BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM C.1052: The group’s resolve (2)

A month passed since the harrowing encounter with the Leviathan Serpent and the Shadowmaw Behemoth.

During this time, the ship sailed towards Hin, and its occupants focused on their training and preparation for whatever they would find on the island under human control, but especially on the Mur continent.

Every member of the crew, from Erik and his lovers to the Chimaeric Demons, did their utmost to create more neural links.

For the Chimaeric Demons, though, it was harder because they had their duties to uphold. After all, they had to protect the ship and maintain its systems, and they had less time available to train compared to the others. Besides, it was also harder for them to make neural links.

But Mira, Amber, Emily, and Erik were the ones who really focused on the task. The three women pushed themselves hard because facing the situation with Leviathan Serpent made them feel like they weren't strong enough. Which was true.

Each day, they spent hours in the deep concentration that making neural links required them, and slowly, they built new ones.

Erik, too, chose to concentrate on two of his powers that had fewer neural links. Over the month, he created 15 new neural links for the force bastion and the Lightning Lord brain crystal powers.

It was a great achievement, but nothing compared to making neural links at higher levels, which were harder to make compared to those two powers, who only have their native one.

Erik learned something important from all his experiences. He realized that to get stronger; he had to focus on fewer powers instead of trying to improve all of them at once.

This was especially true because he learned that 54 neural links weren't the maximum limit after all.

People used to think that 54 was the most neural links anyone could have. But after all he saw, Erik realized this limit was likely due to the old training methods not being very effective.

Making more neural links became harder as the number grew, especially for more advanced powers. So, if Erik wanted to go beyond 54 neural links, he had no choice but to focus on a few, especially because, in Mur, he wouldn't have time to train a lot of them, and to gain stats by doing that. The best thing he could do was to increase his power's efficiency.

As for Mira, Amber, and Emily, since they had around 40 neural links each, they were only able to make 5 new ones over the month.

Even though Mira, Amber, and Emily made fewer neural links than Erik, they still did great. After all, for them, making new ones was harder than Erik, who was focusing on powers who had very few. So, even though they only made 5 new ones each, their achievement might have been considered better than Erik's.

Even though everyone improved at different speeds, they all felt good about their progress. The entire crew had become stronger and tougher, and this would undoubtedly help.

The crew didn't just spend the month training. They also had to deal with many attacks from sea thaids. These weren't as terrifying as the Leviathan Serpent or Luminous Leviathan they encountered earlier in their journey, and the Chimaeric Demons were able to manage these attacks easily.

They were annoying, though.

Erik had to do nothing on the ship since the Chimaeric Demons took care of everything. But they kept close enough to the ship so that Erik could absorb the creatures' mana. He even gained two levels thanks to that.

After a month at sea, everyone on the ship felt hopeful but careful. Now, they could almost see the shores of Hin in the distance, and tension started mounting. They were almost finished with their sea trip, but were about to start an even riskier part of their journey on land.

...

...

...

Erik, Mira, Amber, and Emily were on the ship's deck, focusing on their training. They sat still with their eyes closed, not moving or uttering a word. Some of the Chimaeric Demons were doing the same, most of them, actually, since this part of the sea wasn't that dangerous thanks to Hin's fleet.

"Master." June's voice cut through the silence. Erik opened his eyes and looked at his clone. "What?"

"We've reached it."

Erik's eyes opened. Everyone else opened them too, looking at June with mixed feelings.

"We've entered Hin's territorial waters," June said. "If all goes well, we should reach the shores by tomorrow."

Everyone went silent. They knew this day would come and had gotten ready for it. But now that it was actually happening, they felt apprehensive. Even Erik felt that way. The Leviathan Serpent encounter truly shocked him to the core.

The man stood up. "Good work, June. Let's head to the pilot's cabin. We need to plan our approach carefully."

Once everyone was at the pilot's cabin, they waited for Erik to speak. He did by turning to June. "What's the situation with enemy ships? Have you detected any on our current route?"

The clone shook his head. "Based on our ship's systems, I have detected no immediate threats on our path. However, we should expect heavy patrols closer to the shore. Hin is likely to have significant defenses against potential attacks."

Erik nodded. "We need to find a gap in their defenses. Look for a section of the coast that's less heavily guarded. We'll need to approach under cover of darkness and leave the ship

offshore."

"And then?" Mira asked.

Erik turned to the group. "We'll cover the remaining distance underwater. It's risky, but it's our best chance of reaching the shore undetected. When we reach the shores, it won't matter if they find the ship. We will be far at that point."

Amber and Emily exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement. They had come too far to turn back now.

"June, set a course for the least guarded area you can find. We'll need to time our approach carefully. Tell me if you need anything."

The clone nodded and went to the ship's controls. He moved his hands over the instruments to change their course and look for a good place to land.

While he worked, Erik looked out the cabin window at the ocean in front of them. He knew that somewhere out there was Hin.

He was hoping he would finally find answers to the many questions he had, and hoped he would finally get rid of the pest known as the blackguards.