BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1291: The bugs (17)

The air was thin and hot, still recovering from the oxygen-consuming fireball. As Erik had predicted, the inside of the cave was indeed filled with bug-like thaids, but they were in distress.

The larger Guard bugs stumbled drunkenly, while the worker bugs lay on their backs, legs twitching helplessly.

Even the toughest thaids were having trouble staying awake since there was little air to breathe.

However, with the earth dome not completely airtight, fresh air was slowly flowing back into the cave.

The bugs closer to the entrance were already recovering. They couldn't allow that.

"Kill them before they recover," Erik said, drawing his weapon to preserve his mana. "Start with the leaders."

They were the most problematic of the bunch, since they could coordinate the others; that meant they were their main target.

The team got to work. The Chimaeric Demons led the attack, mainly using weapons to fight the bugs and using Vibration Burst whenever they needed mana. They smashed through the bugs' hard shells and pulled them apart.

It was a scene out of a slasher movie.

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

Meanwhile, Mira found a suitable spot on a rock to shoot from. Emily did the same. Both of them hit the bugs in their weak spots, like their joints and eyes.

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For Emily, it was relatively simple since she was much more skilled than Mira in long range, but thanks to her brain crystal power, the latter didn't have particular problems killing the bugs, either.

As for Emily, since she had much more mana than Mira, her shots were particularly nasty. The mana bullets were powerful enough to break through the bugs' hard shells, leaving burning holes behind and going forward until enough bugs' bodies dissipated the mana composing the bullets.

June partially shapeshifted and prevented the bugs, who had already regained consciousness from approaching the two women. However, he had to be careful since he wasn't that strong.

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

Amber fought with her daggers but avoided using her fire dagger's power to preserve the cave's limited oxygen supply.

She remained close to the sealed entrance, where the air was fresher. Conserving her mana for later, she relied on pure blade work.

Erik, instead, was the one making the most damage, using his Flyssa to kill swaths of bugs with a few shots.

Erik fought using the Crypt of the Desert style Master Nieminen taught him. His movements were as precise as a scorpion's strike.

Like a stone pillar in a sandstorm, he remained in one spot, clearly in the middle of the monster-infested cave. The others barely saw his upper body move while attacking.

A huge warrior bug-like thaid attacked him, but it was too weak. Erik mercilessly swung his blade horizontally, bisecting the creature and killing it instantly. Then he sent a hail to the clones' position and killed even more bugs.

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

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

[mana successfully absorbed, starting the conversion procedure.]

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

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

[Operarius Thanatocoleoptera killed: mana-absorbing process starting.]

…

…

…

The battle was short but intense. Within minutes, the cave floor was littered with the bugs' bodies; the bugs' blood equivalent seeped into the stones' depressions.

The few survivors retreated deeper into the various tunnels on the sides of the cave, presumably to warn the queen of the intrusion.

"Form up," Erik said once the immediate threat was neutralized. "We need to go deeper before reinforcements arrive."

The group gathered around him, checking weapons and taking stock of their condition. Aside from minor scratches and the expected fatigue, everyone was unharmed.

"The queen will know we're here soon," Erik said. "It means we must get the hell out of this cave, since it's too small to fight."

He paused.

"Which way do we go?" Erik asked, gesturing to the three tunnels branching off from the chamber they were in.

"Right tunnel," Mira said.

All but Erik knew the way. Mira turned to the Chimaeric Demons. "Guys, scout ahead, but don't go far. We need to know if the path is clear. If it isn't, come back and tell us," Mira said.

"I will block the tunnels from where they are coming if you let me know in advance," Erik said.

The Chimaeric Demons nodded and transformed into small, bat-like creatures. They darted down the tunnels.

While they waited, Erik reinforced the earth dome at the entrance. He added layers of stone and compacted the structure, making it more difficult for the bugs outside to break through.

Even so, they could hear the constant scratching and clicking as hundreds of creatures worked to get past the barrier.

The clones returned moments later. "The tunnels seem to be clear."

"Then let's go. We have no time to waste."