The tree grew taller and taller, rising above all the others. It became like a lookout tower, and it was tall enough to see far in all directions.
Erik shaped the branches so that they would not be too resistant to Thaids’ weight. He didn’t want to replicate the situation in the white desert, with flying thaids using the tree as a nesting place, which he had to then free, especially considering he wasn’t strong enough to fight the beasts on equal ground.
To kill any kind of flying thaid here on Mur, Erik would need to kill them on the first strike, because if they spotted him, especially considering he didn’t have clones, they would kill him.
He then created many hollow chambers within the gigantic trunk, connecting them to their underground shelter through hidden passages and stairs, and making the tree a natural tower.
These spaces would later be used as additional storage or living quarters, and given he would need help in dealing with the blackguards, he knew he would need to make the base big enough for the Chimaeric Demons to stay.
Erik built an enormous tree that reached all the way up to the clouds. It was so tall that anyone from his group could spot it from miles away. This would help his friends find their way to him if they were still alive. Since Erik had built a similar tree in the white desert before, his friends would instantly recognize this as his work.
The only problem was that with Erik’s powers, and the blackguards knowing them, the tree might be a sign the blackguards might use to find him.
However, based on what he learned, they should have been far from his position. They were in the Lorogia Region, at kilometers from there.
<Hmmm…The blackguards shouldn’t venture this far from Lorogia.> Erik stepped back to examine his work.
[Yeah. You have nothing to fear; don’t worry.]
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<The blackguards would likely stick to their known territories, their supply lines. It should be ok… Let’s just hope Amber and the others are not too far, and that they will be able to see it.>
Erik then did the rest. He created a wooden barrier with the upper part uncovered to let the sun fall down, then he created different sections. He planted trees and vegetables of all kinds and made sure to collect the new seeds so that he would have them on him at all times.
Then he went back inside the shelter.
When Erik went inside the shelter, he saw his clone walking back and forth nervously.
He wondered if one tree would be enough, even a very tall one. Their friends could be anywhere in this dangerous place—they might be hurt or lost. And even if they saw the tree, getting here would be risky. In these woods, danger could be hiding behind every tree and bush.
He glanced at Erik, seeing his own concerns mirrored in his creator’s face.
"Will they see it?" he asked.
"If they’re alive, they’ll see it," Erik said. "The question is whether they can reach it."
Erik had the clone’s same worries. "We don’t know what’s between them and us, and I don’t even know where they are. If I had known, I could have cleared the way for them a little."
The clone nodded in agreement. The Chromatic Stalker was just one of many dangerous creatures living in these lands. Their friends would have had to face these same kinds of threats on their way here—if they had survived.
"We need to prepare," Erik said.
"What were you thinking about, Master?"
Erik hesitated. The Chimaeric Demons were made for war and were not pushovers, yet Erik didn’t know if they could survive Mur given their limited powers.
What Erik wanted to ask the Chimaeric Demon was to help him clear the paths around their base. If their friends were coming from either the northeastern or southwestern areas, having those cleared of thaids would make their journey much safer.
Yet Erik hesitated to make this request—sending his clone out alone into Mur’s dangerous wilderness was an enormous risk, and the clone was not just one of the creatures he made, which he felt akin to his children, but also the same one who saved his life.
Still, they needed to help Amber and the others. After a moment’s consideration, Erik made his decision. Find adventures on Freewebnovel
"I was thinking of clearing the surrounding area of Thaids," Erik said. "I thought about taking care of the southwestern side while you could go to the northeastern, without straying too much from the beach."
The clone stood up straight, suddenly looking energetic despite being tired. "I’m ready to help, Master. Just point me in the right direction and tell me what to fight."
"It’s not as easy as that," Erik said. "The thaids I found in the area are powerful. They are not on the clones’ level, but they are much stronger than Amber and the others. Their survival chances depend on how many clones survived."
Erik was worried because the thaid he found earlier might have been among the weakest. That was also important for the clone. If he died, Erik would be alone and managing the base, hunting, and securing the area. Everything would be harder.
"Besides, if we clear the two areas, we will need to go our separate ways. You don’t have that much mana…"
The clone paused.
"I know it’s dangerous, Master," the clone said. "But don’t worry—I won’t try to fight anything I can’t handle."
"You should follow the same rules, Master," the clone said. "Your safety is just as important as mine," though he kept to himself that Erik’s safety was actually more important, knowing such a statement would only anger his master.
The clone’s eyes followed Erik. "You plan to hunt alone as well, and while you have more brain crystal powers and mana than I do, Mur’s dangers don’t discriminate. Even with your abilities, a single mistake could be the last."
"You’re right," Erik said with a sigh. "I can’t be hypocritical here." The clone was sure that Erik would try to bite off more than he could chew in order to make the journey here safer for Emily and the others.
Erik sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Listen, never engage unless you’re certain you can handle it. Your priority between hunts is making neural links. Don’t forget that until we find the others, it’s still just us two. Your death would endanger not just me but also the others—something we absolutely cannot risk."
"Of course, Master." The clone bowed.
"Your strength puts you above most blackguards, if not almost all of them," Erik said. "But that means nothing if you encounter the wrong creature. Study everything before engaging. The moment something feels beyond your capabilities, you retreat, as you said. No heroics."
The clone straightened. "I’ll be careful. I won’t waste the neural links we could gain by being reckless."
"I also need to know immediately if something goes wrong."
"Understood. Should I begin my hunt at dawn?"
Erik shook his head. "Rest first. We’ll need our full strength, and we arrived here this morning. When you go out, stick to the coastline area, but make sure to clear the most you can. Never jump inside the water."
The clone settled back onto its wooden bed frame. "I wonder if making neural links here will be easier. The new technique you made us use is good, but it’s still not enough to reach the effectiveness of the one you are currently using, master."
"That’s exactly why we need to be cautious and why you need to focus on making neural links. With that said, don’t train today; start tomorrow, and focus on resting."
"Yes, Master. "
Erik nodded. Tomorrow they would begin testing themselves against Mur’s terrors, but tonight they needed rest.
Erik sank onto the wooden bed, his muscles protesting every movement. The rough surface pressed against his back as his mind wandered to their precarious situation.
<I’m sick of all this,> Erik said. <I’m sick of all this constant danger and uncertainty.> Erik could only feel exhausted. However, it was clear that was a situation he created. He could have always decided to wait before heading to Mur.
The system wanted to tell him that, but he knew why Erik did all of this. He was right; the blackguards had to be stopped, but there could have been different ways to deal with the matter. Despite knowing this, the biological supercomputer tried to reassure him.
[I know… Stay focused. Your frustration is understandable, but we need to maintain a clear head to survive.]
His eyes grew heavy as exhaustion finally overcame his racing thoughts. As consciousness faded, Erik’s last thoughts drifted to his missing friends.
He hoped they were alive, taking shelter in the abandoned ruins or in the caves that dotted the western landscape.
Sleep tugged at his consciousness. Erik’s last thoughts focused on tomorrow’s hunt. The clone was right—one mistake could prove fatal.
Exhaustion finally claimed him, and Erik fell asleep.