BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1226: Mur’s Shores (2)

Erik and his clone moved along the beach. They kept their small forms as they walked. They stopped often to look around, checking the sky above them, the water behind, and the forest ahead. They wanted to make sure no Thaids could see them and that no dangerous creatures were following them.

The enormous trees grew closer as they moved forward.

<Keep your eyes on the trees,> Erik said through Instability’s mind link. <Those massive trunks might be covering some thaids.>

<Yes, master,> the clone said, its tiny form shifting nervously among Erik’s feathers, but his eyes never leaving the trees around and often going from one to another.

<Do you think we will be safe here, Master?>

<We won’t know until we get deeper into the forest,> Erik said. <We have been in similar situations countless times. Even if we really risk our lives, it won’t be different from the hundreds of times we did on Mur when we were weaker.>

Erik spoke in plural because although he alone had experienced these events, the clone shared his memories as if they were its own. The clone felt like it had lived through those harrowing experiences exactly like Erik, which was why the man used inclusive language—he didn’t want the clone to feel left out. Building the clone’s confidence was crucial, as any hesitation could make their dangerous situation on Mur even more precarious.

Chimaeric Demons typically kept his same cold demeanor. Yet since the attack from the three-headed void ravagers, the clone had become uncharacteristically fearful.

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Erik had already seen the memories from the clone thanks to Instability, but not having lived them in person since he was unconscious made everything feel as if it was fake. Yet, for the clone, those moments must have been dreadful.

<I wonder if I would have behaved the same if I had been awake during the battle…> Erik tried not to think about that, as it wouldn’t help for what was to come.

The duo moved forward quietly. Erik, in his small bird form, flew so lightly that his claws barely left marks in the sand when he landed.

He avoided landing on rocks or other elevated spots, even if it would give him the height advantage, and that was because he didn’t know what was hiding beneath the rocks and among the vegetation sparsely growing close to the sand, and he wasn’t keen to know.

His clone nestled motionless in his feathers as they moved together, but aside from looking around, it did nothing. They stopped every few steps to check for any strange noises that didn’t match the sounds of the beach.

With each step, they got closer to the immense trees and farther from the shores. The trees were so big that Erik could easily see the deep lines and patterns in their bark, which would make perfect hiding spots when they got there.

The problem was that they had to make sure that there were no tenants among the trees before they could claim them as their own. Yet Erik was immediately jolted out of his thoughts when he felt the mana prickling at his skin.

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<The mana concentration is incredible,> the clone said, voicing exactly what Erik was thinking. <I’ve felt nothing like it, even in the densest forests back home.>

<That’s what worries me. Strong mana means strong thaids.>

It wasn’t all bad. All that mana meant that brain crystal powers were easier to use, and were more effective, and that the regeneration rate of the ethereal substance was higher. <But it also means my Verdant Architect power will be more effective. We can use that.>

<To build a shelter?>

<More than a shelter. With this much ambient mana, we might be able to create something that could actually keep us safe. These trees have grown resistant to Mur’s dangers—we can use that to our advantage.>

Erik studied the gigantic claw marks etched into the trees. From their angle and depth, the beast must have struck with tremendous force during combat, yet missed whatever it was attacking.

That meant that not all thaids were strong enough to destroy these massive trees. The deep claw marks showed some creatures had tried and failed to break through the thick bark, suggesting that the trees were strong and resistant enough to stand against even the powerful predators of Mur.

This gave Erik hope—if these ancient trees could withstand attacks from most thaids, they would make excellent material for their shelter, and Verdant Architect would make it even better than they were supposed to be considering only the wood from the colossal trees.

<I’m not saying they will be impregnable fortresses.> Erik said, <But at least it will be better than nothing.>

The clone nodded. <All right then, master. Do as you see fit.>

<Let’s move - we’re too exposed out here.>

Finally reaching the tree line, Erik channeled his mana into Verdant Architect. The power flowed from him into the nearest massive tree, connecting with its roots. These were as thick as city walls, stretching deep into the mana-rich soil of Mur.

Erik used his mind to explore the tree roots underground and the branches above.

<This tree is clear,> Erik said. <There are no thaids…>

The clone kept looking at their surroundings. Based on what he saw, there was nothing around at least 100 meters.

<We should check better, Master.> Erik nodded, and he did exactly that. He went from tree to tree and did the same, making sure nothing dangerous was hiding inside, above, or below each of the trees.

<Thaids might come here later,> the clone said. It meant that even if they were safe for now, they wouldn’t be forever.

<Yes, but we will have our shelter by that time, and with it fortified positions and traps.>

Erik then went to a group of large trees that looked promising to build a hideout. Using his powers, he made the roots of several of them bend and grow together. The roots formed walls and a ceiling while moving the dirt away to create a large room underground.

Then he created separate chambers for sleeping, storage, and living quarters. The wood hardened as it grew, becoming as solid as stone while maintaining its connection to the trees above.

Erik thought about changing the material, making the walls, but that would have meant losing the trees’ endurance.

Besides, it would quickly kill the tree and would be pointless for many reasons, especially because those trees were very strong and sturdy, and they kept the place well insulated. He created hidden ventilation shafts, disguising them as natural hollows in the tree’s structure.

<This way, if anyone searches the area, they’ll only sense a living tree,> Erik said to his clone through their link. <The mana signature will be completely natural.>

<Let’s just hope there aren’t tree-eating thaids.>

<Let’s hope,> Erik said.

Layer by layer, the underground base took shape. Erik reinforced the walls with multiple layers of root wood, ensuring they could withstand even the weight of massive thaids walking overhead.

The clone stared as Erik built their hideout from the tree roots. From the outside, nothing could be seen. Erik also created the entrance into one of the trees. There was a door, but one small enough that thaids would not notice that and neither destroy it.

<We are done,> Erik said. <Let’s go in; we need to rest.>

<Yes, master.>

Erik and his clone walked to the small door in the tree. It was well-hidden among the natural patterns of the bark, barely visible unless you knew where to look. They slipped inside, finding themselves in a narrow passage that spiraled down into the earth thanks to a staircase.

The walls of the passage were smooth and well illuminated. Erik sensed there were some glowing fungi underground and living in some of the largest spaces inside the tree, so he spread them after having made sure they were not toxic.

The underground lights provided constant illumination while remaining dim enough to allow comfortable sleep.

At the bottom of the spiral staircase, they entered their underground base. The main room opened up before them, spacious despite being completely hidden beneath the forest floor.

Erik had also furnished the space, though minimally. Bed frames grew from the floor in one chamber. The clone went to one of them and laid down, not seeming to mind the lack of mattress or bedding.

<This thing is surprisingly comfortable,> the clone said, settling into the frame. <And warm too.>

<The living wood keeps heat well, apparently. I would need to study them some more to see what they can do. Still, we should look for materials to make proper bedding soon.>

The clone remained silent for a while.

<What now, Master?>

The silence went on for some seconds.

<I will go searching for the others,> Erik said. <I’m the only one with invisibility, and I need you to keep an eye on the base.>

The clone gulped. <Are you sure, master? This place is dangerous. What if you die? I could go.>

<No.> Erik’s eyes were firm.

<I need to understand how powerful the thaids here are. You don’t have analysis and would be useless from this point of view. The sooner I understand how the danger level here is, the better it will be.>