each. The air itself vibrated with the battle of wills.

"Though," continued Zahyla while pulverizing three more prisons, "I think you're lacking a bit of... potency."

"You think so?" Lucien maintained his concentration despite the dialogue. Around him, more and more soldiers emerged from different directions, joining the collective effort. "The day is young."

"Oh, reinforcements are arriving?" Zahyla smiled, observing the new waves of warriors joining the battle.

An artromus was almost dragged toward the barrier before she destroyed its bindings.

"How adorable. But you see, there's a small problem with your plan."

The magnetic pressure increased with each new soldier joining, but the artromus resisted. It was a war of attrition where neither side yielded ground.

"And what would that problem be?" Lucien directed the coordinated effort while more units took position. Continue reading at empire

"Mana," Zahyla destroyed another series of prisons with a careless gesture. "You have a thousand soldiers against a hundred artromus. But you need 10 humans to match the power of just one of mine." Her smile widened. "How much mana can you maintain like this?"

New formations of soldiers continued arriving, the metal responding to their collective power. The battle of wills intensified with each moment.

The prisons were getting closer to the barrier.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Lucien could feel more and more reinforcements arriving, the balance finally beginning to tip in his favor.

"Last chance to drop the act," he declared, his voice firm. "Release the hostages and we'll consider letting some of your soldiers live."

"Let us live?" Zahyla stretched her arms as if waking from a nap. "I'm afraid you're misinterpreting the situation. All this is quite... entertaining. It's been a while since I've had so much fun."

The prisons creaked, just after dangerously approaching the barrier. Several artromus were already struggling to maintain their position.

"Numbers are on our side," responded Lucien as another wave of magnetic power swept the field.

"Numbers?" Zahyla laughed, the musical sound contrasting with the violence of her actions while destroying more prisons. "You know what's the problem with numbers?"

She paused to free three of her warriors who had almost been dragged.

"They only matter when both sides are playing the same game."

"Pretend all you want... Time's up," Lucien tightened his control over the metal. "You have no escape."

"Escape?" Zahyla's laugh rang like bells. "Oh, dear. Haven't you noticed? While we played this little game of tug of war..." She gestured behind her. "My warrior has been quite busy."

The color drained from Lucien's face when he saw Zalvek and two other artromus return with 5 new hostages.

"Ten," Zahyla counted on her fingers like a child. "It's an interesting number, isn't it? And since we have our set of ten..." She turned to the artromus who had executed the first hostage. "I'm afraid the other nine have become... essential."

With a wave of her hand, all the prisons shattered simultaneously.

The executioner artromus opened its jaws, moving toward the next hostage.

"Stop!" Lucien's voice thundered.