Chapter 486 The Eldraith Mountain Range
As the days turned into weeks and months, Erik's journey became a crucible that forged and reforged his abilities, pushing the boundaries of his powers.
His brain crystal powers, while formidable, appeared to be rendered obsolete in the face of the mounting challenges. As a result, he decided to merge them into something more potent, creating new powers from old ones.
Sharpening and Metallization were the first to be combined, resulting in the ability "Metallic Edge Enhancement." Erik could use this fusion to envelop an object or even a portion of his body in a layer of metal, which he could then infuse with mana to create a sharp edge.
This ability bestowed enormous cutting power compared to before, transforming everything from his fingertips to weapons into instruments of death.
Despite its formidable power, the Metallic Edge Enhancement retained its parent's limitations. Overuse could drain him, and damage to the metal layer could harm him if enough power were used against him. Clearly, if he did it on an item, he didn't risk being injured.
Erik then combined Bone Manipulation with Mana Exoskeleton. The resulting power, which he dubbed "Biomantic Armor," was both impressive and terrifying. This power altered his skeletal structure, resulting in protruding spikes and plates that served as weapons and armor. It was similar but slightly different from the previous power since he couldn't make armor before the merging.
However, the Biomantic Armor was not without flaws. Manipulating his bones and forming the energy exoskeleton strained his physical body and mana reserves. It was more powerful than the previous brain crystal powers combined, but the disadvantages of one merged with the disadvantages of the other. Nonetheless, Erik knew that this power's potential benefits far outweighed the costs.
Then he gained some neural links in Force Manipulation and Parallel Will, which reached the ξ1 (XI1) level. He also got to level 33 and used his attribute points to boost Energy, which pumped his mana up.
Then he unlocked two more system powers: "DNA Analysis," which allowed him to analyze the target's DNA from afar, improving the previous analysis function, and "Brain Crystal Power Analysis," which allowed him to know the target's brain crystal power even if he didn't know what power it held. This meant that the analysis power could also be applied to humans, and he would know what they had automatically.
Erik's powers had made the wilderness more accessible than imagined. Metalic Edge Enhancement and Biomantic Armor combined revolutionized his ability to navigate vast forests and dangerous terrains as he felt safer than ever. Every day, he became more accustomed to a life of constant motion and living in sync with nature's rhythms.
However, when he arrived at the foot of the Eldraith mountain range, he was met with new challenges. The mountains were teeming with a formidable array of Thaids, the most dangerous of which were the dreaded Wyverns.
These terrifying creatures were eerily similar to dragons, with leathery wings, large scales, and ferocious snouts that exhaled plumes of fire. They were terrifying, however, because they possessed incredible physical strength, speed, and cunning intelligence that made them unpredictable and lethal.
Erik's progress became excruciatingly slow and difficult from then on. The mountain range's every crag and crevice seemed to hide potential threats. The sharp-eyed Wyverns patrolled the skies above, their brain crystals resonating with powerful and destructive energies.
Since leaving the village, Erik faced numerous challenges, each serving as a stepping stone toward becoming a more capable survivor. But the Wyverns were a completely different breed of challenge.
However, Erik had no intention of backing down and turning back. His mind began devising strategies, relying on his merged powers and every bit of information he possessed about these dreadful creatures.
Ultimately, only the Chameleon Veil enabled Erik to survive in that environment, increasing his stealth by several orders of magnitude.
Although the stealth was not absolute, and the problems he had while moving since the stealth decreased, the power was still excellent and allowed him to more or less safely navigate the mountain range, avoiding any Thaid he couldn't face.
His new system's capabilities also aided him in this endeavor because they no longer displayed approximations of his opponents' stats but actual values. He knew what he had to avoid and what he could hunt for food and experience.
Erik's journey through the Eldraith mountain range was his most challenging endeavor yet. He had pushed his body to its absolute limits over the previous weeks, contending with the harsh mountain climate, treacherous terrain, and the constant threat of flying Thaids, which were not discouraged from approaching him due to the Thaid repelling plant he now knew as Luminara Serpentis.
He noticed that the wyverns didn't want the plant in their territories because they found its powers repulsive, so they attacked it as soon as they saw it. Erik almost died the first time he used the plant, as he was attacked but miraculously managed to flee since the Wyvern was focused on the Luminara Serpentis.
Erik had awoken before dawn every day, the sharp cold of the mountain mornings stinging his face. He'd spend the early morning scouting safe routes through the mountain's treacherous slopes.
Each step was deliberate due to the jagged rocks and steep cliffs. Erik had to be cautious as he climbed icy cliffs and crossed narrow ledges.
A single miscalculation could result in a dangerous fall, which he couldn't afford. Every step he took was calculated, his survival weighing heavily on his shoulders.
When the sun was at its highest, the mountain range would turn into a deadly game of cat and mouse as Wyverns took to the skies.
Erik had spent countless hours huddled beneath rocky outcrops, holding his breath as the Wyverns' shadows slid over his hiding spots. He'd stand there, his heart pounding, as they passed, their roars echoing across the mountain range.
The nights were equally unforgiving. The plummeting temperatures turned the mountain range into an icy wasteland, leaving Erik huddled in whatever shelter he could make.
Creating fire was risky there since the wyverns knew humans probably made fire, and they always came to check the source whenever the young man started one.
That forced him to mostly eat vegetables and fruit, leaving him without some vital nutrients since he didn't have all kinds of seeds. Sleep was a luxury; his nights were filled with the constant vigilance to stay alive.
Through sheer determination, Erik had managed to navigate the Eldraith mountain range. It was a grueling test of his endurance, intelligence, and powers. But as he stepped into the land of Etrium, looking back at the mountain range that had been his home and adversary for the past months, he felt a sense of accomplishment.
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