BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM C.1054: Reaching the Shores (2)

Soon, the ship's engines rumbled to life, and it moved away from the aera. Erik felt a twinge of unease as he watched it go.

That wasn't their only mean to go back to Frant unnoticed. But for sure, it was the most

comfortable. He could fly or swim with the Chimaeric Demons, but even flying didn't make the trip that shorter.

However, it wasn't like he had another choice. The ship was basically a giveaway to his position, and it couldn't stay there.

That wasn't even the most pressing concern. The ship would also attract thaids, so used as they were about the human presence on it, and if they spotted them on land, it might create trouble.

Since he knew that was a necessary step to take, he told the clones to go. June was beside Erik. He knew what was going on in his master's mind.

"It was the right choice, master," June said.

Erik nodded. "You're right."

He paused for a second. "Now, let's wait for the scouting team."

Over the next few hours, they waited. It didn't take that much before the Chimaeric Demons came back. They found a good place where to set camp, one that would make them virtually invisible if Erik used his Plant Master brain crystal power.

Then, the six clones, and the four human moved their supplies into the jungle.

Erik could use the Chimaeric Demons to do the job, but since there were not enough of them to move everything in a short time, he decided to help them.

Erik wanted to stay close to the shore for some time. He didn't really know what to expect from the blackguards here, and even less on Mur. So, he planned to do several things.

The first was to collect information. He clearly had to learn what the Blackguards knew, and to do that, he needed to reach an enemy base. Of course, he also needed to fully scout the surrounding area. The last thing he wanted was for a horde of thaids roaming around and stumbling on his camp.

The second was to train. Everyone needed this, including the Chimaeric demons. They could grow, and not taking advantage of that fact was pretty stupid if they all went to Mur.

Third, he needed a way to make neural links faster. That meant he needed the biological supercomputer to work on a new technique or improving the one he already had.

Most likely, it would just increase the number of brain crystals he could make neural links for at the same time, but Erik also needed for something that would make training faster.

He also needed to craft brain stimulating serums. That would clearly make training much faster. He would also need to find some weapons for Mira, Amber, and Emily.

While Amber didn't have that many problems fighting with it, Emily and Mira had. Emily's power was powerful, but unsuited to fight, while Mira's, albeit being a good one for fighting and assassination, wasn't powerful at all.

That would last at least until the eggs started hatching. At that point, he could delegate to his clones, and he could go establish a foothold in Hin's capital, and find a way to reach the Blackguards' main base. Erik was cautious, but it was this cautiousness that kept him alive for so long.

While in the forest, the Chimaeric Demons led the group to a small hill overseeing the adjacent valley. It was the perfect spot to set a base because they would be able to see the enemy approaching, where they wouldn't be easily spotted, and where they could build fortifications easily.

<Damn, I should really think of going into construction work...>

Without wasting time, Erik got to work. He used his Plant Master brain crystal power to create dense barriers of vegetation along the way, leading to their new base and providing cover from any aerial patrols.

It worked also as a sort of road, but only those who knew it would be able to see that the vegetation was leading them somewhere. That partially ended when they reached the spot, but Erik wanted to make the surrounding vegetation denser, so that seeing through it would be hard, or outright impossible. Then he shaped the plants into shelters.

Using trees as the main materials, making their branches grow, expand, and enlarge, and using their leaves to create living insulation.

These were going to play an important role in the future months, so Erik wanted them to be as sturdy and comfortable as possible.

Massive leaves formed roofs, while thick vines and branches wove themselves into walls. It wasn't luxurious, but it would keep them dry and hidden, and there was everything they needed in terms of furniture.

Makeshift crates, beds, and bathrooms. The others even helped to create the kitchen, but that required stones, because wood was obviously flammable.

Erik created separate structures for their living quarters, storage for the crates, and a larger central area that could serve as a meeting space and command center.

But there was much more to do. 20000 Chimaeric Demons was a military division, and they needed a lot of space, so before they hatched, he had to create the buildings and the defenses.

That wasn't the only problem, because while he had 20000 Chimaeric Demons' eggs, he was going to stay here for a while, and he would make more.

<I will go to Mur with at least 100000 Chimaeric Demons... that's for sure.>

...

--

...

As night fell, they allowed themselves to rest. Sitting around a concealed fire, Erik looked at his companions.

<Luckily we brought everything here in a day...> The others took care of that while Erik made accommodations for everyone.

<Damn... I'm spent.>

Of course, he created stuff all day long. He basically had no mana anymore to spend. Everyone was tired, even the Chimaeric Demons, but there was a sense of accomplishment in their eyes. They had made it to Hin, against all odds, and they established a foothold in a day.

It was pretty impressive.

"We did it," Emily said. "We actually made it to Hin."

Amber nodded. She was smiling brightly. "It still doesn't feel quite real. After everything we went through at sea."

"Don't forget that Hin is just the beginning. Mur will be a much more dreadful challenge,"

Mira said.

"You're right."

Even Erik was smiling. He was happy, because finally, this whole situation, the blackguards' charade, it was going to end, and the war with it.

"We've accomplished something incredible considering our numbers and preparation. But as Mira said, it's clear we need to prepare for the Mur continent."

"We will keep training," Amber said. Erik paused.

"This must be true for you, too," Erik said to the Chimaeric Demons.

"Yes, Master."

"Good. Once everything will be settled around these parts, I will start working on a few things

that will benefit all of us, but I need your cooperation."

Erik and the others started feeling apprehension. They were in enemy territory now, surrounded by unknown dangers. But they were also closer than ever to the blackguards' most

important base.

"What were you thinking?" Mira asked.

"Well... A new Neural Link training technique, Brain and body stimulating serums for all of

us..."

"Ah... right. We left that task to Jabir, but since we arrived in Frant, I basically had no way to use them," Mira said.

"Right... The problem is that I need you to help me find what I need to do this. The second goal is impossible if we don't find a way to make the serums. The Chimaeric Demons know how to do them too, so they will also help with the production. We need to make enough for the new batches of Chimaeric Demons. We will stay here for a while, at least until I feel we got

a sizable army on our side."

"Isn't this going to be a little overkill?" One of the Chimaeric Demons said.

"Overkill?" There was a brief pause. "No. Not at all. You know why."

The conversation went on, with Erik explaining what he had in mind in details. Then everyone went to bed. That night, while everyone else was asleep, Erik stood at the edge of their camp, looking at the dark jungle sprawling below the hill where the group made camp.

He knew that somewhere far beyond the jungle, after having crossed another sea, he would finally find the place he couldn't wait to go to. Maynard Island, where the Blackguards had

their base.

<Will I finally have answers about the biological supercomputer? About how the blackguards knew about it? About the reason they are going to Mur?>

The questions got suffocated by the heavy feeling of responsibility on his shoulders. He thought about the nearly 20,000 Chimaeric Demon eggs, about Mira, Amber, and Emily sleeping nearby, and about June and the other Chimaeric Demons keeping watch. All of them were depending on him. So were many people back in Frant.

Erik sighed and walked back to his shelter. As he went inside, he smelled the fresh plants around him. He also made flowers sprout, which Emily, Amber, and Mira appreciated, so the air was pleasant and flowery. The three women were sleeping together on the flower and

leaves bed he made.

<Tomorrow will be a tough day.>

He then laid on one of the beds, the three women left empty. He was too tired and fell asleep soon after he got his clothes off.