BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

The stars emerged across the darkening sky as Erik stood at the edge of the tiny island on which the duo spent the last few days.

The last hints of sunset faded over the horizon, leaving only starlight to illuminate the ocean before them, and that was exactly what Erik wanted and waited for.

"Ready?" Erik asked, glancing at the clone who had saved his life.

The clone nodded but was clearly scared.

The clone had witnessed the devastating power of Mur’s creatures firsthand. He had seen how the three-headed void ravagers had torn through their army, ripping off Erik’s arm and leg, shredding his wings, and leaving no survivors.

The memory of his brothers sacrificing themselves to allow their escape still haunted him. Even the weakest creatures on Mur were as powerful as elite predators from Mannard and knowing they would have to navigate these waters with just the two of them filled him with dread, but he wasn’t the only one.

Erik, too, was agitated after what had happened on the first day of their journey.

[How’s the weather looking?] Erik asked the biological computer, studying the star-filled sky above them.

[There will be clear conditions for the foreseeable future,] the system said. [No cloud cover expected. The stars and moonlight will provide excellent visibility.]

The system paused. [Unfortunately, that same visibility works against us. The clear sky means we’ll be more easily spotted. The moon will make our silhouette visible from the waters and will make your bodies even more visible from above.]

Erik grimaced at this news.

[We could wait for cloudier conditions,] the system said, [but there’s no guarantee when that might happen. And staying here much longer increases our risk of being found by the thaids.]

Erik looked out over the dark waters. The stars reflected off the waves, creating a beautiful but treacherous scene. Somewhere out there, creatures were hunting, and they might stumble upon them.

The clone shifted uncomfortably beside him, likely having the same thoughts. They had barely survived Mur’s predators—neither of them wanted to face another. Stay connected via NovelBin.Côm

Then, saying nothing, they both shapeshifted. Erik’s body became smaller as feathers grew from his skin. Soon, he had turned into a small black-feathered seagull, which made him hard to be spotted in the dark.

The clone’s transformation was even more dramatic. Its human form shrank until only a tiny bug remained, barely larger than a grain of sand.

With quick movements, it scurried between Erik’s feathers, finding a safe position where it could rest without risk of falling and where Erik’s feathers would keep him hidden.

<Are you done?> Erik asked through their mental link.

<Yes, Master. I’m ready.>

With a nod, Erik focused his mana, channeling it through his Phantom Veil brain crystal power. His form shimmered for a moment before fading from view, not leaving even a shadow to mark his presence.

The invisibility extended to the clone hidden within his feathers, not because he turned invisible, but because the feathers shielded him from everything. Even if it didn’t, the clone was too small to be seen by the naked eye, and Erik was going to fly at fast speed, meaning that, even if it was visible, nothing would have the time to see him.

Being invisible helped, but it wasn’t a perfect solution. The thaids could still find them through smell, brain crystal powers, or by feeling the movement of air around them.

<Damn, the dumbest thing would be for us to be found by chance!>

Still, not being seen was an enormous advantage, and they needed every bit of help they could get.

<I’m moving now,> Erik said.

Those words made the clone’s heart race faster. Leaving their sanctuary, the tiny island that had sheltered them these past days, meant venturing into unknown dangers.

The island had been their safe haven, where they hid and recovered. But now it was time to leave this shelter behind and face the dangerous open waters and sky ahead. The clone kept his worries to himself, though—he didn’t want to add to Erik’s stress.

Erik opened his wings and caught the night air. With a powerful thrust, he launched himself skyward, leaving behind the small grove of fruit trees that had sustained them.

As Erik flew higher, he looked back at the island, getting smaller below him. It was disappearing into the darkness. It quickly became just another dark spot on the ocean.

Through their mental connection, he felt the clone’s anxiety increase as they went farther from it, but he said nothing. However, the clone’s feeling reached a melting pot, and he voiced his heaviest worry.

<If we reach Mur… what... What do we do then?>

Erik’s mental voice softened, taking on a gentle, almost paternal tone. He tried to send reassuring and calming thoughts to the clone, trying to make him stop thinking too much. He understood the clone’s fears—they were his own as well—but they needed to be stronger, and apparently, he was the one who had to start being as such.

<First, we need a shelter. Somewhere hidden, defensible. A place where we can fully recover and plan our next moves. It doesn’t need to be big, at least not for us two.>

<Will you make more of us, Master?> The clone said, hoping Erik would make a new army.

<Some,> Erik said. <But not as many as before. We don’t have the luxury of time—the blackguards have already had too much of it. Whatever they’re searching for in the Lorogia Region, or whatever they are doing inside their labs, we need to stop them before they complete their goal.>

That disappointed the clone. Not making many clones, in his opinion, was going to be a mistake. More clones meant more eyes to watch their surroundings and more people during a fight.

However, he also knew that to have more clones meant they would have to wait for a while before they would hatch, and some more until they matured, and if they remained idle for who knew how much time, nothing would ensure the blackguards wouldn’t have a technological breakthrough that would make this whole expedition a failure. They had to strike fast and as soon as possible.

The problem was that being on Mur, hoping to survive with just the two of them, was akin to suicide. The clone still hoped Erik would change his mind.

<But Master, just the two of us... against all of them? That is even without considering the Thaids that would be on our way.>

<A small force might work better than a large army,> Erik said. <Yes, it would make it harder to find the blackguards, but we actually do not need to kill them all right now. What we need to do is to stop whatever the blackguards are doing. Destroy their laboratories; lure Thaids to their position. There are many ways to take care of them with just the two of us, and this is just the worst-case scenario. Once we are certain we have time, we can make more clones. >

Erik paused. <Everything will depend on what we find on Mur. If conditions are favorable, we might be able to create more clones. However, understand that this would mean you’d need to stay behind to protect and nurture them until they mature while I search for the blackguards alone. Your choice.>

The clone remained silent. The endless ocean spread out beneath them. From time to time, something moved in the waters below, making both Erik and the clone shiver. Hidden safely in Erik’s feathers, the clone made small adjustments to stay comfortable, or better, hidden.

<What about Amber and the others? Shouldn’t we search for them and my brothers who went with them?>

Erik’s flight pattern remained perfectly steady as his companions were mentioned, his wings cutting through the air without hesitation.

In his mind, though, thoughts of concern mixed with a strong sense of resolve, and the clone sensed them. He knew exactly what needed to be done, even as worry for his friends gnawed at him.

<Once we have a secure base, finding them becomes our priority before leaving. If they made it to Mur...> He left the thought unfinished, not wanting to consider the alternative.

<They might have made it,> the clone said. <I think we gave them enough time to flee, and we weren’t even that far from Mur. Considering they were still in Wyvern form, it shouldn’t have taken them much time, given how big their wingspan was.>

<Yes, and June was with them. He’s resourceful, and they had ten thousand of your brothers for protection. But I’d be naïve to claim they survived for certain. This is Mur—the Thaids here are far more dangerous than on Mannard, as you’ve seen yourself.>

Unease spread.

"We’ll find them," the clone said through their mental link, trying to project confidence despite the uncertainty in his thoughts. His tiny form shifted slightly among Erik’s feathers as he spoke.

"First, we need to survive this flight," Erik said, his wings cutting through the cold night air. "Then we will see what Mur has in store for us..."