BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Chapter 911: Three stubborn helpers

He quickly crafted thirty eggs thanks to his abilities, adding them to the thirty he had made the day before.

Erik paused his work to oversee the hunting parties Noah had organized. Groups had formed under Aaron, Gwen, and all of Erik's old friends. Many from Liberty Watch, including Ethan, joined them. Even Samuel and Amos went hunting.

Samuel was to be expected. He was old outside but young inside, and he enjoyed being out and doing his thing.

As for Amos, that was a surprise, since he was Liberty Watch's leader and did mostly take care of bureaucracy and mental problems rather than physical ones.

Satisfied with their preparations, Erik returned to his work, though he took a moment to glance out at the forest trails, now busy with travelers heading into the thick trees.

With luck, they would return soon with brain crystals and blood, but most of all, they would have made Liberty Watch safer.

Erik wanted to join them, get experience and DNA points, and absorb more powers, but for now, his duty was to make eggs and, well, train.

The Nexthorn Vanguard guild's leader realized he needed to focus on his powers for now, and of course, starting from the previous night, he fully focused on making neural links for the Chimaeric Demon brain crystal power.

Right now, he didn't need personal power; he needed soldiers. The new clones would be the perfect ones.

Raising the number of neural links would make the clone start with better brain crystals, decrease the hatching and maturing time, and even decrease the amount of mana needed to make more clones.

Making neural links for that power was his best investment, but at the same time, Erik knew that once he merged the power with something else, the progress would be reset.

Another six days passed like that. In total, Erik created 210 Chimaeric Demons. Noah and the others would nurture and protect them until they were ready to defend Liberty Watch. Erik also got three neural links in his Chimaeric Demon brain crystal power.

***

Erik gazed out at the forests surrounding Liberty Watch, thinking of the amount of stuff he had to do. Beside him, Noah spoke.

"I know you're eager to face Volkov, but don't rush into things, Master." Noah said. "Our scouts reported large armies gathered under him; a lot of them are Blackguards. What if, as you stated, some of his men already have multiple brain crystal powers?"

Erik nodded. "Don't worry. To save Richard, I will need a lot of preparation, so I won't do anything to jeopardize the rescue. I'm not planning to kill only Volkov."

"Yes. It would be good for you to keep making more Chimaeric Demons. A few months won't change much at this point. You can spend your free time training and searching for Intel." Noah said.

"Yes..."

Erik knew his clone spoke wisdom, yet impatience lingered in his heart. To fall now would undo all they'd built, and for Richard to die.

"Keep this place safe," Erik said.

Noah bowed his head. "As you command, Master."

Erik watched him go, then gazed once more out over the forest. Soon the hunt would end, one way or another.

For now, he had clones to create and powers to enhance, but most importantly, a journey to make. Before June and Erik could step outside, though, three people approached, and he didn't like it.

***

Erik watched with a growing frown as Mira, Amber, and Emily marched towards him. Their determined strides ate up the distance, each girl becoming a wound coil of purpose.

He saw the glint of determination in their eyes, a mirror of his own most of the time. But the real giveaway was their attire.

Each one sported a backpack bulging with unknown contents, strapped firmly to their shoulders. Erik could see that they were carrying weapons.

An assortment of blades, hilts, and maybe even a rifle or two peeked out from under the worn

canvas.

"Going somewhere?" Erik asked as they came to a stop in front of him.

"With you, of course," Amber said.

Erik sighed. "Amber, I asked you not to come. It's too dangerous."

"I don't care. You think I'm just going to wait around while you face who knows what or who

out there?" She placed a hand on her hip. "I'm going, whether or not you like it."

Mira and Emily both offered nods of agreement, though their faces weren't quite as fiery as Amber's.

The past few weeks had been especially rough on Emily. Her father, Richard, was being held prisoner by Volkov, and the worry was etched deep in her expression.

Truth be told, Emily wasn't alone in her misery. Richard's wife was faring even worse. Without her husband there to lead, the burden of caring for their people fell on her shoulders. She ached to join any rescue attempt to free her husband, but her responsibilities chained her to Liberty Watch.

Amber stared at Erik, her eyes burning like flames. Erik's stomach clenched. He'd seen that fire in her gaze before. Once Amber decided on something, there was no turning back.

"The Blackguards have spies everywhere," Erik said, grasping for another argument.

"They will recognize you as soon as you step foot in the city. What if they capture one of you?" The thought made his chest tighten.

"Then you'll just have to come rescue us." Amber flashed a grin, sure of her strength and his. "We're not helpless, you know. We can keep up."

Emily turned to look at Erik, and he did the same. Her eyes were filled with determination.

"And you? What are you doing here?"

"I will not wait for you to save dad." Emily's voice hardened with a steely resolve. Her eyes narrowed with a determination that burned brighter than any fire. A deep furrow creased her brow, and her jaw clenched tight. She was dead serious about wanting to go with him to New Alexandria.

Erik understood the feeling, yet Emily was the one with the least fighting experience of them all. She trained, and that was true; she wasn't a poor fighter either, but she had no real

fighting experience.

She never killed a thaid, let alone a human, because she lived a pampered life within Frant's richest family, the Stone family. The problem was that if she wanted to come; she had to make that step, and Erik wasn't sure Emily was ready.

"Emily, I cannot promise your safety," Erik said. "Besides, your appearance makes you stand out." Emily was easily the most beautiful woman, Erik... No, everyone had seen. That beauty made her famous, so it would be problematic for her to tag along.

"I don't care. I have to try."

Erik hesitated, his instinct to protect battling with empathy for her plight. Before he could say

anything, Mira spoke.

"Let us come with you, Erik."

But Erik looked into Mira's eyes. "I'm disappointed. Shouldn't you be the responsible one

among us?"

"What about my actions says I'm not? If I think we should come, then we should. Amber is strong; Emily can see the future, to some extent; and me... well, I have plenty of experience on

my side."

Mira wasn't wrong. Their help would be invaluable for a number of reasons. Even guarding the eggs was going to be helpful. Besides, Erik knew how Mira's insight was going to be useful. She had much more experience than him hunting thaids, and having been in a hunting party for a long time, she knew better than him how to fight in a group.

"Let them come, Master," June said.

Erik looked at his clone with a contemplative look. He wondered what was going through his mind and why he had made that suggestion.

He could read his mind, but he didn't want to, because he felt like he was going to violate him.

Besides, contrary to what many people could think, reading people's mind was exhausting, because more often than not, individuals had many dark thoughts in their minds. Jealousy, hatred, contempt, and bloodlust were just some of the things he saw in people. Those were just thoughts, but they said a lot about the people who had them.

Erik changed his opinion about many people before deciding not to use his instability brain crystal power on his friends and comrades.

June was the person he trusted the most, so, in the end, he conceded, but he didn't like the

situation a bit.

"Very well," Erik said. "But you must do exactly as I say. Any risks you take endanger us all."

The women nodded. A heavy responsibility now lay upon them, and pride or passion could no longer rule their actions.

Erik turned his focus to Liberty Watch's exit. The other four, Mira, June, Amber, and Emily,

followed suit.