?


    Erik, June, and the Chimaeric Demons crouched in the bushes. Their eyes were on the enemy docks below.


    The group was ready to spring into action. The n was to infiltrate the area and steal a warship.


    That was their ticket to crossing the sea and reach Hin, where the ckguards had their base.


    However, before they could make their move, three critical tasks needed to bepleted, of which Erik had to take care of two.


    First, they had to gain the information needed to operate the warship and use its advanced defense systems. Without this knowledge, even if they stole the vessel, they would be rendered helpless in the open waters.


    Sure, there was always the chance for the Chimaeric Demons shapeshifting into some kind of sea thaid. But that was if their ship didn''t get ripped open by one of them before they could do


    so.


    Erik knew nothing about fighting in open water. Damn, he knew nothing about fighting in water at all. This meant the Chimaeric Demons were in the same situation, and that was problematic, almost in the same way of them having to cross the ocean from the sky, where they could be easily spotted by the enemy, and that was if flying thaids didn''t spot them first. There was a limit to what Erik could do against them, especially if they were as strong as the bird that made its nest on the Eldraith mountain range.


    Second, and equally crucial, was the need to sabotage the enemy''smunication system. By disrupting theirmunication system, the group could prevent the enemy from alerting other ships at sea and coordinating an attack against them.


    That needed to be done with a different virus, and that was because, if they first got found out, they would lose a great advantage.


    Besides, Erik nned on nting just a local virus so that the enemy wouldn''t suspect there was another one in their general system.


    Both of these tasks had to be made by Erik. The first was simple, since the young man just had to inject this information into his brain.


    The second was slightly harder, or, to be correct, longer. Erik made the system create a virus that would control these whole docks.


    This would prevent the usage of any device and prevent Hinian troops from sending information about the stolen ship to the others.


    Thest and third task they had to aplish, the one the Chimaeric Demons were in charge of, was to ensure the ships currently docked at the harbor were destroyed or rendered unusable, preventing immediate chase. All of this was aside from the central task, which was to steal one of the ships.


    Everyone was waiting for Erik''s orders.


    With a nod from Erik, the group closed their eyes and focused their mana, channeling it through their neural links.


    In a matter of seconds, their bodies shrank, their shapes morphing into those of small, inconspicuous flies.


    Erik and June took to the air, buzzing towards themand center, while the Chimaeric Demons spread out.


    <Remember, everyone, team A needs to wait for my signal before destroying the other ships. Also, team B must take control of the target ship as soon as possible. Turn into the enemy, leave the corpses hidden; we will take care of them once we are out in the open sea. Is everything clear?>


    <Yes, Master.>


    As they flew, Erik and June navigated through the docks'' sky, their wings propelling them forward with surprising speed.


    They went past guards, unnoticed, also thanks to the bustle of the docks. Themand center stood ahead.


    Meanwhile, the Chimaeric Demons zipped around, heading towards their targets. Some headed for the fuel barrels that were being loaded onto the ships, while others sought the ships'' engines, aiming to disable them from within.


    The Chimaeric Demonsnded on the ships'' decks, scurrying into crevices and vents, searching for something they could exploit.


    Once inside, they prepared and waited for Erik''s signal.


    Erik and June approached themand center. They flew through an open window, and inside, they were greeted by the sight of many officers and soldiers hunched over consoles and screens disying various data streams.


    <It looks like they are busy.>


    <Yes, master. I think Becker did something big, based on how they are reacting to the situation.>


    <Then that''s good. I can''t wait for these fuckers to leave Frant. I think I will do something about it once we reach Hin.>


    <What were you thinking? If I may ask, of course.>


    <Didn''t you do it already?>


    <Yes. Sorry, Master.>


    Erik took the equivalent of a mental sigh. <I was thinking of recing their leaders with Chimaeric Demons. I''m curious to know what the ckguards will think once they see their allies retreating. >


    <If we really are going to do this, shouldn''t we do the same with the other countries?>


    <Yeah... For sure they work with the ckguards, but since they hadn''t sent troops here, which I think is something they will do in the near future, I didn''t think it was necessary. However, if we want to reim the Mur continent, we can''t do this alone... Besides, I want to make sure that Liberty... No, Frant... is protected against these fuckers. >


    Erik remained silent for a second.


    <I think humanity needs to unite... June. We don''t know what will be on the Mur continent... Maybe... Maybe I won''t be strong enough for what''sing... >


    <We will be ready... Master.>


    Navigating through the room, Erik and June arrived at the mainputer terminal. Erik could get ess from anyputer, but most were already upied. This was the only free one.


    Theynded on the keyboard, theirpact forms dwarfed by the keys.


    <Keep your eyes open, June.>


    <Yes, master.>


    It was at that moment that Erik mentally turned to the biological supeputer.


    <When you want.>


    <Yes.>


    The AI immediately connected to the device and started sending and receiving the data. Somen/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    time passed.


    <Are you done yet?>


    <Yes, it''s just that these guys increased security.>


    <Any idea why?>


    <Not really; it is not specified anywhere in the data I already have ess to. However, I think


    it might be because they learned you can ess theirputers, or maybe they simply fear hacking attacks. Regardless, the defense system here is much more sophisticated than usual.>


    A couple minutes more passed, and finally, the biological supeputer got ess to the


    files.


    <I''m done.>


    As the AI downloaded the data and injected them into Erik''s brain, the AI uploaded the virus it


    had prepared beforehand.


    That was going to be controlled by the biological supeputer until they were within the docks'' space.


    The malicious code wormed its way through the enemy''s systems,tching onto every single device there. Erik wanted the biological supeputer to be through and leave nothing to


    chance.


    <I''m done. When you want, we can leave.>


    <Yes. Just give me a moment to see if the Chimaeric Demons are done with their


    preparations.>


    Erik closed hispound eyes, or at least did something that was equivalent to that, and activated his instability brain crystal power.


    Instantly, his mind expanded, reaching out through mana to search for his clones'' minds. His consciousness connected with theirs, each clone''s thoughts and status bing clear to him.


    <Are you done?>


    <Master, we are ready. Everything is set.>


    <We are waiting for your signal.>


    <What about Amber and the others?>


    <The crates with Amber, Mira, and Emily have been brought inside the ship. They are safe and


    ready for transport.>


    <Has the ship been taken?>


    <Yes, sir, but not all the crew had been in. We will act as soon as you order. The ship is ready


    for departure.>


    <Excellent work, everyone.>


    Erik and June left themand center and headed for the ship. Soon after, they arrived on top


    of the deck. Erik was thinking about the n. He was still in time to stop everything.


    The best thing would have been to steal the ship when it was already crossing the sea; the


    problem was that this was a tremendous opportunity to destroy the enemy fleet, or at least


    part of it.


    Destroying so many ships was going to create huge trouble for Hin and help Frant''s forces. Reinforces would be able to onlye from Etrium, and that would not be as fast as with a


    ship since the mercenaries needed toe here on foot.


    In the end, he decided the best thing to do would be to go on with the n.


    <Turn the ship engine on.>


    The vessel moved on the water.


    <Destroy everything. System, activate the virus.>


    Multiple explosions then rang out in the area, shattering the stillness. The sts echoed


    through the docks, causing confusion and even panic among the enemy soldiers. People scrambled for cover, unsure of where the next explosion might ur. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning materials, making it difficult to breathe. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, but the situation remained tense and dangerous.