BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1240: Dark Tunnels, Darker Threats (2)

"What do you think we’ll find?" Emily asked as they went deeper into the tunnel.

The problem was that based on what both Erik and those from Liberty Watch Village told them about the underground city left behind by the company; the city was a living nightmare before Erik led a group to free it.

Not only the thaids were in the tens of thousands, if not more, but the human abomination was strong enough to be on par with the strongest villagers.

Such a monster would now be a walk in the park based on how strong everyone got thanks to Erik’s training technique, but back then, when he didn’t share it, a monster like that was simply spawned from hell.

It didn’t help thinking that the creature was humanoid and most likely the result of whatever the Silver Line Corporation experimented with.

"Knowing those bastards, probably something horrific," June said. While he hadn’t been with Erik, having his memories, he remembered how his master barely escaped from the underground city, only to get out and be taken prisoner by Amos and the others.

"My—The master’s time in their facilities taught me they cared little for ethics. God only knows what we will find there if there really is one of their labs down there."

Erik told everyone about what Bill revealed to them. At that point, the fact that the Silver Line Corporation was responsible for having made the Sinister Cold, and consequently Thaids and brain crystal powers, was known by all of them.

Besides, the Blackguards were their successors, and if they were even a fraction as ruthless as the corporation, June couldn’t fathom how truly terrible they must have been.

However, while Mira, June, and the Chimaeric Demons were more worried about what kind of monster could be within these caves and tunnels, Emily and Amber were worried about more practical issues. For example, why did they create labs in places like this?

"If the Silver Line Corporation really had a facility in these caves, they must have had a specific reason. The logistics alone would have been nightmarish," Emily said, voicing her thoughts.

"Mountains often have high mana concentrations," June said. "Maybe they were studying mana itself."

"In my opinion, they were simply afraid of the repercussion." Amber couldn’t believe that was the only reason. Sure, the corporation was studying mana, and the unique patterns of it within mountains and closer to the planet’s core might have helped, but if they really were those responsible for the creation of thaids, they kept their labs underground to avoid prying eyes stumbling upon them and to prevent whatever they created from escaping from the labs.

"What you say makes sense," a clone said. "But all we saw makes me think that, if the corporation really had a base here, they were creating thaids. The only question is when and what wiped them out."

"Either something they made or something that found them," June said.

"Indeed."

"Ok, but if the situation was created by a thaid that escaped from here, then why did this happen?"

Emily was genuinely confused. The Silver Line Corporation was everything but stupid. They would not create a facility unable to hold whatever they were doing. Proof of that was Liberty Watch. The humanoid abomination had been trapped there for God only knew how long. With no chance to escape.

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"Something must have been strong enough to break through their security measures in at least one facility," a clone said. "Otherwise, thaids wouldn’t have spread across the world. Still," the clone said, "I think the strength of thaids depends on the mana concentration in their environment. Since Mur has much higher mana levels than Mannard."

"So, what you are saying is that the mountain’s mana saturation could have affected their experiments. The ambient mana might have amplified their powers beyond control, and they escaped."

"Yes, but that’s assuming there really is a Silver Line Corporation facility here. It could simply be that some thaid chased humans into these caves, or humans stumbled upon an existing thaid nest—with predictably dire consequences."

"I guess it makes sense," Emily said. "So, thaids were a by-product of all of this research, and their spreading was a mistake. The specimens escaped, replicated, spread across the continent, and almost wiped out humanity."

"Yeah, that’s the gist of it," a clone said.

He then ran his hand along the cave wall. "Anyway, the isolated location makes more sense if they were conducting dangerous experiments. No witnesses, natural containment, plenty of test subjects. This theory actually makes sense."

Their voices echoed off the stone as they continued deeper, each step carrying them closer to whatever secrets the mountain held.

How many other facilities like this one existed, harboring secrets beneath mountains and behind sealed doors?

Maybe the blackguards knew.

A heavy silence fell as they contemplated what horrors the Silver Line Corporation unleashed in their pursuit of power.

If a research facility lay hidden in these tunnels, its abandoned halls might hold answers—or horrors—none of them were prepared to face.

"Whatever we find," Amber said, breaking the silence, "we need to be prepared. If there really is something here, this could be one of their primary facilities."

The tunnel gradually widened. "I think we are reaching another cave," a Chimaeric Demon said, hushing the others.

Just as the clone predicted, a cave entrance loomed ahead of them. The opening was roughly circular, about three meters in diameter, and the walls were covered in patches of pale blue luminescent fungi.

The light from the fungi provided just enough light to make out the basic features of the cavern entrance.

The group halted at the entrance, flattening themselves against the walls. One of the clones shapeshifted and peered inside.

"We have a problem," he whispered.

More than two dozen creatures moved. The clone had to further shapeshift his eyes to see better. Some prowled along the ground while others clung to the ceiling.

Some were carrying large chunks of bloody meat and bone and bringing them to some other tunnels.

Several thaids were scraping at the rock with their claws, most likely to expand the nest.

What was most disturbing was how organized they seemed. This was a structured society. Some larger thaids appeared to be directing the others, patrolling the perimeter of the nest, while smaller ones performed their various tasks.

"Don’t move," the clone said. "They haven’t noticed us yet."

Emily counted the creatures. If they were on Mannard, such numbers would have been nothing, but here it was too much. There were at least thirty of them.

The thaids seemed to be guarding something. It was most likely the nest, but it was out of sight, likely further into the complex of caves and tunnels.

Amber reached for her weapon, and so did the others.

"I count thirty-seven," the clone said. "Eight large ones seemingly directing the others, twenty-two… let’s say workers, and seven of what look like guards near what I assume is the nest entrance."

June nodded, studying the thaids’ movements. The larger ones were twice the size of their subordinates.

Their carapaces were covered in deep grooves and ridges, with dark stripes running along their joints.

They made clicking and chirping sounds to talk to each other, but the group was not sure they only communicated this way or if they used pheromones and stuff like that.

Yet it was clearly proof they were smart.

Their strength was clearly uncontested, at least compared to the insectoid thaids from the Mannard continent, but as for their intelligence, they had no way to know how good they were.

"You killed them already," Emily said to the clones. "Do you have any suggestions?"

The clones paused to think.

"They are moving and behaving like the thaids we fought at the entrance," a clone said. "If it is like this, then I can already tell you the leaders will be the real problem. They are very smart too, abnormally. So pay attention."

"Amber," June said, "Your corrosive gas could eliminate all of them quickly. They are strong, but not so strong we can’t kill them."

"I don’t think we should use her power to kill them. If we do, we will just fill the cave with the gas."

"Yeah," Amber said, shaking her head.

"Besides, we don’t know what’s deeper in those tunnels. If there’s a larger nest or stronger thaids further in, we’ll need my power to escape. Once I use it, I’ll need time to regenerate enough mana. I don’t think these things will die just like that."

"You could warp us," a clone said.

"I could, but it depends on how much mana I have left. I might not have enough to bring us all out, and we can’t leave anyone behind now that Erik is not with us. We need to keep our energies in case something worse appears."

Mira nodded, and that was enough to make the others do the same.