BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1306: An unexpected reunion (3)

"We’re not leaving Mur until we destroy the blackguards," Erik said, which made Gwen just frown more.

"Are you confident you can make it? The blackguards have more resources than us."

Erik’s expression darkened. "I would be if my clones weren’t mostly dead. Now I’m having problems given the lack of human help."

He paused. "I’m doing what I can, preparing new batches, but that’s not something that can be done quickly. However, the new clones will have an ability that allows them to increase the stamina and mana regeneration of those around them. Since all of them have the power, the effect is likely going to stack. This means that when they mature, they will be able to fight for as long as one wants, since we would have infinite mana. It’s just that I need time for them to hatch and mature."

"Yo, bro, what the fuck?!" Ben couldn’t believe Erik’s words.

"The first batches of eggs have already hatched, master," Rick said. freewēbnoveℓ.com

After Erik edited his power, the hatching and maturing period decreased. It took two weeks for the eggs to hatch and a month and a half to mature.

So, in a month, Erik was going to have a stronger army. If that would be enough to defeat the blackguards, no one knew. Most depended on their situation and how strong they became following whatever experiment they performed.

He nodded. "They will still take around a month and a half for them to mature. This is the main issue right now."

He moved to the center of the room, grabbing everyone’s attention.

"It is not my ability to win, in theory," Erik said. "It’s time. If the blackguards have more time, they’ll grow even stronger than me. Every day they’re expanding their research, making their soldiers stronger, and studying thaid biology."

The group exchanged concerned glances.

"We’ll support you however we can," Gwen said. Though her voice remained steady, it was clear she was worried. "The only problem is that we are not strong enough to give you direct help."

"I will accept any help you give me, regardless of how effective it might or might not be," Erik said. "Besides, did Becker tell you about my new ability?"

"He did." Floyd stepped forward. "We discussed this on our way here, and none of us wants to seem opportunistic, but you should consider granting us new powers. That way, we could offer you more meaningful support."

"I wouldn’t consider you opportunists for asking this. After all, it costs me nothing," Erik said.

"Anyway, Rick already got some powers he thinks would be well suited for you. However, there is something else you might help me with that should give a tangible effect in a short time."

"What?" Gwen asked.

"This building we’re in," he said, "is an old Silverline Corporation laboratory. One of those that created the thaids."

Martha gasped while Allan’s expression hardened. "Are you sure of this?"

"Absolutely," Erik said. "We’ve found documentation, research logs, and even a proto-thaid. All the thaids that the clones are currently clearing from the building were created here."

Over the next hour, Erik shared everything he had discovered during his time on the Mur continent. He told them about the Silverline Corporation’s extensive genetic experimentation, the catastrophic containment breaches, and the direct connection to the thaid outbreak that nearly destroyed humanity.

The group had already learned some details from Becker after Erik shared his intelligence following the defeat of the second division commander at the Law Gate.

Yet hearing the events described aloud, putting faces and voices to the historical events, struck them with the same impact as when they first learned about thaids when they were little.

He explained how the corporation’s abandoned facilities contained information about how the thaids were made and where, which might lead to where the blackguards were hiding.

And he told them about the problems: most of the documents had been destroyed, and whatever equipment they had here needed to be restored if they wanted to find out where the blackguards were hiding, which was what Erik wanted to find.

Mickey leaned forward. "I get it, but why are the blackguards hunting for this information? What would be the point in learning how the thaids had been created?"

"They are not searching for that. They are searching for a way to make the biological supercomputer again. That was their ultimate way to gain power." Erik said.

"I don’t know if what the second division commander said is true, about humanity going extinct if we didn’t get stronger or find a way to control mana, but they for sure believe it."

Erik went over to a table where they had collected several old storage devices. He picked up a small metal cube that could fit in his hand. It had the old Silverline company logo carved into it.

"We’ve found data storage devices and server rooms throughout the facility. What we need is to restore them to access the data." He set the cube down.

"That’s where Becker might come in. He needs to send as many specialists as possible here to restore them. Once I find where the labs are, I’m going to check them one by one."

"What are we going to do with all this information after we get it?" Floyd asked. "It seems risky to keep such dangerous data around."

"I’m going to give it all to Becker. I only need to know where Silverline’s other facilities are, since that’s what the Blackguards are looking for. Becker can handle all the data we find here and in the other places we clear out. I don’t care what happens to them."

[A surprisingly pragmatic approach.]

<I’m not interested in controlling humanity’s future. I just want to stop the blackguards.>

"So, what’s our immediate plan?" Gwen asked, bringing Erik back to the discussion.

"After we found this information," Erik said. "I will simply go search for them and kill them all. There is no fancy plan. At best, we will prepare some battle tactics once we have more information about the place they are hiding in. If we don’t find what we are searching for, I will simply go search for more, hoping to find a solid lead. Right now, I have two other bases’ locations, and it is there I will go search for more information. However, I know something else: that the Blackguards are likely in the Lorogia Region. The problem is, I don’t exactly know where, and given I have little time, I need to narrow down the search area before heading there."

Ben slammed his fist into his palm, grinning eagerly. "What are we waiting for, then?"

Erik didn’t return the enthusiasm.

[The First Division Commander will for sure join the fight once we are there.]

<That’s what I’m hoping.>

Martha was already contacting Becker. Her communication device chimed, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Becker wants to speak with you. I took notes of what you were saying and already sent a preliminary report."

Erik nodded. "Set it up." However, he turned to the others. "Get some rest. We’ll need to leave soon."

[Are we going to the bases the logs mentioned?]

<Yes. It makes no sense to wait. We might be able to find the information we need there. In the meantime, Becker and the clones will fix the data storage. They are bound to have something useful.>

Erik went to Martha. Her communication device’s main display flickered before Becker’s face appeared.

"Erik," Becker nodded in greeting. "I understand congratulations are in order for eliminating the thanatocoleoptera queen. You made humanity a huge service."

"Save the pleasantries," Erik said. "What do you think?"

Becker’s lips twitched in something approximating a smile. "Direct as always. Very well. I’ll see what I can do. I can for sure send around 100 people to you right now, but the others will need to come later, always in batches of 100 people."

"Didn’t you say we didn’t have personnel?" Gwen asked.

"Soldiers, not engineers. I still need to find someone willing to come here, though."

"We can ask the Chimaeric Demons from Mannard to come. There must be some of them available. We can just tell them about the situation. I bet their wish for vengeance is as strong as Erik’s."

"I told the clones to not come here, and for a good reason. They are keeping in check the situation on Mannard. They are basically the only reason no other countries waged war on you. If I didn’t send them, you wouldn’t have just faced Hin and Etrium."

"You still need to compromise. If we don’t get more people, we won’t have that much of a chance."