BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

779  Retaliation (5)

The civilians, caught in the middle of this frantic manhunt, were being handled roughly, their protests echoing through the square.

"These people doesn't know what's the best for them," Quakestrike said.

Erik, maintaining his role as Samuel, projected a facade of stoicism, avoiding any action that would draw attention to himself.

"Indeed, sir. They should bow their head and do as we say. And yet…"

Quakestrike, wrapped in his arrogance, spoke.

"Our? You mean the Blackguards' …"

"Yes, sir. Obviously."

Quakestrike turned to Erik, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. "How many people are on the scene?"

"Few," Erik said, maintaining his composure. "Just a handful of trusted men. We didn't want to make too much noise about it."

They were heading towards an alley that was completely isolated and far removed from the busy streets. In the dimly lit narrow passageway, the dancing shadows of the nearby buildings added an enchanting ambiance.

A hushed environment characterized the atmosphere in the surroundings, with the noises of the city being dampened by the towering buildings.

Erik led the way with a confidence that belied his true intentions.

Quakestrike followed, his heavy boots echoing on the cobblestone. The alley twisted and turned, leading them away from the prying eyes of the public.

"Where are those men?"

"Just a little further. We actually saw the target entering a building. So…"

"Yeah. Nevermind."

As they delved deeper into the alley, the atmosphere grew tense. The shadows seemed to close in around them, and the air felt thick.

The alley opened up into a small clearing surrounded by high walls. The spot stood completely deserted, which made it the perfect location for what Erik had in mind.

He stopped and turned to face Quakestrike, his expression unreadable behind the mask of Samuel Hawthorne.

Quakestrike glanced around, taking in his surroundings with narrowed eyes as he assessed the area.

"Was he spotted here?" Quakestrike asked, glancing around and assessing the area with narrowed eyes.

"This is the place where you will see him…"

Erik did two things at the stime. Intending to intimidate the person in front of him, he started the release of mana from his body.

The problem was that Quakestrike had almost double his mana reserves.

________________________

-Name: Unknown. People call him Quakestrike. Further information is required.

-Brain crystal Power: Vibration Burst.

-Age: Unknown.

-Personality: Quakestrike has exhibited an energetic and bold personality. His combat style is characterized by its dynamism, employing vibration bursts to disorient adversaries prior to executing forceful strikes. Outside of the battlefield, he displayed an arrogant and unapproachable demeanor.

-Physical Characteristics: Approximately two meters tall. Broad shoulders and a muscular build characterize his frame. The armor's presence prevents further comments as it covers his body.

{Attributes}

STRENGTH: 177.0

INTELLIGENCE: 60.0

DEXTERITY: 150.0

ENERGY: 1000

{Others}

Power Level: 587

Estimated Experience: 8628 (EXP per kill)

Neural Links: A1δA-level

________________________

Quakestrike noticed the mana amount and smirked.

"What the fuck are you do—?"

Erik, no longer disguised, revealed his true face to Quakestrike. The Blackguard, having seen a photograph of Erik at sixteen, recognized him.

As realization dawned, Quakestrike gathered his mana, bolstered by the false sense of confidence instilled by Erik's instability power.

Upon realizing Quakestrike's aggressive intent, Erik reacted with lightning speed.

In a swift motion, Erik beca blur, his movements creating an afterimage as he closed the gap between them.

Quakestrike's gaze, fixed ahead, plummeted. He found Erik crouched right below him, poised to strike.

His maneuver was executed so unexpectedly and swiftly that Quakestrike was caught off guard, leaving him vulnerable and with no chance of defending himself.

Quakestrike, caught in a vulnerable position, could only watch as Erik prepared to deliver his blow. The awakener delivered a powerful punch to the man's guts.

"UGH!"

Quakestrike's breath halted, sweat pouring down his face as panic seized him.

As he fell to the ground, Erik stood in front of him, casting a disdainful gaze upon the Blackguard as if he were nothing more than a low insect.

Quakestrike, overwhelmed by Erik's powerful strike, was plunged into a state of disarray, his ability to process thoughts obliterated.

As Erik watched, he employed his instability power to probe the depths of Quakestrike's psyche.

He observed that the Blackguard's mind was engulfed in a maelstrom of pain, rendering him incapable of coherent thought.

But then, a subtle shift occurred. Amidst the fog of agony, fragments of clear thought resurfaced within Quakestrike's mind.

It took stime, but eventually, his mental faculties were able to reassemble themselves.

With great interest, Erik observed this change and quickly realized that the Blackguard was slowly regaining consciousness.

The alley was filled with the sound of Quakestrike's pained gasps echoing off the walls.

"How did you find out I was Erik Romano?"

Quakestrike didn't reply.

"Was Ms. Bannon in cahoot with you in all of this?"

Quakestrike was still having trouble breathing.

"What are your intentions after you have captured me?"

A series of questions were made by Erik. Despite this, once Quakestrike regained his strength, he defiantly spat on the ground.

"If you think I will tell you anything, your are mistaken."

"But you replied to my questions."

<Uh? > Quakestrike thought.

"You are confused now? You, a mighty Blackguard?"

"I think you should reconsider," Erik said.

"Uh? Reconsider what?"

Then Quakestrike noticed the police uniform on Erik. It was the sone the man who brought him here had on.

"It seems you realized it."

Indeed. Quakestrike's face was filled with pure terror, a sight that Erik couldn't witness due to the mask obstructing his view.

"You… How did you—"

"Is that really important?"

However, Erik saw the man's thoughts. "Ah… It is really that important. But you don't know why."

Quakestrike couldn't stand it anymore. He had to run. It was indeed true Erik had multiple brain crystal powers, and judging by what he just did, he could steal them.

After all, he got the spower as Max, the spy, the power that allowed him to shapeshift.

The Blackguard, overtaken by fear, turned to run. The problem was that a gigantic bluish and white wolf with two tails and two vampire tusks barred his way.

<Is this…? >

"A mana made giant Leylarhad, or as I call him, the Astral Wolf. Beautiful, isn't it?" Erik said.

With no escape routes available, Quakestrike found himself trapped in that location.

"I need to avoid staining the uniform."

In a sudden, terrifying moment, Erik unleashed a handful of seeds at the Blackguard's feet. As they hit the ground, the Blackguard's eyes widened in pure horror.

Within seconds, the seeds burst into life, sprouting sinister vines that writhed like serpents. The vines coiled around Quakestrike, who stood frozen, aghast.

His shock soon turned to a desperate struggle for freedom, but the vines were relentless.

They constricted him in an unyielding embrace, binding his arms and legs, creeping over his horrified face.

The Blackguard's muffled cries of terror filled the air as the vines tightened, trapping him in their merciless grasp.

He realized all too late that there was no escape from the living snare that had ensnared him in its ghastly grip.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH GRHIGUEHEGIRUHEGERG…"

The vines infiltrated Quakestrike's body through multiple entry points, including his mouth, ears, and eyes.

Despite his efforts, there was nothing he could do to prevent them.

The vines pierced through the throat, causing perforations.

[QUAKESTRIKE KILLED: MANA ABSORBING PROCESS STARTING.]

[0%...1%....5%...30%...70%...100%]

[MANA SUCCESSFULLY ABSORBED, STARTING CONVERTING PROCEDURE.]

[3...2...1...0]

[MANA SUCCESSFULLY CONVERTED INTO EXPERIENCE. 8628 EXPERIENCE POINTS AWARDED TO THE HOST.]

Erik observed his work. The uniform was pristine. He then took off the Quakestrike's mask and observed his face.

"Ah… that's how you are made."

Erik tapped into Max's brain crystal power. In just a matter of moments, he underwent a complete transformation and took on the appearance of Quakestrike, replicating not only his facial features and build but also his unique voice.

Erik's careful attention to detail allowed him to gain extensive knowledge of Quakestrike's mannerisms, guaranteeing that his disguise would be flawless.

Once the transformation was complete, Erik undressed the dead man, stripping him of his blackguard uniform.

He donned the armor himself, each piece fitting snugly as if tailored for him. The process took only five minutes.

With the disguise in place, Erik turned his attention to the fallen blackguard.

He extracted the brain crystal. Next, he drank Quakestrike's blood.

<System. Absorb everything right now. I need the power if I want to enter the Blackguards' ranks. >