Utopian System

Cassandra's system book opened with a soft sound of changing pages, and she emerged from her challenge with a triumphant smile on her face.

Her grandfather, Saren, waited for her with an expression of relief and pride.

"You did it!" exclaimed Saren, embracing his granddaughter. "I was so worried when you decided to face level 4, but I should never have doubted you."

Cassandra returned the hug, but didn't truly feel the same affection as her grandfather. "Thank you, grandfather. With the rabbit by my side and the equipment you got me, it wasn't as dangerous as we feared."

'Elio might have good intentions,' she thought to herself, 'but his idealism will lead us to ruin. Sometimes, to save the majority, sacrifices must be made. It's a harsh truth, but necessary.'

Right, founder? Right, Creator?

As they prepared to gather their allies, Cassandra couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt. Was she really doing the right thing? Or was she letting her distrust of Elio cloud her judgment?

But then she remembered the creator's words, the warning about necessary sacrifices, and her resolve strengthened.

No, she wasn't wrong.

Elio, with his perhaps good intentions, was leading the city down a dangerous path. And it was her duty, as a descendant of the founder, the true Von, to ensure that the truth came to light.

The three spent the next few hours refining the details of the plan, assigning tasks and preparing for the following day.

♢♢♢♢

The next day, thousands of people spread the same message throughout the city.

When the time came, Cassandra found herself in the center of the city, surrounded by an expectant crowd. Soldiers, civilians, families members, all had gathered to hear her message.

Cassandra climbed onto an improvised platform, her presence commanding immediate attention. Her voice, amplified by the plaza's acoustics, resonated clearly:

"Citizens of our beloved city," she began, her tone laden with gravity. "I address you today with a heavy heart and a terrible truth to reveal."

The crowd stirred, murmurs of curiosity spreading like ripples in a pond.

"We have been deceived," Cassandra continued. "The man we call our leader, Elio, is not who he claims to be. He is an impostor, an agent of chaos leading us to the brink of destruction."

Cries of surprise and denial rose from the crowd.

Cassandra let them express themselves for a moment before raising a hand to ask for silence.

"I know this is hard to believe. Elio has done much for us, hasn't he? He has given us power, made us feel invincible."

Her eyes scanned the crowd, stopping on the high-level soldiers who stood proudly.

"Look at yourselves," she said, addressing them. "You are powerful, capable, true warriors. Why do you follow the orders of a boy who barely understands the true power you possess?"

She saw doubt sown in their eyes, the seed of rebellion beginning to germinate.

"Why do you give part of your hard-earned wealth to someone who wastes it on impossible dreams? Don't you deserve to keep what you've earned with your sweat and blood?"

Murmurs of agreement began to spread among the soldiers.

"Elio has lied to you," Cassandra continued, her voice charged with emotion. "He has made you believe you can have it all without any sacrifice. But the truth is that his path leads us to destruction. The barrier is failing, and he refuses to take the necessary measures to save it."

The crowd stirred more, tension growing with each word. Whispers of confusion and concern spread like ripples in a pond.

"And do you know why?" Cassandra asked, her voice rising. "Because Elio is not one of us. He is an agent of the Goddess, sent to destroy us from within!"

Cries of indignation and fear erupted in the plaza. Cassandra saw how anger and fear spread like a wildfire.

"Think about it," she continued. "How did he obtain so much power so quickly? How did he survive the sea of monsters? The answer is simple: he sold his soul to the Goddess. She saved him, gave him power and cores, all to use him as her double agent."

Making a discreet signal. Immediately, several of her agents began distributing sheets among the crowd. "Here are copies of a passage from the Creator's Book. Read for yourselves the truth that Elio has been hiding."

The sheets contained a carefully edited excerpt:

"...who allies with external forces will obtain unimaginable power... but the cost... destruction of everything they love. Sacrifices are necessary... without them, stagnation leads to collapse..."

As people read, Cassandra continued: "How did Elio obtain so much power so quickly? How did he survive the sea of monsters? The answer is before your eyes."

A murmur of commotion ran through the crowd. Some defended Elio, others began to doubt.

"Von Elio saved us!" shouted a young level 3 soldier. "You can't accuse him without proof!"

"The proof is before our eyes!" replied a familes member. "The barrier fails! We are on the brink of collapse!"

"Traitor!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"Impossible!" replied another. "Von Elio has helped us!"

Cassandra raised her voice again: "Let Elio present himself before all of us! Let him explain his actions and answer these accusations! Why isn't he here to defend himself? Bring him! Let him confess his crimes before all of us!"

From different points in the crowd, previously instructed voices began to shout:

"Yes! Where is Elio?"

"No one has seen him in days!"

"Let him show his face if he has nothing to hide!"

The tension in the plaza reached its boiling point. Cassandra observed how the sides formed: loyal followers of Elio on one side, skeptics and opponents on the other.

"We cannot allow this to continue!" Cassandra shouted. "It's time we take control of our destiny. It's time to prove who we really are, now that we have the power to do so."

That's when it happened. A soldier, emboldened by Cassandra's words and his new level 3 power, pushed an Elio defender. The man fell to the ground, and in an instant, chaos broke loose.

Punches flew, invocations appeared, and the air filled with the sound of screams and the crackle of magic. The plaza became an improvised battlefield, with former friends and neighbors facing each other.
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Cassandra observed the chaos from her elevated position, satisfaction and concern on her face.

It was exactly what she had planned.

"It's necessary," she told herself, as she watched the crowd tear itself apart. "To save the city, sometimes sacrifices are required."

As the altercation grew, Cassandra discreetly retreated from the plaza. Her mind was already on the next step of the plan. Lucien and Selene, Elio's faithful idiot followers, would be busy trying to control this chaos.

It was the perfect moment for her final move.

"Elio's family," Cassandra thought as she moved away from the tumult. "Minors, unable to resist. The perfect hostages to ensure our victory."

A cold smile formed on her lips as she imagined the outcome. With Elio's family under her control, she would hold all the cards. And when the dust settled and the barrier stabilized thanks to the inevitable casualties, she would emerge as the city's savior.

"Soon," Cassandra promised herself, "everything will return to its natural order. And this time, we'll make sure no one can challenge us again."