BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Mira's boots kicked up sand as she sprinted, her eyes locked onto her lover.

"ERIK!" Her voice was tinged with a blend of relief and disbelief.

As soon as she reached him, she threw her arms around him and pulled him into a tight embrace. Erik reciprocated her gesture by wrapping his arms around her as if he needed the reassurance that she was indeed real and not just a figment of his imagination.

"Are you ok? You are not injured, are you?"

"No, I'm fine," he said with a beaming smile. That reassured her, but her heart was still beating fast.

But then, a murmur rippled through the crowd of mercenaries who had gathered. Mira pulled away slightly, following their gazes to the colossal figure lying on the ground. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the Galewing's shattered head—its feathers now stained with its own blood.

She quickly assessed the shock Erik unleashed had to be pretty high if he destroyed the beast's head. She knew Erik's brain crystal power was strong, but the brain crystal itself didn't have that much mana. So, she wondered how he did it.

"Did you... Did you really do this?" Mira said. She still couldn't fully believe it. "I didn't know what to think when Kael claimed you did."

Erik looked into her eyes and nodded. "Well, the body speaks for itself, no? I was the only person around here."

As the words left his lips, the crowd of mercenaries erupted into a cacophony of chatter higher than before. They circled the fallen beast, their eyes wide. Whispers spread like wildfire.

"I can't believe he took down a Galewing," one mercenary said.

"Do you know how strong you must be to kill one of these things?" another said.

"I've seen nothing like it in my entire life. It is a first to me," a third said.

It was as if the guild members were seeing Erik for the first time—not just as their leader, but as something more. They couldn't tell if the actual monster was him or the Galewing. He was only 17, for fuck's sake!

Erik took the time to listen to the comments, questions, and speculations expressed by those present. When it came to showcasing his fighting abilities, he had always been reserved and hesitant to reveal the full extent. He couldn't say he had multiple brain crystal powers, but he didn't talk about his strength either, as it was clear he was much stronger than he should, considering what the public knew about the number of his neural links.

He had a big scheme in the works, and it was imperative for him to keep his true capabilities hidden, as he relied on the element of surprise. However, at this moment, as he stood next to the motionless body of one of the most dreaded beings on the planet, it appeared the illusion he had meticulously constructed had been shattered. At least among his guild members.

Aiden and Lila made their way through the crowd, their eyes meeting Erik's. "How did you do it, Erik? How did you kill a Galewing?" Aiden asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

For quite a while, Aiden had been fulfilling the role of leader for his team. From a young age, he committed himself to training. While he may not have been recognized as a genius, he definitely displayed intelligence that exceeded the norm, just like Kael, Lila, and Mira.

Yet, this kid, barely an adult, achieved something not even veterans could hope to achieve. Through his ambitious endeavors, he built an empire, or at least he was steadily progressing towards that outcome. In all sincerity, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy towards him. Lila was the opposite, she was simply happy for her friend's achievement.

She didn't know how hard was to lead, contrary to Aiden, and didn't really care about it. Of course, she aspired to be stronger, but she realized Erik had to be a genius, or at least have some secret. Otherwise, it wasn't possible for him to be that strong already.

Erik noticed both looks on Aiden and Lila, one of envy and the other of eagerness. He looked at them and explained what had happened. "I couldn't attack or reach it while it was in the sky. So, I had to bring it down here."

Lila raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? What did you do?"

"I created a diversion," Erik said, choosing his words. "I used my powers to kick up a massive cloud of sand and dust, obscuring its vision. Then I hid under the car. From the sky, it couldn't see me, and its massive size made it unable to peer down the vehicle. But he wouldn't have seen me regardless, as I was covered by sand."

Aiden and Lila exchanged glances, absorbing the information. It was a believable story, especially given the circumstances. They hadn't seen what Erik had done, but the result spoke for itself.

"Once it was on the ground, distracted by the driver's body, I took my chance and killed it," Erik concluded, keeping his gaze steady.

The explanation seemed to satisfy them, but the implications of Erik's actions still hung in the air. To kill a creature like a Galewing, subterfuges or not, a mercenary would typically need to be at the ι level. But even that wasn't a guarantee of success. It also depended on the amount of mana one had, and the type of brain crystal power one possessed.

Aiden broke the silence. "Did you hide your strength?"

Erik nodded, acknowledging what his friend said. "To be honest, I did."

"So, the guy at the guy at the practical test back then said the truth," Lila said. "That was clever." Then a radiant smile blossomed on her face.

"Indeed. But he was also weak. What I said to him wasn't by any means false."

Erik then sighed. His eyes swept over the faces of those gathered around him, settling into a stern gaze. He then turned toward the lifeless Galewing sprawled on the sand and spoke, his voice carrying a weight that demanded attention.

"Guys, keep this a secret. I don't want unnecessary trouble. I will tell you this now. If I learn that someone else knows about this, you will all face the consequences."

"Uh? Why?"

Erik approached the person who spoke. His face concealed by the mask he wore didn't let his gaze come out. Yet, his impressive build and the mana ripples he spread in the air alone spoke volumes.

The air grew thick with tension, the gravity of Erik's words settling over the group like a heavy fog. Kael, Mira, Lila, and Aiden exchanged glances, but remained silent.

They were Erik's friends and knew he wouldn't do anything bad to them, but they understood how serious he was about the matter.

But it wasn't just for them that the message was clear. The others, too, understood they couldn't mess things up. Erik would not hesitate to enforce his warning, and given how vague his words were, they didn't know what he meant by talking about 'consequences'. Based on what he did here, he was plenty able to make them disappear all.

The atmosphere became even heavier than before as everyone got the hidden message, each person contemplating the weight of the secret they now carried.

Finally, a mercenary broke the silence, her voice tinged with resolve. "I won't tell anyone." Her words seemed to open a floodgate, as another mercenary chimed in, echoing her sentiment. "Neither will I." One by one, the others followed suit, their voices forming a chorus of pledges that filled the air.

Erik looked at each of them, his eyes searching for any hint of insincerity, but finding none. It seemed they understood to not mess up with him, as he wouldn't have mercy. With a nod, Erik acknowledged their vows of silence, hoping the trust he was placing in them would not be misplaced.

Then, with a shift in his tone that signaled a return to the task at hand, he spoke. "Good, now bring the Galewing's body onto the vehicles. Oh, and tonight, we feast."

The atmosphere seemed to lift almost instantly. The serious, almost fearful faces turned into radiant smiles. Cheers broke out among the mercenaries, replacing the solemn words that ran through their ranks.

The prospect of a feast, a celebration of Erik's victory, was a welcome change. It was as if their guild master's words had breathed new life into them, rekindling the companionship that the severity of the situation had momentarily overshadowed.

With renewed energy, the group set to work. Several mercenaries moved toward the fallen Galewing, coordinating their efforts to hoist the massive creature.

Ropes were thrown, pulleys were set up, and slowly but surely, the beast's body was lifted onto one of the vans. It was a laborious task, but the promise of a feast and the thrill of their recent victory seemed to fuel their efforts.