BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

"Why? Do you think I won't be able to win against Nathaniel?" Erik asked.

Floyd, Gwen, and Amber looked at each other with embarrassed looks. That was precisely what they were thinking. Nathaniel was out of Erik's league; there was no doubt about it. Even Erik knew that, but his recent winning streak made him get his head up.

"Let's go grab something to eat; we will explain things once there," Amber said.

The four friends took Amber's car and went to the nearest ice cream shop. Erik had work to do that evening, so he couldn't stay for long, but they had to put Erik on guard against Nathaniel.

Once they arrived, each ordered a sweet and sat on a nearby bench. The shop they went to was near the park, so they ate with birds chirping and children playing in their ears as background music.

"So, why did you think I have no chance against Nathaniel? I know he is strong, but i think I can put up a good fight at least, no?" Erik asked.

"Look, Erik, we know you improved a lot during this month, but Nathaniel is in a league on his own," Floyd said.

"As you are well aware, he is considered the third strongest student in terms of martial might only, behind Amber and Anderson. This is not something we came up with, but what professor McAllister said, so you can trust us on this. On the other hand, you recently started training in martial arts after your awakening."

Erik nodded slowly. He could understand how he would appear weak compared to Nathaniel. But then again, even though he wasn't experienced as him, Erik did fight people who trained much more than him, and he still managed to come out on top.

The young man thought that if Nathaniel didn't use any special powers or techniques, he should still stand a pretty fair chance considering his stats were so high compared to people his age.

"So, he is more experienced than you fighting, he often sparred against Amber and Anderson, and he even managed to win sometimes, and that is only by using his martial arts. Though, as you know, this competition allows people to use their powers..." Floyd added.

Erik looked at him with a slight tint of annoyance. It seemed like all of his friends didn't have faith in him!

"I know his power is strong, but surely it won't be as bad as Zakir's one?" Erik said.

Amber turned to look at him. She shook her head slightly.

"You don't really believe that, do you?" she replied.

"What do you mean?" Erik asked.

She pointed at him with a spoon full of chocolate vanilla swirls.

"Nathaniel is considered the strongest student in the whole school, Erik, and not because of random luck," Amber said.

"I know that, but I'm confident I can win!" Erik replied.

"You won't," Gwen said, leaving Erik stunned as she agreed with them.

"Did you forget what we told you about him the last time? Nathaniel can generate force fields and use them as shields. Moreover, the same energy can be used to attack. Not only is it already rare for someone to have a defensive and offensive power simultaneously, but the power's sheer strength makes him a terrifying foe. It is so strong that he can even destroy walls with a powered punch, and his power can easily be used in martial arts. Imagine you are fighting against Jacqueline but with him sending blasts of powers capable of crushing your ribs at every punch. He doesn't even need to hit you directly. All he needs is to spread the blast at a meter radius, and you will be hit," She concluded.

"Is he really this strong?" Erik asked with disbelief.

"Yes," Amber said.

"Many people have tried to defeat him since joining the school, and none have succeeded. That's if he used his power. Otherwise, he is a talented fighter but not as much as Anderson or me," Amber added.

Erik was a little bit disheartened hearing those words. He knew how strong Nathaniel was, but he refused to believe he had no chance.

His pride stemmed from winning many matches where people believed he would lose, but he did manage to win. So, he did believe he could do it again.

Still, despite all of this, what his friends said to him wouldn't stop him from trying to fight him. There was nothing else to say.

The conversation quickly trailed to Floyd's fight. He was going to face Anderson, so he wasn't in a better situation than Erik. Though he was more experience than him, so the situation wasn't as dire, and he didn't risk facing humiliation.

After eating, they left the shop and accompanied Erik to the train station. They offered to bring him to mister Fox's farm and even wait for him as he worked, but Erik refused.

He told his friends that he didn't want to bother them, but the truth was that he planned to go to the breach and farm a couple of thaids.

He hoped to level up, but he knew that was extremely unlikely. Erik estimated that to do so, he had to kill at least twenty-four Lomalins. Not only it was not simple to find them, but he didn't even have time to do so. Still, 6-7 kills were better than nothing.

Erik knew that Lomalins usually roamed in groups of a hundred, and he was not sure he could kill them all. Probably not, to be honest. He didn't want to risk being eaten alive by overgrown bugs.

"We'll see each other later," Amber said.

"Bye, Erik!" Floyd replied. While Gwen simply nodded.

The young man went to buy the train tickets, and after waiting for ten minutes, the train finally arrived. Erik had much time to think during the trip to the northern district, and it was during that trip he realized that he was going to join the Red Palace.

Though, winning the tournament and getting a brain-stimulating serum would be helpful for him since he had many neural links to make.

The scenery changed slowly as he traveled. It went from the monotonous grey that characterized the city's landscape to the vibrant green that defined the countryside. The houses changed too.

They went on from being giant skyscrapers hundreds of meters tall to being two or three stories tall with large windows and balconies on top.

A lot of people also appeared along the way, tending the fields and working on the farms. Some of them were even carrying huge bundles of hay which they were most likely brought to the barns.

The scent of fresh grass filled Erik's nostrils as soon as the train stopped. His eyes caught sight of the fields where some farmers cut down the wheat stalks, preparing them for harvest.

Everything would be much simpler if he could own a farm and work the fields. Still, unfortunately, this stupid country's rules forced him to join the military. However, Erik was confident enough to flee from the country in a couple of years, but to do so, he had to train hard and get the most out of the Red Palace.

If he managed to increase his rank to three or four levels, there shouldn't be any problems escaping the country. But he also needed extensive research about Frant's surroundings and had to decide where he wanted to escape.

That was not a problem since Erik had the biological supercomputer, and getting information was a matter of minutes.

With that thought in mind and filled with determination, Erik started walking toward the breach, hoping to find as many weak monsters as possible and not to come across other Leylarhads.

Erik knew that meeting the beast around here wasn't normal, and something was definitely happening around New Alexandria. Still, his will to improve and become stronger was higher than any fear. He didn't want to give up on his only edge against the other people, the system, and all its perks just because of anxiety.

<I will take my life into my own hands...> The young man thought, <I will be able to escape from who wants to control me... I will get a comfortable life. I will live free and happy...> With these words in mind, the young man finally reached the breach.