BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1321: The Azure Thaid (1)

—[Analysis]—

—[End]—

Erik looked at the status. The creature was slightly stronger than him in power level terms, but not that much. The creature had higher attributes than him, but he had much more mana.

This meant Erik could win the fight, but it would be hard. There was also another problem: the thaid could control other monsters to fight, albeit he didn't know how, so Erik would need to ask the Chimaeric Demons for help if they wanted to win.

However, they couldn't do this now. He knew that if he engaged right now, the others would likely suffer casualties in the crossfire. The priority was to wait for them to move to a safe distance, away from the thaid's attacks or controlled monsters.

Erik created multiple barriers and water jets, killing more and more creatures and preventing the others from chasing him and the remaining Dark Shapes.

Erik swam upward through the murky waters. The clones flanked him. The fishlike creatures chased them, reaching out to grab anything within range.

<Keep moving!> Erik said.

The massive Lacustris Alligatoridae launched itself from the lake bottom with extraordinary speed. Its jaws snapped at the closest clone, missing by centimeters, but only because the Chimaeric Demon was lucky.

Erik channeled more mana into his Absolute Wall brain crystal power, making a series of barriers between them.

The smaller thaids crashed into them, stunned. Some recovered quickly enough to resume the chase again.

Though the alligator-like thaid shattered some of the barriers Erik made as protection, and the other thaids chased, getting dangerously close to him and the clones.

<I hate this. Here on Mur Thaids make barrier masters look like jokes!>

[Yeah… they are strong enough to shatter most barriers. Well, unless you pump a significant amount of mana into it, something you can't do right now, or if you ask other barrier masters to join you.]

<I can't ask the Chimaeric Demons. They need to protect the others…>

[Yeah…]

Erik made a water blade and sliced through the monsters. Blood clouded the water as the creatures died.

<We need to move faster,> Erik said to the rest of the clones following him. <They're adapting to our defenses.>

The largest thaid opened its massive jaws. A bright glow emerged from deep in its throat. Erik understood what the creature wanted to do.

<Be careful!> he said through the mental link.

The creature released a concentrated beam of energy that cut through the water. Erik erected another barrier, thicker than before, and powered up by a significantly higher amount of mana. The beam struck the barrier, sending ripples throughout the water. The barrier held, but Erik felt the drain on his mana reserves. Luckily, he had enough to sustain it.

Two clones went beneath Erik, pushing him upward with greater force. The surface grew closer—fifty meters, then thirty.

The alligator monster circled below, gathering smaller creatures to increase the pressure on Erik and the Dark Shapes. Through the water, Erik saw it was about to attack again.

A large group of monsters shot upward. Erik created a counter-current, diverting them away from him and the clones.

Then another blast from the Lacustris Alligatoridae ripped through the water. Yet Erik's barrier held.

Twenty meters from the surface, Erik spotted the silhouettes of multiple creatures converging from all directions. The alligator monster had called for more than just a few reinforcements.

<Shit!>

Erik created a powerful water blade, killing a dozen monsters and clearing the path ahead, but there were still many, and he was inside the waters, at a clear disadvantage.

<We can go through now!>

The Lacustris Alligatoridae launched itself toward them, its massive body speeding up at a frightening speed. It released another attack, this time a concentrated water jet that shattered the barrier Erik made. Though the barrier had enough mana to stop the beast's attack.

At least partially… Two clones were not as lucky, and upon being hit, they got dismembered.

<Motherfucker…>

Five meters. The water grew lighter, the pressure less intense.

The Lacustris Alligatoridae lunged forward, jaws spreading wide enough to swallow three men whole. Erik channeled mana into a concentrated jet of water, the pressure strong enough to slice through steel. The beast twisted its body sideways and pulled back, avoiding the deadly stream.

Erik and the remaining clones broke the surface.

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!" Erik said.

The Dark Shapes shapeshifted. Black feathers sprouted from their skin as they took the form of large ravens. They flew into the sky, circling above Erik to observe.

On the shoreline, Erik spotted the rest of his group watching in alarm. Mira's bow was drawn. Emily stood with her rifle raised, ready to shoot.

"Run!" Erik said, his voice carrying across the water. "Everyone out! Now!"

The water behind him churned. Dozens of creatures breached the surface.

Erik swam toward shore with monsters pursuing, their movements no slower on the surface than beneath it.

The Chimaeric Demons shapeshifted into Erendus to get the others out of there. Then the clones used their undead puppets to stall the monsters chasing Erik.

The others mounted the clones, and as they did, the water behind Erik exploded as the Lacustris Alligatoridae breached the surface.

"Go!"

Erik turned to face the beast and allow the others to escape. He started levitating using telekinesis.

The Erendus galloped away from the shoreline, carrying their riders to safety while the Dark Shapes circled above, watching over the fleeing group.

Erik backed away from the water, never taking his eyes off the monster.

The Lacustris Alligatoridae slowly swam toward the shore, the water levels slowly decreasing. They reached it headfirst, then fell to the shoulders, then the ankles. It was so big that every movement it made caused waves as it displaced the water.

Erik kept backing away, measuring the distance between himself and the fleeing group. They needed more time to escape beyond the monster's reach, and given how fast it was, that distance needed to be massive.

The Lacustris Alligatoridae opened its jaws, drew in a deep breath, and its chest expanded.

"Shit…"

Erik made another barrier. This time, pumping more mana into it.