BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Erik sighed again. He didn't really need to learn how to fight thaids. It was just those in Mur that needed special care.

<You're right. I should be grateful I survived.>

[Indeed, you should.]

He turned back to examine the dead thaid one last time.

Its concrete-colored scales had fully dulled now, and a huge pool of blood gathered below its severed neck.

<Anyway, how did the snake's attributes compare to the other thaids we've encountered so far?>

[Actually, this one had relatively high ones compared to those we fought in the forest until now, aside from its energy attribute. Yet, while its strength was high, its brain crystal powers were basic. Most creatures on Mur have evolved more sophisticated abilities.]

<So, should I stay away from its brain crystal?>

Erik stared at the corpse. This thing had been smart enough to prevent a crippling weakness from becoming crippling and turned out to be a very troublesome opponent.

If this was a creature with weak brain crystal power, he didn't want to imagine how powerful it would be if it just had another ability or more mana. He and the system would have had their work cut out for them.

The beast had nearly killed him with its stealth and acid spray—and that was with relatively simple powers. Even if the system said those words, Erik didn't want to treat the dead beast with contempt. On the contrary, if this thing did all of this with those handicaps, he could only respect it.

[Yeah. It won't help you in any way. It will just be a new thing to train.] The system paused. [We should move. The blood might attract other predators. And there's still the matter of finding your friends.]

[So,] the system said. [Are you going to harvest the brain crystal?]

Though it already knew the answer.

<No point. As you said, its powers were too basic to be worth the effort.> Erik stepped over the creature's tail, heading for the stairwell. <Better to focus on finding better brain crystal powers, and even in that case, I'm not sure it would be useful to get more. >

[The best thing would be to make more neural links. You have the advantage, over the competition, that you are not forced to get past the 54 neural links mark to get stronger.]

Since Erik could get as many powers as he wanted, the simplest strategy was to get new ones and create neural links for them up to the 54 mark.

Powers with fewer neural links were easier to develop, allowing Erik to exploit this to grow stronger than the blackguards more quickly.

Erik hadn't done that simply because he didn't have the time. Taking care of the blackguards, of Frant, of Liberty Watch, took away a huge chunk of time. That was why Erik had been slow in his growth. The fact he also had many powers to improve and that he also merged them to get something stronger didn't help.

<Too bad I only get three attribute points from each neural link.> If that wasn't the case, Erik would have been much stronger than he was now, but if the system deemed this dangerous, there must have been good reasons for it to cap the attribute gain to just three.

[Hey, don't give me that look.] Of course, it was a purely mental look. [It's not my fault if you would turn into a monster if you get too many attribute points!]

Erik rolled his eyes so hard he could almost hear them scraping against his skull. His jaw clenched, and he had to consciously stop himself from grinding his teeth.

<Right... I got over hundreds of attribute points last month when I got all those level-ups at once, and nothing happened to me when I increased my stats. No monster transformation, no side effects, nothing. I'm honestly starting to think there is another reason for your limitations.>

[Of course there is!] The system said. [Do you understand how many functions I have? Do you understand how much energy I need to use them? The energy you get is stored and used when needed.]

<This means you stole from me…>

[Stole? Are you serious? We are together in this if I really was stealing from you. I could have taken all your energy when you got new neural links.]

<It doesn't change the fact that I should get more attributes with new neural links.>

[The only difference compared to the others is just that you grow slowly. You can still grow as long as you get new powers, with the difference that the others can't get too many brain crystal powers. You can get as much as you want.]

The system paused.

[Besides, did you forget about the attribute points? You wouldn't be so powerful as you are now if it wasn't for that.]

<If you give me attribute points, wouldn't it be simpler to just make me keep all the attribute points I get with each neural link?>

[No,] the system said. [The attribute points I give you are not the same as you get from the neural links. The latter results from the energy bursts you get when making a new link and are strictly linked to your genetics, while the attribute points I give you when you level up are artificial. They can't literally produce mutations. They are safer and can also be used on energy.]

But this didn't change the fundamental issue - Erik was still getting fewer attribute points than he believed he should, and the system's explanations, while logical, didn't make him feel better. Besides, there was a point he wanted to address.

<Then why didn't you simply convert the attribute points from neural links into the same type I get from levelling up? You could have suppressed the neural link bonuses and given me level-up attribute points instead.>

[Because limiting the number of attribute points you get at each new neural link is different from completely suppressing them. I literally can't do it unless I want to kill you. The energy you get with each new neural link can be absorbed, but part of it must still be used to adapt your body to the new neural link.]

But that meant…

<So, it's theoretically possible.>

[It is, but only if you have a way to adapt your body artificially. Otherwise, you would simply get a power that can't get new neural links. Do you wish for that?]

<Damn…>

[Hmph,] the system said, satisfied that Erik had finally stopped arguing. [Now, can you stop worrying about useless stuff and focus on the task? Or do you want to stay in this building for a couple of days? If we keep chatting here, we might as well order takeout and set up a camping spot. I hear concrete floors are great for your back,] the system said.

<Yeah, yeah… But I still don't get why you are so mad. It was a reasonable question.>

…

Erik looked up at the stairwell. The steps were old and damaged, with chips and cracks spreading everywhere.

There was something on the walls that looked like emergency lights, but they weren't working anymore, leaving darkness to creep into every corner.

The handrails were covered in dust, and pieces of fallen plaster were scattered on the steps. Erik paused at the bottom, staring into above.

<Before we head up there, can you do a mana scan? I'd rather not walk into another ambush.>

[Already checking. Though I must say, your new caution is refreshing. Are you finally learning from your mistakes?]

<Very funny. I just don't want to end up as some thaid's dinner because we rushed in blindly. Besides, checking this would allow us to know if there is someone on the upper floor.>

[Fair enough. Though technically, that snake would have dissolved you with acid first, then eaten you...]

Erik facepalmed.

<Please, stop it. This is not helping.>

The system went quiet while checking the upper floor for any signs of creatures using its mana detection.

Erik waited, forcing himself to remain patient. His encounter with the snake had taught him that rushing could be deadly. It was better to endure a few minutes of waiting than hours of fighting for his life.

[Nothing on the upper floor.]

<Just the upper floor though, right? Couldn't you scan the others?>

[It would have taken more time. We will check the other floors as we go.]

Erik doubted other creatures made their home in this building. The snake-like thaid he killed was clearly territorial.

Any other predators would have been killed and devoured long ago. If something defeated the snake, then Erik would have faced that winner, not the snake.

Still, the thaid's ability to mask its presence even at the system's sense bothered him. If a thaid developed such an ability, others might have developed similar ones.

<Try not to miss anything... We might not be as alone up there as we hope.>

[Don't worry.]