BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Chapter 1016  Panic at the Outpost

Of course, the reason these creatures ventured so far west was due to the blackguards' activities in Mur. These activities drove the thaids from Mur to Mannard, which in turn pushed the local thaids away from one of the deadliest places on the Mannard continent.

Erik observed the mounting panic with a sense of grim satisfaction. <God, I fucking hate the blackguards…> However, he was also sorry for the few citizens that were still alive, but he couldn't help but be happy for the enemy troops having to bear this clusterfuck of a situation.

The risk of such creatures ending up in the rest of Frant was clear, but at least the Luminara Serpentis Erik circulated should have worked to keep them at bay and around from their territories. When all of this ended, Erik was going to spread this plant everywhere in Frant so that all the monsters would be pushed elsewhere. Hopefully, in Etrium.

<You deserve this, you motherfuckers.> The blackguards' actions had finally caught up with them, and nature itself seemed to exact revenge on his behalf.

Now, since Erik found out enough information from the panicked foot soldiers' conversations around him, he decided to find where the outpost's leader was.

As he did, he took note of the anti-air artillery units being assembled across the city. The weapons were clearly enhanced by brain crystals.

However, despite the advanced weaponry, the soldiers' anxiety told Erik that even these defences might not be enough against the incoming Thunderwing attack.

Erik had never encountered these creatures personally, but from what he knew, they were powerful.

<They should have around 200 strength points…> But that wasn't the only problem. Thunderwings had a deadly brain crystal power, which allowed them to control and make lightning. Like Volkov could.

That made it clear how dangerous such power was because these attacks were… well… fast as lightning, and capable of frying anyone in seconds. Coupled with the speed these creatures had and the sheer number with which they were going to attack, no one knew if they could survive this encounter.

<Well… Whatever, this plays to my advantage. For once, at least, I don't have to do everything by myself.>

Though Erik still wanted a group of land thaids to attack the place. That would serve as a useful distraction for the enemy troops, who will have not only to focus on the sky but even on the ground.

After some time searching, Erik found what he believed was the command center. It was a sturdy building at the heart of the city. Its windows were reinforced, and its entrance was heavily guarded. Using his tiny size to his advantage, Erik went through a small crack in one of the upper windows, entering a spacious office on the top floor.

From there, he navigated the building, but no one seemed to be the leader of this place. However, in the end, Erik found him. The man was in another office room, pretty far from the entrance, and that was why Erik had trouble finding him. Within the room was a stern-faced man in an elaborate uniform standing behind a large desk. In front of him were two blackguards.

Maps and reports were strewn across the desk, and a holographic display flickered with real-time updates of the approaching threat.

<This guy is from Hin.> Erik thought that because of the man's accent and, of course, the uniform he wore.

"Give me a full report," the man said.

One of the blackguards stepped forward. "Sir, the Thunderwing flock is massive. Our latest estimates put their numbers at over a thousand. They're moving faster than we anticipated. ETA is now less than two hours."

"And our defences?"

"We've positioned all available anti-air artillery as you ordered, sir. The brain crystal enhancements should give us an edge, but against so many Thunderwings." He trailed off, the implication clear.

"What about the civilians?" the leader asked.

The first blackguard shifted uncomfortably. "Evacuation is... problematic, sir. There isn't enough time to move everyone to safety. We've begun arming those who can fight, but..."

The leader cut him off with a sharp gesture. "They do not want to fight for those they think of as invaders. Right, but they'll have to do their part if they don't want to die. "

Erik noticed the subtle tension between the leader and the blackguards. It was pretty wild how those blackguards, who are usually so full of themselves, actually listened to that guy from Hin.

<Weird…>

It was an unusual dynamic, given the blackguards' typical disdain for others.

<Maybe these are low-ranking members.> Erik didn't have the time, nor did he care about them to see if he was right.

"There's more, sir," the second blackguard said. "We've lost contact with the last supply convoy from the north. Given the increased Thaid activity in the sector, we fear they may have been attacked."

The leader's expression darkened. "Damn it all. Those supplies were meant for sector 34."

The man sighed. That was a setback, it was true, but it held no real importance to the current situation.

"How about the Mecha units?"

"We have ten fully operational, sir. Five more are undergoing last checks. They should be ready within the hour."

"It'll have to do. Position them along the eastern wall. That's likely to be the Thunderwings' primary approach vector."

After some talk, the leader dismissed the blackguards with a series of rapid-fire orders, his tone leaving no room for question or hesitation. The blackguards didn't like the tone, nor the orders, based on what Erik could read from their mind, but their masks made it impossible for the man to see it.

As the door closed behind them, he slumped into his chair.

"Fuck… Things are not going well. These Frantians bastards proved to be stronger than we assumed. I still don't understand why they didn't send those troops to Hin when they attacked us."

Of course, the man hadn't been informed about Erik and his abilities, so he didn't know that most of the current enemy forces were Erik's Chimaeric Demons.

Well… not that the blackguards were sure about it. They had inklings that these were troops he brought and not that they were his clones.