Chapter 897: Making clones and going to hunt


    ?


    Erik was in his room at the guild headquarters. It was a reflection of simplicity and necessity. The guild members themselves handled the creation of the furnishings.


    They searched thends surrounding Liberty Watch City for the materials they needed.


    With a robust wooden desk, a couple of chairs, and a modest bed, the room was utilitarian.


    All the furniture in the room was manufactured from local lumber.


    The walls were bare, save for a couple of maps and sketches of various thaids and their known habitats.


    As he sat at his desk, Erik was deep in thought. Right now, his priority was to create more clones to bolster their defenses and gather resources.


    "So, the clones would have two brain crystal powers."


    "Yes, master," June said. "I think you should start making them."


    Erik was not totally convinced this was the right moment to make a new batch of clones. If he absorbed more brain crystal powers, the clone would be stronger. The problem was that there wasn''t that much time.


    One of the reasons was that the ckguards had taken Richard, and it was likely that they would soon attack Liberty Watch.


    Another was that, ording to what Ethan told him, the thaids'' behavior was getting more erratic and aggressive, and they were on their way to Liberty Watch.


    Liberty Watch lost a lot of fighters, and those remaining, aside from the clones who were still alive, weren''t strong enough to fight the monsters.


    Erik sighed. "The situation is bing more and more fucked."


    "Yeah. That''s why it would be better if you started making clones. As soon as they mature, we will send them to harvest the thaids'' brain crystals and blood. We will kill two birds with one stone." June said.


    "Yeah. Then the next batch will be much stronger."


    While turning his attention to the task at hand, Erik sat back and focused, channeling mana through thework of neural links in his brain.


    Erik poked his finger and let a single drop of blood to drip down it.


    An expression of minor difort appeared on his face.


    While he watched, his mana surrounded the blood, causing it to expand and morph.


    The drop of blood swelled, growingrger with each passing second, bingrger andrger until it reached the size of an ostrich egg.


    Erik experienced an aggressive drain on his mana as he did that, even more so than when the Wyvern''s mes consumed it.


    "Fuck... This is more demanding than I thought."


    Erik estimated that producing thirty eggs in one day was workable, but it would leave him exhausted and his mana reserves depleted.


    Erik continued the process, making more and more eggs. Despite the toll it took on him, he pushed on, knowing that he needed to create as many as possible to save his vige from the impending disasters.


    "Is everything okay, master?"


    "Yes," Erik said. "It''s just that the process is straining."


    "I''m sorry, Master."


    Using a nket that he had spread out on the ground, he ced each egg down.


    After some time had passed, he hadpleted his demanding task.Erik slumped back in his chair.


    He felt the exhaustion pour over him.


    His eyes closed as he gathered his strength. With each clone he made, the chances of surviving the looming threats improved, and that was all the motivation Erik needed to keep going.


    However, since he didn''t have mana to spend right now, there wasn''t much he could do. Besides, he talked to his father, Noah, and his friends. He literally had nothing to do. "We just need to wait."


    June nodded in agreement, eyes fixed on the eggs lined up on the nket.


    The clone was born in the same way. It was weird to see it. "Should we go hunting?" Erik asked.


    "It would be better for you to rest. The journey through the forest had been harsh on you, and all that news didn''t improve the situation."


    "I know," Erik said. "But honestly, I would like to go hunting. The more brain crystal powers I get, the better it will be for uster."


    "Master..."


    June looked disapprovingly at Erik. "Don''t look at me that way; it is not my fault, but the ckguards!"


    "Yeah, yeah..."


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Erik and June made their way through the exit tunnel of Liberty Watch City. The few guards inside the tunnel saluted them with respect. They replied to the gesture.


    The tunnel carved a straight path through the rock, leading them towards the dense forest that encircled the city.


    As they approached the end of the tunnel, the faint light of day filtered in. The exit from the underground city was just a few steps away.


    While reaching the heavy metal door that marked the boundary between the city and the forest, Erik grasped therge wheel handle and turned it with a firm twist.


    The door swung shut with a resonant thud, sealing the city behind them. He turned the wheel


    onest time to lock it and protect the city from any outside threats.


    Once outside, the fresh air of the forest weed them, a stark contrast to the stale air of the


    tunnel.


    June, looking around at the lush greenery, turned to Erik with a curious expression.


    "What are we nning to hunt today?" June asked.


    Erik scanned the forest with thoughtfulness. "I''m looking for Thaids with defensive and offensive brain crystal powers, plus some with utility. But with the migration in ce, it''s hard to say what we''ll encounter," he said, his eyes narrowing as he considered their options.


    The best thing would be to give the clones something that would allow them to fight as soon as they hatch, something that mightplement their already high strength and two brain


    crystal powers.


    "The issue is that the Thaidsing from around the Eldraith mountain range are likely to be much stronger than those we''d typically find near the city. God only knows what we will find."


    With a nod, June agreed, and his eyes moved to the thicket of trees that marked the beginning of their hunting ground.