BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

<System, did you deactivate the cameras inside the school?> Erik asked.

[ANSWER: YES.] The system replied.

<Good,> the young man thought.

As Erik stepped into the school, he took a deep breath. The smell of the building reminded him of his time here, a time in which he dreaded meeting people. He walked down the hallway, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. The memories flooded back, making him feel like he was back in his old shoes again.

Erik walked down the long hallway, and as the familiar feeling of horror rose in his chest, he realized he was still too affected by his past. He tried to focus on the task at hand, finding the principal's office, but memories of his past kept flooding his mind.

He thought about Conal, Orson, and Logan, the three boys who had made his life a living hell for years. They teased him relentlessly, calling him names, pushing him around, stealing from him, and beating him daily in the indifference of teachers and students alike. Erik had never understood why they targeted him, but it didn't matter now, as he had already taken his revenge on them, though the wounds were still fresh and the damage had already been done.

He also thought about the years he spent at this school, always looking over his shoulder, trying to avoid the trio of bullies. It was exhausting and had taken a toll on his mental health for a long time. However, despite the old emotions surging again inside his mind, he was also a different person, not anymore scared of fighting, not anymore scared of confrontations. Quickly, he began walking through the corridors with a sense of confidence he didn't have when he studied here.

As he passed by the lockers, Erik noticed a group of students huddled together, their voices echoing off the walls. He immediately hid behind a corner; they were just laughing and chatting, nothing more, but Erik couldn't afford to be seen, so his heartbeat sped up a little. The young man let out a sigh of relief when the students got past him without noticing his presence.

<Why are there so many students today?> Erik asked himself. It was weird. Usually, around 300–400 students should have been here, but apparently, today, there were at least twice as many. Was this the result of the tournament the principal announced some months ago? Did the opportunity to join the Red Palace push the students to train and strive for greatness?

Casting these thoughts aside, he walked under the skylight that so much characterized this building, the warm sun shining down on him; he felt a sense of strength.

He looked around, scanning the hallway for any sign of trouble, in other words, students or teachers. The next corridor seemed clear, but he knew better than to let his guard down.

He started walking down the corridor, constantly scanning for people inside the classrooms. The school was huge, and it would take him at least ten minutes to reach the principal's office if he didn't have trouble.

As the young man went down the corridor and turned the corner, he saw a group of students approaching him. He could do nothing to avoid them, and they had already spotted him but apparently didn't recognize him despite his appearance in many newspapers. The young man put his hood on and kept looking at the ground while walking. He could hear their voices, laughing and joking around.

"Hey, look at that guy!" one of the students said. Erik quickened his pace, hoping to get away from the group of students before they realized who he was.

"Hahahaha, he looks like a loser; why is he using a hood with this heat?" another asked. It was at that moment that they decided they wanted to have a chat with Erik.

As the young man kept walking through the corridor, he could hear the sound of footsteps getting closer.

<Oh god… They are coming here…>

He briefly looked up to see a group of four students approaching him. They were walking with a swagger and confidence that made Erik cringe. They were probably the new school's main bullies, filling the void left by Conal, Orson, and Logan.

The group's largest member, a muscular boy with a buzz cut, said, "Hey, loser. What are you doing here all by yourself?"

Erik tried to ignore them and keep walking, but the group blocked his path. Erik took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.

"Aw, come on, don't be shy," said another one with dyed purple hair. "It is not polite to ignore people who are talking to you."

Erik was really annoyed by the situation. He had dealt with bullies before and knew that these students were looking for trouble. Flashes of his past came to him again, but this time he was a different person. Besides, now that he got into the Red Palace, it was like he had become more "adult," and bullying was just something stupid and petty that kids did who knew why.

"Leave me alone," he muttered, trying to push past them and trying not to hurt them to avoid more problems. But they continued to block his way and taunt him. Erik took a deep breath.

The group laughed, and one of them shoved him hard, but he remained firm on his ground. "Hey, we're just trying to have some fun," said the buzz-cut boy. "You don't have to be so uptight."

Erik felt a wave of anger wash over him. He barely escaped that shit, and now some prick was trying to do the same to him again. He was tired of these things happening, of being pushed around; he wondered if he had a target for bullies on his back. At that moment, he decided to take a stand.

"I won't say this again. Don't touch me again, and get the fuck off my face." Erik's face was ashen this time, and he was filled with rage. He stepped back, his fists clenched, and a look of pure hatred was on his face.

"OOOOH, THE LITTLE BOY HAS SOME BALLS! GUYS, LET US SHOW HIM WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WITH BALLS!" the leader said.

"You won't learn unless I show you, huh?" the young man said while keeping his face hidden.

Erik then focused on his neural links; he knew he couldn't use the sharpening or the plant growing powers, so he resorted to using one that no one, aside from dead people, saw him using. He decided to summon the astral wolf.

Suddenly, a giant wolf's head made of pure mana and with poison dripping from its fangs appeared next to Erik, its eyes glowing with a fierce light. The group of bullies gasped in shock and stumbled back as they saw the head dripping saliva.

Erik calmly stepped forward and said, "This is your last warning. Leave now or face the consequences." The bullies hesitated for a moment.

The astral wolf growled and bared its teeth, standing protectively before Erik. The bullies looked terrified and backed away slowly. Erik quickly realized that these pricks, or bullies in general, were the most cowardly of them all once someone showed who really was the boss. The astral wolf's presence made Erik feel empowered and confident.

The wolf's head faked a bite attempt at one of the four guys, who believed he had avoided the attack by an air breath. He was left terrified. "You're crazy," he said, his voice shaking. Erik chuckled, feeling satisfied as the four guys retreated from him in fear.

However, he didn't say a word. He simply walked past the group of bullies, his head held high and the astral wolf's head at his side. The bullies didn't try to stop him or insult him anymore; they were too scared of this unknown guy's brain crystal power.

They just watched in silence as he disappeared down the corridor and started escaping the scene as soon as they could.

However, as soon as he turned the corner, he started to run. If the pricks reported him to the teachers, that would spell trouble.

As he sped through the building, he felt a sense of pride and determination. He was no longer the weak, scared boy he had been. Erik's encounter with the thaids had transformed him into a more cautious and alert person, which was evident in his current nervousness. The system also played a role in shaping his behavior, making him warier of potential dangers.

After many undisturbed twists and turns, Erik finally reached the Principal's door. The awakener stood outside Principal Harris' office, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves. He wasn't sure if someone was inside, and he had to find out quickly.

He looked around the hallway, but there was no one in sight. He even peeked inside the psychologist's office, and it was empty. It was weird, considering how busy the school was today. Aside from the reason, it was time for Erik to find out who this Achim was.