BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1277: The bugs (3)

Erik also asked about the evidence that suggested a Silver Line Corporation lab existed within the tunnels.

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"Here," a clone pointed to a section of tunnel on the map. "There are some parallel passages that look too regular. In our opinion, this was designed, not formed naturally."

The clones described more evidence of human construction in the tunnels. Most of them were about the fact that many sections of the tunnels had smooth walls and that a lot of the caves looked shaped in such a way to mirror each other.

However, the most convincing evidence came from old metal beams embedded in the rock, the concrete reinforcements along the walls, and the remnants of electrical wiring and ventilation shafts.

"We also found many ancient human bodies."

Somehow, Erik didn't doubt that. One of the clones then pointed at the map, pointing at a specific cave, the one the lines the clones made pointed to.

"That's the path the others took, and this is the cave where they said the underground city stands."

Erik straightened, his mind made up. "I'm going after them. If the place had really been made by the Silverline Corporation, then they could end up fighting something very nasty there."

"Shouldn't you rest first, master? You've traveled far and for a lot of time, and the battle with those flying thaids—"

"No," Erik cut him off. "I would have loved to do so if you didn't go into that damn city..." He paused. "There are a lot of chances something it would be better we stay away from is down there. I don't know how the situation might turn for the others if they are not careful, so I'm going. Besides, I've spent enough time away from the girls already."

The clones weren't going to refuse one of their master's orders, even if they knew it wasn't the best of the decisions he might take, and began preparing immediately.

Some gathered supplies, while others updated him on the tunnel's dangers and the protocols they'd established for exploration.

Through it all, Erik's mind remained fixed on his companions. He had crossed a forest to find them, and now only a maze of tunnels stood between them.

In a brilliant flash, Amber materialized in the shelter's center with the others, swaying unsteadily as exhaustion overtook her.

June grabbed Amber before she could fall. She looked weak, most likely because of mana exhaustion. Emily, Mira, and many clones appeared with them, holding their weapons and looking too worried about Erik's taste.

"Everyone out! We need to leave this place now!"

The clones around Erik turned toward the source of the commotion. Amber and the others hadn't noticed him yet, blocked from view by the ring of his Chimaeric Demons.

"What happened?" one of the clones asked, rushing to support Amber's other side.

"The lab," Amber said, struggling to stay upright. "We found it. The experiments... they had been made, and... there is still something alive there. It had a mark from the Silver Line Corporation."

Mira stepped forward, her hands clenched tightly around her wooden bow, her knuckles white from the grip. She often turned to look at the tunnels behind her, as if she was expecting something to come.

"The bugs, the ones we've been fighting until now—they're not natural. The Silver Line Corporation created a queen here. And their queen spawned them..."

Erik pushed through the circle of clones. "How much time do we have?"

The group froze at his voice. Amber's eyes widened, Emily's hand flew to her mouth, and Mira's bow nearly slipped from her grasp. June even jumped in place.

"Erik?" Amber said. "You're alive?"

"MASTER!"

"You're here?" Emily said, taking a step toward him.

"Minutes," Mira snapped back to focus. "Maybe less. The queen moves faster than anything we've seen. And she's got hundreds of thousands of smaller bugs following her commands."

"The tunnels are crawling with them," June said. As much as he wanted to hug Erik, he had to focus on what mattered at that moment: survival. "They're organized, coordinated. The queen's controlling all of them."

"Amber can't warp again," Emily said. "She used too much mana getting us back here."

Erik's mind raced. He just survived flying thaids, only for him to find himself having to face thousands of thaids, plus whatever the Silverline Corporation spawned.

<Those damn fuckers…>

The skittering started being audible even from their location. The first scouts would reach them at any moment.

"How many exits does this place have?" Erik asked.

"Three," a clone said. "But two of them go deeper before leading out, and they are connected to the other tunnels. There is only one that directly leads outside."

A loud, piercing scream echoed through the cave, making the walls shake. Small rocks fell from the ceiling. They could hear the sound of thousands of insect-like creatures running through the tunnels, their hard shells scraping against the rock as they moved.

Something massive barreled toward them, so huge that its body scraped against the stone walls with an ear-splitting screech. The queen was coming.