BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1322: The Azure Thaid (2)

The water boiled as the energy coalesced between them, forming a giant sphere of fire. Erik created a barrier between them, but whether it held depended on how much mana the beast used compared to how much he used.

The thaid released the fireball. It struck the barrier, creating a shockwave that rippled across the lake's surface.

The barrier shattered from the impact, flames and heat surging outward where Erik stood moments earlier. He suspected that was going to happen, so he leaped sideways, given the barrier gave him enough time, and countered with a barrage of water bullets.

The creature roared, more annoyed than injured. Yet Erik understood how much he had to increase his mana expenditure to injure the monster.

"This thing's tough," Erik said.

He channeled more mana, creating blades of compressed water. The thaid charged again, its enormous claws tearing chunks from the shoreline each time it tried to reach Erik.

Erik dodged, sending the blades at its flank. They made shallow wounds but still drew blood.

The creature turned with unexpected speed—despite being outside of the water—and slammed its tail into him. His defenses held, but he was still sent skidding backward from the impact.

Erik caught a glimpse of Emily watching the battle. The distance wasn't as safe as he hoped, and she wore a worried expression.

The rest of the group had retreated away from the lake. Emily was with them, but she must have turned at some point. The Dark Shapes and the Chimaeric Demon she rode were standing guard around her.

As much as he preferred thinking about Emily and her beauty, the thaid didn't give more time for Erik to think about something that wasn't his safety.

The creature's jaws gaped wide as energy gathered in its throat.

"Ah… Shit…"

Erik pulled more mana into his barrier, then a beam struck it with razing force, vaporizing the earth it touched. Erik's barrier held, but he felt the drain on his reserves.

While the attack threatened to shatter his barrier, Erik prepared some spears of concentrated water and hurled them at the beast. It avoided most of them, but one struck the creature's shoulder, going much deeper than his previous attacks.

The monster bellowed in pain and rage. It stomped the ground, creating shockwaves that rippled through the area, reaching Erik despite him being quite far from it. The trees at the edge of the lake swayed. Small fissures appeared in the ground beneath them.

"Erik! Stop! The lab!" Erik turned around, only to see Emily dangerously close to the battle.

<What the…? She is too close!> Though Emily made Erik focus on the cracks spreading around, he realized that if their fight went on here, the shockwaves could damage the lab, like Emily said.

The thaid gathered energy for another attack. Erik created a massive barrier between them, buying time to consider his options. Then he mentally turned to Emily.

<That thing is territorial.>

<I know.>

She was looking at the lake with a thoughtful expression.

<Did you see something in that vision of yours that might help us with the current situation?>

She turned to him while he pumped more mana into the barrier. <Actually, yes. I know what to do,> she said. <Follow me.>

Before Erik could answer, she took off running. She got first far from the shores. Erik noticed the thaid had stopped attacking when they got far enough from the lake.

That wasn't the point, though; they didn't need to escape but rather to kill that thing and search the lake.

The beast retreated into the water, but Erik knew it was still there, watching them, thanks to Instability.

Then Emily followed the shore while keeping her distance. The monster didn't attack, but it followed, as much as the Dark Shapes and the Chimaeric Demon did.

"What are you doing?" Erik said, flying close to her.

"There's a place," she said without slowing. "A place we can fight where it won't affect the lab."

It was hard, considering the beast didn't stray too far from the waters. If they left the lake, the beast would simply retreat into the waters again, putting the lab in danger again.

"The vision?"

"Yeah, the vision. The one I told you about."

Erik matched her pace, keeping close to her side.

"It's following us," Erik said, nodding toward the water.

"I know. But it won't attack—not yet. We are too far."

"You seem very confident about that. Besides, how the hell did you know the creature would stop attacking?" Erik asked.

"I didn't. But I got some clues in my vision."

They continued along the shoreline. The terrain grew rougher, with more vegetation crowding the edge of the lake. The tree line drew closer to the water in this section, creating pockets of shadow despite the daylight.

"Where exactly are you taking me?" Erik asked.

"Just ahead. It's far enough from the lab that your fight won't damage the structure, but just barely. You wouldn't have noticed, but thanks to the vision, I saw that the part of the lake where the lab is supposed to be shouldn't get affected. There might be more," Emily said, "but it's better to fight where we know there won't be problems. The ground is more stable there too, and the trees will help me."

"Help you do what?"

Emily paused.

"You can't kill this thing without me," Emily said.

"Why? I can injure it, and the beast has less mana than me."

Emily nodded. "I know you can, but you will not be able to if the other Thaids join the fight."

"Why? What did you see in your vision?"

"That the two of you destroyed everything," Emily said. "But the lake has a lot of monsters, and they are not as weak as the Thanatocoleoptera. They can make you lose time, distract you, and make you lose focus."

"So, are you going to do what?"

"Help you," Emily said. "I and the clones will kill the weaker thaids comes to help so that you can focus on the beast."

Erik wasn't entirely convinced, but he trusted Emily's judgment.

They ran for several more minutes. The monster continued to shadow their movement beneath the water, but did nothing else aside from being a creep.

"There," Emily said, pointing ahead.

The shoreline opened into a small clearing. A large, deformed tree stood at the water's edge, its twisted roots partially submerged. The surrounding ground appeared solid, with exposed bedrock visible in chunks.

Emily slowed as they entered the area. "This is it. This is exactly what I saw."

Erik examined the area. The tree stood alone at the edge, separated from the denser forest behind it. Its trunk and branches hinted at ancient age. The water in front of it was deeper than the surrounding shallows.

"Are you sure about this?"

"A hundred percent sure. This is where the battle needs to take place."

It was also the farthest place from the lab. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Erik sensed the monster circling in the water before the tree, as if aware of their destination. Its movements became more agitated, its circles tightening.

"In my vision, this is where you fought it. The ground here is more stable—reinforced by the bedrock. Your fight won't cause the same structural damage to the lab as it would if it were closer to where we found it, and if the beast comes out of the water, then even better."

Erik stepped toward the water's edge, feeling the solid stone beneath his feet. "So I'm supposed to just call it out?"

Emily moved to stand beside him. "The creature is territorial, as you saw. It's protecting what it considers its domain. Just get closer."

Erik nodded. He extended his senses into the water, locating the massive thaid. It stopped circling and now hovered in the deep water, waiting.

"It's right there," Erik said, pointing to a spot about twenty meters from shore.

"Yes," Emily said. "This is how it began in my vision."

Erik took a deep breath, gathering his power. The water before them rippled.

Emily stepped back, giving him space. "Be careful."

Erik nodded. The water churned as the creature saw him get closer to the water.

"Come on then," Erik said to the monster.

Emily ran toward the trees, grabbing her rifle. The clones remained behind. Emily told them what they had to do to keep the smaller thaids at bay. She would also help.

The surface of the lake began to stir and bubble as the Lacustris Alligatoridae rose to meet his challenge.