BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

The open area offered little cover besides some fallen trees that could shield him from their shadow-based attacks. Their ability to create darkness worried him most—if he got trapped in it, escape would be nearly impossible.

The clearing's size also meant that if any creature survived his initial attack, they could surround him. And with their enhanced strength, even a glancing blow could prove fatal.

The lack of trees also meant he had no high ground advantage, forcing him to rely solely on his ranged attacks. If his mana reserves depleted before eliminating all threats, he would be left exposed in the middle of the clearing with nowhere to retreat.

Sure, Erik could fly, but not knowing exactly what those guys could do with their brain crystal powers was still problematic.

Then he made enough wind blades to attack. <Now, I need to go somewhere where I'm unobstructed. Let's hope everything goes as it should.>

The monsters could feel something was wrong. They moved their heads around nervously as they sensed Erik's wind blades through the mana in the air. The powerful energy spread out like ripples in water, and the creatures could feel it from far away.

The Kraevyx's eyes widened in alarm as their instincts screamed of imminent death. Despite their bulk, the herd scattered with surprising speed, smashing through the vegetation in a desperate bid for survival.

The creatures stampeded, making the ground quake—the tremors got worse due to their sheer numbers.

"Well," Erik said with a grin, "I guess you could say this is going to be a mass-acre!" He winced at his own joke. "Though I suppose dark humor isn't everyone's slice of life."

[That was a terrible pun, Erik. Your sense of humor is as sharp as a... well, never mind. Let's focus on the task at hand.]

The Kraevyxs maintained their tight herd formation even in panic. Their aggressive nature showed as some turned to face the threat, while the main group charged toward the treeline with the thundering force of their combined mass.

Erik released his hold on the gathered power, and dozens of wind blades sliced through the air like invisible scythes, each one locked onto its target.

The first wind blade struck a fleeing Kraevyx in the neck, cleanly severing it from its body.

The enormous creature stumbled a few steps forward and fell dead to the ground. As its body slid through the grass, it left a trail of blood behind. It died instantly, without even seeing what killed it.

[Hostile creature killed: Mana absorbing process starting.]

[0%...1%...5%...30%...70%...100%]

[Mana successfully absorbed, starting converting procedure.]

[3...2...1...0]

[Mana successfully absorbed into experience. 2,206,953,223.84 experience points awarded to the host.]

More blades found their marks. One Kraevyx reared up as a blade carved through its chest, dark blood spraying in an arc. Another blade split a beast from snout to tail, its halves falling apart as it collapsed.

The herd erupted into chaos. Roars of pain and confusion filled the clearing as more wind blades found their marks.

Scales and blood scattered through the air as the monsters crashed to the ground in succession, their dying growls mixing with the screeches the wind blades made as they cut through the air.

[Mana successfully absorbed into experience. 2,206,953,223.84 experience points awarded to the host.]

[Mana successfully absorbed into experience. 2,206,953,223.84 experience points awarded to the host.]

[Mana successfully absorbed into experience. 2,206,953,223.84 experience points awarded to the host.]

Some creatures tried to defend themselves, using their powers to create a shroud that would make it impossible for the attacker to hit them.

But Erik had the system and could also read the creature's panicked minds, meaning that even if he could not see them, he could still perceive them. His attacks didn't miss. Erik's blades pierced through the darkness as if it were mist.

More monsters fell to the ground, which became slippery.

A few of the faster Kraevyxes nearly reached the treeline before the blades caught them. They tumbled and skidded through the grass, leaving deep furrows in the earth.

Erik unleashed a last volley of wind blades. Despite the creatures' shadows, he didn't miss a target. The remaining Kraevyx collapsed instantly, their bodies no match for his attack.

[LEVEL UP.]

Within seconds, the clearing looked like a butcher's chopping board after a busy day. Blood soaked the grass, and dead Kraevyx creatures lay everywhere, scattered like leftover cuts of meat.

When everything went silent, Erik looked at what remained of the battle from his hiding spot. Fifty huge creature bodies were spread across the ground, their scales no longer shining.

Thanks to his new amount of mana, his attacks had been too strong for the creatures to defend against. The clearing now looked horrible, with dead bodies everywhere in the morning light.

This part of the forest would be safer now. Erik started burning the bodies he didn't want to keep, collected the blood and brain crystals, and seized a lot of meat.

Erik surveyed the aftermath, noting which bodies would be useful for meat and which could serve as fertilizer. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, a dangerous beacon to other predators in the area.

<Now I better absorb the new powers and merge them with the clones… I need to work quickly before scavengers arrive,> Erik thought, moving toward the nearest fallen Kraevyx.

Time was precious—he had to harvest what he needed and dispose of the rest before the smell of death drew unwanted attention from Mur's countless dangers.

Erik kneeled beside the nearest Kraevyx corpse. He pulled a glass vial from his backpack, uncorked it with his teeth, and pressed it against the gash in the creature's neck.

The dark blood flowed slowly into the container, its viscous consistency making it drip like syrup. Erik watched as the vial filled to the brim with the metallic-smelling liquid. He then pressed the cork into place and secured the full vial in a padded section of his pack.

Next came the brain crystal. Erik plunged his hand into the Kraevyx's skull, grimacing as his fingers closed around a shard the size of his fist.

"Ugh, I hate this part," Erik said, suppressing a shudder. "Talk about getting inside someone's head. Though I suppose that's literally what I'm doing."

He shook his hand, trying to rid himself of the unsettling feeling. "Next time, I should bring gloves. Or better yet, delegate this lovely task to one of my clones."

Erik wiped the brain crystal clean and stored it alongside the others. He collected two of them.

Meat came last. Erik carved strips of muscle from the haunches. He wrapped the meat in waxed cloth. The stench of blood grew thicker, clinging to his clothes and spreading in the surroundings.

[Hey Erik, you need to move fast here. I'm picking up a lot of blood scent that's going to attract Thaids any minute now. Don't forget to burn those bodies. I know it'll stink for a bit, but it's better than having a thaid crash your party.]

A distant screech tore through the forest's uneasy quiet—a high-pitched, metallic sound that echoed between the trees and made the leaves tremble.

<Damn, you had to jinx it, right?>

The system remained quiet, its usual stream of calculations and commentary paused, as if processing the situation.

Erik froze, a strip of meat halfway to his pack. Another screech answered, closer this time—guttural, hungry.

The underbrush rustled as something heavy shifted beyond the tree line. Erik could do nothing but curse under his breath.

Flames burst from his fingertips, engulfing the Kraevyx corpses. Though he incinerated most of the bodies, a few remained untouched.

Too slow.

The ground trembled as footsteps, or whatever they were, closed in. Erik abandoned the burning and dove behind a tree. He pressed his back against the wood, breath shallow, and peered through a crack in the bark.

Three massive shapes emerged from the forest.

The new creatures were huge—twice the size of the Kraevyxs. Their bodies were covered in layers of bone plates like armor.

They looked like giant boars with long tusks and white eyes. Erik watched them and realized they were scavengers, drawn here by the smell of blood.

One of these monsters walked over to a Kraevyx body that was still burning. It stepped on the dead creature's head, crushing it with a loud crack.

Then it bent down and started eating the corpse. The other two monsters spread out, sniffing the ground where Erik had been standing just minutes ago.

The lead scavenger froze in place, its muscles tensing beneath the bone plates. Its wide nostrils twitched, taking in deep sniffs of the air.

The creature's head swiveled toward Erik's position, its clouded white eyes focusing on his exact location.

"Shit."

Erik got ready to fight, but then a loud roar came from the trees on the other side. The scavengers turned around as a new creature burst into the clearing.

[Get the fuck out of here!]

<You don't have to tell me…>

Erik didn't wait. He slipped from his hiding spot, backpack clutched tight, and melted into the forest shadows.

He and the clone would eat well tonight. But the forest? It was still starving.