BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Chapter 1063:  Harder than usual mission (1)

Erik and June crouched behind the foliage. The secret entrance was in front of them. June, having taken the form of a tiny fly, perched on a nearby twig to observe the situation and give Erik feedback about the surroundings and to inform him of whatever was going on and that he couldn't see.

<I'm going.> Erik said.

<Yes, Master.> June still wasn't convinced of everything, and for sure he wasn't happy about the fact he couldn't help his master. Yet, it wasn't like there was something he could do, so he swallowed his pride.

Erik activated his Phantom Veil brain crystal power and turned invisible. Despite the system's reassurance about the fact he wouldn't be seen, he wasn't taking any chances and used the bushes and shadows as additional cover.

As he approached the entrance, there were two major concerns on his mind. The first was how to open the door.

If guards were stationed directly in front of it, his options would be limited unless he made something about it. He could kill them, but that would defeat the whole point of staying hidden. It was highly improbable no one found out about the kill, especially because the guards had to head back to the base for reports, changes of shift, and so on.

That also meant there was no way to replace the guards with a Chimaeric Demon. Not that Erik had them available. The second issue was more complex and far-reaching. Erik knew the Blackguards thought he had a skilled hacker on his side, one good enough that he could enter most systems.

Though they didn't know how good it was and how fast it could act, and for sure, based on what the enemy shared on their networks, they didn't know Erik already planted spy viruses on them and that they were under surveillance. Of course, they weren't so stupid as to think that couldn't happen, and that was exactly what worried Erik.

This likely prompted them to adapt their communication methods. They did it in the past already, and if they suspected he was already on Hin, they might have reverted to more primitive, analogical forms of information sharing—verbal orders, handwritten notes, or other methods that would be impossible to intercept with the biological supercomputer.

This would complicate his mission, because it might force him to stay within the base for an extended period. An hour, a day, a week... Erik told June that, and he expected the clone to report it to the others. Which was another problem itself.

Since things didn't usually go like Erik wanted, and those problems loved to pile at his feet, there was another one he had to consider. If they really reverted to this kind of information sharing, he would have no way to extract information with his Instability brain crystal power because he would not be able to interact with the others unless he showed himself or if he shapeshifted into humans.

However, his Beastwalker brain crystal power was limited to animal transformations, and he couldn't even use it because of the Veritas Lenses. Not that it would make sense to turn into a beast.

This meant he would need to be creative to make his targets think about the information he needed without arousing suspicion, and that further required time.

<Damn…>

<Damn…>

As Erik neared the tunnel entrance, he spotted a guard standing at watch. The man's back was turned toward the entrance, his gaze on the forest. Erik was on the other side of the entrance, behind it, to be precise, hiding behind the bushes despite his invisibility.

Erik slipped past the guy easily. He was too fast, and his strength allowed him to move a lot with few steps. He then entered the underground tunnel.

The tunnel was long and winding. It led into the fortress many kilometers away, and it looked like it also went deep into the earth. At first, Erik couldn't see anything in the darkness. Hin most likely didn't illuminate the initial part of the tunnel because it would help keep it hidden more easily. But as he walked, lights started spacing out along the way. But they were not strong. On the contrary, they were barely enough to allow the guards to not trip.

Security within the tunnel was also there, but not as overwhelming as one might have assumed.

<I guess it is because they wanted to keep this place's existence a secret.>

And he was right.

Guards were placed every 200 meters along the tunnel, meaning there were five every kilometer. The tunnel was three to four kilometers long, meaning there were at best 20 guards if they didn't place a cluster of them in front of the door. <Somehow I'm sure I will be that lucky.>

But it wasn't like he couldn't expect that. This place was basically the only weakness the fortress had. Regardless of the circumstance, they couldn't see Erik. His invisibility and the dim lighting made it easy for him to sneak past them without being noticed.

After walking for what seemed like a long time, Erik reached the end of the tunnel. He saw an enormous stone wall in front of him, which was clearly part of the fortress. The edges, though, were deep within the bare earth. <It looks like part of the fortress had been built underground.> The wall looked strong, and the barrier could be seen shimmering in front of it. A guard was standing there, watching the door close.

<At least they aren't doing a party here... If there were too many people, things would be much more complicated.> Erik stopped to think. He couldn't fight the guard. Knocking out or killing him would set off alarms, regardless, and he didn't know if this guy had to report to the others. He might be required to do so at the end of the day, but it could be possible he had to do it every hour or a couple of minutes. <Killing is out of the question, but even knocking the guy out is…> The guard would wake up, in the end, and warn everyone. However, observing the closed door, or better, the wall, he noticed something, and that gave him an idea.

There were many cracks in the stone, and they were big enough for something, albeit small, to pass through it.

<Let's deactivate this part of the barrier... System… Do your job.>

The biological supercomputer immediately connected to the base's network. It was close enough for the AI to be able to do that. The barrier, or at least a part of it, flickered out. Now Erik had a way to access the other side.

Erik used his Plant Master brain crystal power to make tiny plant roots grow and then seep into the small cracks along the wall's surface. These roots slowly spread along the stone, then went through the small spaces. Erik guided them to grow deeper into the wall.

Small pebbles and dust came out of the cracks where the roots went through, making some noise. But the guard didn't seem to notice.

<Good. Stay blissful as you are…>

At some point, he felt the roots break through to the other side of the wall. There was no resistance anymore, so they had to be on the other side.

<Great!>

But the guard was still a problem. Erik needed to get rid of him somehow. Then he had an idea.

<Instability might work…>

Erik channeled more mana and started affecting the minds of the guards around. What he wanted to do was to make the guard leave, but he couldn't make only him do it.

He started with the closest guard, making him feel bored. <If I'm lucky, he will leave the area on his own accord. But I need to make him so bored he will pray to get the hell out of here…>

At first, the effects were minor—guards moved a little, yawned, or checked the time.

As more time passed, Erik's power had a stronger effect. The guard right in front of him moved around more, looking all over the tunnel restlessly. At some point, the guard became unable to stay still and silent anymore.

"This is crazy," the guard said, his voice echoing a bit in the tunnel, but no one heard it because of the distance. "How long do I have to keep staring at this wall?"

Erik smiled wider. <Not for long, you idiot! Hopefully, at least.>

At the same time, he sensed the other guards were thinking similar things. The guard started complaining more and more, clearly frustrated. His voice echoed in the tunnel as he paced back and forth. He couldn't stay still, moving back and forth and then suddenly stopping. His body was showing how much he wanted to leave his post, and it was great for Erik, at least. The guard looked like he was about to make a big decision—a stupid one. He seemed less and less sure about staying at his post as time went on.

"I can't take this anymore," he said to no one in particular. "Surely a few minutes away won't hurt. It's not like anyone ever comes down here, anyway."